It looks like Intel is ready to bring higher watt Tiger Lake SKUs to market next year: Courtesy of @APISAK on Twitter, two new Tiger Lake CPUs were spotted on Geekbench and are known as the Core i7-11370H and Core i5-11300H. Both the Core i5 and Core i7 are quad-core hyperthreaded parts, with screaming fast clock speeds to match. These are unverified Geekbench scores and as such they should be taken with a grain of salt until official is released.
This is the first time we’ll be seeing Intel’s new 10nm SuperFin architecture being used in CPUs geared towards pure performance rather than maximum power efficiency, like in Intel’s current lineup of 15W Tiger Lake parts. Due to both the Core i5 and i7 being ‘H’ SKUs we can expect a 35W TDP if history repeats itself. The 10nm SuperFin architecture can already yield a 20% performance boost to the core architecture, so add in a much higher TDP and we should be seeing some excellent performance results.
Specs-wise, the Core i7-11370H will come with a base frequency of 3.3Ghz, and a boost frequency of 4.8Ghz, while the Core i5-11300H brings those frequencies down by around 300Mhz, with a 3.1Ghz base and 4.4Ghz boost respectively.
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(Image credit: Geekbench)
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(Image credit: Geekbench)
In Geekbench 5, the Core i7-11370H scored 1566 points in the single-core test and 5084 points in the multi-core test. The Core i5-11300H scored 1436 single-core and 4912 multi-core.
These scores are vastly superior to Intel’s previous generation parts like the Core i5-10300H, the single-threaded scores alone –for both the i5 and i7, close in around the Ryzen 9 5900HX (AMD’s flagship mobile CPU) and the desktop Ryzen 7 5800X. That is very remarkable coming from a mobile CPU and the high clock speeds should allow excellent gaming performance; on the multi-core side of things, performance is still quite good. Both Tiger Lake chips managed to beat out the Zen 2 based Ryzen 5 4600H with six cores by just 100-200 points. That is quite impressive given the Intel units are working with just four cores.
But that is just AMD’s baseline CPU, once you start looking at the scores for AMD’s next-gen Zen-3 based parts, the Tiger Lake SKUs quickly fall behind in the multi-core scores.
Luckily this is just the beginning, we do expect higher core counts from Intel to be coming soon to counter AMD’s new Zen 3 based parts, so expect really good processors for gaming and content creation to be coming to notebooks next year.
(Pocket-lint) – When you’re looking for a laptop nowadays, you thankfully don’t have to make a decision about whether you want power or portability – those days are over.
For too long, we were stuck with heavy machines that could actually function properly or dinky lightweight models that were underpowered.
Top general and premium notebooks for working from home and more
Now, there are countless exceptionally portable laptops on the market that also boast impressive specs to make sure that they can crunch through whatever tasks you need them to (even, in the odd case, a little gaming).
Just for you, we’ve collected some of the very best right here, so that if you’re looking for a new ultrabook or lightweight laptop, you’ve got some great options to browse. Most are 13-inch models, but we’ve got some other sizes for you to look at, too.
The best ultraportable laptops to buy today
Pocket-lint
HP Spectre 13 x360
View offer on HP Store (sponsored link)
The HP Spectre 13 x360 is one of the best slim and light laptops HP has ever made.
The attention to detail in the design goes far further than all the sharp angles and machined aluminium.
The 4K OLED display looks fantastic, while there’s around eight hours of battery life for all-day work.
It comes with a 10th generation low voltage Intel processor, similar to other high-end laptops here. It’s the Intel Core i7-1065G7 and is teamed with a hefty 16GB RAM and fast 1TB SSD. Highly recommended.
Pocket-lint
Dell XPS 13
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The XPS 13 is one of the most consistently impressive laptops out there, and Dell knows it – the machine gets constant updates and revisions to keep it on the cutting edge, and recently was updated with an even more improved model we haven’t got our hands on quite yet.
That all-new version has some subtle design changes including the one feature we most wanted, moving the camera back onto the top of the display’s bezel, getting rid of the odd perspective that its webcam used to boast. That small change is telling, but it’s the overall power and portability that makes Dell’s laptop so impressive.
Dell XPS 13 review: Bite-size bezel bonanza
Pocket-lint
Apple MacBook Air
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The MacBook Air recently had another welcome update after the long-awaited revival of 2019. It’s got a much-improved keyboard and more powerful processor to make for a seriously superb package, all in a design that’s absolutely what most people imagine when they think of a lightweight laptop.
Of course, you’ll have to accept a fairly paltry set of ports and get on board with USB-C, but that’s frankly par for the course on machines with its profile, and the screen is one of the best in the business. For our money, most people will be thrilled with the new Macbook Air.
Apple MacBook Air (2020) review: Keyboard dreams become a reality
Pocket-lint
Google Pixelbook Go
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Google’s waded back into the Chromebook market with this superb little laptop, to offer a middle ground between the many, many cheap options and the previously out-on-its-own Pixelbook, and it’s won us over entirely.
It’s a beautifully made machine, with great performance and a really sleek design that’s easy to pack up and carry. Of course, the key decision facing you is whether you’re happy to go with Chrome OS, and the limitations it does entail. If that’s no problem, this is a serious contender that’s coming down in price all the time.
Google Pixelbook Go review: A sublime Chromebook experience
Pocket-lint
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
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Microsoft is in on the portable party, too, though. Its Surface Laptop 3 is an absolute stunner, which also packs in some seriously impressive stats. It’s got a lovely metal construction with an optionally textured interior that’s great for resting your wrists on as you work. On top of that, it’s dead quiet and has really solid specs.
The latest version has also corrected past mistakes by adding USB-C ports to the party, which is really welcome, and its larger trackpad is also noticeable and improved.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 (13.5-inch) review: Sleek and sophisticated
Razer
Razer Blade Stealth 13
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We’re not going to pretend that it makes sense for everyone, but if you’re an avid gamer, have a massive budget and want both great gaming performance and genuine portability without compromise, there aren’t too many machines to pick from. Razer’s Blade Stealth 13, though, is an absolute stunner.
Even if it didn’t have cracking gaming chops it would be a sleek looker, but given the specs, it can pack in (there are a few versions to choose from) it’s a serious beauty. Of course, as we mentioned it’s also not one for those on a tight budget.
Razer’s new Blade Stealth 13 gaming ultrabook makes some telling upgrades
Pocket-lint
HP Elite Dragonfly
View offer on HP Store (sponsored link)
Lightweight and practical, there’s a lot to love about the 2-in-1 HP Elite Dragonfly – an optional 4K display being one of them.
The laptop weighs somewhere in the region of 1kg. It’s slim too, measuring comfortably under 20mm when shut.
It only has an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, but that’s still great for most tasks. The disadvantages are the cost and trackpad which we’d like to see improved.
HP Elite Dragonfly review: Perfect for work and pleasure
Pocket-lint
Samsung Galaxy Book Ion 15
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The Galaxy Book Ion isn’t an especially conventional laptop. This model is large at 15.6-inches yet it’s really lightweight (a 13-inch version is also available).
The Ion dressed in an eggshell finish (Aura Silver) that you won’t see on other competitors.
It’s endowed with unusual features like upgradeable RAM and storage. It also pulls on Samsung’s highly successful TV prowess by utilising a QLED display.
There’s a huge battery life, too – around 14+ hours per charge
It’s good to see Samsung back in the laptop game and trying things a little differently, with positive effect.
Samsung Galaxy Book Ion 15 review: Positively charged
Pocket-lint
LG Gram 17
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The Gram 17 is lighter than most 15-inch laptops. It weighs 1.3kg, which is the standard for a slim 13- or 14-inch model, not a 17-inch one, and it’s almost 500g lighter than the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
This sounds like a kind of magic, doesn’t it? The only major issues here are that it doesn’t have a true performance-led processor.
But it still has plenty of power for most plus great battery life too.
LG Gram 17 review: Big yet brilliantly portable
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Conor Allison.
A few weeks ago, the leaker Evan Blass had information on the Voice page that suggested the development of a new Galaxy Chromebook by Samsung. In the meantime, these rumors seem to be confirmed by recent leaks, including images.
The first Galaxy Chromebook from Samsung at its time mixed up the Chromebook market with its high-quality equipment. While most Chromebooks rely on a rather rudimentary configuration and are only intended for web browsing and simple work on office tasks, Samsung suggested with a 13, 3-inch 4K AMOLED display on his first Galaxy Chromebook took a different route. There was also an Intel Core i5 – 10210 U with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD storage. Problems arose especially with the battery, which was empty too quickly, as well as a rather poor performance in the course of the moderate cooling.
Unfortunately the Galaxy Chromebook never found it its way to the shelves at home. Whether the Galaxy Chromebook 2 will also be available in Germany at launch is still unclear at this point. Nor is it known how much it will cost. An official presentation can already be expected at the CES 2021 in January, whereby these questions should be answered.
CPU-Z test results promise Rocket Lake a clearly higher current IPC, but recent leaks suggest that the Core i3 series and lower-end models will be based on the current Comet Lake architecture.
Intel is catching up with AMD by releasing new ones . next-generation Core processors from the beginning of the year. The new processors will be compatible with the existing 400 motherboards, but new 10900 are expected to be released alongside them. series motherboards.
Processors known by the Rocket Lake-S codename use new Cypress Cove cores, i.e. nanometer versions of Sunny Cove cores, but according to the latest leaks, all . generation processors are not Rocket Lakes. According to the leak from China, only the Core i5 series and faster would be based on the Rocket Lake architecture, while the Core i3, Pentium and Celerons would be the Comet Lake Refresh architecture.
New test results with Rocket Lake Engineering Sample versions have also leaked to the Internet. Known under the nickname HXL, Twitter has tweeted CPU-Z results run on an ES processor labeled QV1J. According to HXL, this is the Core i9 – 11900 model from the Engineering Sample, which has a basic clock frequency of 1.8 GHz and a maximum Turbo clock frequency of 4.4 GHz with one core and 3.8 GHz with all cores. In the CPU-Z, the processor gets 583 points on one and 5262 points on all cores.
The OneRaichu nickname, in turn, has tweeted an image of another Rocket Lake Engineering Sample with a maximum Boost clock frequency of one core 100 MHz higher 4 , 5 GHz and all cores 400 MHz higher than 4.1 GHz. The processor gets 3 points in the CPU-Z with one core 597 and 3 points for all cores 5686. According to Raichu, the processor gets a Cinebench R 20 test with a single core 561 and for all cores 5214 points, and R 23 – test on a single core 1444 points, but there is no pictorial evidence of these
As a comparison, the Core i9 – 10900 K, which operates at a maximum clock frequency of 5.3 GHz, gets a fair amount of on the single core CPU-Z points
As the launch of Intel 11th Gen Core processors comes closer, more details and rumours about it are surfacing. Apparently, the 11th Gen Core processors will consist of Rocket Lake-S SKUs at the higher-end, but it will use refreshed Comet-Lake-S SKUs on the lower-end.
The report comes from ijiandao.com (via @harukaze5719), which shared the whole alleged 11th Gen Core processors’ lineup. As per the tables shown by the Chinese website, the Core i5, i7, and i9 CPUs will be based on Rocket Lake-S, but the i3, Pentium, and Celeron series will be a refresh of the 10th Gen Core Comet Lake-S processors. There’s no mention about any “F” processors in these tables, meaning that we all come with an iGPU.
This division means that we won’t see the new Cypress Cove core architecture and Xe-LP graphics on all 11th Gen Core SKUs. The Core i5, i7, and i9 CPUs will be powered by both technologies, but the lower-end SKUs will keep using the same core architecture as the Skylake processors from 2016 and Intel UHD Graphics 600 series.
The Core i9 series will consist of the 11900K, 11900, and 11900T SKUs. Similar to the i9 series, the i7 series will have also have three SKUs: 11700K, 11700, and 11700T. All i7 and i9 processors will feature 8 cores and 16 threads, 16MB of cache, Intel Xe-LP iGPU with 32EUs, and 125W (K), 65W (non-K), and 35W (T) TDPs.
The Core i5 series is a bit more extensive with the three 11600 SKUs (K, non-K, and T), two 11500 (non-K and T), and two 11400 (non-K and T). Just like the i7 and i9 processors, the “K” SKUs come with a 125W TDP, the “non-K” with a 65W TDP, and the “T” with 35W TDP. All the i5 processors have 6 cores, 12 threads, 12MB of cache, and Intel Xe Graphics with 32EUs, except the 11400 SKUs which come a Xe Graphics iGPU with 24EUs.
Jumping on to the i3 processors’ lineup, it will consist of 5 Comet Lake-S refreshed SKUs: 11100, 11100T, 11300, 11300T, and 11320. The “non-K” processors also come with 65W TDP, while the “T” ones have a 35W TDP. All have 4 cores, 8 threads, UHD 630 iGPU with 24 EUs, and 8MB of cache, except the 11100 and 11100T CPUs which have 6MB of cache. Although we don’t know the exact clock frequencies, the source claims that it’s expected that it comes with a bump of 200-300MHz compared to the 10th Gen Core processors.
The next-gen Pentium and Celeron SKUs will also be based on Comet Lake-S, and consist of 8 SKUs. Starting with the G5930 (58W), G5930T (35W), and G5950 (58W) processors, these will come with a 2C/2T configuration, 4MB of cache, and UHD 610 iGPU with 12EUs. The G6420 (58W), G6420T (35W), G6520 (58W), G6520T (35W), and G6620 (58W) processors are equipped with 2 cores, 4 threads, and 4MB of cache. The G65xx and G6620 come with a UHD 630 iGPU with 24EUs, while the G64xx have a UHD 610 iGPU with 12EUs. Operating frequencies were not shared, but a 100-200MHz bump is expected.
Unfortunately, the clock frequencies of these SKUs are yet to be confirmed, but @momomo_us spotted some extra information about the Core i7-11700 and the Core i5-11400. The Core i7-11700 seems to come with a 2.5GHz base clock, which boosts up to 4.9GHz, while the i5-11400 has a 2.6GHz base clock, boosting up to 4.4GHz. Compared to 10th Gen Core predecessors, the base clocks are slightly lower, but the turbo clocks have been increased by 0.1GHz.
KitGuru says: Do you think the Intel 11th Gen Core line-up will stand toe-to-toe with AMD Ryzen 5000 series?
Cyberpunk 2077 is the most hotly-anticipated game in recent history, but it has proven to be punishing for even the most well-equipped PCs. We set out to test the new game with a wide range of the best CPUs on the market to determine which processors provide the best performance in a wide range of resolutions. We’ve tested AMD’s Ryzen 9, 7, 5, and 3 processors across several generations, along with Intel’s Core i9, i7, i5, and i3 processors as well.
This article focuses entirely on CPU perforamnce: If you’re looking for a closer look at how the game performs with a range of different GPUs, be sure to check out our in-depth Cyberpunk 2077 performance analysis. Thus far, our CPU testing has been with the current 1.04 patch, which brought minor performance enhancements over the original game code. However, CD Projekt Red has announced that it plans to release a new 1.05 patch for PCs soon (consoles already have the patch) with some performance enhancements, but the impact of those changes remains to be seen.
We’ll update our testing after the new patch, but except for select AMD models’ performance, we don’t expect huge changes to the CPU benchmark hierarchy we’ve created below. We could see slight increases in each processor’s overall performance but we expect that the performance deltas between the chips, and the rankings, will remain similar.
Cyberpunk 2077 has certainly earned a reputation for buggy performance, and one of the most surprising errata revolves around how the game code identifies AMD’s Ryzen processors. Resourceful redditors have discovered that the game code significantly harms performance on some AMD processors, because it apparently checks to see if your CPU uses Team Red’s 2011-era Bulldozer platform and, if not, disables multi-threading.
The enthusiast community discovered an easy-to-apply patch, which you can learn about here, that corrects the issue on select AMD models. CD Projekt Red says that it will also include similar code in the upcoming 1.05 patch. However, the game developer says the patch will only address Ryzen models with six or fewer cores, and that eight, 12, and 16 core models are unaffected. Our testing says otherwise — we continue to see performance gains with eight-core Ryzen 5000 series processors with the fix applied, so we’ll have to see how the upcoming patch addresses the eight-core models. The remainder of the pending changes listed for the 1.05 patch don’t appear to have massive implications for the game engine.
In either case, we’ve included testing both with and without the patch applied for the Ryzen 3000 (Zen 2) and 5000 (Zen 3) series processors with eight or fewer cores, but we found that the patch does little to improve performance with the Ryzen 1000 (Zen) and Ryzen 2000 (Zen+) models. For the older Ryzen models we’ve found that the change introduces buggy behavior or performance regressions, so we’ve excluded those extra tests.
With the preamble out of the way, let’s see how the Cyberpunk 2077 CPU performance hierarchy stacks up.
Cyberpunk 2077 CPU Benchmarks Setup
We tested with the highest number of NPC’s available and followed the same benchmark methodology used for our Cyberpunk 2077 PC Benchmarks, Settings, and Performance Analysis article.
We begin our test sequence at the entrance to V’s apartment building and walk a path down the stairs, across the street to the left, hang a right at the vending machine, then head across the street towards the two policemen on the other side. From there, we proceed to the right across the pavilion, down another set of stairs, and to the building on the far side.
Be aware that performance can, and will, vary in other scenes and locations (up to a 20% performance range), but this scene gives us a good-enough sense of the type of performance you’ll see with the various CPUs.
Our test systems easily outweigh the recommended minimum system requirements for Cyberpunk 2077. We outfitted our test systems with the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3090 Eagle to reduce the GPU bottleneck as much as possible. Be aware that you’ll see a smaller performance delta with lesser graphics cards. If you’re already shackled by a GPU bottleneck, you might not see appreciable gains with the same processors we’ve tested below.
We strove to remove memory as a potential bottleneck, too, so we equipped our tests system with 32GB of DDR4 memory spread across two dual-rank DIMMs. We assigned the memory to operate at each respective processor’s stock specifications, but be aware that additional memory tuning/overclocking could yield higher performance results. Likewise, single-rank memory kits could also result in less performance. As we noted in our recent look at how Cyberpunk 2077 runs with varying memory kits, you can definitely run the game with 8GB of memory, and 16GB should be sufficient, but using two dual-rank DIMMs (or four single-rank DIMMs) can improve performance. If you’re not running a top-end GPU, memory capacity probably won’t matter much.
You can see a further breakdown of our test system at the end of the article.
Cyberpunk 2077 CPU Scaling RT Ultra Settings Benchmarks
We included the highest-end models of the 1000, 2000, 3000, and 5000 series Ryzen processors. We’ve also included the Core i9, i7, i5, and i3 models from Intel’s 9th- and 10th-generation processors. We’ll add testing with HEDT models after we assess performance impacts from the upcoming 1.05 patch.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Processors marked in the charts with ‘Modified’ have the ‘Ryzen fix’ applied. We tested with three resolutions at various settings, but our first album of results focuses on the RT Ultra preset. This enables DLSS Auto (which uses the Quality mode at 1080p, Balanced mode at 1440p, and Performance mode at 4K), and also engages ray tracing, making it the most demanding preset. After we applied the patch, it also yielded big advances for a few of the AMD Ryzen processors.
AMD’s Ryzen 9 5950X takes the lead at 1080p RT Ultra, trailed closely by the Ryzen 7 5800X, 5900X, and Core i9-10900K. You’ll notice that these top-end processors are closely matched — most users would be hard-pressed to notice a difference between these CPUs.
The eight-core 16-thread Ryzen 7 5800X only makes its way into the upper tier of the chart after we apply the fix. The performance improvement is also apparent with the eight-core Ryzen 7 3800XT, too, casting some doubt on CD Projekt Red’s claims that the ‘Ryzen bug’ doesn’t impact AMD’s eight-core processors.
Stepping down the chart, we see the Core i7-10700K trailing the chart-topping Ryzen 9 5950X by 9%. We also see a substantial gap between the 9th and 10th gen Intel processors, with the fastest 9th gen processor, the Core i9-9900K, trailing the Core i9-10900K by 17% and the Core i7-10700K by 12%.
A quick look at the bottom of the chart shows how far AMD has come since it’s Zen 1 and Zen+ processors. The Ryzen 7 1800X falls behind Intel’s current i3-10100 despite having twice as many cores and threads, and the Ryzen 7 2700X only matches the Core i5-9600K. The SMT bug still affects those Ryzen CPUs, but using the modified code made the game unstable so it’s not currently a solution.
Flipping through the album to the QHD results shows that the deltas between the chips shrink tremendously as we increase resolution. Bear in mind that we’re testing with the ridiculously-priced RTX 3090, so the difference between these chips will shrink dramatically with lesser GPUs. The 4K resolution, and the resulting GPU bottleneck, stands as the great equalizer, though, dragging all of the chips (except the Ryzen 3 1300X) into closer competition.
Cyberpunk 2077 CPU Scaling Medium Preset Benchmarks
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Dropping all the way down to the medium preset, maximum performance is much higher and CPU bottlenecks continue to play a significant role. This preset features lower fidelity settings than the Ultra preset below, so we see more substantial deltas between the processors.
These standard rasterization tests stress the processor differently than the RT Ultra settings above, and at 1080p, we see the ‘patched’ Ryzen 7 5800X take a slight lead over the rest of the test pool. However, we see several of the same AMD contenders appear in the top five, with the Ryzen 9 5900X and Ryzen 9 5950X landing within a few percent of the leader.
AMD’s core-heavy Ryzen 3000 models are impressive in this series of tests, but the Ryzen 5 5600X, our go-to recommendation for gamers, holds its own with 106.5 fps, basically matching the more expensive Core i7-10700K. Given the mostly-reasonable pricing for both the 5600X and the 10700K, it’s a tough sell to step up to significantly more powerful chips from either camp, at least if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the first-gen Ryzen processors struggle to keep pace in the 1080p tests, and hitches and stuttering were outwardly visible during testing. If you’re playing at this low of a resolution, a second-gen or newer Ryzen processor is a better fit.
Again, it’s readily apparent that the magnitude of the performance gains relies heavily upon how close the system is to a GPU bottleneck. Performance deltas steadily decline as we increase the resolution; however, unlike with the RT Ultra settings in the previous series of 4K tests, we see a bit more differentiation between the processors at the highest resolution. Anything below a Ryzen 7 2700X will introduce visible stuttering and hitching, and the Ryzen 3 1300X is a very rough experience. (We’d call it unplayable, but some people have lower standards.)
Cyberpunk 2077 CPU Scaling Ultra Preset Benchmarks
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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Finally, we turn the dial up to the Ultra preset, but without ray tracing active. As expected, the gains again shrink as we increase resolution and push closer to a graphics bottleneck that makes CPU performance less of a factor.
Again, the Ryzen 9 5950X, 5900X, Ryzen 7 5800X, and 10900K all push the RTX 3090 to the limits during the 1080p tests, meaning we’ll have to wait for faster GPUs to see any meaningful difference between these chips at these resolution and fidelity settings. We don’t see any massive changes to the performance hierarchy with these settings — the chips largely stack up the same as we saw with the 1080p medium preset, albeit with some differences in average framerates.
It’s interesting to look at some of the other differences that are present thanks to the memory configurations we’re using for testing. For example, Jarred tested the Core i9-9900K at DDR4-3600 with 16-18-18 timings, and performance was around 14% higher than the i9-9900K running at official Intel settings (DDR4-2666), even with tighter 14-14-14 timings. AMD’s Zen 2 and Zen 3 chips have an advantage in that they officially support up to DDR4-3200, without overclocking.
Many enthusiasts at a bare minimum enable the XMP profile in the BIOS (which might be called A-XMP, AMP, DOHC, or some other name on AMD platforms). With better memory, this can definitely improve performance, but it technically voids the warranty.
Cyberpunk 2077 CPU Scaling Thoughts
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most demanding games on the market, and it’s pretty much impossible to devise one series of tests that can give a definitive single answer for how your CPU will perform in the massive number of possible hardware configurations. As such, you should view these tests as basic indicators of how the processors stack up when paired with the highest-end gaming GPU that money can buy, and then adjust your expectations based on your GPU.
Naturally, the differences between our test subjects will diminish rapidly with lesser graphics cards. Still, if you’re determined enough, you could even scrape by with integrated graphics with below-bare-minimum settings. Not that we’d recommend that to anyone, but the overriding point is that with some time and patience you can adjust the fidelity settings to make do with a slower GPU.
On the flip side of the coin, playing the game with a capable GPU can be a punishing experience for your processor. Today’s newest high-end chips, namely the Ryzen 9 and 7 5000 series and 10th-gen Intel i9 and i7 chips, are obviously the best fit if money is no object and you’re trying to squeeze out every last frame. However, if you’re looking for the best blend of price and performance, mid-range modern CPUs, like Intel’s Core i5 and AMD’s Ryzen 5, still offer the best blend of performance and price.
Even the previous-gen Core i5-9600K and Ryzen 5 3600XT held up relatively well during our testing, but those should be considered a bare minimum if you’re looking to game with higher-end GPUs.
Be sure to hit our article covering the recommended system specifications for different price points, and our expansive Cyberpunk 2077 testing with a wide spate of GPUs to see where your system could slot in based on your hardware configuration.
In the meantime, we’re eagerly awaiting the Cyberpunk 2077 1.05 patch to see how much it impacts overall game performance. We’re also working to add a few HEDT models to the tests above, so stay tuned.
Shortly after the premiere of Intel Comet Lake processors, the network received quite surprising news about new units with unlocked multiplier were distinguished by the designation KA. We’ve all wondered what this unprecedented ending also symbolizes. Although the most likely option was some additional overclocking options, it eventually turned out to be systems from the limited Avengers Edition series, which only differ from ordinary units … with their packaging stylized as the latest superhero game. A treat for collectors? Perhaps. In any case, if someone for some reason was still hunting for such a processor, we do not have the best news.
will be produced longer. They feature only a special box, and the Avengers game itself was not even included in the set. So probably only collectors will be disappointed with this news.
Reviews Marvel’s Avengers: Game-Service with a Nice Story Campaign
Intel has just updated its product notification website. We already know that the Avengers Edition chipsets will no longer be produced.Remember that all Comet Lake chips with an unlocked multiplier belong to it, so the Core i5 models – 10600 K, Core i7 – 10700 K, Core i9 – 10850 K and Core i9 – 10900 K. As mentioned before, they only feature a special box and the Avengers game itself is not even included For the sake of clarity, these processors should still be easily purchased in the stand standard versions.
Intel officially confirms Marvel’s Avengers series processors
It is worth noting that Intel has recently started a plan to withdraw 9th generation Intel Core processors from sale, so the giant is not idle and apparently wants to clean the magazines before the premiere 11. Generation of Core chips to provide a solid performance boost, as well as a host of different benefits from the new Cypress Cove architecture Their premiere will probably take place in March 2021.
Intel 11th Generation Rocket Lake Processor (Image credit: ijiandao)
Chinese news outlet ijiandao (via Harukaze5719) has reportedly shared the general specifications for Intel’s upcoming Rocket Lake and Comet Lake Refresh processors. Apparently, both families will live under the same 11th-Gen moniker.
Rocket Lake, which is the more interesting lineup out of the two, will arrive furnished with Intel’s 14nm Cypress Cove cores and Xe graphics. Like AMD, Intel has promised double-digit instruction per cycle (IPC) uplifts. The first leaked benchmark submissions have revealed that there might be some truth to Intel’s word. However, Rocket Lake’s multi-core performance remains to be seen since the new chips will max out at eight cores, a big regression compared to Comet Lake that pushed the maximum configuration to 10 cores.
Above all, Rocket Lake will, at last, bring PCIe 4.0 support to an Intel mainstream platform. Intel is last to the party since PCIe 4.0 support was already present in AMD’s previous-gen Ryzen 3000 (codename Matisse) processors that debuted one year ago.
Intel 11th Generation Rocket Lake Specifications
Processor
Cores / Threads
L3 Cache (MB)
Graphics (EUs)
TDP (W)
Core i9-11900K
8 / 16
16
32
125
Core i9-11900
8 / 16
16
32
65
Core i9-11900T
8 / 16
16
32
35
Core i7-11700K
8 / 16
16
32
125
Core i7-11700
8 / 16
16
32
65
Core i7-11700T
8 / 16
16
32
35
Core i5-11600K
6 / 12
12
32
125
Core i5-11600
6 / 12
12
32
65
Core i5-11600T
6 / 12
12
32
35
Core i5-11500
6 / 12
12
32
65
Core i5-11500T
6 / 12
12
32
35
Core i5-11400
6 / 12
12
24
65
Core i5-11400T
6 / 12
12
24
35
According to the Chinese publication, the Rocket Lake Core i9 and Core i7 SKUs will use the same recipe: eight cores, 16 threads, and 16MB of L3 cache. Aside from TDP (thermal design power), operating clocks will be the biggest differentiator between the processors. Therefore, you can purchase an unlocked Core i7, and if you’re lucky, overclock it to the same specifications as the more expensive Core i9 model. On the other hand, the Core i5 parts will retain the six-core, 12-thread configuration with 12MB of L3 cache.
Graphics-wise, the Rocket Lake processors wield Intel’s Xe solution, but the number of Execution Units (EUs) will vary according to the processor. If the news outlet’s information is accurate, the Core i9, Core i7, and the majority of the Core i5 lot will arrive with 32 EUs: The Core i5-11400 and Core Core i5-11400T are the only models limited to 24 EUs.
Thus far, there is no evidence that Intel will release graphics-less F-series models.
Intel 11th Generation Comet Lake Refresh Specifications
Processor
Cores / Threads
L3 Cache (MB)
Graphics (EUs)
TDP (W)
Core i3-11100
4 / 8
6
24
65
Core i3-11100T
4 / 8
6
24
35
Core i3-11300
4 / 8
8
24
65
Core i3-11300T
4 / 8
8
24
35
Core i3-11320
4 / 8
8
24
65
According to the publication, Intel might not release any Rocket Lake Core i3, Pentium, or Celeron models. The publication claims that the chipmaker will simply rewarm the existing Comet Lake silicon. As a result, the Comet Lake Refresh chips will retain the same core and thread specifications, albeit the higher operating clocks. For the Core i3 models, we can expect improvements that span from 200 MHz to 300 MHz, while the entry-level Pentium and Celeron parts will only get a limited treatment spanning between 100 MHz to 200 MHz.
There are mentions of two different graphics solutions for Comet Lake Refresh. The UHD Graphics 630 engine will offer 24 EUs, while the UHD Graphics 610 will be restricted to 12 EUs.
Whether it be Rocket Lake or Comet Lake Refresh, the processors will work fine on current LGA1200 motherboards with the Intel 400-series chipset. In the case of Rocket Lake, some motherboards already come equipped with all the necessary circuitry for PCIe 4.0, so there’s no urgency to upgrade. Nevertheless, Intel will likely introduce the 500-series motherboards that are purpose-built for Rocket Lake. Regardless, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to invest in a dying platform with Rocket Lake being an interim product before Alder Lake, which demands the new LGA1700 socket.
The CES 2021 trade fair will take place in January, where we expect some interesting news in the computer sector. All three major companies – Intel, AMD and NVIDIA, are planning their virtual conferences on the dates 11 – 12 January. In the case of Intel, we already know that further details about the Tiger Lake mobile processors will be revealed at the conference. At the beginning, however, the Tiger Lake-H models 35 with TDP 35 W, which will actually be just slightly more twisted versions of the Tiger Lake-U units. These systems will have a maximum of 4 cores and 8 threads. We also expect a delay in the introduction of the most powerful Tiger Lake-H units 45 with 8 cores – these are expected to make their fastest debut in the second quarter of the year. During the presentation, Gregory Bryant is also expected to provide details on motherboards with the Intel chipset 500.
At the conference to be held 11 January, Intel will present the next Tiger Lake-H processors 35 for laptops and Intel chipset motherboards 500. There are also specific dates for the presentation and the store debut of the Rocket Lake-S generation processors 11. )
Intel Core processors 11. Generation is not only Rocket Lake? Core i3, Pentium and Celeron models can be Comet Lake Refresh
Further sources confirm the January debut of motherboards based on the Intel chipset 500. It is a surprising decision for the boards to be available long before the Rocket Lake-S and Comet Lake generation processors 11 S Refresh. On the same day, i.e. 11 of January, the albums are to be sold. These are models with Intel Z 590, Intel B 560 and Intel H 510. Perhaps at the conference, Gregory Bryant will present a sample of the capabilities of the Rocket Lake processors themselves. The upcoming motherboards will be based on the LGA socket 1200 and will support the PCIe 4.0 platform.
As for Intel Core processors 11 generation. In the predecessor of the news, we wrote that the manufacturer as part of the 11 generation is going to introduce both Rocket Lake-S systems (Core i5, Core i7 and Core i9) as well as refreshed Comet Lake Refresh processors (Pentium and Core i3). We also learned the specific date of the presentation and the store premiere. The processors will be shown on March 1, and then the first reviews should appear. The store debut will take place almost 3 weeks later – 19 March. So it looks like we will wait a while for the Rocket Lake processors.
I think all fans of new technologies are looking forward to finally, Intel will abandon the architecture of Skylake processors and already quite old lithography 14 nm. Although the performance and general capabilities of the last Blue units may still be a positive surprise, AMD is already ahead in the category of desktop systems in many respects. Fortunately, soon we will finally get a taste of new technologies from Intel – in March next year the long-awaited Rocket Lake chips based on new Cypress Cove cores are to debut. It is possible, however, that with them will appear on the market … refreshed Comet Lake models. And it’s in the same Core series 11. Generation!
According to the source, cheaper processors marked as Core i3, Pentium and Celeron are only to be refreshed Comet Lake chips, which will probably live only higher clocks relative to the series 10000.
Unofficial specification of Intel Rocket Lake-S processors: Core i9 – 11900 K, Core i7 – 11700 K, Core i5 – 11400 K and Core i5 – 11400
Chinese sources report that we probably mistakenly labeled the upcoming entire Core family 11000 as modern Rocket Lake chips from the outset. Cypress Cove-based units using The benefits of the new Xe graphics are to be found only in the Core i9, Core i7 and Core i5 sub-series. Comet Lake orders, which will probably only see higher clocks than the series 10000. The projected specification for the entire series is below. As you can see, the TDP ratio will range from 35 to 125 V.
Intel Xe Graphics – new dedicated chip with 128 Execution Units and own memory in GeekBench database
Interestingly, according to leakster @momomo_us, the new models based on the Cypress Cove architecture will have surprisingly low base clock speeds. For example, the 8-core Core i7 model – 11700 is to start from 2.5 GHz, while the predecessor had a base of 2.9 GHz. The same is true of the Core i5 – 11400, whose base clock is up to 2.6 GHz (10400 starts from 2.9 GHz). After all, there is nothing to worry about performance – finally, in boost mode, the successors of currently sold processors should be faster than the Comet Lakes by 100 MHz, another issue is the allegedly noticeable increase in IPC.
Home/Component/CPU/Intel has discontinued the 10th Gen Core KA “Avengers” processors
João Silva 53 mins ago CPU, Featured Tech News
Following the discontinuance of the 9th Gen Core processors, the 5-month-old Intel 10th Gen Core KA “Avengers” processors launched to promote Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers have also been discontinued. This includes the Core i5-10600KA, the Core i7-10700KA, the Core i9-10850KA, and the Core i9-10900KA.
Now that the Intel 10th Gen Core KA processors have reached EOL, retailers won’t be able to order any more chips from the suppliers. This means that the Intel KA processors available in the stores right now are the last to be produced. If you are still interested in acquiring one of these, there are still a lot of retailers selling them worldwide.
EOL：KA pic.twitter.com/vrc1lUuB53
— 188号 (@momomo_us) December 18, 2020
The launch of these processors came from a partnership that Intel made with Square Enix to promote the Marvel’s Avengers video game. Despite the fancy box where the processors came in, there wasn’t any other difference compared to the original 10th Gen Core processors. Pricing was also the same, so customers hadn’t any specific reason to buy the KA processors over the others.
The original 10th Gen Core Comet Lake-S processors will continue to be sold as they were until now. Their discontinuance should only come once Intel has released the 11th Gen Core Rocket Lake-s processors, expected to be released in Q1 2021.
KitGuru says: Did you buy an Intel 10th Gen Core KA “Avengers” processor? Was there any specific reason for you to get the Avengers Edition over the standard processor?
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Intel has officially discontinued the Avengers Edition 10th Gen Comet Lake-S processors from its lineup after just five months. That includes the Core i5-10600KA, i7-10700KA and i9-10850KA.
Intel didn’t say why it discontinued the chips. But considering that as of three weeks ago Square Unix’s Marvel’s Avengers game hadn’t made any money, it’s not surprising that Intel’s Avengers CPUs failed to take off.
Earlier this year Intel partnered with Square Unix to make new Avengers-branded processors based on the Marvel Avengers video game. While it sounds good on paper, in reality, these chips didn’t have any superpowers to help them defeat the best CPUs. Intel gave the Avengers CPUs nothing in terms of extra performance, lower prices or anything bundled — these Avengers Edition processors didn’t even come with the Square Unix Avengers game. All customers got was a fancily branded Intel processor. You had to be a die-hard Marvel fan to really want these chips over the standard models.
The amount of Newegg comments for Intel’s Avenger Core i5, i7 and i9 chips are significantly lower than that of the standard K models, suggesting that on this platform Intel wasn’t selling as many Avengers CPUs as the vanilla versions
Additionally, Square Unix’s Avengers game barely sold 60% of its total predicted volume. To this day, Square Unix is still trying to recover development costs.
Fortunately — if you are one of the few people that wants an Intel Avengers-branded processor, Newegg.com still has a bunch in stock, so grab one while supplies last.
Very attractive prices these days before Christmas for Microsoft’s Surface range, with Surface Laptop 3 models, Surface Pro 7 and Surface Book 3 hitting lows
by Editorial team published 18 December 2020 , at 10: 51 in the Laptop channel Microsoft Surface Intel Core
These are the last days to take advantage of some of the Christmas promotions of the Microsoft Surface notebook range . Many retailers offer these models, together with Microsoft on their official channel, but only for some there are particularly significant discounts compared to the price lists typically practiced. We have selected them for you.
The first model of considerable convenience in terms of cost is Surface Laptop 3 , in the version with screen from 13, 5 inches diagonal with 8GB of system memory and SSD from 128 GB of capacity. Unieuro proposes it for 799 € VAT included , against an official price list of 1. 169 €: a this price is cheaper than the corresponding Surface Laptop Go model with the same memory and SSD allocation. Mediaworld offers the same offer on offer in the configuration with SSD from 128 GB and 8GB of memory: 799 ?? VAT included.
Very attractive price also for the corresponding version of Surface Pro 7 , with Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of system memory and 128 GB of storage via SSD: always 799 € VAT included , in this case on Amazon, for the 2-in-1 from Microsoft to match the keyboard cover. The presence of an SD memory card reader allows you to expand the onboard storage quickly, obtaining many GB of extra storage for your data even if not as fast as that of an SSD. Also Mediaworld offers this product at the same price list on offer in the configuration with SSD from 128 GB and 8GB of memory: 799 ?? VAT included.
Also on Amazon, some models of the family Surface Book 3 : this is the powerful 2-in-1 notebook, with screen completely detachable from the base, which Microsoft offers to those looking for high performance combined with an extremely solid construction. We find in promotion the models with screen from 13, 5 inches diagonal and 15 inches. In the first case the discounts are equal to 22% for models with 8GB and 16 GB of system memory, both with SSD from 256 GB capacity and Intel Core i5 CPU in the first case and Core i7 in the second.
For the versions with screen from 15 Surface Book 3 inches the power goes up further: for both Intel Core i7 CPU and SSD from 512 GB, with memory quantities equal to 16 GB or 32 GB and prices that today touch the minimum for several months to this part.
The debut of the new versions of Surface Pro and Surface Laptop is expected early next year , respectively the 2-in-1 detachable and the Microsoft clamshell notebook of the Surface family. For the first we will reach the eighth generation, while for Surface Laptop it will be the fourth.
We have already reported how the novelties of these products will be under the body, with a CPU updates in the form of 11th Generation Intel Core models based on Tiger Lake architecture. For Surface Laptop 4 Microsoft may continue to make available versions with of AMD Ryzen processors, adopting those Ryzen 5000 for mobile systems that the American company should announce in early January 2021 in conjunction with the CES.
Thanks to the WinFuture website, new information emerges on what could be the hardware characteristics of Surface Pro 8 in terms of onboard memory quantity and SSD storage capacity. Depending on the type of processor chosen, in fact, consumers can opt for different combinations with the type of integrated connectivity (WiFi or LTE) to represent a further differentiator in the range.
For versions with Intel Core i5 processor Microsoft has provided WiFi-only connectivity or even models with integrated LTE modem . For these versions we will find memory capacity of 8GB or 16 GB: in the first case the storage will be equal to 128 GB or 256 GB, while in the second only a SSD of 256 GB capacity.
For those with Intel Core i7 CPU , however, Microsoft will only provide versions with WiFi connectivity, with memory capacity equal to 16 GB or 32 GB. In the first case it will be possible to choose between SSD from 256 GB, 512 GB or 1TB of capacity while the proposal with 32 GB of system memory will be offered only with 1TB capacity SSD.
(Pocket-lint) – Lenovo makes several of the very best laptops that sit under the four-figure mark. And this, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, is probably the one you should buy.
Sure, the MacBook Air is a more exciting prospect, and even more powerful. But the Yoga Slim 7 is actually one of the best reasons not to buy a MacBook in 2021. Oh, and we should probably mention it’s hundreds cheaper too.
Its build quality is superb, it almost certainly has more power than you need, its screen is excellent in most respects, and the AMD version (as reviewed here) can even handle some recent-ish games well enough.
Lenovo once again gives us a masterclass on how to make a world-class laptop for under a grand. There’s very little reason to spend any more unless you need an ultra-high-resolution screen.
Design
Dimensions: 320.6mm x 208mm x 14.9mm
1.4kg claimed weight (1.326kg measured)
Finishes: Slate Grey / Orchid Purple
Aluminium shell design
High-end laptops are an odd category. Sometimes when you spend more to jump up a league, you end up with a laptop that feels less expensive. A lot of the most pricey ones use magnesium alloys rather than primarily aluminium ones: lighter but less metallic to the touch.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s case panels are aluminium. It leads to weight of 1.3kg rather than, well, a couple of hundred grammes less, but you get the same lovely cool-to-the-touch feel as a MacBook.
Pocket-lint
The screen is stiff, the keyboard doesn’t bow under the pressure of your fingers, and it’s a classy-looking laptop in a minimalistic sort of way.
This isn’t quite the device you might expect given that it’s part of the Yoga series, though. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s screen folds open to 180 degrees, not a hybrid-style 360 degrees, and it does not have a touchscreen.
It’s definitely a laptop, not a lifestyle gadget that thinks it can replace an iPad. Lenovo has its eyes on MacBook Air buyers, thus some of the core stats are similar. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is 16mm thick, just like an Air, and the weight is more-or-less the same too.
Display
14-inch IPS panel, 300 nits birghtness
1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
No touchscreen control
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a 14-inch IPS LCD screen. It’s here we see this laptop start to move away from one that costs hundreds more – but less so than you might guess.
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This is a 1080p screen, which means you’ll see slight pixellation in small fonts. Lenovo does make a 4K version, but this doesn’t seem to be sold as widely as the Full HD Yoga 7 Slim.
In almost every other respect, though, we have no complaints. It actually outperforms Lenovo’s own claims in some areas.
For example, Lenovo says the 1080p Yoga 7 Slim reaches 300-nit brightness. But it actually hits 385 nits by our measure. That extra headroom makes the display look clearer outdoors, and it also has a reflection-reducing matte finish. When you have some high-end laptops touting 500 nits as some kind of untouchable achievement, it shows just how well set this laptop is.
Lenovo says the screen’s colour matches the sRGB colour standard, the old industry standard for monitors and printers. But its colour coverage is actually 20 per cent richer than that by our measure.
Sure, a MacBook Air or Dell XPS 13 has deeper colour still, but you only need to worry about that if you’ll colour grade video or do other pro imaging work. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s colour looks well-saturated to our eyes.
Part of that eyeball-pleasing effect is thanks to the display’s great contrast: it’s 1762:1 at max brightness, which is an excellent result for an LCD screen. Blacks don’t look washed out and grey.
Pocket-lint
All it really lacks in this class is the slick presentation you get from a glass-topped glossy screen. The screen image of a glossy display can seem to “pop” more than a matte one like this, and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 has a plastic top layer with a slightly raised surround.
However, this is more a result of the decision to use a matte finish than a way for Lenovo to save a few pennies when making the Yoga Slim 7.
Keyboard & Touchpad
2-level white LED backlight
NUMPAD-free chiclet keyboard
Wide aspect textured glass trackpad
Want some more proof Lenovo isn’t cost-cutting on the sly? The Yoga Slim 7 has a mid-size textured glass touchpad.
Pocket-lint
This laptop sits right at the border where we tend to see manufacturers switch from using relatively cheap plastic pads to fancier glass ones. Seeing textured glass in a laptop range that starts at this price is by no means a given though.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 ‘pad also has zero pre-click wobble, and nice’n’firm clicker feedback. We also saw zero driver or sensitivity issues, which often makes us disable tap-based button response in Windows 10.
In short: this is one of the best pads you’ll see in this class.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s keyboard is less remarkable, but still does the job perfectly well. Key travel is limited, much less than Lenovo’s famously deep ThinkPad laptops, but the actuation feedback is good.
Pocket-lint
This is a relatively fast and light-feeling keyboard. It has a two-level backlight as well, and we switched it on more than usual. The key lettering contrast drops off when there’s a light pointing directly at the keyboard as the keys and surround are a metallic grey, with less contrast in their colour than some.
At a glance you’d guess there’s no fingerprint scanner here. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 does have one built into the power button on the side.
Apple macOS 11 Big Sur: All the key new Mac features explored
Performance & Speakers
2x 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos DSP
Ryzen 7 4700U CPU with Vega 8 graphics
8GB DDR4X RAM
Lenovo makes both Intel and AMD versions of the Yoga 7 Slim. Our review model is an AMD one with a Ryzen 7 4700U, 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Pocket-lint
This setup is not quite as powerful as a MacBook Air’s M1 processor, but it is better than the 10th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 you might find in another model. You can get a Core i7 CPU version of this same laptop for a mite more, but we’d stick with AMD.
While the Intel offers better performance in single-core apps, the AMD has twice the number of cores, at eight. And while this is a low-voltage processor made for slim and light laptops, it is punchy.
Windows 10 runs like a dream on the Yoga 7 Slim. This is helped by the very fast SSD, which reads data at a shade under 3500MB/s. Once again: no budget-related cuts here.
The Yoga 7 Slim’s Ryzen 7 4700U also has better built-in graphics than anything on the Intel side (bar the latest 11th Generation chipsets with the “Xe” GPU). You may not get a full gaming laptop experience here, but given it slots into a slim and light case we’re pretty happy.
You can play Skyrim at Ultra graphics, 1080p resolution, and see frame rates that hop between 30fps and 40fps depending on what’s on-screen. Subnautica runs well at 1080p, Low graphics. You lose out on some of the more atmospheric visual effects at this setting, but the game still looks good.
The Witcher 3 is more of a challenge, but is still playable. Stick to 900p resolution and you can play at Low settings, 30ps, comfortably, or at Medium if you can live with some dips to the 20fps range when you get into combat or walk around cities.
A laptop with an Nvidia MX450 graphics card, like the HP Envy 13, will run games better. It’s 50-100 per cent more powerful, depending on context. But the results from the Yoga 7 Slim are still much better than those of a vanilla 10th Gen Intel laptop.
Pocket-lint
The Yoga 7 Slim also has respectable speakers, with some caveats to note. There are drivers to each side of the keyboard, in those obvious hole-pocked grilles.
While not quite MacBook-grade, the sound does have some real mid-range output and good volume. But much of that comes from the Dolby Atmos digital signal processing.
Atmos is traditionally a way to add height channels to a mix, whether with real speakers or virtual ones. But in laptops this software’s main effect is to max-out the performance of little drivers.
You hear it in full effect in the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim, as the speakers sound weak, quiet and thin with Dolby Atmos disabled. Switched on the audio does tend to sound manipulated, which is a combination of the processing’s effect on the soundstage and that the laptop’s drivers are being pushed to their limits when volume is near full. Still, the result remains more powerful than that of some laptops in this price band.
Connections & Webcam
720p webcam with IR for login
1x HDMI, 2x USB-C (1x with DisplayPort)
Connections on laptops are a bit like headphone jacks on phones. Spend more and you often end up with fewer ports. The Yoga 7 Slim has plenty for our needs. You get two USB-C – the standard outlay for an ultra-pricey laptop – plus a stack of “older” connections.
Pocket-lint
There’s a full-size HDMI, two USB 3.2 ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. It’s only missing connectors that frankly don’t belong on a laptop like this in 2020, such as an Ethernet port and VGA connector.
We like that Lenovo recognises not everyone who buys a Yoga 7 Slim will have switched entirely to USB-C peripherals.
That said, the webcam doesn’t get the same attention. It’s a 720p camera with a soft, dull image. You can use the camera to login, because there’s a Windows Hello-compatible IR camera by its side. This is used to recognise your face regardless of the light level. The webcam itself doesn’t hold up so well in low light.
Battery Life
60.4Wh battery
65/95W charging (65W adapter included)
Charging over USB-C
Lenovo makes a massive statement about the Yoga 7 Slim’s battery, that it can last up to 17.5 hours. We were fully prepared to do our usual spiel about how manufacturers test their laptops’ batteries with benchmarks from the 1970s, using screen settings so dim you can’t even see the display. And then, well, we did some testing of our own.
Five hours of 1080p streamed YouTube at 60 per cent brightness only saw the charge level drop to 70 per cent, suggesting a total runtime of about 16 hours 40 minutes.
Pocket-lint
That seemed almost unbelievably long, so we tried playing The Witcher 3 until the battery died. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7’s brightness was maxed and we minimised graphics settings and resolution, to increase the load on the CPU while still using 100 per cent of the GPU’s power. We started at 4:58pm, it died at 6:47pm. A shade under two hours: better than the vast majority of gaming laptops but then again the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 doesn’t have a dedicated power-hungry GPU.
We like to rely as much on real-world use as possible for our reviews at Pocket-lint. But the Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim’s battery really caught our interest, so we put it through some more battery benchmarks.
PC-testing suite PCMark 10 has a series of tests that emulate the workloads of real-world situations. We tried “modern office”, which uses some basic browsing and productivity apps punctuated by some gaps, stand-ins for your going to make a cup of tea or slacking off on your phone.
The Yoga 7 Slim lasts 20 hours 1 minute at 50 per cent screen brightness, using its CPU-throttling Battery Saver mode. This seemed ridiculous so we re-ran the test at 73 per cent brightness and took off the processor limits. It still lasted 18 hours 11 minutes.
We give in. It’s all true. The Lenovo Yoga 7 Slim lasts forever.
Pocket-lint
Its battery is big at 60.7Wh, 17 per cent higher capacity than the latest Dell XPS 13. But the real hero here is the AMD Ryzen 4700U, which scales so well between exertion levels it starts to look more like the revolutionary Apple M1 CPU.
Charging speed is less impressive, though. It takes around 2.5 hours to charge from flat. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 uses USB-C to charge and comes with a 65W adapter. This laptop does support a form of fast-charging, for 50 per cent juice in 30 minutes – much like a decent Android phone – but this requires Lenovo’s 95W charger (and we didn’t get one in the box).
Verdict
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 is never going to be as renowned as the MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13, but we think it’s a better all-round buy for many. Apple charges a premium for the most comparable Air spec. The closest Dell XPS 13 config costs even more and is worse at playing games.
But it’s not all about money. The Yoga Slim 7 has a lovely aluminium casing, lots of power, lots of storage, a vibrant screen, an excellent glass trackpad, and incredibly long battery life.
Yes, we’d love the Yoga Slim 7 even more if its speakers had higher quality drivers and it had a webcam without cataracts. But would we pay hundreds more for them? Not a chance. As it is this is one of the best laptops available at this price point.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
HP Envy 13
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Pound for pound the HP Envy 13 is probably the most alluring alternative to the Yoga. We loved the late 2019 version for its power and all-metal build, all at the right price. The 2020 update nets you much better gaming performance, thanks to an Nvidia MX450 graphics card. But the Lenovo lasts longer, has a more powerful CPU and a glass touchpad.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
MacBook Air 13
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Ok, so the MacBook Air is a more interesting laptop than the Lenovo Yoga 7, but is it a better buy? For video editing and other intensive jobs we’d buy the Air. Use M1 processor-optimised apps and performance will be better, and the battery will last far longer. However, thanks to Apple’s pricey upgrades system the Lenovo costs a stack less if you need 512GB storage rather than 256GB.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
Dell XPS 13
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The Dell is Windows laptop royalty. But if you’re into the core substance of computing it simply seems clear the Lenovo is a better buy. It’s more powerful, using multi-core optimised apps, the battery is bigger and lasts longer. The XPS 13’s benefits are all to do with design and portability. It has a smaller footprint, is 4mm thinner, and slightly lighter. You’ll have to decide if that’s worth several hundred pounds.
Read our review
Writing by Andrew Williams.
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