Leaked spec for AMD’s Kraken Point laptop chips prompts disappointment… but don’t panic yet

By Mobile Malls January 26, 2024 0 56 views

AMD’s next-gen Kraken Level APUs – all-in-one chips that pack built-in graphics and AI cores, designed for laptops – are the most recent topic of the processor rumor mill.

VideoCardz noticed {that a} leaker on X (previously Twitter), Olrak29, posted concerning the configuration of the highest Kraken Level APU, which ought to (add seasoning) have 8-cores, 4 of which will likely be full Zen 5 cores, and 4 will likely be smaller Zen 5c cores.

Kraken Level has 4x Zen 5 + 4x Zen 5c core configJanuary 25, 2024

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Olrak29 additionally believes that the built-in graphics may have Eight CUs (Compute Items), as detailed in a separate tweet.

As beforehand rumored, these graphics will likely be RDNA Three refresh (referred to as RDNA 3.5) and these all-in-one chips even have an XDNA 2-powered NPU on prime (to spice up AI workloads) in addition to these Zen 5 processor cores.

The present Hawk Level APUs just lately revealed (final month, in truth) are constructed on Zen four structure, with RDNA Three graphics, and an XDNA 1 NPU.

Kraken Level is predicted to reach at the beginning of 2025 to take the baton from Hawk Level, however there will likely be different extra highly effective APUs alongside it – together with on the very top-end some severely beefy chips referred to as Strix Level Halo (with vanilla Strix Level additionally coming, however arriving later this 12 months, if the rumors are proper).

Evaluation: A moist squid? (Phrase mangling intentional)

There’s been some disappointment round this rumor, with of us considering that Kraken Level doesn’t sound all that highly effective for a next-gen (premium-level) APU in comparison with Hawk Level.

A number of the adverse response has been round the truth that it’s sticking with 8-cores, however dropping half of these cores to smaller (Zen 5c) cores, and in addition that the built-in graphics are apparently pegged at simply Eight CUs.

The flagship for Hawk Level gives 12 CUs, however after all the improve to RDNA 3.5 with Kraken Level should rely for one thing. The identical is true for the step on to Zen 5, and relating to the Zen 5c cores, do not forget that these are lower-power affairs, however not practically as in the reduction of as Intel’s effectivity cores in its hybrid CPUs.

Moreover, these are simply rumors anyway, and actually it’s too early within the sport to begin getting down on the prospects of those next-gen APUs. It’s unlikely that AMD will likely be cooking up one thing which isn’t a good step ahead, as a result of, properly, that’s how next-gen merchandise are designed – to be an inexpensive bit extra highly effective.

Nonetheless, it’s attainable that these Kraken Level APUs could supply a extra modest leap in efficiency relative to earlier generational positive factors, maybe as a result of AMD is taking a considerably totally different angle right here. Specifically Kraken Level could possibly be focusing extra on effectivity, and certainly, this design seems extra akin to what Intel is doing with Lunar Lake (its incoming laptop-targeted chips with an emphasis on efficiency per watt, or effectivity, geared toward super-slim laptops).

Additionally, it’s value noting that the NPU in Kraken Level is rumored to be way more highly effective, to the tune of treble the XDNA-powered processor in Hawk Level. So, these rumored specs may replicate AMD refocusing its priorities with this class of APU to a sure extent. Briefly, let’s not get caught up in any negativity but…

Even when all this hypothesis is bang on the cash, as talked about it isn’t like AMD received’t be attacking on the efficiency entrance, as there may also be beefier top-end APUs sitting above Kraken Level, together with Strix Level, and proper on the prime, Strix Level Halo. The latter is about to have a mighty 40 CUs and will severely supercharge the perfect laptops, giving Apple’s personal silicon and MacBooks a run for his or her cash.