Is AMD’s Strix Halo Chip Powering GPD’s New Handheld Console?

Scoring 10,000 Points on 3DMark Time Spy

The leak, sourced from social network X, features an image of a GPD console prototype running the well-known 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. The results are nothing short of remarkable.

The device achieves a graphic score of 10,366 points. To put that into perspective, this score is roughly three times higher than those achieved by the best current handheld consoles, which utilize AMD’s “Strix Point” chips (featuring a Radeon 890M). This indicates a massive leap in performance.

“Strix Halo,” a Laptop Chip in a Console

How is such performance achievable? It’s because this prototype doesn’t use the usual chips found in handheld consoles but instead incorporates its bigger sibling, the “Strix Halo” (or Ryzen AI Max+ 395). This is AMD’s most powerful mobile processor, a 16-core beast with a much faster graphical component (Radeon 8060S).

Until now, this chip has only been featured in mini-PCs or workstation laptops, which are significantly larger and more expensive.

The Catch: Exorbitant Cost and Power Consumption

Here’s where the reality check comes in. Incorporating such a powerful chip into a portable format presents enormous challenges. First, the power consumption. The Strix Halo requires a lot more energy, which would necessitate a massive battery and an efficient cooling system, challenging to fit into a pocket-sized device.

Then, there’s the cost. Mini-PCs equipped with this chip are already priced over 1500 euros. A handheld console based on the Strix Halo would likely exceed 2000 euros, a price point completely out of step with the market.