At CES 2026, AMD is broadening the appeal of its high-performance Strix Halo platform by introducing two new processors that bring its most powerful integrated graphics to more affordable systems. This move targets the growing market for compact, powerful PCs that can handle gaming and AI workloads without the need for a discrete graphics card.
Expanding the Strix Halo Family with More Accessible Power
AMD's Strix Halo platform, known for its exceptional system-on-a-chip (SoC) performance, is receiving two new members: the Ryzen AI MAX+ 392 and the Ryzen AI MAX+ 388. These chips are designed to make the platform's flagship feature—a massive 40 Compute Unit (CU) Radeon 8060S GPU—available in more cost-effective devices. Previously, this top-tier graphics configuration was exclusive to the premium 16-core Ryzen AI MAX+ 395. The new SKUs effectively democratize this graphics power, allowing OEMs to create more value-oriented gaming handhelds, mini PCs, and thin-and-light laptops that don't compromise on graphical capability.
New AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ SKUs (CES 2026 Announcement):
| SKU Name | CPU Cores/Threads | Max Boost Clock | GPU Cores (Architecture) | NPU TOPS | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen AI MAX+ 392 | 12 / 24 | 5.0 GHz | 40 CUs (Radeon 8060S / RDNA 3.5) | 50 | Full 40-CU GPU, 12 Zen 5 cores |
| Ryzen AI MAX+ 388 | 8 / 16 | 5.0 GHz | 40 CUs (Radeon 8060S / RDNA 3.5) | 50 | Full 40-CU GPU, 8 Zen 5 cores |
Comparison to Existing Strix Halo Models:
- GPU Upgrade: The new MAX+ 392 and 388 replace the 32-CU Radeon 8050S GPU found in the standard MAX 390 and 385 with the full 40-CU Radeon 8060S.
- Memory Support: The new models utilize faster 8533 MT/s LPDDR5X memory, compared to the standard support in earlier models.
- Target: They fill the gap between the high-end MAX+ 395 (16 cores, 40 CU) and the standard MAX models, offering the top iGPU with fewer CPU cores for better cost-efficiency.
Technical Specifications and Key Upgrades
The core architectural foundation of the new chips remains consistent with the existing Strix Halo lineup. Both are based on the Zen 5 CPU architecture and feature the XDNA 2-based Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 50 TOPS for AI acceleration. The Ryzen AI MAX+ 392 is a 12-core, 24-thread processor with boost clocks up to 5.0 GHz, while the MAX+ 388 is an 8-core, 16-thread chip with the same peak clock speed. The critical upgrade is the inclusion of the full 40-CU Radeon 8060S GPU based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, a significant step up from the 32-CU Radeon 8050S found in the non-"+" variants. Furthermore, these new models will leverage faster 8533 MT/s LPDDR5X memory, which should provide an immediate boost to gaming and graphics performance by feeding the powerful iGPU more efficiently.
Performance Claims and Market Positioning
AMD is positioning these new APUs as formidable all-in-one solutions. The company shared performance comparisons showing the flagship MAX+ 395 offering significantly faster AI inference performance per dollar than NVIDIA's DGX Spark systems and outperforming Apple's M5 chip in content creation tasks by an average of 80%. For the new SKUs, AMD claims the 12-core MAX+ 392 offers up to 90% better performance than Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H in applications like Blender and V-Ray. Perhaps most compelling for gamers, the 8-core MAX+ 388 is shown to deliver over 2.5 times the frame rate of an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H in titles like Cyberpunk 2077. These figures, while from AMD's internal testing, highlight the company's confidence in Strix Halo's ability to compete in high-performance integrated graphics segments traditionally dominated by discrete solutions.
AMD's Performance Claims (Internal Benchmarks):
- AI & Content Creation: The Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 is claimed to be 70% faster on average than an NVIDIA DGX Spark system in LLM inference (per dollar) and 80% faster than an Apple M5 chip in content creation tasks.
- Productivity: The new 12-core MAX+ 392 is claimed to be 54% faster on average, and up to 90% faster in specific renders, than an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H.
- Gaming: The new 8-core MAX+ 388 is claimed to offer a 2.5x performance improvement in Cyberpunk 2077 and over 2x improvement in 3DMark tests compared to an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H.
Implications for the PC Market and Conclusion
The introduction of the Ryzen AI MAX+ 392 and 388 signals a strategic push by AMD to capture a wider swath of the premium mobile and compact desktop market. By decoupling its most powerful iGPU from only its most expensive CPU, AMD enables partners like Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Framework to design a broader range of products. This could accelerate the adoption of capable gaming handhelds and ultra-portable workstations that rely solely on integrated graphics. For consumers and professionals, it promises more choice and potentially better value, bringing desktop-class graphics performance into smaller, more efficient form factors. As these new chips begin appearing in devices throughout 2026, they are poised to further blur the line between integrated and discrete graphics solutions.