The recent leak of AMD’s upcoming CPUs has sent shockwaves through the tech community. The leaked information covers the Strix Point and Strix Point Halo APUs, processors that come with integrated graphics, eliminating the need for a separate GPU. While it’s important to approach this leak with caution, as it originated from a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Hong Kong-based tech site HKEPC managed to capture the details before it was removed.
According to the leaked material, the upcoming chips will be based on Zen 5 architecture and will feature RDNA 3.5 (or RDNA 3+) refreshed graphics and next-gen XDNA 2 for the NPU. In addition to the CPU and GPU, these chips also come with an NPU, catering to the increasing demand for AI capabilities in PCs.
The Strix Point Halo APUs will be available in configurations with up to 16 cores and 32 threads. They will feature 40 CUs for integrated RDNA 3.5 graphics and 32MB of MALL cache for the GPU. Interestingly, the flagship 16-core chip will actually consist of two chiplets, each with 8 cores. The NPU in the Halo range is expected to reach an impressive 60 TOPS (trillions of operations per second).
On the other hand, the Strix Point vanilla APUs will offer up to 12 cores and 24 threads, with a GPU featuring 16 CUs and AI performance of 50 TOPS. These specs indicate that both the NPUs and GPUs in these APUs are highly promising.
It’s important to note that the TOPS ratings mentioned are only for the NPUs and do not represent the combined AI processing capabilities of the APUs. Even so, the 60 TOPS figure for the Halo APU outperforms the much-talked-about Snapdragon X Elite, which boasts 45 TOPS. This suggests that AMD is setting the bar high for AI performance in APUs.
The competition in the laptop market is heating up, with the likes of Qualcomm and Apple also vying for a piece of the pie. Apple, in particular, may be concerned about the potential impact of the Strix Point APUs, especially the Halo variant, which could power excellent MacBook Pro rivals. The integrated GPU in the Strix Point Halo APU looks particularly impressive, as it outperforms the existing RX 7600 XT in terms of CUs and features a faster, tweaked RDNA 3 architecture. The mention of 32MB of MALL cache further enhances performance, similar to AMD’s Infinity Cache technology.
While the Strix Point Halo APU is not expected to arrive until 2025, according to current theories, it poses a potential threat to established players like Apple, Qualcomm, and Intel. As technology continues to advance rapidly, it’s clear that AMD is pushing the boundaries of what is possible with integrated graphics and AI capabilities in APUs.
In conclusion, the leak of AMD’s upcoming CPUs has revealed some exciting details about the Strix Point and Strix Point Halo APUs. With impressive specifications and the inclusion of AI capabilities, these chips have the potential to redefine the performance capabilities of integrated graphics in PCs. As the competition heats up in the laptop market, established players like Apple and Qualcomm will need to keep a close eye on AMD’s advancements to stay ahead of the game.
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