Katarzyna Petru
The prices of graphics cards remain high, and the availability of top models is often limited by demand driven by the AI market. In this situation, more and more gamers are starting to look for alternatives. AMD may have the answer – new APU for desktop computers are reportedly on the horizon. After the January presentation of the mobile Gorgon Point series at CES 2026, there are reports that a similar configuration will also hit the desktop AM5 platform.
Zen 5, RDNA 3.5 and 16 CU in the desktop
According to foreign sources like 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 XDNA2 NPU unit to handle AI tasks. If the specifications are similar to their mobile counterparts, we can expect up to 12 cores and 24 threads, as well as an integrated graphics chip with 16 CU units. This level theoretically allows for comfortable gaming in less demanding titles without the need to install a dedicated graphics card.
Is this a real alternative to GPUs?
The key factor will be one thing – price. With rising costs of RAM and SSD drives, the new APU must be significantly cheaper than a CPU + graphics card setup to actually become an attractive option for budget gamers. The debut of desktop Ryzen AI 400 units is expected in the first half of 2026. It is speculated that the announcement may occur 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, strong APU with 16 CUs and the new Zen 5 architecture may prove to be a sensible alternative for less demanding users and gamers.
Sources: Moore’s Law is Dead, VideoCardz, TechPowerUp, AMD
