Katarzyna Petru
Graphics card prices remain high, and the availability of top models is often limited by demand driven by the AI market. In this situation, more and more players are starting to look for an alternative. AMD may have the answer – new APU for desktop computers are reportedly on the horizon. Following the January presentation of the mobile Gorgon Point series during CES 2026, there are reports that a similar configuration will also be coming to the desktop AM5 platform.
Zen 5, RDNA 3.5 and 16 CU in desktop
According to foreign sources, such as Moore’s Law is Dead and VideoCardz, AMD is working on a series of Ryzen AI 400 designed for desktop computers. The chips are expected to combine Zen 5 CPU cores with RDNA 3.5 graphics and an NPU XDNA2 unit to handle AI tasks. If the specifications are similar to their mobile counterparts, we can expect up to 12 cores and 24 threads, along with an integrated graphics chip featuring 16 CU units. This level should theoretically allow for comfortable gaming in less demanding titles without the need for a dedicated graphics card.
Is this a real alternative to a GPU?
The key factor will be one thing – price. With rising costs of RAM and SSDs, the new APU must be significantly cheaper than a CPU + graphics card setup to truly become an attractive option for budget gamers. The debut of the Ryzen AI 400 desktop units is expected in the first half of 2026. There is speculation that the announcement may happen during MWC 2026 or Embedded World 2026, although AMD has not officially confirmed these plans.
If the leaks are confirmed, AMD may once again strengthen the "budget gaming" segment without a dedicated GPU. In times of expensive graphics cards, powerful APU with 16 CU and the new Zen 5 architecture could prove to be a sensible alternative for less demanding users and gamers.
Sources: Moore’s Law is Dead, VideoCardz, TechPowerUp, AMD
