Powering AI PCs! AMD launches its first commercial AI-enhanced desktop chip

Author: Li Dan

Source: Hard AI

AMD is making a move in the artificial intelligence (AI) computer field, using a new batch of chips to compete for NVIDIA's market share.

On Tuesday, April 16th, Eastern Time, AMD announced the launch of two new products, the Ryzen Pro 8040 series and AMD Ryzen Pro 8000 series, expanding its commercial mobile and desktop AI personal computer (PC) product portfolio to provide enterprise users with excellent productivity and high-quality AI and internet experiences.

Both new products are based on a 4-nanometer (nm) process technology. The Ryzen Pro 8040 series is designed for laptops. AMD claims that it is the most advanced x86 processor designed for commercial laptops and mobile workstations. The Ryzen Pro 8000 series is for desktops, being the first desktop processor that supports AI and targets enterprise users, providing cutting-edge performance with low power consumption.

Compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U, the Ryzen Pro 8040 series offers up to a 72% improvement in video conferencing performance.

AMD states that the Ryzen Pro 8040 series features up to 8 high-performance cores, using the Zen 4 CPU architecture, which can deliver a 30% overall performance improvement for demanding mobile workstation applications. AMD claims that this series is the fastest x86 processor for commercial laptops globally.

With specific models of AMD Ryzen AI and the powerful AMD RDNA 3 graphics card integrated into the chip, the Ryzen Pro 8040 series can improve video conferencing performance by up to 72% compared to the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U processor, while reducing power consumption by up to 84%, regardless of whether AI is enabled.

Computers equipped with the Ryzen Pro 8040 series processors will be among the first to adopt WiFi-7 technology, providing cutting-edge networking capabilities and setting a new industry standard.

The highest-end model in this series, the Ryzen 9 Pro 8945HS, features 8 cores, 16 threads, a cache of up to 24MB, and is equipped with a Radeon 780M graphics card.

The table below shows the configurations of the entire Ryzen Pro 8040 series chips

Performance of AMD Ryzen Pro 8000 Series Processors Surges by Up to 47% Compared to Intel Core i7 14700

AMD is the first x86 processor manufacturer to introduce AI processing NPUs (Neural Processing Units) into the mobile and desktop PC markets. AMD states that the Ryzen Pro 8000 series processors are leading players in desktop and mobile AI processors, surpassing Intel's competitors in both desktop-specific NPU TOPS computing power and mobile-specific NPU TOPS computing power.

The Ryzen Pro 8000 series processors are equipped with the first desktop-specific AI engine, providing an immersive AI experience with high performance and efficiency. This series of chips features up to 8 high-performance Zen 4 cores.

Compared to the Intel Core i7 14700 processor, commercial desktops equipped with the Ryzen Pro 8000 series show a performance increase of up to 47% in specific tests, with graphics performance improving by up to three times.

Desktops powered by Ryzen Pro 8000 series processors support DDR5 and PCIe 4, enabling high-speed data transfer for smoother workflow and faster access to critical business applications and data. Some models can achieve Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

The highest configuration processor in this series is the Ryzen 8700G, which boasts 8 high-performance cores and 16 threads, 24MB cache, and integrated AMD Radeon 780M graphics. In comparative tests with competitors, the Ryzen 8700G shows a 19% performance increase with lower power consumption, providing the necessary performance for various workloads for professionals. The table below shows the configurations of the entire Ryzen Pro 8000 series chips.

HP and Lenovo Products Featuring AMD's New Chips to Debut in the Second Quarter

AMD expects that starting from the second quarter of this year, HP and Lenovo products will utilize the new chip offerings mentioned above. The Ryzen PRO 8040 series mobile processors are expected to be provided by HP, Lenovo, and other OEM partners starting in the second quarter. The desktop processors of the Ryzen Pro 8000 series are expected to be available on HP, Lenovo, and AMD's selected channel partners' platforms from the second quarter onwards Specifically, HP's latest Elite and Pro computers, as well as the Z series mobile workstations, will be equipped with AMD's new products. Lenovo's ThinkCentre commercial desktops will be powered by the Ryzen Pro 8000 series chips.

Furthermore, Microsoft is continuing to expand the capabilities of its AI assistant, Copilot, to empower AMD-supported Windows systems with more AI functions, enhancing productivity, increasing security, and facilitating daily business operations.

James Howell, General Manager of Microsoft's Windows business, stated that Microsoft will further optimize performance and strengthen security features on Windows 11 desktops and mobile systems supported by Ryzen.

Regarding AMD's new chips, some posts on social media X focus on the Zen architecture and AI engine, stating that the Zen architecture and AI engine are being introduced to the commercial market, while others point out that the new products have added AI processing units