AMD has introduced a new chip codenamed Gainsborough, which was identified in the Adrenalin 26.9.2 graphics driver released on September 29. Customs records indicate that test units featuring this chip were shipped from Asia in late July. The processor utilizes a BGA FF6 package with 1,179 pins.
Industry analysts suggest the chip is a semi-custom APU designed by AMD's S3 team, the same group involved in PlayStation hardware development. Speculation links the codename to the Steam Deck series, as previous chips were named Aerith and Van Gogh, while Gainsborough completes the name of a Final Fantasy 7 character.
Third-party reports suggest the chip could be manufactured using TSMC's N3P process. It may feature four to eight Zen 6c CPU cores and 12 to 24 RDNA 5 GPU compute units. The inclusion of this chip in Windows drivers is currently attributed to testing purposes for Linux-based SteamOS hardware.
Valve has publicly stated that it is evaluating the development of a successor to the Steam Deck. Designers emphasize the need for a significant generational leap in performance while maintaining a balance between cost, battery life, and power. The company confirms that research and development for the next device are ongoing.
