AMD's New Strix Halo "Zen 5" Mobile Chips to Feature 40 iGPU CUs

[Nomad76]

The upcoming Strix Point Halo processors from AMD now have a new name - Ryzen AI Max - and come with big promises of impressive power. This rumor, first reported by VideoCardz and originating from Weibo leaker Golden Pig Upgrade, reveals key details about the first three processors in this lineup, along with their specifications.

The leaker claims AMD might roll out a new naming system for these processors branding them as part of the Ryzen AI Max series. These chips will run on the anticipated Strix Halo APU. This series includes three models, with the top-end version boasting up to 16 Zen 5 cores and 40 Compute Units (CUs) for graphics. This setup is expected for the best model contrary to earlier rumors that AMD would drop such a variant. In fact, word has it that at least two of the models in this lineup will come with 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units. The leaker also hints that Strix Halo will handle up to 96 GB of video memory suggesting AMD aims to make this processor work with its ROCm (Open Compute Platform) system.





AMD Ryzen AI Max 300 Strix Halo Lineup

• Ryzen AI Max+ 395 - 16 Zen 5 cores + 40 Compute Units (RDNA 3.5)
• Ryzen AI Max 390 - 12 cores + 40 Compute Units
• Ryzen AI Max 385 - 8 cores + 32 Compute Units

The Strix Halo APU is expected to use two CCDs (Core Complex Dies) with 8 cores each. One variant is rumored to have just a single CCD, potentially making it an ideal option for gaming devices. Interestingly, none of the leaked models feature fewer than 32 CUs, which is already double the 16 CUs of the Strix Point.

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[R0H1T]

This, if priced right, could be the biggest threat to Mxx chips in 5 years

Spoiler

 

[yfn_ratchet]

Can't wait to see the 385 in a handheld with unified memory. Would absolutely kill it if those specs managed to make it under the 15W line.

 

[Frozoken]

Can't wait to see the 385 in a handheld with unified memory. Would absolutely kill it if those specs managed to make it under the 15W line.

In what universe would you be able to run 12 cores and 40cus under 15w?

 

[persondb]

Can't wait to see the 385 in a handheld with unified memory. Would absolutely kill it if those specs managed to make it under the 15W line.

That is not really happening. Would take too much energy to even run it at idle.

 

[redeye]

so a PS5 in your computer (but with directx)… same number of CU’s as the PS5, double the number of CU‘s in a Series X (sorry the series S…)

 

[oxrufiioxo]

so a PS5 in your computer (but with directx)… (same number of CU’s as the PS5, double the number of CU‘s in a series X…

Guessing you mean Series S. The X has 56 afaik.

 

[GhostRyder]

Cool, I can't wait to see some iGPU tests on these!

 

[kapone32]

Guess where the budget GPUs have gone to.

 

[ymdhis]

Here's hoping these will make it to AM5 socket, even if it means having to pair them with slower memory.

 

[R0H1T]

Guess where the budget GPUs have gone to.

While true, to an extent, the budget GPU market has fallen prey more to expensive(?) phone or tablets, even consoles than these chips!

I don't want to spend hours making a game work at 1080p when I can get similar, or better/smoother results even if at 720p on the go with say a portable console

 

[Marcus L]

Guess where the budget GPUs have gone to.

Not really as these are for the laptop/mobile market, also how much will just the APU cost if you factor in 12 Zen 5 cores and a GPU around the RX 7600, they won't be cheap, would be nice to have one in the mini PC form factor though you could likely build a better desktop for the same cost

 

[Timbaloo]

Yeah, this is gonna be mini PC heaven, if someone manages to make a mini PC with decent (quiet) cooling @~65W.

Right now there is nice mini PCs with screeming fans at this power demand, or SFF cases that are waaaaay too big for not needing a dGPU. Give me something in between and take my money.

 

[Zareek]

The only news here is the three rumored SKUs and naming. The 40CUs has been talked about since Strix Halo started being talked about. I guess everyone is excited about this? I'm very intrigued, but I feel like 16 CPU cores is a bit silly. My guess is it will be 4 Zen5 cores and 12 Zen5c cores. If not that, then 8 or each. It will almost definitely be a hybrid of the two. I'd like to see an 8 core / 40 CU SKU. IMO, more than eight isn't very useful outside of servers. That will change, but it has been changing for YEARS now.

 

[R0H1T]

Probably 50% chance it could be 16x Zen5c cores!

I'm very intrigued, but I feel like 16 CPU cores is a bit silly.

They're almost certainly targeting Apple here, & while die hard Mac enthusiasts may not switch sides but it's a good move longer term!

 

[HisDivineOrder]

I can see Valve taking one of these chips and modifying the core counts but keeping the memory bandwidth to make a Steam Deck 2 next year, especially if there's some kind of hardware-based FSR advancement. Valve previously took the 8 core/8CU chip and made it 4 core/8CU to improve its battery life. It's not hard to imagine them shredding any full Zen5 cores and leaving only Zen 5C cores and only just enough to run more modern games (6-8 cores) plus 32CU's. I can also see them bumping up the wattage from 15 to 20w. Valve already has the relationship for custom chips.

But I've always thought this part was more interesting in how it could open the doors to a Steam Deck Home variant without a screen or built-in controller that is a competitor for the Xbox Series S. I'm not sure if there's the easy marketing potential for this, though. People who already have a gaming PC would by and large still find a handheld as a great companion device. How many, though, are aching for one to attach to their TV, too? I'm not sure. I imagine with Microsoft slowly giving up on consoles and Sony pricing themselves out of the market, there will be room for a new competitor with incredible name brand recognition for gaming like Steam.

But the minipc market is going to blow up with some incredibly performing devices with these chips either way in the near term. I can't wait to see what they can do.

 

[R0H1T]

But the minipc market is going to blow up with some incredibly performing devices with these chips either way in the near term. I can't wait to see what they can do.

That & the Macbook Pro, if AMD can achieve another double-digit IPC gain with Zen6, then I expect the next generation of Halo quite likely to be the most efficient SoC in that upper/premium segment. Apple is still slightly ahead in overall ST performance, but AMD will have a class-leading GPU and probably the best MT scores overall. They'll also have lower/midrange Nvidia dGPU's for supper

 

[SL2]

Can't wait to see the 385 in a handheld with unified memory. Would absolutely kill it if those specs managed to make it under the 15W line.

That's so cute

 

[z1n0x]

The silicon is probably really good, however the naming is horrendous. Another Marketing Disaster.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Crazy how Apple’s chip naming scheme has been adopted by AMD and Intel. I know terms like Ultra and Max aren’t exactly unique, but neither have been used in a long time. Now Intel is in Ultra mode and AMD is selling a Max chip.

Anyway, this could be really fun in a Mac mini-like encolsure. RAM will have to be soldered, I'd think, but the storage could be expandable. I'd give one a serious look for the right price.

 

[kapone32]

Not really as these are for the laptop/mobile market, also how much will just the APU cost if you factor in 12 Zen 5 cores and a GPU around the RX 7600, they won't be cheap, would be nice to have one in the mini PC form factor though you could likely build a better desktop for the same cost

Well you are getting a CPU as well as GPU in one package. I know they are more expensive than the older APUs like the 5600G but the GPU price has increased across the stack.

 

[tabascosauz]

Designs like Flow X13 seem perfect for these SKUs. Plenty of cooling, but still highly portable.

Make it a bit more meaningful than the one entry level 16GB iGPU SKU it's saddled with currently.

 

[Visible Noise]

Can't wait to see the 385 in a handheld with unified memory. Would absolutely kill it if those specs managed to make it under the 15W line.

Pass that doob over this way.

 

[yfn_ratchet]

In what universe would you be able to run 12 cores and 40cus under 15w?

I specified the 385, not the 390. That was not a typo at all. Sub-15W top-end laptop just ain't gonna happen, lol.

That is not really happening. Would take too much energy to even run it at idle.

That's not... it's a laptop chip. It's a laptop chip with Zen 5 cores and a double-decker 890M. The Z1 Extreme set a precedent with Zen 4 and RDNA 3 that it is indeed possible to have something like this at a power profile of 15W or less. I'm not asking this thing to go full bore on a battery (or even plugged in, you can only pack so much cooling), but base CPU clocks and ~2 GHz GPU clocks? I would consider that plausible, and more than enough to shake up handhelds.

 

[R0H1T]

The price of probably the cheapest Halo variant will not allow devices smaller/lesser than a grand in the market, at that point it's virtually DoA.

AMD could theoretically downclock them to oblivion but they certainly won't sell them cheap or at a loss!