AMD Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” Series: A Sneak Peek at Zen 5 CPUs

In the ever-evolving world of processors, AMD is once again making waves with its upcoming Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” series. These desktop CPUs, based on the Zen5 architecture, promise to deliver impressive performance gains and exciting features. Let’s dive into what we know so far:

Engineering Sample Leak

An engineering sample of the Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” processor has surfaced, marked with the product code (OPN) 100-000001290-11. While it doesn’t have an official market name yet, we can expect it to launch as either the Ryzen 7 9800X or Ryzen 7 9700X. This early sample features 8 cores and 16 threads, maintaining the same Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) design seen in the current Ryzen 7000 “Raphael” processors based on Zen4 microarchitecture.

Zen5 Architecture

The Zen5 architecture brings significant improvements over its predecessor. Here are some key highlights:

Core Count: The full-spec Granite Ridge CPU is expected to offer up to 16 cores and 32 threads. This means more multitasking power and better performance across a wide range of applications.
TDP and Efficiency: With TDPs up to 170W, these processors are designed to handle demanding workloads while maintaining efficiency.
I/O Die: Unlike the APUs, which feature powerful RDNA3 or RDNA3.5 graphics and XDNA processors, Granite Ridge is expected to use the same I/O die as Raphael, based on Zen4 architecture. This ensures compatibility and streamlined development.

Release Date and Pricing

AMD has not officially confirmed the release date for the Granite Ridge series, but speculation suggests that the company might unveil it during Computex in early June. As for pricing, we can expect it to be similar to the Zen4 lineup. Here’s a rough estimate:

6-core: Around $300
8-core: Approximately $400
12-core: Priced at about $550
16-core: Expected to be around $700

Keep in mind that prices may fluctuate after the initial release, especially as these CPUs compete with their own previous-gen models and Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake processors.

In summary, the Ryzen 9000 “Granite Ridge” series is poised to be a game-changer, offering impressive core counts, improved architecture, and competitive pricing. As we await the official launch, tech enthusiasts can look forward to a new era of computing power from AMD. Stay tuned! 🚀🔥