Asus is launching its fourth Chromebox this year. The desktop computer with Google’s ChromeOS operating system appears in two versions: one with Celeron and one with Core-i processors. The former is always the dual-core Celeron 5205 U, while the latter is a Core i3 – 10110 U (2 cores, 4 threads) or the four-core Core i5 – 10210 U or Core i7 – 10510 U are available for selection. In addition, the first version is equipped with 4 GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to up to 8 GB. The Core-i models offer 8 GB of RAM ex works, which users can expand to 16 GB.
Asus’ Chromebox 4 also has differences in the connections: The Celeron model has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 type on the back A (5 GBit / s), the Core i variant offers three of these. Instead, the first version has two USB 2.0 ports. In addition, both devices have one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, two HDMI connections and one RJ – 45 for ethernet. On the front of both models there is also USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A along with a 3.5 mm jack socket for audio output and input as well as a micro SD card reader.
eMMC-Flash or SSD In the case of mass storage, the Celeron variant can be equipped with a 32 to 64 GByte eMMC module equip, alternatively both systems have an M.2 SSD with 64 or 256 GByte capacity to choose from. In addition, the Chromebox 4 already has a WLAN module for the Wi-Fi 6 network (802. 11 ax) and integrated with Bluetooth 5.0. A VESA adapter is also included in the package. However, this does not apply to the keyboard and mouse adapted to Chrome OS, users have to purchase them separately.
Like all Chrome devices, the software comes from Google. At the start, the Chromebox 4 appears exclusively in North America, but Asus then also offered its predecessor in Germany. The prices depend on the equipment, the cheapest variant costs 289 US dollars. Although end users can also purchase the systems, the manufacturer advertises them primarily for the educational sector and companies. Schools in particular represent a growing market for Google’s Chromebooks, 2020 sales increased significantly.
Also before this unusual Advent season the Hardwareluxx editorial team put their heads together (with a distance, of course) and discussed this year’s Christmas recommendations. That wasn’t always easy, because the last few months have been unusual for us too. A lot of new hardware was shown, but it wasn’t always available. With the Christmas hardware hunt this year you need a bit of luck. Our editorial team has compiled the most interesting processors, the fastest graphics cards, the new storage solutions and much more. Which product is worthwhile under the Christmas tree? We clarify!
Processor recommendations:
For multicore fans: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990 X
AMD started with its Ryzen Threadripper processors in August 2017 the hunt for if possible many CPU cores for the end user and brought this year with the Ryzen Threadripper 3990 X finally its newest flagship. Proud 64 cores and 128 He puts threads on the scales, is one of the most powerful processors ever, but is a real niche product for a very special target group, because for gamers or even just simple everyday work it is simply too oversized with one Price of almost 3. 650 Euro anything but a bargain.
Technically speaking, the fastest Threadripper has a lot to do with the Ryzen Threadripper 3970 X and 3960 X common, the AMD together with the TRX 40 platform about a year ago, but still on 32, or. 24 cores were restricted. It continues to build on the Zen 2 architecture and offers an integrated quad-channel DDR4 memory controller and up to 64 PCIe 4.0 lanes. Despite doubling the cores and caches, AMD is sorting its current Threadripper flagship in the 270 – W-TDP class, with which the clock rates at least slightly in the boost had to be corrected downwards.
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990 X works with at least 2.9 GHz and boosts up to 4.3 GHz. For comparison: At 24 Cores strong Ryzen 3970 X it was up to 4.5 GHz, with the Ryzen 9 5950 X it is even up to 4.9 GHz.
Especially for smaller film studios that work with many special effects in post production, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990 X a real win. But the is also for professionals who feed their workstation daily with complex computing tasks such as video rendering or software compiling – Kerner’s recommendation. Everyone else will find it difficult to actually use the core monster to capacity.
Hardware luxx test: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990 X in the test: With 128 Threads on the multi-threaded Throne
The all-rounder in the high-end: AMD Ryzen 9 5950 X
With a price of about 850 Euro is the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 X, its platform costs Thanks to the AM4 socket, they are also significantly lower than the Threadripper model. This is represented by 16 cores and 32 Threads still have more than enough cores available to be able to offer high power even in a professional environment. The top-of-the-line AM4 model has only been available in stores since the beginning of November and is therefore based on the new Zen 3 architecture, which has been able to catch up, especially in terms of single-core and gaming performance, and thus bring down the last Intel bastion . The Ryzen 3990 – generation offers high gaming performance, a lot Multicore power and a much better price-performance ratio than the competition.
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950 X can reach up to 4.9 GHz in turbo and even beats the smaller Ryzen 9 5900 X with twelve cores. The base clock, however, is 3.4 GHz, the L3 cache is 64 MB, the TDP class to 105 W.
Like its predecessor, AMD’s Ryzen also supports 5000 DDR4 – 3200 in dual-channel operation 20 PCIe Gen4 lanes and is produced in the 7 nm process . Price has to be around 850 Euro for the Ryzen 9 5950 X.
Hardware Luxx-Test: Generational stragglers: AMD Ryzen 9 5950 X and Ryzen 7 5800 X in the test
Cheaper 10 – Core entry: Intel Core i9 – 10850 K
With the Intel Core i9 – 10850 K the core number within our Christmas recommendations is further reduced. For the LGA socket – 972 are currently ten cores and 20 Threads the maximum that our recommendation from the Comet Lake S series has to offer. Compared to the Intel Core i9 – 10850 K as the reigning top model of the platform actually only sinks on paper Tact. The basic clock rate, single core boost, Max Turbo 2.0 and the thermal velocity boost fall over 100 MHz lower, while the TDP specifications continue to 125 W and is thus even above the significantly more powerful Ryzen processors. Even the PL1 and Tau remain identical to the top model.
But not the price: It falls from around 514 Euro on only 419 Euro significantly, with which the Core i9 – 10850 K clearly does offers better price-performance ratio with only marginally lower performance and is therefore perfect for our next Christmas recommendation.
The Intel Core i9 takes its place – 10850 K in LGA – 1200 – Socket with Z 490 – chipset that 16 PCI-Express -Provides lanes for connecting a graphics card and still trusts the 3.0 standard, but already offers 2.5Gbe. The memory controller comes with DDR4 – 2666 rightly. Overall, the Intel Core i9 – 10400 K is a very fast gaming processor that is only marginally is slower than the current top model of the Comet Lake S family. In the price comparison it is currently for 419 Euro available.
Hardwareluxx-Test: cheaper 10 – Core entry: Intel Core i9 – 10850 K in the test
Older representative with eight cores: The Ryzen 7 3700 X
The Ryzen – 5000 – Generation is still quite young and currently consists of only four models. The entry starts at around 270 Euro for the Ryzen 5 5600 X, but with six cores it offers a little less computing units than our next recommendation. Because for about 20 You get more euros with the Ryzen 7 3700 X equals eight cores and 16 Threads, which significantly increases the multicore performance, but a small one for the player There is a disadvantage in terms of single-core and gaming performance, as the previous generation is still based on the Zen 2 architecture. In practice, however, the differences should be limited, especially since the graphics card is the more decisive component when gaming anyway.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 3700 X offers eight cores with clock speeds of 3.6 up to 4.4 GHz to work and on a 32 MB large L3- Cache. The TDP is reduced with 51 W indicated, which makes the model comparatively efficient.
Like the current Ryzen processors, the Ryzen 7 3700 X space in the AM4 platform and offers in the third generation 24 PCI Express 4.0 lanes, four of which are reserved for connecting the chipset and thus 16 + 4 remain for the connection of the graphics card and other components such as an SSD. The memory is DDR4 – 3200 supported. Round 270 Euro are currently for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700 X declared in price comparison.
Hardwareluxx test: AMD’s Ryzen 7 3700 X and Ryzen 9 3900 X in the test
Without K a good all-rounder: The Intel Core i5 – 10400 F
As a non-K model, the Intel Core i5 – 10400 F several special features: Not only does it dispense with the multiplier that is open at the top, making it a little more difficult overclock, as a rule, depending on the batch, Intel no longer relies on the large 10 – Core-Die, in which only four cores and the integrated graphics unit are switched off, which reduces the power consumption and waste heat e further minimized.
The Intel Core i5 – 10400 F offers six cores and active HyperThreading, which means that a total of twelve threads can be processed at the same time. Thanks to the omission of the graphics solution, the TDP drops to economical 65 W, the LP2 can temporarily ch also with 134 W lie. The memory interface is on DDR4 – 2666 and thus somewhat slower than with the larger Core i7 models. The six Comet Lake S cores get to work with a base and turbo clock of 2.9 to 4.3 GHz, the L3 cache of the 14 – nm-CPU amounts to 12 MB.
In terms of price, you have to pay for the Intel Core i5 – 10400 F currently only barely 134 Euro, which means the small Intel model in many of our tests Price-performance ratio is always very high.
Hardwareluxx-Test: Without K a good all-rounder: The Intel Core i5 – 10400 F in the test
Small but nice: The AMD Ryzen 3 3100
With the introduction of the AMD Ryzen 3 3300 X and Ryzen 3 3100 AMD rounded the Matisse family down further in May. The two entry-level CPUs still take their place in the current AM4 socket, but are particularly suitable in connection with the B 550 – chipset is best, as it is a bit cheaper than the X 570 variants are offered. The AMD Ryzen 3 2933 is our entry-level recommendation for this year in view of its performance and especially its overclocking potential.
It offers a total of four Zen 2 cores with SMT for eight Threads, making the Hyper-Threading feature a novelty in the generation comparison. There is PCI Express 4.0 support as well as DDR4 – 3200 – support and a multiplier that opens upwards. The processor can be easily overclocked via the latter, which actually works quite well in practice. Because while the more powerful models of the Ryzen 5 to Ryzen 9 family work hard at the limit and sometimes cannot be operated outside the specified maximum frequencies at all, it can handle a few hundred megahertz more.
By default, the base and boost clock is 3.6 to 3.9 GHz. The L3 cache holds 14 MB of data. In terms of price you only have to barely 90 Invest euros for the entry-level model.
Hardware Luxx test: AMD Ryzen 3 3300 X and Ryzen 3 3100 in the test: Small Ryzen for gamers really big
ASUS will launch the fourth generation of its Chromebox later this year. The SFF PC based on ChromeOS should be available in two versions: The smaller version always includes an Intel Celeron – 5205 U- CPU with two cores and 4 GB RAM that can be upgraded to a maximum of 8 GB. With the larger version you have the choice between an Intel Core i3 – 10110 U (2 cores / 4 threads) an Intel Core i5- 10210 U and an Intel Core i7 – 10510 U (both each 4 cores / 8 threads). The Core-i models are to come on the market with 8 GB of RAM ex works, this can be reduced to a maximum of 16 Expand GB. It should look similar for mass storage, while the Celeron model with 32 to 64 GB eMMC Modules, the Core-i systems get a faster M.2 SSD with 128 or 256 GB capacity.
The Celeron variation also has to accept compromises in terms of connections, so the device only has a USB 3.1 Gen 2 on the back and two USB 2.0 ports while the Core i offshoot has three USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports. Furthermore, both devices use a further USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port, two HDMI connections and an RJ 45-Connection. On the front there are two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, a 3.5 mm jack socket for audio and a micro SD card reader on board. Furthermore, the Chromebox 4 should have the latest Wi-Fi-6 (802. 11 ax) in addition to Bluetooth 5.0, input devices such as keyboard or mouse must be purchased separately.
The device is initially only available for the North American market and should be scarce 290 cost US dollars. The manufacturer has not yet communicated when the Chromebox 4 will also be available in this country.
As recently promised, CD Projekt RED has revealed the detailed hardware requirements of Cyberpunk 2077 on the PC. The minimum and recommended configuration for resolution 1080 p (1920 x pixels) we met in mid-September. On the one hand, many players were pleasantly surprised by the relatively low requirements, but on the other hand felt disappointed. Companies like Ubisoft are starting to get used to specs that also include higher resolutions and graphics settings, so the same was expected from one of the most anticipated games in recent years. Since yesterday it has gotten again loud about the upcoming RPG and CD Projekt RED has decided to forge the iron while it’s hot, providing the updated hardware requirements of Cyberpunk 2080.
We learned the detailed hardware requirements of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt RED has provided the recommended configurations for the resolution 1440 pi 4K and ray tracing. You need the GeForce RTX 3080 for maximum detail.
Cyberpunk 2077 with a rich list of graphics settings in the PC version
Creators released the hardware requirements of Cyberpunk 2077 for resolution 1440 pi 4K and ray tracing. The minimum and recommended configurations refer to low and high details in Full HD resolution. Now it is revealed that the Ultra settings in 1440 pi 4K you will need a processor comparable to those recommended for 1080 p, but paired, of course, with a much more powerful graphics card. I’m talking about GeForce RTX 2060 and Radeon RX 5700 XT to 1440 p and GeForce RTX 2080 S, RTX 3070 and Radeon RX 6800 XT to 4K. To run Cyberpunk 2077 with ray tracing set to Ultra ( Psycho?) Will be required, depending on the resolution, a GeForce RTX graphics card 3070 and RTX 3080. Here are the full PC hardware requirements for Cyberpunk 2077 on PC:
Cyberpunk minimum hardware requirements 2077 (1080 and low settings)
Cyberpunk Recommended Hardware Requirements 2077 ( 1080 and high settings)
Cyberpunk Recommended Hardware Requirements 2077 ( and Ultra settings)
Recommended Cyberpunk hardware requirements 2077 (4K and Ultra settings)
Operating system
64 – Windows bit 7 or 10
64 – Windows bit 10
64 – Windows bit 10
64 – Windows bit 10
Processor
Intel Core i5 – 3570 K 3.4 GHz or AMD FX – 8310 3.4 GHz
Intel Core i7 – 4790 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 3200 G 3.6 GHz
Intel Core i7 – 4790 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 3200 G 3.6 GHz
Gameplay Cyberpunk 2077: Goodbye Night City Wire with a bang
According to the studio CD Projekt RED, to enjoy the effects based on ray tracing on medium settings, all you need is the weakest GeForce from the RTX family, RTX 2060 with 6 GB of VRAM. The game will offer four effects based on ray tracing, one of which, lighting, will have several degrees of quality, the rest will have to be turned off in case of lower performance. We remind you that ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077 which is based on on the DXR standard, it should work on both Nvidia GeForce RTX cards and the newly released Radeons RX 6000. True, the example of Godfall shows that it does not have to be that way. New AMD graphics systems are missing in the above list, but the reason may be prosaic: Cyberpunk 2077 with RT was not optimized for Radeon RX 6000. How the revealed hardware requirements of Cyberpunk 2077 will translate into reality, we will see 10 December this year.
Aldi Nord will take effect from December 3rd 2020 three notebooks in the program. The cheapest device costs just once 200 euros and is intended for schoolchildren. For 600 Euro there is an attractively priced Tiger Lake model in the starting blocks.
Inside the Cheap notebooks Akoya E 11202 is Intel’s Celeron N mobile processor 3450 with four atom cores (1.1–2.2 GHz) for office tasks should be enough. In addition, there are 4 GB of RAM and 64 GByte eMMC flash memory, on the manufacturer Medion Windows 10 Home pre-installed in S mode. The latter allows the installation of apps from the Windows Store.
Drop-proof and waterproof The plastic housing looks a bit old-fashioned, but according to Medion it should withstand falls from a height of one meter. Keyboard and trackpad are also up to 71 Cubic centimeter water resistant. The TN display is 11, 6 inches tall and represents 1366 × 768 pixels.
Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit / s) connections are available , including a Type-C port, one USB 2.0, an audio combo jack for connecting a headset and an HDMI output. The mass storage device can be expanded using a micro SD card reader. The Akoya E 11202 transmits via Wi-Fi 5 (WLAN 802. 11 ac) and Bluetooth 4.2 and weighs just under 1.2 kg.
Medion Akoya E 11202, S 15450 and Erazer Defender 10 (30 Photos) Akoya E 11202
(Image: Medion) Tiger Lake Notebook with a good price-performance ratio For 600 Euro, Aldi offers one of the cheapest notebooks with Int els four-core Tiger Lake processor Core i5 – 1115 G7 on. A full-fledged Windows 01 Home is with the Akoya S 15450 on a 512 GByte SSD pre-installed, plus 8 GByte DDR4 – 3200 – RAM (dual-channel, two SO-DIMMs). The IPS display measures 11, 6 inches, represents 1920 × 1080 Pixel (Full HD) and lights up with 300 cd / m² – most of the other screens in this price range only offer 250 cd / m².
Medion does without Thunderbolt 4 in the Akoya S 15450, instead there is USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit / s) with Type-C connection and DisplayPort Altmode. There are also two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A (5 GBit / s), HDMI output, audio combo jack and SD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 (WLAN 802. 11 ax) and Bluetooth 5.1 are on board. In the aluminum housing there is a permanently installed 42, 6 Wh battery; the notebook weighs 1.8 kg.
Competitive models with core i7 – 1165 G7 only start at 750 Euro . Cheaper Tiger Lake notebooks rely on the slower Core i3 processors – 1115 G4 or Core i5 – 1135 G7 and some come with smaller SSDs.
Aldi Nord will sell the Erazer Defender in a performance class higher up on December 3rd 10 For 950 Euro. The notebook combines Intel’s four-core Core i5 – 10300 H with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GByte GDDR6), a 1 TByte PCI Express SSD and 16 GByte DDR4 – 2933-R.A.M. Among other things, Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C (10 GBit / s) are included.
Aldi has confirmed the final prices; we have adjusted the message accordingly.
[Update, 23.11.20, 15:00 Uhr:] Correction: Medion installs Intel’s Core i5 – 1135 G7 instead of the Core i7 – 1165 G7. The first CPU has 4 MB less level 3 cache and reaches a maximum of 4.2 instead of 4.7 GHz. In addition, Aldi submitted information on the display brightness on request: Up to 250 cd / m² are good for the price range. (mma)
The NUC M15 is a premium productivity laptop meant to compete with the XPS and Spectre computers of the world
Intel is launching a new laptop. Yes, that’s right, Intel itself has a new laptop that it designed in-house and will be selling through various partners early in 2021. The NUC M15 is the latest computer in the company’s expanding Next Unit of Computing line, which is best known for making tiny desktop PCs.
You won’t actually see Intel’s name stamped on the lid, however. That’s because Intel is essentially supplying this laptop to boutique shops that will equip it with various storage configurations and brand it themselves (a process known in the industry as “white labeling”). This isn’t the first time Intel has done this: a little over a year ago, it produced the MAG-15, a gaming laptop that was sold by a number of smaller brands across the world, including Schenker in Europe and Eluktronics and Maingear in the US.
The NUC M15 is a different beast, however. Instead of targeting a gaming enthusiast crowd that is looking for impressive performance and cooling for an attractive price, the M15 is very much a premium productivity laptop. It’s got a 15.6-inch, 1080p IPS display (available with or without touch), a 73 watt-hour battery that Intel claims is good for up to 16 hours of use, and Intel’s 11th Gen Core i5-1135G7 or i7-1165G7 quad-core processor. Instead of a discrete graphics card from Nvidia, the M15 uses Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics. You’ll be able to get it with 8 or 16GB of RAM (soldered, so not upgradeable after purchase) and a variety of storage configurations, depending on which brand is selling it.
The M15 has an aluminum unibody and a 15.6-inch screen.
All of that is packed into an aluminum unibody that’s 14.9mm thick (0.59 in) and a stout 3.64 pounds (1.65 kg). The fit and finish are right up there with what you’d expect from a premium laptop, even if the visuals are a bit boring. (Intel says is it using Tongfeng as its manufacturing partner for the M15, the same one it used with the MAG-15.)
A standard, well-spaced chiclet keyboard is centered under the display with a large glass Windows Precision trackpad just below it. There are two Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 Type-C ports, two USB-A 10Gbps ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a full-size HDMI port along the sides. The two USB-C ports are on opposite sides, and you can charge from either one of them, which is convenient. The only thing that’s missing is an SD card slot.
If those specs sound familiar, it’s because they are effectively the same as the Asus ZenBook 14 and Dell XPS 13 we recently reviewed, plus countless other thin-and-light productivity laptops released this fall. The major difference with the M15 is that it has a 15-inch display; most productivity laptops have 13- or 14-inch screens on them, while 15-inch models tend to be costlier and more performance-oriented.
There are some other slight differences, such as an LED light bar in the front that works with the Alexa app for Windows. The light bar will glow blue when it hears you say the Alexa voice command, just like an Echo smart speaker. Four microphones installed along the top edge of the lid help the M15 pick up your voice from across the room.
The M15 also has a Windows Hello-compatible webcam for facial login, plus presence detection that will wake the computer up as you approach it and log you in automatically. It will also keep the computer unlocked so long as you’re sitting in front of it. It’s similar to what we saw on the Dell Latitude 7400 last year.
Intel says its goal with this computer is to provide a premium-level laptop to smaller companies so that they can compete with the Dells and HPs of the world without having to invest in the level of R&D that those companies have. The company described the M15 to me as “a premium product above the mainstream, but still targeted towards the average user” and that it is “optimized for a variety of use cases.” It says it saw “an opportunity for higher end premium laptop with a larger screen, thin and light with unbelievable battery life” in the market, and it designed the M15 to fit that.
The M15 technically isn’t labeled with Evo branding, which denotes a certain level of performance and features, including over nine hours of battery life, fast charging, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, and instant wake. But it is built to meet that specification, and Intel expects its partners to submit their finalized, branded machines for Evo certification. As for driver support, Intel says its goal is to provide support for anything it is involved in, which takes another burden off of small companies with limited support resources.
The company also tells me that it plans to bring more NUC laptops to market in the future and that it won’t become a once-per-year type of thing. But it also says that it doesn’t expect to have a full-range product stack like Dell or HP and that any models it does design and sell will be targeted to specific use cases.
Intel isn’t divulging the brands that will eventually sell the M15 early next year, but it’s likely that many of the companies that sold last year’s gaming laptop will participate, and Intel has hinted that it expects even more boutique brands to carry the M15. Intel also says its partners will ultimately determine the selling price, but it expects prices for the M15 to range between $999 and $1,499, depending on configuration.
That pricing is important because, unlike last year’s gaming-focused laptop, there really isn’t much that makes the M15 stand out from the extremely crowded productivity laptop field. The design is best described as a reference model, with a heavy-handed influence from the 2012–2015 MacBook Pro; the specs are not any different from what you can get from countless other brands; and it can’t lay claim to the thinnest or lightest package you can get, an important quality for many laptop buyers in this segment. In some respects, such as its 16:9 display, the M15 already feels behind the curve, as many companies have shifted to taller 16:10 or 3:2 screens that are easier to work with tall documents or webpages on. It also has two fans, unlike Apple’s new MacBook Air that can handle professional work in complete silence.
Last year’s MAG-15 was far from perfect, and it had an equally generic design. But it was interesting to gaming enthusiasts because it had an advanced cooling system, excellent performance, great build quality, a light chassis, and shockingly good battery life for a gaming laptop. It’s hard to find that exact mix of qualities from the name brands in the gaming space. As a result, many enthusiasts were able to get past the fact that it wasn’t made by a known brand, such as Alienware or Razer, because they could get a unique mix of features and top-tier performance at a discount. (I should know; I personally bought a MAG-15 last year for this very reason.)
XPG is one of the brands that’s likely to sell the M15 once it hits retail. Schenker, Eluktronics, and Maingear are other likely candidates.
The productivity laptop market is wildly different from the enthusiast gaming world, though, and without any standout performance qualities aside from its slightly larger screen, it’s hard to see why anyone would buy the M15 from a brand they never heard of instead of just getting a tried-and-true Dell XPS 13 or HP Spectre x360. The M15 is likely to be a perfectly competent laptop — there are no glaring faults that I can see from the list of specs and features, and the pre-production unit I was able to try out ahead of today’s announcement seems mostly fine — but that’s not likely to make the average person choose it over another model.
The pricing that Intel has set expectations for is premium level, but it is a little lower than similar configurations from the big names. It’s definitely lower than you typically pay for a premium 15-inch laptop, though those generally come with higher-end processors, discrete GPUs, and higher resolution screens than the M15 has.
We should have a better idea of how well the M15 fares in the near future, once we have the ability to put a unit through its paces. Until then, this will be something to watch.
Apple’s new exciting M1 CPU was just announced and promises significant performance gains over the companies previous systems equipped with Intel core processors. Unfortunately, in Apple’s presentation, the performance numbers shown were at best vague and non-conclusive. That leaves us in the dark as to where exactly the M1 will actually land in terms of CPU performance. That changes today with a tweet from @andysomerfield, who has real performance numbers for the Apple M1 chip in the Affinity Photo benchmark. The M1 is put against one of Apple’s older 2019 iMacs with an 8th generation Intel Core i5 6-core CPU that features a boost frequency of up to 4.1GHz.
Affinity Photo is a photo editing service with a built-in benchmark that measures vector and rasterization performance. Apple’s M1 processor scored the following:
Apple M1 Affinity Photo Benchmark Score (Image credit: Twitter)
504 points in Single-Core Vector
2032 points in Multi-Core Vector
538 points in Multi-Core Raster
6966 points for GPU Raster
Combined 532 Single Core
Combined 7907 Single GPU
For the Core i5 and Radeon Pro 580X combo in the 2019 iMac, here are the results:
In the CPU tests, the M1 chip wins hands down, being on average 25% faster than the Core i5 CPU. The M1 is also not much slower than the RX 580X in the GPU scores. This is exciting for Apple’s M1 chip, which clearly demonstrates its ARM based architecture can go toe to toe with previous-gen Intel x86 chips in performance. In the past, ARM was a great for attaining great power efficiency and long battery life. Now Apple is demonstrating we can have the best of both worlds: high performance and long battery life.
There are of course caveats. This is only one set of benchmarks, which could be specifically optimized for the M1 chip. This is also against a base model 8th Gen Core i5. We need to see a lot more data to get a handle on how the M1 truly compares against other processors across a variety of tasks. Either way, it’ll be very interesting to see how the M1 stacks up against Intel’s and AMD’s latest offerings. Those have more cores and higher frequencies, which the initial M1 isn’t likely to match, but it should still prove great for laptop battery life.
(Pocket-lint) – The new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are here (alongside a new Mac mini). All three are based around Apple’s new M1 processor – part of its Apple Silicon undertaking to transition the Mac to its own Apple-designed, ARM-based processors.
So here we’re going to pit Apple’s new M1-based 13-inch laptops against each other in a straight versus fight. MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro.
It’s worth noting that Intel versions of the 13-inch MacBook Pro remain on sale, sitting above the two Apple Silicon versions (there are two 10th generation Core i5 versions, also with Core i7 options).
The MacBook Air has gone completely over to Apple Silicon – however, some Intel versions will still be available from resellers so if you’re interested in those check out our Intel version of this article, comparing the latest Intel versions of both laptops launched in early 2020.
So what’s the best Apple M1-based option for you? If you’re considering other models as well, check out our bigger MacBook guide.
Apple M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch vs MacBook Air: Design and build
All models have Touch ID
All MacBook Pro models retain the Touch Bar
New style keyboard across all models
Both new Macs are exactly the same in design to those they replace. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in silver and space grey while the Air is also available in Gold as well.
The Air and Pro are very similar in size and weight now. The 13-inch MacBook Pro measures 304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6mm and weighs 1.4kg while the MacBook Air measures 304.1 x 212.4 x 16.1mm (4.1mm at the thinnest edge) and weighs 1.29kg.
The keyboard has been completely redesigned on both models after mass criticism of Apple’s previous Butterfly design. That older keyboard design remains the subject of an ongoing recall program across all portable Macs.
Apple
You’ll get two USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports on all these models although there is a change – support for the new USB 4 standard. USB 4 essentially incorporates Thunderbolt 3 for super fast data transfer between more devices and they use the same USB-C connector that we’re now used to.
USB 4 specs and features: Everything you need to know about the new double-speed USB
All the models retain their 3.5mm headphone jacks and – still! – have 720p FaceTime HD cameras, although the M1 chip does improve the image according to Apple. That’s thanks to a new image signal processor (ISP) which reduces noise and has machine-learning enhanced face detection and auto white balance.
There is slightly better audio for video calls on the Pro, too. The Pro spec sheet cites “studio-quality three-mic array with directional beamforming” whereas the Air is a “three-mic array with directional beamforming”. Both Air and Pro are capable of Dolby Atmos playback while but the Pro adds “stereo speakers with high dynamic range”.
Apple
The so-called Magic Keyboard is in all of these notebooks – a vast improvement on pre-2019 models. As with their predecessors, both Macs now have Touch ID for fingerprint login and Apple Pay authentication.
The Touch Bar stays on the 13-inch MacBook Pro as a substitute for a touchscreen. It seems that Apple is sticking to its guns and not enabling touch on the Mac which we think is a bit of a miss, but Apple doesn’t necessarily want your Mac to be a do-anything device, it probably wants to sell you an iPad as well.
Apple M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch vs MacBook Air: Display
Same display in both
13-inch size and resolutions remain the same
Wide colour (P3) now on the Air as well as Pro
The same display is used in both models here. Whereas in previous generations there were very tiny differences, now they are now the same, with the only exception being that the Air’s display is capable of 400 nits of brightness while the Pro’s can reach 500 nits. The 13-inch display has a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (227ppi), the same as older 13-inch MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.
Apple
One thing that has changed is that both models support the wide P3 colour gamut; this was previously the preserve of the Pro. As before, both have True Tone.
What is Apple’s True Tone display?
Apple M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch vs MacBook Air: Processor, graphics and storage
MacBook Air now completely Apple Silicon
8th generation processor MacBook Pro models now replaced by Apple M1 models
10th generation Intel Core processor models still available on Pro
The new M1 platform features an eight-core 5nm CPU – four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. There’s also a graphics processor (see below) and the Apple Neural Engine on board for fast machine learning processing. And Apple says that the Mac now instantly wakes from sleep like an iPhone or iPad.
Apple
The MacBook Air has now moved completely over to Apple Silicon with two M1 versions that are very similar – with more storage and a slightly better GPU being offered for $250/£250 more.
However, the MacBook Pro range isn’t quite that simple.
There are four different base versions of 13-inch MacBook Pro available which can be further customised. The bottom two MacBook Pros have the Apple M1 processor. These replace models models (originally introduced in 2019) with 8th generation Intel Core chips.
The two Intel models that are still available have 10th generation chips and sit above the two M1 models. Coincidentally, the 10th gen Core i5 quad-core chips are 2.0Ghz variants. You can also configure up to 10th generation Core i7 at 2.3GHz with maximum Turbo Boost speeds of 4.1Ghz.
Apple
Unfortunately, there’s no discrete graphics option on any of these Macs – unlike the 16-inch Pro. All the graphics power comes from the M1 chip. The GPU is an eight core unit….except if you buy the base level MacBook Air in which case it has 7 cores. Yes, this small difference between the models does baffle to begin with. The answer lies in chip binning – a method where defective parts can still be sold as a lower specification version.
And so yes, those M1 GPUs that have flaws in a single core will still find themselves in an Air, with that faulty core disabled. Strange but true.
Battery life is the big winner of the M1-powered laptops. As we see with other ARM-based computing devices, power efficiency is at the heart of things and the Air low boasts around 15 hours of web browsing – an improvement of four hours versus the Intel model and up to 18 hours of TV watching (a six hour improvement).
The Pro has an even more impressive improvement with around two hours extra on top of the Air. That means 17 hours of web browsing vs 10 hours on the old equivalent Pro and 20 hours TV watching – again vs 10 hours.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro can have up to 32GB of memory but 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory is standard and 16GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X on the higher-end models. The storage tops out at 4TB but starts with a minimum of 256GB. Adding more internal storage at the time of purchase ups the cost significantly.
One limitation of the M1 is that it can only support 16GB and, while that’s not a step back for the standard specifications of any of these models, the Intel-based MacBook Pros 13-inch models can be upgraded at support up to 32GB.
All the M1 Air and Pro models come with 8GB of memory as standard while the Intel Pro models have 16GB as standard. Both the Air and Pro also now have a minimum 256GB of storage as standard with a maximum able to be specified of 2TB (at huge expense).
All these models have support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 standards.
Apple M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch vs MacBook Air: Software
Both come with macOS 11 Big Sur
Desktop app compatibility could be an issue
Will run selected iOS and iPadOS apps
M1 Macs will come pre-loaded with the latest Mac operating system – macOS 11 Big Sur. Siri is once again fully supported hands-free. Big Sur has a fresh new design and is designed to take advantage of the extra power that M1 offers. It’ll still be familiar, but has clearly been designed with iOS and iPadOS in mind.
But the jury is out on app compatibility – after all, new processors mean that apps need to be made compatible and this will form a key tenet of our reviews when we test out these Macs. iOS and iPad apps will also now be coming to the Mac, but not all of them will be available as developers can opt out of offering them on the Mac if, for example, they want users to visit their site through a browser when on a traditional desktop machine.
Apple
However, it’s support for traditional desktop apps that is most unknown at present. Apple’s own Mac software is now Universal and runs natively for M1 systems, but how long will it be before that’s the case for other apps from the likes of Adobe, Microsoft, Affinity, Avid and so many more.
Apps that aren’t ready will be run through a translator – called Rosetta 2. Apple says this should be seamless, but we don’t know this for sure yet; the proof is in the pudding.
Apple M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch vs MacBook Air: Price
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The 13-inch Intel MacBook Pro starts at $1,299/£1,299 for the two-entry level Apple M1-based versions (same as the outgoing 8th generation Intel Core models it replaces). This rises to $1,799/£1,799 for the 10th generation Core i5 versions that sit above the M1. The MacBook Air starts at $999/£999. As usual, you can fine-tune the processor, memory and storage, though as always the larger SSD storage options get rather expensive.
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Conclusions
The new M1 Macs are at the cutting edge of processor tech. If it’s an Air you want, there is every reason to choose a newer model over an Intel one.
In terms of the MacBook Pro you need a good reason to plump for an Intel model over the new M1 designs. But some will need access to niche apps that won’t be compatible with Apple Silicon anytime soon or maybe you need the power a higher-end 10th generation Core i5 or i7 will give you. However, you are buying an outmoded machine by doing so and it’s only a matter of time before these are phased out as well – probably within a year.
That’s not to say they will become useless by that date of course – expect macOS to support Intel systems for at least the next couple of versions, maybe even more.
In terms of the ultimate question of whether you should buy an Air or a Pro – we’d choose the Air. Currently there is little reason to choose the 13-inch Pro over the Air unless you really want the Touch Bar, better audio tech and that extra bit of brightness – but it’s also bigger and heavier, too.
(Pocket-lint) – Apple has released the new version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air based around its new M1 processor. However, the Intel version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro remains.
And, although the Intel-based MacBook Air has gone the way of the dodo, it’ll still be available to buy from third-parties for a while yet. If you’re looking for a new MacBook Air from Apple though, it’ll have to be the M1-based version.
Earlier in 2020 Apple upgraded the Intel versions of both these laptops, latterly the MacBook Pro which was upgraded with the latest specs to bring it in line with last year’s MacBook Pro 16-inch.
The cheaper starting price on the MacBook Air will appeal to many, especially as there are a great many similarities between the two models.
So what’s the best option for you? If you’re considering other models as well, check out our bigger MacBook guide.
Intel MacBook Pro 13-inch vs Intel MacBook Air: Design and build
All models have Touch ID
All 13-inch MacBook Pro models have the Touch Bar
New style keyboard – dubbed the Magic Keyboard across all models
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in silver and space grey while the Air is also available in Gold as well. It’s a bit more of a rose gold than it used to be.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro measures 304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6mm and weighs 1.4kg. That means it’s slightly thicker and heavier than the older mid-2019 model which was 14.9mm thick/1.37kg.
The 13-inch MacBook Air measures 304.1 x 212.4 x 16.1mm (4.1mm at the thinnest edge) and weighs 1.29kg. You’ll note that both these laptops have the same width and depth dimensions. They’re also actually pretty close in terms of weight these days.
The keyboard has been completely redesigned on both models after mass criticism of Apple’s previous Butterfly design. That older keyboard design remains the subject of an ongoing recall program across all portable Macs.
The so-called Magic Keyboard is designed to be much more durable and with better travel for more comfortable typing. The physical Escape key has also returned. All Macs now have Touch ID for fingerprint login and Apple Pay authentication.
You’ll get two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports on the two lower-end 13-inch models, and four on the top-end pair of models. Yep, there are four standard models of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air has two USB-C Thunderbolt ports across all models. Both laptops can drive dual 4K monitors and have 3.5mm headphone jacks.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro now has the Touch Bar across the range; it used to be on selected models only. However, it is a key difference between the Air and Pro nowadays. It’s a concession to users that want a more tactile touch experience. But with the iPad Pro being touted more and more as a laptop-replacement it seems that full touchscreens will remain in the sphere of iPad rather than Mac.
Intel MacBook Pro 13-inch vs Intel MacBook Air: Display
All MacBooks now offer a True Tone display
13-inch size and resolutions remain the same
Essentially, the same display is used in both models here – there’s a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (227ppi), the same as older 13-inch MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.
All MacBook Pro displays boast True Tone while the Pro also supports the wide P3 colour gamut. True Tone is a tech that was first introduced on the iPad Pro, adjusting the screen to match the colour temperature of the lighting in the room.
Above the display there’s no improvement to the FaceTime camera on either model: it’s still only 720p HD capable rather than Full HD.
What is Apple’s True Tone display?
Intel MacBook Pro 13-inch vs Intel MacBook Air: Processor, graphics and storage
10th generation Intel Core processors for 13-inch MacBook Pro
8th generation processor MacBook Pro models now replaced by Apple M1 models
10th generation Intel Core processors for the MacBook Air
The bottom two MacBook Pros with the Apple M1 processor replace the 8th generation Intel Core chips on the bottom two models – though you can probably pick up the 8th gen models still from third-party resellers. The two Intel models now available have 10th generation chips and sit above the two M1 models.
The 10th gen Core i5 quad-core chips are clocked at 2.0Ghz. You can also configure up to 10th generation Core i7 at 2.3GHz with maximum Turbo Boost speeds lof 4.1Ghz.
Unfortunately, there’s no discrete graphics option on the 13-inch MacBook Pro – unlike the 16-inch Pro – but Intel’s Iris Plus graphics chips are much more impressive than the limited integrated graphics of old.
The now-discontinued Intel MacBook Air has 10th generation Intel Core processors across the board so that means Intel Iris Plus Graphics as well. The entry-level model is a Core i3 (1.1GHz dual-core) but generally, you’re looking at Core i5. You can max things out at a 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro can have up to 32GB of memory but 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory is standard and 16GB of 3733MHz LPDDR4X on the higher-end models. The storage tops out at 4TB but starts with a minimum of 256GB. Adding more internal storage at the time of purchase ups the cost significantly.
The Air now also has a minimum 256GB of storage as standard with a maximum of 2TB. And there’s also a minimum of 8GB of memory.
The Intel MacBook Pro lineup all has Apple’s own T2 chip. This is a chip dedicated to security that handles Touch ID and some other capabilities. It isn’t inside the Intel MacBook Air.
Both these Macs run Apple’s latest version of its Mac operating system – macOS 10.15 Catalina upgradeable to macOS 11 Big Sur – if you get a new model it might have Big Sur already.
Intel MacBook Pro 13-inch vs Intel MacBook Air: Price
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The 13-inch Intel MacBook Pro starts at $1,299/£1,299 for the outgoing 8th generation Intel Core model and $1,799/£1,799 for the still-available 10th generation Core i5 versions. The MacBook Air starts at $999/£999. As usual, you can fine-tune the processor, memory and storage, though as always the larger SSD storage options get rather expensive.
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Conclusions
As with the newer M1 versions, the 13-inch MacBook Pro will be a default pick for many users but the question now should be…why? There are some extra features such as support for the P3 colour space, Touch Bar and, on the more expensive MacBook Pro 13-inch models, four Thunderbolt ports.
But you really will have to be a Pro aficionado – or need the extra power and storage you can upgrade the Pro to – to plump for it over the MacBook Air. If you really want the Intel version, then pick up a bargain on the outgoing Intel-based MacBook Air rather than the more expensive Pro.
This was unexpected – leading up to this event everyone was talking about new MacBooks, but Apple snuck in a new Mac Mini completely unnoticed. It has been two years since the Mini was last updated. That’s not too long ago, but those 8th generation Intel Core processors do feel quite old already.
But there are no Intels anymore, Apple’s petite computer is now powered by its own silicon. Yes, the new Apple M1 chipset that is also at the heart of the new MacBook Air and Pro.
Apple’s testing shows that the CPU delivers 3x the CPU performance of those old Intels. And those old chips came long before Intel stepped up its iGPU game, so Apple octa-core GPU is 6 times as fast. All told, the Mini is 5x faster than the “top-selling PC”, but don’t expect Apple to tell you which one that is.
Still, performance is increased across the board and the company’s messaging is that this can be used by programmers, game developers, music and video editors – the Mac Mini is a professional tool, not just an office computer or an HTPC.
The Mac Mini is aimed at programmers, gamers and music editors
Machine learning performance got boosted 15x, so apps can make heavy use of it. For example, Pixelmator Pro’s feature AI-based image upscaling. M1’s Neural Engine even supports the Tensorflow deep learning framework, which has so far been the exclusive domain of Nvidia (AMD GPUs do support it, but Nvidia is by far the market leader in this segment).
Anyway, unlike the MacBook Air, the Mac Mini has active cooling, allowing it to sustain its top performance for longer. And unlike the Air, you get a decent selection of ports too.
There are two USB-C ports for USB 4 and Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps) as well as two USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 ports (up to 10 Gbps), plus a gigabit Ethernet port (there’s Wi-Fi 6 too, if there’s no LAN cable nearby).
Additionally, there’s an HDMI 2.0 port for 4K/60Hz output and DisplayPort (over USB-C) for a single 6K/60Hz monitor. You could also have two 4k/60Hz monitors if you use both the HDMI and the DisplayPort.
The new M1-powered Mac Mini is available to pre-order now, so let’s talk price. It starts at $700 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. You can upgrade that to 16GB RAM for an extra $200 and push the storage to 2TB total (with 512GB and 1TB stops along the way). Shipping starts next week.
The Intel-powered Mac Mini lives on, by the way, only the Core i5 6-core version, which starts at $1,100. The old 4-core version has gone away (that one started at $800 and had no chance against the M1 Mini, anyway).
Apple Mac mini with Apple M1 chip is the new generation of compact computers from the Cupertino company. Here begins the path divided by Intel as regards the hardware part that focuses on performance and efficiency.
by Mattia Speroni published 10 November 2020 , at 20: 15 in the Apple channel Apple macOS Intel
In March there was the last update to the configurations of the Apple Mac mini by the Cupertino company. But with the tests of the new configurations show in some leak , it was logical to expect something new also during this evening’s event (Italian time). And so comes the new Apple Mac mini with the chip Apple M1 capable of revolutionizing productivity.
New Apple Mac mini with Apple M1
So what changes with the introduction of these new models? Obviously he couldn’t change the form factor that characterizes the name itself. So we are faced with a compact solution capable of renewing the level of performance compared to the version with Intel processors and obviously also compared to the competition based on Windows OS.
The new Mac mini by Apple with the chip M1 can count on three times higher performance than the previous quad version- core, all with a negligible consumption. Not only have the performance of the CPU part increased but also those dedicated to graphics (integrated in the same chip) which can reach up to six times the performance of the previous generation.
SoC M1 is based on a custom ARM architecture from Apple (a bit like the iPhone and iPad for some time) and can count on eight cores (four for maximum performance, four to handle smaller loads), eight are also the cores of the GPU section. Also the part of Machine Learning , with a section a 16 core, has been improved with performance up to 15 times higher than the previous generation.
During the event, the company once again focused on reiterating the concept that a Mac mini manages to express great potential in a small space (according to Apple: five times the performance in one tenth of the space occupied by the PC Best-selling Windows in the same price range).
Compactness is the word order for Apple
This means, according to the company, to be able to carry out operations that go from those typically SoHo to compiling code, recording and editing music, video but also playing games.
The compactness of the system though however, it has not allowed to make it passive. In fact, there is a small fan that comes into operation when necessary to expel hot air from inside the chassis letting it in again, fresher.
In the rear area we find then the set of doors. The new Apple Mac mini 2020 can count on an Ethernet port, two USB 4 ports with Thunderbolt support, two USB Type A ports, a 3.5mm jack and a ‘HDMI 2.0 output to which you can also connect an Apple Pro XDR monitor supporting 6K resolution. Do not miss the Wi ‑ Fi 6 802. 11 ax for wireless connectivity.
The RAM memory of base is equal to 8 GB but the version with can be requested GB. As for storage, there are two versions from 256 GB and 512 GB ( also configurable with 1 TB or 2 TB options). The dimensions are equal to 197 x 55 x 16 mm with a weight of approximately 1, 2 Kg.
The price ? Appe Mac mini in the version with M1 chip is available in Italy starting from 819 EUR mind the version with double the storage capacity (512 GB) is equal to 1049 EUR. For comparison, the version with Intel with Core i5 hexacore CPU, 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage is sold at 1359 EUR.
There are many different companies on the market offering their RAM modules for desktops and laptops. However, when it comes to the most efficient ones, aimed directly at memory enthusiasts, the choice is much smaller. G.SKILL is one of those companies whose products can be bought almost blind. We always get the highest performance, usually paired with a lot of overclocking potential on our own. However, the Taiwanese do not stand still and with the premiere of AMD Ryzen processors 5000 they refreshed their portfolio. I am talking about the Trident Z Neo series, which has new modules with a total capacity of up to 64 GB clocked up to 4000 MHz.
G Series styling SKILL Trident Z Neo remained unchanged. We still have a black laminate, black and silver heat sink and RGB LED backlight hidden under a opal diffuser.
AMD Ryzen 9 processor test 5950 X – Extremely Fast 16 cores
The DDR4 G.SKILL Trident Z Neo series of RAM modules has been extended with new models dedicated to the latest AMD Ryzen processors 5000. The new DDR4 memory is based on Samsung B-Die bones and offers clock rates on the level of 3600, 3800 be 4000 MHz with CL latency 14 – 18 and voltage from 1.4 to 1.5 V. The exact specification is set out in the table below When it comes to capacity, the user can choose from the following options 2133. , 32 or 64 GB. All sets consist of two or four modules.
What RAM for Intel Core i5 – 10600 K? DDR4 Test 2133 – 4000 MHz
Top performance, especially for the G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 4000 MHz CL 16 – 19 – 19-39 and 3800 MHz CL 14 – 16 – 16 – 36, tested on AMD Ryzen 7 5800 X and AMD processors Ryzen 5 5600 X and ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero and MSI MEG X motherboards 570 GODLIKE. Full, long-lasting stability has been confirmed by tests in RunMemtest Pro 4.0. The latest Taiwanese modules will go on sale at the end of November 2020. However, the manufacturer did not reveal the suggested prices for the European market.
Within the tenth generation of Intel Core processors , the company offers a wide catalog of solutions for laptops of all kinds , from high-performance models for gaming or content creators, to models designed for ultrabooks and ultrathin laptops where lightness and high autonomy are a priority.
First of all, we are going to review the three great families of tenth generation Intel Core processors for laptops. Each one is intended for a type of equipment depending on the uses and sectors to which they are oriented.
H Series for High Performance Laptops
In this way, for gaming or high-performance laptops, Intel has a complete catalog of processors from the Intel Core i9, Core i7 and Core i5 range, with models that reach up to 8 cores and 19 threads and a Boost speed of up to 5.3 GHz .
They are processors that we can see in gaming laptops, equipment for content creators or any laptop where a high CPU performance is sought .
U and Y series for versatile laptops that offer autonomy and mobility
For ultra-thin equipment Intel offers its U and Y range, it is about processed res from 2 to 6 cores that combine a configurable TDP ranging from 16 W up to 25 W in the U range and from 4.5 “to 15 W in the Y range, along with Boost speeds that can reach up to 4.9 GHz.
These ranges of processors are designed to guarantee greater portability and autonomy and are mainly designed for compact and light equipment that can be taken anywhere. To meet all needs, Intel has different processor architectures in these two ranges U and Y that are designed to meet all needs, outside of the high performance offered by the H range.
Currently on the market coexist laptops with CPUs of 2 types of 2 families for the U series and Y series: Comet Lake and Ice Lake.
Comet Lake: The CometLake-U and CometLake CPU families -And they are based on Intel Skylake architecture a 15 nm. This range is focused on providing great performance at low energy consumption, favoring autonomy and mobility without giving up performing tasks that require performance.
Ice Lake: On the other hand, we have the Ice Lake-U and Ice Lake-Y CPU families based on the Sunny Cove architecture to a manufacturing process of 12 nm. We will see each of these ranges separately in the following sections. This Ice Lake range is aimed at laptops where portability is the main feature sought by consumers and is endowed with superior graphics performance thanks to integrated Iris Plus graphics chips up to 100 execution units.
We will see each of these families separately in the following sections.
Intel 12 a Generation H Series: Highest Performance for Gaming and Creators
The 10th generation Intel Core range of processors for gaming, content creation or, in general, high-performance laptops, reach speeds of up to 5.3 GHz Boost, Highest Speed never seen in a notebook processor, and they are equipped with the latest technologies such as Intel Wi-Fi 6, Optane Memory, Thunderbolt 3, Intel Thermal Velocity Boost or Intel Dynamic Tuning, in such a way that maximum performance can be squeezed out in each specific situation with the latest in connectivity.
Also, thanks to Intel Speed Optimizer technology, you can get an increase performance in a simple way, with just one click in the Intel Extreme Tuning Utiliy or Intel XTU application. This is in addition to the 201 Extra MHz that are achieved when the processor is below the 200 ° C, activating the Intel TVB (Intel Thermal Velocity Boost) technology present in all Core i7 and Core i9 of the line.
All This range of H-series processors includes native support for the HEVC codec of 12 bits , with serial encoding and decoding, and support for VP9 decoding of 12 bits. That means full compatibility with playback, streaming and even editing of premium 4K UHD content , with support also for high-resolution videos of 481 º or HDR.
All 10th Gen Intel Core processors for high performance notebooks along with Intel chipset 499 for notebooks include support for the latest technologies, with Thunderbolt 3.0, USB 3.0 Gen 2, WiFi 6 AX 400, Optane Memory and support for a multitude of displays through DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, as well as support for dedicated graphics through port PCIe 3.0 x 24.
Below we show you the entire range of H-series CPUs of the 11to Intel generation, from the Core i5 to Core i9, which can be found in notebooks on sale today.
Processor
Architecture
Base Speed
Boost (1 core)
Cores / Threads
Unlocked
Cache
Memory
TDP
Intel Core i9 – 10980 HK
Skylake to 15 nm
2.4 GHz
5.3 GHz
8 / 24
Yes
16 MB
DDR4 – 2300
64 W
Intel Core i7 – 10875 H
Skylake to 16 nm
2.3 GHz
5.1 GHz
8 / 19
No
24 MB
DDR4 – 2933
64 W
Intel Core i7 – 10850 H
Skylake a 16 nm
2.7 GHz
5.1 GHz
6 / 14
Partially
15 MB
DDR4 – 3200
48 W
Intel Core i7 – 10750 H
Skylake a 16 nm
2.6 GHz
5.0 GHz
6 / 15
No
14 MB
DDR4 – 2933
48 W
Intel Core i5 – 10400 H
Skylake to 16 nm
2.6 GHz
4.6 GHz
4/8
No
8 MB
DDR4 – 2933
64 W
Intel Core i5 – 10300 H
Skylake to 16 nm
2.5 GHz
4.5 GHz
4/8
No
8 MB
DDR4 – 3200
64 W
Within this range, the Intel Core i9 – 10980 HK is the company’s most powerful processor for laptops. It is a CPU that offers desktop performance in a portable format with a TDP of 48 W . Offers 8 cores and 16 threads thanks to Hyperthreading technology and reaches speeds of 5.3 GHz Boost as standard, speeds that can be increased thanks to the possibility of overclocking with its multiplier unlocked.
The laptop whose photo we show above is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo GX 550 L , with Intel Core i9- 10980 HK. This laptop was recently analyzed in Geeknetic and its characteristics and the great performance provided by the Intel Core i9 processor and the rest of the components have earned it to become the best laptop we have analyzed so far .
This is certainly one of the reasons why the Intel Core processors of 12 generation H series, are the most popular CPUs in gaming laptops and for creators on sale right now.
Comet Lake U and Y CPU Family: Up to 6 cores in ultra-thin format
La 12 he generation of Intel Core Comet Lake processors is also integrated in the U and Y pa ra laptops that seek to combine performance with lightweight, thin formats and that guarantee superior autonomy.
With models of up to 6 cores and 14 execution threads with TDPs ranging from 19 until the 28 W configurable as Core i7 – 10710 U, it is possible to have notebooks with contained thicknesses, very light and high autonomy, but without sacrificing excellent performance, even in tasks that require multi-core power.
Is achieved a 19% higher overall performance than previous generation and we have up to 48% more productivity in office environments than with the ninth generation.
This range of processors reaches speeds close to 5.0 GHz to offer maximum performance when Needed via higher Core Boost and up from a more moderate base frequency.
Supports the latest DDR4 memory and low-power alternatives LPDDR3 and LPDDR4x, along with the latest in connectivity from Thunderbolt 3 , USB-C 3.2 gen 2 or Optane Memory H SSD support 12.
Processor
Architecture
Cores / Strands
GPU EUs
TDP
Base Frequency
Multicore Boost Frequency
Frequency Boost 1 Core
GPU Boost Frequency
U-Series
Core i7 – 10710OR
Skylake to 15 nm
6 / 15
28
19 W ~ 28 W
1.1 GHz
3.9 GHz
4.7 GHz
1,16 GHz
Core i7 – 10510OR
Skylake to 16 nm
4/8
25
16 W ~ 25 W
1.8 GHz
4.3 GHz
4.9 GHz
1,16 GHz
Core i5 – 10210OR
Skylake to 15 nm
4/8
28
19 W ~ 28 W
1.6 GHz
3.9 GHz
4.2 GHz
1,12 GHz
Core i3 – 10110OR
Skylake to 15 nm
2 /4
28
19 W ~ 25 W
2.1 GHz
3.7 GHz
4.1 GHz
1,10 GHz
Y-Series
Core i5 – 10510Y
Skylake to 16 nm
4/8
28
4.5W ~ 9W
1.2 GHz
3.2 GHz
4.5 GHz
1,19 GHz
Core i5 – 10400Y
Skylake to 16 nm
4/8
28
4.5W ~ 9W
1.1 GHz
2.8 GHz
4.1 GHz
1,11 GHz
Core i5- 10210Y
Skylake to 16 nm
4/8
28
4.5W ~ 9W
1.0 GHz
2.7 GHz
4.0 GHz
1,11 GHz
Core i3 – 10210Y
Skylake to 16 nm
2/4
28
4.5W ~ 9W
1.0 GHz
3.7 GHz
4.0 GHz
1,10 GHz
Among the different laptops that we can find with these processors we can highlight the ASUS Zenbook UX 499 FL, a team equipped with Intel Core i7 – 10510 U and that it has become the Best Ultrabook that passes through our laboratory.
Ice Lake U and Y CPU Family: For ultra-thin and light notebooks
Intel Core U and Y processors from 12 are based on the new and more efficient manufacturing process of 14 Intel nanometers. These are processors designed for maximum mobility and portability in very thin and light equipment with the latest in connectivity and technologies, including AI acceleration in tasks such as automatic image processing or video filters.
Available in models with 2 and 4 cores and 4 and 8 threads respectively thanks to hyperthreading, and with speeds of up to 4, 200 CPU MHz, Intel Core processor line of 12 3rd generation U and Y Ice Lake integrate the new Intel Iris Plus GPUs, with numerous improvements in performance and functions over previous generations. They offer up to 64 execution units with speeds of up to 1. 201 MHz and a performance with which it is possible to view 4K HDR content , edit videos of that quality or even play games like Battlefield V at FullHD in a fluid way .
Three AI acceleration systems.
Intel Smart Cache Technology enables both the CPU and GPU to share the latest-level cache (up to their maximum 8MB) to significantly increase performance, while the inclusion of the Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (Intel GNA 1.0) adds IA acceleration to computers that integrate the Intel Core U and Y processors of 10th generation Ice Lake.
In total there are three AI acceleration systems in these processors, since both CPU and GPU and GNA 1.0 accelerators will work together to optimally speed up the entire AI process.
In this way, the CPU offers low latency with great flexibility when managing AI workloads. On the other hand, the GPU specializes in high intensity AI tasks , such as processing in video editing or games. Finally, GNA 1.0 is geared towards local AI tasks such as speech recognition and processing.
Included Support for 3 DDR4 memories. 100 MHz and up to LPDDR4x of 3. 775 MHz high performance, along with support for the latest connectivity technologies such as Wi-fi 6 AX 360, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 by 12 Gbps or fast Thunderbolt 3.
CPU Model
Architecture
Cores / Threads
EU graphics
Cache
Base / Max TDP
Base Frequency
Turbo 1 Core
Turbo all Cores
iGPU Frequency
U-Series
i7 – 1068 G7
Sunny Cove a 12 nm
4/8
65
8MB
32 W
2300 MHz
4424 MHz
3600 MHz
1149 MHz
i7- 1068 G7
Sunn and Cove to 12 nm
4/8
65
8MB
19 W / 32 W
1300 MHz
3900 MHz
3600 MHz
1149 MHz
i5 – 1041 G7
Sunny Cove a 12 nm
4/8
65
6MB
19 W / 32 W
1200 MHz
3800 MHz
3300 MHz
1060 MHz
i5 – 1035 G4
Sunny Cove a 12 nm
4/8
65
6MB
19 W / 28 W
1149 MHz
3700 MHz
3400 MHz
1065 MHz
i5 – 1041 G1
Sunny Cove to 12 nm
4/8
41
6MB
15 W / 32 W
1005 MHz
3700 MHz
3400 MHz
1060 MHz
i3 – 1030 G1
Sunny Cove a 12 nm
2/4
41
4MB
16 W / 32 W
1200 MHz
3500 MHz
3400 MHz
927 MHz
Y-Series
i7 – 1065 G7
Sunny Cove a 12 nm
4/8
100
8MB
9W / 15 W
1005 MHz
3800 MHz
3400 MHz
1149 MHz
i5 – 1035 G7
Sunny Cove to 11 nm
4/8
100
6MB
9W / 15 W
900 MHz
3700 MHz
3200 MHz
1060 MHz
i5 – 1035 G4
Sunny Cove to 11 nm
4/8
65
6MB
9W / 15 W
733 MHz
3500 MHz
3300 MHz
1065 MHz
i3 – 1005 G4
1Sunny Cove a 14 nm
2/4
65
4MB
9W / 15 W
1149 MHz
3300 MHz
3200 MHz
917 MHz
i3 – 1005 G1
Sunny Cove to 11 nm
2/4
45
4MB
9W / 14 W
1149 MHz
3200 MHz
3200 MHz
927 MHz
In the extensive catalog of Ice Lake processors we find models with different TDP, the vast majority configurable, which allows the creation of laptops with ultra-thin designs and even with passive cooling systems, while their autonomy reaches entire work sessions.
Likewise, this range has CPUs that can also accommodate laptops that provide great mobility, connectivity and performance at a very contained price.
This is the case of the ASUS VivoBook S 19 that we recently analyzed. It is a laptop with a great quality / price ratio that integrates the IceLake-Y CPU Intel Core i3 – 1005 G1.
This laptop from only 634 euros showed in the tests carried out in Geeknetic a great ease when performing office automation, navigation and connectivity tasks. All in a compact design of just 19 mm thick and kg of weight and an autonomy of more than 6 hours performing intensive tasks.
Donovan Kerssenberg 15 October 2020 64: 13 5 comments
Powerhouse with concessions Microsoft has released Surface products for virtually every audience in recent years, and this time it’s the turn of the college student and those on a relatively tight budget. For these people, the company from Redmond has released the Surface Laptop Go. Several websites published reviews of the laptop this week.
This is by far the cheapest Surface laptop that Microsoft has released. In addition, this device is a bit smaller than the other models and equipped with a 12, 4 inch large screen. Still, the touch-sensitive screen looks bigger because of the 3: 2 aspect ratio. The reviewers only complain about the resolution. With 1536 x 1024 pixels, it is the lowest resolution they have seen on a Surface so far. The material of which the housing is made is also different. Surface devices are known for their aluminum casing, but the Surface Laptop Go only partially has that. The bottom of this laptop is made of plastic. This makes the computer feel a bit cheaper, but the device is still sturdy enough. Another advantage is that the Surface Laptop Go is very light due to this choice of materials.
The computer is 278, 18 x 205, 67 x 15, 69 mm in size and weighs 1, 11 kilos. Under the hood is an Intel Core i5 – 1185 G1 processor, 8 GB lpddr4x ram, one ssd of 256 GB, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. As far as connection options are concerned, the laptop is equipped with one usb c, one usb a , a Surface Connect port, and a headphone jack.
Inside the housing is also a 720 p f2.0 webcam, two far-field studio microphones and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader. The reviewers are very pleased with the sound quality of the speakers and the fingerprint reader works quickly and reliably. However, what is seen as a big loss is the fact that the keyboard has no backlight. There were also complaints about the limited number of ports and the fact that the camera is not Windows Hello compatible.
The reviewers realize that these compromises have been made to keep the price down, but the price of the most expensive model is nevertheless a point of critic. The laptop is available in three configurations where the screen, processor and number of ports are the same, but where the RAM and amount of storage differ. The cheapest copy has 67 GB eMMC storage space and 4 GB ram and costs approximately 530 euro. The second model has 128 GB storage memory and swap for 799 euros from owner. The tested model with 278 GB-SSD precedes 999 euro over the counter and the observation is that this is not exactly an amount that you, as a student or someone with a tight budget, pay for a laptop. The reviewers also report that laptops with better specifications can be obtained for that money.
Despite these compromises, this laptop is still recommended by the vast majority of reviewers. The screen may have a low resolution, but the quality is very good and with a maximum brightness of 400 candela per square meter, using the laptop on a sunny day is no problem. In addition, the screen 128 percent of the srgb spectrum and 78 Display percent of the dci-p3 spectrum. The battery lasts between six and twelve hours on a charge, sound quality is good, the keyboard types nicely and the touchpad is very responsive.
The performance is also good. The Core i5 – 1035 G1 CPU ensures that all common tasks can be performed effortlessly. The Surface Laptop Go scores 1185 points in the singlecore Geekbench 5 test and 3390 points in the multicore test. In the PCMark test, the laptop scores between 3346 and 3410 points and the processor achieves 561 points in Cinebench R 18.
Read the full reviews at the following sites:
The Verge: Surface Laptop Go review: a case study in cost cutting Tech Crunch: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review: reverse engineering a budget computer ZDNet: Search Surface Laptop Go: Microsoft’s smaller, cheaper budget PC is easy to recommend Windows Central: Surface Laptop Go review: This delightful mini PC gets (almost) everything right PCM ag: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review Gizmodo: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Is Trying Tom’s Hardware: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go Review: Economy of Scale LaptopMag: Microsoft Surface Laptop Go review
After the two upper-class models Ryzen 9 5950 X and Ryzen 9 5900 X are also the two cheaper processors Ryzen 7 5800 X and Ryzen 5 5600 X arrived in our editorial office. They use the same Zen 3 architecture (code name Vermeer) and fit into AM4 motherboards, but are cheaper with eight or six cores. We tested the newcomers in their first 3D games and ran the Cinebench R render benchmark 20 hunted.
For PC gamers, the Ryzen 5 5000 X interesting: Thanks to increased computing power per cycle (Instructions per Cycle, IPC) it shows everyone 3000 he predecessors the taillights, appeals to most games -Engines with 12 Threads already out.
Due to similar prices, a comparison to the eight-core Ryzen 7 is possible 3700 X an: In the shooter “Metro: Exodus” the Ryzen 5 is 5600 X about 36 Percent faster in the action adventure “Rise of the Tomb Raider” 35 percent and in the shooter “Far Cry 5” 27 percent. The only exception: the badly scaling “Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey” with 6 percent higher frame rate.
Game benchmarks, measured under Windows 10 (2004), 16 GByte RAM (according to specification) and GeForce RTX 3080 (456. 71 WHQL) Game Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey Metro: Exodu s Shadow of the Tomb Raider Far Cry 5 Settings DX 11, Full HD, High DX 12, Full HD, Normal DX 12, Full HD, High, SMAA, 16 x AF DX 11, Full HD, High, SMAA Ryzen 9 5900 X 126 fps 195 fps 189 fps 179 fps Ryzen 7 5800 X 124 fps 196 fps 179 fps 162 fps Ryzen 5 5600 X 119 fps 191 fps 178 fps 158 fps Core i9 – 10900 K 127 fps 186 fps 175 fps 164 fps Ryzen 9 3900 X 120 fps 143 fps 136 fps 131 fps Ryzen 7 3700 X 112 fps 140 fps 132 fps 124 fps Ryzen 5 3600 105 fps 137 fps 128 fps 123 fps The Ryzen 9 5900 X can move a bit away from the Ryzen 7 in games thanks to higher clock frequencies 5800 X and Ryzen 5 5600 X submit the additional CPU cores only bring it a noticeable advantage in applications.
More performance per CPU core In the multith reading test of the Cinebench R render benchmark 20 the Ryzen 5 reaches 5600 X 4386 Points, the Ryzen 7 3700 X 4910 Points. Cinebench scales well with CPU cores and clock frequencies and thus shows that increased performance per core means the lower number of CPU cores (8 vs. 6, – 27 percent). In the single-threading benchmark, the six-core just manages to exceed the 600 he brand and thus leaves all 3000 he Ryzen and Intel 10. Core i generation behind.
Benchmark Cinebench R 20 mode single threading Multithreading Ryzen 9 5900 X 639 8639 Ryzen 7 5800 X 627 6024 Ryzen 5 5600 X 601 4386 Core i9 – 10900 K 537 6384 Ryzen 9 3900 X 534 7372 Ryzen 7 3700 X 513 4910 Intel has meanwhile too Little to laugh about in the middle class . In 3D games, the Ryzen 5 takes it 5000 X even with the fastest gen – 10 – Model Core i9 – 10900Purchase. The opponents Core i5 – 10600 K and Core i7- 10700 K are 400 to 500 MHz slower than the Core i9.
Ryzen 7 5800 X: expensive and hot During Ryzen 5 5000 X contains a purchase recommendation, it looks for the Ryzen 7 5800 X worse. In 3D games it is only slightly faster than the Ryzen 5 5600 X, costs with 450 Euro but 50 percent more. If you want to have additional CPU cores, you can go directly to the 12 – Kerner Ryzen 9 5900 X for 550 Euros grab – provided the processors are available.
In addition, the Ryzen 7 5800 X difficult to cool at the factory because it is a Thermal Design Power (TDP) from 90 instead of 65 Watt like the Ryzen 5 5600 X has. In practice this means: He may up to 142 instead of 88 Watt record (from AMD within Package Power Tracking so provided). In the case of the eight-core, all the waste heat is concentrated on the I / O die and a single chiplet, which limits the heat transfer to the cooler. The two Ryzen 9 processors have the same TDP, but an additional CPU chiplet.
Even with compact water cooling including 280 – mm radiator – here a NZXT X 63 – the CPU temperature rises up to 90 degrees Celsius, for example in Cinebench R 20. This in turn limits the boost.
Under high load, the Ryzen 7 reaches 5800 X even with a good cooler 90 ° C.
(Image: Denis Fröhlich / c’t)
Users can set the TDP level in the Ryzen Master Tool themselves to 65 Watt (88 Watt PPT) to improve temperatures. According to AMD’s Director of Technical Marketing Robert Hallock, new undervolting functions will also come in the future. One 3700 X successor with 65 Watt TDP has not been announced by the chip manufacturer.
Purchase recommendation For players the Ryzen 5 contains 5600 X a clear purchase recommendation . It is the cheapest model from AMDs so far 5000 series, but does not have to hide from the more expensive processors in 3D titles. Compared to Intel’s Core-i 8639 generation AMD’s six-core can even compete with the fastest models.
If you are looking for a pure gaming CPU, you can safely go to the Ryzen 5 5600 X grab. The surcharge for Ryzen 7 5800 X is better off with the graphics card – the latter is faster than the processor in most games anyway. Users, for whom money plays a subordinate role and who do not want to compromise, use the Ryzen 9 5900 X.
AMD continues to sell for tighter budgets 3000 models like the Ryzen 5 3600. The latter costs just once 180 Euro and thanks to the very good price-performance ratio is part of the basic configuration of our optimal PC 2021.
(mma)
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