AMD’s latest innovation, the Strix Halo “Ryzen AI MAX” APUs, has become available to DIY PC builders, bringing top-tier performance to personal setups. This powerful series, initially exclusive to laptops and Mini PCs, is now opening new possibilities with the introduction of compatible motherboards by Sixunited. Their STHT1 Thin Mini-ITX motherboard, tailored to AMD’s cutting-edge platform, is setting the stage for an exciting era in custom PC building.
At the heart of this motherboard is the FP11-based AMD Strix Halo “Ryzen AI MAX” APU, which integrates high-speed Zen 5 cores and a robust RDNA 3.5 GPU. The chips promise exceptional performance, making them ideal for demanding applications like AI and gaming. The designs are soldered directly onto the motherboard, ensuring a compact and efficient setup.
The Ryzen AI MAX lineup offers a range of options:
– The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 comes with 16 cores, a maximum clock speed of 5.1 GHz, and 40 compute units, all within a 45-120W TDP.
– The Ryzen AI Max 390 features 12 cores at 5.0 GHz.
– The Ryzen AI Max 385, with 8 cores and a 5.0 GHz performance.
– The Ryzen AI Max 380, which includes 6 cores at 4.9 GHz.
With support for up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X-8000 memory, the motherboard is equipped to deliver ample bandwidth to the GPU, crucial for running large language models and other computational-heavy tasks.
The STHT1 motherboard is designed with DIY builders in mind, featuring 16 VRM power phases for the SOC, two M.2 2280 slots for Gen 4.0 SSDs, an M.2 2230 slot for a Wi-Fi card, and extensive USB connectivity options. Display support is comprehensive with HDMI, DP, VGA, COM, and eDP options available.
In terms of power and cooling, the board supports two fan headers, a 4-pin ATX connector, and a 19V DC input, all within its compact 170x170mm design. While there are no PCIe slots for additional cards, the board’s integrated RDNA 3.5 GPU delivers performance comparable to NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 Ti without needing extra power sources.
Though pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed, it’s expected that the APAC market will be the first to experience this innovative offering. Given the trend with MoTD (Mobile on Desktop) boards, competitive pricing is anticipated, making this a compelling choice for tech enthusiasts.
