AMD introduced its Mendocino program throughout its Computex 2022 keynote (opens in new tab). By the tip of it, we have been hoping for a brand new sort of funds laptop computer. A funds laptop computer that would truly recreation. Boasting a Zen 2 APU with 4-cores and 8-threads alongside an RDNA 2-based iGPU we could not assist however draw parallels with the chip on the coronary heart of the Steam Deck (opens in new tab). And given Mendocino is designed for machines that price between $399-$699 we have been understandably stoked concerning the potentialities.
Sadly, the newest leaks have pulled the rug out from this dream, as Mendocino apparently solely has a single Work Group Processor (WGP), which equates to simply two Compute Models. Two. That is simply 128 stream processors, which is frankly garbage with regards to gaming.
For comparability, the Steam Deck has eight CUs (512 stream processors), and whereas Valve’s handheld can nearly deal with gaming at 720p, it is hardly what you’d name a powerhouse. A pair of CUs is solely not going to have the ability to lower it with regards to gaming, even permitting for the additional frequency {that a} drop from the 7nm manufacturing course of to 6nm will afford.
This new data comes from a leaked specs slide for Mendocino, which appears to substantiate an earlier hearsay concerning the CU depend that began with the announcement that the brand new Ayaneo Air Plus handheld (opens in new tab) console would use AMD’s Mendocino chips. The core depend is especially noteworthy right here as a result of that handheld has a 1080p display screen, which is clearly going to be too large an ask for the pair of CUs.
The most recent leak is of the Mendocino block diagram, unearthed by @Olrak29_ (opens in new tab) (through Videocardz (opens in new tab)), which does appear to line up with what AMD has formally mentioned concerning the low-powered APU. It is nonetheless an fascinating APU, particularly because it boasts help for AV1 and VP9 decoding and may be paired with as much as 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, nevertheless it simply is not the up to date Steam Deck chip we had hoped for.
AMD’s Mendocino is because of begin discovering its method into mainstream laptops earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
