AMD's new Ryzen AI re-branding for Zen 5 comes to light — Asus leaks 'Strix Point' processor names

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No Ryzen 8050-series processors?

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(Image credit: AMD)

AMD apparently plans to change its CPU naming scheme with "Ryzen AI" branding with its next generation 'Strix Point' processors. This information comes via an accidental Asus leak, as noticed by @harukaze5719. AMD's upcoming high-performance Ryzen processors will not belong to the Ryzen 8050 family, but will instead carry Ryzen AI branding to capitalize on the artificial intelligence frenzy. This echoes Intel's move to alter it's CPU branding with Core Ultra, except replace "Ultra" with "AI."

At least one of AMD's high-end Zen 5-based processors will be called the Ryzen AI 9 HX 170, according to the leak. The APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) will pack 12 CPU cores and 24 threads, along with an XDNA 2-based Ryzen AI engine with up to 77 TOPS performance, and an enhanced RDNA 3-based Radeon GPU. Since the listing comes from Asus, we can be almost sure that AMD is indeed going to use the Ryzen AI branding for at least some of its next generation processors in the coming months.

(Image credit: @harukaze5719/Twitter)

Alternatively, it's possible AMD is still testing waters, but that seems unlikely given the level of information Asus accidentally revealed. But there have been prior 'leaks' indicating AMD will have Ryzen 8050-series branding based on the Zen 5 microarchitecture.

For instance, Lenovo is prepping ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 with AMD's Ryzen Pro 8040 and Ryzen Pro 8050-series CPUs (according to a flyer leaked by TechnicallyLogic). So perhaps at least some of Zen 5-based processors could continue to use the familiar branding scheme.

(Image credit: @TechnicallyLog1/Twitter)

Changing branding entirely might be the better move. Using the Ryzen AI 9 HX 170 model number instead of the Ryzen 9 8940HX (or something similar) could be a bit more intuitive. Over time, it would become easier for AMD to distinguish between future Zen 5-based processors and Zen 6-based processors by simply changing the first digit in the model number. But if AMD mixes and matches names based on some obscure product matrix, it could be equally easy for users to get confused — i.e. if AMD also offers Ryzen 8050-series processors that are functionally identical to Ryzen AI processors.

Given the ongoing hype around AI, including Intel and Microsoft's "AI PC" definition and branding, it wouldn't be surprising to see AMD follow suit. Or we could get Ryzen AI badges for AMD's premium Strix Point Halo processors with 12 or more cores, while regular Strix Point processors might be sold under the Ryzen 8050-series name. That could also provide a way to clearly position the more expensive processors as offerings for those who want the latest and greatest hardware as well as on-device AI acceleration.

This wouldn't be the first time AMD has used a combination of letters and numbers in its CPU branding. Back in the day, the company released its Athlon XP series of processors, which coincided with the release of Microsoft's Windows XP, a major overhaul of the operating system. Artificial intelligence could change the way people work with their devices, and AI acceleration is an important feature. Adding some form of obvious AI branding could make a lot of sense in the long term.

What will actually happen with the upcoming Zen 5 processors and their retail product names? Ryzen AI certainly looks like it will constitute at least some of the lineup, and potentially all of it. But as usual, we'll have to wait and see where AMD ultimately decides to go.

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Anton Shilov
Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

21 Comments Comment from the forums
  • For instance, Lenovo is prepping ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 with AMD's Ryzen Pro 8040 and Ryzen Pro 8050-series CPUs (according to a flyer leaked by TechnicallyLogic). So perhaps at least some of Zen 5-based processors could continue to use the familiar branding scheme.

    That's false and incorrect info. There won't be any 8050 series. As debunked by Lenovo China's product manager.

    I previously made a comment here as well:

    https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/asus-accidentally-outs-14-amd-ryzen-8050-series-laptops-based-on-zen-5-architecture.3844093/#post-23257543
    Reply
  • post edited for too many typos/errors..........................
    Reply
  • Or we could get Ryzen AI badges for AMD's premium Strix Point Halo processors with up to 12 cores, while regular Strix Point processors might be sold under the Ryzen 8050-series name. That could also provide a way to clearly position the more expensive processors as offerings for those who want the latest and greatest hardware as well as on-device AI acceleration.

    That makes no sense at all. Had that been the case, then there won't be this new "AI branding" listed for a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 "HX 170" SKU, which implies it is most likely a Strix Point chip, and not the Halo variant.

    Because as per previously leaked documents, the Halo series would be a "16-core" lineup, and both the normal Strix Point and the Halo parts have support for XDNA 2 NPU for the AI.

    So it makes little sense to use the AI badge only for the "premium" HALO chips, since both support the integrated AI engine.

    AMD's top Zen 5-based processor will be called the Ryzen AI 9 HX 170, according to the leak.

    Huh ? Not correct.

    On what basis can you claim that ? That's just an entry for a model number, and we don't even have any official AMD nomenclature to back up this leak, and we also don't know whether this SKU is the 'only' top high-end part, or there are even other high-end processors in the lineup as well, which have not been mentioned by ASUS here.

    We don't even a full list of official chips which fall under the Strix Point lineup, so this model number could be anything from the flagship itself, or some other chip in the hierarchy, slightly on the lower end.
    Reply
  • JarredWaltonGPU
    Metal Messiah. said:
    ...We don't even a full list of official chips which fall under the Strix Point lineup, so this model number could be anything from the flagship itself, or some other chip in the hierarchy, slightly on the lower end.
    FWIW, I edited this, and the key point is merely that we have a leak of one, not fully disclosed, APU that will be called Ryzen AI 9 HX 170. The phrasing was poor initially, so I added the top, but I've redacted that to make it better.

    There are clearly a lot of unknowns still, including whether Ryzen AI branding will be used everywhere or not. I think we can agree that either route presents potential confusion points. A Lenovo manager saying that an accidentally leaked / listed specification for a future product is "fake" also doesn't constitute proof either, as it could merely be Lenovo covering itself for the leak. He could have just said "oops" or "hmmm" and communicated the same amount of information.

    Bottom line: While the Asus leak appears to indicate an official name, there is no official and definitive word on all the upcoming Zen 5 parts and likely won't be until the formal launch. And even after the initial launch, other parts could be released. But, I've edited and tweaked some of the wording to clear things up (e.g. the "up to 12" was supposed to be "12 or more cores").
    Reply
  • Giroro
    Strix is an Asus brand.

    So this leaker saw a Strix leak out of Asus, and assumed that meant AMD is going to try and step on the trademark of one of their partners?
    That logic doesn't follow, not even for a code name.
    Reply
  • TheJoker2020
    Metal Messiah. said:
    That makes no sense at all. Had that been the case, then there won't be this new "AI branding" listed for a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 "HX 170" SKU, which implies it is most likely a Strix Point chip, and not the Halo variant.

    Because as per previously leaked documents, the Halo series would be a "16-core" lineup, and both the normal Strix Point and the Halo parts have support for XDNA 2 NPU for the AI.
    Both Strix Point and Strix Halo products will include 8, 12 and 16-core variants
    Reply
  • TheJoker2020 said:
    Both Strix Point and Strix Halo products will include 8, 12 and 16-core variants

    Yes. Of course I know that. My reply was for the original unedited part of the article, which caused some confusion to begin with, as clarified above by jarred.
    Reply
  • TheJoker2020
    These new line-up of chips were never going to use the Ryzen 8000 series branding, it was always going to be either the 9000 series or something new as per this "leak".

    The real question though is whether the leak is real or not, and I only care about the name so long as I can keep up with them, but what is interesting is that a claimed "up to" 77 TOPS, which is interesting. The AI engine was expected to be in the realm of 45-50 TOPS, so the real questions here are whether this leak is real, how many TOPS does the AI engine produce and at what power draw, how many TOPS is produced by the GPU and at what power draw, what is the real world usage TOPS output and what is meant by "up to".?
    Reply
  • TheJoker2020
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Yes. Of course I know that. My reply was for the original unedited part of the article, which caused some confusion to begin with, as clarified above by jarred.
    Others may not know as much as the Messiah or I ;)
    Reply
  • TheJoker2020
    Giroro said:
    Strix is an Asus brand.

    So this leaker saw a Strix leak out of Asus, and assumed that meant AMD is going to try and step on the trademark of one of their partners?
    Strix Point and Strix Halo are both "internal" code names used by AMD and not used for marketing, and typically only mentioned in press briefings, product reveals etc when they simply say on stage something like "AMD codename Strix Point", or "otherwise known as Strix Point" but never formally used, so not a trademark issue at all.
    Reply