No, AMD Desktop APUs are still available and functional.
No, AMD Desktop APUs are still available and functional.
Last year I assembled a system using the initial design aimed at delivering maximum performance in the smallest footprint, featuring a solid upgrade potential. The motherboard accommodates Thunderbolt and AMD APUs, plus a single PICE X16 port. With an 8-core / 16-thread CPU installed, I could host Linux as a server and run Windows 10 as a client for gaming and productivity simultaneously—without needing an extra graphics card. Everyone who purchased an x570 board with graphics expected to have upgrade options. My concern for tech experts is whether the AMD APU for desktops is no longer viable. Unless I decide to build an entire machine with swapped components or simply replace my well-crafted setup with a less-than-ideal pre-made one.
Ironically, you can choose an 8-core APU like the Ryzen 7 4700G or Ryzen 7 PRO 4750G. Keep in mind they're original equipment manufacturer parts, which makes them expensive—about $400 or more. Still, it's worth noting that APUs have traditionally been built for budget gaming setups. Most of AMD’s APU models haven’t been aimed at high-performance builds, though some NUCs and other options do offer solid power.
My workload demands high performance. I require at least four cores and eight threads for both the host and the virtual machine. Without a graphics processor, only one operating system can run. This unit has just one expansion card port. Unless I enable an external graphics card for the VM, which could work technically but is less stable. It also eliminates Thunderbolt usage for other tasks. Currently, the only solution to run both OSes simultaneously is either using a separate machine for Windows or mounting this compact system into a dual-board setup.
Consider selling the item or opting for a standard used Ryzen setup instead. For multi-VMs with GPU boost, an ITX form factor would likely be suboptimal.
They require an 8C 16T chip to reliably execute the programs you need.