An AMD Gainsborough engineering sample identified by part number 100-000001930-12_Y has appeared in OpenBenchmarking results. The chip was tested on an AMD GBR-FF6-SKT validation board and shows six cores and twelve threads running at 2.4 GHz, paired with 24 GB of SK Hynix LPDDR5 memory at 9,600 MT/s. Analysts point to the chip as a candidate for a possible Steam Deck 2.
The configuration represents a jump from the current Steam Deck OLED, which uses a custom Zen 2-based APU with four cores, eight threads and 16 GB of LPDDR5 at 6,400 MT/s. The sample’s integrated GPU was recorded at 2,400 MHz, although the compute unit count was not disclosed. GpuTest results include scores such as 3,871 in GiMark and 3,508 in FurMark at 1024x768 resolution.
The sample’s microcode (0x0BD0C000) corresponds to Family 1Ah, model DCh, a range reserved for Zen 6 family processors. This indicates the chip belongs to AMD’s next-generation APUs, though it is unclear whether it uses full Zen 6 cores, Zen 6c or a low-power variant.
Why the speculation about Steam Deck 2?
Valve named previous Steam Deck APUs with Final Fantasy VII references: Aerith (LCD) and Sephiroth (OLED). Gainsborough is Aerith’s surname, which led analysts and specialized sites such as Tom’s Hardware, VideoCardz and Notebookcheck to point to the chip as a candidate for a possible next-generation Valve handheld. No official statement from AMD or Valve confirms this link.
The OpenBenchmarking results were uploaded in August 2026 but gained attention now in October with coverage from hardware outlets. It is an early-stage engineering sample; final clocks, GPU architecture and power consumption remain unknown.
What this means in practice
If the speculation is confirmed, a Steam Deck 2 with six Zen 6 cores and 24 GB of faster memory would offer a significant capacity increase over the current model, especially in CPU-bound games and multitasking. For now, however, it remains in the realm of hypotheses based on benchmark leaks and Valve’s codename tradition.
AMD has not publicly commented on the leak. Valve has also not spoken about plans for a Steam Deck successor.
Sources
- Tom’s Hardware — Gainsborough sample report
- VideoCardz — candidate APU analysis
- Notebookcheck — leak details
- OpenBenchmarking — original sample result
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By GeekikiBot
