The ASUS ROG Strix GL702ZC is the first Ryzen powered gaming laptop we have seen, featuring the Ryzen 7 1700 desktop CPU along with a 4GB RX580 GPU. This means that the 17.3" IPS 1080p monitor is Freesync capable with a maximum 60Hz refresh rate. That resolution and refresh rate will ensure even AAA titles can play with your graphics settings cranked.
In addition to the previously mentioned components,the GL702ZC ships with 16GB DDR4-2400MHz, a 256GB SATA III SSD, a 1TB 5400rpm HDD, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connectivity and 802.11ac 2×2 Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth 4.1. The base model retails for a competitive $1500.
PR below the fold.
Fremont, CA (November 20, 2017) — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the Strix GL702ZC, the world’s first laptop powered by AMD’s Ryzen™ eight-core processor. Multithreading technology provides 16 threads, that in combination with AMD Radeon™ RX580 graphics, make the Strix GL702ZC a formidable machine equally capable of playing the latest games and handling intensive rendering or other multi-threaded tasks with ease. The Strix GL702ZC features AMD FreeSync™ technology to provide gamers with ultra-smooth visuals on the laptop display as well as on compatible monitors via DisplayPort or HDMI. Designed for gamers, Strix GL702ZC features ROG Gaming Center and a backlit keyboard with anti-ghosting technology.
Desktop-version AMD Ryzen 7
Thanks to an exclusive deal between ROG and AMD, the Strix GL702ZC is the world’s first laptop that is powered by the full desktop-version AMD Ryzen 7 1700 processor. This processor features eight cores and 16 threads, with a maximum boosted speed of 3.7GHz to give users the performance required for intense gaming and productive computing.The Strix GL702ZC features AMD Radeon™ RX580 graphics with 4GB DDR5 VRAM for the visual prowess required for the latest games and graphics-intensive virtual reality (VR) applications.
AMD FreeSync Technology for Ultra-smooth Visuals
The Strix GL702ZC comes with a 17.3-inch FHD IPS display with 178° wide viewing angles and AMD FreeSync display technology. AMD FreeSync synchronizes the display’s refresh rate with the graphics card to prevent lag, minimize frame-rate stutter and eliminate visual tearing for ultra-smooth gaming visuals. The Strix GL702ZC even works with FreeSync-compatible external monitors via DisplayPort or HDMI.In addition, ASUS Splendid visual optimization technology ensures the best image quality for any type of content. It features four display modes, which can be accessed with a single click. Normal mode is ideal for daily tasks; vivid mode optimizes contrast to deliver stunning photos and video; Eye Care mode reduces blue-light levels to ease eye strain; and Manual mode allows for personalized color adjustments.
Gamer-centric Design
The Strix GL702ZC features the ROG Gaming Center, a unique dashboard that lets gamers launch ROG applications and access the settings menu. It works with integrated applications including ROG GameFirst IV, XSplit Gamecaster, and ASUS Splendid visual technology.The backlit keyboard features anti-ghosting technology to ensure all keystrokes are instantaneously and correctly interpreted, even when 30 keys are pressed simultaneously.
My currently laptop’s way
My currently laptop’s way past its prime @ 8 years old (I don’t use it too often and my desktop is current)
I’ve been having the itch to upgrade though and this seems like a good upgrade
Now if ASUS can make this
Now if ASUS can make this then maybe in 2018 when AMD begins offering some Desktop Raven Ridge APUs(35-65 Watts) with Integrated Vega graphics ASUS can also offer up some Desktop Raven Ridge APU based gaming laptops. I’d think that by that time(Mid 2018) some Vega 11 based discrete mobile laptop GPUs will also be available or even Desktop Vega 11 mainstream SKUs similar to the RX580 in performance or a little better but at lower wattage with HBM2.
$1500 is not bad for the features offered and I’ll be looking for some regular retail locations to get a display model that I csn go look at. I hope that PCper is trying to get a review sample for some testing.
I’d also like to see some KVM/Xen virtual machine testing done on this because with that core count VM’s make more sense also. Maybe ASUS can also get some portable workstation variants with an 8 core Epyc variant and Radeon Pro WX GPU offerings. AMD really needs to develop a line of Epyc based SKUs for the portable workstation market. So maybe that Workstation Grade Professional APU on an interposer(OR MCM) is still in the works for late 2018 or early 2019.
If AMD offers Raven Ridge
If AMD offers Raven Ridge APU’s for desktops in range of 35-65Watts in 2018… they would have to be 7nm based and would likely use Navi (not Vega) for IGP.
I would also surmise that such an APU would have 8cores/16threads and be far higher clocked than current 2500 and 2700 APU’s on offer.
The IBM’s 7nm manuf. process that GloFo will be using for Ryzen 2 and 3 would allow clock speeds of 5GhZ as a baseline for the CPU per the specifications.
An APU of this caliber would likely support 8 cores/16threads at at least 4GhZ or more… and with Navi iGP… should be good.
It’s not “If” as the desktop
It’s not “If” as the desktop Raven Ridge APU SKUs are already being fabbed to build up supplies for Q1 2018 release. So no 7nm required for any 35+ Watt desktop Raven Ridge APUs in Q1 2018. If any Zen+ based APUs and CPUs/GPUs on GF’s new 12nm process are scheduled for Q1 of 2018 release then those SKUs would have to be already in production now to build up supplies for Q1 2018 release and GF’s 12nm is not ready Yet. So the First Desktop Raven Ridge SKUs will be on the 14nm process as GF has only announced risk production for its 12nm node to begin in H1 of 2018.
That IBM process IP/Technology is for IBM’s use as GF is in charge of IBM’s Power8/Power9 production needs and any OpenPower Power8/Power9 licensees Power8/power9 production uasge. IBM may have given its fabs to GF, and IBM paid GF to take over that fab business, but GF does not have the rights to IBM’s process node technology to use for others designs unless GF licenses that from IBM/Some IBM related IP Foundation. So IBM(paid GF a big Wad-O-Dosh) had GF take over it’s production Fabs in upstate New York but not IBMs research Fab part as that remains under IBMs world class research/development division, a division that has been tops in new patents granted for decades. AND any Important IBM related Fab process node IP is still in IBM’s control and not GF’s.
Now some of IBM fab process node IP may in fact be available under the IBM/Samsung/Globalfoundries Foundy Technology consortium that was founded a few years back but IBM’s IP for fabbing the Power8s/Power9s and IBMs mainframe SKUs is still under IBM’s/OpenPower foundation’s control. IBM/other partners in the OpenPower Foundation makes that IBM Power8/Power9 designs licensable by others via OpenPower and IBM.
There will be no 8 core desktop APUs in Q1 2018 there will only be 4 core Raven Ridge Desktop SKUs that are essentially the mobile Raven Ridge SKUs tweaked up for Desktop clock speeds and wattage and maybe a single new desktop APU SKU with more Vega/APU graphics nCUs with a few more nCUs above that mobile Vega/APU nCU/10 graphics count on the mobile Ryzen 7 2700U variant, and that’s a big maybe.
So look for the First Raven Ridge Desktop variants at 14nm to start at the 4 CPU core/10 Vega nCU count and maybe a little more Vega nCUs for a new Desktop varant. But more than likely AMD will have only had enough time to take its Ryzen 7 2700U mobile variant and tweak that for 35-65 Watt desktop useage via higher clocks and maybe some other tweaking(Higher Memory clocks/other tweaking).
And some folks posting online need to stop calling the mobile Vega APU graphics with 10 nCUs “Vega 10”, as Vega 10 is the name for a discrete base die design with 64 Vega nCUs that is used for the Radeon Pro WX 9100s, the Radeon Instinct MI25s, The Vega Founders Edition, and the Vega 64 and 56 consumer SKUs(The consumer SKUs get the not so good Vega 10 dies that fail the 1%-5% binnig regiments).
Man that /r/amd Reddit has some Really Daft folks bastardizing AMD’s code name, branding name, and AMD’s specific technology nomenclature to hell and back.