Steam Deck 2 candidate APU tested with 6 CPU cores and 24GB LPDDR5-9600 memory
An AMD engineering sample, reportedly associated with the next-generation Steam Deck, has surfaced in the OpenBenchmarking database. The processor, believed to belong to the Gainsborough family, suggests a major leap in CPU capabilities compared to the current handheld.
Technical Specifications and Architecture
The engineering sample (identified as AMD 100-000001930-12_Y) features 6 CPU cores and 12 threads, representing a 50% increase in core count over the existing Steam Deck. The system is equipped with 24GB of LPDDR5-9600 memory, a significant upgrade from the 16GB LPDDR5-6400 found in the Steam Deck OLED. While the CPU operates at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and the integrated GPU (iGPU) is listed at 2400 MHz, the specific architecture and compute unit (CU) count remain unconfirmed. There is speculation regarding the use of Zen 6 or Zen 6c architectures.
The naming convention follows Valve's tradition of using Final Fantasy VII characters: following Aerith (Van Gogh) and Sephiroth, the Gainsborough moniker fits the pattern for a potential successor.
GPU Benchmark Analysis
The sample was tested using GpuTest 0.7.0 on Ubuntu. When compared to the Steam Deck OLED, the results show mixed performance:
- In FurMark, the Gainsborough sample scored 3,508 against 3,323, a modest 5.6% improvement.
- It outperformed the current model in PixMark Volplosion and Plot3D.
- However, it trailed behind in the GiMark benchmark.
It is crucial to note that these results do not represent final gaming performance. The tests were conducted on an AMD GBR-FF6-SKT development board using development drivers rather than a retail handheld. Factors such as power limits, thermal management, and sustained clock speeds remain unknown. Additionally, this sample might not be the final Steam Deck 2 APU, but rather a variant intended for future Ryzen Z3 processors.
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