I feel like people have been misunderstanding the new AMD Ryzen AI Max chips (and relatedly, the Framework Desktop). It's not a "laptop CPU with a GPU tacked on", it's a laptop GPU with a CPU tacked on. By all accounts, it's a GPU-first system - silicon area, memory bandwidth, etc. When comparing it with other AMD laptop chips, it becomes obvious that this is a GPU first, and a CPU second.
Which is why I dislike the criticism of Framework Desktop's soldered memory. Nobody bats an eye if GPU's memory is soldered (when was the last time that it wasn't?), but because people see the chip as a CPU, and thus see the soldered down ram as a regression.
You should in all regards look at the chip as a GPU first, if you're considering to buy something with it. Sure, it has CPU chops, but you can get those way cheaper, and without the limitations that being attached to a GPU brings - if you're not buying it for the GPU, then get something else. Comparisons with other laptop CPU-centric chips are IMO misguided, the comparison should be done with other GPU's first, and CPU's attached to them second.
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Ignas Kiela (ignaloidas@not.acu.lt)'s status on Sunday, 02-Mar-2025 10:19:36 JST Ignas Kiela