Possibly the first AMD Strix Halo chip observed in a portable gaming PC, yet it's the compact computers coming up that have me truly thrilled.
The GPD STX Halo handheld prototype, powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU (Strix Halo), has left gaming enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. This compact device boasts impressive performance, surpassing current-generation handhelds and setting a new benchmark.
Key performance highlights include a 3DMark TimeSpy score of 10,393, with a graphics score of 10,366 and a CPU score of 10,552. These scores represent a significant leap forward compared to devices using the previous Strix Point architecture.
The Strix Halo APU is equipped with 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and an integrated Radeon 8060S GPU with 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units. This makes it AMD’s most powerful integrated GPU to date, more than doubling the GPU hardware in comparable chips such as the Ryzen 7 8840U or 8945HS.
However, concerns about power efficiency have been raised due to the chip's default TDP of 120W, which is typically too high for handheld gaming devices. Nevertheless, the architecture can scale down to 20-25W, and even at reduced power settings, it maintains a performance advantage over previous-generation handhelds.
Despite no official pricing information being disclosed yet, it is unclear if the GPD STX Halo is close to final production or still an internal prototype. The device is assumed to be a GPD 4 Win or GPD 5 Win prototype.
The potential of this handheld console is immense, as it combines desktop-class processing power and graphics capability in a portable form factor. Optimizing power consumption and thermal management will be key challenges moving forward.
Meanwhile, in the world of tech journalism, Jacob Fox has recently joined PC Gamer full-time. With a background in hardware and philosophy, and a pending PhD in Philosophy, Fox brings a unique perspective to his role. He has a history of building and reviewing PC hardware and has previously worked for PCGamesN, TechRadar, Pocket-lint, and PC Gamer.
In a recent article, Fox wrote about the Minisforum Strix Halo miniPC, the motherboard manufacturer for the Strix Halo APU-powered device. Although the Strix Halo APU is more expensive than the Strix Point APU, it offers superior performance, especially at lower wattages, albeit only about 20% more at 15W.
However, it's worth noting that a review of a laptop with the Strix Halo APU suggests that the chip isn't designed for a gaming device, raising questions about the suitability of the Strix Halo APU for a handheld gaming console.
Despite these concerns, the GPD STX Halo prototype promises a future where desktop-class performance and graphics can be enjoyed on the go, albeit with challenges to optimize power consumption and thermal management.
[1] Source: Tom's Hardware [2] Source: AnandTech [3] Source: Wccftech [4] Source: GPD Official Website [5] Source: Notebookcheck [6] Source: PC Gamer (Article by Jacob Fox)
- The GPD STX Halo handheld prototype, powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU (Strix Halo), has left gaming enthusiasts buzzing with excitement about the potential of enjoying desktop-class performance and graphics on a game device during any season.
- With its impressive display of a 3DMark TimeSpy score of 10,393, the Strix Halo APU is a ps that betters previous-generation handhelds, becoming a gadget that wins over tech enthusiasts.
- Despite concerns about power efficiency, the compact technology embedded in the Strix Halo APU, featuring 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and an integrated Radeon 8060S GPU, represents a win for advanced handheld gaming, a potential that Jacob Fox, the philosophy-driven tech journalist from PC Gamer, has recently highlighted.
