AMD Announces New Ryzen AI Max Plus Chips for Gaming

AMD is expanding its Strix Halo processor lineup, also known as the Ryzen AI Max series. The company is introducing two new, lower-end parts designed to make powerful gaming hardware more accessible. These new chips are specifically aimed at gaming devices that require strong graphics performance but may not need the full CPU power of the flagship models.

The original Ryzen AI Max chips are known for their powerful integrated graphics and support for up to 128GB of RAM. This has enabled the creation of unprecedented gaming designs, including what is described as the most powerful handheld gaming device, a high-performance Framework Desktop, and a powerful Asus tablet. However, these premium machines currently cost around $2,000. The announcement of the new, more affordable Ryzen AI Max Plus parts suggests a strategic shift to target the gaming market with more cost-effective solutions.

The Strix Halo platform, marketed by AMD as the Ryzen AI Max series, represents a significant leap in integrated graphics performance. These chips are engineered to combine a powerful CPU with some of the most advanced integrated graphics ever created. This combination allows for high-end gaming and computational tasks in compact form factors that were previously not possible.

Initially, AMD positioned these processors for AI workloads, highlighting their ability to handle massive datasets with a memory complement of up to 128GB of RAM. This focus on AI was a key marketing point. However, the raw power of the integrated graphics has proven to be a major draw for the gaming community, inspiring a new wave of high-performance portable and small-form-factor gaming machines.

The capabilities of the Ryzen AI Max series have already been demonstrated in several high-end devices. These include the GPD Win 5 handheld, which is noted as being the most powerful handheld on the market. Additionally, the Framework Desktop and a "monster" Asus tablet have also utilized this chipset to deliver unprecedented performance in their respective categories.

Despite their impressive specifications, these devices come with a premium price tag. They are reported to cost approximately $2,000. This high cost is attributed to the advanced technology and is exacerbated by current global RAM shortages, which have driven up component prices across the industry.

In response to the high cost of current devices, AMD is now announcing two new, lower-end chips: the Ryzen AI Max Plus. These processors are specifically engineered for the gaming market. They retain the "full-fat" graphics capabilities that make the series so attractive for gaming, but they come with fewer CPU cores compared to the flagship models.

This strategic reduction in CPU cores is intended to lower the overall cost of the processor, which could, in turn, reduce the final retail price of the gaming devices that use them. By offering a version of the chip that is optimized for gaming rather than heavy AI workloads, AMD aims to make powerful gaming portables more accessible to a wider audience.

The introduction of the Ryzen AI Max Plus series could significantly impact the market for high-performance gaming portables. By providing a more affordable entry point into the Strix Halo ecosystem, AMD is enabling manufacturers to create devices that balance performance and price. This move addresses consumer demand for powerful gaming hardware without the prohibitive cost associated with the current top-tier models.

While specific device announcements using these new chips have not yet been detailed, the focus on gaming devices suggests that we can expect to see new handhelds, tablets, and compact desktops featuring the Ryzen AI Max Plus in the near future. This expansion of the lineup signals AMD's commitment to dominating the high-performance mobile gaming processor market.