AMD Grimlock processors are scheduled to launch in 2029, featuring future Zen 7 core architecture alongside new RDNA 5+ graphics technology.
The upcoming chips will introduce RDNA 5+ as an integrated graphics processor rather than a standalone graphics card, according to hardware insider Kepler_L2. AMD has not yet released any graphics hardware based on the standard RDNA 5 architecture, meaning personal computer builders and gamers face an extended wait before any eventual RDNA 6 architecture reaches the market.
Information shared by Kepler_L2 on the NeoGAF forum indicates that discrete graphics cards using RDNA 5+ will likely not appear. The graphics architecture could also be designated as RDNA 5.5 upon release, mirroring the naming pattern AMD previously used when it introduced its RDNA 3.5 architecture for mobile systems.
Hybrid processor specifications
Grimlock will function as hybrid processors built around the Zen 7 architecture, combining central processing units and graphics processing units on a single piece of silicon. The new processor lineup is tentatively projected to release only in 2029.
The RDNA 5+ architecture could provide an alternative graphics solution for most third party hardware manufacturers if recent reports regarding conditional RDNA 5 exclusivity for Sony turn out to be true. Sony regularly partners with AMD to supply custom processor hardware for its PlayStation video game consoles.
Console partnerships and PC graphics
Advanced Micro Devices, based in Santa Clara, California, develops microprocessors and graphics components for personal computers, enterprise servers, and gaming hardware. The company organizes its computer processing designs under the Zen brand, while its graphics hardware family uses the Radeon DNA, or RDNA, architecture.
Hybrid processors, commonly known in the computing industry as accelerated processing units, integrate both compute cores and graphics compute units into a single package. This integrated design allows laptops, portable handheld gaming devices, and compact desktop computers to handle three dimensional rendering and high definition video output without requiring the expense, physical space, and power consumption of a separate discrete graphics card.
