Key Takeaways
1. AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo mini workstation rivals Nvidia’s DGX Spark, featuring the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip.
2. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 has 16 processor cores, boosts up to 5.1 GHz, and includes the Radeon 8060S with 40 compute units.
3. It can run demanding games smoothly at 1080p and is designed for AI developers with support for up to 128 GB of RAM.
4. The system can handle models with up to 200 billion parameters and is compatible with both Windows 11 and Linux.
5. The Ryzen AI Halo is expected to launch between April and June 2026, with no pricing details available yet.
AMD is revealing a new rival to Nvidia’s DGX Spark AI mini workstation at CES. Nvidia combines an ARM processor and 20 CPU cores with a graphics chip that achieves an AI performance of 1,000 TOPS, whereas AMD’s Ryzen AI Halo features the Ryzen AI Max+ 395.
Chip Specifications
This chip consists of 16 processor cores that can boost their clock speeds to a maximum of 5.1 GHz and includes the integrated Radeon 8060S with 40 compute units. It provides enough power to run games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077 smoothly at 1080p resolution with high to maximum detail settings. Yet, this mini-PC primarily targets AI developers, who will gain from the ability of both the processor and the graphics chip to access up to 128 GB of RAM.
Performance Capabilities
With this setup, it should be possible to run models with as much as 200 billion parameters locally. The AMD Ryzen AI Halo is compatible with both Windows 11 and Linux systems. To cool the Strix Halo chip, which can draw over 180 watts of power when under heavy load, AMD uses two fans and a large heatsink. There are also discreet ventilation openings spread across the majority of the casing, which displays two AMD logos. A small LED strip provides a nice accent to the overall appearance.
Release Timeline
The AMD Ryzen AI Halo is projected to be released in the second quarter of 2026, somewhere between April and June. AMD has yet to share any pricing information. For reference, the GMKtec EVO-X2, which is built on the same Ryzen AI Max+ 395, retails for $1,840, including 64 GB of RAM on Amazon.
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