AMD is reportedly testing a chip featuring Zen 4 and Zen 4c cores

From the 12th generation of Intel Core processors, the incorporation of Performance Cores (P-Core) and Energy Efficiency Cores (E-Core) has reversed the previously unfavorable situation for the consumer market against AMD over the past year. Despite AMD’s release of the new Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series processors last year, they have yet to introduce a big.LITTLE design, seemingly at a disadvantage in certain application scenarios.

AMD Ryzen 9 7900 vs. 5900X, Source: VideoCardz

According to TomsHardware, an unannounced AMD processor recently surfaced in the MilkyWay@Home database, featuring six cores and 12 threads, with the model number “Family 25 Model 120 Stepping 0”. Experts believe this processor, codenamed “Phoenix 2,” includes two Zen 4-based Performance Cores and four Zen 4c-based Energy Efficiency Cores, boasting a design akin to big.LITTLE.

Currently, the MilkyWay@Home client is unable to accurately verify the cache size of the processor. Rumor has it that the two Zen 4-based Performance Cores are equipped with 2MB of L2 cache and 4MB of L3 cache, while the four Zen 4c-based Energy Efficiency Cores possess 4MB of L2 cache and 4MB of L3 cache. Additionally, the chip integrates an RDNA 3-based GPU with 512 stream processors and supports DDR5/LPDDR5X memory.

Since early March, AMD has been continuously utilizing the chip to run the MilkyWay@Home client, indicating that individuals within or even outside AMD are persistently testing the processor. The release date for the corresponding product remains uncertain, with some reports suggesting a debut in the latter half of 2023.