In context: AMD’s 3D V-Cache expertise has considerably enhanced gaming efficiency within the firm’s final three generations of processors, with rival Intel but to reply. In a current interview, Intel revealed that whereas it has related expertise in improvement, gaming efficiency is just not its major focus.
Intel apparently has no plans to supply client desktop CPUs that includes 3D-stacked cache to compete with AMD’s expertise. As an alternative, the corporate is specializing in enhancing the cache configuration for its next-generation server CPUs, which it considers a extra crucial market section.
Over the previous few years, stacking die configurations to develop L3 cache has grow to be a key benefit for AMD. The addition of 3D V-Cache to the Ryzen 5 5800X3D made it arguably the best-value gaming CPU upon its launch in 2022. Its newly launched successor, the 9800X3D, has undisputedly claimed the title of the most effective general gaming CPU, as confirmed in our assessment.
Nonetheless, Intel Tech Communications Supervisor Florian Mailslinger not too long ago instructed YouTubers der8auer and Bens {Hardware} that the corporate’s equal to 3D V-cache will not debut in desktops. Across the 1-hour and 19-minute mark within the interview under, he confirmed that Clearwater Forest, a lineup of Xeon server CPUs set to reach in 2025, will function a expertise known as Native Cache, which makes use of vertically stacked tiles.
Proof of the expertise first surfaced in an ICEP 2024 presentation slide from Intel final June. The slide described how Clearwater Forest will make use of 3D stacking to extend general cache capability and scale back latency between compute and reminiscence – just like how AMD’s X3D chips increase gaming efficiency.
Mailslinger defended Intel’s determination by acknowledging that gaming is just not a major mass-market focus for the corporate. Whereas AMD’s 3D V-Cache offers its processors a transparent edge over Intel’s in gaming situations, Mailslinger identified that this benefit doesn’t lengthen to productiveness functions – a sentiment echoed in our assessment of the 9800X3D.
Moreover, Mailslinger downplayed the impression of Intel’s gaming efficiency hole. Prior testing by TechSpot confirmed that enhanced cache wouldn’t yield a considerable enchancment in gaming efficiency for Intel’s 14th-gen Core CPUs.
The success of Clearwater Forest might play a pivotal function in Intel’s future. Manufacturing challenges and up to date monetary struggles have put CEO Pat Gelsinger’s efforts to revitalize the corporate beneath intense scrutiny. The brand new server CPUs will introduce Intel’s 18A course of node, which can decide whether or not Intel’s foundry enterprise can return to competitiveness with business chief TSMC.
In the meantime, AMD continues to vow additional efficiency positive factors with future X3D processors, doubtlessly together with the 9900X3D and 9950X3D. Whereas particulars stay scarce, potential enhancements may contain various SRAM stack sizes or rising cache capability on high-end fashions.
