Could AMD’s Gainsborough Chip Be the Key to Steam Deck 2?
The Steam Deck has been around for four and a half years, and fans of handheld gaming are buzzing about the potential for a Steam Deck 2. However, Valve has made it clear that they’re waiting for a new chip that offers a significant boost in performance and efficiency before moving forward with a sequel.
Recent leaks suggest that this new chip might be on the horizon: AMD Gainsborough. While there’s some excitement, I remain a bit cautious. According to sources, the latest AMD drivers have revealed the codename for an unannounced chip: “AMD Gainsborough.” The original Steam Deck chip was dubbed “Aerith,” named after the beloved character from Final Fantasy VII, and Gainsborough is her last name. This new chip seems to be a semi-custom design, tailored for a specific client, and is being manufactured using TSMC’s newer N3P process.
Investigations into import/export records indicate that AMD has already begun shipping test equipment for the Gainsborough chip, hinting that a potential customer might be evaluating its compatibility for their device.
The records also reveal that the Gainsborough chip will be relatively compact, with an FF6 package size of 25mm by 25mm. Recently, a leaker shared that AMD’s upcoming handheld chips, the Ryzen Z3 and Z3 Extreme, will also feature the same dimensions. Additionally, there’s a suggestion from a leaked AMD slide that the Z3 is aiming for a power consumption of 15 watts, which aligns with the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED.
However, this information doesn’t definitively link Gainsborough to a Steam Deck 2. For one, semi-custom chips don’t always end up in the devices they were initially designed for. There have been rumors that the Steam Deck’s original chip was intended for a Magic Leap headset and was later repurposed for tablets before Valve decided to use it. In fact, some parts of the original chip were never utilized.
Moreover, it’s important to note that the codenames “Aerith,” “Sephiroth,” and “Gainsborough” are not Valve’s creations. During a visit to Valve’s headquarters in late 2023, I noticed an Aerith wafer on display, and the designers mentioned that they didn’t prefer the Final Fantasy names; those were chosen by AMD.
Another point to consider is that while 25mm by 25mm is small, it’s actually larger than what was used in the original Steam Deck. The “Aerith” chip, before it was optimized, was reportedly 19mm by 19mm. However, if this new chip is efficient, it could still be a cost-effective option, especially if it shares similarities with AMD’s Ryzen Z3.
Finally, Valve was still in the process of determining the timeline for a Steam Deck 2 as recently as last month, which suggests they may not have received the Gainsborough chips yet. It seems Valve is being cautious not to overpromise, especially after facing hardware delays this year due to RAM shortages.
