AMD May Be Preparing New Zen 2 CPUs. But Why?

AMD Ryzen Processor
AMD Ryzen Processor (Image credit: AMD)

AMD's Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 (Vermeer) processors are among the best CPUs currently on the market. However, it would seem that the chipmaker has an excess of leftover Zen 2 dies as a new USB-IF listing (via Komachi_Ensaka) has exposed three unreleased Zen 2 processors.

The submission mentions the Athlon Gold 4100GE, Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 3 4100 processors with the A1 revision. We don't know for certain if the trio of AMD chips are wielding Zen 2 cores. Since AMD's utilizing the Ryzen 5000 branding for Zen 3 products, it's unrealistic to think that the chipmaker would use Zen 3 outside of the moniker.

Given the model names, the unannounced AMD processors could be a refresh of their Ryzen 3000 counterparts. There's also the possibility that processors may be special SKUs for OEMs, and we know how AMD likes producing custom-tailored chips for its partners.

Starting with the Athlon Gold 4100GE, the processor could be a follow-up for the Athlon Gold 3150GE, which is an OEM APU. AMD's Athlon Gold SKUs feature integrated Vega graphics solutions so the Athlon Gold 4100GE shouldn't be an exception. While we don't know the core count or clock speeds for the APU, the GE denomination tells us that the Athlon Gold 4100GE is restricted to a 35W TDP (thermal design power).

On the other hand, it's reasonable to assume that the Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 3 4100 are the direct successors to the Ryzen 5 3500 and Ryzen 3 3100, respectively. For reference, the Ryzen 3 3500 is a hexa-core chip, while the Ryzen 3 3100 is a quad-core part. Both feature Zen 2 cores, adhere to a 65W TDP and lacks integrated graphics. We suspect that the Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 3 4100 will inherit the majority of their predecessors' traits, but plausibly sport higher clock speeds.

It's unknown when AMD submitted the entry to the USB-IF, but it's more than enough evidence that the chipmaker has been preparing the three processors. Perhaps, the chipmaker will launch them silently soon, but only time will tell.

Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • JWNoctis
    Would've been much more interesting, if they had revived the Sempron name.
    Reply
  • Neilbob
    JWNoctis said:
    Would've been much more interesting, if they had revived the Sempron name.

    Duron is where it's at.
    Reply
  • CerianK
    Neilbob said:
    Duron is where it's at.
    I think they should secure naming based on LOTR for a future elite product family.
    I would buy a Galadriel 9 Series CPU.
    Reply
  • Eximo
    Ah Duron, everyone's favorite CPU that sounds like a home improvement product or a sensible fabric to make tarps with.
    Reply
  • JWNoctis
    CerianK said:
    I think they should secure naming based on LOTR for a future elite product family.
    I would buy a Galadriel 9 Series CPU.
    In keeping with the tradition, it might actually be Ancalagon 9. That gotta be hot enough for everyone.
    Reply
  • logainofhades
    Probably had a lot of chips that didn't meet the requirements for an existing SKU, so instead of destroying them, sell them under a new SKU, to the OEM market, at the very least.
    Reply
  • spongiemaster
    Eximo said:
    Ah Duron, everyone's favorite CPU that sounds like a home improvement product or a sensible fabric to make tarps with.
    It didn't just sound like it, it actually was. Duron was/is a material used in commercial bathroom stall partitions. It also used to be a paint company.
    Reply
  • Joseph_138
    If all they promise is slightly higher clocks than their predecessors, they shouldn't bother. They will likely be released to OEM's only, in which case, I would be very careful of buying prebuilts that contain these chips if the price difference between these and the 5000 chips is only minimal.
    Reply