Ryzen: AMD reportedly to push RDNA 3.5 architecture until 2029
Mainstream processors from AMD are not expected to receive a major GPU upgrade for years. Intel could integrate Nvidia GPUs from 2028 onwards.
(Image: AMD)
AMD apparently intends to stick with its current RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture for its APUs for quite some time. According to several leaks, RDNA 3.5 is expected to be used in various performance classes until at least 2029, for example, in processors for mainstream notebooks.
This is evident from a roadmap created by "金猪升级包" and shared on Weibo. This source has been reliably providing correct advance information for years. The two often correct X accounts "@9550pro" and "@Kepler_L2" agree.
According to this, AMD only plans to switch to RDNA 5 in premium models. The outdated RDNA 3.5 architecture could also remain in Ryzen processors for gaming notebooks for years to come, as manufacturers combine these CPUs with faster, discrete graphics chips anyway. Models with a newer graphics architecture are not expected to appear until 2029.
(Image: 金猪升级包)
Already outdated
AMD introduced the first 3 series version, RDNA 3, with the Ryzen 7000 series in 2023. It was followed in the updated Ryzen 8000 and Ryzen 200 series. The first true successor, Ryzen AI 300, appeared in 2024 with RDNA 3.5. This architectural interim step primarily brought notebook-specific efficiency improvements, which AMD is said to have developed in collaboration with Samsung. Samsung uses RDNA architectures in its Exynos smartphone processors, where efficiency is the most important metric.
For 2026, AMD only has the processor refresh Ryzen AI 400 (Gorgon Point) in store. In 2027, the true successor, Ryzen AI 500, also known as Medusa Point, is expected to be released, again with the RDNA 3.5 architecture. No jump to RDNA 4 or 5 is expected for its successor either.
AMD might be using RDNA 3.5 for so long due to area optimizations as well. Before the jump to RDNA, the company relied on Vega GPUs for years, from Ryzen 2000 to Ryzen 5000 and subsequent revisions.
Most notebooks, according to current knowledge, will have to forgo AMD's current AI upscaler FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4) for the foreseeable future. For product strategy reasons, the company is currently only releasing it for RDNA 4, meaning for desktop graphics cards of the Radeon RX 9000 series. However, an AI upscaler would be particularly interesting for notebooks without a powerful graphics chip for occasional gaming sessions.
Videos by heise
Intel is catching up
Meanwhile, Intel is putting on pressure, especially in graphics, which used to be a weak point for the manufacturer. The new Core Ultra 300, also known as Panther Lake, feature the strongest integrated GPU among all mobile processors, apart from AMD's special processor Ryzen AI Max 300 (Strix Halo) and Apple's top processor models.
Furthermore, the first Intel processors with GeForce RTX GPUs are expected to appear from 2028. According to an unofficial roadmap, Intel will divide its portfolio into models with a Xe GPU and Nvidia technology. Details on the implementation are currently unknown.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(mma)
