As for AMD, we’ve heard that the company might introduce a new type of core with the Zen 6 architecture. In addition to the “classic” cores and compact cores in Zen 6c, an efficient version might be on the horizon. However, this information should be taken with a grain of salt, as these are merely rumors. Furthermore, a Linux patch does not guarantee the arrival of this type of core. But we can already speculate on their potential utility in an AMD processor.
Zen 6: Moving Toward the Addition of Efficient Cores to Reduce Power Consumption?
Spotted in a Linux kernel patch!
Broadly speaking, in a Linux kernel patch, the CPUID Fn0x80000026 Extended CPU Topology core identification interface allows for the detection of a new type of core. While it previously had two values—0 and 1—to identify standard and compact cores, it now includes a third identifier: 2. At this point, we don’t know exactly what this core type refers to, but it could be efficient cores.
From this, we can speculate on their purpose; they might be used to run system services in the background, which would kick in when the machine is under light load or when running lighter tasks in the background. This would allow the larger cores to remain in a sleep state longer, thereby improving the processors’ energy efficiency. However, the concept itself is nothing new; it’s a system already found in Intel CPUs.
A quick reminder about classic and compact cores:
Broadly speaking, these new cores would operate alongside classic cores—the larger, performance-oriented cores. These are currently the most common in the current Ryzen lineups. But AMD also offers more compact cores, identified by a “c” suffix. While these cores have the same cache capacity, clock speeds, and instruction sets, they feature a more compact design that saves space on the die. This is the type of core found in certain mobile CPUs, as well as in server models designed for cloud servers, for example. However, AMD has not yet confirmed the existence of this type of core.
