Reports indicate that the Zen 6-based product, Medusa Point, will adopt a brand-new FP10 socket, measuring 25mm × 42.5mm, which is about 6% larger than the FP8 socket currently used by Strix Point processors. This change was recently revealed in an NBD shipping list, indicating that Medusa Point will have significant design differences compared to its predecessor.
Compared to the Zen 5-based Strix Point, Medusa Point takes a bold step in chip design. Strix Point uses a monolithic design, integrating 4 high-performance Zen 5 cores and 8 power-efficient Zen 5c cores on a 232.5mm² die, where all components share the same silicon.
In contrast, Medusa Point adopts a chiplet (small chip) architecture, featuring a dedicated CCD (Core Compute Die) with 12 Zen 6 cores alongside a separate I/O die. This modular approach is expected to enhance performance and flexibility while optimizing power efficiency.
Advanced 3nm Process #
Another major highlight of Medusa Point is its process node upgrade. It will utilize TSMC’s advanced 3nm technology, an improvement over Strix Point’s 4nm process. The 3nm process not only reduces transistor size but also boosts energy efficiency and computational density, providing Zen 6 cores with greater performance potential.
While exact IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) gains remain undisclosed, the industry widely anticipates that Zen 6 will surpass Zen 5 in both multi-threaded and single-core performance.
iGPU: RDNA 3.5 Instead of RDNA 4 #
One surprising aspect of Medusa Point is its integrated GPU (iGPU) choice. According to the latest reports, it will not adopt RDNA 4 but will instead continue using RDNA 3.5. This aligns with AMD’s GPUOpen driver updates, suggesting that RDNA 4 will focus on discrete GPUs, while mobile APUs will remain on RDNA 3.5 for now.
RDNA 3.5 has already proven its strength in Strix Point products. For example, Strix Halo features up to 40 Compute Units (CUs), delivering performance comparable to the NVIDIA RTX 4070 laptop GPU. While Medusa Point’s iGPU specifications remain undisclosed, rumors suggest a 50% performance boost over Strix Point, further strengthening AMD’s position in the integrated GPU market.
While future mobile processors may transition to a more advanced UDNA architecture, Medusa Point will likely continue AMD’s RDNA 3.5 strategy.
Physical Changes: The New FP10 Socket #
The switch to an FP10 socket also introduces physical modifications. Its increased size could indicate a larger overall chip or the need to accommodate additional I/O bandwidth and power requirements.
For reference, the FP8 socket measures 25mm × 40mm, covering 200mm². The shift to FP10 may be linked to the chiplet architecture, ensuring efficient inter-chip communication. However, this also means motherboard manufacturers must update their designs, which may impact hardware compatibility for users looking to upgrade.
Expected Release Timeline #
The exact launch date for Medusa Point remains uncertain, but industry insiders speculate a 2026 release, aligning with AMD’s Zen architecture roadmap. Before that, AMD is expected to introduce more Zen 5 derivatives in 2025, including high-end versions of Strix Halo.
Reports suggest that Medusa Point’s design will be finalized (tapeout) in Q2 2025, with mass production beginning by late 2025 or early 2026.
Medusa Ridge: The Desktop Counterpart #
It’s worth noting that Medusa Point is not the only Zen 6 product. For desktops, Medusa Ridge will continue to support the AM5 socket, providing an upgrade path for DIY PC builders. Meanwhile, Medusa Point will focus on mobile computing, potentially powering high-end laptops.
With Zen 6’s high-performance cores and an XDNA 2 Neural Processing Unit (NPU), Medusa Point’s AI capabilities are expected to exceed 50 TOPS, reinforcing its role in AI-driven PCs.
Competing with Intel’s Panther Lake #
From a market perspective, Medusa Point’s launch will intensify competition between AMD and Intel. Intel’s Panther Lake, set for 2025, will feature Xe3 graphics to challenge AMD’s APU lineup. However, with its 3nm process and chiplet design, Medusa Point may hold an advantage in performance and power efficiency.
That said, AMD’s decision to stick with RDNA 3.5 has sparked debate. In a rapidly evolving graphics landscape, some question whether this move could limit AMD’s competitiveness in gaming laptops.
Final Thoughts #
Medusa Point represents AMD’s latest advancement in mobile processors, bringing:
- The new FP10 socket
- 3nm process technology
- Chiplet architecture
- RDNA 3.5 graphics
While maintaining existing technical strengths, it also lays the foundation for Zen 6’s future. As more details emerge, tech enthusiasts can look forward to improvements in performance, efficiency, and graphics capabilities.