With Ryzen 7000 Mobile, AMD is introducing a new naming scheme for mobile processors in 2023 that, among other things, integrates the Zen architecture into the model number. The segment (9, 7, 5 or 3) that previously followed the “Ryzen” brand can also be found in the model number. Desktop processors will stay with the old model for the time being.
The previous naming scheme
The current naming scheme for mobile Ryzen processors follows that for desktop CPUs, as known since the 1st generation Ryzen from 2017. The “Ryzen” brand has so far been followed by an assignment to a product segment (9, 7, 5 or 3) followed by a four-digit number sequence plus any suffix. The four-digit sequence of numbers contains the generation in the first place, the assignment to a performance class within the product segment in the second place and then a model number within the performance class within the generation. A suffix (H, HX, HS or U) also provides information about the consumption class for notebook CPUs. Model numbers derived from the naming scheme do not provide any information about the underlying CPU or iGPU architecture, for example.
The Ryzen naming scheme since Gen 1 in 2017 (Image: AMD)The new naming scheme
Among other things, this is exactly what the new naming scheme that AMD wants to introduce with Ryzen 7000 Mobile in 2023 is supposed to change. A week ago, AMD distributed a small hub for the presentation of AMD Ryzen 7000 in Austin, Texas, which shows the new naming scheme in action, although not every possibility makes sense or will be implemented in this way.
AMD Ryzen Notebook Name GeneratorAMD's “simple_turntable” doesn't tell the whole truth
However, the new scheme is not quite as simple as AMD wanted to make it believe in Austin with the help of the turntable, as the slides published later with more details make clear. Because the product segment that was previously behind “Ryzen” neither changes to second place without replacement, nor does it find itself there 1:1. Rather, there are two different digits in the 2nd position per segment (Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9), only for Athlon Silver and Athlon Gold there is only one each. With Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 there is even an overlap with the “x8xx”. The third digit provides clear information about the underlying CPU architecture.
The new naming scheme from AMD Ryzen 7000 Mobile (Image: AMD)Unchanged, there are the 1st digit Information about the generation (AMD equates it with specific model years in the example) and the 4th digit about the performance class within a segment, whereby there appears to be only “0” for “Lower Segment” and “5” for ” Higher Segment”. Previously, this information was in the 2nd position and was more differentiable.
Mobile Ryzen with 9 watt TDP are coming
The suffix includes HX, HS, H, U and C familiar abbreviations. Apparently “e” is new, which is intended for CPUs with a TDP of only 9 watts, which will still reside below the U series.
An example:
Recording the architecture not without reason
With the inclusion of the architecture in the model number, AMD will deal with so-called “refreshes” more transparently in the future, even if generally only enthusiasts are likely to know anything about the background of the product designation. Slides published by AMD on the new scheme make it clear that the Ryzen 7000 Mobile series will also have CPUs with Zen 2 architecture, while Zen 4 processors reside at the top end.
So-called “refreshes”, i.e. CPUs with older Architecture under a new name is more visible to the trained eye (Image: AMD)Initially only for Ryzen for notebooks
According to AMD, the new scheme will initially only be used in the mobile area introduced, earlier models are not renamed retrospectively. Desktop processors should stay with the old scheme for the time being.
With the inclusion of the architecture in the model designation, the new naming scheme makes an adjustment that will undoubtedly be of interest to enthusiasts. The fact that there is “only” an assignment to a segment within a TDP class and in this in turn an assignment to one of two performance classes makes the new scheme appear somewhat more meaningful at first glance. But the mere fact that there are segments with performance classes in different TDP levels and that these appear clear on paper, but can be designed completely differently by the OEM in the notebook, makes it clear that the new scheme will not completely overwhelm customers either explain the performance of the processor in the system under consideration, especially since there is no statement about the relevant iGPU in the processor.
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ComputerBase received information about this article from AMD under NDA. The only requirement was the earliest possible publication date.
Update 07.09.2022 4:25 p.m.
The message was supplemented with information that AMD only published after the embargo was lifted. They show that the Ryzen 9 to Ryzen 3 classes also remain in the mobile segment; the second digit of the model number does not replace this information. There is therefore no 1:1 mapping of the known Ryzen segments, but rather one or two digit(s) for each segment (Ryzen 9 to Ryzen 3 plus Athlon) that are exclusive to the respective segment. An exception is the number “8”, which will be the 2nd digit for both Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9. The only significant change is the inclusion of the Zen CPU architecture in the model number. The message has been adjusted accordingly.