The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U is a processor that offers exceptional performance and energy efficiency for thin and light laptops. Released as part of the Cezanne generation and the "Barcelo" refresh in early 2022, this processor is designed to deliver a powerful computing experience while maintaining a compact and lightweight form factor.
The Ryzen 7 5825U features eight CPU cores based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture, which provides significant improvements over its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 5800U. With a clock speed ranging from 2 GHz as the guaranteed base clock to 4.5 GHz under Turbo Boost, this processor offers excellent single-threaded and multi-threaded performance. It also supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT), also known as hyperthreading, enabling each core to handle two threads simultaneously, resulting in enhanced multitasking capabilities.
Manufactured using TSMC's advanced 7 nm process, the Ryzen 7 5825U benefits from improved power efficiency and reduced heat generation. This allows it to operate within a thermal design power (TDP) of 15 Watts by default, making it suitable for thin and light laptops. However, laptop manufacturers have the flexibility to configure the TDP between 10 and 25 Watts, enabling them to optimize the performance and power balance according to their specific design requirements.
The Zen 3 microarchitecture, featured in the Ryzen 7 5825U, introduces a higher instructions per clock (IPC) performance compared to its predecessor, Zen 2. AMD claims an average IPC improvement of 19 percent for desktop processors, and real-world application reviews have shown gains of around 12 percent at the same clock speed. This enhanced IPC translates into better overall performance and responsiveness, making the Ryzen 7 5825U a compelling choice for demanding tasks such as content creation, multimedia editing, and light gaming.
In addition to its impressive CPU capabilities, the Ryzen 7 5825U integrates a Radeon RX Vega 8 GPU with eight compute units (CUs) operating at up to 2000 MHz. This integrated graphics solution offers solid performance for casual gaming, video streaming, and everyday graphics-intensive tasks. While it may not match the performance of discrete graphics cards, it provides a convenient and power-efficient solution for users who value portability and battery life.
The APU also features a dual-channel memory controller, supporting DDR4-3200 and energy-efficient LPDDR4-4266 RAM. The increased level 3 cache size of 16 MB, compared to the 8 MB in its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 4800U, allows for faster data access and improved overall system performance.
When comparing the Ryzen 7 5825U to other processors, it falls between the Ryzen 7 5800U and the higher-end Ryzen 7 6800U. The 5825U provides a notable performance boost over the 5800U while offering similar performance to the 6800U. This positioning makes it an excellent choice for users who require a balance of performance and efficiency without compromising portability.
The Ryzen 7 5825U supports a range of modern features, including XFR (eXtended Frequency Range), FMA3 (Floating-Point Multiply Accumulate 3), SSE 4.2 (Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.2), AVX2 (Advanced Vector Extensions 2), and SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading). These features enhance the processor's capabilities in various workloads and ensure compatibility with a wide range of software and applications.
