AMD’s new Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 300 series “Strix Point” APUs are finally out in the wild, and leaks have emerged about the beefier “Strix Halo” APU scheduled for release in 2025. This upcoming APU promises to be a powerful contender, packing up to 16 cores and 32 threads of Zen 5 processing power, alongside a significantly upgraded RDNA 3.5 GPU system. This combination will deliver gaming performance that rivals dedicated GPUs. The leak provides details on the Strix Halo’s substantial package size: 37.5 x 45.0 mm, using the same FP11 package. However, the APU itself is smaller, with the RDNA 3.5 GPU taking up the largest portion of the die space at 307mm2, while the two Zen 5 CCDs utilize a combined 66mm2. The Strix Halo, being a multi-chiplet design, boasts a total die space of 439mm2. Further leaked information reveals three thermal design configurations for the Strix Halo APU: 55W, 80W, and 120W. These figures exclude memory power consumption, with AMD stating 9W for 32GB and 13W for 128GB of RAM. The leak also confirmed that the LPDDR5X-8533 memory will be connected to a 256-bit memory interface. Comparing the Strix Halo to an Intel system equipped with a GN21-X6 graphics card, which corresponds to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, reveals intriguing insights. The RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, known for its higher power draw, operates at 80W, requiring the same power as a Strix Halo APU-based system. AMD is expected to incorporate 40 Compute Units of RDNA 3.5 GPU power in the Strix Halo APU, a significant jump from the 12-16 Compute Units found in the recently released Strix Point APU. This substantial increase translates to over twice the gaming performance from Strix Halo compared to Strix Point, potentially matching an RTX 4070 80W system. This performance leap is remarkable for an APU. With its impressive capabilities, the Strix Halo APU is poised to dominate laptops and handhelds, creating a wave of innovative designs in 2025. The future of gaming performance appears bright, and the anticipation for Strix Halo’s arrival is palpable.
AMD’s Strix Halo APU: A Leaked Look at the Future of Gaming Performance
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