AMD is set to introduce its new Krackan Point APUs in early 2025, targeting budget-friendly laptops with prices starting at $799. This new lineup is expected to offer a more affordable alternative to AMD’s Strix Point series, which focuses on high-performance mobile solutions. The Krackan Point APUs are based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture and aim to fill the gap in the mainstream and budget market segments. Currently, AMD's Zen 5-based mobile CPUs are part of the Ryzen AI 300 series (Strix Point), which cater to high-end laptops. These include models such as the Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, HX 370, and Ryzen AI 9 365, all of which are designed for performance-focused devices. The introduction of Krackan Point will provide a lower-cost alternative, addressing the absence of budget Zen 5 solutions.

According to reports from IFA 2024, confirmed by AMD’s Jack Huynh, Krackan Point will indeed arrive in early 2025. While official specifications are not yet available, rumors suggest that Krackan Point will feature a scaled-down design compared to Strix Point and Strix Halo. The chips are expected to have eight CPU cores, with four Zen 5 cores and four Zen 5c cores, compared to Strix Point’s 12-core configuration (eight Zen 5c cores, four Zen 5 cores). Krackan Point is also rumored to include up to eight RDNA 3.5 CUs for integrated graphics. In terms of AI performance, Krackan Point is expected to meet Microsoft's 40 TOPS requirement for Copilot+ support, with some rumors hinting at an enhanced NPU called XDNA2, potentially delivering AI performance in the 45-50 TOPS range. Additionally, the Krackan Point processors are expected to support LPDDRX-8000 memory.

AMD will face strong competition in this space, with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips, known for their power efficiency, and Intel's upcoming Lunar Lake mobile CPUs, which promise significant improvements in power efficiency compared to Intel’s Meteor Lake chips.

Source: ComputerBase