Details on the first notebook featuring an AMD Ryzen APU were revealed by HP from a data sheet on an upcoming Envy x360 2-in-1 notebook, though the PDF was subsequently pulled and now the page leads to a 404. Thankfully, VideoCardz.com has a screen capture:
HP datasheet capture via VideoCardz.com
In addition to the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U quad-core CPU with integrated Radeon Vega M graphics, the notebook as configured offered just a single 8GB stick of DDR4-2400 – and we all know APU’s like memory bandwidth, so hopefully this will be offered with a dual-channel option (memory “up to 16GB” is offered).
The current HP Envy x360 2-in-1 design (image credit: HP)
Storage for this Ryzen 5-powered 2-in-1 is listed as a 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and the convertible design offers a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS multi-touch display, premium B&O sound, and of course runs Windows 10.
Naturally, we'll have to wait for some official word from HP on this, as the page and document were apparently put up in error – but not before a few outlets (other than VideoCardz posts include ComputerBase and PC Gamer) released the details from the datasheet. Perhaps that will prompt an announcement? (Here's hoping.)
Quad core… with or without
Quad core… with or without SMT?
It better come with SMT or
It better come with SMT or that will be one big waste of processing cycles. And this laptop does it come with dual channel memory as that one 8GB module smacks of only a single channel of memory and the Vega graphics hobbled by not enough bandwidth.
AMD had better start producing some Reven Ridge/Newer Laptop/Mobile APU SKUs with at least one stack of HBM2 or that Vega graphics and Raja’s Beloved HBCC/HBC IP will not be able to be utilized on any APUs as HBM2 is what Vega Graphics uses for its HBC.
One other question for AMD if they do any AMAs before Raven Ridge is released is: What will the Vega Graphics on Raven Ridge use for HBC if there is no HBM2 on the first Raven Ridge APUs. Does Reven Ridge have any on Die eDRAM to act as HBC in the place of HBM2(If Raven Ridge has no HBM2).
AMD needs to start Talking and HP better release some ProBook SKUs with some more powerful 35+ Watt 4 core/8 thread Raven Ridge APU variants Because My Ivy Bridge quad core i7/discrete mobile Radeon 7650M(Terrascale Rebrand) based ProBook is really getting old and needs a replacment soon.
I’d be happy if HP would just release some proper spec sheets for their laptop SKUs that are not so dumbed down for proper technical details.
Hopefully the Raven Ridge/Vega graphics will be a little better performing than the Radeon 7650m(terrascale rebrand) discrete graphics on my current ProBook but I want 4 cores/8 threads on any Zen/Raven Ridge APU and faster dual channel DDR4 memory because the Vaga Graphics on Raven Ridge needs all the bandwidth is can get if there is no HBM2 there to fix that bandwidth problem. And AMD’s integrated APU graphics have suffered from lack of memory bandwidth for so long mostly due to the OEM’s and their damn single channel to memory obsession when in comes to AMD’s APUs.
From this earlier post it
From this earlier post it appears the Ryzen 5 2500U does have SMT:
https://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/AMD-Ryzen-5-2500U-APU-Vega-Graphics-Spotted-Geekbench-Benchmarks
That is one of those things
That is one of those things where it doesn’t make sense for AMD to disable it unless they have enough chips with defective SMT (but otherwise usable) to make a separate product out of it. They may have a version without SMT, and it may make sense for low end mobile and simple office machines where 4 cores will be plenty.
I am curious as to how the GPU actuallly ties in. I am wondering if it essentially looks like a second CCX as far as the interconnect is concerned. Hopefully Scott or someone will write an article about how some of this stuff works. It seems like they could get some performance benefit from not needing to copy data around due HSA. I am wondering if they are using GPU virtual memory to do anything interesting.
Conflicted about the single
Conflicted about the single 8gb ram stick.
Assuming there is another empty slot available, having only one slot filled makes upgrading to 16gb a little simpler and much cheaper. I’d actually prefer it that way versus 2 x 4gb sticks… But then I’d also plan on immediately filling that dual-channel void.
However, Joe Average user may not understand the performance penalty in the “as-is” configuration is readily fixable. They’re just going to be disappointed in the performance.
Kinda tired of seeing OEMs turn out gimped AMD APU laptops We just went through a parade of 35w capable chips detuned to run on 15w so OEMs could cheap out on battery and cooling. It was like they sat down at the design meeting and asked themselves “What can we do to make this already marginal collection of parts into a complete piece of junk?”
AMD really needs to lean on somebody to actually release a (gasp!) properly configured and optimized laptop using their APU.
Manufacturers hobbling APU
Manufacturers hobbling APU performance again by using single-channel memory 🙁 *sigh*
AMD should have some sort of guidelines like Intel’s ‘Ultrabook’, that would require manufacturers to adhere to a certain number of design guidelines that would make their hardware shine.
HBM still seems like it just
HBM still seems like it just isn’t going to happen in the mobile market. For the added cost, you could just go with a dedicated GPU. HBM would be lower power but it just doesn’t fit in the cost segment that IGP fit into.
Agreed, HBM needs to come
Agreed, HBM needs to come down in cost before it becomes viable. At some point when everyone is using it, it may be able to put like 2 or 4 gb on chip. but right now too expensive.
Vega was designed to scale
Vega was designed to scale down for these low TDP chips… if you need even better graphics performance, why not find a laptop with dedicated AMD graphics (polaris refresh), and do Hybrid Graphics ??? I will give them props for including a top notch screen and flash storage, two areas that are often under specced. I am sure it has two slots for dram.