AMD's Latest AI Processors for Laptops Compatible with Copilot.
Yesterday at Computex 2024, AMD CEO Lisa Su unveiled the Zen 5 CPUs, consisting of powerful new desktop processors and, in a surprising move, the first-ever AI-ready Copilot chips from AMD. These chips will hit the market in July, coming in various models for both desktops and laptops. The desktop lineup will continue to excel in traditional tasks like gaming, while laptop models will now directly compete with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors.
The CPUs will feature new high-end desktop models like the Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 9 9900X, and the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X. On the laptop front, we'll see the introduction of the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen AI 9 365. Although AMD is planning to release more specialized processors in the future, desktop users can expect a decent selection of new chips this summer. For laptop users, they'll need to be patient for more affordable versions.
According to AMD, the Ryzen 9 9950X desktop chip will deliver up to 56% faster productivity (in Blender) and up to 23% faster gaming (in Horizon Zero Dawn) compared to Intel's Core i9-14900K. Even more impressive, the Zen 5 CPUs are said to have "up to twice the AI performance of the last gen."
Donny Woligroski, AMD senior technical marketing manager, explained to The Verge that desktop PCs can handle AI software like Photoshop. However, the AI boost could be most noticeable in the new generation of AMD-powered laptops, leading to rebranding of its Ryzen 9 laptop chips as Ryzen AI. The all-new 50 TOPS neural processing unit in AMD's Zen 5 CPUs is poised to outperform both Apple's M4 chip (38 TOPS) and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips (45 TOPS).
Although the details are technical, it's clear that x86 chips are ready to handle AI tasks as well as Arm-based processors like Apple's and Qualcomm's. While the latter offer superior battery life and have made recent leaps in performance, they can struggle with app compatibility. AMD is promising to deliver raw power.
The press conference further revealed that the new AI chips from AMD will be utilized in Copilot+ laptops from various manufacturers such as MSI, Asus, and Lenovo. This is significant news for users who want to switch to Copilot+ but are not interested in emulating x86 programs on Arm. Previously, Qualcomm's Arm chips seemed to have the upper hand in Microsoft's AI laptops.
The pricing of these chips has yet to be disclosed, but PC builders should know that they will all adhere to AMD's AM5 socket. This means you won't need to upgrade your motherboard just yet. Additionally, AMD is also set to release two updated desktop chips - the Ryzen 9 5900XT and Ryzen 7 5800XT - in July. These AMD devices are designed for both PC gamers and professionals who require high-performance computing capabilities.
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The unveiled Zen 5 CPUs from AMD, including the first-ever AI-ready Copilot chips, will not only enhance desktop performance for tasks like gaming but also introduce stronger competition for Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors in the laptop market. In the tech sphere, AMD's upcoming AMD Zen 5 CPUs, such as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen AI 9 365, are anticipated to showcase impressive AI performance, surpassing even Apple's M4 chip and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips.
