Monday, June 8th 2020
Only one Laptop in 2020 will have AMD's SmartShift Technology
At CES 2020, AMD detailed a new technology called SmartShift. With the launch of the Ryzen 4000 Series "Renoir" processors, AMD has brought this technology to the processors powering the next generation of laptops. Designed to bring better performance to the overall system, the technology uses TDP balancing to boost the performance of processors. What that means is that the technology dynamically relocates the TDP budget to where it is most needed. For example, if the application is CPU intensive, the CPU will get a bigger TDP budget and will get better performance. And it goes the same way for GPU. Of course, the technology works only on AMD CPU and GPU combinations.
To use the SmartShift technology, the platform designer needs to implement it. For example, if a notebook manufacturer decides not to do it in its system, then it will not work. So far, we have only seen one model with SmartShift technology launching this year. The model in question is Dell's G5 15 SE. And it is going to stay like that. Frank Azore of AMD, has come out on Twitter and said that the reason for the lack of other laptops using this technology is because it is brand new and Dell jumped on it first. "No more SmartShift laptops are coming this year but the team is working hard on having more options ASAP for 2021." - he added. Hopefully, we will see more models being powered by this technology as the 2021 starts.
Sources:
Frank Azor (Twitter), via AnandTech
To use the SmartShift technology, the platform designer needs to implement it. For example, if a notebook manufacturer decides not to do it in its system, then it will not work. So far, we have only seen one model with SmartShift technology launching this year. The model in question is Dell's G5 15 SE. And it is going to stay like that. Frank Azore of AMD, has come out on Twitter and said that the reason for the lack of other laptops using this technology is because it is brand new and Dell jumped on it first. "No more SmartShift laptops are coming this year but the team is working hard on having more options ASAP for 2021." - he added. Hopefully, we will see more models being powered by this technology as the 2021 starts.
7 Comments on Only one Laptop in 2020 will have AMD's SmartShift Technology
I smell history repeating - AMD's grip on OEM is too loose and it damages them every time.
Primary Battery
3-Cell Battery, 51 Whr (Integrated)
The battery is built-in and not replaceable? Not a good look on my end...I literally just "fixed" a laptop for a friend. The fix was just buying a new battey for $21. I can't imagine buying a new cutting edge laptop to see the battery flake out a day after warranty. I've learned my lesson there on the stack of $700+ phones that won't charge or die in a couple hours.
I won't hide that I'm interested in this laptop as the price to performance seems really good.
Yes, Frank Azor was alluding to the fact that it simply takes time to put all the pieces in place with OEMs. It'll happen more broadly, we just need to wait it out a bit longer.
Here's the interview for anyone interested: