AM5 platform confirmed to support DDR5 memory

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Although AMD will launch Zen 3 processors with 3D cache this year, they may be the last products on the AM4 platform. By next year, AMD will switch to the new AM5 platform, and the Zen 4 architecture Ryzen, code-named Raphael, may be released in the second quarter of 2022. What we know before is the Raphael processor, the maximum number of cores is configured to be 16, using TSMC 5nm process manufacturing, IOD is 6nm or 7nm process, integrated RDNA 2 architecture core display, support DDR5 memory.

AMD RDNA 3 architecture

Now some netizens reveal some information about AMD’s new-generation platform, which contains a lot of relevant information about the new generation of processors, among them is a Socket AM5 processor motherboard design manual that shows all the expansion capabilities of the new generation of processors, but this document is not the final version and does not include the specific expansion capabilities of the motherboard chipset.

The I/O interface will vary depending on whether the motherboard supports USB4, let’s talk about some fixed ones first. The AM5 processor supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a total of 28 PCI-E 4.0 channels. There is currently no sign that consumer-grade platforms will support PCI-E 5.0. At least the first generation of AM5 processors should not be supported. Among the 28 PCI-E channels, 4 are fixed to connect to the motherboard chip, 16 are for the motherboard slot, which can be differentiated into two x8 channels, and 4 are for the M.2 interface. A video output port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2, a full-featured USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a USB 2.0 port on the motherboard are fixed. The full-featured USB port can also be made into a video output port such as HDMI or DP. The remaining 4 PCI-E channels and 3 full-featured USB ports will be different depending on the motherboard supporting USB4.

Judging from this design manual, the AM5 processor currently does not natively support USB4 and requires a separate USB4 controller. It occupies 4 PCI-E channels and two full-function USB ports and provides two USB4 ports. At this time, the remaining channels on the CPU can lead to two USB 2.0 ports.

If a USB4 interface is not provided, these 4 PCI-E channels can be made into M.2 interface or PCI-E slot, and two full-featured USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports can be used directly or made into video output ports.  In addition, from these structural diagrams, we can see that the AM5 chip supports PCI-E 4.0 and the native USB 3.2 Gen2*2. With the support of the AMD platform, I feel that the USB 3.2 Gen2*2 port will become more popular.

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