Unnamed Acer laptop features AMD's Kracken Point 2 APU, as showcased on Geekbench - mid-tier chip revealed in performance testing
The tech industry is abuzz with the latest development from AMD, as the Krackan Point 2 APUs are making their way into new devices. These advanced processors, built on AMD’s Zen 5 cores and integrated RDNA 3.5 graphics, are set to revolutionise the laptop market with their AI-enhanced capabilities and energy efficiency.
Expected to launch around mid to late 2025, the Krackan Point 2 APUs are already being integrated into new products, such as the Lenovo Evolve'25 laptops, hinting at their imminent availability.
One of the key features of these APUs is their emphasis on AI performance. With integrated XDNA 2 neural processing units (NPUs), they promise to deliver intelligent features and improved user experiences, targeting AI-optimized workflows in both consumer and professional laptops.
In terms of performance, the Krackan Point 2 APUs offer a balance of power and efficiency, with slight increments in boost clock speeds. Some high-end configurations even exceed 5.1 GHz, boosting up to 5.2 GHz. Typical configurations show a default 28W TDP for mobile Ryzen 9 tier APUs, making them suitable for thin and light laptops, although there may be models with higher power envelopes for more performance.
High-end configurations feature up to 12-core CPUs with simultaneous multithreading, aligning with Ryzen 9-class performance segments. The entry-level AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 chip, for instance, has a base frequency of 2.0 GHz and can boost up to 3.7 GHz, with 8MB of L3 Cache.
The Krackan Point 2 APUs are not just about raw performance. They also focus on integration into modern laptop platforms, ensuring seamless compatibility with existing designs. They retain compatibility with the FP8 package, similar to previous generation Strix Point APUs.
In the realm of gaming, both Krackan Point and Strix Point APUs, featuring Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores and RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics, are decent options for entry-level gaming. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 CPU, along with the Radeon 820M integrated GPU, has already made an appearance on Geekbench.
As we look forward to the broader rollout of Krackan Point 2 APUs, it's clear that they represent a significant step forward in laptop technology. With their focus on AI-enhanced performance, energy efficiency, and integration into modern laptop platforms, these APUs are poised to cater to various needs, from powerful mobile workstations to gaming laptops and even light Chromebooks.
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In the tech industry's predictions for 2025, the Krackan Point 2 APUs are anticipated to bring a revolution, not only in powerful mobile workstations but also in gaming laptops and even light Chromebooks, thanks to their AI-enhanced capabilities and energy efficiency. Smartphones and other gadgets using these advanced processors could potentially offer a unique user experience with their integrated XDNA 2 neural processing units (NPUs) and improved AI performance.
