AMD Claims Strix Halo Dominance Over Intel Panther Lake in GPU Showdown

At CES 2026, AMD's Senior Vice President Rahul Tikoo delivered a pointed assessment of Intel's newly unveiled Panther Lake mobile processors, positioning AMD's upcoming Ryzen AI Max (codenamed Strix Halo) APUs as decisively superior in graphics performance. Tikoo's comments highlight a fundamental divergence in processor strategies between the semiconductor rivals, with AMD emphasizing specialized silicon for distinct market segments while questioning Panther Lake's value proposition.

Technical specifications underscore AMD's confidence. Panther Lake's flagship Core Ultra X9 388H integrates Intel's Arc B390 GPU with 12 Xe3 cores, manufactured on Intel's 18A process node. Intel claims significant generational improvements: 10% higher performance at equivalent power versus Arrow Lake-H, and 60% over Lunar Lake. Gaming benchmarks show the B390 delivering up to 77% faster performance than Lunar Lake's iGPU, with Intel asserting near-parity with discrete Nvidia RTX 4050 GPUs at 45W sustained power. Hands-on testing recorded 80 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p High settings using XeSS Balanced mode.

Tikoo countered that such metrics pale against Strix Halo's capabilities: "Strix Halo will kill it. It's not even a fair fight because it's discrete-level graphics." AMD's architecture reportedly integrates significantly more GPU compute units—industry rumors suggest up to 40 RDNA 3.5 compute units—coupled with a wide 256-bit memory bus. This design targets discrete GPU territory, contrasting with Panther Lake's balance of CPU and GPU resources.

Market segmentation defines AMD's strategy. Tikoo explained: "For mainstream notebook users outside gaming/creation workflows, excessive graphics power is unnecessary. Our Ryzen AI series addresses that segment." He positioned Strix Halo exclusively for power users needing GPU-intensive performance, while Panther Lake attempts a one-size-fits-all approach. This specialization, Tikoo argued, allows AMD to optimize cost/performance ratios per segment—a jab at Intel's impending pricing: "Wait until you see the price point on that [Panther Lake]. Enough said."

Supply chain dynamics further complicate the competition. Intel's 18A node marks its first high-volume advanced process, while AMD leverages established TSMC N4P/N3E production. With OEMs requiring distinct motherboard designs for Strix Halo's large die and memory configuration, AMD bets on high-margin premium notebooks versus Panther Lake's broader compatibility. Tikoo also noted Intel's avoidance of Strix Halo in benchmarks: "They compared their highest-end to our midpoint"—implying performance comparisons were deliberately unbalanced.

The confrontation signals a deepening architectural divide. AMD commits to APUs with GPU performance approaching midrange discrete cards, while Intel pursues balanced CPU/GPU gains on advanced nodes. With Panther Lake shipments expected mid-2026, real-world testing will determine whether AMD's specialized approach or Intel's integrated solution resonates with creators and gamers.