Zen 3


Zen 3 is the codename for a CPU microarchitecture by AMD, slated for release in late 2020. The successor to Zen 2 is expected to be fabricated on an improved 7nm MOSFET node from TSMC and powering Ryzen mainstream desktop processors and Epyc server processors. Zen 3 is expected to be the last microarchitecture before AMD switches to DDR5 memory and new sockets. Zen 3 will be supported on motherboards with the 500 series chipsets. 400 series boards will also see support as AMD will share code allowing motherboard manufacturers to support Zen 3 on select B450 / X470 motherboards using select beta BIOSes.

Technology node

From AMD's materials which stated "7nm+" it was initially assumed by the media that the 7nm process would be the new EUV lithography from TSMC. A shift to N7+ would be expected to lower power consumption by 10% and offer up to a 20% increase in transistor density. This would also allow for higher clock speeds at the same power consumption. AMD has clarified that they did not mean any specific process by "7nm+" and that they would be using an improved version of 7nm, which includes the possibility of the DUV N7P process, or some other unnamed process.

Epyc microprocessors

The Epyc server line of chips based on Zen 3 is to be named Milan and will be the final generation of chips using the SP3 socket.