All You Need to Know About AMD AI PCs

Following Computex 2024, the AI wave has swept the globe, leading to a surge in AI PCs on the market. Broadly defined, an AI PC is a computer powerful enough to run AI functions, leveraging local computing power to act as a smart assistant. For creators, these PCs can generate images from text or other images. Traditionally, laptops with dedicated GPUs, used for AAA gaming or 3D modeling, also fall under the AI PC category due to their computational power.

Moreover, AI PCs equipped with Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for tasks like deep learning, data analysis, image generation, and speech recognition are becoming the focus of both enterprises and individual users. Major laptop manufacturers are showcasing their AI PC products, and according to IDC research, AI PC sales are projected to reach 50 million units in 2024 and 167 million units by 2027. It’s estimated that over 60% of PCs shipped in 2027 will be AI PCs, highlighting the market’s immense potential. 2024 marks the official launch year of AI PCs.

▲ An AI PC is a powerful computer that uses local computing to function as a smart assistant.

In response to the AI PC trend, AMD has expanded its presence in the AI PC market with the launch of the new Strix Point platform featuring the Ryzen AI 300 series processors. These processors integrate powerful AI capabilities, transforming the traditional one-way interaction between users and computers. Now, computers can leverage AI to generate content, enhance productivity, and inspire users. The Ryzen AI 300 series processors are built on three core components: the CPU, GPU, and Neural Processing Unit (NPU).

▲ Ryzen AI 300 series processors are built on three core components：CPU、GPU、NPU.

The CPU utilizes TSMC’s 4nm Zen5 architecture, offering up to 12 cores, 24 threads, and a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz, delivering approximately 20% more performance than the previous 8945HS. The GPU, based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, features the Radeon 800M series, outperforming the previous Intel Core Ultra 9 185H by 47%. This GPU ensures smooth graphics and low latency for gamers, providing an immersive experience and optimal performance for AI workloads.

The highlight of the AI PC is the NPU, which uses XDNA 2 technology. It excels in tasks such as facial/object recognition, image analysis, and natural language processing, offering the highest market performance with 50 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) of AI processing power. This meets the Microsoft Copilot+ PC’s minimum requirement of 40 TOPS and integrates various AI-related functions deeply. Overall, the Ryzen AI 300 series processors deliver over 30% more CPU and iGPU performance compared to the previous Ryzen 8040 series, while also being 40% more power-efficient.

▲ The Ryzen AI 300 series includes two models: Ryzen AI HX and Ryzen AI. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a maximum clock speed of 5.1 GHz, offering higher performance than the Ryzen AI 9 365.

▲ The AMD Ryzen AI 300 series CPUs and iGPUs deliver over 30% more performance compared to the previous Ryzen 8040 series, while also being 40% more power-efficient.

Many people are curious about the practical applications that these major companies are promoting in the AI revolution for personal computers. According to AMD, the current AMD Ryzen AI 300 series PCs support over 150 AI experiences. For instance, in the workplace, users can create professional documents or business presentations by simply listing a few key points. They can also quickly summarize and respond to emails, enhancing productivity.

Additionally, during online meetings, Microsoft Windows Studio Effects uses AI to help users maintain eye contact and provide high-quality background blur, improving the overall online meeting experience. In image editing, Adobe Premiere Pro’s AI features accelerate the creation process for movies and videos, reducing the time spent on tasks like transcribing, color grading, audio adjustments, and re-framing social media videos, allowing creators to focus more on inspiration.

▲ AMD Ryzen AI PCs accelerate the creation process for movies and videos, aiding creators in editing.

Recently, MSI has partnered with AMD to launch four new laptops featuring the Ryzen AI 300 series processors. These include the business and productivity-oriented Summit A16 AI+ and Prestige A16 AI+, the gaming-focused Stealth A16 AI+ with a dedicated GPU, and the Creator A16 AI+ designed for creators. This lineup spans business, gaming, and creative fields, catering to the diverse needs of various consumers.

▲ MSI has launched four laptops with Ryzen AI 300 series processors, catering to various consumer needs.

The Summit A16 AI+ and Prestige A16 AI+ are part of MSI’s business laptop series, both featuring AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors. MSI business laptops are known for their sleek design, high performance, long battery life, and enterprise-level security features. The Summit A16 AI+ is MSI’s top-tier business model, with a 360-degree flip and touch screen, allowing it to transform from a laptop to a tablet instantly. Paired with the MSI Pen 2, it becomes an excellent digital canvas for creating and organizing notes.

▲ The Summit A16 AI+ is MSI’s top-tier business model, supporting 360-degree screen flip and touch functionality.

The Prestige A16 AI+ boasts a stylish urban silver look, combining aesthetics with high performance in a slim form factor. It features a 16:10 4K OLED screen, offering vivid colors and high contrast for lifelike videos and images. Another major selling point is its impressive battery life. The Prestige A16 AI+ has an 82Whr battery, providing up to 14 hours of 1080p video playback. It also supports fast charging, reaching 60% battery in under an hour. A quick 15-minute charge can provide over 1.5 hours of additional battery life.

▲ The Prestige A16 AI+ is known for its slim design and high performance, featuring exceptional battery life and fast charging capabilities.

MSI has also developed the exclusive software - MSI Center S for its business laptops, optimizing performance with an intuitive and simple user interface. This all-in-one solution allows users to access all settings on a single page, making every operation effortless.

▲ MSI Center S is a new software for MSI business laptops with an intuitive user interface.

In addition to business productivity models, MSI has launched the Stealth A16 AI+, featuring AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors and up to NVIDIA RTX 4070 dedicated graphics. This laptop is perfect for both work and AAA gaming, embodying the essence of the MSI Stealth series. Work by day, game by night, and experience the thrill of victory.

▲ The Stealth A16 AI+ also boasts a 16:10 OLED 240Hz display with MSI’s exclusive True Color technology, ensuring precise color calibration before leaving the factory.

The Stealth A16 AI+ features a magnesium-aluminum alloy body, weighing only 2.01 kg and measuring just 19.95 mm thick. It is lightweight and portable, with a 99.9 Whr battery to handle various scenarios effortlessly. The 16:10 OLED 240Hz display offers high contrast and vivid colors, enhanced by MSI’s exclusive True Color technology for precise color calibration.

The keyboard includes a numeric keypad and SteelSeries per-key RGB backlighting, providing an immersive lighting effect. The enlarged touchpad offers a seamless touch experience, with a centered design to prevent accidental touches during gameplay.

For security, the Stealth A16 AI+ is equipped with a fingerprint reader and a physical camera shutter, ensuring privacy and safety. With Windows Hello, users can quickly and securely unlock the laptop using facial or fingerprint recognition. The Stealth A16 AI+ combines sleek design with enterprise-level security features.

▲ The Stealth A16 AI+ features a fingerprint reader and a physical camera shutter, ensuring privacy and security. The keyboard is equipped with a SteelSeries per-key RGB backlit gaming keyboard.

Besides gaming laptops, MSI has introduced the Creator A16 AI+ to cater to the needs of content creators. Like the Stealth A16 AI+, it features a premium magnesium-aluminum alloy body and a 16:10 OLED 240Hz display. The keyboard includes per-key RGB backlighting and a 99.9 Whr battery. The Creator A16 AI+ is NVIDIA Studio certified, preloaded with powerful NVIDIA Studio drivers and exclusive tools, ensuring optimal performance and functionality for creative tasks.

▲ The Creator A16 AI+ features a premium magnesium-aluminum alloy body, a 16:10 OLED 240Hz display, per-key RGB backlit gaming keyboard, and a 99.9 Whr battery. It is also NVIDIA Studio certified.

Beyond its excellent hardware, MSI aims to provide consumers with immediate benefits from AI. Instead of waiting for third-party software to support AI features, MSI has introduced AI-powered software: MSI AI Engine and AI Noise Cancellation Pro.

The Summit A16 AI+, Prestige A16 AI+, Stealth A16 AI+, and Creator A16 AI+ all come with MSI AI Engine software, which automatically adjusts hardware settings based on user scenarios to achieve optimal laptop performance. It includes four modes: Intelligent Meeting, Intelligent Gaming, Intelligent Work, and Intelligent Entertainment. These modes use AI to adjust the laptop’s settings and system resources, allowing users to focus on their priorities. For example, when the laptop detects the use of Office Word or PowerPoint, it automatically activates the Intelligent Work mode, optimizing settings (including screen, volume, and battery) to enhance the overall office experience.

▲ MSI AI Engine includes four modes: Intelligent Meeting, Intelligent Gaming, Intelligent Work, and Intelligent Entertainment.

To provide a superior meeting experience for professionals, MSI’s exclusive AI Noise Cancellation Pro software effectively eliminates background noise, ensuring clear voice quality even in noisy environments. The Summit A16 AI+ and Prestige A16 AI+ also support a new three-microphone array design for 360-degree sound capture, offering immersive 3D audio and precise voice pickup. Users can choose to hear the full audio or focus on important content, enjoying clear audio quality during video conferences.

▲ AI Noise Cancellation Pro effectively eliminates background noise. If the person you’re talking to is in a noisy environment, you can choose to reduce the noise from the speaker. Alternatively, if you are in a noisy environment, you can choose to reduce the noise from the microphone.

To determine if laptops with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors qualify as Copilot+ PCs, we first need to understand the hardware requirements for Copilot+ PCs. These include a processor with an NPU delivering at least 40 TOPS, 16GB or more of memory, 256GB or more of storage, and support for Windows Hello facial or fingerprint recognition. While the latest processors from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm meet the NPU performance requirements, only the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series achieves 50 TOPS, the highest on the market.

In terms of software features, Copilot+ PCs support the Microsoft Copilot+ PC experience, which includes Recall, Live Captions, Co-creator, and Windows Studio Effects. Recall allows users to search and retrieve previously viewed content using natural language while ensuring privacy. Co-creator enables users to create images using digital ink and text descriptions. Live Captions translate audio into English subtitles in real-time. The new AMD Ryzen AI 300 series laptops, including the Summit A16 AI+, Stealth A16 AI+, Prestige A16 AI+, and Creator A16 AI+, meet the hardware requirements for Copilot+ PCs. They will fully support all Copilot+ software features after Microsoft’s update later this year, enhancing the overall AI experience.

▲ Microsoft Copilot+ PC experience includes Recall, Live Captions, Co-creator, and Windows Studio Effects.

MSI has launched four new laptops featuring the high-performance, energy-efficient AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors: Summit A16 AI+, Prestige A16 AI+, Stealth A16 AI+, and Creator A16 AI+. These models span business, gaming, and creative fields, catering to diverse consumer needs. They support MSI’s exclusive AI software, including MSI AI Engine and AI Noise Cancellation Pro, providing immediate and tangible AI benefits. In terms of hardware, all four models exceed Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC standards, promising a comprehensive Copilot+ experience after the year-end Microsoft update.