It has been a year since AMD launched its previous generation Ryzen Mobile processors. At the time, the update from Zen to Zen 2, as well as moving to TSMC’s 7nm manufacturing process, gave the company the biggest boost in its notebook performance and battery life in AMD’s history. It’s difficult to reinvent the wheel again, but AMD is hoping that its new Ryzen 5000 Mobile processors build on the momentum that started last year. The new processor line-up has 13 new models, targeting the traditional U series and H series markets, as well as a couple of new areas AMD is looking to expand into.

AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile:

8 Cores of Zen 3
8 Compute Units of Vega

For those familiar with the previous generation of Ryzen 4000 Mobile, then the situation for these new processors is relatively simple: replace the Zen 2 cores with Zen 3 cores, combine the L3 cache, double the L3 cache, and that’s about it.

For everyone else, what we have here is a single piece of silicon that contains one group of eight Zen 3 cores that share a single 16 MB non-inclusive L3 cache. AMD’s big marketing tool for the other Zen 3 families on the desktop is that the size of the L3 cache effectively reduces main memory latency and helps gaming performance, and so with the new mobile processor they’ve combined the two four-core complexes into a single eight-core complex, then doubled the amount of cache, enabling each processor to have access to all the cache on the CPU at the same time.

These cache updates work in line with core updates that the Zen 3 core microarchitecture provides. We’ve covered the Zen 3 microarchitecture in our desktop processor review, which you can read here. Just replace the L3 cache numbers with 16 MB to get a sense of what the mobile processors will have.

For graphics, there are no updates moving from Ryzen 4000 to Ryzen 5000, and we still have eight compute units of Vega-era design. This will be a bit of a frustration for a few users that may have been hoping for some RDNA2 level updates to push performance along, especially with the added efficiency and performance gains that an RDNA2 design should have possibly brought to the table. The simple matter here is that when AMD put Vega on its Ryzen 4000 Mobile in 7nm, the efficiency was increased enough that enabled sustained development and kept AMD on cadence for its next generation. We’re at a stage now where AMD might consider updating the CPU/GPU on its APUs in alternate years, if that keeps the rate of product releases in line with its other designs.

For additional connectivity, we expect the Ryzen 5000 Mobile processors to also keep the same as the previous generation: eight lanes of PCIe 3.0, support for NVMe and SATA, and DDR4-3200 / LPDDR4X-4266. Again, leveraging the previous generation design helps AMD’s generational time-to-market (something that AMD has been saying it needs to keep track to), but we do perhaps expect updates next time around.

While we don’t have a Ryzen 5000 Mobile silicon die on hand (something we lose by not having a physical CES event this year, but totally understandable), because the Zen 3 cores are slightly larger than the Zen 2 cores, overall the die size of Ryzen 5000 Mobile should be slightly bigger. This should not have much of an effect on designs, depending on how the packages arrange their pin-out design. Given the similarities, it is possible for the pin-out to be identical to the previous generation.

All of AMD’s Ryzen 5000 Mobile processors (3 exceptions, listed below) are binned from this one silicon die design.

Ryzen 5000 Mobile, H-Series: H, HS, and new HX

AMD’s top tier mobile parts are all in the H-series. Traditionally these processors are listed with a TDP of 45 W, however last year we saw AMD experimenting with a newer 35 W category called ‘HS’. This year AMD is again introducing a new level called ‘HX’ for its overclocking models, going above the standard H-series TDP.

AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile: H-Series
AnandTech Cores
Threads
Base
Freq
Boost
Freq
TDP Zen
Ryzen 9 5980HX 8C / 16T 3300 4800 45W+ Zen3
Ryzen 9 5980HS 8C / 16T 3000 4800 35W Zen3
Ryzen 9 5900HX 8C / 16T 3300 4600 45W+ Zen3
Ryzen 9 5900HS 8C / 16T 3000 4600 35W Zen3
Ryzen 7 5800H 8C / 16T 3200 4400 45W Zen3
Ryzen 7 5800HS 8C / 16T 2800 4400 35W Zen3
Ryzen 5 5600H 6C / 12T 3300 4200 45W Zen3
Ryzen 5 5600HS 6C / 12T 3000 4200 35W Zen3

These two series, HS and HX, represent different strategies for AMD. Last year when HS was introduced, AMD stated that these 35 W models were special, requiring system design approval from AMD in order to have access to them, as they enabled the same base and turbo frequencies but at a much better efficiency point. This year that distinction seems to have dropped away a bit, with the HS models now simply giving the same turbo but lower base frequency than the standard H. Note that the change in TDP, from 45 W to 35 W, in the various TDP modes, typically relates to changes in base frequency, so in that instance AMD is more aligned with what the market is used to.

For HX, this changes AMD’s offering. Overclockable models in laptops isn’t necessarily new (Intel has done it for years), but AMD has taken the detail to explain that the TDP is raised to a ‘45W+’ design for these parts. This allows the OEM partners to ultimately define their TDP level, and have the sustained base frequency increased match expectations for the hardware it is built for. This means that desktop-replacement devices can fully turbo up to 65 W (or higher?) as needed, rather than those OEMs having to reply on building a socketed platform in a portable chassis.

Users might also note that the Ryzen 9 processors here do not have traditional H series parts. Because the mobile market is always a bit odd in its numbering scheme, the Ryzen 7 5800H takes that role, because it still has eight cores. If OEMs want the Ryzen 9 branding, they either have to build something sleeker for a 35W HS, or something beefier for the 45W+ HX.

AMD is advertising the Ryzen 9 5980HS as the best processor for portable gaming performance, whereas the Ryzen 9 5980HX as the best mobile processor for gaming. AMD showcases the 35 W model as scoring 600+ in Cinebench R20, in line with the desktop Zen 3 processors launched last year.

Ryzen 5000 Mobile: U Series (not all Zen 3)

The U-series portfolio is where AMD’s processor cycle updates cause a bit of bother. In a normal product cycle, we expect everything to be upgraded from the older to the newer, however this time around AMD is mixing and matching the U-series 15 W products between Zen 2 and Zen 3. So while there are new Zen 3 hardware options at 15 W, some of these processors are simply re-badges of Ryzen 4000 Mobile instead.

AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile: U-Series
AnandTech Cores
Threads
Base
Freq
Boost
Freq
TDP Zen
Zen3
Ryzen 7 5800U 8C / 16T 1900 4400 15W Zen3
Ryzen 5 5600U 6C / 12T 2300 4200 15W Zen3
Zen2
Ryzen 7 5700U 8C / 16T 1800 4300 15W Zen2
Ryzen 5 5500U 6C / 12T 2100 4000 15W Zen2
Ryzen 3 5300U 4C / 8T 2600 3800 15W Zen2

The top processor is the Ryzen 7 5800U, which is Zen 3, and there is also a Ryzen 5 5600U, which is also Zen 3. However, the others are Zen 2 based, using the same Renoir die as Ryzen 4000 Mobile.

Reasons for offering a re-badge can be confusing. Normally it is done to appease OEM partners that have a singular design and want to get the benefit of the latest generation nomenclature but not have the expense of developing a new unit. AMD’s public reasoning here has not been given, although in the past we’ve seen it beholden to its OEM partners (Carrizo and Carrizo-L) for this sort of co-design.

Despite this, AMD is promoting the Ryzen 7 5800U as its most efficient mobile processor to date, citing 21.4 hours battery life on a 53 Wh battery during 1080p video playback with Wi-Fi on, or 17.5 hours in MobileMark 2018’s battery life test. The footnotes state this was an AMD reference platform, though details on screen brightness were not given.

Overall, AMD is citing that they will have 150+ design wins this year for Ryzen 5000 Mobile, compared to 100+ for Ryzen 4000 Mobile. Availability for these systems, both the U-series and H-series, should start this February.

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  • Spunjji - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    "obsolete Vega iGPU"
    Intel only just got around to producing something that beats it, so it's hardly obsolete. AMD have improved Vega's performance per area *and* watt with every update.

    "Since Tiger Lake's largest Xe iGPU variants can decimate AMD's obsolete Vega iGPUs..."
    Check out the performance in actual games where the frame-rates are playable:
    https://www.notebookcheck.net/Vega-8-R4000-vs-Iris...
    They trade blows, with Intel averaging around 10% advantage. Literal decimation, I guess? But woo, check out those wins in synthetic benchmarks, it's 1997 again 😅

    If iGPU performance were so important then AMD would have led Intel for quite a while now. It's part of the story, but not the whole story, and the truth is that these solutions are *competitive*.
  • wrkingclass_hero - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    Well dang. I was hoping for RDNA 2 in the U series chips that would eventually make its was into a GPD Win device, but I might as well get the Intel based Win 3 since AMD obviously does not care about these chips.
  • s.yu - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    >appease OEM partners that have a singular design and want to get the benefit of the latest generation nomenclature but not have the expense of developing a new unit

    That makes me want to puke.
  • Rassassin - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    Why oh why is AMD ignoring PCIE 4.0 support for laptops. When RTX IO/DirectStorage support comes, this will seem a major oversight.
  • Spunjji - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    As always it's wonderful to see that while the Intel articles have attracted relatively few comments, the AMD articles have - as per usual - been astroturfed with FUD. Hooray!

    It's a shame, as there are things I'm genuinely disappointed by - I'd have preferred not to see Vega again, and the recycling of Renoir is a bit crappy - but I've just wasted a bunch of my time pointing out to single-issue shills that their SKY IS FALLING ranting is completely overblown, and now I now lack the energy to bother with nuance. So instead, let's go with:

    INTEL WILL BE CRUSHED, ZEN 3 FTW, AMD FOREVER
    I WILL BUY 20 OF THEM
    RAWR

    Huzzah, balance is restored to the comment section. 😑
  • GeoffreyA - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link

    Thanks for the effort, as always. Well, I'm a bit disappointed myself about Vega but was expecting it, so that's that. RDNA2 in Cezanne would've been grand, certainly. Why, AMD, why :) Also, their mixing Zen 2 and 3 under the 5000U range is a bit concerning, and I just hope they don't continue this practice. Other than that, Cezanne is an excellent product and will cause bloodshed when it hits the benchmarks.
  • SolarBear28 - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    It is disappointing yet sadly understandable that Zen 2 cores are used for some of the U-series parts. The smaller cache probably make these slightly cheaper to manufacture. Its just not worth AMD's resources when OEM's mostly want either gaming machines or budget thin and lights. AMD delivered the parts (at the prices) OEM's will buy. At least there are some Zen 3 U-series parts for premium laptops.

    Unfortunately retaining the Vega iGPU was also the smart choice. Integrating RDNA 2 would probably add at least 6 months of delay if not more, and who knows how much it would cost. Its much more important from a financial perspective for AMD to maintain their momentum (and gaming CPU lead) and get the products out. Now they have class leading CPU's to pair with soon to be released mobile dGPU's from Nvidia and AMD.

    Integrating a desktop graphics architecture into a mobile monolithic die (and doing it well) is a tonne of work. Look at how long it took to create a Vega APU with good battery life. Look at how infrequently Intel introduces a new iGPU architecture. I think it was extremely smart of AMD to push out Zen 3 mobile parts quickly. Their market share is continuing to grow and there are more AMD options in laptops than ever before. (I'm typing this on a Thinkpad T14s with Ryzen 7 Pro 4750u and the combination of performance, battery life and portability is fantastic). Yes, it would have been nice for the fans if AMD maintained their iGPU lead. But that will be difficult to do if AMD continues to include more CPU cores than Intel, there's just not enough die space. Despite this disadvantage AMD is still able to offer better iGPU's in budget laptops.
  • Tams80 - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link

    This.

    I'm surprised, but happy that AMD have released new mobile CPUs so soon after the desktop ones and even relatively soon after the last gen.

    And while good iGPUs are great to have, the Vega is still pretty good, good enough for an iGPU. Especially on the higher TDP APUs, the iGPU isn't that important. A great one would be nice, but it isn't needed. And the thin-and-light iGPU only gaming market is quite small. None of which would have been worth sacrificing the launch of the 5000 series to six+ months later.

    OEMs were testing the water with the 4000 series. I doubt they would have been to happy to wait until summer to announce their new products, and would have just gone with Intel, leaving AMD out yet again. Instead, AMD are set to have an almost equal position with Intel, which is frankly, astounding considering where they were just a few years ago.
  • Spunjji - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link

    The thin-and-light gaming market is currently populated by designs with low-end dGPUs anyway, so designing an APU to compete in a world where LPDDR5 is still absent would result in a halfway-house compromise that's significantly slower than the competitors without offering any particularly compelling advantages. Combining a U-series with a basic iGPU and a low-end dGPU makes more sense right now.
  • GeoffreyA - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link

    Agreed.

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