Zen+

Zen+ is a microarchitecture and a family of CPUs from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), serving as a refined iteration of the original Zen design. Launched in April 2018, it was built on an enhanced 12 nm manufacturing process and featured improvements in clock speeds, memory latency, and power efficiency. These processors, codenamed "Pinnacle Ridge," were primarily targeted at the mainstream desktop market, competing directly with Intel's Coffee Lake and Kaby Lake offerings.

Overview

The development of Zen+ was part of AMD's strategic roadmap to deliver consistent, annual performance improvements following the successful launch of the original Zen-based Ryzen processors. Key goals included achieving higher stable clock frequencies, reducing cache and memory latencies, and improving overall power efficiency through a more mature manufacturing node. The launch of Zen+ coincided with the introduction of new 400-series chipsets, such as the X470, which offered better platform support and features. This release solidified AMD's competitive position in the CPU market and set the stage for the subsequent, more radical Zen 2 architecture.

Architecture

Architecturally, Zen+ is largely identical to its predecessor, retaining the fundamental CCX (Core Complex) design, SMT support, and the Infinity Fabric interconnect. The most significant architectural tweaks were focused on the memory subsystem and the interconnect itself. Enhancements to the Infinity Fabric allowed it to run at higher speeds more efficiently, directly reducing inter-core communication latency. Furthermore, improvements to the memory controller, officially branded as "Precision Boost 2" and "Extended Frequency Range 2" (XFR 2), provided more granular and responsive clock speed adjustments based on thermal and power headroom. These refinements resulted in better real-world performance, particularly in latency-sensitive applications and games.

Process technology

Zen+ marked a shift from the 14 nm GlobalFoundries process used for first-generation Ryzen to a more refined 12 nm LP (Leading Performance) node, also from GlobalFoundries. This transition was not a full node shrink but an optimized version of the existing 14 nm technology, offering better transistor density and improved performance-per-watt characteristics. The 12 nm process enabled higher maximum and all-core boost clocks while maintaining similar thermal design power (TDP) envelopes. This manufacturing improvement was crucial for achieving the architecture's goals of higher frequencies and better efficiency, providing a tangible upgrade over the original Zen without a complete redesign.

Products and variants

The Zen+ microarchitecture was implemented in the second generation of AMD's mainstream desktop Ryzen processors, notably the Ryzen 5 2600X and the Ryzen 7 2700X. The product stack also included the Ryzen 3 2300X and Ryzen 5 2500X for specific markets, along with energy-efficient "E" models. Furthermore, Zen+ cores were utilized in certain Athlon desktop APUs and formed the basis for the high-end desktop Ryzen Threadripper 2000 series processors, codenamed "Colfax." These chips were paired with the new X470 and B450 chipsets, maintaining compatibility with existing AM4 sockets while offering enhanced features.

Performance and reception

Upon release, Zen+ processors were generally well-received by critics and the technology press, with outlets like AnandTech, Tom's Hardware, and Gamers Nexus highlighting the meaningful gains in gaming performance and application throughput over first-generation Ryzen. The reduced memory latency and higher sustained boost clocks closed the gap with competing Intel Core i7 processors in many benchmarks. The flagship Ryzen 7 2700X was particularly praised for its strong multi-threaded performance and bundled Wraith Prism cooler. This generation strengthened AMD's reputation for offering exceptional value and cemented the Ryzen brand as a formidable competitor in the desktop CPU market, building crucial momentum for the launch of Zen 2 based on the 7 nm process. Category:AMD microarchitectures Category:2018 in computing