PowerColor has unveiled a novel application for neural processing units (NPUs) in contemporary CPUs at Computex 2024, showcasing its “Edge AI” technology. The innovation pairs a graphics card with an NPU, resulting in significant reductions in power consumption during gaming.
Efficiency Gains in Popular Games
Edge AI, which blends an AMD graphics card with an NPU via the PowerColor interface, achieves remarkable power savings. For instance, in the game Cyberpunk 2077, the energy draw dropped from 263W to 205W, achieving a 22% reduction. Similarly, Final Fantasy XV experienced an 18% reduction in power usage.
PowerColor´s new technology not only saves energy but also boosts gaming performance. Attendees noted a 10% increase in frames per second (FPS) when comparing systems using NPUs to those without.
PowerColor integrated NPU to Radeon GPU. (Still developing)
Through AI, they claim power consumption deceased 22%. More saved than AMD Power Saving. pic.twitter.com/9I8iEikotD— 포시포시 (@harukaze5719) June 7, 2024
PowerColor's effort to incorporate NPUs with Radeon GPUs is still under development. The forthcoming Ryzen AI 300 Series from AMD will include dedicated AI hardware, while Intel is eyeing similar advancements in its future chips.
Rising Importance of NPUs in Modern Computing
NPUs are gaining traction in the tech industry, drawing considerable investment from heavyweights like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. They offload tasks from traditional CPUs and GPUs, enhancing system efficiency. Examples include Microsoft's AutoSR upscaling on Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon processors. Intel and AMD are integrating NPUs into their latest desktop chips, making the technology more accessible in everyday computing.
NPUs in High-End Laptops and Desktops
Since Intel introduced NPUs in Meteor Lake laptops in 2023, these units have become standard for high-end laptops, efficiently managing AI processing tasks. While desktops might not require NPUs to the same extent, the benefits in energy efficiency cannot be overlooked. AMD has recently infused NPUs into desktops with its Ryzen 8000G series but plans to exclude them from the Ryzen 9000 series. The success of PowerColor's Edge AI could potentially influence future AMD graphics cards or renew the presence of NPUs in desktop CPUs tailored for gaming. The timeline for the next launch of such technologies remains undetermined.
