We honestly hope that there will be an AMD Raven Ridge coming soon, if Microsoft doesn't want to look like a company using outdated, lower performing Intel technology, a company that doesn't care about its customers.
It is ridiculous to have to be limited to Dual Core Intel CPUs with low quality Intel Graphics when AMD's Ryzen Mobile offers Quad Cores and extremely high performing Radeon Graphics.
There's been an article about Ryzen mobile just a few days ago. Performance is probably going to be at least "very nice", but until we get reviews it's not clear what they can really do in a 15 W envelope.
The surface was announced before raven ridge. They weren't going to refresh the CPUs for this. Chill out.
Also, you don't seem to realize Intel now also has 8th gen quad core CPUs, and I wouldn't be surprised if by the beginning of 2018 they out iris plus graphics in them too.
I don't think Iris Pro is really a factor in the Surface Pro. Based on the limited availability of Iris Pro-equipped CPUs, its hard to get your hands on a mobile device that has Intel's highest performing iGPU, but I think that's partly a symptom of low demand across the industry. Few consumers and businesses care about GPU performance. The segment of the market that does care usually purchases something with a dGPU, but based on the fact that AMD was able to sell previous APUs, I think there's certainly an argument favoring the idea that there's unmet demand.
In the end, we ought to wait around for reviews and benchmarks of Raven Ridge before jumping to conclusions about its suitability in various mobile form factors. I'm hopeful we'll see good results, but I worry about the Vega-based iGPU hitting a memory bandwidth bottleneck because of the shared system RAM and the latency introduced by reaching into a non-dedicated memory pool imposing additional penalties. Past iGPUs have the same problem and Raven Ridge doesn't appear do anything new to address those limitations.
That decision was probably driven by the need to fit the Surface into certain price categories without driving up costs too high due to a wider array of motherboards. Like any other tightly integrated system, components like memory are surface mount soldered so that 8GB m3 version would mean another production process step and another inventory item.
I agree the m3 with 8GB would be nice and it stinks that Microsoft won't absorb the cost, but I see why they're doing it.
We probably would have if memory prices didn't skyrocket. That extra ram isn't cheap. I mean in terms of our cost it isn't. But for the manufacturer it might push it into another price bracket to keep margin up. The other part is the more variance in build options for a system that tightly integrated the harder it is to manage stock.
Maybe AMD are being very conservative by only using Ryzen APUs in laptops and convertibles for the time being. I hope someone out there is brave enough to try an APU in a Surface tablet-style form factor: the increased GPU performance would be enough for basic CAD and video editing compared to the anemic iGPU in the m3/m5 chips.
Even the base price is on the upper side, but upgrades cost arm and leg. $600 for extra 256GB of SSD and 8GB or RAM? Even separately they cost like $150 retail.
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ImSpartacus - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
I read the title too fast and thought this was about a surface phone, lol.IGTrading - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
When is the AMD Mobile Ryzen coming ?We honestly hope that there will be an AMD Raven Ridge coming soon, if Microsoft doesn't want to look like a company using outdated, lower performing Intel technology, a company that doesn't care about its customers.
It is ridiculous to have to be limited to Dual Core Intel CPUs with low quality Intel Graphics when AMD's Ryzen Mobile offers Quad Cores and extremely high performing Radeon Graphics.
MrSpadge - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
There's been an article about Ryzen mobile just a few days ago. Performance is probably going to be at least "very nice", but until we get reviews it's not clear what they can really do in a 15 W envelope.Dr. Swag - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
The surface was announced before raven ridge. They weren't going to refresh the CPUs for this. Chill out.Also, you don't seem to realize Intel now also has 8th gen quad core CPUs, and I wouldn't be surprised if by the beginning of 2018 they out iris plus graphics in them too.
Lolimaster - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Still their pathtic joke of iGPU vs 640SP Vega core, not even an Iris Pro can save face vs that.BrokenCrayons - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
I don't think Iris Pro is really a factor in the Surface Pro. Based on the limited availability of Iris Pro-equipped CPUs, its hard to get your hands on a mobile device that has Intel's highest performing iGPU, but I think that's partly a symptom of low demand across the industry. Few consumers and businesses care about GPU performance. The segment of the market that does care usually purchases something with a dGPU, but based on the fact that AMD was able to sell previous APUs, I think there's certainly an argument favoring the idea that there's unmet demand.In the end, we ought to wait around for reviews and benchmarks of Raven Ridge before jumping to conclusions about its suitability in various mobile form factors. I'm hopeful we'll see good results, but I worry about the Vega-based iGPU hitting a memory bandwidth bottleneck because of the shared system RAM and the latency introduced by reaching into a non-dedicated memory pool imposing additional penalties. Past iGPUs have the same problem and Raven Ridge doesn't appear do anything new to address those limitations.
Ratman6161 - Monday, November 6, 2017 - link
For my purposes I don't give a crap about the graphics. Something like an i5 8250U quad core would be pretty darn good.WorldWithoutMadness - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
WP platform is dead, stop hoping. They even sold Lumia Camera IP back to new nokia, lol.Can't post link as proof cause it's considered as spam, so google it yourself.
Samus - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Sucks the cheapest model with 512GB SSD is $2200 :/Speedfriend - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Why does Microsft not make an m3 version with 8Gb? 4Gb is just too limiting and I don't need the i5 256 versionBrokenCrayons - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
That decision was probably driven by the need to fit the Surface into certain price categories without driving up costs too high due to a wider array of motherboards. Like any other tightly integrated system, components like memory are surface mount soldered so that 8GB m3 version would mean another production process step and another inventory item.I agree the m3 with 8GB would be nice and it stinks that Microsoft won't absorb the cost, but I see why they're doing it.
Topweasel - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
We probably would have if memory prices didn't skyrocket. That extra ram isn't cheap. I mean in terms of our cost it isn't. But for the manufacturer it might push it into another price bracket to keep margin up. The other part is the more variance in build options for a system that tightly integrated the harder it is to manage stock.Gunbuster - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
LTE likely faster than the pathetic Avastar WiFi they insist on using in every single piece of Microsoft hardware.Lolimaster - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Ryzen mobile APU's made intel chips obsolete. Microsoft needs a quick update.15w Ryzen 4c/8t + Vega, flawless victory
Tkan215 - Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - link
Yes microsoft will announce amd raven soon. Intel will be off the chart. They are not friend when profit is toward amdserendip - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Maybe AMD are being very conservative by only using Ryzen APUs in laptops and convertibles for the time being. I hope someone out there is brave enough to try an APU in a Surface tablet-style form factor: the increased GPU performance would be enough for basic CAD and video editing compared to the anemic iGPU in the m3/m5 chips.peevee - Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - link
Even the base price is on the upper side, but upgrades cost arm and leg. $600 for extra 256GB of SSD and 8GB or RAM? Even separately they cost like $150 retail.Tkan215 - Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - link
Im also waiting for this i couldn't find any date