AMD’s Evolution of Ryzen AI Technology
Over two years ago at CES 2023, AMD introduced its Ryzen AI technology, marking a significant shift in the development of its processors. The initial showcase featured the Ryzen 7040 series mobile Zen 4 APUs, which represented the first generation of this innovative technology. However, these early models were limited, with the neural processing unit (NPU) achieving a maximum throughput of just 10 TOPS (trillion operations per second).
Advancements with the Ryzen 8040 Series
As the year progressed into December, AMD unveiled the successor, the Ryzen 8040 series. While still leveraging the Zen 4 architecture, this new generation brought a remarkable enhancement in AI performance. The combined TOPS surged to 39, with the NPU seeing a robust improvement, now reaching 16 TOPS—an impressive 60% increase.
Meeting Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC Requirements
Despite these advancements, the 8040 series did not quite meet the stringent requirements for Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC designation, which necessitates over 40 NPU TOPS for eligibility. For those unfamiliar, Microsoft uses the term Copilot+ PC to refer to new AI-driven devices optimized for Windows 11 24H2, emphasizing high-performance capabilities for next-generation applications.
The Launch of the Ryzen AI 300 Series
At Computex 2024 in June, AMD introduced its next-generation Ryzen AI 300 series APUs, transitioning from the previous x000 series to the new x00 nomenclature. This latest lineup features cutting-edge Zen 5 cores, advanced RDNA 3.5 graphics, and a revamped XDNA 2-based NPU, positioning AMD at the forefront of AI-enhanced computing.
Introducing the Ryzen AI 5 330 Processor
The entry level of this new series is represented by the Ryzen AI 5 340; however, AMD has now announced an even more accessible option with the Ryzen AI 5 330. Remarkably, despite being a quad-core processor, the 330 meets and exceeds Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC criteria, thanks to its fully-fledged NPU capabilities akin to its pricier counterparts.
“The new AMD Ryzen AI 5 330 processor is designed to deliver an exceptional computing experience for mainstream, affordable Copilot+ PCs. With 50 NPU TOPS, devices powered by the Ryzen AI 5 330 not only meet but exceed Microsoft’s Copilot+ requirements, offering authentic next-generation AI experiences tailored for Windows 11, ” stated AMD in their announcement. They also indicated that systems integrating the Ryzen AI 5 330 will soon be available from major OEMs such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI.
Performance and Specifications
It is noteworthy that while the CPU core count standardizes at four, the integrated graphics capabilities in the Ryzen AI 5 330 have been scaled back to just two Compute Units (CUs).The processor boasts a maximum clock speed of 4.5 GHz, escalating from a base clock of 2.0 GHz, contingent upon its configurable thermal design power (TDP), which ranges between 15 to 28 watts.
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