Category: Notebooks

The comeback of Intel? Next-gen Lunar Lake mobile CPU introduced

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

As previously announced, Intel has formally launched the first second-generation Core Ultra processors (200V), a.k.a. Lunar Lake, at IFA 2024 last week. These CPUs are said to offer the best power efficiency and mobility among Intel’s x86 CPUs to date, aiming to be on par with ARM CPUs in this regard. Intel has now provided a number of benchmarks and performance data, and we now know when Lunar Lake will be available for purchase. Read more “The comeback of Intel? Next-gen Lunar Lake mobile CPU introduced” »

Mobile Zen 5 is here: Ryzen AI 300 “Strix Point” SoC detailed

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

The Ryzen AI 300 mobile CPUs with Zen 5 architecture officially launched on Sunday. There’s a lot of news to go along with it: a third model has been added to form the top of the range, and we have learned various other architectural details of the laptop version of Zen 5 (and Zen 5c). Including information about the implementation of AVX-512, which as leaked before and will have lower performance than the fully 512-bit desktop Ryzen 9000. Read more “Mobile Zen 5 is here: Ryzen AI 300 “Strix Point” SoC detailed” »

AMD rebrands CPUs too, mimics Intel’s Core Ultra with Ryzen AI

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

Last summer, Intel announced a transition to a new era of processors, symbolized by the rebranding to Core Ultra for Meteor Lake and the upcoming Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake processors. AMD has often copied Intel’s branding methods in the past, and it seens it’s going to do it again. The upcoming Zen 5 processors will get their own version of the Ultra gimmick, and ironically, Intel might actually be jealous of the idea, this time. Read more “AMD rebrands CPUs too, mimics Intel’s Core Ultra with Ryzen AI” »

Intel unveils Meteor Lake processors: 4nm, tiles, Xe LPG graphics

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

Meteor Lake is Intel’s first processor manufactured on in-house 4nm node, an important milestone. It is also, paradoxically, Intel’s first processor manufactured at TSMC, as many of its parts are outsourced in this way – a milestone too. This is the first mainstream Intel processor to use chiplets (or tiles) and advanced 3D packaging. It’s almost and extra beyond that, that there are new CPU cores, new GPU, and a new NPU for AI acceleration. Read more “Intel unveils Meteor Lake processors: 4nm, tiles, Xe LPG graphics” »

Intel Meteor Lake integrates LPDDR5X memory onto the CPU

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

When Apple released their first ARM processors for computers in 2020 (Apple Silicon M1), one of the distinguishing features was that the RAM  was tightly integrated directly on the processor’s package (substrate), which was called “On-Package Memory”. This allowed for a reduction in power draw and was considered one of the sources of power efficiency for these CPUs. It looks like Intel’s CPUs will now start using the same concept. Read more “Intel Meteor Lake integrates LPDDR5X memory onto the CPU” »

Aorus 15 BSF (2023): The less expensive of the powerful laptops

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

It took longer than I planned, but we finally got our hands on an Aorus gaming laptop. Specifically, the 15-inch model set for 2023 with a Raptor Lake Core i7 processor and an Ada Lovelace RTX 4070 graphics card. This configuration may impress with a rather attractive price. But then again, in the fierce competition from ROG, MSI and Legion models, the Aorus 15 BSF won’t have it so easy. Read more “Aorus 15 BSF (2023): The less expensive of the powerful laptops” »

ROG Strix SCAR 18 or a test of RTX 4090/Core i9-13980HX combo

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

Processors and graphics cards of the latest generations are already available in laptops nicely together, side by side, which also applies to the Asus model series – SCAR 18. We are talking about powerful hardware, or the most powerful, as far as the configuration we tested is concerned. This one features both a top-notch CPU and GPU . Meanwhile, the Scar 18 is a relatively compact laptop considering its high performance. Read more “ROG Strix SCAR 18 or a test of RTX 4090/Core i9-13980HX combo” »

AMD launches Ryzen 7040: 4nm APU with Zen 4 and RDNA 3 iGPU

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

In addition to the AM5 Ryzen 7000 processors with 3D V-Cache and mainstream 65W TDP models, AMD also announced a wholly new offering at CES 2023: the first processors with Zen 4 architecture for laptops. They are based on the all-new Phoenix APU, which is the first 4nm Ryzen chip and the first processor with an integrated RDNA 3 GPU, which will also clock up to 3 GHz. So it’s going to be a very interesting laptop platform. Read more “AMD launches Ryzen 7040: 4nm APU with Zen 4 and RDNA 3 iGPU” »

MSI Titan GT77: Extreme performance, smaller then ever

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

MSI’s Titans have always represented the absolute most you can get in a laptop. Over time, however, they’ve been shrinking in size (and hand-in-hand with that, weight) in a way that the new GT77 Titan is actually a fairly compact laptop already. Inside it, though, is the most powerful mobile graphics card, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and a Core i9-12900HX processor. Loud noise and high temperatures? Read more “MSI Titan GT77: Extreme performance, smaller then ever” »

AMD unveils Ryzen 6000: 6nm Zen 3+ with superfast RDNA 2 iGPU

News, Notebooks, Processors | | Jan Olšan

AMD has been releasing its new laptop CPUs during CES every January, and this year will be no different. The Ryzen 6000 was revealed, AMD’s first 6nm APU that also brings support for DDR5 and LPDDR5 memory. And most importantly, all-new integrated graphics with RDNA 2 architecture that will set a new standard in gaming performance. But these processors also have other new features that Ryzen-based laptops have lacked until now. Read more “AMD unveils Ryzen 6000: 6nm Zen 3+ with superfast RDNA 2 iGPU” »

Asus RT-AX53U: Cheap router in test, or WiFi 6 for the masses

Extra tests, Notebooks, Routers | | Tomáš Brestovanský

WiFi 6 has been with us for a while now, but the adoption of this new wireless standard has been a bit lackluster. And it’s not for lack of clients, WiFi 6 is in new devices for sure. I consider the main reason to be poorer availability, as WiFi 6 has so far appeared mainly in top router models costing hundreds of euros, which only a connoisseur will reach for. But with the arrival of the affordable RT-AX53U, this situation is changing. Read more “Asus RT-AX53U: Cheap router in test, or WiFi 6 for the masses” »

Asus ZenBook 13 OLED: Affordable ultrabook, outstanding display

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

Last year, Asus introduced new ZenBooks, which are gradually improving, and in addition to new gen CPUs, we have also seen a change in display technology, which we have written about in a separate article. We got the cheapest model with an OLED display for the test. In addition to the 13-inch body, it also has a revamped Ryzen 5500U. We have only recently tested a configuration with Intel, so an interesting comparison is awaiting us. Read more “Asus ZenBook 13 OLED: Affordable ultrabook, outstanding display” »

ROG Strix SCAR 17 – Ryzen 7 5800H with GeForce RTX 3080

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

Asus has taken a very bold and quite surprising step this year with its gaming laptop portfolio. It switched extensively to Ryzen 5000 processors and combined them with the new GeForce RTX 3000 mobile graphics cards. The new ROG Strix SCAR 17 is thus the first look at a new stage of mobile gaming, in the highest configuration with 8-core processor and a 16-gigabyte RTX 3080. Read more “ROG Strix SCAR 17 – Ryzen 7 5800H with GeForce RTX 3080” »

Asus ZenBook 13 UX325E – Tiger with a smaller body

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

Intel brought the 11th generation of processors relatively quickly, which naturally means that most laptop manufacturers have updated their models. These include Asus, which in addition to the new Flip S also introduced a revamped ZenBook 13 and 14. We reviewed the last generation’s 14, now we will test the smaller 13-inch model. Expectations are high, as I considered the ZenBook 14 to be one of the best ultrabooks of the year. Read more “Asus ZenBook 13 UX325E – Tiger with a smaller body” »

Lenovo Legion 7i – the best gaming notebook of 2020?

Extra tests, Notebooks | | Tomáš Brestovanský

Lenovo Legion is no longer a start-up brand, quite the contrary. In recent years, it has gained a strong position among gaming brands such as Asus, MSI and Gigabyte. This is mainly due to gaming tournaments, where we see Legion quite often, but especially on the gaming laptop market. The new flagship Legion 7i must not only resume where its great predecessor left off, but also beat strong competition. Read more “Lenovo Legion 7i – the best gaming notebook of 2020?” »

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