AMD plans to launch both the Threadripper Pro 9000 series and the Radeon Pro R9700 GPU on July 23. The R9700, essentially a Radeon RX 7900 XT with workstation features, includes 32GB of GDDR6 memory. While the card is unlikely to appeal to most gamers, it may attract professional users needing high VRAM for rendering or AI workloads.
The real standout in this release cycle is the Threadripper 9000 Pro lineup. The top model is priced at $11,699, while entry-level options start at $1,649. Some users have compared these prices to the first-gen Threadripper, but that comparison doesn’t hold. AMD now bases its Pro series on EPYC-class server hardware. For reference, last generation’s 7995WX came in at nearly $10,000. These chips are designed for creators, developers, and heavy compute workloads—not traditional consumers.
9995WX Benchmark Crushes the 7995WX in Cinebench
Leaked benchmarks for the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX show it scoring 178,000 points in Cinebench R23. This is a 46% increase compared to the 7995WX. The result likely includes overclocking, but even so, the gain points to real generational improvements.
This result strengthens AMD’s decision to target high-end workstation performance. With Intel absent from this tier, AMD faces little pricing pressure. If that continues, the company may keep pushing costs higher with each new release. In the past, Intel took a similar approach when AMD had no presence in this space. Without real competition, innovation often slows and prices climb. AMD’s resurgence forced Intel to re-engage, but in the HEDT market, AMD currently dominates.
Ryzen AI 5 330 Brings XDNA2 to Budget Laptops
AMD also announced the Ryzen AI 5 330, an entry-level APU in the Kraken Point family. It features just four CPU cores (one Zen 5 and three Zen 5C) and a minimal 2 CU integrated GPU, which rules it out for gaming.
Despite its low-end status, the chip includes AMD’s XDNA2 AI engine, capable of 50 TOPS. This shows AMD’s intent to bring AI acceleration to all laptop segments. While performance will be limited, devices with this APU could offer features like AI-assisted upscaling or voice isolation without relying on cloud processing.
AMD Magnus APU Leak Suggests PS6 Hardware
A new leak from Moore’s Law Is Dead revealed a powerful upcoming APU codenamed Magnus. This chip features 11 Zen 6 cores and a large integrated GPU die, which makes it look like a gaming-first design. It excludes any efficiency-focused Zen 6C cores, reinforcing that focus.
This APU appears custom-built, with a layout not typical of productivity chips. Given its size, layout, and core count, the chip may serve as the foundation for the PlayStation 6. AMD and Sony have worked together on PlayStation hardware for over a decade, and the trend seems set to continue.
Magnus lacks the 16-core layout usually seen in productivity APUs. That detail, paired with the oversized GPU, points to a gaming console design. With PS6 rumors heating up, this leak adds more fuel.
More developers may follow SEGA’s lead by bringing full cartridge editions to Switch 2. This shift could encourage broader support from publishers throughout the rest of the year. Nintendo’s platform continues to build momentum across hardware, software, and online activity.
