AMD is gearing up to make waves in the budget technology world with the introduction of their Krackan Point APUs, slated for an early 2025 release. This move aims to provide more affordable devices while addressing the ongoing chip supply issues by 2025. At IFA 2024, the spotlight was on a number of innovations, and AMD did not disappoint, confirming the Krackan Point rumors circulating before CES 2025.
Jack Huynh, Senior VP and GM of AMD Computing and Graphics, confirmed the release timeline and emphasized AMD’s commitment to offering budget-friendly alternatives. Currently, the premium AMD Strix Point APUs cater to high-end devices, leaving a gap in the market for affordable options. The new Krackan Point lineup aims to fill this gap, particularly important as Strix Point APUs have yet to be adopted in mainstream gaming handhelds due to their high cost.
The Krackan Point APUs promise an 8-core configuration with a combination of 4 Zen 5 and 4 Zen 5c cores, delivering up to 50 TOPS of NPU performance. This makes the Krackan Point ready for AI-driven features like Copilot+ certification, while the integrated RDNA 3.5 graphics ensure a significant performance boost over previous generations. Although it offers only 8 Compute Units compared to the 16 of the Strix Point, it is expected to be a solid upgrade for devices like the Steam Deck.
AMD’s strategic move with Krackan Point is not just about affordability but also about maintaining a robust supply chain. This is crucial as AMD’s chip supply issues have pushed some partners towards alternative solutions despite AMD’s strong presence in popular devices like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally. The introduction of Krackan Point APUs aims to fortify AMD’s position by providing cost-effective, high-performance solutions that can be widely adopted across a range of devices.
Looking at AMD’s broader roadmap, the Krackan Point fits into a diverse lineup of Ryzen Mobility CPUs. With families ranging from the ultra-premium Strix Point Halo to the versatile Phoenix and Rembrandt lines, AMD’s strategy covers all market segments. The Krackan Point’s 4nm Zen 5-based architecture stands out, promising excellent performance-to-cost ratios.
AMD’s push for innovation and affordability with the Krackan Point APUs reflects their determination to meet market demands and expand their footprint in the budget-friendly device segment. Expect to see more OEMs adopt these solutions, bringing high-performance computing to a broader audience by 2025.
