Summary
AMD has released new processors to power the next generation of AI PCs, for which they have been aptly named the Ryzen AI 300 series. Along with aRyzen core processor (CPU)and aRadeon graphics chip (GPU), the new Ryzen AI processors have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is a dedicated AI engine. These laptop processors aim to offer improvements across the board with a stronger focus on efficiency using AI. Most major OEMs are in the process of releasing new laptops powered by the latest Ryzen AI 300 series chips.
ASUS VivoBook S14
The ASUS Vivobook S14 is one of the first commercially available laptops to be powered by the latest AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors. It features the Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU that comes along with the AMD Radeon 880M graphics chip and a dedicated NPU capable of 45+ TOPS. The laptop has a 14-inch OLED display with 2880x1800 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
AMD Ryzen AI Processors: SKUs and Specifications
The Ryzen AI 300 series is not a wide portfolio of CPUs for all kinds of users but focuses on offering a straightforward lineup. There are only three CPUs in the series for now; AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. As the names suggest, the Ryzen AI 9 365 is the entry-level option while the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and HX 375 are the more performant offerings. What’s interesting is that they all havethe same default TDP of 28W.
The big upgrades are the new Zen 5 CPU architecture, the newer RDNA 3.5-based integrated graphics in the form of the Radeon 800M series that have higher core counts and clock speeds, and the third generation NPU that is based on XDNA2.
Not only are these AI-heavy processors meant to work seamlessly with Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI PC plan, but AMD is also working with industry giants like Adobe, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, DeepLearning.AI, and others to optimize various workflows for people using laptops powered by the Ryzen AI 300 series processors. This will help AMD compete withIntel’s Core Ultra processorsand Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, both of which have deeper AI integrations than their previous generations.
The Ryzen AI 300 series uses a combination of Zen 5 and Zen 5c architectures, with the latter being a more compact version with lower clock speeds and TDP. You will notice that the main cores are divided into Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores and, in most cases, they have different boost clock speeds. Interestingly, the new chips only support PCIe 4.0 and not PCIe 5.0, which is the direction the industry is headed in.
12
24
Up to 5.1 GHz
10
20
Up to 5 GHz
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375
The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is the top-tier offering in the series, and it comes with specifications to match. There are 12 cores and 24 threads, 24MB of L3 cache, and a maximum boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz. Interestingly, out of the 12 cores, four are based on the Zen 5 architecture while eight are based on the Zen 5c architecture. The Zen 5c cores are more compact and typically have lower clock speeds. In the case of the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, the Zen 5c cores can boost up to only 3.3 GHz with a base clock speed of 2 GHz. A similar setup to Intel Performance core and Efficiency core combination.
The default TDP is 28W, but the chip is rated for a 15W to 54W configurable TDP. This also means that the processor can be overclocked, as supported by Precision Boost Overdrive and AMD’s EXPO Memory Overclocking Technology. It can support a maximum of 256GB DDR5 RAM clocked at 5600 MHz or LPDDR5x RAM clocked at up to 7500 MHz. In terms of graphics, the processor carries the latest and greatest AMD Radeon 890M integrated GPU that has 16 cores and 2900 MHz clock speed.
The NPU is capable of up to 55 TOPS (Tera Operations per Second), which is perfect for Microsoft Copilot Plus (Copilot+) as it demands at least 40 TOPS. In comparison,Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chipshave NPUs capable of up to 45 TOPS. This also means that none of the Intel Core Ultra processors support Copilot+.
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is essentially the same mobile processor as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 but with a slightly toned-down NPU. This means you get the same CPU performance with 12 cores, 24 threads, and a maximum boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz. The NPU, however, is capable of up to 50 TOPS instead of the 55 TOPS max capability of the HX 375. The Total Processor Performance is also relatively lower at 80 TOPS compared to 85 TOPS.
The GPU and the L3 cache are the same as well and this translates to similar performance in CPU and GPU-intensive tasks. However, operations that make use of AI optimizations will perform better on the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 than the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
AMD Ryzen AI 9 365
For now, the Ryzen AI 9 365 seems to be the lower-end offering in the series, but it still carries the Ryzen AI 9 moniker, so there could be other SKUs in the future that are more budget-friendly. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is a more significant downgrade from the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 as it comes with 10 cores and 20 threads. Of the 10 cores, four are based on the Zen 5 architecture while six are based on the Zen 5c architecture. The maximum boost clock speed of this chip is 5 GHz with the base clock speed being 2 GHz.
You still get 24MB of L3 cache and a 28W TDP with support for overclocking. The GPU present within the processor is the Radeon 880M, which is a 12-core chip that can run at 2900 MHz. As for the NPU, it has the same performance as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 of up to 50 TOPS, but the total processor performance is lower than the other two at 73 TOPS.
AMD Ryzen AI Processors: Availability
Laptops powered by the Ryzen AI 300 series processors are slowly making their way to retailers. All major brands including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo are working on putting out their versions of Ryzen AI 300 series powered laptops. As of now, ASUS seems to be the only one with a laptop offering powered by the Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, and it is the latest version of the VivoBook S14. The laptop is available forpurchase via AmazonandNewegg for $1200.
Acer has announced that it will bring Ryzen AI 300 series laptops under its Swift brand, while HP’s new OmniBook Ultra will carry the latest chips. ASUS will also have its ProArt series of laptops upgraded to these new chips, along with the latest version of the Zephyrus G16.
FAQ
Q: What are the benefits of Ryzen AI?
The new Ryzen AI 300 series processors are developed with a heavy focus on AI, and they are more efficient, which allows them to be relatively cheaper and more portable. They can also improve everyday workflows thanks to integration with apps and software that are most commonly used. AI integrations also allow for improvements overtime.
Q: Does AMD have AI cores?
The new Ryzen AI 300 series processors have a dedicated NPU for AI operations and it is capable of up to 55 TOPS, depending on the SKU.
