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AMD Unveils Ryzen Mobile Processors Combining Zen Cores and Vega Graphics (hothardware.com)

Posted by msmash on from the competition-heating-up dept.

MojoKid writes: AMD is officially launching a processor family today known by the code name Raven Ridge, but now referred to as Ryzen Mobile. The architecture combines AMD's new Zen CPU core architecture, along with its RX Vega GPU integrated into a single chip for laptops. There are two initial chips in the mobile processor family that AMD is announcing today: the Ryzen 5 2500U and the Ryzen 7 2700U. Both processors feature four cores capable of executing 8 threads with SMT. However, there are differences with respect to processor clocks and GPU specs. AMD's Ryzen 5 2500U has a base clock of 2GHz and a boost clock of 3.6GHz, while Ryzen 7 2700U cranks up another 200MHz on both of those figures. Ryzen 5 2500U features 8 Radeon Vega graphics CUs (Compute Units) and a GPU clock of 1.1GHz, compared to 10 Radeon Vega CUs and a GPU clock of 1.3GHz for the higher-end Ryzen 7 2700U. AMD is making rather ambitious claims for the new processors, and promises some impressive gains over its 7th generation Bristol Ridge predecessors. According to AMD, CPU and GPU performance will see 200 percent and 128 percent uplifts, respectively. AMD is also showcasing benchmark numbers that have the new CPUs outgunning Intel's new quad-core Kaby Lake R chips in spots, along with significant performance advantages in gaming and graphics, on par with discrete, entry-level laptop GPUs like NVIDIA's GeForce 950M. Thin and light laptops from HP, Lenovo and Acer powered by Ryzen Mobile are expected to ship in Q4 this year.

5 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder what their energy use is like... by ctilsie242 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    For laptops like this where battery life is a major factor, I wonder how the AMD side of the house compares to Intel's offerings. Having the GPUs on the same chip might help things.

    1. Re:I wonder what their energy use is like... by jandrese · · Score: 4, Informative

      These are designed to compete directly with Intel's -U processors. 15W design power, able to be clocked down to 12W or up to 30W depending on the situation. When idle the chip can shut down 95% of the graphics part and 100% of the compute part, leaving just enough to keep the screen drawn. When watching video it can also shut down most all of the CPU for better battery life. This is probably AMD's most aggressively mobile chip ever. It will be interesting to see if the major OEMs bite beyond the meager three offerings at launch.

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
    2. Re:I wonder what their energy use is like... by edxwelch · · Score: 5, Informative

      Anandtech has a good write up of the technical details: https://www.anandtech.com/show...
      The power management is considerably improved from desktop Ryzen. They are using linear LDO regulators to manage power for each component independently.

  2. AMD Ryzen ThinkPad please by ReneR · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now all we ask for are some quality ThinkPad's with AMD Ryzen, not some cheap ass, low cost, entry level plastic crap that starts to fall apart after half a year or two.

  3. Can they match Intel's open source graphics driver by hackel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The biggest question for me when deciding on any hardware purchase is how well the manufacturer supports the development of Free, open-source drivers for their hardware, either through the availability of specifications or actually contributing to driver development. Intel has become phenomenal at this, to the point where Intel graphics are the only thing I'll consider using at this point. I used to be a big fan of AMD, but it feels like they have not kept up, particularly since they purchased ATI. I would love to see that trend reversed. I'm also extremely concerned about the presence of binary black-box code running on the CPUs in the form of management engines and such. What are the specifics on these CPUs? Can all that garbage be easily disabled? Intel (and Qualcomm) really need some good competition, so I really hope AMD can be a contender, but I don't have my hopes up.