AMD Plans Zen 5 Refresh Before Launching Zen 6 Notebook CPUs

AMD has revealed plans for a refresh of its Ryzen AI 300 series, codenamed Gorgon Point, prior to the introduction of the new Zen 6 architecture in its upcoming notebook CPUs. This information surfaced during a recent presentation at a Korean event showcasing LG's new Gram notebooks.

The Gorgon Point refresh aims to enhance the performance of the existing Strix Point lineup, which features up to twelve Zen 5 cores coupled with the RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture. This update is expected to provide a slight performance boost through increased clock speeds while maintaining the core configuration.

Historically, AMD has taken a similar approach to product lifecycle management, having previously transitioned from Phoenix to Hawk Point and ultimately to Strix Point. The Gorgon Point series is anticipated to remain relevant well into 2026, with AMD marketing these chips under the Ryzen AI 400 branding. Some variants may also include an upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of performing over 55 trillion operations per second, improving upon the existing models.

Before launching Gorgon Point, AMD must debut the Krackan Point variants of the Strix Point series, which were announced earlier this year but are not yet available for purchase. These models will include configurations with eight and six CPU cores, providing manufacturers with more flexibility in creating diverse product offerings for various market segments.

Currently, the Hawk Point series caters to different device categories that do not align with Microsoft's Copilot+ marketing initiative. Gorgon Point is designed to support Copilot+, covering a range of configurations from twelve to four CPU cores.

Looking ahead, the next significant advancement from AMD is expected to be Medusa Point, which has been rumored for some time and may be designated as Ryzen AI 500. This follows the introduction of Gorgon Point, making the earlier Ryzen AI 400 labeling less feasible. However, details about Medusa Point remain scarce, as it is set to launch in 2026, and AMD has yet to provide comprehensive information about the architecture.

Medusa Point is expected to retain the twelve-core configuration, with anticipated performance enhancements stemming from the new Zen 6 architecture. Speculation suggests that AMD may adopt a chiplet design for its notebook CPUs, a move that would differentiate its products from Intel's current monolithic offerings.

In terms of the integrated graphics, there are discussions about the potential introduction of the RDNA 4 architecture, although it remains unclear. Should AMD provide an upgraded GPU solution, it could significantly enhance the performance of its notebook processors. Furthermore, a high-performance variant, dubbed Medusa Halo, could accompany Medusa Point, featuring dual chiplets.

Additionally, there are rumors regarding a new chip codenamed Sound Wave, which is expected to incorporate ARM architecture instead of x86 cores. This chip is rumored to replace the low-end Ryzen 7020 series and is aimed at budget-friendly notebooks, reflecting AMD's strategy to compete with ARM-based solutions from Qualcomm and enhance its presence in the Windows on ARM ecosystem.