GIGABYTE has recently updated the memory support list for its B650M motherboards to include the Ryzen 9000G series. Codenamed "Gorgon Point," this new AMD APU is based on the Zen5 architecture with RDNA 3.5 core graphics, succeeding the previous 8000G series.

The Ryzen 9000G series APUs leverage Gorgon Point silicon, an optimized version of Strix Point. Whereas Strix Point forms the core architecture for high-performance laptops in AMD's Ryzen AI 300 series, Gorgon Point retains its hybrid design, sporting up to 12 cores (4 high-performance Zen 5 cores + 8 high-efficiency Zen 5C cores) and supports 24 threads. This is complemented by 16 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units (CUs) for integrated GPUs. Compared to the Hawk Point and Phoenix architectures in the Ryzen 8000G line, the 9000G promises improvements in core count, graphics capability, and technological process, with Zen 5 architecture offering a roughly 16% IPC (Instructions Per Clock Cycle) boost. The RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture delivers enhanced power and rendering efficiencies compared to RDNA 3, supporting lightweight gaming and content creation.

A distinctive benefit of the Ryzen 9000G series APUs, when compared to traditional desktop CPUs, is their robust integrated graphics solution. Owing to the monolithic design and substantial power output of the desktop platform, the 9000G can fully exploit its CPU and GPU performance, dodging performance bottlenecks often seen in mobile platforms. Additionally, the desktop environment offers support for memory and iGPU overclocking, boosting gaming frame rates and graphics performance.

The Ryzen 9000G series will also incorporate the XDNA 2 Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivering up to 50-55 TOPS of AI compute performance, a considerable advancement over the former XDNA architecture. This places it among the first desktop APUs to achieve Microsoft Copilot+ certification, offering hardware acceleration for AI-driven applications like real-time voice transcription, image generation, and machine learning inference. As AI usage expands, the 9000G's NPU provides a more efficient and localized AI experience, with reduced cloud reliance.

Regarding compatibility, the 9000G continues to employ the AM5 socket, compatible with current 600-series and future 800-series motherboards, requiring only a BIOS update. This approach aligns with AMD's strategy of prolonged AM5 platform support, providing users a flexible upgrade path. However, the Ryzen 9000G is expected to maintain 16 PCIe 4.0 lanes, compared to Granite Ridge’s (Ryzen 9000-series CPUs) 24 PCIe 5.0 lanes, which may limit efficacy on high-bandwidth devices, though it will minimally impact integrated graphics users.

AMD might also release lower-end models within the 9000G line based on a stripped-down Strix Point, known as Kraken Point silicon, reducing cores and GPU units for entry-level desktops or lightweight laptops, addressing the low to mid-range market. Concurrently, high-end models might introduce “Ryzen 9” class APUs, debuting in the high-performance G series market. The 9000G’s 12-core design enhances multitasking over its 8-core predecessor, the 8000G.

The market anticipates the official release of the Ryzen 9000G series in the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, AMD plans to introduce the Medusa Point APUs featuring Zen 6 architecture in 2026. Serving as the closing chapter of the Zen 5 architecture, the Ryzen 9000G offers transitional users respectable performance and forward compatibility.

For tech enthusiasts, the Ryzen 9000G series stands out for its versatility and cost-efficiency. Whether building a compact gaming PC, a home media center, or an AI workstation, the 9000G delivers balanced performance. Its blend of integrated graphics and AI processing power not only satisfies current demands for lightweight computing but also sets the stage for an AI-powered desktop future.