AMD’s wins, fails, and WTF moments of 2024

Little question about it, AMD had an excellent yr.

Our recap of AMD’s highs, lows, and head-scratching moments of 2024 doesn’t reveal too many errors. At occasions, Intel stumbled via 2024 like somebody coming dwelling from the pub on Christmas Eve. However AMD was regular, dependable, and principally reliable.

See in case you agree with us as we stroll via the very best and worst of AMD’s 2024, as we’ve executed (or will do) for Microsoft, Google, and Intel. Will AMD be capable to sustain the tempo in 2025?

AMD Ryzen 8000: FAIL

Calling this household a failure could seem successful harsh, nevertheless it’s true that this was one of many few missteps by AMD all yr. The Ryzen 8000 household fell a bit quick on just a few fronts: First, it was fully made up of APUs, with no cheaper choices with out built-in graphics. For desktop avid gamers who favor graphics playing cards, that’s simply wasted silicon. Second, whereas the chips supplied AI capabilities, they fell wanting Copilot+ PC standing — and once more, avid gamers have at all times been a bit suspicious of AI. The Ryzen 8000 additionally started delivery just a few months after its announcement.

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On the time, Intel’s 14th-gen Core chips have been delivering spectacular efficiency with much less care paid to battery life. And because the Ryzen 8000 was introduced concurrently the Ryzen 5000 collection, it felt like folks simply stopped speaking concerning the Zen 4-based 8000 and questioned when the Zen 5-based 9000 collection would seem.

AMD Ryzen 5700X3D: WIN

It’s most likely truthful to say that the Ryzen 8000 was overshadowed by the 5700X3D, too, which was introduced alongside it.

One in every of AMD’s most engaging traits is the longevity of its platforms, and the Ryzen 8000 was designed across the AM5 socket. The Ryzen 5700X3D had two issues going for it: First, it was yet one more processor on the venerable AM4 socket, permitting clients to increase their PCs a bit longer; and second, by then the X3D’s monstrous cache had develop into a fan favourite. Whereas I don’t have any numbers on how the 5700X3D bought, my guess is that it was a extra interesting half than the Ryzen 8000 APUs.

It needs to be famous, although, that the 5700X3D was a Zen 3 half, with slower clock speeds that pushed down productiveness efficiency. For avid gamers, although, the Ryzen 5700X3D was simply what they requested for.

AMD’s mainstream GPU technique: WIN

AMD’s GPU enterprise in 2024 and 2025 will likely be guided by this storyline: Nvidia has gained the high-end GPU market, and everybody else is chasing the scraps. That’s not completely true, however shut sufficient! AMD’s senior vp Jack Huynh revealed AMD’s new path in September, explaining that he’d moderately chase 80 p.c of the lower-cost, mainstream market than the highest 20 p.c, or the premium choices.

Thiago Trevisan / IDG

Since we don’t know what AMD has up its sleeve for 2025, we will’t make certain if AMD will maintain to this worth/efficiency technique or not. Have in mind, although, that AMD has discovered a snug little area of interest, with minority positions in CPUs and GPUs, but in addition enterprise CPUs, graphics, and AI. The revenue margins that AMD has for merchandise within the latter three classes assist offset the challenges of competing within the PC area.

AMD’s GPU pricing technique: WIN

It hasn’t been simple, although, and February’s launch of the rival Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 for $169 was proof of that. Nvidia is predicted to launch client variations of its “Blackwell” structure (the GeForce 5000 household) in 2025, probably at CES with eye-popping specs and costs. However there’s a danger that it might simply drop an replace to an older structure to basically torpedo AMD’s ambitions.

AMD (and its clients) have been keen to regulate pricing, nevertheless, to their credit score. AMD’s companion, Sapphire, dropped the value of the Radeon 7900XT card by $200 in February, most likely to compete with new “Super” variations of Nvidia’s playing cards.

Radeon Hyperlink, RIP: FAIL

In January, AMD ended assist for the Radeon Hyperlink cellular app, which allowed avid gamers to stream video games from PCs with Radeon graphics playing cards to telephones and tablets operating with Android or iOS.

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AMD’s proper in that there are quite a few different methods to stream video games, together with Microsoft’s personal Xbox software, in addition to transportable PCs. Nonetheless, its a disgrace to take a tried-and-true answer and simply ditch it wholesale.

AMD FidelityFX Tremendous Decision 3.1: WIN

Whereas AMD’s companions ought to be applauded for making pricing changes, there’s a little bit of subtext to all of this, too: The {hardware} doesn’t at all times decide how a recreation will play. We’ve identified for a while that driver enhancements will push frames increased, however so too will among the most revolutionary applied sciences prior to now few years: graphics upscaling and body technology. In March, AMD debuted AMD FidelityFX Tremendous Decision 3.1 (FSR 3.1), an improved model of its FidelityFX 3.0 expertise.

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FSR 3.1 decouples upscaling from body technology, an fascinating tweak. FSR can increase body charges by as much as 3 times in video games like Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Lower. That’s substantial. However AMD additionally promised FSR can be coming to 40 video games when FSR 3.1 was introduced in March. It’s now December, and AMD lists 36 (between FSR2 and FSR3) on its video games web page.

AMD Fluid Movement Frames 2.0: WIN

Whereas FSR started as an upscaling expertise, AMD’s Fluid Movement Frames was at all times a strategy to clean body charges by interjecting new (some name these “fake” frames) in between the frames the sport asks for. Whereas this technically boosts body charges, its aim is to really present smoother gameplay. AMD started 2024 by principally making FMF 1.0 out there to all DirectX video games; in October, AMD debuted FMF 2.0 as properly.

The issue inside body technology is that these additional frames introduce latency, one other factor that avid gamers are likely to keep away from. FMF 2.0 is particularly designed to scale back latency through the use of AI (after all). Thankfully, it’s relevant to each AMD’s built-in graphics in addition to RX 6000- and RX 7000-series GPUs.

AMD’s handheld dominance: WIN

I don’t personal a handheld gaming PC, and my spouse would most likely begin screaming at me if I introduced it up, utilizing phrases like “mortgage” and “vacation money” and “the price of eggs.” Anyway, in case you are out there for a handheld PC, it’s a digital lock that an AMD processor is inside.

PCWelt/Asus/Amazon

2024 could have been an off yr for consoles — which use AMD chips, too, by the way in which. However the resurgence of transportable PCs has meant renewed curiosity in AMD’s Z-series processors: The Z1 and the Z1 Excessive. (The Z2 could debut at CES.) Principally, it’s information any time a handheld doesn’t use an AMD chip inside.

Microsoft passes over AMD for Floor: FAIL

This yr, 2024, was the yr of the Copilot+ PC and particularly Home windows on Arm. AMD has at all times struggled considerably to draw clients within the cellular area, and this yr quite a few PC makers signed as much as manufacture at the very least one PC designed round Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite platform.

In 2019, AMD cracked Microsoft’s Floor Laptop computer 3 with a custom-designed Ryzen processor, and Microsoft and AMD maintained a reasonably regular relationship. However in 2024 Floor bought out wholesale to the Snapdragon, and AMD was omitted within the chilly. If Qualcomm can sustain its mixture of lengthy battery life and first rate computing efficiency, AMD might be pushed apart.

Matthew Smith / IDG

AMD’s Copilot+ PC conundrum: WTF

In March, Microsoft launched the idea of a Copilot+ PC, full with an AI-powered CPU to drive Microsoft’s assortment of AI apps. Microsoft launched Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X platform, however promised {that a} Home windows replace would bless PCs operating on AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 processor and Intel’s Lunar Lake with Copilot+ capabilities, too. However that…didn’t occur. As an alternative, Microsoft delayed the controversial Recall characteristic, letting these with Snapdragon-powered PCs take a look at out generative AI options as an alternative.

Foundry

As for the others? In December, Microsoft pushed the Home windows replace that permits the AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs to check out Recall — and that’s all. If you wish to hold the AI hype prepare going, that is not the way you do it, Microsoft. Sadly, it’s AMD (and Intel) who have been burned.

AMD Ryzen AI 300: WIN

Actually, the present crop of laptop computer processors — Snapdragon X Elite, Intel’s Lunar Lake, and AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 — could also be each the very best and best cellular processor technology in historical past. They’re all glorious in their very own method. With over 50 TOPS plus a Radeon 3.5 GPU, the Ryzen AI 300 seems to be nice on paper, and examined on the high of the heap by way of efficiency as properly. It’s why I argued that AMD ought to acknowledge the low-power efforts of its competitors, however try for efficiency as an alternative.

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The following take a look at will likely be in gaming: AMD’s “Strix Halo” versus the Intel Core HX processor. Anticipate to see a showdown in cellular gaming at CES this January…with probably an Nvidia “Blackwell” cellular GPU alongside them.

AMD’s market share features: WIN

All these wins needed to repay, proper? Yep. AMD now appears to constantly file quarter after quarter of sturdy revenues and earnings. AMD’s market share additionally soared, particularly in desktop. There, AMD recorded development of 10 share factors in its desktop market share alone.

Ryzen 9000: WTF

AMD’s Ryzen 8000 APUs could have met with a combined reception, however the launch of the Ryzen 9000 desktop processors at Computex in June was very well-received…even after a bump or two. A promised 40 p.c enchancment over Intel’s 14th-gen Cores! AMD even confirmed that the AM5 socket (the inspiration for the Ryzen 9000) can be supported till 2027, and ditched AI and built-in GPUs on its 4 new elements. Issues have been trying nice!

Willis Lai / Foundry

However then it obtained just a little bizarre. After discovering a “quality issue,” AMD delayed the Ryzen 9000 launch till August. However then AMD lower the Ryzen 9000 costs, decrease than its predecessor! However then the precise Ryzen 9000 overview was disappointing…however for a purpose! However after putting in Home windows 11’s 2024 Replace…efficiency soared once more! After which there was one other replace, this time to the firmware, that pumped 105W via the chips for even increased efficiency.

Yeah, this most likely concluded in “WIN” territory, however after a rocky journey via “WTF land.”

Ryzen 9000X3D: WIN

We conclude with what ought to be the largest victory of AMD’s 2024: The Ryzen 9000X3D gaming behemoth. If this chip was AMD’s ultimate examination of 2024, the corporate confirmed that it understood the project: low energy and kick-ass gaming efficiency. It gained our award for the very best desktop CPU of 2024, and for good purpose: Not solely did it obliterate Intel’s finest in each video games and content material creation, it did so whereas consuming much less energy, too. What can’t AMD’s V-Cache do?

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If there was any draw back, it’s that the 9800X3D promptly bought out. However simply wait, AMD says extra are coming.

And with that, we conclude one in all AMD’s finest years ever. Comfortable holidays to you and yours, and be sure you be part of us in January for CES, and the subsequent chapter of AMD’s story!