More AMD Zen 5 CPUs spotted in Linux patch notes

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The Linux kernel now recognizes four new ranges of AMD Zen 5 models

AMD Zen CPU Architecture Render
(Image credit: AMD)

AMD continues laying the groundwork for the Zen 5's upcoming arrival on Linux in the form of Linux kernel "x86/urgent" patches addressing four numerical ranges of AMD Family 26 CPUs, aka Zen 5 CPUs. These ranges, as corroborated by Phoronix, are from 0-15, 32-47, 64-79, and finally 112-127. Each number could theoretically correspond to its own CPU or CPU range (e.g. Strix Point for mobile, Granite Ridge for desktop), though the existence of pre-release CPUs, development-only CPUs, etc., means that not all of these will be released — and some may never be used.

The timing of these patches in proximity to Zen 5 Strix Point Geekbench results uncovered yesterday on Twitter adds yet more fuel to speculation that Zen 5 could be arriving sooner rather than later. We've also previously reported on Zen 5-related updates to Linux's GCC compiler and PMC driver. Unfortunately, besides knowledge of the model number ranges, the latest Linux patches don't really teach us anything new about Zen 5 or its upcoming CPUs.

Based on the information we do have, though, we can expect significant improvements to AI performance and iGPU performance thanks to XDNA 2 and RDNA 3+, respectively. XDNA 2 is expected to deliver over 70 TOPS in AI performance, which is nearly twice the 40 TOPS requirement for "next-gen AI PCs." We don't quite know what to expect from the RDNA 3+ improvements yet, but AMD's track record has kept RDNA 3 on top of the iGPU market despite competition from Intel, so AMD still seems strong there.

In any case, the latest Zen 5 Linux kernel patches at least point toward AMD wanting lots of room to work with. 

In total, there are 64 potential Zen 5 CPU model numbers being placed into the code now (16 per 4 ranges) to account for future development and/or releases. That seems like a lot of room for experimentation with things such as handheld-tailored APU designs, more powerful desktop integrated graphics, and so on. Other leaks point toward AMD's Strix Point mobile CPUs adopting Zen 5C cores, as well.

Edit 04/25/2024 3:25am PT: Clarified title to denote the new family applies to all Zen 5 models.

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Christopher Harper
Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • More AMD Zen 5 Strix Point CPUs spotted .... Linux patch notes suggest up to 64 models In total, there are 64 potential Zen 5 CPU model numbers being placed into the code now (16 per 4 ranges) to account for future development and/or releases.

    Those are NOT "Strix Point" processors. These are just basically AMD "Family 26" CPUs being listed. Zen 5 CPU lineup is labeled as "Family 26" by AMD.

    And NO, there aren't 64 "new" CPU model IDs added though either.

    Only the following models from range "0x10 to 0x1f (16 to 31)" are now being also treated as Zen 5 processors (15 in total). The rest of the models are OLD (they are also Zen 5 chips though).
    Reply
  • By the way, since the ZEN 5 lineup will encompass a lot of CPU families, and many Ryzen and EPYC SKUs share the same model ID, AMD could even drop some of the models in future, or never use them at all.

    Could be any of these, or the newly added 15 model IDs could be just a rehash.

    EPYC Turin,

    Ryzen Threadripper "Shimada Peak",

    Ryzen "Granite Ridge",

    Ryzen "Fire Range",

    Ryzen "Strix Point

    Ryzen "Strix Halo",

    Ryzen "Kraken Point"

    Ryzen "Escher"

    Ryzen "Sonoma Valley"
    Reply
  • TheyCallMeContra
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Those are NOT "Strix Point" processors. These are just basically AMD "Family 26" CPUs being listed. Zen 5 CPU lineup is labeled as "Family 26" by AMD.

    And NO, there aren't 64 "new" CPU model IDs added though either.

    Only the following models from range "0x10 to 0x1f (16 to 31)" are now being treated as Zen 5 processors (15 in total). The rest of the models are OLD.

    Title is an artifact of earlier in the article writing, didn't mean to imply Strix Point and Zen 5 were one and the same and meant to make that edit sooner- my bad.

    The other thing I actually am going to be contentious about, though. Phoronix points toward all the ranges being referenced corresponding to Family 26 CPUs. 16 to 31 is new, but the others listed should also correspond to Family 26 or Zen 5 CPUs unless Phoronix misreported. Do you mind throwing a citation my way to help clear this up?
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    TheyCallMeContra said:
    Title is an artifact of earlier in the article writing, didn't mean to imply Strix Point and Zen 5 were one and the same and meant to make that edit sooner- my bad.

    The other thing I actually am going to be contentious about, though. Phoronix points toward all the ranges being referenced corresponding to Family 26 CPUs. 16 to 31 is new, but the others listed should also correspond to Family 26 or Zen 5 CPUs unless Phoronix misreported. Do you mind throwing a citation my way to help clear this up?
    It's not new for both camps to use older skus to fill up a new lineup, the rest could be rebranded older models, just like they both have now.
    Reply
  • usertests
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Could be any of these, or the newly added 15 model IDs could be just a rehash.
    I'm getting interested in the low-end stuff like Kraken Point and Sonoma Valley.

    Escher should be Hawk Point Refresh (Zen 4):
    https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-8000-9000-apu-roadmap-leaks-out-strix-point-to-launch-mid-2024-fire-range-and-strix-halo-in-2025
    Reply
  • usertests said:
    I'm getting interested in the low-end stuff like Kraken Point and Sonoma Valley.

    Escher should be Hawk Point Refresh (Zen 4):
    https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-8000-9000-apu-roadmap-leaks-out-strix-point-to-launch-mid-2024-fire-range-and-strix-halo-in-2025

    Yeah, I saw that leak before. Actually the codename "Escher" was also mentioned in one of the Linux LLM patches, and there was a chatter these would be low power APUs targeting 'power constrained' devices.

    I can't seem to find that patch link now though.

    Also, rumors point out that the next Steam DECK console will use the "Sonoma Valley" APU. Most likely sporting Zen 5C cores made on 4nm node by Samsung.
    Reply
  • usertests
    Metal Messiah. said:
    Also, rumors point out that the next Steam DECK console will use the "Sonoma Valley" APU. Most likely sporting Zen 5C cores made on 4nm node by Samsung.
    If this ancient leak is correct:
    https://videocardz.com/newz/leaked-slide-confirms-amd-mendocino-rdna2-graphics-specifications-with-two-compute-units
    Then Sonoma Valley would be a drop-in replacement for Mendocino, moving from quad-core Zen 2 to Zen 5C, with nothing else confirmed. But maybe it ends up packing 2-4 CUs of RDNA 3+. Not a Steam Deck successor in that case.

    If it can be made cheaply at Samsung, it would be perfect for low power laptops. If it can be made in high volume, it could take on Alder Lake-N mini PCs.
    Reply
  • usertests said:
    If this ancient leak is correct:
    https://videocardz.com/newz/leaked-slide-confirms-amd-mendocino-rdna2-graphics-specifications-with-two-compute-units
    Then Sonoma Valley would be a drop-in replacement for Mendocino, moving from quad-core Zen 2 to Zen 5C, with nothing else confirmed. But maybe it ends up packing 2-4 CUs of RDNA 3+. Not a Steam Deck successor in that case.

    If it can be made cheaply at Samsung, it would be perfect for low power laptops. If it can be made in high volume, it could take on Alder Lake-N mini PCs.

    That's a pretty old leak, but based on this tweet, it appears Sonoma Valley is a Samsung product. Though, whether the next DECK console will use this is up for debate. Seems unlikely though, if the ancient videocardz leak is to be believed. :unsure:

    1725747720605012311View: https://twitter.com/Olrak29_/status/1725747720605012311
    1725596646325788697View: https://twitter.com/Olrak29_/status/1725596646325788697

    .
    Reply
  • A new GFX1152 variant ID spotted recently within the AMD GPU LLVM shader compiler back-end.

    This new ID most likely could be for the next-gen future Ryzen "Kraken Point" APU, sporting the same RDNA 3.5 graphics.

    AMD "Strix Point" APU has the GFX1150 ID, and GFX1151 is for Strix Halo. So 1152 should be Kraken Point, or some other semi-custom silicon in the making.

    https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project/commit/1ca0055f45abe7e4d484a0af457fc20be318c8e2
    https://i.imgur.com/yobxDNx.png
    Reply