Announcement from AMD: New processors coming in HP, Lenovo systems

Watch out for AMD's new processors called Bristol Ridge on their way to PCs. Kevin Lee in TechRadar and other computer watchers reported on them recently.

They were codenamed Bristol Ridge and now are termed the "7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop processors."

With a release datelined Sunnyvale, California, AMD on Monday said these were "the first OEM systems to feature 7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop processors are now shipping, paired with the new AMD AM4 platform supporting DDR4 memory and next-gen I/O and standards. Designs, initially from HP and Lenovo, with other global OEMs designs to follow, deliver high-speed processing, smooth eSports gaming, and enhanced HD and UHD streaming capabilities, including the highest memory bandwidth to date for an AMD desktop platform."

Paul Lilly in Hot Hardware called them APUs. That stands for the AMD Accelerated Processing Unit (APU).

Lee said the processors could power devices including full-tower gaming machines.

TechRadar said they use up to four "Excavator" cores and they cover a wide power band spanning from 65- to 35-watts.

The AMD release said "The new 7th Generation 65-watt A-Series processors deliver performance only realized at 95-watts with the previous generation."

Lee named other interesting features. Expect improved AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next graphics, allowing users to watch more 4K Ultra HD media in H.264 and H.265 formats.

The chips offer support for Microsoft DirectX 12, "future-proofing them for gaming," said Lee.

The processors, said the press release, bring enhanced graphics capabilities and key video playback features that support up to 4K Ultra HD in both the H.264 and new H.265 formats. The devices will also feature AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next graphics, with full support for Microsoft DirectX 12.

TechRadar noted that AMD was already gearing up to release Zen, its next generation desktop CPU architecture.

One reader's reaction in TechRadar was that anyone who buys this when Zen is just around the corner would have to be mad.

Nonetheless, AMD's web page suggests reasons why the new processor for desktops bring value. AMD says its technology, for example, "puts an end to choppy gameplay and broken frames with fluid, artifact-free performance at virtually any framerate."

"The consumer release of these new HP and Lenovo designs is an important milestone for AMD on two fronts. First, it marks a major increase in productivity performance, streaming video and eSports gaming experiences sought after by today's consumers, delivered through our new 7th Generation AMD A-Series desktop processors. Second, because these new OEM designs also feature our new AM4 desktop platform, the motherboard ecosystem shows its readiness for our upcoming high-performance 'Summit Ridge' desktop CPUs featuring 'Zen' cores, which share the same platform," said Kevin Lensing, Corporate VP and general manager of Client Computing at AMD.