AMD’s Ryzen 7000 release is bigger than processors. Processor architecture changes, but so do changes in everything from the chipset to the physical socket where the chips connect. The last time in 2017, the first generation of Ryzen chips changed at once. launched first.

So today we’re publishing two Ryzen pieces. One is to look at the performance and power efficiency of the actual chips here. This will focus on all the other changes, including those that will be with us long after the Ryzen 7000 is old news.

We’ll divide this piece into four parts covering the four main components of the Ryzen 7000 release: 1) the Zen 4 CPU core, 2) the on-chip I/O box internal connectivity that supports the CPU’s non-CPU features and handles, 3) most external connectivity 600 series chipsets that drive it, and 4) a physical AM5 socket that will outlast all other components by several years.