Computing performance
H.264 1080p & H.265 4K encoding, WPrime, PovRay 3.7, Blender 3D, 3DSMax 2015 / Mental Ray, Corona Benchmark
With its eight real cores, Zen achieves some prowess despite the limited 3.3 Ghz frequency. It even gets dangerously close - for Intel - to the Core i7-6900K, offering performance comparable to that of the i7-5960X at the same frequency (3.3 Ghz Tubo mode). The allegations made by AMD a few months ago seem to be true in practice and that's excellent news. Compared to the FX-8370, we noted a performance gain of around 35% at the same clocks, in line with AMD's predictions (40%).
(Note from me: concerning the last sentence, that's actually not what AMD said, they said 40% more IPC compared to Excavator. Here they are comparing it against a Piledriver CPU, which is two revisions prior. In any case, more IPC and more performance don't have to necessarily 100% match.)
Gaming Performance
Far Cry 4, GRID: Autosport, Battlefield 4, Arma III, X3: TC, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Anno 2070
If the results may seem disappointing in face of the average of the games tested, it should be kept in mind that the prototype tested is an eight core with an especially low base frequency (in particular Turbo mode). Now, games are still very sensitive to clockspeeds and have a hard time benefiting from more than 4 cores. It's thus difficult in these conditions to compare it against an i7-6700K, where the clocks surpass 4 Ghz. Notwithstanding, the Zen architecture proves itself to an effectiveness degree that we haven't seen from AMD in a long time.
Power consumption
Measured at full load (in watts)
The power consumption measurement of the Zen CPU was made with a current clamp at the ATX 12V connector at full load. While true that it's less precise than the ones we usually make with an oscilloscope, it gives a good idea of the performance of Global Foundries' 14nm LPP process. Once we remove the parts related to the motherboard's VRMs, we estimate that the CPU uses a little less than 90w, a number very close to that of a 6900K. A result that is a good indication for what comes next.
The Zen architecture should allow AMD to make a serious comeback in the CPU market, including the high-end segment that they abandoned for a long time. Intel risks a setback, which is a well deserved consequence of years of laxity and arrogance (the Core i7-6950X at 1900 euros is the perfect illustration). Do we expect a return of true competition in the CPU market? Not everything is yet won by AMD. While it does seem that the eight core CPUs are on the right track, the CPU maker must rapidly finalize the four core derivatives with noticeably higher clockspeeds than current prototypes: 3.8, looking into 4 or 4.2 Ghz seem to us the minimum to tickle the latest Kaby Lake CPUs. At last, there is still one unknown: the pricing. While certain rumours talk about a rather low price list, we doubt that AMD will sell them at sales prices now that it at last has an opportunity to recover from its years of losses. Above all, it shouldn't crap itself on the final straight...
