From a new mid-range gaming processor to display standard updates for UDNA/RDNA 5, there could be interesting things on the horizon for AMD. A week ago, it was discovered that AMD is planning a region-specific soft launch for yet another AM4-based entry-level gaming processor. While pricing details remain unknown, but are believed to be in the $150-$200 range, its exclusive Latin America release has left some bewildered. Now, it appears there could be a reason behind the strategic move, and it was discovered that a new AM5-based processor could be on the way.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X3D
Mid-range gaming processors often provide an excellent choice for those not needing the fastest part but wanting to stick to a budget while getting a significant amount of processing power. Details for the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X3D are mostly unknown, as it was merely spotted in a list of compatible processors for a new driver for the recently released AMD Radeon AI PRO R9700.
Pricing the Ryzen 5 9600 X3D could be in the $300-$329 range, given what its predecessor, the Ryzen 5 7600X3D, launched at. It’s all but given that it would feature AMD’s 2nd gen 3D V-cache design with the cache residing underneath the CCDs and have 96 (32+64) MB of cache memory. It would also be expected to be a 6-core/12-thread processor. A low TDP combined with optimal clock rates would make this a competitive gaming processor.
HDMI 2.2 on the way for GFX13?
Well-known hardware information leaker, Kepler, has posted an interesting tidbit regarding AMD’s next round of GPUs. Evidently (per VideoCardz), the upcoming UNDA/RDNA 5 GPUs will support two out of the three bandwidth modes for HDMI 2.2. AMD’s consumer GPUs would get an upgrade for up to 80 Gbit/s, thus paving the way for higher refresh rates at 4K/8K along with other modern display features. AMD reportedly chose to limit its current generation of RDNA4-based GPUs to HDMI 2.1a 48 Gbit/s / DP 2.1b UHBR 13.5 54 Gbit/s as a cost-saving measure. While DisplayPort 2.1b does support up to UHBR20 (80 Gbit/s), that support was limited to AMD’s Radeon Pro line of products.
According to Kepler, the next GFX13 UDNA/RDNA 5-based consumer lineup will get a significant but still not maximum bandwidth upgrade with HDMI 2.2. The HDMI 2.2 specification does support up to 96 Gbit/s, but according to the rumor, AMD will opt for an 80 Gbit/s mode; 64 Gbit/s is also an option. It will also gain DP 2.1b, presumably adding support for UHBR20, thus also allowing for longer cable lengths per the newer DP80LL spec.