User Guide

55931 Rev. 1.0 March 2, 2017
AMD Ryzen Processor Overclocking User’s Guide
CPU Core Configuration
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Chapter 6 CPU Core Configuration
As core counts increase for enthusiast processors, it becomes valuable for the user to have control
over how many cores are accessible to software. A performance-tuned system running low
thread-count software and four enabled cores might be optimal for one user. Alternatively, a
performance-tuned system with all cores enabled might be better for another user.
1) The number of enabled CPU cores may be reduced from the maximum to tune the available
number of threads of execution and the associated CPU power requirements and related cooling
requirements to achieve maximum performance for given applications.
2) Reduction of the number of enabled CPU cores from the maximum will reduce the current
and power consumed by the processor. This power consumption reduction can allow the user to
avoid current delivery limitations of the system, avoid processor cooling limitations of the system,
and/or allow the enabled CPU cores to operate at lower temperatures and therefore potentially
higher frequencies.
3) Through core configuration the number of cores to be enabled is selected by the user and
after a system restart, only that number of cores is initialized and reported to the operating system
for task scheduling. This is a static assignment of enabled cores per system boot.
4) The AMD Ryzen processor operates all cores at the same operating frequency. This provides
uniform performance for each enabled core to the operating system task scheduler. In
overclocking mode, each core is supplied power directly from the external VDDCR_CPU supply
and therefore at the same voltage.
5) Core configuration allows for cores to be disabled in logical pairs. Cores may be disabled in
increments of two up to two less than the total cores provided by the given processor model. For
example, a four-core model will allow only two cores to be disabled, leaving two cores active. An
eight-core model will allow two, four or six cores to be disabled, leaving no less than two cores
active.
6) To re-activate disabled cores, the system must be cold reset and restarted. Upon restart, the
processor will be returned to stock configuration and all originally available cores will be enabled