Laptop CPUs, especially for high-performance computers used in gaming and content creation, have long been the domain of Intel. Rival AMD is aiming to change that.
AMD’s CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, took to the stage at CES 2020 to introduce the company’s new Ryzen 7 4000-series processors, claiming that “In 2020, we will be introducing the best laptop processor ever built.”
Utilizing AMD’s 7nm manufacturing process, as opposed to Intel’s 10nm Ice Lake procesors, AMD claims that compared to the Intel Core i7-1065G7 a comparable Ryzen 7 4800U chip will benchmark 4 percent higher on single threads, 90 percent better for multi-threads and 28 percent better for graphics. While a modest lead for single-threaded applications, that is a large bump in processing power for multi-threaded applications over comparable Intel processors.
To the casual user sending email and browsing the web, such performance increases aren’t very critical, but for content creation, graphics rendering and gaming, laptops have always suffered in comparison to higher-power desktop processors and the performance gains will be quickly embraced if the power efficiency can be maintained.
Alienware co-founder Frank Azor, who recently left Dell to become AMD’s chief architect of gaming solutions, showed off a new gaming laptops from Asus and Dell featuring the new Ryzen laptop processors, claiming that the new 45-watt H-series Ryzen processors can achieve desktop-level performance in a mobile form factor.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts a slim and light form factor, as light at 1.6kg, the new Ryzen CPUs, along with a novel mini LED display on the lid of the laptop that allows for custom graphics.
Azor also showed off the Dell G5 special edition gaming laptop which uses AMD’s new SmartShift Technology.
With many recent high profile design wins for AMD, including the Sony Playstation 5, Xbox One X and Ryzen Surface Edition, the processor competition between AMD and Intel is clearly heating up.
