AMD has unveiled bold performance claims for its flagship Ryzen AI 300 series, codenamed Strix Halo, during CES. With a cutting-edge configuration boasting 16 cores, 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units, and up to 128GB of unified memory, AMD asserts that its top-tier Ryzen AI Max+ 395 outpaces Nvidia’s RTX 4070 mobile GPU in gaming by as much as 68% in certain titles. However, this comparison warrants closer scrutiny, as the Nvidia system in question—a 65W variant—was tested in the thermally constrained Asus ROG Flow Z13.
Strix Halo’s Hardware Breakdown
The Strix Halo chips adopt an innovative design, split across three dies: two CCDs with eight cores each and a large I/O die integrating the iGPU and NPU. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 showcases AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, 32 processing threads, and Radeon 8060S iGPU with 40 Compute Units. Its base TDP of 55W can scale up to 120W, while its unified memory offers flexibility, allocating up to 96GB exclusively to the iGPU for demanding tasks.
Gaming Benchmarks and Competitor Comparisons
In AMD’s first-party benchmarks across 17 modern games at 1080p high settings, the Strix Halo outperformed the RTX 4070 laptop GPU by varying margins, peaking at a 68% lead in Borderlands 3. These results, however, stem from a 65W RTX 4070 configuration, whereas the GPU can operate at higher wattages—up to 115W—when not restricted by thermal limitations like in the Flow Z13.
AMD also pitched the Strix Halo against Apple’s M4-series chips, claiming strong performance in productivity workloads. For instance, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 outperformed the M4 Pro by 86% in V-Ray rendering but saw a slimmer 12% lead in Cinebench R24. Meanwhile, in AI tasks, the chip’s XDNA 2 NPU delivers 50 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second), outshining competitors like Intel’s Lunar Lake and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While AMD’s claims are impressive on paper, independent testing will be crucial to verify their accuracy. Notably, Strix Halo’s pricing and market positioning could determine its success in the enthusiast laptop segment. With configurations likely exceeding $1,000, AMD’s flagship chips aim to offer an enticing alternative to dedicated GPUs like the RTX 4070, provided they can balance performance and value.
For now, AMD enthusiasts may want to wait for unbiased reviews before deciding if the Strix Halo truly lives up to its ambitious promises.