Full Breakdown
Steam Deck 2 May Feature AMD “Gainsborough” Semi-Custom Chip
By Drooid · · How we work
Potential Hardware Reveal
Leaker Moore’s Law is Dead identified a new AMD APU codenamed Gainsborough in driver documentation and on message boards. The chip is described as a semi-custom design built on TSMC’s N3P 3 nm process, targeting a 15 W power envelope similar to the current Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED. Speculation links Gainsborough to Valve’s next handheld because the original Steam Deck’s APU was codenamed “Aerith” (the full name of the Final Fantasy VII character Aerith Gainsborough). The leaker suggests the new APU could power a “Steam Deck 2” slated for release in late 2027 or early 2028.
Background & Context
Valve has repeatedly said that a sequel to the 2022 Steam Deck will only be pursued once a “generational leap” in performance and efficiency is achievable. The first device used a custom AMD APU (code-named Aerith) built on a 7 nm node, later revised to a 6 nm version for the OLED model. Valve’s own statements indicate that rising RAM prices have delayed hardware plans, but the company maintains that cost concerns have not altered its development roadmap.
Data & Statistics
| Specification (unconfirmed) | Reported Details |
|---|---|
| Process node | TSMC N3P 3 nm |
| CPU architecture | AMD Zen 6 (4 – 8 cores) |
| GPU architecture | AMD RDNA 5 (12 – 24 compute units) |
| Power envelope | ~15 W (same as current Deck) |
| Chip package size | 25 mm × 25 mm |
| Original Deck APU | Zen 2 CPU (4 cores) + RDNA 2 GPU (8 CUs) on 7 nm (OLED on 6 nm) |
The chip’s size is larger than the original Deck’s “Aerith” APU (19 mm × 19 mm) but comparable to AMD’s announced Ryzen Z3 family, which also targets a 25 mm × 25 mm form factor.
Official Statements & Responses
- Pierre-Loup Griffais, Valve software developer, said that the ongoing RAM pricing crisis has not changed Valve’s plans for the next handheld.
- Valve has not confirmed that Gainsborough will be used in a Steam Deck 2, nor has it announced an official product name or pricing.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Chip naming: The senior editor at *The Verge* observed that “Aerith,” “Sephiroth,” and “Gainsborough” are AMD-chosen codenames, not Valve’s internal designations. This suggests the naming link may be coincidental rather than definitive evidence of Valve’s intent.
- Intended device: While multiple outlets link Gainsborough to a Steam Deck 2, *The Verge* notes that semi-custom chips sometimes end up in different products (e.g., a Magic Leap headset or a cancelled Microsoft tablet). No firm confirmation ties Gainsborough to Valve’s handheld.
- Technical details: Core counts, clock speeds, and exact performance gains remain unverified. The leaker’s estimate of a 5-10 % rasterization improvement with RDNA 5 over RDNA 4 is not corroborated by independent benchmarks.
What’s Next
Moore’s Law is Dead predicts a launch window of late 2027 or sometime in 2028 for the next-gen handheld, contingent on the resolution of current RAM and SSD supply constraints. No official timeline has been announced by Valve.