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AMD Ryzen AI Max 390

AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 (Strix Halo): A New Era of Mobile Performance

Processor review for those who don't want to compromise on power or battery life

Architecture and Process Technology: Zen 5, 4nm, and a Revolution in Compactness

The AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 (codename Strix Halo) is a flagship chip for laptops built on the Zen 5 architecture and TSMC's 4nm process technology. This is AMD's first mobile processor with 12 cores and 24 threads, where all cores are Performance-cores (P-cores) optimized for high performance.

Key Features of the CPU

- Frequencies: Base frequency is 2 GHz, with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.1 GHz. The lower base frequency ensures energy efficiency for simple tasks, while the jump to 5.1 GHz guarantees instant responsiveness in demanding applications.

- Cache: A massive 64 MB L3 cache reduces data latency. This is particularly important for rendering, programming, and gaming.

- Integrated Graphics: iGPU based on RDNA 3.5 architecture with 16 Compute Units (CU) and support for Ray Tracing. Preliminary tests show that it is close to discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA GTX 1650.

What Sets Strix Halo Apart from Its Predecessors?

- Hybrid Approach to TDP: The chip adapts to a variety of devices, from ultrabooks to workstations.

- AI Accelerator: Built-in NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI tasks, such as photo processing or background noise management in video chats.

Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Power and Efficiency

The processor's TDP ranges from 15W (power-saving mode) to 54W (maximum performance). This allows laptop manufacturers to choose the optimal mode:

- 15-25W: For ultrabooks focused on battery life.

- 35-54W: For gaming and professional laptops, where stable performance under load is essential.

Power-saving Technologies:

- Precision Boost 5: Dynamically adjusts core frequencies based on load. For instance, when working in Word, 1-2 cores activate at low frequency, while all 12 are used in Blender.

- Adaptive Power Management: Lowers voltage on unused cores, saving up to 20% of energy.

Performance: From Office Tasks to AAA Gaming

Office Tasks and Multimedia

- Microsoft Office, Browsers: The processor hardly heats up, running at 2-3 GHz. Response time is instant even with a dozen tabs open.

- 4K Video and Editing: In Premiere Pro, rendering a 10-minute video takes 7-8 minutes thanks to 24 threads and the NPU that speeds up exporting.

Gaming

- Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, medium settings): iGPU achieves 45-50 FPS. With FSR 3.0 — up to 60 FPS.

- Elden Ring (1080p, low settings): Stable 55-60 FPS.

In turbo mode, the processor maintains frequencies of 4.8–5.1 GHz for up to 10 minutes, after which it drops to 4.5 GHz due to heating (if the cooling system is weak).

Usage Scenarios: Who is the Ryzen AI Max 390 for?

1. Professionals: Designers, programmers, and video engineers will appreciate multithreading and fast rendering.

2. Gamers: For those who don't want to carry a heavy laptop with a discrete graphics card.

3. Students and Office Workers: Long battery life and smooth multitasking performance.

Example: A laptop based on this processor could replace a desktop PC for video editing, and in the evening, you could run Forza Horizon 5 on it.

Battery Life: How Long Will the Laptop Last?

With a TDP of 15W and a battery capacity of 75 Wh, the expected runtime would be:

- 12-14 hours while web surfing and working on documents.

- 6-7 hours during video editing or 3D modeling.

Energy-Saving Secrets:

- Eco Mode in AMD software reduces performance by 30%, but increases battery life by 40%.

- SmartShift 2.0 automatically redistributes power between CPU and GPU.

Comparison with Competitors

AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS (Zen 4):

- Strix Halo has 20% higher multithreaded performance thanks to 12 cores versus 8.

- iGPU is 35% faster.

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H:

- Intel wins in single-threaded tasks (e.g., Excel) due to higher frequencies.

- Arc Xe-LPG graphics lag behind RDNA 3.5 in gaming.

Apple M3 Pro:

- M3 Pro is more energy-efficient, but Strix Halo offers more gaming capabilities and Windows software support.

Pros and Cons

Strengths:

- Best-in-class integrated graphics.

- Support for AI acceleration.

- Hybrid TDP for various scenarios.

Weaknesses:

- May throttle in budget laptops under prolonged load.

- High price: devices based on Strix Halo start at $1500.

Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop

1. Type of Device:

- Ultrabook: Look for models with TDP of 15-25W and a battery of at least 70 Wh. Example: ASUS ZenBook 14X.

- Gaming Laptop: Cooling system with 2 fans and heat pipes is essential. Example: Lenovo Legion Slim 7.

- Workstation: 32+ GB of RAM and a display that covers 100% DCI-P3.

2. Key Considerations:

- Cooling: Copper heat sinks and fans with adjustable speeds.

- Display: Minimum 90Hz for gaming, 4K for design.

- Ports: USB4 is mandatory for connecting external GPUs or monitors.

Final Verdict: Is it Worth Buying?

The Ryzen AI Max 390 is ideal for those who need a versatile laptop without compromises. It can handle 4K editing, gaming, and heavy analytics while lasting up to 10 hours in an office setting. If you're willing to pay for innovation and don't want to depend on a power outlet — this is your choice.

Who This Is For:

- Digital artists, engineers, gamers.

- Travelers who value battery life.

- Those who don't want to buy a separate PC and laptop.

Main Benefits: Desktop-level power in a slim chassis, a future with AI, and graphics that will last for a couple of years ahead.

Basic

Label Name

AMD

Platform

Laptop

Launch Date

January 2025

Model Name

The Intel processor number is just one of several factors - along with processor brand, system configurations, and system-level benchmarks - to be considered when choosing the right processor for your computing needs.

Ryzen AI Max 390

Code Name

Strix Halo

Foundry

TSMC

Generation

Ryzen AI Max (Zen 5 (Strix Halo))

CPU Specifications

Total Cores

Cores is a hardware term that describes the number of independent central processing units in a single computing component (die or chip).

Total Threads

Where applicable, Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology is only available on Performance-cores.

Performance-cores

Performance-core Base Frequency

2 GHz

Performance-core Max Turbo Frequency

Maximum P-core turbo frequency derived from Intel® Turbo Boost Technology.

5.1 GHz

L1 Cache

80 KB per core

L2 Cache

1 MB per core

L3 Cache

64 MB

Unlocked Multiplier

CPU Socket

The socket is the component that provides the mechanical and electrical connections between the processor and motherboard.

AMD Socket FP8

Bus Frequency

100 MHz

Multiplier

20.0

Technology

Lithography refers to the semiconductor technology used to manufacture an integrated circuit, and is reported in nanometer (nm), indicative of the size of features built on the semiconductor.

4 nm

TDP

15-54 W

Max. Operating Temperature

Junction Temperature is the maximum temperature allowed at the processor die.

100°C

PCIe Version

PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard used for connecting high-speed components, replacing older standards such as AGP, PCI, and PCI-X. It has gone through multiple revisions and improvements since its initial release. PCIe 1.0 was first introduced in 2002, and in order to meet the growing demand for higher bandwidth, subsequent versions have been released over time.

Instruction Set

The instruction set is a hard program stored inside the CPU that guides and optimizes CPU operations. With these instruction sets, the CPU can run more efficiently. There are many manufacturers that design CPUs, which results in different instruction sets, such as the 8086 instruction set for the Intel camp and the RISC instruction set for the ARM camp. x86, ARM v8, and MIPS are all codes for instruction sets. Instruction sets can be extended; for example, x86 added 64-bit support to create x86-64. Manufacturers developing CPUs that are compatible with a certain instruction set need authorization from the instruction set patent holder. A typical example is Intel authorizing AMD, enabling the latter to develop CPUs compatible with the x86 instruction set.

x86-64

Memory Specifications

Memory Type

Intel® processors come in four different types: Single Channel, Dual Channel, Triple Channel, and Flex Mode. Maximum supported memory speed may be lower when populating multiple DIMMs per channel on products that support multiple memory channels.

LPDDR5X-8000

Max Memory Size

Max memory size refers to the maximum memory capacity supported by the processor.

96 GB

Memory Channels

The number of memory channels refers to the bandwidth operation for real world application.

Max Memory Bandwidth

Max Memory bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored into a semiconductor memory by the processor (in GB/s).

128 GB/s

ECC Memory Support

GPU Specifications

Integrated Graphics Model

An integrated GPU refers to the graphics core that is integrated into the CPU processor. Leveraging the processor's powerful computational capabilities and intelligent power efficiency management, it delivers outstanding graphics performance and a smooth application experience at a lower power consumption.

true

GPU Max Dynamic Frequency

MHz

Execution Units

The Execution Unit is the foundational building block of Intel’s graphics architecture. Execution Units are compute processors optimized for simultaneous Multi-Threading for high throughput compute power.

Miscellaneous

PCIe Lanes