The annual CES event never fails to set the tone for the tech industry, and AMD’s presence this year was no exception. Showcasing their latest advancements in CPU and GPU technologies, AMD gave us plenty to be excited about in 2025. Here’s a friendly recap of the key announcements that are sure to have gamers, creators, and tech enthusiasts buzzing.
Desktop Domination: Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D
The spotlight fell first on AMD’s next-gen flagship processors—the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 9 9900X3D, powered by AMD’s innovative 3D V-Cache technology. These Zen 5-based CPUs promise a significant leap in performance:
- 9950X3D boasts clock speeds of up to 5.70 GHz, offering an 8% boost over the previous 7950X3D in gaming performance.
- For productivity enthusiasts, the new processors deliver up to a 13% improvement in workloads compared to their predecessors and maintain an edge over Intel’s 285K.
These power-packed processors are set to hit the shelves in March 2025, marking a new era of performance for desktop computing.
Gaming on the Go: Ryzen 9 9955HX3D
Mobile gamers and professionals aren’t left out! AMD revealed Zen 5 X3D making its debut on mobile platforms with the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D, part of the Fire Range series. Expect blazing speeds and top-tier performance for gaming laptops and portable workstations, available in the first half of 2025.
Ryzen AI Takes Center Stage
Artificial intelligence was a recurring theme, with AMD doubling down on its Ryzen AI platform. Expanding to include 300 series processors across tiers 7 and 5, AMD boasts over 150 design wins for AI-powered applications. The announcement of the Ryzen AI MAX “Strix Halo” processor was particularly thrilling, featuring:
- 16 Zen 5 cores
- A 40 CU RDNA 3.5 iGPU
- 50 TOPS NPU for AI processing
AMD claims this powerhouse matches Apple’s M4 Pro 12-core performance while nearly catching the 14-core variant. It’s a bold move into Apple’s territory, with designs optimized to challenge the MacBook Pro directly.
Energy Efficiency: Ryzen 200 “Kraken Point”
Another crowd-pleaser was the Ryzen 200 series, codenamed “Kraken Point.” These processors are 30% faster than Intel’s Lunar Lake counterparts while delivering over 24 hours of battery life. This series emphasizes efficiency and performance, making it ideal for ultraportables.
Gaming Graphics and FSR 4
Though AMD teased RDNA 4 technology, it wasn’t the grand unveiling many expected. However, the gaming crowd got a taste of what’s coming with FSR 4 (FidelityFX Super Resolution), set to be supported in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
A Glimpse into the Future
AMD wrapped up the event with announcements of Ryzen AI PRO processors tailored for commercial notebooks and reiterated their commitment to AI-optimized applications with 50+ ISVs onboard.
While the lack of a full RDNA 4 announcement left some attendees yearning for more, AMD’s CES 2025 showcase was a confident statement of their innovation and competitive spirit. With high-performance CPUs, AI-focused developments, and gaming advancements, AMD has laid the groundwork for an exciting year.
