Electronics Glossary · Gaming console chips

APU (Accelerated Processing Unit)

Accelerated Processing Unit – an AMD processor that combines CPU cores and Radeon graphics on a single chip with shared memory. Custom AMD APUs inside the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are responsible for powering games like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI. APUs also powered the earlier PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and Valve's Steam Deck handheld, and are used in laptops, mini PCs and embedded systems.

CPU + GPU
On one chip
Shared
Unified memory pool
AMD
Console APU supplier
TSMC 7nm
PS5 / Xbox Series X

What is an APU?

An APU, or Accelerated Processing Unit, is AMD's name for a processor that places general-purpose CPU cores and a Radeon graphics processor on the same piece of silicon. Instead of a separate CPU and graphics card, each with its own memory, an APU shares one memory pool between both, which cuts cost, board space and power.

That trade-off is exactly what console makers want. Sony and Microsoft both buy custom AMD APUs, and those chips are responsible for powering games like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only.

Gaming consoles that use an AMD APU

Console	CPU	Graphics	Memory
PlayStation 5	8-core custom Zen 2, up to 3.5 GHz	Custom RDNA 2, 36 CUs, 10.28 TFLOPS	16GB GDDR6
PlayStation 5 Pro	Custom Zen 2, up to 3.85 GHz	Upgraded AMD GPU, 16.7 TFLOPS	GDDR6
Xbox Series X	8-core custom Zen 2, up to 3.8 GHz	Custom RDNA 2, 52 CUs, 12 TFLOPS	16GB GDDR6
Xbox Series S	Custom Zen 2	Custom RDNA 2	GDDR6
Steam Deck	4-core Zen 2, 2.4–3.5 GHz	8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6 TFLOPS	16GB LPDDR5
PlayStation 4	8-core AMD Jaguar	AMD GCN, 18 CUs, 1.84 TFLOPS	8GB GDDR5
Xbox One	8-core AMD Jaguar	AMD GCN, 12 CUs	8GB DDR3 + 32MB ESRAM

Specifications are from manufacturer and published teardown sources listed below. A dash means the figure is not covered by those sources.

Why it matters for component buyers

APUs are not sold as loose parts for console repair, but the same design approach drives demand for the components around them: GDDR6 memory, power-management ICs, voltage regulators, MLCCs and high-speed connectors. Embedded and industrial boards use off-the-shelf AMD APUs (Ryzen Embedded) that go end-of-life on fixed schedules, which is where independent sourcing helps.

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Frequently asked questions

What chip is inside the PlayStation 5?

The PlayStation 5 uses a custom AMD APU that combines an 8-core Zen 2 CPU with RDNA 2 graphics and 16GB of GDDR6 memory, manufactured by TSMC on a 7nm process.

What chip powers Grand Theft Auto VI?

Grand Theft Auto VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, so it runs on the custom AMD APUs inside those consoles: Zen 2 CPU cores paired with RDNA 2-based graphics.

What is the difference between an APU and a CPU?

A CPU handles general-purpose processing. An APU adds a graphics processor on the same chip and shares memory between the two, so a system does not need a separate graphics card.

Does the Nintendo Switch use an APU?

No. The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 use NVIDIA system-on-chip designs, the Tegra X1 and the custom T239, rather than AMD APUs.

Sources

Trademark and affiliation notice. Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto VI are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. PlayStation is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Steam Deck is a trademark of Valve Corporation. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo. AMD, Ryzen, Radeon, RDNA and EPYC are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. NVIDIA and Tegra are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation. Hybrid Electronics is an independent electronic-components sourcing company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by any of these companies. Console chips named on this page are not offered for sale. Information is compiled from public sources for educational and reference purposes. Last updated October 27, 2026.