In a recent interview with OverclockersUK, David Mcafee, AMD‘s Vice President & GM of the Client Channel Business, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to the AM5 Desktop CPU platform. Introduced last year, the AM5 platform supports the latest Ryzen CPUs based on the Zen 4 architecture, and it is poised to evolve further with the introduction of new Ryzen CPUs and enhanced feature support.
All About the AMD AM5 Ryzen
At present, the AMD AM5 platform includes two categories of Ryzen 7000 Desktop CPUs: the standard Ryzen 7000 and the 3D V-Cache enhanced Ryzen 7000X3D chips. Notably, it is the only platform currently providing native support for PCIe Gen5 hardware, including NVMe SSDs and discrete GPUs. AMD’s collaboration with Phison has positioned them as a primary partner, accelerating the Gen5 storage ecosystem and showcasing superior speeds in early performance data with Phison’s upcoming Gen5 SSD controllers.
David Mcafee expressed AMD’s commitment to remain on the AM5 platform for as long as possible, aligning with their 2025+ statement. The platform is anticipated to undergo a significant update in 2024 with the launch of new Ryzen 8000G APUs and the next-gen Zen 5 “Granite Ridge” Desktop CPUs. These CPUs will be available in both standard and 3D V-Cache variants, marking a substantial advancement in the high-end segment.
Looking ahead to 2025, AMD is likely to introduce at least one more family for the AM5 Desktop CPU platform before evaluating whether to continue with the platform or transition to an entirely new home for Ryzen CPUs. AMD’s decision will hinge on the necessity of integrating new features, considering that the longevity of the previous-gen AM4 platform contributed significantly to Ryzen’s success, while competitors tend to change sockets more frequently.
The move to AM5 involved embracing DDR5 and PCIe Gen5, necessitating a new socket type. Despite more than a year since the release of AM5, AMD continues to release new Ryzen Desktop CPUs for older AM4 platforms, with plans to expand the Ryzen 5000 lineup in 2024. This strategy accommodates users who prefer to stick with AM4 until AM5 becomes more appealing.
Surprisingly, falling DDR5 prices and reduced motherboard costs have led to increased sales of AM5 motherboards, particularly the B650 series. David Mcafee briefly addressed the topic of memory scaling and support, indicating that AMD plans to enhance memory support as the AM5 platform evolves. The AM5 platform has seen notable improvements in memory support since its introduction in 2022, with continued support expected from AMD and its board partners.
The Red team’s steadfast commitment to the AM5 platform is reassuring for users, offering a potentially enduring platform for Team Red. While it remains to be seen if it will match the six-year longevity of the AM4 platform, AMD’s consistency contrasts with Intel’s imminent move to a new platform, positioning AM5 Ryzen PC builders favourably with their investments.
