AMD is seemingly planning some big design changes with its Zen 7 architecture, offering noticeable core count and IPC increases. Expected to launch on the upcoming AM6 platform, these processors would debut the highest core count ever seen on a consumer AMD CPU.
According to Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), Zen 7 is set to launch in late 2027 or early 2028, manufactured using TSMC’s bleeding-edge 1.4nm node. Tape-outs are expected to begin earlier, in October 2026, targeting between 15% and 25% overall IPC uplift, and above 20% in SPECint17 – a benchmark that measures the integer processing performance of modern systems.
Alongside these IPC improvements, AMD is also supposedly planning some noticeable chiplet redesigns. For starters, each chiplet now packs up to 16 cores, with each core carrying 2MB of on-die L2 and 7MB of L3 caches. This means that a dual-CCD desktop CPU would offer a total of 32 cores, 64MB of L2, and 224MB of L3. For comparison, Zen 5 cores get 4MB of L3 each.
Though impressive, this is nothing compared to the professional segment, which gets access to 33-core CCDs (Core Complex Die) – likely using some kind of denser Zen 7c cores. Therefore, these Epyc CPUs would offer a whopping 264 3D cores spread through eight CCDs. Note that these 3D cores are not the 3D V-Cache ones we know about; they are said to be some new kind of cores deprived of L3 cache. Even so, they seemingly retain backwards compatibility with Zen 6 Epyc IODs (IO Dies).
Additionally, instead of packing more L3 cache below the cores, as is the case currently, the extra L3 offered by the 3D V-Cache layer is now being moved to a dedicated chiplet. This allows AMD to use a cheaper 4nm node to manufacture the 3D V-Cache chiplet, focusing the 1.4nm manufacturing capacity on the Zen 7 cores. This approach should allow an incredible frequency boost.
Lastly, MLID has also shared some updates regarding Zen 6. Apparently, AMD has changed its mind regarding the 32-core hybrid Zen 6/6c design, opting instead for a 24-core, split between two 12-core chiplets. AMD estimates this design to be more adequate for the consumer market, a choice that has the advantage of making Zen 7 and thus the brand’s AM6 platform more attractive. To be fair, 24 cores on Zen 6 is already a nice bump over current 16-core CPUs, plus the following Zen 7 is set to push that further to 32 cores shortly after. The question is, will games and apps be ready to take advantage of this?
