Ryzen 9 5900X3D ES: AMD experimented with 12-core models and 3D V-Cache
An engineering sample (ES) of the Ryzen 9 5900X3D has appeared on Chiphell (via Videocardz). This discovery highlights AMD's early experimentation with various core and cache configurations for the AM4 platform during the development of 3D V-Cache technology.
Architecture and Cache Configuration
Based on the Zen 3 architecture, this 12-core processor is split into two 6-core CCDs. The design utilizes an asymmetric L3 cache layout: while each chiplet typically holds 32 MB, one CCD is equipped with an additional 64 MB 3D V-Cache layer. This results in a total L3 cache capacity of 128 MB (32 MB + 64 MB + 32 MB).
This specific implementation—where the extra cache is restricted to only one of the two CCDs—was a common trait for many Ryzen 5000 series processors, such as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. While the Ryzen 9 9950X3D eventually broke this pattern, the Ryzen 9 5900X3D itself never transitioned from a prototype to a retail product.
Technical Details and Future Outlook
The surfaced engineering sample comes with specific compatibility requirements. It reportedly fails to boot on modern motherboards running current BIOS versions. To successfully boot, the system requires an older BIOS version featuring SMU firmware 56.70.0.
These prototypes offer insight into the evolution of AMD's design philosophy. Looking ahead to the Zen 6 generation, where CCDs are expected to expand to up to 12 cores, the cache structure may also scale. If AMD maintains the strategy of prioritizing gaming performance by assigning the extra cache to specific cores, future gaming-optimized models could benefit from significantly more than the current 8-core standard.
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