Custom AMD Hawk Point 2 SoC Revealed in Valve Fremont: Features 6 Zen 4 CPU Cores, 16 MB L3 Cache, 4.8 GHz Clocks, and Radeon RX 7600 RDNA 3 GPU

Custom AMD Hawk Point 2 SoC Revealed in Valve Fremont: Features 6 Zen 4 CPU Cores, 16 MB L3 Cache, 4.8 GHz Clocks, and Radeon RX 7600 RDNA 3 GPU

Valve is reportedly in the process of developing an innovative gaming console named Fremont, which is set to utilize a custom AMD System on Chip (SoC) boasting 6 cores and a Radeon 7000 series GPU.

Valve Prepares Fremont Gaming Console Featuring AMD Hawk Point 2 SoC with Zen 4 CPU and Radeon RX 7000 “RDNA 3″GPU

The forthcoming Valve Fremont console has surfaced in the Geekbench database, as highlighted by @SadlyItsBradley. This console is codenamed “Fremont”and is powered by a custom AMD CPU designated as “1772”, which falls under the “Family 25 Model 124 Stepping 0″classification. This aligns with AMD’s Hawk Point 2 or Gorgon Point series of processors.

Valve Fremont benchmark scores: 2412 single-core, 7451 multi-core on AMD CPU with Windows 11.
Image Source: Geekbench

According to the Geekbench data, Valve’s Fremont device will be equipped with an AMD SoC featuring 6 cores and 12 threads. The Hawk Point 2 designation indicates that this chip is built upon the Zen 4 architecture and will utilize a cutting-edge 4nm manufacturing process. The SoC also includes 16 MB of L3 cache, 6 MB of L2 cache, and operates at a base clock speed of 3.20 GHz, with the potential to boost up to 4.80 GHz. This processor is designed for the FP7 socket.

In comparison, AMD’s existing Van Gogh SoCs used in the Galileo (Steam Deck OLED) and Jupiter (Steam Deck) handheld devices incorporate a custom Ryzen SoC known as Aerith/Sephiroth, which includes 4 cores and 8 threads based on the older Zen 2 architecture. These chips have a base clock speed of 2.80 GHz, boost up to 3.5 GHz, and contain 4 MB of L3 and 2 MB of L2 cache. Clearly, the Fremont’s CPU capabilities represent a significant enhancement.

Comparison of Valve Devices

Here’s a summary of the differences between the Valve Galileo (Steam Deck OLED) and the Valve Fremont:

  • 6 Zen 4 Cores vs 4 Zen 2 Cores
  • 12 CPU Threads vs 8 CPU Threads
  • 3.2 GHz Base Clock vs 2.8 GHz Base Clock
  • Up To 4.8 GHz Boost vs Up To 3.5 GHz Boost
  • 16 MB L3 Cache vs 4 MB L3 Cache
  • 6 MB L2 Cache vs 2 MB L2 Cache
  • RX 7600 “RDNA 3″GPU vs 8CU “RDNA 2″GPU

Additionally, there were earlier speculations regarding a next-generation Steam Deck 2 handheld potentially utilizing the Aerith Plus SoC, which has recently come to light. However, these claims were quickly dismissed, and it now seems that Aerith Plus could be allocated for a different application altogether.

The exact designation of the SoC featured in the Fremont console is yet to be determined, as it is uncertain whether it will be known as Aerith Plus or another name. It is worth noting that Aerith Plus operates at a 20W power profile and is designed for LPDDR5-8533 memory, whereas the Fremont device will utilize standard DDR5-5600 memory.

JSON code listing hardware IDs: Valve, AMD Ryzen SOC, FCH 51, Radeon RX 7600.
Image Source: Geekbench

A standout feature of the Valve Fremont is its deployment of the AMD Radeon RX 7600 GPU, built on the advanced RDNA 3 architecture. Notably, AMD has not branded any of its integrated GPU offerings under the Radeon RX 7000 series, suggesting that the Fremont will incorporate a discrete GPU solution. Although specific specifications of this GPU remain undisclosed, it may house between 28 to 32 compute units along with at least 8 GB of dedicated VRAM. For context, the current Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED consoles are equipped with merely 8 RDNA 2 compute units, marking another significant performance elevation for the Fremont.

Performance Highlights

In benchmark assessments conducted via Geekbench 6, the Valve Fremont achieved impressive results, scoring 2412 points in single-core performance and 7451 in multi-core tests, despite utilizing only 8 GB of memory—less than the 16 GB found in handheld alternatives. Nevertheless, the enhanced core architecture nearly doubles its performance metrics.

It appears that early data mining efforts suggest that the Valve Fremont is trending toward being a gaming console rather than a handheld device. Confirmation of its specifications and function will be eagerly anticipated upon Valve’s official announcement. This console might represent a new generation within the realm of Steam OS platforms or related gaming technologies.

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