AMD AGESA 1.0.8.0 BIOS adds Phoenix desktop APU support

AMD’s last serious APU release for the desktop platform was the Ryzen 5000G series in 2021, which employed the Zen 3 CPU architecture and Vega GPU architecture. While most of the Ryzen 7000 series desktop processors incorporate the RDNA 2 architecture for integrated graphics, this graphics component is minimal, consisting of only two CU groups. It isn’t tailored for gaming. Yet, has AMD introduced a new generation APU? Certainly, they have—the mobile-centric Phoenix processor. However, its transition to the desktop remains uncertain.

ASUS has commenced the roll-out of AMD AGESA 1.0.8.0 BIOS updates for AM5 motherboards, and intriguingly, the new code reveals support for the Phoenix APU, heralding the advent of the Ryzen 7000G series.

Phoenix utilizes TSMC’s 4nm process, incorporating the latest Zen 4 architecture for its CPU, offering up to 8 cores and 16 threads. Each core boasts 1MB of L2 cache, sharing a 16MB L3 cache. On the graphics front, it leverages the most recent RDNA 3 architecture, with up to 12 CU groups totaling 768 SPs. This APU supports ray tracing, fulfilling the DirectX 12 Ultimate requirements, marking a significant performance leap for AMD desktop APUs.

Of course, the PCI-E component of Phoenix is slightly behind that of its desktop counterpart, Raphael, supporting only PCI-E 4.0 with 24 lanes: 16 for graphics cards, 4 for M.2, and 4 for the southbridge connection. Phoenix natively backs DDR5-5600 memory and also features support for Ryzen AI, though it’s uncertain whether this will persist once it migrates to the desktop platform.

The Phoenix chip is currently deployed in mobile-centric models like the Ryzen 7040H, 7040U, and the Ryzen Z1 series. These chips are extensively used in laptops, mini PCs, and x86 handheld devices. Such platforms inherently have stringent power and thermal constraints, which inevitably impact APU performance. Historically, AMD’s desktop APUs have maintained a TDP of 65W. Paired with superior cooling solutions, they can ideally unleash the APU’s full potential. Furthermore, the new generation APU utilizes DDR5 memory. With the current AM5 platform adopting a refreshed BIOS, DDR5 frequencies can effortlessly exceed 7000MHz. The advanced 4nm process of Phoenix should allow even higher frequencies, which is crucial for APUs that have traditionally been memory bandwidth-constrained.

Source: HXL, AM5 Agesa Tables