AMD Ryzen AI Processors: All You Need to Know

Highlights

AMD releases Ryzen AI 300 series processors for AI PCs, with NPU and focus on efficiency.
The new processors work seamlessly with Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI plan and offer industry optimizations.
ASUS VivoBook S14 is the first laptop with Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU, Radeon 880M GPU, and 45+ TOPS NPU.

As a tech enthusiast who has been following the development of processors for quite some time now, I must say that AMD’s Ryzen AI series is truly revolutionizing the market with its focus on AI integration and performance efficiency.

AMD unveiled its latest lineup of processors, dubbed the Ryzen AI 300 series, designed to drive the future of artificial intelligence (AI) personal computers. Each processor in this series includes a Ryzen core processor (CPU), a Radeon graphics chip (GPU), and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) – an exclusive AI engine. The main goal for these laptop processors is to deliver all-around enhancements, particularly prioritizing efficiency when utilizing AI technology. Major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are currently preparing to launch new laptops featuring the cutting-edge Ryzen AI 300 series chips.

AMD Ryzen AI Processors: SKUs and Specifications

The Ryzen AI 300 series doesn’t cater to a broad range of users, instead, it provides a straightforward selection of CPUs. Currently, there are only three CPUs in this series: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. As their names imply, the Ryzen AI 9 365 serves as an entry-level choice, while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and HX 375 offer better performance. What sets them apart is that they all share a default Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 28W by default.

The significant improvements include the latest Zen 5 CPU design, improved RDNA 3.5-based graphics integrated as the Radeon 800M series with increased core numbers and faster clock rates, and a third-generation NPU built upon XDNA2 technology.

These advanced AI-focused processors from AMD are designed to collaborate flawlessly with Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI PC initiative. Furthermore, AMD is teaming up with prominent companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, DeepLearning.AI, and others to enhance numerous workflows for laptop users equipped with the Ryzen AI 300 series processors. This collaboration aims to position AMD competitively against Intel’s Core Ultra processors and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, both of which have made significant strides in their previous generations regarding AI integration.

The Ryzen AI 300 series employs both Zen 5 and a more streamlined Zen 5c design, with the latter offering lower frequency and power consumption. In this setup, the primary cores are categorized as either Zen 5 or Zen 5c cores, typically featuring distinct turbo boost clock speeds. Notably, these new chips only accommodate PCIe 4.0, skipping over the emerging PCIe 5.0 standard that the market is trending towards.

CPU	Cores	Threads	GPU	Max Boost Speed
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375	12	24	AMD Radeon 890M	Up to 5.1 GHz
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370	12	24	AMD Radeon 890M	Up to 5.1 GHz
AMD Ryzen AI 9 365	10	20	AMD Radeon 880M	Up to 5 GHz

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375

The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the top-tier offering in the series, and it comes with specifications to match. There are 12 cores and 24 threads, 24MB of L3 cache, and a maximum boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz. Interestingly, out of the 12 cores, four are based on the Zen 5 architecture while eight are based on the Zen 5c architecture. The Zen 5c cores are more compact and typically have lower clock speeds. In the case of the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, the Zen 5c cores can boost up to only 3.3 GHz with a base clock speed of 2 GHz. A similar setup to Intel Performance core and Efficiency core combination.

As a seasoned tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that this processor is nothing short of a marvel. The default Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 28W might seem standard at first glance, but delving deeper into its capabilities reveals a truly versatile chip rated for a configurable TDP ranging from 15W to a staggering 54W. This flexibility opens up a world of possibilities for overclocking, a feature supported by Precision Boost Overdrive and AMD’s EXPO Memory Overclocking Technology.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) in my device boasting speeds up to an impressive 55 Tera Operations per Second (TOPS). This power is just what Microsoft Copilot Plus (Copilot+) needs, as it requires a minimum of 40 TOPS. Interestingly, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips also pack an NPU capable of 45 TOPS. It’s worth noting that none of the Intel Core Ultra processors can support Copilot+ due to their lower performance in this regard.

AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370

In simpler terms, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 mobile processor is similar to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, but it has a slightly less powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This means that the CPU performance remains the same with 12 cores, 24 threads, and a maximum boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz. The NPU can handle up to 50 TOPS as opposed to the HX 375’s maximum capability of 55 TOPS. Consequently, the total processor performance is also slightly lower at 80 TOPS compared to 85 TOPS in the HX 375.

In essence, both the GPU and L3 cache function similarly, leading to comparable performance in CPU-heavy and GPU-intensive tasks. But when it comes to operations optimized for artificial intelligence, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 outperforms the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 due to its advanced AI optimizations.

AMD Ryzen AI 9 365

Currently, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 stands as the less expensive option within its series, but it’s still labeled as a Ryzen AI 9 model, suggesting that there might be more affordable versions in the future. Compared to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 represents a notable step down, as it features only 10 cores and 20 threads. Four of these cores are based on the Zen 5 architecture, while the remaining six are derived from the Zen 5c architecture. The maximum boost clock speed for this chip is 5 GHz with a base clock speed of 2 GHz.

You still get 24MB of L3 cache and a 28W TDP with support for overclocking. The GPU present within the processor is the Radeon 880M, which is a 12-core chip that can run at 2900 MHz. As for the NPU, it has the same performance as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 of up to 50 TOPS, but the total processor performance is lower than the other two at 73 TOPS.

AMD Ryzen AI Processors: Availability

Laptops powered by the Ryzen AI 300 series processors are slowly making their way to retailers. All major brands including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are working on putting out their versions of Ryzen AI 300 series powered laptops. As of now, ASUS seems to be the only one with a laptop offering powered by the Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, and it is the latest version of the VivoBook S14. The laptop is available for purchase via Amazon and Newegg for $1200.

Acer is planning to launch Ryzen AI 300 series laptops under their Swift lineup, similar moves are being made by HP with their OmniBook Ultra models, while ASUS prepares to update its ProArt laptop series and the latest Zephyrus G16 with these new processors.

FAQ

Q: What are the benefits of Ryzen AI?

The latest Ryzen AI 300 series processors have been designed primarily for AI applications, making them more energy-efficient, thus cheaper and more compact. They also seamlessly integrate with popular apps and software, enhancing daily tasks. Continuous AI enhancements ensure these processors become even more efficient over time.

Q: Does AMD have AI cores?

The latest Ryzen AI 300 series processors come equipped with a specialized Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for artificial intelligence tasks, boasting a peak performance of approximately 55 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS), which can vary based on the specific model.

2024-08-22 19:04