AMD’s new chipset promises faster 3D rendering than Apple’s M4 Pro

AMD has announced new processor lines at CES 2025, including gaming-focused desktop CPUs and AI-optimized mobile chipsets that claim to outperform competitors like Apple’s M4 Pro.

Core announcements; AMD unveiled two major processor families: the gaming-focused Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the productivity-oriented Ryzen AI 300 Series.

• The Ryzen 9 9950X3D features 16 “Zen 5” cores and 144MB cache, with clock speeds up to 5.7 GHz
• Performance tests show it running 8% faster than its predecessor in gaming and 13% faster in content creation tasks
• A second model, the Ryzen 9 990X3D, will launch simultaneously with 12 cores and 140MB cache

Mobile computing innovations; AMD’s new “Fire Range” HX3D series targets high-performance laptops with three distinct models.

• The lineup includes the entry-level Ryzen 9 9850HX, mid-tier Ryzen 9955HX, and flagship Ryzen 9 9955XH3D
• The top model closely matches desktop specifications while operating at lower power requirements
• First half 2025 release window announced for the entire mobile series

AI processing capabilities; The Ryzen AI 300 Series emphasizes efficiency and longevity for business laptops.

• The Ryzen AI 7 350 features 8 cores and 16 threads with 5.0 GHz boost capability
• Pro variants share identical specifications to base models, with differentiation details still unrevealed
• Base models will release in Q1 2025, followed by Pro versions in Q2

Performance claims; AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 makes bold assertions about its capabilities against major competitors.

• Claims 2.2x faster AI performance compared to NVIDIA’s RTX 4090 GPU
• Boasts superior 3D rendering capabilities versus Apple’s M4 Pro
• Features 16 cores, 32 threads, and 40 graphics cores
• Scheduled for Q2 2025 release

Market implications; While AMD’s performance claims are impressive, real-world testing will be crucial to validate these assertions and determine their impact on the competitive landscape, particularly in the growing AI-accelerated computing market.