4 ms·

This feels like somewhat unfortunate timing, with AMD's 7000 series mobile CPUs just around the corner.

nicolaslem 4y ago
"U" class chips won't be in laptops on the shelves until this summer, if previous mobile CPU releases are good indicators. Oh and then be ready for months of firmware and kernel patches until the chip is actually usable as a daily driver on Linux. Getting a 6000 series CPU now that the kinks have been ironed out is not a bad idea.
schaefer 4y ago
You really have to do your homework with the new AMD processor rebranding. It's super easy to think your getting the latest and greatest, only to end up with Vega 2 graphics like the 5000 series from years ago. I had to whiteboard it to keep it all straight myself. When I look at AMD's new mobile lineup for 2023, and I didn't notice anything "new" in the U-series power profile (15 watts tdp). I'd be more than happy with a 6800U in linux friendly packaging. Let me know if you think there's a specific 7000 series chip I've overlooked. P.S: about the system 76 teaser itself, the static picture used as a "before and after" comparison for 60hz display vs 144 hz display is comedic gold.
- nicolaslem 4y ago
  > Let me know if you think there's a specific 7000 series chip I've overlooked. The 7040 series, which is Zen 4 & RDNA 3 (so not a Rembrandt refresh) should be available for "thin and light" laptops.
  - schaefer 4y ago
    You are absolutely right about that[1]. but strangely, on the 7640U the CPU core count drops from 8 to 6 in comparison with the 6800U. Presumably to make room for the new AI cores? I'm not sure that trade off is right for me. [1]: https://wccftech.com/amd-debuts-ryzen-7045-dragon-range-enthusiast-ryzen-7040-phoenix-laptop-cpus-with-zen-4-rdna-3/ https://wccftech.com/amd-debuts-ryzen-7045-dragon-range-enth...
    - coder543 4y ago
      The 7840HS is also designed for thin-and-light laptops, according to AMD, and it has 8 cores. It is a "35W" chip, but AMD says it is for ultrathins ("The Ultimate Ultrathin Processor"), and TDP is a relatively meaningless number these days. That wccftech article is the only one I can find that lists a 7640U (not HS) processor. I think they combined some previous rumors with the actual announced specs by accident. I can't find any indication that the 7640U actually exists.
    - wmf 4y ago
      It's not strange. x6xx = 6 cores, x8xx = 8 cores; it's a lower tier.
- wmf 4y ago
  Huh, you're right; there's no 7x4xU. But a 15.6" laptop should have an HS processor anyway. System76 is cheaping out by using a 6800U.
  - smoldesu 4y ago
    Honestly, I disagree. The 6800u has a base TDP of 15 watts - the 6800HS has a base TDP of 35w. The tradeoff in thermals/battery life is not worth the marginal performance increase, at least in my opinion.
    - wmf 4y ago
      I'd prefer a more powerful laptop and let the customer underclock if they want to.
    - lhl 4y ago
      Besides a slight bin the Ryzen U and H chips are largely the same, and you can easily limit power usage w/ a tool like https://github.com/FlyGoat/RyzenAdj https://github.com/FlyGoat/RyzenAdj to get similar power consumption. The advantage of having an H/HS laptop though is that their cooling solutions tend to be much better...
lhl 4y ago
"Around the corner" is relative. Last year, the Ryzen 6000U was announced at CES and laptops shipping with them didn't start becoming available until around August. This year, AMD haven't even bothered to announce the U series at CES. I wouldn't expect any non-gaming Ryzen 7000 laptops to be announce before Computex (and ship before back-to-school season?). Anything earlier would probably be 7030 drop-ins, which are just refreshed/rebranded Rembrandt Ryzen 6000 chips anyway.

"U" class chips won't be in laptops on the shelves until this summer, if previous mobile CPU releases are good indicators. Oh and then be ready for months of firmware and kernel patches until the chip is actually usable as a daily driver on Linux. Getting a 6000 series CPU now that the kinks have been ironed out is not a bad idea.

schaefer 4y ago

You really have to do your homework with the new AMD processor rebranding. It's super easy to think your getting the latest and greatest, only to end up with Vega 2 graphics like the 5000 series from years ago. I had to whiteboard it to keep it all straight myself. When I look at AMD's new mobile lineup for 2023, and I didn't notice anything "new" in the U-series power profile (15 watts tdp). I'd be more than happy with a 6800U in linux friendly packaging. Let me know if you think there's a specific 7000 series chip I've overlooked. P.S: about the system 76 teaser itself, the static picture used as a "before and after" comparison for 60hz display vs 144 hz display is comedic gold.

nicolaslem 4y ago
> Let me know if you think there's a specific 7000 series chip I've overlooked. The 7040 series, which is Zen 4 & RDNA 3 (so not a Rembrandt refresh) should be available for "thin and light" laptops.
- schaefer 4y ago
  You are absolutely right about that[1]. but strangely, on the 7640U the CPU core count drops from 8 to 6 in comparison with the 6800U. Presumably to make room for the new AI cores? I'm not sure that trade off is right for me. [1]: https://wccftech.com/amd-debuts-ryzen-7045-dragon-range-enthusiast-ryzen-7040-phoenix-laptop-cpus-with-zen-4-rdna-3/ https://wccftech.com/amd-debuts-ryzen-7045-dragon-range-enth...
  - coder543 4y ago
    The 7840HS is also designed for thin-and-light laptops, according to AMD, and it has 8 cores. It is a "35W" chip, but AMD says it is for ultrathins ("The Ultimate Ultrathin Processor"), and TDP is a relatively meaningless number these days. That wccftech article is the only one I can find that lists a 7640U (not HS) processor. I think they combined some previous rumors with the actual announced specs by accident. I can't find any indication that the 7640U actually exists.
  - wmf 4y ago
    It's not strange. x6xx = 6 cores, x8xx = 8 cores; it's a lower tier.
wmf 4y ago
Huh, you're right; there's no 7x4xU. But a 15.6" laptop should have an HS processor anyway. System76 is cheaping out by using a 6800U.
- smoldesu 4y ago
  Honestly, I disagree. The 6800u has a base TDP of 15 watts - the 6800HS has a base TDP of 35w. The tradeoff in thermals/battery life is not worth the marginal performance increase, at least in my opinion.
  - wmf 4y ago
    I'd prefer a more powerful laptop and let the customer underclock if they want to.
  - lhl 4y ago
    Besides a slight bin the Ryzen U and H chips are largely the same, and you can easily limit power usage w/ a tool like https://github.com/FlyGoat/RyzenAdj https://github.com/FlyGoat/RyzenAdj to get similar power consumption. The advantage of having an H/HS laptop though is that their cooling solutions tend to be much better...

lhl 4y ago

"Around the corner" is relative. Last year, the Ryzen 6000U was announced at CES and laptops shipping with them didn't start becoming available until around August. This year, AMD haven't even bothered to announce the U series at CES. I wouldn't expect any non-gaming Ryzen 7000 laptops to be announce before Computex (and ship before back-to-school season?). Anything earlier would probably be 7030 drop-ins, which are just refreshed/rebranded Rembrandt Ryzen 6000 chips anyway.