Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD), the second-biggest maker of computer processors, said its chips are to be used by Dell Technologies Inc for the first time in PCs sold to businesses.
The chipmaker unveiled new processors it says would make AMD-based PCs the best at running artificial intelligence (AI) software. Dell has decided to use the chips in some of its computers aimed at business customers, AMD executives said at CES in Las Vegas on Monday.
Dell’s embrace of AMD for corporate PCs — it already uses the chipmaker for consumer devices — is another blow for Intel Corp as the company struggles to hang on to its eroding dominance over chips for PCs. Commercial and gaming PCs typically are more profitable areas of the market requiring higher-priced components.
Photo: Reuters
AMD said its new Ryzen AI Max series of processors would deliver the highest level of performance available in premium thin and light notebooks.
The chips run AI workloads as much as 90 percent faster than their predecessors, it said.
AMD is also bringing out new 9000 series desktop computer processors, which it said would extend the company’s leadership in that area. The 9900X3D is a chip with 16 processor cores that can run as fast as 5.7 gigahertz, it said.
AMD, Intel and would-be rival Qualcomm Inc are announcing new laptop and desktop parts at the show, arguing their respective technologies provide the best performance for AI workloads. The chipmakers, and computer manufacturers, believe the market for PCs would be revived by the capability of the machines to run more tasks with AI.
Qualcomm’s new chips for AI PCs, the Snapdragon X Platform, cost as little as US$600 and consist of an 8-core Oryon central processor, a graphics component and dedicated AI chip. The new product would run Microsoft Corp’s Copilot+ software, Qualcomm said on Monday.
PC makers including Dell and Lenovo Group Ltd (聯想) are to offer laptops based on the new product in “early 2025,” the chipmaker said.
The chips join a range of more powerful and pricey components offered by Qualcomm — the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus. A key element of the company’s pitch is the extended battery life offered by machines based on its chips.
Qualcomm said its chips have always been designed for small, battery-powered devices, making them more efficient than the scaled-down desktop parts offered by its more established rivals.
Intel earlier on Monday announced new chips that it claims seize back battery life. Qualcomm disputes that, saying its chips are able to keep working at full power even when laptops are unplugged, while machines running rival processors have to be throttled back.
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