In a surprise announcement, System76 confirms that it is launching a new Linux laptop with a powerful AMD Ryzen processor.
Laptops running on the Linux operating system out-of-the-box are fairly rare. System76 is just one of a handful of companies that releases such a laptop configuration. The company is known for creating the Thelio desktop computer and for developing Pop OS.
A powerful Linux workhorse
Simply called the System76 Serval WS, the laptop packs a powerful AMD Ryzen processor. It also has all the trimmings of a powerful workstation that can rival almost any in the mainstream market.
Essentially, what System76 has made is a powerful desktop computer and pack them all into a laptop chassis. In terms of processor choice, it comes in three configurations: Ryzen 3600, Ryzen 3700, and Ryzen 3900.
This wide range of selection is already impressive. However, the most interesting part is the choice for Ryzen 3900, which has 12 cores and 24 threads. The AMD Ryzen 3000 series is designed for desktop computers, but it also performs well across many SKUs.
The Serval WS is back with 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen desktop CPUs! https://t.co/PybZjekwKF#AMD #ServalWS #laptops #power pic.twitter.com/1dS3kfRGF3
— System76 (@system76) June 11, 2020
Other upgrades to the system include an option to add a dedicated graphics card. Unfortunately, only two choices are available in this component: a GTX 1660 Ti or an RTX 2070. Both are more than capable of handling graphics-intensive workloads.
Additional peripherals include an RGB keyboard, a 1080p webcam, and a slew of complimentary ports for connectivity. For its display, the laptop is available in 15-inch 1080p variant and a 17” 4K variant, both are 120Hz displays.
Since the laptop uses a Ryzen processor, it means that it does not support Thunderbolt 3 ports. These Ryzen processors are power efficient at 65 watts. It means that the 62Wh battery should be adequate to power the laptop for a day.
In terms of storage, the Serval WS supports up to 4TB of NVMe SSD storage. The laptop is expected to support up to 64GB of memory.
The base model of the System76 Serval WS costs $1,299. However, splashing all the high-end components should push its price to around $5,000.
Software side
Linux is well-known for its extensibility and customizability. The operating system is available in thousands of customized versions known as distributions or distros.
For the Serval WS, it comes pre-installed with Pop!_OS distro from System76, or the latest version of Ubuntu. It is important to note that the laptop does not support any version of Windows.
Image courtesy of Jayaguru-Shishya/Wikimedia Commons