With 128 GB of RAM: AMD’s new Ryzen mini PC beats Apple and Nvidia
AMD is attacking the compact AI computer market with the Ryzen AI Halo. The new mini PC offers a massive 128 GB of RAM, 16 cores and, unlike the competition, also supports Windows 11. We’ll show you what the $4,000 computer can do.
AMD attacks with AI mini PC
AMD will launch the Ryzen AI Halo in June 2026. The compact desktop PC is aimed at developers who want to train and run local artificial intelligence (AI) models. The new Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor works in the 150 by 150 by 43 millimeter housing. The chip is based on the current Zen 5 architecture and offers 16 cores. The system also has an integrated graphics unit with 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units and a neural processing unit with 50 tera operations per second (TOPS). A special feature of this device class is the generous amount of RAM. The computer is equipped with 128 gigabytes of LPDDR5x RAM (8000 MT/s), which is connected via a 256-bit interface. A fast NVMe SSD with two terabytes of storage space is also on board.
Like AMD communicates language models with up to 200 billion parameters can be executed locally thanks to the large RAM. For comparison: Apple’s current Mac Mini can be configured to a maximum of 64 gigabytes. An advantage over Nvidia’s direct competitor DGX Spark is the x86 architecture. This means that the mini PC supports Windows 11 in addition to Linux. The TDP of the system should be around 120 watts.
Software and network
To make it easier to get started, the manufacturer ships the system with the Ryzen AI Development Center. Developers receive ready-made scripts to directly use tools such as ComfyUI or local language models without lengthy configuration. However, according to the technical specifications, the integrated graphics card lags behind the Blackwell chips from Nvidia’s competitors when it comes to pure floating point performance (FLOPS).
There are also differences in the network connection. While Nvidia’s Mini PC offers a connection with 200 gigabits per second for clustering multiple systems, AMD only installs an Ethernet port with ten gigabits per second. Nevertheless, the system should score points when it comes to token generation in language models, since the high memory bandwidth is the primary deciding factor here. Such background details are important for developers looking for the right computer for specific AI tasks.
New mini PC era, release and price
The development of dedicated hardware for local AI calculations has gained significant momentum in the past two years. Historically, the focus of mini PCs was primarily on office applications or light gaming. The integration of powerful neural processing units marks a technological change. Developers can now process sensitive data on the desk without relying on external servers. The Ryzen AI Halo will be available for pre-order starting June 2026 for $3999. According to the manufacturer, the costs are amortized in around 16 months compared to cloud subscriptions with intensive use. A Pro version with 192 gigabytes of RAM and the Ryzen AI Max Pro 400 Series is also planned for the third quarter of 2026, which will handle even larger models. Local AI computers instead of expensive cloud subscriptions sound like a solid plan.
