AMD's upcoming Phoenix 2 APUs are expected to feature a similar hybrid configuration as Intel's modern-day CPUs with performance & efficiency cores.
AMD's Phoenix 2 APU Might Be The First To Adopt Hybrid Performance & Efficiency Core Design
Last month, AMD published the Processor Programming Reference guide for the AMD Zen 4 (PPR for AMD Family 19h Model 70h A0), also known as the company's Phoenix family. Within the info, the company posted information about introducing performance and efficiency cores, which harken towards what competitor Intel has with their hybrid 12th Gen Alder Lake & the 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPU families named Alder Lake & Raptor Lake.
Twitter user "InstLatX64" leaked the PPR guide from AMD, showing the two cores and mentioning the similarity to Intel's naming scheme:
#AMD in the Phoenix1 Processor Programming Reference (PPR) uses the same phraseology for the big and little cores as #Intel https://t.co/4gWXpC8Bkg https://t.co/2RbTR2DRWV pic.twitter.com/8JmBB0RIzt
— InstLatX64 (@InstLatX64) March 24, 2023
The information presented seems that the company is looking towards a hybrid architecture for the company's consumer-level processors. This would certainly open more capabilities with the company's designs and could be seen in devices like PC gaming handhelds and power-efficient laptops.
Just a few days ago, we reported an AMD 2+4 Phoenix APU configuration which includes two of the newest performance cores and four efficiency cores. The difference between AMD's and Intel's approach is that while Intel uses two very different architectures (Golden/Raptor Cove +Gracemont) the AMD Performance & Efficiency cores will utilize the same Zen 4 core architecture. The P-cores will be the standard designs you get on existing Ryzen 7000 chips but the tuned Zen 4 core will be getting reduced cache and clocks while focusing on pure performance efficiency. It will definitely be an interesting configuration but we don't know when these APUs would be introduced.
The AMD Phoenix Ryzen 7045 APU lineup is expected to launch next month after facing a short delay so the Phoenix 2 Hybrid APU lineup may be introduced either by CES 2024 or sometime in the second half of 2023.
AMD Phoenix APU Specs:
| SOC Name | Van Gogh SOC | Phoenix 1 | Phoenix 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process Node | 7nm | 4nm | 4nm |
| Die Size | 163mm2 | 178mm2 | 137mm2 |
| Transistors | 2.4 Billion | 20.9 Billion | 25.0 Billion |
| CPU Architecture | Zen 2 | Zen 4 | Zen 4 + Zen 4C |
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 8 | 8 / 16 | 6 / 12 |
| CPU Clock (Max) | 3.5 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| GPU Architecture | RDNA 2 | RDNA 3 | RDNA 3 |
| GPU Compute Units | 8 CUs (512 SPs) | 12 (768) | 4 CUs (!256 SPs) |
| GPU Clocks | 1.6 GHz | 2800 MHz | 2500 MHz |
| Memory | LPDDR5-5500 | DDR5-5600 LPDDR5x-7500 | LPDDR5-6400 LPDDR5X-7500 |
| TDP | 4-15W | 15-30W | 15-30W |
| Products | Steam Deck | Laptops / Handhelds | Handhelds |
| Launch | 2022 | 2024 | 2024 |
News Sources: InstLatX64, VideoCardz
