An AMD Raven Ridge APU engineering sample has leaked through the SiSoftware database. The sample, codenamed AMD Mandolin Raven, has 4 cores, 8 threads, a base clock of 3.0GHz, and 3.3GHz boost. As an engineering sample, these clock speeds are subject to change.
The chip also features 2MB of L2 cache, 4MB of L3 cache, and 11 Compute Units (CUs). AMD’s current CUs feature 64 stream processors each, which would equal 704 stream processors in total. Integrated within the APU’s die is an AMD 15DD, which clocks in at 800MHz.
AMD’s Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)
APUs combine a CPU and GPU within the same die. AMD started producing its hybrid APU chips thanks to its merger with GPU maker ATI in 2006. The technology was known as Fusion during its development and took three iterations before it was ready. The first-generation APUs, codenamed Llano, launched in 2011. Customised APUs feature in Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 game consoles.
The new Raven Ridge processors replace the previous 7th-gen Bristol Ridge APUs. Raven Ridge will be a significant upgrade on Bristol Ridge, thanks to its integrated Ryzen CPU. Raven Ridge will likely feature Vega GPUs, though AMD has not confirmed this. The new APU – AMD’s first such chip to ditch the A-Series prefix in favour of Ryzen branding – is out next year.
AMD’s Plans for 2018
AMD is set for a busy year in 2018, and the company no doubt hopes that it can continue the upward trend ushered in by Ryzen. Alongside Raven Ridge, the company is launching both Stoney Ridge Refresh APUs, Pinnacle Ridge CPUs, and Navi GPUs. While we may have to wait on Stoney Ridge Refresh and Pinnacle Ridge, we should discover more details about Navi very soon. AMD has a special event – at which it will discuss Navi, Zen 2, and Vega – planned for next week. The event is not an official launch, but rather a discussion of the company’s future plans.
