As the AMD Ryzen 9000 series approaches its first anniversary, early details about its successor are beginning to surface. New leaks suggest that AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 10000 series, based on the Zen 6 architecture, could introduce one of the biggest design changes in the company’s desktop CPU lineup.
According to information shared by hardware leaker HXL, AMD may significantly increase the number of cores per chiplet, potentially enabling consumer desktop processors with up to 24 cores and 48 threads.
A Break from the 8-Core CCD Tradition
Since the first-generation Ryzen launch, AMD has typically limited each Core Complex Die (CCD) to eight cores. The Zen 6 design is expected to raise that limit to 12 cores per CCD.
With two fully populated CCDs, AMD could deliver:
- Up to 24 cores / 48 threads in top-end models
- New intermediate configurations such as 10-core and 20-core variants
- Single-CCD options with 6, 8, 10, or 12 cores
If accurate, the shift would mark the highest core count ever offered in AMD’s mainstream desktop lineup, surpassing the current Ryzen 9 limit of 16 cores.
Bigger Cache Without 3D Stacking
The architectural changes could also bring a substantial increase in L3 cache. Two CCDs combined may provide up to 96MB of L3 cache without relying on AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology.
That figure matches the total cache capacity that helped make the Ryzen 7 5800X3D a standout gaming processor, suggesting that even non-X3D Zen 6 chips could deliver strong gaming performance.
The current gaming leader, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, has already demonstrated the importance of large cache sizes for gaming workloads.
Competition with Intel Heating Up
The rumored changes come as AMD faces increasing competition from Intel. Reports indicate that Intel’s upcoming Nova Lake desktop platform (expected to be marketed as Core Ultra 400) could feature configurations with as many as 52 cores and significantly larger cache pools.
The growing core counts on both sides signal an intensifying performance race in the desktop CPU market, particularly as workloads expand beyond gaming into content creation, AI tasks, and heavy multitasking.
AMD has not officially confirmed specifications for Zen 6 or the Ryzen 10000 series. Industry timelines suggest the processors will arrive sometime after the current Ryzen 9000 generation completes its lifecycle.
The competitive outlook may also depend on broader supply conditions, as ongoing component constraints and market volatility could influence launch schedules for both AMD and Intel.
