AMD is putting the finishing touches on its first APUs for the Socket AM5 desktop platform. According to a report by Sakhtafzar Magazine, the company may name the processor models in the Ryzen 8000G series instead of the previously expected 7000G series. AMD is preparing 14 processor models that span the 4 nm "Phoenix" and "Phoenix 2" monolithic dies. Both chips combine "Zen 4" CPU cores with an iGPU based on the RDNA 3 graphics architecture. While the current Ryzen 7000 series "Raphael" desktop processors have integrated graphics, AMD does not consider them APUs because their iGPU is only suitable for non-gaming desktop use cases. APUs are designed for entry-level gaming.

The "Phoenix" silicon features up to 8 "Zen 4" CPU cores and an iGPU with up to 12 RDNA3 compute units. This chip powers the Ryzen 5 8600G, Ryzen 7 8700G, their PRO variants, and their respective "GE" (energy efficient) sub-variants. The "Phoenix 2" silicon barely qualifies as an APU, as its iGPU only has 4 RDNA3 compute units (compared to the 2 RDNA2 CUs on the "Raphael" iGPU). It also has a maximum CPU core count of 6, with two "Zen 4" cores that can sustain higher boost frequency bins and four "Zen 4c" cores that run at lower clock speeds (but with identical IPC and ISA). AMD is using "Phoenix 2" on the desktop platform to create several sub-$150 class processor models across the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 brands. A package with a monolithic "Phoenix 2" die likely has a lower bill of materials (BOM) than a "Raphael" multi-chip module.

The source also claims to have gaming performance comparisons of the Ryzen 8000G "Phoenix" desktop APU's iGPU compared to the Ryzen 7 5700G "Cezanne" Socket AM4 desktop APU. The Ryzen 8000G shows performance gains between 40% to 200% higher. This is because "Cezanne" has an older iGPU based on the Vega graphics architecture, while "Phoenix" uses the newer RDNA3 architecture, which is three generations ahead.

AMD is also planning to release several new processor models for the older AM4 platform, including the Ryzen 7 5700X3D and 5500X3D, which feature the 3D Vertical Cache technology that improves gaming performance. Additionally, there will be a few new APUs, namely the 5700GT and 5600GT. The meaning of the "T" brand extension in AMD nomenclature is currently unknown. Intel uses "T" to denote energy-efficient SKUs, but AMD uses "E" for that purpose.

According to the article, AMD is expected to announce the new Socket AM5 and AM4 processors on January 31.