Key Takeaways
1. The AIM Max+ gaming laptop features AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU with 16 Zen 5 cores and 32 threads, aiming for high performance under $1,000.
2. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 demonstrates impressive efficiency with a Time Spy score of 8845 at a 65 W TDP, outperforming similar laptops with higher TDPs.
3. Real-world performance testing shows strong results in Geekbench and Cinebench, although it is slightly outperformed by the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D in both benchmarks.
4. The laptop has a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS display with 120 Hz VRR, 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM, and supports dual M.2 SSDs for up to 4 TB storage.
5. Gaming performance is solid, with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 averaging 72 FPS at 1600p, and the device remains cool during heavy usage, although pricing and availability remain uncertain until retail launch.
YouTuber ETA PRIME has given us an early glimpse of the AIM Max+, a fresh gaming laptop powered by AMD’s top-notch Strix Halo APU, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Even though AIM is still a newer name in the market, they aim to provide a high-performance laptop for a price below $1,000, taking on the competition from other products using this chip.
Specifications of the Ryzen AI Max+ 395
The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 comes with 16 Zen 5 cores and 32 threads, coupled with the Radeon 8060S, which ETA PRIME praises as the “strongest iGPU available.” Early tests show that the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 scored a Time Spy result of 8845 while operating at a reasonable 65 W TDP.
ETA PRIME made comparisons to a laptop with an RTX 4060 and powered by the Ryzen 9 7940HS, which had a Time Spy score of 11,238 but needed a total TDP of 170 W, highlighting the efficiency of the Max+ 395. To put it in perspective, according to Notebookcheck’s benchmarks for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 laptops, the average 3DMark Time Spy score sits around 10,250.
Real-World Performance Testing
In the video, the YouTuber explains that they tested the chip at its stock settings to showcase genuine performance right out of the box. In Geekbench 6 and Cinebench R24, both CPUs running at 65 W showed impressive results for the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.
For Geekbench 6, it scored 2,849 in single-core and 17,463 in multi-core, while the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D achieved 3,110 in single-core and 18,858 in multi-core. In Cinebench R24, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 got 84 in single-core and 1,798 in multi-core, whereas the 9955HX3D reached 106 and 1,882, respectively. The X3D chip outperformed in both tests.
Performance Scaling and Design
ETA PRIME mentioned that there’s potential for better performance with increased TDP, especially in tasks that require heavy CPU usage. They also emphasized that AIM aims for the laptop to focus on performance rather than luxury features.
The AIM Max+ shown in the video has a 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS display with 120 Hz VRR and brightness of up to 600 nits, possibly referring to HDR brightness, although it wasn’t explicitly confirmed. The laptop features a chiclet-style backlit keyboard and a standard trackpad without a glass finish, all wrapped in an aluminum casing.
The reviewed model comes with 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at 8,000 MHz, dual M.2 2280 SSD support with a total capacity of up to 4 TB, an 80 Wh battery, and USB4 fast charging at 140 W PD. Although the device comes with a 230 W adapter, ETA PRIME noted that USB-C charging at 140 or 165 W should operate without any performance issues.
Gaming Performance Insights
In gaming tests at native 1600p resolution, Cyberpunk 2077 managed an average of 72 FPS on High settings with FSR set to Balanced. Elden Ring maintained a solid 60 FPS on High settings, while Forza Horizon 5 topped 90 FPS on Ultra settings. Fortnite and Spider-Man 2 were also tested, but Spider-Man 2 experienced some occasional stuttering related to shaders.
Regarding thermal performance, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 stayed cool, averaging 68°C during gaming and hitting a peak of 86°C during Cinebench R24. ETA PRIME pointed out that users could unlock higher performance by increasing the TDP using tools such as Universal x86 Tuning Utility.
AIM plans to launch in October 2025, but ETA PRIME cautioned that the promise of a sub-$1,000 price remains unverified until the retail models are available at that price. You can check out the full video linked below for a detailed overview of the AIM Max+ gaming laptop.
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