AMD Zen 6 will introduce a new Low Power core: early hints come from the Linux kernel

The future AMD CPUs based on the Zen 6 architecture could introduce a significant evolution in architectural terms. Some patches recently published on the Linux kernel mailing list indeed anticipate the arrival of a new category of core called Low Power, intended to complement the current Performance and Efficiency cores (the standard Zen and those known as Zen C).

Among the changes sent by AMD developers to the Linux kernel, a new value dedicated to ultra-low power cores has appeared. This marks the first technical confirmation of the existence of this new type, although AMD has not yet released official details about its architectural characteristics.

As mentioned, the current Zen family features two main variants based on the same ISA (Instruction Set Architecture): the traditional Zen cores and the Zen C cores, designed to increase compute density thanks to a smaller area and optimized frequencies and power consumption. This approach had already been introduced with Zen 4 and has been employed in both desktop processors and solutions aimed at data centers.

With Zen 6, the situation could become even more intricate. In addition to the standard cores and the upcoming Zen 6C, AMD is reportedly preparing a third variant specifically optimized for reduced consumption. Unlike Intel's approach with hybrid architectures that employ different Performance Core and Efficient Core types even from an ISA perspective, AMD is expected to continue maintaining a single base architecture, differentiating implementations based on performance and energy goals.

The changes introduced in the Linux kernel describe the new Low Power cores as units designed to ensure the minimum possible consumption during background loads or system idle phases. For now, the published code only contains the necessary changes for the operating system to correctly recognize this new type of core. No details about technical specifications, operating frequencies, or internal organization of the new computing elements have emerged yet.

According to rumors circulating in recent months, the first processors to integrate this new architecture could belong to the upcoming Medusa APU family, expected around 2027. The range should include configurations that combine Zen 6, Zen 6C, and the new Zen 6 Low Power cores, resulting in an even more sophisticated heterogeneous architecture compared to the current one.

The hypothesis is that the Low Power cores will be designated for executing less demanding tasks, such as background processes, operating system management, and loads during idle periods, leaving the main cores to handle more demanding applications. Such a division might allow for further reductions in energy consumption and improvements in battery life in portable systems, in addition to making future AMD platforms more competitive in terms of efficiency.

Further information on the concrete implementation of the new Low Power cores is expected to emerge in the coming months, as the official presentation of the Zen 6 platform approaches.