Upcoming AMD CPU with RDNA1 graphics may be coming, spotted in Linux code

[Molematt]

Rumor mill: AMD appears to be readying another APU (accelerated processing unit) according to driver code spotted in the Linux 5.15 release, although it appears to be using an RDNA1-based integrated GPU rather than the second generation going into newer products.

The graphics driver patches as reported by Phoronix on Friday appear to be referring to a processor with graphics codenamed "Cyan Sailfish." The APU might be targeted for consumer or embedded applications, although the usage of the first-generation RDNA architecture is perhaps the most unexpected aspect of this. The past few generations of these processors with onboard graphics (all the way up to Ryzen 5000 APUs on both mobile and desktop) have continued to use AMD's Vega architecture from 2017, albeit with various updates and refreshes over the years.

However, according to leaks -- compiled in the oft-cited roadmap below -- have next mainstream APUs from AMD making the jump to RDNA2, rather than the first-generation Navi graphics. Then again, it's also likely that the architecture will have been tweaked and improved from earlier implementations like the RX 5700 XT, as AMD's current Vega integrated offerings are very different beasts from their appearances in Ryzen 2000G.

No CPUs with either of the two RDNA architectures have been formally released or announced yet, other than the current generation of consoles, and so we can only speculate as to the resulting APU. However, it may well simply be an entry-level product for embedded applications, like the current line-up of Ryzen V-series chips, since RDNA1's smaller die size should bring with it lower production costs, and the kinds of devices using them wouldn't need high performance.

Cyan Skillfish could also find its way into laptops or other mobile products, but that's rather unlikely, as Valve's upcoming Steam Deck is already proving that high performance graphics in a portable form factor is a very attractive proposition for many.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/90620-upcoming-amd-cpu-rdna1-graphics-may-coming-spotted.html

 

[Irata]

Aren‘t there rumors about a low budget 4C Zen2+RDNA APU made on GloFo 12nm (latest iteration).

No idea if that‘s real but imo this would be a great idea as it would allow AMD to flood the home / office / Chromebook market with cheap APU.

 

[Burty117]

Isn't the Steam Deck a Zen2 APU with RDNA2 graphics?

 

[Beerfloat]

I guess it’d at least be an improvement over yet another tired Vega APU.
Still, why bother with such an outdated design?

 

[Lew Zealand]

Could be that RDNA2 only works well with an Infinity Cache which there isn't enough die room for on an APU? RDNA1 doesn't have/require that and we all know how memory bandwidth limited iGPUs are.

 

[Burty117]

Could be that RDNA2 only works well with an Infinity Cache which there isn't enough die room for on an APU? RDNA1 doesn't have/require that and we all know how memory bandwidth limited iGPUs are.

Yet, the Steam Deck has an 8CU RDNA2 GPU in it. So it's definitely possible to use RDNA2 in APU's already.

 

[Gus Fring]

Nah .. probably just a piece for embedded/industrial applications. All thos e slot machines require updated gfx ....
Or could it be a mining beast? "the horror"

 

[hahahanoobs]

Aren‘t there rumors about a low budget 4C Zen2+RDNA APU made on GloFo 12nm (latest iteration).

No idea if that‘s real but imo this would be a great idea as it would allow AMD to flood the home / office / Chromebook market with cheap APU.

Not sure about that one.
I know the 8C 4700S has no IGP. That's the only other chip I heard AMD has floating around.

 

[PetrolHead]

Yet, the Steam Deck has an 8CU RDNA2 GPU in it. So it's definitely possible to use RDNA2 in APU's already.

Furthermore, it doesn't have any infinity cache. It's probably so low powered that the bandwidth provided by the LPDDR5 memory is enough - at least for their target performance (800p @ 30 FPS).

 

[Burty117]

Furthermore, it doesn't have any infinity cache. It's probably so low powered that the bandwidth provided by the LPDDR5 memory is enough - at least for their target performance (800p @ 30 FPS).

Yeah I was reading up on it. Quad Channel and all, looks like some real thought has been put into getting the most out of the little APU. Props to Valve.

 

[Bamda]

Isn't the Steam Deck a Zen2 APU with RDNA2 graphics?

That is a custom chip made for Valve, just like the APCs in the Xbox X/S and PS5. My thoughts are that this is made for more general use in consumer or embedded applications.

 

[Burty117]

That is a custom chip made for Valve, just like the APCs in the Xbox X/S and PS5. My thoughts are that this is made for more general use in consumer or embedded applications.

True, but my point was it's already possible to have an APU with RDNA2 graphics without infinity cache.

My bets are though bandwidth is a real issue, so they won't bother with general APU's with RDNA2 graphics until DDR5 is mainstream.