Kaveri mobile - FX goes to notebooks

[caveman-jim]

http://www.notebookreview.com/featur...-the-fx-7600p/

See the new line up of models and read about performance testing of the FX-7600P

The bottom line is that AMD is delivering a multi-core CPU and multi-core GPU on a single chip that outperforms similarly-priced (and in some cases higher priced) Intel processors. That means you might be able to find an AMD-equipped laptop for around $699 that delivers “as good” or “better” performance than an Intel-based laptop priced at $999.

HP has a line of Elitebooks (725 G2/745 G2/755 G2) using the A6/A8/A10 PRO line up of Kaveri processors now available.

[ShaidarHaran]

Once again fantastic GPU performance, lackluster CPU performance. I have an A10 5750 in my laptop and I like it, but I do wish the CPU were faster.

[noko]

Very good stuff here! Wished the laptops were available now and not another 5-6 months though .

I really don't want a cheap laptop as in quality. High quality with high resolution IPS screen, great keyboard, slim design etc. I wished Microsoft had a Surface version using one of these ULV designs, that would be ideal for me.

[caveman-jim]

You can buy the HP notebooks today, Noko. More will be available over time.

[noko]

You can buy the HP notebooks today, Noko. More will be available over time.

You have a link? So far I've been unable to find one at HP.com.

[noko]

http://techreport.com/news/26566/kav...tebook-laptops

HP business orientated Elitebooks should be available this month, I may grab one depending upon price overall.

I really like Microsoft Surface 3, 1440p, mechanical lighted keyboard, very light weight, great battery life, pen interface. Price is on the high side and graphically on the low side, these Elitebooks, 1080p not sure about touch but probably go with that, fit right in what I want and need.

[noko]

http://shopping1.hp.com/is-bin/INTER...UAAAFFh1kRvdw1

Gives available HP Kaveri Laptop configurations. Cool!

[noko]

Talking to myself here. ARgggh - the set configurations leaves much to be desired - most are single channel memory configurations (no problem there, easy to upgrade manually by adding another memory module). SSD ones are only 180gb, that is barely enough. The ones with traditional hard drives all use low resolution screens. Manual configuration balloons the price up ridiculously high .

Ideally the 14" Hp EliteBook 745 G2 is the perfect size except no available 1080p versions (plus no touch 1080p)

The closest one I would get is the 725 G2 with the 12.5" 1080p touch screen. Upgrade the memory to 8gb and later on the 180gb SSD. The 755 G2 is just too big for what I want to do with it.

I think I will wait a little bit to see what else becomes available for these apu's.

[caveman-jim]

Look at the Lenovo Z-series and Acer Aspire (E5-521, etc) as well

[noko]

Thanks for the heads up, so far those are getting away from what I need. Small compact and tough for industrial use/ harsh environment, which those HP models looks to be up to the task. Now I think the HP EliteBook 725 G2 is close to ideal. Lenovo Yoga 2 and Microsoft Surface 3 look very good too for what would work well, except I think AMD Kaveri is a much more balanced and powerful APU processor where it counts.

[noko]

Good up to date list of available Kaveri Laptops:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8305/a...ghted#comments

Have not seen any FX 7400P ones yet, the full 10 compute core versions but 35w. I am more inclined with the higher end, business orientated HP models, particularly the Elitebook 725 G2, 8 compute cores, 19w, 1080p. Played around with the Surface 3 more, do not like the keyboard much so I am tending towards a light weight but more powerful laptop.

Disappointing the number of lower resolutions Kaveri laptops, 1080P should be the minimum at 12" and above with some 1440p models available. The 768P TN cheapie models are appearing all over the place .

[EagleEye]

Has anyone seen any laptop models with the 35w "P" range apu's? They were announced a long time ago, but I haven't seen any show up in the marketplace. While the 19w apu's are compelling, I'd be more interested in the higher end models.

[noko]

Well the HP 19w models are not running at full speed, as in they throttle and not getting the rated CPU speeds. You would think if plugged in that you could use the full rated capacity of the cpu. FX versions?

I almost pulled the plug on this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834259147

2-3 year useful laptop. I will need to be able to do video editing with it, short segments so it should be OK. Otherwise mostly Office programs and presentation on various HDTVs up to 70".

[caveman-jim]

Well the HP 19w models are not running at full speed, as in they throttle and not getting the rated CPU speeds. You would think if plugged in that you could use the full rated capacity of the cpu. FX versions?

What are you talking about?

[noko]

What are you talking about?

I read this in a few forums as well. Here is the blurb from Notebookcheck.net

Processor

Even though the 725 G2 is equipped with the same APU as the EliteBook 745 G2 and the 755 G2, it scores lower in nearly all benchmark tests. We didn't have a difficult time tracking down the reason: the theoretically possible clock rate of 3.3 GHz is simply not attained in this implementation. During single-threaded operations, we rarely observed above 2.1 GHz and during the multi-threading portion of the Cinebench R11.5 test, the processor throttled down to 1.6 GHz at times. Maybe HP did this on purpose to keep the temperatures down - but we find it disappointing that the A10 Pro-7350B can't even reach the performance level of the (most likely priced comparatively) Core i3-4030U.

Follow the link and during multithreading benchmark the cpu throttled down to 1.6ghz at times vice sticking around 2.1 Ghz. That is a significant down clock of 76% of rated speed. That I blame more on HP than AMD. Maybe just a poor sample they received.

[caveman-jim]

That's odd, the spec does indeed indicate a base clock of 2.1GHz. There's a lot wrong with the testing going on in that article like use of very old basemarks (cinebench test was singlthreaded as far as I could tell), poor config, improper price comparisons, etc.

I would say that the product config is more likely to be at fault than the specific processor. Adjusting speed to stay under thermal limitations is a feature of all modern processors, people have seen desktop processors do it with a badly mounted heatsink etc.

[noko]

It is stated that Cinebench during Multithreading had this issue. That test does put each core at 100% or near 100%. Does not matter the age of the benchmark, it still stresses any cpu since it will use all x64 cores available or threads. I think this is more of an issue with HP design choices for the 725 G2.

Do agree the review was poorly done, about the worst lowest version one could get, limited to 4gb single channel memory which unfortunately is how it sells - easy to buy another 4gb for around $30, open up the screw less bottom cover and insert. Performance would be much better due to dual channel memory bandwidth. I wonder if HP restricts cpu performance if limited to single channel? That would be rather odd choice to make as a design.

The model I am interested in has gorilla glass 1080P touch screen which I do believe is IPS, SSD. Keyboard is water resistant. Which would be better for the environment it will be subjected to. I need something tough in other words.

[caveman-jim]

You're right, it's multi-threaded. The version does make a difference, or they wouldn't have updated it. It's an application test, and the newer versions use more core more effectively. But it's beside the point, I think this model isn't set up right.

[noko]

You're right, it's multi-threaded. The version does make a difference, or they wouldn't have updated it. It's an application test, and the newer versions use more core more effectively. But it's beside the point, I think this model isn't set up right.

No data on temperature of apu when throttling, room temperature etc. Other tests to see if isolated to a single program etc. How about tests that stress both the APU fully, graphics and x64 instructions? Then testing using some of the new design strengths such as HMA as well as OpenCL programs? Well I ranked that review rather poorly since it leads to more questions then any answers they provided.

[noko]

Looks like poor cooling is causing the clock throttling on the HP Elitebook 725 G2

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-b...ml#post9781091

That's too bad since that is not fixable with software. When you need the full cpu power on that laptop it can go down to 1.1ghz