The AMD Strix Halo APUs are currently among the most powerful, featuring Zen 5 cores, RDNA 3.5 graphics, and XDNA 2 AI accelerators. While these chips have been designed for high-performance laptops, they are now making their way to desktop PCs.
AMD CEO Lisa Su confirmed this exciting news during a recent conversation with Asus China on Bilibili. When Tony Yu, Asus China’s General Manager, asked whether Strix Halo CPUs would be coming to desktops, Su simply responded: “Yes, of course”—without providing further details.
While this confirms Strix Halo’s transition to desktops, it likely won’t happen traditionally. Let’s take a closer look at what this means.
CPUS Strix Halo in Mini PCs
Since Strix Halo processors are designed for laptops, they are soldered onto the motherboard rather than a traditional AM5 socket, making direct compatibility with standard desktop builds impossible. Instead, these powerful chips are more likely to appear in mini PCs from brands like Minisforum and Framework—the latter have already launched Ryzen AI 300-based small PCs.
Adapting a mobile CPU for desktop use is not a simple process. The entire chip layout and encapsulation would need to be redesigned, making it almost like developing a new processor from scratch. On top of that, there are more complex technical challenges involved in transitioning a laptop APU to a desktop-ready format.
Current Best Desktop APU Option
The best APU solution for desktops remains the Ryzen 7 8700G, featuring Zen 4 cores and RDNA 3 graphics. Its Radeon 780M iGPU delivers performance comparable to a GTX 1650, making 1080p gaming possible even in demanding titles.
How Strix Halo Compares
One of AMD’s most powerful mobile APUs, the Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395, boasts:
- 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units → Capable deliver 60 FPS in high settings at 1080p in many modern games.
- 16 Zen 5 Cores → Ensuring top-tier processing power.
- XDNA 2 AI Accelerators → Enhancing AI-based tasks and workloads.
If Strix Halo APUs do make their way into mini PCs or custom small form-factor desktops, they could offer unparalleled performance in a compact and efficient package. However, a full-fledged desktop variant would require significant modifications, making it an interesting development.
