Despite the buzz surrounding neural processing units (NPUs) and the generative AI capabilities of new chips, NPUs are not yet essential for everyday computing tasks. When evaluating processors that emphasize AI, it’s crucial to consider their performance in traditional metrics. If the AI hype vanished, would these chips still be valuable?
Traditional Performance Over AI
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X SoCs were notable primarily for their speed and efficiency, rather than their AI capabilities. Similarly, AMD’s new Ryzen AI 300-series processors, despite the “AI” branding, offer substantial improvements over previous models in terms of CPU performance, graphics, power efficiency, and battery life.
High-Level Overview of the Asus ZenBook UM5606W
The test system, an Asus ZenBook UM5606W featuring a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and an integrated Radeon 890M GPU, represents a modest but meaningful upgrade over older Ryzen laptop CPUs. This 16-inch laptop fits into the “large thin-and-light” category, akin to the Surface Laptop 15 and the MacBook Air 15. It offers a larger screen without requiring high-power, dedicated GPUs or desktop-class CPUs.
- Design and Build: The ZenBook is user-friendly but has a white keyboard with a white backlight, making key legends harder to read in bright conditions. The reflective glass screen could be an issue for outdoor use.
- Port Selection: The laptop includes two 40Gbps USB-C ports, a full-size HDMI port, a USB-A port, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack. The OLED screen covers 100% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts.
- Keyboard and Trackpad: Both function well, though the backlight can be problematic.
AI Capabilities and Software
While the ZenBook runs Windows 11 24H2, AMD is promoting TensorStack’s Amuse 2.0 for AI-related tasks. However, this software primarily leverages the Radeon 890M GPU, not the NPU, rendering it less impressive as a showcase for the Ryzen AI chip.
Performance, Power, and Battery Life
The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 features a 12-core CPU, with a combination of four full-speed Zen 5 cores and eight Zen 5c cores. This architecture mirrors Intel’s P- and E-cores setup, offering solid single- and multi-core performance enhancements over previous Ryzen models and Intel’s 13th-gen CPUs. Graphics performance, powered by the Radeon 890M, is a significant upgrade, offering 30-50% better performance than the previous top-end integrated GPU.
- Battery Life: The ZenBook achieved just under 10 hours in a PCMark battery life test, sufficient for a full workday.
Conclusion
The Ryzen AI 300 series, despite its AI branding, proves to be a strong successor to the Ryzen 7040 and 8040 chips. It offers notable performance and efficiency improvements over Intel’s and Qualcomm’s best. The limited availability of laptops with these chips is a current drawback, but this is expected to change.