AMD is seemingly readying the global launch of its GPU-less Ryzen processor. Using a monolithic die with a disabled iGPU, these chips should be perfect for affordable gaming machines.
First spotted during the AI PC summit in Beijing, AMD’s upcoming Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F processors are rumoured to launch soon. While no exact date has been shared, @AnhPhuH, a Twitter sleuth, has mentioned retail boxes, indicating availability for DIYers, meaning no OEM exclusivity.
This is great news for those searching for a cheaper entry point to AMD’s AM5 socket. Seeing how the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8500G, which these new chips are based, on retail for $329 and $179, respectively, we can expect at least $20 to 30$ discounts due to the missing iGPU. This would put both models at least on par or cheaper than their non-APU equivalents. Most importantly this would put the Ryzen 5 8400F as the most affordable option on AMD’s AM5 lineup.
Regarding specs, the Ryzen 7 8700F will feature 8 Zen 4 cores totalling 16 threads, clocked at 4.1GHz base and up to 5GHz boost. These will have access to 8MB of L2 cache and 16MB of L3 alongside a 65W power target. The latter can also be configurable as low as 45W which is excellent for those who care about efficiency, though performance may be reduced in such conditions.
The Ryzen 5 8400F, on the other hand, loses two cores leaving it with 6 cores and 12 threads clocked at 4.2GHz base and 4.7GHz boost. The cache is also smaller, with 6MB of L2 and 16MB of L3, though the power targets are still identical, ranging from 45W to 65W. As said previously, both models will not include an iGPU, meaning a dedicated graphics card is required. Lastly, both should still carry an NPU for those AI-powered tasks.
AMD CPUs are getting iGPUs while APUs are losing them, so what’s going on? But jokes aside, this is completely normal as AMD is most likely repurposing defective APUs instead of throwing them out. When the chip has a bad CPU core, you get a 6- or 4-core models, and when the iGPU is not working correctly, you get these F variants. A good thing for both AMD and users who get cheaper processors.