Is it unusual that there aren't six main APUs?
Is it unusual that there aren't six main APUs?
I create numerous gaming rigs for clients, and many situations call for a Ryzen 5 APU to shine. Suggesting a quad-core processor isn't always straightforward, yet it's common for budgets to limit immediate purchases. A hex-core APU offers strong gaming results while keeping upgrade options open.
I share your view, yet I believe it’s not practical enough to justify design and construction efforts.
I think cost is a concern when you start going too up scale with the APU, but I would love to see something from AMD with 6 or 8 cores and a decent integrated graphics chip. It would make for a great mini-itx media/gaming box for by the TV
With a Ryzen 5 budget, you can also afford a separate graphics card.
It seems the main benefit was making the design smaller and more compact. It might also help leave PCI-e ports available for additional components.
They probably aren't concerned about the present problems that APUs are handling at scale. The memory limitations on the 2200G and 2400G are almost insignificant for basic systems, but when aiming for better gaming performance with a six-core setup, the cache capacity and GPU heat effects become noticeable (and it's not just the Intel iGPU, which doesn't contribute much to temperature). Additionally, their current manufacturing process for 12nm six cores is shifting to 1600, rather than a higher-end 3600G, so they seem to prioritize only what they actually need over niche options.
The next mobile release is expected to feature 6-core APUs, and it's likely they'll eventually appear on desktops as well. Currently, desktop APUs have been more affordable, as powerful GPUs are usually preferred instead.
they can't provide it at a reasonable cost; it would be more appealing than the 2600/3600, but if it's too pricey there won't be much interest. If I required 6/8 cores without needing a sleek GPU, I'd likely seek a mobile processor instead.