AMD Announced The New Zen 5 Processor Series

Computex 2024, Taipei, Taiwan. As expected, the annual event proved to be the heartbeat of technology. The HWBusters core duo is already there and will keep you updated as best as possible. AMD is in the spotlight with its newer line of processors. New AM5 desktop and laptop processors are coming, while the AM4 platform is updated with two new additions. AM4 has been a die-hard player, and with good reason, for seven long years. Its newer AM4 additions prove that point. On the other hand, AM5 will be officially supported until 2027, thus showing AMD’s commitment to convenience and support.

Things in the CPU segment seem interesting, and we expect to see how Intel will respond to Red Team’s “menace.” AI and NPUs are notable players in the field, and both companies seem to focus on them. Qualcomm is a strong contender in the mobile market, too. We hope that Intel and AMD overcome the issues that arose earlier or later and that the newcomers are here to stay. Let’s see what to expect from the Red Team and its upcoming CPU line.

AMD Ryzen 5000XT Series

Team Red still bets on its Zen 4 horse and introduces two new processors. The Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800XT processors are the latest additions, updating the already successful recipe. The 5900XT targets the high-end segment, while the 5800XT is an all-around solution. Still, Team Red has to update its naming schemes conveniently. AMD wants to keep the platform alive and “juice up” the Zen 3 architecture even more. If you are still on AM4 and don’t plan to upgrade soon, the newer chips might be a decent option. If you plan to build a new system and budget is not a problem, then upgrading to AM5 might be your best bet. It all depends on your needs and your budget.

Ryzen AI 300 “Strix Point” APUs

The new Ryzen AI-branded APUs (based on TSMC 4nm FinFET), codenamed “Strix Point,” target the laptop segment. The first Ryzen AI APUs are the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the Ryzen AI 9 365, which are expected to launch this summer. They integrate Zen 5 (Zen5 and Zen5c combo) CPU cores, the new XDNA2 AI accelerator, and the RDNA 3.5 Radeon iGPU. The so-called Radeon 890M and the Radeon 880M are the latest integrated graphics solutions in the newer APUs. According to AMD, they outperform the Intel Core Ultra 185H by 36 percent on average (gaming), tested on demanding titles including Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Vendors’ own-provided results should be taken with a grain of salt until independently tested. The XDNA2 AI accelerator is the fastest in its segment, with 50 TOPs against 40–45 TOPs of its known competitors. It is three times faster than AMD’s own-baked Hawk Point series. The performance seems impressive on paper. AMD wants to secure its gaming crown, as it seems. Things are getting interesting in the industry, and we shall see what the competition offers against AMD’s claims for the crown.

AMD Ryzen 9000 Desktop CPU

The Ryzen 9000 series targets the desktop segment, sporting AMD’s new Zen 5 core architecture. The codenamed “Granite Ridge” utilizes the same AM5 socket, but additionally, new 800-series chipset (X870/X870E) motherboards are on their way too (USB 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 GPU/NVMe support). There are four new Zen 5 CPUs: Ryzen 9 9950X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X, expected to launch in July. The first two focus on the high end, while the latter are better for budget-oriented rigs. As already stated, the AM5 socket will officially receive support until 2027, so the newer chips are an interesting option for an upgrade.

According to AMD (so keep that in mind), the Ryzen 9 9950X is up to 23 percent faster in gaming than its main competitor, the Intel Core i9-14900K. Zen 5 is about 16 percent higher in IPC-gained performance than its predecessor, Zen 4. While the results sound interesting, we shall see the real performance gains in actual usage scenarios. I expected better, to be honest, but that doesn’t mean that the “Granite Ridge” chips are not the next big AMD thing. But Team Blue is waiting around the corner with its newer line of processors, so the competition is stiff.

We shall see who will claim the performance crown, and most importantly, without significant problems. The thermal performance should be considered, as well. As you may notice in the specs table below the TDP of the 9700X and the 9600X chips is lower than their predecessors (65W compared to 105W). The competition is rough, and the battle has just started. Team Red challenges Intel, and we shall see how the Blue Team will respond. Things are fascinating, and they will get even more interesting soon. The future seems promising.