BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): AMD’s current graphics cards, the Radeon RX 9000, are based on RDNA 4 and we don’t know when the new generation will arrive. But, for leaker KeplerL2, the RDNA 5+ graphics architecture, which should be part of APUs based on Zen 7, should only arrive in 2029.
In a discussion on the NeoGAF forum, the leaker corrected the expectations of users who expected the news for 2028, stating that the “Plus” version of the architecture will make its debut in an integrated way in the mobile family known by the codename “Grimlock”, which will be based on Zen 7 cores, two generations ahead of the one we are now.
This information aligns with previous rumors posted by KeplerL2 himself, indicating that AMD would be dividing its APU roadmap into two very distinct fronts. On the one hand, models aimed at the entry-level and mid-range market, in addition to notebooks that depend on dedicated GPUs, should continue to reuse older architectures (such as RDNA 3.5) for a long time. On the other hand, only very high performance chips, such as the Medusa Halo line, would receive the standard RDNA 5 a little earlier in the premium segment.
Although the leak does not detail the specific technical changes of RDNA 5+ in relation to conventional RDNA 5, the dynamics should follow what AMD did in the transition from RDNA 3 to RDNA 3.5: a review aimed at energy efficiency adjustments, thermal refinement and optimizations aimed at the processors’ integrated graphics.
If this calendar is confirmed, entry-level chips for notebooks could spend years using previous generations of iGPUs before making the definitive leap in 2029. For now, AMD’s expectations, considering the consumer market, are the launch of Ryzens based on Zen 6, as the architecture initially hit the market with the EPYC CPUs for data centers. The RDNA 5 graphics architecture, in turn, remains shrouded in mystery.
Silicon Dispatch Strategic Takeaways
- Desk Alignment: Verified dispatch within the SDUP • Hardware & Gaming pillar.
- Technical Verification: Hardware and software specifications corroborated against manufacturer roadmaps.
- Market Impact: Analysis tailored for North American enterprise decision-makers and high-performance tech enthusiasts.
Affiliate Disclosure: Articles published by Silicon Dispatch may include verified affiliate partner links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
Related Dispatches & Coverage
- • Explore full coverage in Breaking News.
- • Read our hardware evaluation methodology in Hardware Reviews & Lab Tests.
- • Check verified US price drops and coupons on Silicon Dispatch Deals.
- • Learn about our editorial independence and ethics in About Silicon Dispatch.
