Advanced micro devices (NASDAQ: AMD) It brought its Zen 2 architecture along with an advanced 7nm manufacturing process to desktop PCs in mid-2019 with its Ryzen 3000 series of processors. The chips almost closed the performance gap with the semiconductor giant. Intel, and offered a strong value proposition for gamers and other power users.
Earlier this year, AMD began rolling out its Ryzen 4000 Mobile line of laptop processors using the same Zen 2 architecture and 7nm manufacturing process. Products featuring the chips have been popping up in recent months, giving those on the market a new laptop a viable alternative to Intel-based devices. AMD’s mobile chips feature up to 8 capable CPU cores and integrated graphics.
Desktop PC chips featuring integrated graphics were missing from AMD’s Zen 2 product line, eliminating the need for a discrete graphics card. This left AMD with only state-of-the-art products targeting much of the pre-built consumer and commercial desktop PC market. That situation will be resolved in the third quarter when systems using AMD’s newly announced Ryzen 4000 G-Series desktop processors begin shipping.
Image Source: AMD.
Go after the broader market
AMD’s Ryzen 4000 G-Series processors are similar to last year’s Ryzen 3000 desktop processors, but with built-in graphics included. On the low end, the Ryzen 3 4300G has 4 CPU cores, 8 CPU threads, and 6 GPU cores. On the high end, the Ryzen 7 4700G offers 8 CPU cores, 16 CPU threads, and 8 GPU cores. All are based on the Zen 2 architecture and are built using a 7nm manufacturing process.
AMD did not announce the price because these chips will be available exclusively to original equipment manufacturers. The company expects standard desktop towers, gaming desktops and small form factor business PCs to be available in Q3 from a variety of partners.
AMD claims that Ryzen 4000 G-Series chips provide up to 2.5 times the multi-threaded performance of its previous generation chips. Compared to Intel’s i7-9700, an 8-core chip, AMD claims 5% better single-threaded performance, 31% better multi-threaded performance, and triples graphics performance for its higher-end chip. high.
AMD’s choice to initially bypass the DIY PC market with these new chips makes sense. In the gaming PC hardware market, branded systems account for about two-thirds of sales, according to Jon Peddie Research. For the broader desktop PC market, that percentage is probably much higher. AMD estimates that the OEM market is four to five times larger than the DIY market.
The graphics performance of AMD’s new chips can be a great selling point. The gaming PCs with the chips will not be capable systems with discrete graphics cards, but they will be inexpensive and probably good enough for casual gaming.
For the commercial market, AMD will launch a separate line of Ryzen PRO 4000 G-Series chips. These chips have specifications similar to standard G-series chips, along with additional security and manageability features.
With its Ryzen 4000 G-Series chips, AMD can now address most of the PC market with its latest architecture and leading manufacturing process. AMD has been gaining Intel’s market share with Ryzen, and its latest chips could help speed that process.
