AMD's More Affordable Strix Halo Model, Ryzen AI Max 385, Debuts with Early Geekbench Scores Revealing Eight-Core Performance

AMD has unveiled more affordable versions of its Strix Halo lineup, with the eight-core Ryzen AI Max 385 making its first appearance on Geekbench. This processor is designed to power devices like the HP ZBook Ultra G1a, signaling a move by Strix Halo into the mainstream market. The new models will come in both eight-core and six-core configurations, expanding AMD’s offerings to a broader range of consumers. However, the initial Geekbench benchmarks reveal performance that is less impressive than hoped, although these results should be taken with a grain of salt given that they are from a leak and may not represent final configurations. At CES, AMD introduced the flagship APU family for this generation, known as Strix Halo, under the Ryzen AI 300 Max line. These APUs are targeted at AI/ML developers and gamers, with four variants boasting 6 to 16 CPU cores and 16 to 40 GPU cores. The top-of-the-line Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and 390 have dominated the first and second quarters, appearing in high-end mini-PCs priced up to $2,000. In the laptop segment, the Ryzen AI Max+ processors are found in devices like the HP ZBook Ultra G1a and the Asus ROG Flow Z13, which can cost over $5,000 when fully equipped with 128GB of LPDDR5x RAM. The Ryzen AI Max 385 features eight cores and sixteen threads, using the Zen 5 architecture. It also includes a 32 Compute Unit integrated GPU (Radeon 8050S) based on RDNA 3.5, and a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 50 trillion operations per second (TOPS). The processor is advertised to reach 5 GHz, just 100 MHz shy of the flagship model, suggesting similar single-core performance. However, the actual Geekbench results tell a different story. On Geekbench, the specific sample of the Ryzen AI Max 385 scored 2,489 points in the single-core category and 14,136 points in the multi-core category. These scores are notably lower than those of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which typically scores around 2,900 to 3,000 points in single-core tests. There is no evidence of thermal throttling, with the CPU maintaining an average clock speed of 4.95 to 5 GHz. Despite this, the early benchmarks should not be considered definitive, as various factors such as typical run-to-run variations and laptop power settings can influence the results. The testing platform for these benchmarks was the HP ZBook Ultra G1a, which is equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5x memory. HP's website confirms the existence of this model, listing it at $2,599 with shipments commencing the next day. As of now, Asus's ROG Flow Z13 does not offer a configuration with fewer than 12 cores, leaving the Ryzen AI Max 390 as the lowest tier for that device. The Framework Desktop, however, will be configurable with the Ryzen AI Max 385, with shipments expected in the third quarter of 2025 (July to September). HP's upcoming Z2 Mini G1a mini workstations will also feature the Ryzen AI Max 380, the entry-level six-core variant. These new, more affordable Strix Halo models aim to broaden AMD's reach into the mainstream market, providing a balance between high performance and cost-effectiveness. While the initial benchmarks suggest some room for improvement, it's important to wait for more comprehensive testing before drawing final conclusions. Stay tuned for updates from Tom's Hardware to keep informed about the latest news, analysis, and reviews in the tech world. Make sure to follow us on Google News to get the most up-to-date content directly in your feeds.