AMD Could Be Preparing the Ryzen 7 9700F, Its New Processor Without Integrated Graphics

AMD may soon expand its next-generation processor lineup with the Ryzen 7 9700F. This indirect confirmation comes from the latest BIOS updates from various motherboard manufacturers (AGESA 1.2.0.3e), such as MSI and ASUS, which have started adding support for the new CPU ahead of its official release.

Processor Specifications and Features

This new processor would be virtually identical to its larger counterpart, the Ryzen 7 9700X, sharing the Zen 5 architecture and a configuration of 8 cores and 16 threads for processing. It also maintains a 65-watt TDP, 8 MB of L2 cache, and 32 MB of L3 cache. The primary difference is the absence of functional integrated graphics.

Although the chip physically includes a graphics unit, it is disabled by software. This means that, for a computer with this processor to function, it will be necessary to pair it with a dedicated graphics card. For most users building a system for gaming or demanding tasks, this will not be an issue, as they generally opt for a dedicated GPU anyway.

Cost and Market Appeal

The main appeal of the Ryzen 7 9700F will be its price. By omitting the active iGPU, it is expected to be more affordable than the 9700X, making it a highly competitive option to boost sales. As for the frequencies, it is speculated that they could be slightly lower than those of the 9700X, which reaches up to 5.50 GHz, although it will retain overclocking capabilities.

It’s important to note that AMD has not yet officially confirmed this launch. However, the BIOS support rollout by its partners suggests that the processor will hit the market sooner rather than later. It remains to be seen whether this will be the only F model in the Ryzen 9000 series or if the company plans to launch more variants for different market segments.