AMD has unveiled the Ryzen AI Max Pro 495 processor, codenamed Strix Halo, just two days before the scheduled presentation of Nvidia and Microsoft's RTX Spark. The new chip features 16 Zen 5 cores and integrated RDNA 3.5 graphics, with computing performance comparable to desktop processors.
A key technical feature of the Strix Halo is its support for up to 192 GB of unified memory with speeds reaching 8.5 GT/s. The Variable Graphics Memory technology allows users to allocate up to 160 GB of this memory specifically for graphics tasks, enabling the local execution of AI models with up to 100 billion parameters.
AMD emphasizes that its solution operates on a native x86 architecture, avoiding the need for emulation layers. In contrast, Nvidia's RTX Spark relies on Arm-based processors and the Microsoft Prism emulation layer for Windows. AMD claims this native approach avoids the performance losses and compatibility issues associated with emulation.
