Can we just take a moment to agree that AMD is currently crushing it in terms of laptop chips? We frequently discuss the DIY desktop market in terms of particular silicon successes, but we hardly directly support mobile CPUs.
Typically, we discuss the computers themselves first, followed by the chips that have been installed inside of them.
However, the most recent AMD mobile components are excellent. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, the first of the new AMD Dragon Range gaming laptops I've seen, caught my eye recently. You're probably not the only one who is curious about the 'Dragon Range' stuff.
The Dragon Range represents AMD's latest generation of powerful mobile processors, known as the Ryzen 7000-series, built on the advanced Zen 4 architecture. This lineup is anything but ordinary. Leading the pack is the formidable Ryzen 9 7945HX, featuring an impressive 16 cores and 32 threads. This beast of a processor effortlessly handles demanding computational tasks, surpassing even Intel's most capable offerings in terms of speed and efficiency.
The Dragon Range processors serve as the mobile counterparts to AMD's desktop Ryzen 7000-series chips. While their GPU component comprises RDNA 2 integrated graphics, these are primarily intended to provide basic display functionality rather than deliver exceptional gaming or graphical performance. However, it's important to note that these processors are typically paired with dedicated graphics cards, rendering the integrated graphics less significant in terms of overall performance and ensuring that users can enjoy robust graphics capabilities without any concerns.
But on the desktop, the Zen 4 processors haven't exactly blown everyone away... Oh my, poor wording given the Ryzen 7000X3D burning issues... In contrast to their mixed reviews on desktop computers, the Zen 4 processors are dominating the mobile market.
The Phoenix line of APUs is the Ryzen 7000's flip side. The Z1 Extreme integrated into the Asus ROG Ally portable gaming PC was the first to land in my hands. That's a small unusual situation considering that the Ryzen 7 7840U that will be seen in laptops and other portable devices this year apparently uses the exact same AMD technology.
Additionally, it stands out from every other APU I've experimented with because it comes close to delivering on the promise of the bespoke processors AMD has been using to equip the current generation of gaming consoles. With 12 compute units in its RDNA 3 GPU, it may not quite have the PlayStation 5 feel, but it's still a very healthy amount of graphics chips to put in any mobile device.
Especially one that won't drain your laptop's battery in 40 minutes, make a turbine-like noise every time you turn it on, or make you look foolish in front of others.
However, this doesn't mean that the CPU aspect of the APU is compromised to accommodate the powerful GPU. Take, for example, the Ryzen 7 7840U, which boasts eight cores and 16 threads, providing substantial processing power. This places it on par with or even surpasses many mobile Core i7 CPUs from Intel in terms of performance. AMD has ensured that the CPU capabilities of these APUs remain competitive, offering users a well-rounded computing experience without compromising on processing power.
Intel lacks a competitive response to AMD's Dragon Range chips. Even its most powerful processors fall short of the genuine 16-core chip, and Intel's upcoming Meteor Lake chips will need to be exceptional to challenge AMD's mobile dominance.
However, in terms of market presence and laptop adoption, Intel remains dominant. Yet, in the realm of handheld devices, Intel falls behind. While it may offer comparable processing power, it lacks an integrated GPU capable of delivering satisfactory gaming performance. It is unlikely that even Meteor Lake will address this gap, particularly in the low-power market segment.