Question on Ryzen CPUs

[BUDFORCE]

Sorry these are noob questions but I have been out of touch a bit with modern hardware.

I was under the impression that "back in the day" I'm talking some 15+ years ago when Athlon CPU's were decking Intel.

Intel used to manufacture CPU's to spec, the manufacturing process isnt always 100%, well maybe things have changed, but from what I understand if the chip didnt make the grade, they'd bin it or use it for other purposes. Where as AMD basically tested each one to see how good it was, and sold it accordingly.

Unless that was total BS? It's what a generally relaible mate told me.

Anyway, if true, is this why, if you look at the various Ryzen 7 CPU's for example, they seem the same other than slight (couple hundred mhz) differences in clock speeds?

If not, what the the reason behind AMD selling what seems like very similar spec CPU's in the same range, barring a few hundred mhz speed? Marketting? Charge a premium for a (very) slightly faster CPU?

And do the higher clock out of the box chips overclock better respectively?

 

[DoneADougalOnSofa]

From my understanding, Intel make i7s and i9s. Some of them will have imperfections, so cores will be disabled etc, and the chip badged up as, say, an i5 instead.

I think AMD's process node (from Global Foundries, I believe) has shocked all concerned at how high the yield is- they're not getting many failures, so the chips are more designed to spec, rather than high-end chips cut down because of imperfections.

I'm sure others can provide more detail, but that's my basic take on it.

 

[Journey]

Intel used to manufacture CPU's to spec, the manufacturing process isnt always 100%, well maybe things have changed, but from what I understand if the chip didnt make the grade, they'd bin it or use it for other purposes.

All manufacturing of all the CPU dies is done to 'spec' but there will always be waste, as there is in any manufacturing process, let alone a highly technical and precise one like optical/photolithography. Are you confusing the word bin, with rubbish, as in to literally discard it? Obviously if the die was faulty it can't be used, but if the target was a Pentium 4 2800MHz, and it could only do 2666MHz then it would be reclassified as such.

Where as AMD basically tested each one to see how good it was, and sold it accordingly.

See above.

Anyway, if true, is this why, if you look at the various Ryzen 7 CPU's for example, they seem the same other than slight (couple hundred mhz) differences in clock speeds?

If not, what the the reason behind AMD selling what seems like very similar spec CPU's in the same range, barring a few hundred mhz speed? Marketting? Charge a premium for a (very) slightly faster CPU?

And do the higher clock out of the box chips overclock better respectively?

The 7nm process that is used in Zen2 CPU's is reasonably new, and maturing still. All the CCD's produced will be done to make everyone as accurately as possible, but the actual silcon wafer varies in quality from the middle to the edges so not all the CCD's are equal. Some will clock faster at a lower voltage, while others will have faulty CCX's or individual CPU cores, or cache. AMD will 'speed bin' the best CCD's for use in the best products, and work out what those product will be clocked at to keep it in the specification for heat and power consumption etc.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Ok cool pretty much on the right lines then.

So really, the question is, looking at say the current Ryzen 7 range for example, is it worth the £50-£80 whatever, for the extra 100-300mhz click speed?

And do the higher base click speeds overclock better respectively?

 

[Tetras]

So really, the question is, looking at say the current Ryzen 7 range for example, is it worth the £50-£80 whatever, for the extra 100-300mhz click speed?

Not unless you really need the extra speed guaranteed, like for super high refresh gaming, or workstation tasks, but if you're building a workstation you'd probably go for a 3900 or 3950 anyway. With the high boost/turbo clocks all CPUs come pre-overclocked now.

 

[Jamin280672]

Ok cool pretty much on the right lines then.

So really, the question is, looking at say the current Ryzen 7 range for example, is it worth the £50-£80 whatever, for the extra 100-300mhz click speed?

And do the higher base click speeds overclock better respectively?

The thing with Ryzen 7's is now they have the chiplet with separate IO die going on, a 3700X vs a 3800X is going to have both parts binned slightly better id imagine, AMD have kind of admitted this themselves, and I dont see any reason why they wouldnt bin IO dies too as they are made in a separate factory, especially where the 3900X and 3950X come into play, the 3900X has one good chiplet and one that just makes the grade (it only has to hit the base speed on all cores), where as the 3950X has both well binned chiplets.