AMD launched their processors with 3D V-Cache technology in their 5000 series of desktop CPUs. The first of the 3D V-Cache equipped CPU was the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. What this does is basically increases the CPU cache massively allowing for more memory access for the CPU and even the GPU with Smart Access Memory technology. They introduced the same technology too to the new Ryzen 7000 series CPUS rather recently on the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, Ryzen 9 7900X3D, Ryzen 7 7800X3D, and AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D.
How they massively increased the size of the cache available to their CPUs is by stacking the V-Cache module on top of their chips, hence the 3D moniker. Instead of spreading the memory module out and about, they stacked the memory modules to increase the height of the processor slightly and in turn increase the size of their cache. While it is a great solution to increase the CPU’s efficiency and effective speed, it is not so great for overclocking since stacking one chip over the other is not necessarily recommended in heat management. Still, we thought it was a great way to make your laptops more powerful without increasing power consumption by all that much or overclocking your chips. While this did not happen in the previous generation Ryzen CPUs, it is happening now with the new AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D made for laptops.
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
Source: AMD
While it might seem like redundant technology for modern laptops, it is a clever technology that might allow you to fully take advantage of high-performing gaming laptops or creator focused laptops. Gaming laptops today come with high speed and high-resolution displays. In most cases, while resolution and detail are the GPU’s responsibility, frame rates and speed are determined by how much a CPU can process. That also means that you want a fast CPU to keep up with fast displays. That is where the 3D V-Cache technology comes in.
For the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, the 3D V-Cache bumps its memory to a whopping 144MB from the measly 64MB the regular Ryzen 9 7945HX packs. All its 16 cores still clock up to 5.4Ghz and offer about 55W of TDP. Thanks to a larger memory though, the CPU can process much faster than before and keep up with high-speed displays with ease. According to AMD, they have recorded a 15% boost in performance over the regular processor. They are also seeing massive gains even when TDP is at a low 40W.
This is a mobile CPU though, which means that you will not be able to find the chip out in the market on its own. You will find the AMD Ryzen 7945HX3D first in the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17 X3D in August of 2023. Of course, AMD is working with more partners to bring the X3D technology to more gaming laptops. You can find out more on AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series CPU with 3D V-Cache technology on their website.
AMD’s CES keynote was quite a big one. No, they did not make p15 product announcements. More like they launched just one line-up of small chips to go into small and portable products, and one huge chip meant to go into huge servers you never want to see the inside of the next 10 years. They launched the AMD Ryzen 7000 series for mobile computing devices. Yes, they did launch new Epyc server class processors, but we think that it is worth a story of its own.
Welcome to the latest AMD mobile processor experience. This time AMD launched a few series of Ryzen 7000 processors. You have the AMD Ryzen 7045HX, Ryzen 7040HS, Ryzen 7035, and Ryzen 7030 series processors. There are also AMD Ryzen PRO 7030 series processors designed for the corporate world too.
The AMD Ryzen 7030 Series
Meant to find their way to the budget options, the AMD Ryzen 7030 series processors are really meant to be entry-level powerhouses. You get to opt for up to the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U with up to eight cores and 16 threads. All eight cores are finished with AMD’s 7nm Zen 3 architecture. The Zen 3 architecture may be a previous generation technology, but it is still a highly popular architecture that has proven itself over time.
With constrained budget, most entry-level laptops will not feature their own discrete GPU. That is why the AMD Ryzen 7030 packs its own Radeon graphics that will prove to be useful in both gaming and productivity situations. Then there are the AMD Ryzen PRO 7030 series.
The PRO processors have always been made for corporate laptops. They are more like the older Ryzen PRO 5000 series processor than the newer generation Zen 4 processors. Like the regular AMD Ryzen 7030, they pack 7nm Zen 3 architecture instead of the new Zen 4. While they will perform the same as the regular Ryzen 7030, their added security layer buikt into the chip itself should set itself apart from other AMD Ryzen 7000 series mobile processors.
The AMD Ryzen 7035 Series
Coming up the ladder is AMD’s 6nm processors with up to eight cores and 16 threads on the Ryzen 7035HS. It is the Zen 3+ technology that took the Zen 3 architecture and improved its power efficiency and general processing speed despite similar general architectures. It is designed for productivity machines that are meant to go everywhere. The first of many will be HP’s Dragonfly PRO coming soon. While not at the lowest end of AMD’s latest processors for the mobile computer, the AMD Ryzen 7035 series still aims to impress at a great value.
The AMD Ryzen 7040HS Series
Coming to the more performance focused space is the AMD Ryzen 7040HS processors starting from the Ryzen 5 7640HS processor with six cores and 12 threads. You can opt for a higher end Ryzen 9 7940HS processor with eight cores and 16 threads too.
The Ryzen 7040HS series comes with AMD’s latest Zen 4 architecture for best-in-class performance in modern thin-and-light laptops. The Zen 4 processor also comes built-in with RDNA 3 Radeon graphics too so that you can game even without a discrete GPU.
The AMD Ryzen 7045HX Series
If you want the best of the best, you want AMD’s latest Ryzen 7045HX series processors. Of course, it comes with AMD’s latest 5nm Zen 4 technology. The range-topping AMD Ryzen 9 7945Hz also comes with up 16 cores alongside 32 threads. They clock up to to 5.4GHz on boost and this class of mobile processors will be the closest thing to desktop computing experience you can get on laptops. That said, this could also be the most powerful laptop processors you can find when you get your hands on one.
Because you are going to want to carry your powerhouse of a laptop, the processor must be power efficient too. The most powerful processors in the range consumes up to 75W. In that case, you might see some laptops with AMD’s Ryzen 7045HX processors that can be charged with 100W USB type-C chargers. Of course, you will not be able to use the laptop with its discrete GPU, if it comes with one.
Availability
AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 series processors for mobile devices will be coming through 2023 from AMD’s manufacturing partners like Lenovo, HP, ASUS, and maybe even Razer. Alongside the new mobile processors, AMD also launched the new AMD Ryzen 9 7800X3D, Ryzen 9 7900X3D, and AMD Ryzen 7950X3D processors as a sort of 3D V-Cache technology upgrade to AMD’s existing line up of desktop processors. You can find more information on AMD’s latest Ryzen processors on their website.
AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors are perhaps one of the most anticipated updates to the company’s lineup of processors since the first announcement of the Zen architecture. The new processors come with the new Zen 4 microarchitecture. The new microarchitecture promises better, more efficient performance and also allow for higher clock speeds.
With Ryzen 7000 and Zen 4, AMD is finally retiring the AM4 Socket and fully adopting DDR5. As such, manufacturers like ASUS, GIGABYTE, MSI and ASROCK are also releasing updated, beefed up motherboards for the new series. The Ryzen 7000 processors are also bringing a big jump in performance and introducing AMD’s new EXPO technology. AMD EXPO (Extended Profiles for Overclocking) makes overclocking for the best performance a simple task with preset and optimised profiles for any game. Of course, this requires you to use compatible memory which is listed on the AMD EXPO website.
In addition, the new processors come with integrated RDNA2 cores which will give it a slight boost in graphical performance. It goes without saying that the integrated graphics cores are no replacement for dedicated GPUs. That said, with higher clocks and claimed improvements in performance, the new Ryzen 7000 series CPUs are going to cost a pretty penny.
AMD has launched four versions of their Zen 4 processors: the Ryzen 9 7950X, the Ryzen 9 7900X, the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 7600X. These processors come with a different number of cores, processing threads, cache, clock speeds and TDPs that are catered to different levels of performance. All four are available in the market starting on September 27, 2022 with prices starting at MYR1,399.
Here’s a rundown of the pricing and details of each processor and their official prices in MYR and USD.
The AMD Ryzen 5000 series, at its launch, was the fastest CPUs for PCs in the world at the time. At launch, Intel did not even have a proper answer to AMD’s best offerings even with their 11th generation CPUs. Their 12th generation Core CPUS’s are something special though and claimed the throne as the best CPUs for Windows 11 and gaming at its time.
The AMD Ryzen line upheld up a few key advantages still over Intel’s best offerings. One of those advantage is that AMD’s offerings was still compatible with chipsets that were a few years old. It supported the first wave of PCIe Gen 4.0 devices before Intel could even hop on the bandwagon. Of course, Intel’s 12th generation CPUs works almost exclusively with DDR5, so there is that.
Now, there is this, the Ryzen 7000 series that just launched. No, they did learn how to count. The Ryzen 6000 series of CPUs are laptop CPUs.
Source: AMD
The new Ryzen then, the fastest gaming chips in the world, they say. The recipe has not changed all that much with the newer CPUs. There is the fact that it is technically the most advanced chip made for the PC in the modern world. It is built with 5nm process now, which means there are more transistor count on the chips compared to what you get from the Ryzen 5000 chips.
The core count has not changed all that much though. At launch, the Ryzen 5 7600X packs six cores while the top end Ryzen 9 7950X packs 16 cores. We are guessing that the most popular option out of the four Ryzen 7000 models launched would be the Ryzen 7 7700X with eight cores and 16 threads.
The new generation Ryzen processors with Zen 4 are quite a bit more power hungry this time round too. The more budget conscious option, the Ryzen 5 7600X’s rated TDP is at 105W, the same TDP rated for the Ryzen 9 5950X at launch. While you might attribute the higher power draw to the increased transistor count thanks to 5nm process, it could also be the higher clock speeds of the new Zen 4 CPUs. The Ryzen 9 7950X, for example, clocks at 4.5GHz while the Ryzen 9 5950X clocks at 3.4GHz.
Instead of Zen 3+, AMD went straight for Zen 4 with the new Ryzen 7000, rightfully so. Thanks to smaller transistors as well, the newer generation processors will generate less heat, which would explain the higher clock speeds too. At the same time, Zen 4 will be all about DDR5 instead of support for DDR4, as well as PCIe 5.0.
With the new chip as well, they are finally retiring the AM4 socket and embracing a new generation of socket for the next few years at least until 2025. They call it the AM5 and the roadmap is pretty straightforward. The new AM5 platform will be exclusively DDR5 platforms with a planned update to PCIe 5.0 eventually.
On paper, the AMD Ryzen 7000 seems like a leap in performance over the older chip. The top-of-the-line AMD Ryzen 7970X delivers 15% more performances across popular games over the older Ryzen 5 5950X in 1080p resolution. The biggest performance leap is across content creation capabilities though, at 40% average improvements over the older generation CPU. The higher performances can also be contributed to the much faster than before.
AMD’s new line-up of Ryzen 7000 processors will be available 27th of September 2022 onward. That is not necessarily when Malaysia will see the first chips hitting the market. Still, prices start at US$ 299 (MYR*) and tops out at US$ 699 (MYR*) which is about the price of the previous generation Ryzen CPUs. For more information on the next generation AMD Ryzen 7000 CPUs, you can visit their website.
ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand is one which every gamer will be familiar with. The laptops which make up some of the most wanted in their classes are coming with fresh new updates. The new lineup also brings totally new experiences in both mobile and form factors. Of course, it goes without saying that the lineup features liquid metal cooling thanks to ASUS’s collaboration with Thermal Grizzly.
ROG Flow X13
Spearheading the new lineup is ROG’s most innovative lineup in a while – the ROG Flow. The lineup takes convention and turns it on its head with a laptop that is compact, thin and light but is able to rise to the task when needed. The Flow X13 comes with support for ROG’s XG mobile eGPU which allows you to power up the graphics capabilities of the ROG Flow 13 with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. It also extends connectivity with additional USBs and Thunderbolt ports.
This year, the ROG XG platform is also introducing an option with the AMD Radeon RX6850M XT. Paired with the Ryzen 7 6800HS in the Flow X13, you’ll be able to get the full AMD Advantage experience. That said, the Flow X13 itself comes with configurations with the RTX 3050Ti already onboard. The setup is complemented by up to 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
ROG Zephyrus Duo 16
The new ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 marks the return of ASUS’s signature dual-screen experience. The Zephyrus Duo gets slimmer and more portable than ever before. Powered by the AMD Ryzen 9 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080Ti graphics card, the laptop is built for creators, gamers and streamers.
The ROG ScreenPad Plus brings a whole new level of productivity and also changes the game when it comes to cooling. The new design allows for better airflow and with AAS Plus 2.0 there is 30% more airflow above the fans. Thermal Grizzly’s Metal Conductonaut Extreme cools the processor even better than normal cooling compounds.
The Zephyrus Duo also brings top-of-the-line display choices featuring ROG’s new Nebula HDR. The new technology enhances ROG’s Nebula display technology with 512 Mini LED dimming zones and 1100 nits at peak brightness. The 16:10 display also supports Dolby Vision with certifications for VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and 165Hz refresh rate. The Duo, naturally, comes with options supporting the regular ROG Nebula display as well. The second screen features brand new, ROG-exclusive technology called the Dual Spec panel which allows the screen to switch between 4K 120Hz and Full HD 240 Hz. This allows it to adapt dynamically to the players choice.
ROG Zephyrus G15 & Zephyrus G14
The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G15 round up this round of additions to the ROG lineup. The new laptops bring back a winning combination of performance and personalisation. ROG has doubled down on its proven design. The new laptops feature a lid with 14,696 precision CNC milled holes. In models that support the AniMe Matrix, there are 1,449 mini LEDs under these holes. Like previous models, the AniMe Matrix allows users to express themselves with their own customised designs and logos.
When it comes to specifications, the Zephryus G14 and G15 both come with the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS. The former comes with the full AMD Advantage experience with configurations featuring the Radeon RX 6700S and the Radeon RX 6800S graphics cards. The G15, on the other hand, complements the Ryzen 7 with either the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. Both models come with up to 32GB RAM and 1TB of storage.
On the display front, the ROG Zephyrus G14 comes with a 14-inch QHD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The G15 comes with a larger, 15.6-inch QHD display with options for either 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate and a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Pricing & Availability
The whole ROG line up is already available in Malaysia. The ROG Flow 13 is priced from MYR6,599 without the XG mobile system and MYR13,999 with the system. The ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is priced from MYR15,999. The Zephyrus G14 and G15 are priced from MYR8,499 and MYR7,999 respectively.
A laptop has become one of the pieces of technology that we can’t do without. Most of the time, we’re stuck between choosing something that is chunky and powerful or sleek and light. However, in recent years, we’ve been seeing laptops become slimmer and more portable across the board. What we expect from laptops has also changed over the years; we expect to get more done with them without sacrificing much.
One of the largest shifts in recent years has been the focus on better colour reproduction and laptops that are geared for creative work. That’s precisely what the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is looking to address. It’s a laptop that is packed with creator centric internals. However, we’re still a little sceptical if it truly can keep the promise of being a power laptop built for the “prosumer” at its price point. In fact, that’s the main question we want to answer in our in-depth review of the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED.
Design
The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is, as they put it – “same, same but different”. When it comes to the design, ASUS hasn’t decided to revolutionise the lineup with the design. Instead, they have chosen to focus on keeping the Vivobook’s design utilitarian but still sleek and sophisticated. They did this by prioritising the build quality and strength.
While the laptop is built primarily of plastic, ASUS has found a way to reinforce it to make it feel sturdy and well built. There is hardly any flex when opening the laptop and the display doesn’t sway when typing. The hinge of the Pro 15 OLED is firm and has just enough given that it isn’t a chore to open the laptop.
The overall design of the laptop is simplistic and minimal. Its simplistic design isn’t a bad thing – in fact, it’s one of the better designs out there. The top lid is emblazoned with a raised emblem in the middle left. This is possibly the only issue with the overall design. It is not only prone to getting scuffed and scratched but also tends to scratch and scuff things that it’s packed with.
Aside from that, Asus also made the choice to shave a little bit of the sides near the hinges making them less angled. This also gives the laptop less of a rectangular shape. Instead, it’s a trapezoid – but only very slightly. However, these design accents also lend to the uniqueness of the laptop. Overall, Asus made design choices that lent themselves to making the Vivobook feel more premium, sturdy and well-built.
Hardware
The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED isn’t like other Vivobooks; It’s packed to the brim with hardware that gives even ASUS’s Zenbook series a run for its money. In all honesty, there’s enough power here to give some ROG gaming laptops. ASUS had made the Pro 15 OLED a powerhouse – fit for creators looking for an affordable option for a portable workhorse.
Specifications
ASUS VIVOBOOK PRO 15 OLED | M3500QC
As tested
Processor (clock)
AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX (3.30 GHz) 8 core with Turbo Boost (up to 4.60 GHz) 16 MB cache
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 VRAM
Display
15.6 Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:10 aspect ratio 60Hz refresh rate 400 nits brightness 600 nits peak brightness 100% DCI-P3 NanoEdge display 84% Screen to Body ratio
1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A 2 USB 2.0 Type-A 1 HDMI 1.4 1 MicroSD card reader 1 Audio Combo Jack
Battery
63Wh 3-cell lithium-polymer battery “All Day” battery life
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64-bit
Miscellaneous
HD camera Backlit Keyboard Stereo Speakers (Harman/Kardon Certified) Microphone Integrated Fingerprint Scanner
Features
While it may seem like the Vivobook pro skimps on features, it really doesn’t. It takes a similar approach to features as it does design. Every feature including the design of the keyboard is thought out and utilitarian in its implementation. In fact, simplicity and utilitarianism seem to be the theme of the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED. Everything is in its place for a reason.
Built for Working On-the-Go
The Vivobook Pro 15 OLED comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from any laptop. However – somehow – they seem to make more sense. Its focus on being utilitarian seems to create a form of tunnel vision which makes the features more apparent.
The power button comes with an integrated fingerprint scanner. While it’s not anything revolutionary, the inclusion of it allows you to sign in with Windows Hello seamlessly by simply touching the power button. Its response time is pretty fast. In fact, most of the time during our review, it would scan and power on at the same time – booting immediately into Windows 11. The quick response time makes working on the go easy as you don’t have to type in your password at all.
It also comes with an HD webcam. Yes, your run-of-the-mill webcam – but it has a privacy shield integrated. The addition of the privacy shield is a welcomed one. The fact that it’s not a software mediated one is a big plus point. The physical shutter simply blocks the camera making sure that it is unable to record. That said, with the addition of the shutter, the lack of physical muting felt like an oversight. But it didn’t take away from the experience and security that is provided.
The slim and light profile of the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is another “feature” that makes it perfect for working on the go. ASUS has managed to fit functionality and connectivity into a relatively slim body which is perfect for working on the go. This is, of course, complemented by the AI noise-cancelling technology we saw with the Zenbook 14. The technology allows you to make video calls from cafes without much hassle even in loud environments. It will automatically detect the speaker’s voice and suppress background noise.
Full Keyboard, Numpad and Large Touchpad
Of course, being a creator and productivity-focused laptop, it comes as no surprise that the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED comes with a full keyboard with Numpad. While it may seem like a trivial feature, the full keyboard brings added convenience when it comes to dealing with excel sheets and even when it comes to creating apps and keyboard shortcuts. The keys are also pretty comfortable to type on. The individual keys are tactile and give enough feedback and travel; while they aren’t at the level of a mechanical keyboard, long writing sessions – like writing this review – are not an issue.
In addition to the full keyboard and Numpad, the laptop also comes with a large touchpad. Navigating with the touchpad is a little more intuitive with the larger space. It also helps Windows 11’s gestures feel more natural and less cumbersome to use. It also allows some flexibility with the way you work within your apps as it has more than enough space to move about.
Extended Connectivity
The VivoBook Pro 15 OLED comes with all the connectivity ports you need to work on the go. It comes with 2 USB 2.0 Type-A ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port. These ports allow for high-speed transfer of files to hard disks and even for you to plug in accessories like a wired mouse to help you work. If you work with microSD cards a lot, the dedicated slot will allow you access to your files without needing a dongle. It also has a dedicated 3.5mm jack for both mic and headphones. The USB-C slot provides even more extendibility with high-speed data transfers and also support USB-C dongles which can provide RJ45 and additional HDMI outputs. The only output lacking is a physical RJ45 port which is easily remedied with a USB hub.
When it comes to WiFi connectivity the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED comes with support for the WiFi 6 (AX) – the latest standard available commercially. This allows for faster, more stable WiFi connections and even higher data transfer speeds – if the network you’re on supports it. That said, even if the network doesn’t support WiFi 6, the laptop does have backward compatibility with WiFi 5. Bluetooth 5.0 is also an option on the Vivobook. Naturally, this means that you’ll be able to use everything from audio accessories to keyboards and mouses which support the protocol.
Multitasking became easier with Link to MyASUS
One of the things I didn’t expect to fall in love with is the MyASUS app. The app isn’t something new – in fact, many other manufacturers have similar applications – but ASUS has made the app something you will use more often and it makes a meaningful impact on workflow. Link to MyASUS allows you to use your tablet or smartphone as an additional extended screen. I found myself doing this on multiple occasions when I was working on the go. Using the extended display function allows you to multitask a little better. Being a writer and video content creator, I regularly had my script and/or references on my extended display to allow me full use of the 15.6-inch display.
In addition to this, the app also allows you to make calls using the laptop. While we didn’t see ourselves using this very often, it made sense to use it when we needed to make an important call or had to answer an incoming call. The added convenience is definitely a boon.
Performance
You can’t lie when it comes to the performance you’ll be getting from the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED. It’s one of the best at the price point. In fact, we’d be comfortable saying that it excels ahead of a lot of its competition thanks to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900-HX processor it runs on. The octa-core processor allows the laptop to breeze through heavier workloads without a hitch. It’s also more power-efficient thanks to the Zen 3 microarchitecture and integrated Radeon graphics. With boost clocks of up to 4.6GHz, the laptop is able to do a lot more work without breaking a sweat.
Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050, the combination is like a 1-2 punch when it comes to productivity. It’s able to handle heavy graphics loads with ease. During our review period, we were able to process 4K video with ease on Adobe Premiere Pro. Even with multiple sources and overlays, the laptop had little difficulty handling the workload.
The VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is also NVIDIA RTX Studio certified. This means that it meets NVIDIA’s requirements when it comes to being optimized for content creation. In fact, the first thing you will realise is that the drivers on the laptop default to the NVIDIA Studio drivers which provide even more reliable performance and stability.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t game on the laptop. You can ABSOLUTELY game with the laptop. It’s able to keep up with some of the more graphically demanding games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and also Horizon Zero Dawn. This is not surprising given the combination of its processor and GPU. The RTX3050’s ray tracing capabilities also enhance the visual experience for gaming. We would go so far as to say, the combination blows some of the gaming laptops with the same specs out of the water – especially given the price point.
Display
ASUS is going all-in when it comes to adopting OLED in its laptops and the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED isn’t getting left behind. The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch OLED panel. The display covers 84% of the surface it’s on thanks to the slim bezels that surround it. It’s got a 16:9 aspect ratio and an FHD resolution. While it may not be a 2K or 4K display, it is more than enough when it comes to the laptop. In fact, it is one of those concessions I didn’t mind making with the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED to get better battery life.
However, the OLED panel shines when it comes to colour accuracy and reproduction – two of the most important aspects of any display when it comes to content creation and editing. The display covers 1000% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and is Pantone validated for accuracy. This is one of those features you must experience to enjoy. The deep blacks and vibrant colours are a great boon to have when it comes to dealing with colour accuracy. It also makes gaming on the laptop a more immersive experience. You’re instantly drawn into the action and graphics of the scenery with the display. Even watching movies or series on the laptop is the more enjoyable cause of it. The brightness and contrast also make working on the display easier.
However, if there was just one complaint – it would be that the screen can get a little TOO bright. Throughout our review period, the brightness was set at about 30% to prevent blasting our irises to kingdom come with brightness.
A Laptop that focuses on functionality with a minimalist aesthetic built for Creators that need to work on-the-go
The ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED is one of the most well thought out laptops we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing in a while. Its features are thoughtfully geared for budding content creators looking for a portable workhorse with a colour accurate display. It gives creator’s a complete package with features that allow us to work more efficiently on the go. Everything from colour accuracy to battery life and a large mousepad makes working on the ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 OLED the perfect balance between performance, portability and affordability. It’s a laptop that will cater to the needs of a creator at any level but even more so when it comes to those just starting out.
It’s no surprise, if you’ve read this far, that we’re awarding the VivoBook Pro 15 OLED the techENT Editor’s Choice. ASUS has taken the time imbuing the laptop with a feature set that allows it to shine as a creator’s machine in every respect – from performance to the colour accurate display. This is bolstered by a price point that blows a lot of its competition out of the water.
PC gaming is not cheap. That is pretty much know though. Consider this, the latest gaming console like the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Microsoft Xbox Series X will set you back between MYR 2,500 to MYR 3,000. The latest entry level gaming PC with the latest hardware will set you back about the same amount of money to be fair if you get a desktop. The caveat is that you will not get the same 4K 120fps experience on the desktop compared to the console. If you want to talk about portable gaming, the prices are even higher.
Of course, there is more to a PC than just gaming though. When you get a gaming PC, your PC doubles as your productivity machine. It will be something that accompanies you into your work and your life. It browses the internet, it edits word documents, and it checks your emails. In the case of notebook PCs, there is more than productivity. Notebook PCs are about productivity on-the-go. Of course, gaming notebooks are about gaming and productivity on-the-go.
While gaming is not cheap, it does not have to be bank breaking though. You can get an entry level gaming notebook now from as low as MYR 3,699. Yes, we are talking about the AMD powered Acer Nitro 5 gaming notebook. Well, it is in the title.
The Nitro 5 for 2021 was technically announced in CES 2021 and is just making its way to Malaysia. The new gaming notebook comes with its own sets of cosmetic updates, as usual, and a few internal upgrades too from its previous iteration, as expected. Most of the upgrades are not really what we expected from an “entry-level” perspective though.
The base model is still pretty “entry-level” at MYR 3,699 (AN515-4S-R9RJ). You get an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H 7nm processor with Zen 3 architecture which should unlock a lot more performance from its previous generation. You also get a respectable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU for all kinds of gaming needs. If you have a 4K display, this could work too. Just do not expect Ultra graphic settings with super high refresh rates at that kind of resolution.
Still, if you just work with the 15.6-inch display on the notebook, you still get a nice Full HD resolution with 144Hz of refresh rate. With the kind of internals you get, you should hit 144fps easily. You also get 8GB of dual channel RAM too. If you want, you can up that to up to 32GB (16GB x 2). You are not trading off too much storage space either with 512GB of SSD storage. Of course, that is expandable as well.
Thing is, the Acer Nitro 5 is not just an “entry-level” gaming notebook anymore. While you do get the entry-level spec with entry-level pricing, you can spec it up to turn it into a beast too.
You can spec your Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-4S-R49W) with an all-powerful AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX processor. With that processor, you can also get a high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU with 8GB of DDR6 memory on board to run games at QHD (2K) resolution at a native 165Hz in refresh rate on the 15.6-inch display. With 16GB of DDR 4 RAM included, the Acer Nitro 5 turns into a beast of a gaming PC. You also get 1TB of storage to ensure that you can keep all your favourite games and still have space to spare for other things as well. All of that for MYR 8,999.
Alongside the Acer Nitro 5 gaming notebook, Acer also launches the Nitro QG1241Y P gaming monitor. The Nitro QG1 is a 24-inch display boasting Full HD resolution at 165Hz refresh rate. The VA panel support up to 1ms of response time as well alongside HDR10 support. Of course, like any modern display, there is a BlueLightShield blue light filter and flicker reduction technology to ensure the display does not strain your eyes.
The Acer Nitro 5 (AN515-4S-R9RJ) is now available for pre-order to 16th April 2021 at Acer’s Official Store on Shopee at MYR 3,699. The other variants of the Acer Nitro 5 will be available for pre-order on a later date from 27th to the 29th April 2021 (AN515-4S-R7QR) and 10th-12th May 2021 (AN515-4S-R4KB, AN515-4S-R5C7, AN515-4SR8XM, AN515-4S-R49W). The Acer Nitro QG1 (QG141Y P) 24-inch Full HD display is now available on pre-order until 16th of April 2021 on Acer’s official store on Shopee and Lazada for MYR 699. It will retail at MYR 749 after the pre-order date. For more information on the Acer Nitro 5 and Nitro QG1 gaming notebook and peripheral, do visit Acer’s website.
The race to create the fastest PC has been heating up over the past few years with AMD making a huge come back with their highly acclaimed AMD Ryzen line-up of CPUs. With the introduction of their AMD Ryzen 3000 series with their Zen 2 architecture, the Taiwan based chip maker has more than made up the lost grounds that Intel has for so many years.
When AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series line-up was launched, they became some of the most advanced processor that you could get for your money. With state-of-the-art 7nm processing, the Ryzen 3000 series proved to be a lot more efficient and could run even more cores at respectable speeds. This also means that the AMD Ryzen 3000 series of processors pack more cores than their competition, and perform admirably better in multiple instances, when productivity matters. They still lose out in gaming performance though.
Source: AMD
AMD introduced their AMD Ryzen 4000 some months ago, if you remember. The only issue is that the AMD Ryzen 4000 series was not what we expected it to be. It looked like a rehashed AMD Ryzen 3000 with Zen 2 architecture that performed just slightly better than the older processor, and more efficiently. It could not be purchased as a single product on its own too. The only way to get the AMD Ryzen 4000 desktop CPUs is through system builders like Acer, ASUS, Dell, and such.
In that case, we thought that the later announcement by AMD (which just happened last week) would be a special one. Our patience has been awarded by Dr. Lisa Su, and her team, with the highly anticipated Zen 3 architecture. It is just that it came in a different format.
Source: AMD
Instead of Ryzen 4000, they call it the AMD Ryzen 5000 and claims it to be their biggest step up in their CPU line-up. Rightly so, with AMD’s Zen 3 architecture allowing a larger and more instant access to the memory banks. That also means twice faster memory read speeds on your storage front. That, while maintaining great efficiency.
In this generation as well, AMD claims that the Ryzen series can now claim to be the world’s most powerful CPU for both work and play. They claim that the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X (their flagship CPU) is now the fastest, most powerful CPU for gaming. While there is no direct benchmark comparison just yet with Tiger Lake, we want to believe them.
Source: AMD
AMD has made significant step up in terms of both multi-core and multi-thread performance. That also means that the Ryzen series is still kings when it comes to things like video processing, 3D rendering, and even heavy multi workloads (multitasking). But that is not all the progress they have made.
They have also stepped up in single-core performances as well. According to them, their performance bump in single-core performances are in the double digits, in percentages anyway. In that sense, we have not seen double digit performance gains all too often in the CPU industry.
Source: AMD
The double-digit increase in performance though is not just beating out the AMD Ryzen 3000 line-up though. In their own tests, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X outperformed its slightly older generation competition by an impressive margin too, in gaming performance and other single-core workloads (Blender). That also means, in theory anyway, the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X should be more powerful than even the latest generation Intel Tiger Lake line-up.
What this also means for you gamers, is that you can now push your games to get more frames per second than before, way more. Considering that all your other work-related stuff will not be affected, this should now be the CPU of choice for you PC builders. It is just as power efficient as before too with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X consuming a rated power of 65W and the top of the line AMD Ryzen 6 5950X pulling only 105W.
MODEL
CORES/ THREADS
TDP (Watts)
BOOST/BASE FREQ. (GHz)
TOTAL CACHE
COOLER
Price US$ (MYR*)
EXPECTED AVAILABILITY
AMD Ryzen™ 9 5950X
16C/32T
105W
Up to 4.9 / 3.4
72MB
N/A
$799
November 5, 2020
AMD Ryzen™ 9 5900X
12C/24T
105W
Up to 4.8 / 3.7
70MB
N/A
$549
November 5, 2020
AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800X
8C/16T
105W
Up to 4.7 / 3.8
36MB
N/A
$449
November 5, 2020
AMD Ryzen™ 5 5600X
6C/12T
65W
Up to 4.6 / 3.7
35MB
Wraith Stealth
$299
November 5, 2020
The AMD Ryzen 5000 series will be available internationally from the 5th November 2020 onward. Malaysia will be included as the first few countries to get the AMD Ryzen 5000 series as well. We do expect a few delays there and here though, which also means the processors can be expected to be available a few days after the 5th of November 2020. They are even priced similarly to the older AMD Ryzen 3000 series to begin with. The AMD Ryzen 5000 series starts at US$ 299 (MYR 1,237*) with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and tops out at US$ 799 (MYR 3,306*) with the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. Bring on the Big Navi.
ASUS announced their AMD Ryzen 4000 powered offerings which have already begun hitting the market a while back. Their most interesting offering yet, is making its Malaysian debut today, with the new Republic of Gamers (ROG) Zephyrus G14! The new power house spearheads a new segment which has been uniquely carved out by the ROG engineers.
The new ROG Zephyrus G14 combines portability and power in a form factor that is bound to become a go to for gamers. The compact 14-inch display is complemented by a body which is only 17.9mm thick and weighs 1.6kg. The compact size skirts the lines of being classified as a thin and light device. However, don’t underestimate it’s gaming prowess. As the saying goes, good things come in small packages; and that can’t be truer with the Zephyrus G14.
A 1-2 Punch for Top of the Line Performance
ASUS has opted to pack a punch with the ROG Zephyrus G14 with power packed processors with a proven track record. Running on the latest Ryzen 4000 processors with AMD’s cutting edge Zen 2 architecture, the G14 promises top of the line performance. It comes in variants with the Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 processors. Powered by up to 8 cores capable of processing 16 threads, the G14 is gearing itself to take the title of most powerful gaming laptop.
The processor’s prowess is complemented by NVIDIA’s RTX graphics which brings cutting edge ray tracing capabilities to the forefront. Maxing out at the NVIDIA RTX 2060 Max-Q, the Zephyrus G14 is packing quite the graphical punch. With 6GB of dedicated RAM for the GPU, you’ll be playing a majority of AAA titles on maxed out settings thanks to the 1-2 punch the Ryzen-RTX combination provides. However, if your budget doesn’t allow, the G14 also comes with options with NVIDIA’s GTX1650, GTX 1650 Ti and GTX1660 Ti.
Quick as a Zephyr with all the Flash of Lightning
The display, while smaller than your average gaming laptop, comes with options for a 120Hz refresh rate and even Quad HD resolution. The compact powerhouse comes with a 14-inch, Pantone Validated display. There are options for a 1080p, Full HD IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate or a WQHD IPS display with 60Hz refresh rate. Both options cover 100% of the sRGB gamut and come with adaptive sync and are non-glare panels for a better viewing experience even under harsh lighting.
The display isn’t the only thing that’s quick, the Zephyrus G14 comes with either 512GB or 1TB of storage. Both are PCIe m.2 NVMe SSDs which promise quick read and write speeds for better performance. They support up to 24GB of RAM with 8GB soldered in the laptop and an additional RAM slot for user expandability.
Charging on the Zephyrus G14 is gonna be a breeze with options for performance and portability. ASUS has enabled both proprietary charging and USB C power delivery (PD) charging on the laptop. The little power house supports up to 180W via charging pin and up to 65W by USB C PD. Best part, ASUS is including 2 charged in the box: a compact USB-C charger for portability and the quick charging power brick for performance. It even comes with a fingerprint sensor so you can login quick and easy with Windows Hello.
Of course, the Zephyrus G14 made waves at its initial announcement at CES2020 thanks to the AniMe matrix which comes on the lid of the laptop. Users are able to customise and personalise the laptop further with self made animations.
Pricing and Availability
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 will be available starting 29 June, 2020 with prices starting from RM4,499. Ryzen 9 powered G14s will be coming with an ROG Sleeve, the ROG Impact Mouse in addition to the 65W USB-C PD Adapter. Those powered by the Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 will be coming with the sleeve and adapter.
Official Specifications & Pricing
Series
ROG Zephyrus G14
Model Name
GA401I-VHA231T
GA401I-VHA232T
GA401I-VHE340T
GA401I-VHE341T
GA401I-UHE099T
GA401I-IHE102T
GA401I-IHE103T
GA401I-HHE027T
Design
Eclipse Gray with AniMe Matrix
Moonlight White with AniMe Matrix
Eclipse Gray with AniMe Matrix
Moonlight White with AniMe Matrix
Eclipse Gray with AniMe Matrix
Eclipse Gray with AniMe Matrix
Moonlight White with AniMe Matrix
Eclipse Gray (No AniMe Matrix)
Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 9 4900HS Processor 3.0 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.4 GHz)
AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800HS Processor 2.9 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz)
AMD Ryzen™ 5 4600HS Processor 3.0 GHz (8M Cache, up to 4.0 GHz)
14-inch Non-glare Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS-level panel, 120Hz, 100% sRGB, Pantone® Validated, adaptive sync
RAM/Slots
DDR4 3200 8G*1 + 8G (on-board) 1x RAM Slot (used)
DDR4 3200 8G (on-board) 1x RAM Slot (empty)
Storage
PCIE NVME 1TB M.2 SSD
PCIE NVME 512GB M.2 SSD
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
Intel Wi-Fi 6(Gig+)(802.11ax) 2*2 Bluetooth 5.0
I/O ports
1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort™ 1.4 and Power Delivery 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0b 1 x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack 1 x Kensington lock
Power
180W power adaptor Support Type-C PD 3.0 up to 65W
150W power adaptor Support Type-C PD 3.0 up to 65W
Battery
76Wh lithium-polymer battery
Keyboard type
White backlit chiclet keyboard, N-Key rollover, Power key with Fingerprint, 1.7mm travel distance
Dimension (WxHxD)
32.4cm x 22.2cm x 2cm
32.4cm x 22.2cm x 1.8cm
Weight
1.70 kg
1.60 kg
Included in the Box
ROG Sleeve + ROG Impact Mouse + 65W PD Adapter
ROG Sleeve + 65W PD adapter
Warranty
2 Years Global Warranty (1st year with Perfect Warranty)
