AMD may release Zen 5 architecture desktop CPU in 2024Q2

Recent reports indicate that AMD plans to launch the new Zen 5 architecture in 2024, encompassing three designs: Zen 5, Zen 5 V-Cache, and Zen 5c, available in both 4nm and 3nm versions. These are expected to be released in the first half of 2024. For the desktop platform, the Zen 5 architecture Ryzen CPUs will be codenamed “Granite Ridge.” There have been speculations that Zen 5 architecture Ryzen CPUs will enter mass production later this year, with the first batch of products anticipated in the second half of 2024.

A recent online disclosure suggests that Zen 5 architecture Ryzen CPUs are slated for release between April and June 2024, to be named the Ryzen 9000 series. The CCDs will be manufactured using a 4nm process, supporting DDR5-6400. The new desktop CPUs will retain the same package chiplet design and IOD size as the Zen 4 architecture products, maintaining compatibility with the AM5 platform, with configurations still topping out at 16 cores and 32 threads. Considering past trends, AMD might opt for a release around Computex 2024 in early June.

Some might wonder why it would be labeled the Ryzen 9000 series instead of the Ryzen 8000 series. In fact, in November last year, Alienware’s customer communications leaked mentions of the Ryzen 9000 series. It is speculated that the Ryzen 8000 series may be reserved solely for APU and mobile platform chips, with desktop platforms moving directly to the Ryzen 9000 series.

TechSpot notes that the Ryzen 9000 series desktop CPUs are likely to be the first desktop CPUs to truly integrate an NPU, using the same Ryzen AI engine as Strix Point, based on the XDNA2 architecture. Also noteworthy is the rumored Ryzen 9000X3D series, which might debut alongside the standard edition. AMD may have this up its sleeve as a response to Intel’s Arrow Lake.