CPU, APU & Chipsets
All the latest CPU and chipset news, with everything related to Intel, AMD, ARM, and Qualcomm processors & plenty more.
NVIDIA x MediaTek rumored on new AI smartphone chip now, AI PC chip to debut at Comptuex 2025
NVIDIA and MediaTek have reportedly explored expanding its business cooperation, with rumors that the companies are now working on a new AI smartphone chip, with its Arm-based AI PC processor expected to debut at Computex 2025 in May.
In a new report from DigiTimes, we're learning that NVIDIA and MediaTek's partnership might see a new AI smartphone chip produced, without many details provided, but the decision is being driven by NVIDIA expressing its desire over the years to dominate the custom chip markets.
NVIDIA and MediaTek have been working on a new Arm-based AI PC processor that was meant to be revealed earlier this year at CES 2025, but that obviously didn't happen. The new AI PC chip is meant to be based on the Arm architecture, fabbed on TMSC's new 3nm process node, with a GPU based on the Blackwell architecture.
AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 'Strix Halo' with Radeon 8060S tested: APUs go totally next-gen
AMD's new flagship Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Halo" APU has been tested in 3DMark, showing its new Radeon 8060S integrated GPU showcasing its crazy 3x better GPU performance than the Radeon 890M inside of the Strix Halo APU.
Inside, AMD's new Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Halo" APU features 16 cores and 32 threads of Zen 5 processing power, with a huge 40 CUs of RDNA 3.5 GPU: a massive upgrade from the 16 CUs on Strix Halo, close to 3 x the RDNA 3.5 GPU cores. In some new testing on 3DMark Time Spy, the Strix Halo APU is listed with the "Radeon 8050S" with the CPU tab listed as the "AMD Eng Sample: 100-000001243-50_Y".
But according to the OPN code spotted by our friends at Wccftech, it looks to be the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Halo" APU with the new Radeon 8060S (so the Radeon 8050S seems to be in error). The Radeon 8050S is a slightly less powerful RDNA 3.5 GPU with 32 CUs instead of 40 CUs on the Radeon 8060S. AMD's upcoming Ryzen AI Max+ 390 "Strix Halo" APU has the Radeon 8050S and its dropped-down 12 cores and 24 threads.
CPU-Z gets support for AMD's new Ryzen 9000HX 'Fire Range' CPUs, including new Ryzen 9 9950HX3D
CPU-Z has been updated to support AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9000HX "Fire Range" processors, the company's new high-end laptop GPUs based on the Zen 5 architecture. You can download the new version of CPU-Z right here.
The developers of CPU-Z released a new version on February 8 reveals that AMD is working on more SKUs than we thought, with the introduction of the new Ryzen 9 9950HX3D, Ryzen 9 9950HX, and Ryzen 9 9850HX processors. Not only that, but the new CPU-Z software also now officially supports NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards.
In full, we can expect from the AMD Ryzen 9000HX "Fire Range" CPUs:
AMD's next-gen Medusa Ridge CPU leak: desktop Zen 6 processors with 24 cores, 48 threads coming
AMD's next-gen Zen 6 processors are rumored to feature 12-core, 24-thread Zen 6 chiplet that means with dual-chiplet CPU designs we'll see 24 cores and 48 threads on future desktop processors.
In his latest video, leaker Moore's Law is Dead spoke with industry sources that said AMD's next-gen Ryzen CPUs and APUs will feature 12 cores and 24 threads of Zen 6 on a single chiplet, meaning dual-chiplet designs like the Ryzen 9 9950X and 9900X of the future (Ryzen 9 10950X and Ryzen 9 10900X, I guess) will have 24 cores and 48 threads total (versus the 16 cores and 32 threads max on consumer desktop Ryzen processors).
AMD's next-gen Zen 6 "Medusa Ridge" desktop CPUs would have up to 24 cores and 48 threads of Zen 6 processing power, while next-gen Zen 6-based "Medusa Point" and "Medusa Halo" APUs that succeed the Zen 5-based "Strix Point" and "Strix Halo" APUs will pack a much higher (and better) core count.
AMD's new flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D rumored to retail at $699, 9900X3D at $599 on Newegg
AMD's highest-end Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D processors have been spotted in early listings on Newegg, priced at $699 for the 9950X3D and $599 for the 9900X3D.
In a new post on X by leaker @momomo_us we're learning that the pre-listings on major US retailers including Amazon and Newegg tease fresh pricing. Amazon listings aren't ready right now, but early Newegg listings have the Ryzen 9 9950X3D priced at $699, and the 9900X3D at $599.
AMD already has its Zen 5-based Ryzen 7 9800X3D on the market, kicking ass and taking names where it is released, beating out most processors, and absolutely dominating anything Intel has to offer. The 9800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, but the new 9900X3D moves up to 12 cores and 24 threads at up to 5.5GHz, and the flagship 9950X3D sports 16 cores and 32 threads at up to 5.7GHz.
Intel Nova Lake flagship CPU rumor claims 52-cores: 16 performance, 32 efficiency, 4 low-power
Intel's Nova Lake processors continue to be the subject of rumors, some of which have floated the idea that this might be the next generation of desktop CPUs from Team Blue, even though the silicon isn't due until 2026.
However, a fresh rumor has suggested that there could be an Arrow Lake Refresh in the cards for desktop, but regardless, we've just heard more about the Nova Lake flagship CPU - and how it might have more cores than previous speculation indicated.
According to well-known hardware leaker Jaykihn on X (see the above post), there will be 52 cores in total with the flagship for Nova Lake, as opposed to 48 as previous aired via the rumor mill. Jaykihn reminds us that LPe (low-power efficiency) cores will also be present with Nova Lake, for the first time ever with Intel's desktop processors.
Apple's new M5 chip enters mass production: for iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Vision Pro successor
Apple has kicked off mass production of its next-gen M5 processor, which will power next-generation MacBook Pro laptops, new iPad Pros, and a Vision Pro successor.
In a new report from ETNews, we're learning that mass production of Apple's next-gen M5 has begun, with the outlet reporting: "Apple has started mass production of the next-generation semiconductor chip 'M5'. It is a semiconductor installed in Apple's core products such as the Mac series and iPad. It is understood that Apple has introduced new process technology to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) performance".
Apple's new M5 chip will be used in 2025 models of the company's new MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro. We should expect huge improvements in Apple Intelligence, which has been a limped launch to say the least, with 9to5Mac reporting that one of the biggest upgrades to the Vision Pro successor will be the M5 processor (over the M2 chip used in the current Vision Pro).
AMD mega-success in Germany: dominates with 92% market share, leaves Intel with just 8%
AMD's new Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor continues to sell like hotcakes in Germany, so much so that the combined AM5 and AM4 socket CPUs are dominating Intel in the country: AM5 + AM4 accounts for 92.16% of last week's CPU sales at Mindfactory... compared to Intel with only 7.84% of CPU sales.
In a new post on X by @TechEpiphanyYT, we're learning that CPU sales at one of the biggest retailers in Germany are so heavily AMD that it makes Intel look like a startup. In the last 7 days, AM5 and AM4 socketed CPUs account for 71.84% and 20.31% respectively, leaving Intel with its LGA 1700 socket and 6.81% and its newer LGA 1851 socket with just 0.72% of CPU sales. Yes, less than 1% for Intel LGA 1851 socket processors, ouch.
AMD is absolutely dominant with its new Zen 5-based Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor with an astonishing 8390 units sold last week, with the Ryzen 5 7600X3D coming in second with 2430 units sold, and the Zen 4-based Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor with 1640 processors sold. The rest of the list is all Ryzen CPUs from there, until the mid-range Intel Core i5-14600KF with 150 sold, and under that, the Core i7-14700K with 130 units sold, then it returns to Ryzen CPUs.
AMD's new flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D, 9900X3D processors expected to launch by the end of March
AMD's new flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D processors are rumored to drop by the end of March 2025, after previous rumors had the new X3D chips pegged for a late January launch... as that time has come and passed, and the new X3D chips aren't here.
In a new report from French outlet Cowcotland, the site reports from their sources that AMD's new Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D processors will be launching by the end of March. Not only that, but it seems AMD will be lining up the launch of its new X3D processors with its new RDNA 4-powered Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9070 graphics cards.
Cowcotland reported: "Regarding pricing, we have no information. However, our sources indicate that AMD's two new X3D models are expected to arrive by the end of March, around the same time as the new Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT".
AMD Ryzen 9950X3D and 9900X3D CPUs rumored to arrive in March, alongside RX 9070 graphics cards
AMD's incoming X3D processors of the Ryzen 9 variety could arrive at the same time as its RX 9070 graphics cards, a new rumor suggests - and we might be seeing all this hardware turn up later in March, rather than sooner.
This is the word from French tech site Cowcotland, which has heard from a source (salt at the ready now) that the Ryzen 9950X3D and 9900X3D will arrive "by the end of March" (as VideoCardz highlighted).
That doesn't sound too optimistic for the prospect of RX 9070 graphics cards turning up earlier in March rather than later, either. So far, all AMD has told us about its RDNA 4 GPUs is that they'll be here in March, we don't know exactly when.