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CES 2017: AMD shares Ryzen details on overclocking, CrossFire, and more

The manufacturer talked AM4 and the company's lineup of motherboards, coolers, and PC.

January 5, 2017 4:16 PM

Besides the AM4 motherboards and X300 and X370 chipsets it showed off on the CES show floor, AMD held a behind-closed-doors meeting to share more information on its Ryzen CPU, due to launch sometime this quarter.

According to PC World editor Brad Chacos, who attended the meeting, AMD plans to launch every AM4 motherboard, cooler, and a veritable fleet of PCs sporting Ryzen processors—all available on day one.

Although all Ryzen processor can be overclocked, not every Ryzen PC can be similarly modified. Put more simply, this means that Ryzen and all of AMD's new chips use the AM4 socket, but only the X300, X370, and B350 chipsets support overclocking. Vendors will be able to tailor their PCs to specific markets, so enthusiasts will want to keep an eye out for specialized features like support for extra speed when they shop around.

Furthermore, only enthusiast-grade, X370-based AM4 motherboards enable Radeon Crossfire and Nvidia SLI setups for two or more GPUs. The reason, an AMD rep explained, is that the company's data shows that mainstream consumers don't make use of those features.

That actually benefits users cut from every type of cloth. Vendors can target mainstream or enthusiast shoppers more explicitly.

As for a more specific launch window for Ryzen, AMD would only say that it wants to launch sooner rather than later, rather than holding back until the last day of the quarter.

[Source: PC World]

David Craddock

Long Reads Editor

David L. Craddock writes fiction, nonfiction, and grocery lists. He is the author of the Stay Awhile and Listen series, and the Gairden Chronicles series of fantasy novels for young adults. Outside of writing, he enjoys playing Mario, Zelda, and Dark Souls games, and will be happy to discuss at length the myriad reasons why Dark Souls 2 is the best in the series. Follow him online at davidlcraddock.com and @davidlcraddock.

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January 5, 2017 4:16 PM

David Craddock posted a new article, CES 2017: AMD shares Ryzen details on overclocking, CrossFire, and more
- valcan_s
  
   reply
  January 5, 2017 4:33 PM
  
  Cool, "only enthusiast-grade, X370-based AM4 motherboards enable Radeon Crossfire and Nvidia SLI setups for two or more GPUs." I think that is smart move and it will lower prices of the reg mobos.
  
  I have a feeling and it pains me to say it multi GPU may be on its way out :(
  - DinK
    
     reply
    January 5, 2017 5:42 PM
    
    As awesome as the option is in theory, I know I'll personally never go multi-GPU again unless the current trajectories of games, GPUs, and consoles somehow reverse.
- boarder2
  
   reply
  January 5, 2017 4:43 PM
  
  Let me guess, CrossFire is still awesome on paper and in benchmarks but in the real world it sucks shit because it never works and driver lag behind by months.
  - Visceral Monkey
    
     reply
    January 5, 2017 5:02 PM
    
    Their biggest problems is that when it does work, it's awesome. It just doesn't work well for most games for months after release.
    - boarder2
      
       reply
      January 5, 2017 5:18 PM
      
      Yup, I'll never buy a CrossFire or SLI setup again.
      - Visceral Monkey
        
         reply
        January 5, 2017 5:19 PM
        
        Same, both SLI and CF left me with an extra GPU usually not doing much. My single 1080 is rarely taxed.