AMD’s Strix Halo: The Most Powerful Integrated GPU Ever in a CPU?
In 2025, buying a budget graphics card feels a lot like buying luxury real estate. Prices have climbed so high that entry-level options are barely affordable, with GPUs like the Nvidia RTX 5050 starting at $250 and AMD’s RX 9060XT going for $299. Just a few years back, solid mid-range cards like the RX 480 could be yours for $199.
That’s why integrated graphics—especially AMD APUs—are stepping up. Chips like the Ryzen 5 8600G and Ryzen 7 8700G already offer decent 1080p gaming without needing a separate GPU. But AMD’s latest chip, Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (now branded as Strix Halo), is raising the bar—and then some.
Meet the AMD Strix Halo: A Beast of an APU
Sitting at the top of AMD’s new Ryzen AI 300 series, the Strix Halo doesn’t just offer better integrated graphics—it redefines them. Here’s what you’re getting:
CPU: 16-core x86 chip, 3.0 GHz base, 5.1 GHz boost
iGPU: Radeon 8060S based on RDNA 3.5, up to 2.9 GHz
Power limit: 120W shared for CPU and GPU
This chip is designed to run both heavy apps and AAA games—without the need for a discrete graphics card, especially in laptops or mini PCs.
AMD vs. Apple vs. Qualcomm: Platform Matters
While Apple’s M4 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite excel at creative workflows and battery life, they’re both built on ARM architecture—which means gaming performance often relies on software emulation.
AMD’s Strix Halo has a key advantage: full x86 compatibility. This allows it to run Windows games and apps natively—something Apple Silicon and ARM chips still struggle with. If you’re looking for true desktop-like performance on the go, AMD’s APU wins on both power and compatibility.
Performance Benchmarks: Just How Good Is It?
In synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark Fire Strike, the Radeon 8060S scored an average of 25,940—on par with a desktop RX 7600 and just behind the Nvidia RTX 4060. That’s unheard of for an integrated GPU.
In real-world testing with the ROG Flow Z13 using a 70W TDP configuration, performance in productivity tasks like Blender and Houdini outpaced Apple’s M4 Pro and AMD’s own previous-gen Ryzen 9 AI HX 370.
Gaming results were even more impressive:
Cyberpunk 2077 (1600p): 39 fps on Radeon 8060S vs 37 fps on RTX 4070
Baldur’s Gate 3 (1600p): 57 fps vs 62 fps on RTX 4070
Doom Eternal (1600p): 149 fps vs 153 fps on RTX 4070
In some cases, this iGPU goes toe-to-toe—or even ahead—of dedicated laptop GPUs.
How Does It Compare to Intel’s Best?
The closest competition comes from Intel’s new Core Ultra 9 288V, which features the ARC 140V iGPU (8-core, Xe2-based). However, performance tests tell a clear story:
Forza Horizon 5: Intel: 63 fps @ 1080p (medium, XeSS) vs AMD: 82 fps @ 1200p (extreme, no upscaling)
The Strix Halo clearly leads in both raw power and visual fidelity without relying on upscaling or aggressive optimization.
What’s the Catch?
The Radeon 8060S is currently exclusive to high-end machines. Expect pricing to start at:
$1,499+ for mini PCs (e.g., GMKtec EVO X2)
$2,100+ for laptops (e.g., ASUS ROG Flow Z13)
But this is just the beginning. It’s likely AMD will bring similar RDNA 3.5 iGPUs to more affordable 6- and 8-core Ryzen CPUs in the near future—opening the door to midrange machines with serious graphical muscle.
