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AMD Unveils Ryzen Mobile 7040U Series: Zen 4 Architecture Soars in Ultraportable Laptops

Ryzen Mobile 7040U Series

At CES 2023, AMD made a significant announcement, revealing the Ryzen Mobile 7040HS series based on the Zen 4 architecture. These high-performance chips were designed for powerful laptops. Now, AMD has expanded its offerings with the introduction of the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series, specifically catered to ultraportable notebooks. This move marks AMD's commitment to bringing their latest generation technologies to the thin and light laptop market, harnessing the efficiency advantages of Zen 4. In this article, we will delve into the key features and specifications of the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series.

The Power Within: Phoenix Silicon and Zen 4 Architecture

The Ryzen Mobile 7040U series is built on AMD's Phoenix silicon, utilizing TSMC's advanced 4 nm process node. The Phoenix silicon combines Zen 4 CPU cores with AMD's RDNA 3 graphics compute units into a single, monolithic die. This integration allows for improved power efficiency and high performance in ultraportable laptops.

Specifications and Product Lineup

The Ryzen Mobile 7040U series spans a range of key mobile product categories, catering to different market segments. It consists of four SKUs, offering options from 8-core to 4-core configurations. All models are equipped with AMD's RDNA 3 integrated graphics, bringing enhanced visual capabilities to these ultraportable laptops.

Let's take a closer look at the SKUs in the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series:

  1. Ryzen 7 7840U: This top-tier model boasts 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base frequency of 3.3 GHz and a turbo frequency of up to 5.1 GHz. It features the Radeon 780M integrated graphics with 12 compute units (CU) and a maximum frequency of 2.7 GHz. With 16 MB of L3 cache and a TDP range of 15-30W, this SKU offers exceptional performance for demanding tasks.
  2. Ryzen 5 7640U: Positioned as a mid-range option, the Ryzen 5 7640U is a 6-core, 12-thread processor. It operates at a base frequency of 3.5 GHz, with a turbo frequency of up to 4.9 GHz. The integrated Radeon 760M graphics, equipped with 8 CUs running at a maximum frequency of 2.6 GHz, ensures smooth visual experiences. It features 16 MB of L3 cache and shares the same TDP range as the Ryzen 7 7840U.
  3. Ryzen 5 7540U: Similar to the Ryzen 5 7640U, this SKU also offers 6 cores and 12 threads. However, it operates at a slightly lower base frequency of 3.2 GHz, with a turbo frequency of up to 4.9 GHz. It comes with the Radeon 740M integrated graphics, featuring 4 CUs with a maximum frequency of 2.5 GHz. The Ryzen 5 7540U includes 16 MB of L3 cache and shares the same TDP range as its counterparts.
  4. Ryzen 3 7440U: Positioned as the entry-level option, the Ryzen 3 7440U is a quad-core processor with 8 threads. It operates at a base frequency of 3.0 GHz, with a turbo frequency of up to 4.7 GHz. Equipped with the Radeon 740M integrated graphics (4 CUs), this SKU delivers satisfactory visuals. The Ryzen 3 7440U includes 12 MB of combined L3 cache and has a TDP range of 15-30W, making it suitable for power-efficient ultraportable laptops.

Ryzen AI and Xilinx Integration

One of the notable features of the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series is the integration of AMD's Ryzen AI technology, developed in collaboration with Xilinx. This AI engine, based on Xilinx's XDNA architecture, brings AI processing capabilities to the Ryzen Mobile processors. It enhances the performance and efficiency of AI workloads by providing dedicated task-specific silicon. This integration allows the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series to excel in AI inference tasks, surpassing the capabilities of the CPU and GPU alone.

Moreover, AMD's Ryzen AI technology directly supports Microsoft's Studio Effects pack within Windows 11. This dedicated AI engine enables advanced audio processing and effects, enhancing the overall user experience. While specific performance figures for Ryzen AI have not been provided by AMD, it represents a significant step forward in AI capabilities for AMD processors.

Performance and Efficiency Improvements

While AMD has provided some performance comparisons, it's important to approach them with caution, as they represent best-case scenarios. According to AMD's claims, the Ryzen 7 7840U delivers up to 175% higher Passmark 10 performance compared to Apple's M2 chip. In terms of media encoding performance, the Ryzen 7 7840U demonstrates up to 228% improvement over Intel's Core i7-1360P.

In gaming performance, where the Ryzen 7 7840U with Radeon 780M integrated graphics is pitted against Intel's Core i7-1360P with Iris Xe graphics, the Radeon 780M outperforms Intel by 130% to 239% in specific titles. These figures demonstrate AMD's focus on providing superior graphics capabilities, particularly for high-end mobile processors.

AMD has also invested in efficiency leadership, incorporating Smart Power Management into the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series. While specific battery life estimates have not been provided, AMD aims to deliver improved efficiency compared to the previous generation. As laptop vendors integrate the Ryzen 7040U APUs with Zen 4 into their designs, we can expect to see how these processors optimize battery life.

Availability and Expectations

AMD has not provided a specific release date for the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series. However, considering the timing of the announcement, it is likely that more information regarding specific laptops and their availability will be unveiled at events like Computex.

Conclusion

The Ryzen Mobile 7040U series marks a significant milestone for AMD, bringing the power and efficiency of Zen 4 architecture to the ultraportable laptop market. With its integration of RDNA 3 graphics, Ryzen AI technology, and Xilinx collaboration, AMD aims to deliver superior performance and enhanced AI capabilities. While specific performance figures should be taken with caution, the Ryzen Mobile 7040U series holds promise for users seeking thin and light laptops with impressive processing and graphics capabilities. As these processors make their way into the market, we can anticipate the further democratization of AMD's latest generation technologies in the laptop industry.

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