Microsoft to Reportedly Use AMD Silicon on Its Next Gen Surface Devices

[Raevenlord]

Microsoft has been using Intel hardware exclusively on its Surface lineup ever since it came out with the first Surface device. The choice was clear - Intel offered much better energy efficiency than anything AMD could offer at the time, besides the strong bond between the two companies. However, it seems that AMD might have done enough with its Ryzen 3000 series to sway big Microsoft into using some of its hardware (Ryzen 3000H or U) on upcoming Surface devices, if reports are to be believed.

Microsoft should be refreshing its Surface Laptop 2 with a 15-inch variant packing AMD hardware. It's uncertain if this will happen, and much less likely to happen for the entirety of Microsoft's Surface product stack (which includes potential refreshes for Surface Pro 6, Surface Book 2, Surface Go or Surface Studio 2). However, that AMD is now being considered alongside Intel in what can be said to be the ultimate Windows experience in Microsoft's usually excellently-designed products is a prestige in and of itself, and means an empowered brand standing for the red camp. Oh and Microsoft might finally be introducing that dual-screen device we've been hearing rumblings about for a while. Project "Centaurus" has already been seeded among Intel insiders, it seems, so it might see the light of day in the upcoming Microsoft Surface event taking place in New York on October 2nd.



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[Xuper]

Price?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The day Apple makes an AMD-powered system, that will surprise me. I'm a little surprised it took MS this long to make an AMD Surface. I guess they figured the Xbox win was enough support?

 

[Easo]

Price?

You know the saying "If you have to ask, you can't afford it"? Surface devices in a good configuration are easily 2k+ USD/EUR.

 

[Camm]

The day Apple makes an AMD-powered system, that will surprise me. I'm a little surprised it took MS this long to make an AMD Surface. I guess they figured the Xbox win was enough support?

I've been a little surprised Apple hasn't considering what Apple could build under semi-custom and Apple's links with AMD graphics now. But as the article suggested, power was still the lynchpin - if power is close enough, the uplift in graphical performance is really the weakest point in Surface's lineup, and this helps that pretty well.

 

[Arc1t3ct]

I doubt they'll use AMD in anything Surface as those products are targeted towards Apple Switchers.

I never understood why anyone would pay more than 300$ for a computer with intel integrated graphics...

 

[phanbuey]

I've been a little surprised Apple hasn't considering what Apple could build under semi-custom and Apple's links with AMD graphics now. But as the article suggested, power was still the lynchpin - if power is close enough, the uplift in graphical performance is really the weakest point in Surface's lineup, and this helps that pretty well.

Same... very surprised they didn't go with a rome setup for their mac pro yet.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Mac Pro should have used EPYC!

 

[HugsNotDrugs]

I doubt they'll use AMD in anything Surface as those products are targeted towards Apple Switchers.

I never understood why anyone would pay more than 300$ for a computer with intel integrated graphics...

Because for office work, email and web browsing integrated is fine.

 

[thesmokingman]

The day Apple makes an AMD-powered system, that will surprise me. I'm a little surprised it took MS this long to make an AMD Surface. I guess they figured the Xbox win was enough support?

The Mac Pro uses AMD gpus... that's half way there.

 

[Mistral]

I true I might upgrade from my Book 1... Wonder which generation of chips it'll use.

 

[Aldain]

The day Apple makes an AMD-powered system, that will surprise me. I'm a little surprised it took MS this long to make an AMD Surface. I guess they figured the Xbox win was enough support?

Um dude you do know that apple has been using amd gpu-s for years now...right??? aor are you thinking about a FULL amd powered apple product??

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I’m referring to AMD CPUs. I know Apple already uses AMD GPUs.

 

[JAB Creations]

In that case I'd really really like to see this line up of products drastically improve; the iFixit ratings for the Surface are absolutely atrocious.

 

[juiseman]

Mac Pro should have used EPYC!

That's what I been saying too. I think the NMP will fall quickly behind some of these new CPU's coming out. It will be over priced and lose in performance
to high end PC workstations if TH3 turns out. Which, it should based on how Eypic and Zen 2 are doing.
They will have to rely on Intel to stick with that socket or they will have to re-design with an updated socket. That is lot of money wasted to RND. And,
lets be real, we all know how Apple loves their money....

 

[Deleted member 158293]

Good for AMD getting their CPUs into the Surface.

Now if the Surface could graduate from being an essentially disposable computer to being able to be repaired it'll be great. Sadly I know it won't happen...

 

[juiseman]

I don't know why they haven't offered a lower tier MacBook air with and AMD CPU/GPU. Plus, a really affordable mac mini could sell better and get
more people using their hardware who couldn't other wise afford the "Apple Tax"

This would also make it less likely people would turn to the Hackntosh rout. So they could take that small .5% of sales from there too...... ​

Sales by volume can add up too, look at Walmart anybody? My 7 year old daughter said one time while were in the toy aisle "Daddy, why don't they make all toys $1 so everybody
could afford them? they would sell millions and everybody would be happy and still make money!!!.....I tried to explain to her that then the "companies
would be able to make money" but I started thinking "Man, she is kind of correct in a lot of ways,

I think its their image of "elite" looking products that they don't want to stray from. Like, What the Fu$k? poor folks cant have Mac's and IPhone's too?....lol..."nope, sorry
got to be minimum upper middle class; Come back when you sell your soul, then you can look awesome using our IPhone while using your $45,000 New Mac Pro"....

ok, rant over, back to the topic.....

 

[Vayra86]

Its about time they make the surface a tad more affordable. Right now its a bit too much in the Apple Mac range of premium for my tastes. Ryzen CPUs should enable that...

That said, Surface Pro's are pretty awesome devices. Great quality.

I don't know why they haven't offered a lower tier MacBook air with and AMD CPU/GPU. Plus, a really affordable mac mini could sell better and get
more people using their hardware who couldn't other wise afford the "Apple Tax"
This would also make it less likely people would turn to the Hackntosh rout. So they could take that small .5% of sales from there too......
Sales by volume can add up too, look at Walmart anybody? My 7 year old daughter said one time while were in the toy aisle "Daddy, why don't they make all toys $1 so everybody
could afford them? they would sell millions and everybody would be happy and still make money!!!.....I tried to explain to her that then the "companies
would be able to make money" but I started thinking "Man, she is kind of correct in a lot of ways,

I think its their image of "elite" looking products that they don't want to stray from. Like, What the Fu$k? poor folks cant have Mac's and IPhone's too?....lol..."nope, sorry
got to be minimum upper middle class; Come back when you sell your soul, then you can look awesome using our IPhone while using your $45,000 New Mac Pro"....

ok, rant over, back to the topic.....

Yeah too bad there is a Chinese market too and they just copy it and put it on shelf for half price