Friday, August 12th 2022
SCHENKER XMG NEO 17 M22 Released: Ryzen 9 6900HX, RTX 3080 Ti, 16:10 Display, Liquid Cooling
Designed for maximum performance, XMG adds two models with AMD's Ryzen 6900HX to its NEO series. The NEO 17 has been completely redesigned and features a keyboard with CHERRY's MX ULP Tactile RGB switches, a 16:10 display with 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, a 99 Wh battery and a revised cooling system that can fully exploit the power limits of the graphics card (up to the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). The NEO 15, on the other hand, is a platform update based on the existing chassis. The new AMD edition (generation M22 model) is compatible with the external XMG OASIS laptop liquid cooling system and, in contrast to the Intel version introduced at the beginning of the year (model generation E22), is fully VR-compatible.
Featuring AMD's Ryzen 9 6900HX with 8 cores and 16 threads as well as freely configurable Nvidia graphics cards (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 3080 and 3070 Ti), the new NEO 17 packs a mighty punch. In addition, XMG ensures the gaming and content creation laptop is fitted with a powerful cooling system: With five heat pipes, separate heat sinks on all four air outlets and two 11 mm fans with unobtrusive, low-frequency sound characteristics, even the 175 watt TGP of the RTX 3080 Ti with 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM (150 watts plus 25 watt Dynamic Boost 2.0) can be permanently run at full power. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX also operates continuously at 65 watts under full load, with boost peaks of up to 85 watts.Like the new NEO 15 (M22), the laptop can be enhanced with the optional XMG OASIS external laptop liquid cooling system. Resulting benefits include significantly quieter operation under full load as well as lower CPU and GPU temperatures. While the Overboost performance profile, which can be selected at the touch of a button, already provides the maximum power limits, the XMG Control Center offers experienced experts a wide range of further tuning options.
Mechanical keyboard with ultra-flat CHERRY MX switches
XMG's NEO 17 is one of the first laptops to feature CHERRY's new, fully mechanical MX Ultra Low Profile Tactile RGB switches. These stand out for their tactile, non-clicking switching characteristics and boast a uniquely flat design with an overall height of only 3.5 mm. The actuation force is 65 cN, total travel and pre travel are 1.8 and 0.8 mm respectively. Moreover, the switches, known for their longevity (50 million clicks), impress with a highly precise typing feel with clearly defined feedback. Only the upper row of function keys and the numeric keypad of the NEO 17 utilise membrane switches.
Additional features include N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, RGB per-key illumination as well as a dedicated number pad and arrow keys. The Microsoft Precision-compliant glass touchpad is very generous with a sliding surface of 15 x 9.5 cm.
High-resolution, true-colour G-Sync 240 Hz display with 16:10 aspect ratio
The NEO 17 is the first laptop in the XMG range to integrate a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The 240 Hz WQXGA panel offers a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, 380 nits of brightness and 99 percent sRGB colour space coverage. Considering these key specs, the display is perfectly suited for photo and video editing as well as gaming. The low response time of 6 milliseconds and support for Nvidia G-Sync are particularly appealing to gamers. Advanced Optimus allows for automatic switching of the display connection between the efficient iGPU from AMD and the dedicated Nvidia graphics card without a system restart; as an alternative, manual selection via a MUX switch in the BIOS is also possible.
Up to 64 GB DDR5 RAM, two PCIe 4.0 SSDs and VR-ready USB-C port with dGPU connection
As usual for XMG, the NEO 17 offers two SO-DIMM sockets providing a maximum of 64 GB DDR5-4800 RAM and two M.2 slots for fast PCI Express 4.0 SSDs. In terms of external connectivity, the laptop has all ports for large-format connectors on the back. These include the docking option for the XMG OASIS, HDMI 2.1, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and a USB-C 3.2 port with integrated DisplayPort 1.4 stream and connection to the Nvidia graphics card - the NEO (M22) with AMD processors is thus compatible with current VR headsets, unlike the NEO (E22) with Intel CPUs. This also explains the intended omission of USB 4.0: The corresponding controller is part of the CPU package in AMD's Rembrandt platform and is designed to connect the DisplayPort signal via the iGPU. Since the NEO 17 only has one Type-C port, XMG has opted for the more flexible USB-C 3.2, which allows a dGPU connection and therefore VR compatibility and G-Sync.
Spread over the left and right sides of the laptop, there are three USB-A ports, a card reader for full-size SD cards and separate jacks for a headset and microphone.
99 Wh battery and 330 watt power supply unit
In line with the powerful configuration of the NEO 17, XMG is shipping the laptop with a 330 watt power supply unit. As a result, it can still be recharged even at full load. Mobile power is supplied by a 99 Wh battery, which, together with the efficient AMD processor and Advanced Optimus, provides long runtimes under partial load.
Manufactured predominantly from aluminium, the chassis (display lid and bottom panel) measures 381.7 x 272.8 x 27 mm and weighs 2.8 kg. Additional reinforcement in the palm rest area comes from a stabilising magnesium frame: this provides additional rigidity so that the palm rest, which is finished with a pleasant grip-touch surface remains solid even under heavy usage.
XMG NEO 15 (M22) also comes with AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
The platform update of the new XMG NEO 15 (M22) is based on the same chassis as the already popular XMG NEO 15 (E22) and is therefore more compact and, with a weight of 2.2 kg, also more mobile than the NEO 17 (M22). The laptop features an additional entry-level version with GeForce RTX 3060 graphics. Another new feature of this model is a USB-C 3.2 port with DisplayPort connected to the dGPU: The NEO 15 (E22), released at the beginning of 2022 and featuring processors from Intel's 12th Core generation, offers Thunderbolt 4, but the DisplayPort stream is connected to the iGPU and therefore not suitable for connecting VR headsets. Other key features of the predecessor model are still included in the M22 version, such as a 240 Hz WQHD display (in a 16:9 format), an optomechanical keyboard with tactile silent switches, compatibility with the XMG OASIS and graphics cards up to the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (up to 175 watt).
Pricing and availability
The base configuration of the XMG NEO 17 (M22), which can be freely configured on bestware.com, includes AMD's Ryzen 9 6900HX, a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 16 (2x8) GB DDR5-4800, a 500 GB Samsung 980 SSD and a 240 Hz WQXGA IPS display. The starting price including 19% VAT is € 2,949. Upgrade options for the graphics card include a GeForce RTX 3080 (€ 495) and RTX 3080 Ti (€ 879). The base configuration of the XMG NEO 15 (M22) is available from € 2.099 and includes a GeForce RTX 3060 and a 240 Hz WQHD IPS display. More powerful graphics cards such as the RTX 3070 Ti (€ 497), RTX 3080 (€ 992) and RTX 3080 Ti (€1,376) can be configured as desired; the upgrade prices are based on the starting configuration with an RTX 3060. The addition of the XMG OASIS external liquid cooling system adds € 199.
Both laptops are available for pre-order now and are expected to be shipping from early (NEO 17) or mid-September (NEO 15). Regardless of this, a discount campaign is running at bestware.com until August 16th: anyone who pre-orders an XMG NEO (M22) or buys any other laptop during this period will receive a discount of 100 euros on the total price, if they choose either a Windows 10 or Windows 11 licence (Home or Pro).
Featuring AMD's Ryzen 9 6900HX with 8 cores and 16 threads as well as freely configurable Nvidia graphics cards (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 3080 and 3070 Ti), the new NEO 17 packs a mighty punch. In addition, XMG ensures the gaming and content creation laptop is fitted with a powerful cooling system: With five heat pipes, separate heat sinks on all four air outlets and two 11 mm fans with unobtrusive, low-frequency sound characteristics, even the 175 watt TGP of the RTX 3080 Ti with 16 GB GDDR6 VRAM (150 watts plus 25 watt Dynamic Boost 2.0) can be permanently run at full power. The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX also operates continuously at 65 watts under full load, with boost peaks of up to 85 watts.Like the new NEO 15 (M22), the laptop can be enhanced with the optional XMG OASIS external laptop liquid cooling system. Resulting benefits include significantly quieter operation under full load as well as lower CPU and GPU temperatures. While the Overboost performance profile, which can be selected at the touch of a button, already provides the maximum power limits, the XMG Control Center offers experienced experts a wide range of further tuning options.
Mechanical keyboard with ultra-flat CHERRY MX switches
XMG's NEO 17 is one of the first laptops to feature CHERRY's new, fully mechanical MX Ultra Low Profile Tactile RGB switches. These stand out for their tactile, non-clicking switching characteristics and boast a uniquely flat design with an overall height of only 3.5 mm. The actuation force is 65 cN, total travel and pre travel are 1.8 and 0.8 mm respectively. Moreover, the switches, known for their longevity (50 million clicks), impress with a highly precise typing feel with clearly defined feedback. Only the upper row of function keys and the numeric keypad of the NEO 17 utilise membrane switches.
Additional features include N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, RGB per-key illumination as well as a dedicated number pad and arrow keys. The Microsoft Precision-compliant glass touchpad is very generous with a sliding surface of 15 x 9.5 cm.
High-resolution, true-colour G-Sync 240 Hz display with 16:10 aspect ratio
The NEO 17 is the first laptop in the XMG range to integrate a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The 240 Hz WQXGA panel offers a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, 380 nits of brightness and 99 percent sRGB colour space coverage. Considering these key specs, the display is perfectly suited for photo and video editing as well as gaming. The low response time of 6 milliseconds and support for Nvidia G-Sync are particularly appealing to gamers. Advanced Optimus allows for automatic switching of the display connection between the efficient iGPU from AMD and the dedicated Nvidia graphics card without a system restart; as an alternative, manual selection via a MUX switch in the BIOS is also possible.
Up to 64 GB DDR5 RAM, two PCIe 4.0 SSDs and VR-ready USB-C port with dGPU connection
As usual for XMG, the NEO 17 offers two SO-DIMM sockets providing a maximum of 64 GB DDR5-4800 RAM and two M.2 slots for fast PCI Express 4.0 SSDs. In terms of external connectivity, the laptop has all ports for large-format connectors on the back. These include the docking option for the XMG OASIS, HDMI 2.1, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and a USB-C 3.2 port with integrated DisplayPort 1.4 stream and connection to the Nvidia graphics card - the NEO (M22) with AMD processors is thus compatible with current VR headsets, unlike the NEO (E22) with Intel CPUs. This also explains the intended omission of USB 4.0: The corresponding controller is part of the CPU package in AMD's Rembrandt platform and is designed to connect the DisplayPort signal via the iGPU. Since the NEO 17 only has one Type-C port, XMG has opted for the more flexible USB-C 3.2, which allows a dGPU connection and therefore VR compatibility and G-Sync.
Spread over the left and right sides of the laptop, there are three USB-A ports, a card reader for full-size SD cards and separate jacks for a headset and microphone.
99 Wh battery and 330 watt power supply unit
In line with the powerful configuration of the NEO 17, XMG is shipping the laptop with a 330 watt power supply unit. As a result, it can still be recharged even at full load. Mobile power is supplied by a 99 Wh battery, which, together with the efficient AMD processor and Advanced Optimus, provides long runtimes under partial load.
Manufactured predominantly from aluminium, the chassis (display lid and bottom panel) measures 381.7 x 272.8 x 27 mm and weighs 2.8 kg. Additional reinforcement in the palm rest area comes from a stabilising magnesium frame: this provides additional rigidity so that the palm rest, which is finished with a pleasant grip-touch surface remains solid even under heavy usage.
XMG NEO 15 (M22) also comes with AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
The platform update of the new XMG NEO 15 (M22) is based on the same chassis as the already popular XMG NEO 15 (E22) and is therefore more compact and, with a weight of 2.2 kg, also more mobile than the NEO 17 (M22). The laptop features an additional entry-level version with GeForce RTX 3060 graphics. Another new feature of this model is a USB-C 3.2 port with DisplayPort connected to the dGPU: The NEO 15 (E22), released at the beginning of 2022 and featuring processors from Intel's 12th Core generation, offers Thunderbolt 4, but the DisplayPort stream is connected to the iGPU and therefore not suitable for connecting VR headsets. Other key features of the predecessor model are still included in the M22 version, such as a 240 Hz WQHD display (in a 16:9 format), an optomechanical keyboard with tactile silent switches, compatibility with the XMG OASIS and graphics cards up to the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (up to 175 watt).
Pricing and availability
The base configuration of the XMG NEO 17 (M22), which can be freely configured on bestware.com, includes AMD's Ryzen 9 6900HX, a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 16 (2x8) GB DDR5-4800, a 500 GB Samsung 980 SSD and a 240 Hz WQXGA IPS display. The starting price including 19% VAT is € 2,949. Upgrade options for the graphics card include a GeForce RTX 3080 (€ 495) and RTX 3080 Ti (€ 879). The base configuration of the XMG NEO 15 (M22) is available from € 2.099 and includes a GeForce RTX 3060 and a 240 Hz WQHD IPS display. More powerful graphics cards such as the RTX 3070 Ti (€ 497), RTX 3080 (€ 992) and RTX 3080 Ti (€1,376) can be configured as desired; the upgrade prices are based on the starting configuration with an RTX 3060. The addition of the XMG OASIS external liquid cooling system adds € 199.
Both laptops are available for pre-order now and are expected to be shipping from early (NEO 17) or mid-September (NEO 15). Regardless of this, a discount campaign is running at bestware.com until August 16th: anyone who pre-orders an XMG NEO (M22) or buys any other laptop during this period will receive a discount of 100 euros on the total price, if they choose either a Windows 10 or Windows 11 licence (Home or Pro).
50 Comments on SCHENKER XMG NEO 17 M22 Released: Ryzen 9 6900HX, RTX 3080 Ti, 16:10 Display, Liquid Cooling
Laptop water cooling: yeah, so there's this tiny, kinda flat copper pipe here, you see, that runs kind of across the GPU and GPU in a little loop, on top of the other heatpipes, and it's got water in it.
Prices for food are up to 30% and now 2000€ for a Notebook, nope :cool:
we would like to directly reply to some of your comments and questions. For more information, please check out our deep dive on XMG NEO in our own sub-reddit. It covers all the important hot spots: CPU, GPU and VRAM. This was the most efficient way to have a substantial impact on thermals without having any negative impact on air cooling and mobility.
The main goal was to reduce total system noise in GPU-focused workloads such as Gaming. Reviews of XMG NEO 15 (E22) with XMG OASIS have confirmed that this target has been met indeed. Including a review on TechpowerUp:
- XMG NEO 15 E22 Laptop (i7-12700H/RTX 3080 Ti) + OASIS External Liquid Cooling System Review - Cool, Quiet, Fast [TechPowerUp]
Let me show you some numbers:In a CPU all-core rendering workload, you will still have to deal with some fan noise because the CPU's surface area is very small.
Our air/water hybrid cooling system is able to increase sustained CPU power by 20%, but it would still requite the laptop fans to push it over the finishing line.
In a GPU-focused work-load, the total system fan noise drops down to almost Idle levels because the 175 W GPU power can be cooled at quite low temperatures.
In the design process, it was important to minimize weight, cost and complexity of the "waterblock" because it is supposed to only be an optional add-on to the air cooling.
Users who buy the laptop without the intention of buying XMG OASIS should not have to sacrifice too much weight etc. We have been selling this design since January this year and did not yet have a single case of anybody spilling water into their laptop.
The droplets that can leak during disconnect are absolutely minimal. The twin tube connector of XMG OASIS has a self-sealing valve.
Liquid damage of the laptop itself would most likely only be possible through gross negligence.
Our warranty policy is outlined in the FAQ on the product page.
Covered under warranty
If the water pipe inside the laptop is leaking due to normal wear and tear, this would be covered under warranty.
NOT covered under warranty
- If the water pipe inside the laptop is damaged due to mechanical damage (impact shock) or inappropriate servicing.
- If the water pipe inside the laptop is damaged by exposing it to excessive pressure with 3rd party devices, including air pressure gauges or 3rd party water cooling solutions, other than XMG OASIS.
- If the water pipe inside the laptop is damaged by exposing it to freezing temperatures with liquid inside.
- Any other damage from liquid that creeps in from outside the system, including accidental damage that might occur during inappropriately handled refill, drainage and disconnection operations.
RMA proceduresThe distinction between “warranty” and “self-inflicted damage” is broad enough and should be pretty clear in most cases. The usual process would look like this:
- If you discover any issue with your product, please contact us.
- If we come to the conclusion that your product issue might have a hardware root cause, we will offer you a free RMA shipment*.
- The service technicians in our RMA department will inspect the product. If there is a defect, we will find out the most probably root cause of it.
- If the defect or its root cause is not covered under warranty (examples see above), we will reach out to you and offer an alternative solution.
* Free shipping after consultation with our support applies within the European Economic Area (EEA and EFTA), i.e. within the 27 member states of the EU plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.Our user manual (delivered in colored print to all owners of XMG OASIS) is quite clear about how to safeguard against mishandling.
You can find the full user manual here.
Please allow me to quote the relevant part:
Disconnect the water tubes
When you are finished using XMG OASIS and you intend to disconnect the water tubes, please follow these instructions:
Leak warning: make sure that XMG OASIS is turned off before you remove the water tubes. If you disconnect during operation, the water pressure caused by the operating pump will cause additional leakage.
Heat warning: if you have been using the laptop with the tubes connected but with XMG OASIS not running, the quick release connector (which is metal-made) may have accumulated a lot of heat from the temperature generated by the system. Please make sure to test the connector’s temperature with a quick touch before fully grasping it. No support from silicon partners.
Exception: we've had models with Desktop CPU and Laptop GPU, but those have always been difficult to move forward due to lackluster support from some partners.
Even if you take the Mobile GPU, it's not guaranteed that you get the green light if you want to bundle it with a Desktop CPU. We are working with our partners on projects with AMD Radeon graphics. Those projects are still under discussion, so we cannot yet make any promises regarding availability.
However, balancing CPU and GPU power is already very well possible in Intel(CPU)+NVIDIA and AMD(CPU)+NVIDIA solutions. NVIDIA has introduced Dynamic Boost years ago, which controls GPU power based on CPU load. This is not really a new concept works very well even when combining different CPU/GPU vendors together.
If anyone has any other questions about our announcement, feel free to ping me here in the forums.
Cheers,
Tom
I'm curious though, is AMD also not supporting this, I had a 6800xt and during gameplay seemed to hover around 230w, with lower voltages and clocks it would be a better solution to the hopelessly slow 3080ti mobile.