Tag: AIM Max+

  • Linux Gaming on $1,000 AMD Strix Halo: 74 FPS in Spider-Man 2

    Linux Gaming on $1,000 AMD Strix Halo: 74 FPS in Spider-Man 2

    Key Takeaways

    1. Linux Gaming Performance: The AIM MAX+ laptop showcases strong gaming performance with the Bazzite Linux distribution, achieving impressive frame rates in titles like Spider-Man 2 and The Witcher 3.

    2. Hardware Compatibility: There are compatibility challenges with SteamOS on the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chipset, leading to the choice of Bazzite for better performance and stability.

    3. Game Testing Insights: The laptop performs well across various games, with notable frame rates: 74 FPS in Spider-Man 2, 80-100 FPS in Borderlands 3, and over 80 FPS in The Witcher 3 at 1440p settings.

    4. Launch and Pricing: The AIM MAX+ laptop is set to launch in early October 2025, priced under $1000, specifically targeting $999.99.

    5. Community Feedback: There is a mix of excitement and suggestions from the community, with some users wanting a cheaper model and others appreciating the current offering’s capabilities and Linux flexibility.

    Last time we discussed the AIM MAX+ laptop, we covered its specs, features, and performance in gaming with Windows 11, the default operating system that the upcoming AMD Strix Halo laptop will have, priced below $1000. In a recent video, YouTuber ETA PRIME took a different approach by installing one of the most well-liked Linux gaming distributions on the AIM MAX+ laptop powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, showcasing gameplay from titles like The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

    Hardware Compatibility Issues

    ETA PRIME pointed out that there are some hardware compatibility challenges with SteamOS on this chipset, leading them to opt for Bazzite instead. They customized it using Decky and CSS Loader, checked hardware features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and TDP control, and confirmed that the operating system runs effectively on the laptop. Interestingly, the YouTuber recently managed to install SteamOS on an older iMac from 2019 and was able to play a few games on it.

    Performance Tests with Bazzite

    Focusing back on the AIM MAX+ running Bazzite, the YouTuber began testing with Spider-Man 2, noting that this game typically has difficulty on lower-end integrated GPUs. However, the Radeon 8060S iGPU in the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 handled it impressively, achieving around 74 FPS at high settings with FSR set to Quality at the laptop’s native 1600p resolution.

    In a previous video, ETA PRIME also tested Spider-Man 2 on the same laptop but with Windows 11. In that case, the game suffered from stuttering, which was attributed to a shader cache issue. They ran the game at the same 1600p high settings but had FSR Frame Generation enabled.

    More Game Performance Insights

    Following that, the YouTuber tried out Borderlands 3, adjusting the resolution to 1440p for their external capture setup. They started with the highest graphics preset but encountered noticeable stuttering, so they reverted to the Ultra preset. Keeping the resolution scaling at 100%, the game ran much more smoothly, averaging between 80-100 FPS, though it occasionally dropped to around 70 FPS during intense action.

    The third title tested was The Witcher 3, which ran at 1440p Ultra settings, achieving an average of over 80 FPS, and it performed well overall. For the fourth game, Japanese Drift Master also ran smoothly at 1440p High settings, averaging 80-95 FPS. Shadow of the Tomb Raider followed suit, averaging 83 FPS at the 1440p Highest setting.

    Cyberpunk 2077 was examined at 1440p High with FSR 2.1 Quality, producing around 66 FPS, with the potential to exceed 70 FPS on balanced FSR, according to the YouTuber. Lastly, Doom: The Dark Ages experienced a crash at the menu, being the only game that failed to operate under Bazzite during this testing.

    Launch Plans and Community Reactions

    The AIM MAX+ laptop is set to launch in early October 2025, aiming for a price under $1000, which, according to both ETA PRIME and my insight, typically lands at $999.99. In the comments, the YouTuber’s followers displayed excitement about the laptop.

    While some viewers think the laptop is a great deal at $999, others expressed a preference for a cheaper model with fewer cores if one becomes available. ETA PRIME mentioned that AIM intends to offer just a single 32GB RAM version of the laptop, with no details about other chip configurations at this time.

    The combination of an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 Strix Halo chip, equipped with one of the strongest integrated GPUs available, in a laptop operating a gaming-oriented Linux distro like Bazzite, appears to be exactly what many users desire in a daily use device. Not only does the laptop run efficiently, requiring only 65W for smooth operation, but it also offers something arguably even more appealing: the freedom of Linux.

    Linux Gaming on $1,000 AMD Strix Halo: 74 FPS in Spider-Man 2

     

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  • $1,000 AMD Strix Halo Laptop: 72 FPS Cyberpunk 2077 iGPU

    $1,000 AMD Strix Halo Laptop: 72 FPS Cyberpunk 2077 iGPU

    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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    $1,000 AMD Strix Halo Laptop: 72 FPS Cyberpunk 2077 iGPU
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