Ryzen (Zen)

The Zen 6 desktop APUs are allegedly codenamed Medusa and could feature a tile-based architecture similar to Intel's Meteor Lake thanks to a faster 2.5D interconnect. AMD also plans to skip straight to an RDNA 5 iGPU, possibly in response to Intel adding more powerful Xe2 iGPUs to its desktop processors.

AMD’s Zen 5 processors could bring an insane single-core IPC uplift per a leaked Cinebench R23 single-core benchmark result. The single-threaded score puts Zen 5 miles ahead of the current AMD flagship while comfortably beating the 14th-gen Intel showrunner.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D is one of the fastest processors you can get right now. Featuring 12 cores and 24 threads, the CPU is an easy choice for high-end gaming builds. What's more is that the processor is now cheaper than ever, with the price tag currently sitting at a new record-low of $409.98 on Amazon.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 laptop series is best known for offering affordable systems that are good for productivity workloads. On the note of affordability, things got better for the IdeaPad 1 15ALC7. This laptop with AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, 15.6-inch FHD screen, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB SSD is currently enjoying a generous $370 discount.

The new BD790i motherboard comes pre-installed with a top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 7945HX mobile APU for $519. Users can add up to 64 GB DDR5-5200 RAM, speedy PCIe 5.0 SSD storage via 2x M.2 slots and a dGPU on the included PCIe 5.0 X16 slot.

An overclocker named SkatterBencher has tried out different overclocking strategies with the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G. After testing different methods, including manual AMD Radeon 780M, CPU, and RAM overclock, SkatterBencher gained up to 61.14% performance boost compared to stock.

Initially released only to OEMs in April 2022, the Ryzen 7 5700 processor from AMD recently became available as a retail product. Hardware Unboxed put this model through its paces and discovered that it only features half the L3 cache from the X version, which affects performance to the point where it even lags behind the more affordable Ryzen 5 5600.

The V3 will sport a 28 W Ryzen 7 8840U processor with 8 Zen4 cores, integrated Radeon 780M and powerful XDNA NPU, along with a high-quality 14-inch touchscreen, up to 32 GB RAM and 2 TB storage. Pricing info is expected to be revealed by late March.

Other highlights for this configuration include a 5 MP webcam with IR sensor, fingerprint reader integrated in the power button, 2x USB4 ports and a total weight of only 2.51 lbs.

Users can raise the TDP of the APU up to 65 W via a BIOS option in order to boost CPU and iGPU performance. GMKtec offers the new NucBox K8 in barbone form, but there is also a 32 GB RAM +1 TB SSD option, and both can be bundled with a pair of AR glasses.

CheckMag With many manufacturers releasing ample amounts of AM5 motherboards, it is quite the challenge to find the right one for your needs. Let’s explore five X670E motherboards that we think you should consider.

Chatreey is offering a new and quite affordable mini PC in the AN2 Pro, which allows the installation of several mass storage devices and should offer sufficient performance for a number of applications.

The Asus TUF Gaming A16 FA617NS laptop is currently sitting close to the record-low price on Best Buy, offering a generous discount of $300. It packs the Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU, a dedicated Radeon RX 7600S GPU, a 512 GB SSD, and 16 of GDDR5 RAM.

Highlights for this model include 16 GB LPDDR5-64000 RAM, a USB4 port, the proprietary ROG XG Mobile interface for eGPUs, a microSD card reader and a total weight of only 2.87 lbs.

Initial reviews comparing the R7 5700X3D to Intel's i5-12600K and i5-13600K models reveal that AMD's latest 3D V-Cache processor is ~8% slower than the R7 5800X3D for $59 less.

In order to unleash the full potential of AMD's Phoenix and Hawk Point APUs, Ayaneo is introducing a vapor chamber cooling system that may become standard for all future models. Even though the production costs are higher compared to traditional copper heatpipe systems, the price of the console will barely reflect this.

An Asus executive recently confirmed that the second-generation gaming handheld is due as soon as 2024. The updated device will continue to run Windows 11, but Asus will "focus more on gaming" in the new version — a curious statement, considering the original ROG Ally is already a potent gaming machine.

The RX 6550M dGPU comes with 4 GB VRAM and is mostly on par with Nvidia's RTX 3050. The configuration also features 32 GB DDR5-5200 RAM, 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage and a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display with 144 Hz refresh rate.

The new Zen 5 desktop processors will also bring updated chipsets, but motherboards might actually come later. X3D models could launch at the same time, but some sources believe they could be delayed to launch in response to Intel's Arrow Lake-S in Q4.

The decision to ship the Next Lite consoles with the HoloISO OS was criticized by the user community and Ayaneo is returning to Windows 11 out of the box. HoloISO will still be available to download for users who prefer a Linux-based experience.

Razer has now outlined the specs with which the Blade 14 2024 is available from today (January 23, 2024), the first day of its pre-order phase. They include the new Ryzen 9 8945HS silicon touted to confer "advanced AI" on this iteration of the compact, metallic ultrabook. Meanwhile, its 2023 predecessor has gone on sale on Amazon.

The two upcoming mobile lineups with Zen 5 cores appearing in the ROCm code also means that AMD will soon enable compute processing support for its iGPU models. However, this might only apply to RDNA 3.5 models and up.

Asus' Vivobook S 16 Flip 2-in-1 laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, as well as a 1,200p touch-enabled display attached to a 360-degree hinge.

CheckMag It can be a daunting task to find the right AIO liquid cooler for your Ryzen 7000 CPU amongst a sea of AIO liquid coolers. Let’s explore five sensible options that you can consider for your PC.

This model is powered by either the Ryzen 9 8940HS or Ryzen 7 8840HS and the 1 liter case can fit the additional RX 7600M XT dGPU. Port selection highlights include 2x USB4 ports, 2x 2.5 GbE jacks and an SD card reader.

Lenovo has launched the YOGA Pro 14s 2024 in the Chinese market. It comes with a Ryzen 7 7840HS CPU, and like most of the laptops in the lineup, the new model is light in weight and has a slim body. The laptop is available for purchase with a starting price tag of CNY5,699, around $801.

Lenovo is introducing a refreshed LOQ 15 lineup at CES 2024. The new LOQ 15 includes SKUs powered by Intel Core i7-14700HX and AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS along with entry-level options featuring the Alder Lake Core i5-12450HX. Lenovo also offers a choice of RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 GPUs along with Arc A350M in the LOQ 15AX9I, but the LOQ 15AHP9 is restricted only to the EMEA.

At CES 2024, Acer is introducing the Aspire Go series targeted at entry-level and casual users. The Aspire Go 14 comes in both Intel and AMD options while the Aspire Go 15 is offered only with Intel Core i3 N-series CPUs. Both laptops offer 16:10 displays, a dedicated Copilot key, and up to 10 hours of battery life.

The NucBox K6 is a new mini PC from GMKTec with a high-performance APU from AMD. It can be ordered as a barebone or fully equipped. A special cooling system promises good temperature control of all components.

The new BIOS updates for the X670 mobos from Asus and ASRock include detailed specs for the upcoming Ryzen 8000G series. ASRock even shows a CPU-Z screen with the Ryzen 7 8700G coupled with 256 GB of DDR5 RAM.

The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 laptop appears to have hit a new low price, making it worth a second look. The handy notebook is now advertised with a 35% price cut, which considering it comes with a Zen 3 SoC, a decent amount of RAM, and an SSD with a considerable capacity, is a tempting proposition. The Inspiron 16 5635 weighs in at around 4 pounds (1.8 kg).

Performance-wise, the G4 Edge is even faster than similar laptop configurations thanks to the beefier cooling system. However, the port side is missing TB4 / USB4 connectivity and, despite the improved cooling solution, the CPU can get a bit hot.

Highlights for the new VIA 14 Pro include 32 GB DDR5-6400 RAM as base option, dual M.2 SSD slots with PCIe 4.0 X4 speeds, microSD card reader and a 14-inch LTPS-IPS screen with 2880x1800 resolution.

Although it hasn't hit the $449 list price since late June, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D was selling for over $420 in October and its highest Amazon price for November was over $400 as well. Now, this chip goes for $358.14 on Amazon thanks to a solid 20% discount, while other retailers offer it for as low as $340.

With its longer battery life, LTE modem, and low noise and heat output, the Lenovo business notebook is an excellent choice. There is plenty of processing power available with a Ryzen 7 APU. The dual RAM slot configuration is a noteworthy plus. The starting price is around $700.

Unlike other budget models that sacrifice build and screen quality, the Nitro 16 offers a good display plus features that are rarely seen at such low prices, such as a USB4 connector and a microSD card reader. The RTX 4070 is also maxed out at 140 W.

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On top of the speedy OCulink port that can almost triple the bandwidth over Thunderbolt 4 in some situations, this model also features dual USB4 connectors and dual 2.5 GbE jacks.

Geekom A7 will be joining the brand's mini PC lineup, featuring the Ryzen 7 7840HS and Ryzen 9 7940HS APUs. The launch timeline is set for January next year, with Geekom planning to showcase the tiny desktop at CES 2024.

Intel has decided to mock AMD in its latest playbook that supposedly 'enlightens customers'. Going further than previous attempts, Intel has openly accused AMD of misleadingly marketing its recent APUs like the Ryzen 5 7520U, shortly before it refreshes many of its 13th Gen Intel Core processors under 14th Gen branding instead.

SOONNOOZ, a Chinese mini PC maker, has announced a rather unique-looking little computer. Called SOONNOOZ SOON MINI, the mini-computer comes with rounded corners, a speaker grill on the front, and a physical jog dial on the top. You can even carry this system by hooking up a shoulder strap.

The 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen is the world's first to feature the IMAX Enhanced standard. Also included with this configuration are 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, 512 GB SSD, a 5 MP webcam and full-size SD card reader.

CheckMag 2023 has been a year with plenty of hardware releases from Intel, AMD and Nvidia. With so many new computer parts released this year it can be a daunting task to choose the parts for your next workstation. In this article let us explore some sensible hardware options for your workstation.

The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7980X has turned up on PassMark and immediately left its mark near the top of the CPU Mark table. The Zen 4-based Storm Peak part defeated all EPYC and Xeon chips in its path and was only kept off the top spot by Threadripper PRO 7000 SKUs. AMD calls the Ryzen Threadripper 7980X the "world’s most powerful high-end desktop processor".