AMD's new 'Gainsborough' APU rumoured to be the chip that powers the long-awaited Steam Deck 2
Rumors suggest AMD’s upcoming ‘Gainsborough’ APU, built on TSMC’s N3P node, will power Valve’s next Steam Deck 2, promising a significant performance leap over the original.
The Steam Deck 2 may finally arrive with a new AMD APU codenamed ‘Gainsborough,’ according to a leak from YouTube channel Moore’s Law is Dead. The codename follows the original Steam Deck’s APU, ‘Aerith,’ named after a Final Fantasy 7 character. While Moore’s Law is Dead has a mixed reputation, the channel has a history of accurate leaks, adding credibility to the claim.
AMD’s Gainsborough APU is expected to use TSMC’s N3P manufacturing process, the most advanced in the N3 family. This node promises improved efficiency, crucial for a handheld device where battery life is a priority. The shift from the original Steam Deck’s TSMC 7nm node represents a generational leap in chip technology.
Valve has previously indicated that the Steam Deck 2 must deliver a substantial performance increase, not just incremental improvements. The company’s goal is a major leap forward, aligning with the expected capabilities of Gainsborough, which may feature AMD’s next-gen Zen 6 CPU and RDNA 5 GPU architectures.
The Gainsborough APU is rumored to be ready by late 2025 or early 2028, though Valve may delay its release to allow the chip and memory markets to stabilize amid ongoing AI-driven demand. The original Steam Deck’s APU, Aerith, had eight RDNA 2 CUs, while Gainsborough could double that count with RDNA 5, significantly boosting performance.