AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" APU Surfaces in Benchmarks
AMD is preparing to refresh its APU lineup with the highly anticipated Ryzen AI Max 400 series, which is split into two segments: "Gorgon Point" and "Gorgon Halo." Recently, one of the first "Gorgon Halo" APUs, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495, has appeared in the PassMark benchmark database, offering a glimpse into the next generation of AMD’s AI-focused processors.
Key Specifications: Zen 5 Architecture and Enhanced Graphics
The Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" APU is built on AMD’s latest "Zen 5" CPU architecture, featuring 16 cores and 32 threads. This processor achieves a boost frequency of up to 5.2 GHz, representing a modest but meaningful 100 MHz increase over the previous "Strix Halo" generation. This improvement is expected to deliver better performance and efficiency for demanding workloads.
On the graphics side, the APU integrates the new RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture, specifically the Radeon 8065S. This integrated GPU appears to be an enhanced, higher-clocked version of the Radeon 8060S, running at 3.0 GHz compared to the previous 2.9 GHz. The core count remains unchanged, with the "Gorgon Halo" maintaining 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units (CUs), ensuring robust graphics capabilities for both AI and gaming applications.
Performance Improvements and Memory Upgrades
Benchmark results from PassMark indicate that the Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" delivers approximately 4% higher multicore performance and 3% better single-core performance compared to its predecessor, the Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 "Strix Halo." These gains are attributed to the higher boost frequencies and architectural enhancements in the Zen 5 cores.
Another notable advancement is in memory support. While the previous "Strix Halo" APUs supported up to 128 GB of memory, the new "Gorgon Point" and "Gorgon Halo" models now accommodate up to 192 GB of LPDDR5X memory. The test system for the "Gorgon Halo" APU was configured with 188 GB of usable memory, likely utilizing eight SK hynix 24 GB LPDDR5X modules. This expanded memory capacity is particularly significant for AI workloads and professional applications that demand high memory bandwidth and capacity.
Implications for AI and Gaming Devices
The increased memory ceiling and improved efficiency position the Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" as a compelling choice for devices focused on local AI computation and advanced multitasking. Systems such as the AMD Ryzen AI Halo Mini-PC and the Framework Desktop are expected to benefit from these upgrades, especially for AI developers and professionals working with large datasets. While the graphics improvements may not be as impactful for mainstream gamers, the overall enhancements in CPU and memory performance make this APU a noteworthy step forward in AMD’s processor roadmap.
