Notebookcheck Logo

More evidence that Google is developing a new AMD-powered 2-in-1 Pixelbook hits Geekbench

Is Google developing a new 2-in-1 Pixelbook? (Image source: Google)
Is Google developing a new 2-in-1 Pixelbook? (Image source: Google)
Google threw a curveball with the Pixelbook Go last year, eschewing the 2-in-1 design of the Pixelbook and the Pixel Slate. However, new evidence suggests that it will return to a 2-in-1 design and that it has already put the device into development. Featuring a choice of AMD Ryzen processors, it would be the first Pixel Chromebook to with a 15 W TDP.

It has only been a few days since The Google device codenamed Drallion appeared on Geekbench, a device running a Core i7-10810U and 16 GB of RAM. Now, a device codenamed Zork has appeared on the popular benchmarking website. Based on a Trembyle motherboard, this is not the first time that we have seen the Zork codename mentioned. Spotted by About Chromebooks a year ago this month, commits revealed that the Zork was based on the Zen+ microarchitecture. Specifically, the commits reported that Picasso cores were powering the Zork.

According to multiple Geekbench listings, that has not changed. However, there seems to be a Zen-based SKU too. Interestingly, this is a different Zen processor to those that Chrome OS source code revealed last month. It remains unclear whether these other AMD Chromebooks were Zorks too; there is nothing to suggest that they are, anyway.

Now, we would not necessarily rule out this being some sort of elaborate joke. While there are twelve Google Zork listings on Geekbench at the time of writing, all were published on April 1. Hence, this could be an April Fools' Day prank, but the sighting of the Google Zork suggests otherwise.

Likewise, Chromium Git repositories do contain an entry for the Trembyle motherboard. The listing makes us suspect that the Zork is a 2-in-1 device, too. Lines 25 to 27 of the GPIO.inc refer the Trembyle motherboard as having volume buttons and a "6AXIS_INT_L", which we take to mean a 6-axis accelerometer or gyroscope. The equivalent Chromium Git Repository post for the Pixelbook Go, specifically its Atlas motherboard, does not contain such references. Hence, it would seem that the Zork is a 2-in-1 device, as About Chromebooks suggested last year. A year between appearances seems like a long time, but About Chromebooks reckoned that it would be "at least six, if not more, months" before Trembyle and Zork commits translated into a real product.

The Trembyle motherboard has volume buttons and a 6-axis accelerometer or gyroscope. (Image source: Chromium Git repositories)
The Trembyle motherboard has volume buttons and a 6-axis accelerometer or gyroscope. (Image source: Chromium Git repositories)

To that end, Geekbench states that the Google Zork features the Ryzen 3 3250C or the Ryzen 7 3700C, both 15 W processors. AMD is yet to announce either APU, but we suspect that they are slightly adapter versions of the Ryzen 3 3250U and Ryzen 7 3700U. Potentially, their C suffixes could denote "convertible", but that is just speculation on our part.  It could also possibly simply mean Chromebook.

Geekbench reports nothing unexpected for either processor though, as both match the specifications of their U-series sibling. The Ryzen 3 3250C and Ryzen 7 3700C are completely different processors though, with the former belonging to the Zen family. Featuring two Dali cores and based on a 14 nm process, the U-series version of the Ryzen 3 3250C is actually newer than the Ryzen 7 chipset. Oddly, AMD only announced the Ryzen 3 3250U in January 2020.

There are other differences between the two Zork SKUs, too. Google has paired the Ryzen 3 3250C model with 4 GB of RAM, presumably running at DDR4-2400, while the Ryzen 7 model has 8 GB instead. Accordingly, the Ryzen 7 Zork has a 36% lead over the Ryzen 3 model in single-core tasks and an 18% advantage in multi-core work.

It is worth noting that Google offers three processors with the Pixelbook Go. Correspondingly, we would not be surprised if the company offers a Ryzen 5 3500C SKU too. As we previously reported, Chrome OS source code suggests that some sort of Ryzen 5 3500C-powered Chromebook is in the works at any rate.

Overall, a new sighting the Google Zork on Geekbench suggests that the device could be inching towards a release. Google launched the Pixelbook Go alongside the Pixel 4 series last year, so there is every possibility that it will do the same with the Zork and the Pixel 4a or Pixel 5 series later this year.

The eight Google Zork listings on Geekbench V5. (Image source: Geekbench)
The eight Google Zork listings on Geekbench V5. (Image source: Geekbench)
The Ryzen 7 3700C and 8 GB of RAM SKU. (Image source: Geekbench)
The Ryzen 7 3700C and 8 GB of RAM SKU. (Image source: Geekbench)
The Ryzen 3 3250C and 4 GB of RAM SKU. (Image source: Geekbench)
The Ryzen 3 3250C and 4 GB of RAM SKU. (Image source: Geekbench)
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2020 04 > More evidence that Google is developing a new AMD-powered 2-in-1 Pixelbook hits Geekbench
Alex Alderson, 2020-04- 2 (Update: 2020-04- 3)