AMD uses different naming schemes for its Ryzen processors depending on whether the processor is designed for desktop computers, laptops, or newer AI PCs. The model number contains information about the processor family, performance level, generation or architecture, and sometimes the intended power class.
For example, AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS and AMD Ryzen 7 9700X may look similar because both use the Ryzen brand, but their model numbers are decoded differently. The Ryzen 7 8845HS is a mobile processor from the Ryzen 8000 series based on Zen 4, while the Ryzen 7 9700X is a desktop Ryzen 9000 series processor based on Zen 5.
Example of decoding a model number AMD Processor
Let’s take a look at the model number of the AMD Ryzen™ AI Max PRO 490X as an example
AMD – is the name of the processor manufacturer, Advanced Micro Devices. AMD manufactures processors for a variety of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, workstations, and servers. In a processor’s name, “AMD” refers to the manufacturer and does not directly relate to the specifications of that particular processor.
Ryzen – is the name of AMD’s family of processors for personal computers and certain other client devices.
AMD uses several main processor brands, such as:
Ryzen — processors for consumer computers and laptops;
Ryzen PRO — processors for commercial computers;
Ryzen AI — processors with hardware capabilities for AI;
Ryzen Threadripper — high-performance processors for workstations and enthusiasts.
AMD unveiled the Ryzen brand on December 13, 2016. The company announced that it would be a new brand of processors based on the Zen architecture for desktop and mobile computers.
AI – stands for Artificial Intelligence and indicates that the processor belongs to the AMD Ryzen AI lineup.
Ryzen AI processors are equipped with a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) designed to perform AI tasks. For example, the AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 490 features an NPU with a performance of up to 50 TOPS. TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) is a unit of measurement that indicates how many trillions of basic artificial intelligence operations (typically using 8-bit integers—INT8) a neural processing unit (NPU) can perform in one second. A rating of 50 TOPS means the processor is capable of performing up to 50 trillion such operations per second.
- “Max” refers to a processor performance class:
- Ryzen AI 5 — low performance class
- Ryzen AI 7 — mid-range performance class
- Ryzen AI 9 — high performance class.
- Ryzen AI Max — very high performance class.
- Ryzen AI Max+ is a super-high performance class.
“PRO” denotes the commercial version of the processor, equipped with AMD PRO technologies.
AMD PRO is designed for enterprise and professional computers. AMD describes Ryzen AI Max PRO processors as processors for commercial AI PCs and mobile workstations.
X – At the end of the model number, there may be a suffix indicating specific processor features.
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| X | High-performance desktop version |
| X3D | 3D V-Cache version |
| G | Desktop processor with integrated Radeon graphics |
| GE | Lower-power desktop version with integrated graphics |
| XT | Higher-performance version |
| T | Lower-power desktop version |
| U | Low-power mobile processor |
| H | High-performance mobile processor |
| HS | High-performance mobile processor for thin and powerful laptops |
| HX | Highest-performance mobile processor class |
| WX | Workstation-class processor designation used with Ryzen Threadripper PRO |
| D | Desktop processor designation used in some AMD processor naming schemes |
