AMD Leaks: Next-Gen Ryzen AI MAX+ 495 “Gorgon Halo” Specifications Revealed
A High-Frequency Refresh of AMD’s Ultimate Monster APU
As of late January 2026, leaks surrounding AMD’s next flagship mobile APU—codenamed Gorgon Halo—have begun to surface. Positioned as a refined successor to Strix Halo, the new Ryzen AI MAX 400 series does not introduce a new architecture. Instead, AMD is executing a classic frequency-and-bandwidth push, extracting maximum performance from mature Zen 5 and RDNA 3.5 silicon to counter Intel’s Panther Lake offensive.
🐉 Ryzen AI MAX+ 495: The Flagship APU #
At the top of the stack sits the Ryzen AI MAX+ 495, designed to erase the need for mid-range discrete GPUs in premium thin-and-light laptops and mobile workstations.
- CPU: 16 cores / 32 threads (Zen 5)
- Boost clock up to 5.2 GHz
- GPU: Radeon 8060S with 40 RDNA 3.5 Compute Units
- GPU clock pushed to 3.0 GHz
- Memory Support: LPDDR5X-8533
- A critical upgrade for UMA designs, dramatically increasing GPU feed bandwidth
- Power Envelope:
- 55W base TDP, configurable up to 120W by OEMs
- Performance territory overlaps with RTX 4070 Laptop GPUs in select workloads
This combination reinforces AMD’s “Extreme Integrated Performance” philosophy—maximum compute density without the thermal and space penalties of a discrete GPU.
📊 Ryzen AI MAX 400 (Gorgon Halo) Lineup #
AMD segments the Gorgon Halo family primarily by GPU CU count and clock ceilings, while retaining Zen 5 across the board.
| Model | CPU Cores / Threads | iGPU (CUs) | Max CPU / GPU Clock | TDP Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAX+ 495 | 16C / 32T | Radeon 8060S (40) | 5.2 / 3.0 GHz | 45W–120W |
| MAX+ 492 | 12C / 24T | Radeon 8060S (40) | 5.1 / 3.0 GHz | 45W–120W |
| MAX 490 | 12C / 24T | Radeon 8050S (32) | 5.0 / 2.8 GHz | 45W–100W |
| MAX+ 488 | 8C / 16T | Radeon 8050S (32) | 5.1 / 2.8 GHz | 45W–100W |
| MAX 485 | 8C / 16T | Radeon 8040S (24) | 5.0 / 2.6 GHz | 45W–80W |
🧠 AI Performance: Tuned, Not Transformed #
Gorgon Halo continues to use XDNA 2 rather than jumping to XDNA 3. However, higher clocks and faster memory unlock more real-world AI throughput.
- Estimated NPU Performance: 55–60 TOPS
- Platform Advantage:
- NPU handles sustained low-power inference
- 40 CU GPU absorbs FP16 / INT8-heavy AI workloads
For local LLM inference, creative AI tools, and AI-assisted development, the combined CPU+GPU+NPU platform remains unmatched in the mobile segment.
🛡️ AMD’s 2026 Strategy Explained #
Gorgon Halo is a calculated move rather than a risky leap:
- Low Risk, High Yield
Mature Zen 5 silicon ensures stable yields and predictable thermals for OEMs. - Bandwidth as the Real Upgrade
LPDDR5X-8533 directly addresses the primary Strix Halo bottleneck: GPU starvation. - Direct Panther Lake Counter
While Intel emphasizes efficiency and single-thread gains, AMD doubles down on raw, integrated compute for creators and power users.
✅ Final Verdict #
The Ryzen AI MAX+ 495 is not a revolution—but it is the most refined Monster APU AMD has ever shipped. By pushing clocks, widening memory bandwidth, and maintaining an aggressive power envelope, AMD delivers workstation-class performance in a single package.
For users who want MacBook Pro–level power on Windows—without the weight, noise, or cost of a discrete GPU—Gorgon Halo may be the most compelling mobile platform of 2026.