PC Processors

[tomtomy]

Hello group, 

I heard online that there are some confusion with Ryzen generation terminology. 

is the Ryzen 5000 series 4th Gen processor or 5th Gen processor or 3rd Gen processor. 

Is the Ryzen 3000 series processor is a 3rd Gen processor? 

How about Ryzen 4000G series is 3rd Ryzen Vega processor? 

How are the Ryzen generation really break down? 

Thanks again. 

[colesdav]

This: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryzen

[elstaci · Accepted solution]

Found this Tech articles that explains exactly what you are asking: https://glennsqlperformance.com/2020/07/22/understanding-amd-processor-names/

"Unfortunately, AMD started this confusion with the names of the successive Zen generations. The actual names are Zen, Zen+, Zen 2 and Zen 3. They could have used Zen 1, Zen 2, Zen 3, and Zen 4. Another choice would have been Zen, Zen 2, Zen 3, and Zen 4.

Here are the generations, their names and when they were first released.

• First Generation: 14nm Zen released in March of 2017
• Second Generation: 12nm Zen+ released in April of 2018
• Third Generation: 7nm Zen 2 released in July of 2019
• Fourth Generation: 7nm Zen 3 released in November 2020"

What is an APU?

Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) is AMD’s marketing term for CPUs that have both a conventional CPU and a GPU on a single die. This is just a CPU with integrated graphics. AMD further confused their naming by using a different numbering scheme for their APU SKUs. These APUs use higher series numbers for their product name compared to the same generation non-APU desktop SKUs. These desktop APUs will have a G or GE suffix. The “GE” suffix means a lower TDP, which reduces electrical usage and cooling needs.

For example: A Zen 2 desktop CPU is the Ryzen 3000 series, while a Zen 2 desktop APU is the Ryzen 4000 series. The official category name for these Ryzen APUs is “AMD Ryzen Desktop Processors with Radeon Graphics.”

For AMD mainstream desktop APUs, the SKU naming goes like this:

• First Generation Zen: Ryzen 2000 Series “Raven Ridge”
  • Example: Ryzen 5 2400G
• Second Generation Zen+: Ryzen 3000 Series “Picasso”
  • Example: Ryzen 5 3400G
• Third Generation Zen 2: Ryzen 4000 Series “Renoir”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 4700G
• Fourth Generation Zen 3: Ryzen 5000 Series “Cezanne”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 5700G

What about Mobile Processors?

To maintain the confusion, AMD also uses a staggered SKU naming convention for their mobile processors (which are actually APUs). It lines up with their desktop APU naming. These APUs will also have an H, HS, HX, or U suffix. Models with an H suffix are higher 45W TDP SKUs that offer higher performance. Special “HS” SKUs are more efficient, with 35W TDP ratings.

The “U” SKUs are low TDP versions for better battery life and reduced cooling needs. The Ryzen 5000 series added “HX” SKUs that have higher performance than regular “H” SKUs.

For AMD mainstream mobile APUs, the SKU naming goes like this:

• First Generation Zen: Ryzen 2000 Series “Raven Ridge”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 2800H
• Second Generation Zen+: Ryzen 3000 Series “Picasso”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 3750H
• Third Generation Zen 2: Ryzen 4000 Series “Renoir”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 4800H
• Third Generation Zen 2: Ryzen 5000 Series “Lucienne”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 5700U
• Fourth Generation Zen 3: Ryzen 5000 Series “Cezanne”
  • Example: Ryzen 7 5800H

All of the above is from the same article and is most of the article.