AMD might finally break its 16-core ceiling with the next generation of Ryzen desktop processors. A fresh rumor from reliable tipster HXL points to a Ryzen 10000 lineup that runs from 6-core budget chips all the way up to flagship 24-core monsters.
The “Olympic Ridge” series, built on Zen 6, would mark the first time AMD offers more than 16 cores for mainstream desktop buyers. That shifts the company’s position against Intel.
Seven SKUs and a new chiplet design
The Ryzen 10000 family will reportedly include seven configurations spread across single and dual-CCD designs. Single-chiplet chips are said to come in 6-core, 8-core, 10-core, and 12-core variants. For higher-end SKUs, AMD is reportedly doubling up to deliver 16-core (8+8), 20-core (10+10), and 24-core (12+12) options.
This is a big shift. From the first Ryzen through Zen 5, AMD has stuck to 8-core CCDs as its building block. Moving to 12-core chiplets lets the company scale up without stacking three or four dies. Each new CCD is said to carry 48 MB of L3 cache, giving the flagship non-X3D model 96 MB total.
What Zen 6 brings to the table
Beyond the core bump, Zen 6 is expected to deliver IPC gains and higher clock speeds. That could make these chips noticeably faster than the current Ryzen 9000 series, even at similar core counts.
The post also suggests the new processors will work on existing AM5 motherboards. Anyone with a recent build has a clear upgrade path without swapping boards. That contrasts with Intel, where next-gen chips often require new platforms.
Still, the core count gap between the two rivals might widen. Current rumors point to Intel’s Nova Lake flagship hitting 52 cores, leaving AMD’s 24-core ceiling looking modest.
What to watch for before you buy
None of this is official. AMD hasn’t confirmed Ryzen 10000 beyond the Olympic Ridge codename, and Intel hasn’t even released its Arrow Lake refresh, so take the rumors with patience.
But if they hold, the lineup gives AMD a flexible spread from entry-level builders to professionals who can actually use 24 cores. The bigger question is how Zen 6 performs against Nova Lake when both arrive.
For now, if you’re sitting on an AM5 board, the path forward looks clearer than it did yesterday. Just maybe wait on that RAM upgrade until prices settle.
