ECS Announcement: AMD Krackan Point for “UP42KP” Laptop with 8 Zen 5/Zen 5c Cores and RDNA 3.5 Integrated GPU

The upcoming ECS UP42KP laptop is set to leverage the power of an 8-core AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 “Krackan Point” APU, boasting a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) performance exceeding 40 TOPS. This marks a significant advancement for mainstream computing solutions in the laptop market.

Introducing the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350: A Game Changer for Mainstream Laptops

The highly anticipated launch of AMD’s Zen 5-based, budget-friendly Krackan Point series is just around the corner. Recent benchmarks on platforms like Geekbench have highlighted the capabilities of these processors, which are configured with up to 8 cores and 16 threads. According to the latest updates, the Krackan Point APU is expected to debut alongside other new AMD hardware.

ECS, a well-known manufacturer specializing in laptops and other PC components, is gearing up to unveil its AMD Krackan Point-powered laptops at CES 2025. In a recent announcement, the company teased new motherboard releases, including Intel’s Z890 and B760 series, designed for use with Intel’s Arrow Lake and their 12th, 13th, and 14th generation processors.

In terms of laptop offerings, ECS will introduce two models: the UP42KP and the UP42PW. While the UP42PW is powered by the Snapdragon X Plus processor, the UP42KP will feature the AMD Krackan Point 8-core APU. This specific APU configuration consists of 4x Zen 5 and 4x Zen 5c cores, equipped with hyperthreading capabilities. For laptops at the entry-level, there’s also a Ryzen AI 5 340 variant available, which will feature a 6-core setup.

The integrated graphics unit will utilize RDNA 3.5 architecture—similar to the capabilities found in Strix Point and Strix Halo models—though it may not match the performance levels of its premium counterparts. This strategic choice positions Krackan Point as an option for the budget-conscious consumer, expecting balanced performance for light to moderate graphical tasks.

The ECS UP42KP will feature a compact 14-inch display and include DDR5 memory rated at 5600 MT/s, as well as robust connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 6 and USB4. The Krackan Point APU will operate within a thermal design power (TDP) range of 15W-54W, which aligns closely with current Strix Point APUs. There’s speculation regarding whether this APU could be utilized in forthcoming budget gaming handhelds, given the recent deployment of premium Strix Point APUs by manufacturers like ONE-NETBOOK and ZOTAC in their portable devices.

While specific details regarding the pricing and availability of the ECS UP42KP have yet to be revealed, more information is expected during the CES event, which is set to take place in Las Vegas from January 7 to 10, 2025.

News Source: ECS

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