WELCOME TO THE NEW AMD
BACK WHEN I WAS STILL IN SCHOOL, the PC landscape was largely dominated by Intel. There were more than just two players at that point. For example, does anyone remember Cyrix? AMD, too, was a secondary option. Every available alternative was essentially a licensed or reverse engineered version of an Intel CPU. And while some non-Intel CPUs offered unique features, most if not all of them were plagued by underperforming chipsets and lackluster motherboards. Sure, options were plentiful, but they were all third-rate choices, and the market was hungry for more.
AMD—seemingly out of nowhere— delivered the equivalent of an atomic explosion to the market when it released the Athlon CPU. With the K6 series processor behind it, offering unexciting performance, the new Athlon CPU was a great improvement. AMD further improved on it, and the Athlon 64 was such a monumental performance brute that it was essentially elevated to revered status.
But that was the last great CPU from AMD. Intel’s response was to completely overhaul its approach to CPU design, putting huge resources into reclaiming its throne. AMD’s later K10 and Bulldozer family CPUs fell behind in both the he desktop and server playgrounds, and nd AMD was again a distant second place. Athlon had been so good thatat consumer expectations hit levels that at AMD was never able to reach. The loyal yal following that believed in AMD wasas left feeling betrayed. And betrayed is, I think, an apt way to describe the last decade. It’s no surprise that when AMD announced its new Zen architecture, the world widened its eyes, but remained cautious. There was talk that Zen could be the CPU that makes or breaks AMD. The company knows that it can’t falter again—and it hasn’t.
Zen, now called Ryzen, is the most exciting thing for consumers from AMD since the original Athlon. Ryzen represents much more than just a CPU for AMD. For the 47-year-old chip company, Ryzen represents a return to the ring. For consumers like you and me, Ryzen revitalizes the CPU race.
AMD has a lot to prove, and Zen will be its combatant on all levels. It might not win every round, but at least it has a puncher’s chance.
Does Ryzen renew my faith in AMD’s CPUs? Ryzen does more than that—it proves to me that AMD has found its stride. It tells me that the company invested heavily in its R&D, and is willing to jump in for many more bouts. Our tests show that Ryzen is a serious competitor against anything that Intel has to offer. From entry level to high end, AMD shows it can flex some serious muscle.
For me, it’s time to let go of those Athlon days. AMD isn’t just back—Ryzen shows that there’s a new AMD in town.
Tuan Nguyenis Maximum PC’s editor-inchief, also known as “the pointy end of the stick .” He’ s been writing, marketing, and raising hell in the te chi nd us try for 20 years.