Ryzen AI chips prepare AMD for the AI transformation

At Computex 2024, AMD unveiled a new chapter in laptop processors with its Ryzen AI chips, 300 Series to be particular, designed specifically for generative AI tasks. This move is a strategic shift for AMD, as it rebrands its top-tier Ryzen 9 chips under a new moniker.

The Ryzen AI chips, together with the 300 Series, retain the familiar “HX” suffix, but with a twist: It no longer indicates power consumption but rather signifies the top-performing Ryzen AI chips, as explained in their blog post.

See AMD’s take on Computex 2024 below.

A new chapter opens with Ryzen AI chips

The Ryzen AI 300 Series introduces a significant change in AMD’s naming conventions for laptop processors. The “HX” suffix, previously used to indicate power draw, now serves as a marker for the most powerful chip within the Ryzen AI 300 lineup. This alteration reflects AMD’s dedication to generative AI workloads, emphasizing the specialized nature of these processors.

Beyond a mere name change, the Ryzen AI 300 Series represents a technological advancement. These chips are engineered to excel in tasks that demand substantial AI capabilities, such as image and video processing, natural language understanding, and other AI-intensive applications. This positions AMD as a strong competitor in the dynamic and rapidly evolving arena of AI-powered laptops.

A closer look at the new Ryzen AI chips

The Ryzen AI 300 Series chips are built on AMD’s new “Zen 5” architecture, designed to deliver enhanced performance and efficiency. Two specific chips have been announced within the series:

Ryzen AI 9 370HX: This top-tier chip boasts 12 CPU cores (4 high-performance Zen 5 cores and 8 efficiency-focused Zen 5c cores) with 24 threads, providing ample power for demanding tasks. It features AMD Radeon 890M graphics with 16 compute units, ensuring smooth visuals and gaming performance. Notably, it includes the AMD XDNA 2 AI engine, delivering 50 TOPS of AI processing power, significantly exceeding the requirements for AI tasks like Microsoft’s Copilot+.

Ryzen AI 9 365HX: This chip also features the Zen 5 architecture with 10 CPU cores (4 high-performance Zen 5 cores and 6 efficiency-focused Zen 5c cores) and 20 threads. It comes equipped with AMD Radeon 880M graphics with 12 compute units and the same powerful XDNA 2 AI engine found in the Ryzen AI 9 370HX.

The new Ryzen AI chips rebrand the top-tier Ryzen 9 chips with the “HX” suffix, now indicating top performance rather than power consumption (Image credit)

Both chips feature a dedicated AI engine based on the new AMD XDNA 2 architecture. This enhances productivity and creativity by efficiently handling local AI workloads, generating content, and automating workflows, all while maintaining exceptional power efficiency. They also both offer new AMD RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture, ensuring smooth frame rates and high-quality visuals for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.

And yes, they both feature NPUs although they are found to be not necessary for the new Windows Recall feature.

Ryzen AI 300 Series’ deliberate strategy for the AI market

AMD’s decision to launch the Ryzen AI 300 Series is a strategic move within the competitive AI landscape. By explicitly targeting generative AI workloads, AMD is aligning itself with the increasing demand for laptops equipped to handle AI tasks. This approach mirrors a broader industry trend, as AI integration into everyday computing continues to expand.

The rebranding of top-tier Ryzen 9 chips as Ryzen AI 300 Series processors also streamlines AMD’s product portfolio. It establishes a clear differentiation between processors intended for general computing and those optimized for AI applications. This distinction benefits consumers by making it easier to select the appropriate processor for their individual needs.

MI325X to rival H200

While the Ryzen AI 300 Series garnered significant attention at Computex, AMD also introduced another AI-focused product: the MI325X. This 288GB AI accelerator is designed to rival Nvidia’s H200, showcasing AMD’s commitment to expanding its presence in the AI accelerator market.

Together with Ryzen AI chips, AMD introduced the MI325X AI accelerator, designed to rival Nvidia’s H200 (Image credit)

The MI325X highlights AMD’s ambition to challenge Nvidia’s leading position in this market segment. By providing a competitive alternative, AMD aims to foster innovation and offer consumers a wider range of choices. The performance and features of the MI325X are poised to undergo close examination by industry experts.

The New AMD Instinct MI325X accelerator is expected to be available in Q4 2024.

AMD’s path forward in AI

The unveiling of the Ryzen AI chips, 300 Series and the MI325X, at Computex 2024 marks a significant moment for AMD. These new products underscore the company’s dedication to innovation and its determination to compete in the AI arena.

While the full extent of the impact of these advancements remains to be seen, one thing is certain: AMD is fully invested in AI.

The Ryzen AI chips 300 Series and the MI325X are set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI laptops, and AMD is well-prepared to lead the way. The journey is ongoing, and the outlook appears promising for both AMD and the broader landscape of AI-powered computing.

Featured image credit: AMD/YouTube