AMD: 7nm ‘Navi’ GPU & 'Rome' CPU to Launch in Q3
by Ryan Smith & Anton Shilov on April 30, 2019 5:44 PM ESTOffering a brief update on the state of future products as part of its post-earnings conference call this afternoon, AMD has confirmed that both their upcoming Rome (Zen 2) CPU and their first Navi architecture GPU will launch in the 3rd quarter of this year.
AMD's Rome of course needs no introduction. The first product out of AMD based on their Zen 2 architecture, the chip is built on TSMC's 7nm process and should offer some interesting performance and power efficiency improvements. Of particular note, the chip incorporates a new-to-AMD chiplet based design approach, using separate I/O and CPU dies to simplify manufacturing and allow for easier chip customization.
As AMD's second-generation EPYC processor, we're expecting Rome to be the big server fight for AMD – whereas first-generation EPYC was mostly to test the waters and prove AMD’s readiness, Rome will be where AMD can finally start winning major customer orders. Overall, AMD says that the CPU will be sampling this quarter and launching in Q3; though if it’s anything like Intel’s server CPU launches, then the ever-hungry major hyperscalers may end consuming all of the initial supply.
Meanwhile Navi is the codename architecture for AMD’s next generation of GPUs. The first Navi GPU, which is also being built on TSMC’s 7nm process, is set to launch in Q3 of this year. It should be noted that Navi isn’t a single GPU, but rather should be a family of GPUs (as is traditional for GPUs), so it’s not clear which exact model is launching – if it’s high-end, mid-range, or otherwise.
In other comments on their conference call, AMD did say that Navi will be priced lower than the Radeon VII, but at $699 for what's their most expensive consumer card, this doesn't really narrow things down. Overall, Q3 will be 2 years since AMD’s Vega GPU architecture launched and longer still since Polaris, so AMD’s entire GPU stack is potentially up for a refresh during the Navi generation.
In terms of technology we know very little about the Navi architecture thus far. But if there’s a Q3 launch then this will no doubt soon be changing.
Related Reading:
- AMD's 7nm CPUs & GPUs To Be Fabbed by TSMC, on Track for 2018 - 2019
- AMD Tech Day at CES: 2018 Roadmap Revealed, with Ryzen APUs, Zen+ on 12nm, Vega on 7nm
- AMD Unveils GPU Architecture Roadmap: After Polaris Comes Vega
Source: AMD
38 Comments
View All Comments
Makaveli - Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - link
So is the consumer launch still Q2 (July)And rome the server cpu in Q3?
Ryan Smith - Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - link
Nothing is launching in Q2. All launches that are being publicized today are in Q3.darkswordsman17 - Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - link
Does that mean no Ryzen 3000 til Q4 then? Or are you just talking about these two?Hifihedgehog - Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - link
"Nothing is launching in Q2."Having listened carefully to the earnings call yesterday, they only spoke specifically of EPYC and Navi in Q3. Q2, as I has been alluded to by many, therefore, is still a valid possibility for Zen 2 Ryzen. Do you have some additional source for this information outside of the call which we are not aware of?
Hifihedgehog - Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - link
*as has been alluded toDrumsticks - Tuesday, April 30, 2019 - link
Keep in mind July is Q3. Q2 ends in June.psychobriggsy - Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - link
Depends on whether AMD refers to Q3 on a business basis, or on a calendar basis.Given rumours about 7/7 launch, it seems likely it's on a calendar basis.
Hifihedgehog - Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - link
@Makaveli: By the way, July is in Q3. The 7th through 9th months (July, August, September) are Q3. The 4th through 6th months (April, May, June) are Q2.Santoval - Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - link
The month of July is not in Q2, it is the first month of Q3. So a "Q3 launch" for Navi, Rome and possibly Ryzen could very well mean a July launch.Gastec - Monday, May 13, 2019 - link
I doubt it that any CPU or GPU will launch during July-August summer holydays/vacations. Most likely they will lauch in September right before school starts, maybe on 9/11 :)