AMD takes on Apple’s M-series with Hawk Point, Strix Point, and Fire Range APUs
AMD is planning to release a new line of processors that will take on the Apple’s M-series. In order to improve the performance of the Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) with a built-in Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), it is necessary to increase the scale and speed of memory. Apple increased the scale of the GPU circuit by putting memory on the same package, making the chip very expensive.
AMD’s APUs are for the low price range, so they have not previously released products in this range. However, with enough money to experiment on new product lines, they are set to release new products, including the Zen 5 & Zen 4 powered Ryzen 8000 Fire Range, Strix Point & Hawk Point APUs with RDNA 3.5 GPU cores. The latest information from “Moore’s Law is Dead” suggests that these new APUs will be released next year. Strix Halo/Sarlak will be a major player in the mobile gaming market, allowing gamers to enjoy high-end graphics without the need for a discrete GPU.
Key Points:
- AMD is set to release a new line of APUs in 2024, including the Hawk Point, Strix Point, and Fire Range families.
- The Hawk Point APUs will be the first to hit shelves in 2024 and are expected to feature a slightly tweaked 4nm design with Zen 4 cores and an updated RDNA 3.5 GPU.
- The Strix Point APUs will compete with high-end GPUs from NVIDIA and are expected to feature up to 12 cores, with a high-end APU called Strix Halo/Sarlak rumored to have up to 16 cores.
- The Fire Range APU is the successor to mobile’s flagship chip, the Dragon Range, and is said to have up to 16 cores.
- These new APUs promise to deliver impressive performance and compete with high-end GPUs from NVIDIA, making them a significant development in the world of computer hardware.
Hawk Point APUs
The first AMD APU family expected to hit the shelves is Hawk Point, followed by Strix Point and Fire Range APUs. The AMD Hawk Point APUs will be the first to hit shelves in Q1 2024 and will be a refresh of the existing Phoenix chips based on a slightly tweaked 4nm design. These APUs will feature the same Zen 4 (4nm) cores as the Phoenix chips but with an updated RDNA 3.5 GPU and XDNA cores.
Fire Range APUs
There were leaks regarding the successor to mobile’s flagship chip, the Dragon Range. It will feature up to Zen 5 cores based on 5nm and go up to 16 cores. The “Range” collection is technically a laptop CPU layout with a chiplet on a BGA interposer. It is easy for AMD to keep the same IOD chiplet with integrated graphics even after upgrading the chiplet to Zen5. There may also be a smaller APU, referred to as Hawk Point, that is predicted to have up to eight cores. It is expected to be released in Q2 of 2024.
Strix Point APUs
The Strix series will come in two variants, monolithic die and a chiplet design. The monolithic version “Strix” will be have upto 12 cores and 24 threads, while the pro-version “Strix Halo” also called “Sarlak” will have up to 16 cores and 32 threads. These APUs will embrace NPUs and have AI engines of 20 TOPS and 40 TOPS respectively.
These APUs are likely to find their way into powerful mobile laptops that require a discrete GPU. The Strix APU series will be competing with up to RTX 4070 Max-Q GPUs in a 40 CU configuration. The RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture will also be available in 32, 24, and 20 CU configurations, competing with NVIDIA’s 4060, 4050, and 3050 series graphics.
Comparison with Apple’s M series
AMD’s upcoming APUs are set to take on Apple’s M series and even the discrete midrange offerings from Nvidia in an APU. Apple’s M series processors have impressed many with their performance, and their GPUs are integrated into the same package as the memory, increasing the scale of the GPU circuit. AMD’s APUs are designed for the low price range, but with the release of their new products, they are likely to step up to take on the higher-end market currently dominated by Apple’s M series.
Closing thoughts
The current overpriced GPU market has forced gamers and professionals to look for cheaper alternatives, and AMD is doing the right thing to bring some real “mid-range” chiplet APUs with discrete GPU-like performances. The RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture will be available in 32, 24, and 20 CU configurations and will compete with NVIDIA’s 4060, 4050, and 3050 series graphics. With their RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture and Zen 5 and Zen 4 cores, these APUs promise to deliver impressive performance and compete with high-end GPUs from NVIDIA.
However, it remains to be seen whether AMD can truly challenge Apple’s M series, which has already set the standard for integrated graphics performance. Nonetheless, with the release of Strix Halo/Sarlak, AMD is clearly making a bold statement and positioning itself as a serious player in the mobile market.
Here is the Video:
When will AMD’s Hawk Point, Strix Point, and Fire Range processors be released?
AMD’s new APUs are expected to be released in Q1 and Q2 of 2024.
Can AMD truly challenge Apple’s M series?
It remains to be seen whether AMD can truly challenge Apple’s M series, which has already set the standard for integrated graphics performance.
How do AMD’s APUs compare to Apple’s M-series processors?
AMD’s APUs will come with integrated powerful integrated graphics, similar to Apple’s integrated graphics in M-series, which could give performance like a discrete graphics card, with very little power and space.
