Could be that the 4000's were just too new to start with in a prototype device. Intel also tends to have more technologies to improve power consumption which works better for tiny devices such as this. Agreed on the performance side though, Zen2 with Vega II would be a powerhouse in this tiny unit
What opportunity? AMD is not nearly as good as Intel when it comes to low power. CCX, infinity fabric, all that stuff consumes lots of energy. I think most of the people don't really understand that the architecture AMD has chosen is very scalable, but as we saw better in going higher than going lower in the power envelope. As for the graphics used, given they said it is a 10th gen device we can assume it is not Tigerlake which is a shame. Nevertheless, maybe it is an Ice Lake Y model of some sort. Or even maybe the DG1, but I doubt.
The Nintendo Switch sells for about €350 here in the Netherlands. And decent laptops with 8 GB memory and a IPS full HD screen are about €550. Since the UFO would be more powerful and versatile than a Switch and the games are cheaper, they could make the price higher than that, but not much higher than an even more versatile laptop with a bigger screen. Of course the special form factor and controller add some value to the UFO, but the smal screen and lack of keyboard subtract from it.
I think €500 would be the sweet spot. That's including 20% Dutch VAT, so the US price (without sales tax) would be around $420.
It shares a little common ground with some of those GPD handheld micro laptops with an integrated controller and crosses that with some Nintendo Switch. Not a bad idea really, but if this is a PC platform, there are going to be games (a healthy chunk of them) that need a keyboard and mouse so those other interface devices have to be somewhere in close proximity which makes a clamshell like the GPD a better option than a tablet form factor device with clip on controller pieces.
For comparison, the SMACH Z with Ryzen Embedded V1605B starts at $700 for 4GB DDR4 + 64GB SSD. Add another $200 to double both. The DRAM is SODIMM and the SSD is M.2 2242 so they are user-upgradeable. You can't detach the controllers but you can always use whatever controllers you prefer instead.
As for the Concept UFO, I'd imagine an ICL-Y chip? Something like the 1030G4 with 48EUs or 1030G7 with 64EUs.
lol, I'll never understand why non-backers get so aggressively upset about a product they have no stake in. It does exist, Phawx on youtube has reviewed a preproduction unit, the latest news is, the final units are being made.
Smach needs to update it's prices, from what I remember it's pretty expensive to upgrade ram, and they don't have the 1807B upgrade available on the site yet, fortunately they aren't taking money for it atm. and only a small $10 reservation fee that you can refund, still.
As for the UFO, Alienware afaik isn't rumored for being cheap, if it uses I7 Ice Lakes, I expect at least 1k for a barebones model.
Put an arm processor in it, and price it around $500, and I'll use it as a pc controller with a secondary touch screen macro pad, if games support it. Make it cheaper, and it can compete with the elgato stream deck.
Then you don’t get access to the huge library of x86 games. If you don’t care about that then get a tablet or switch. There’s no innovation left in that.
Hello, it's 1995-2001 calling, and we want all our same ole same same look-alike consoles back (including all blatant copycats), as they all are belong to us anyways :)
Seriously, it's been 20+ years now, can't SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, come up with a new and revolutionary design for friggin game consoles & controllers.....
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StevoLincolnite - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
Missed opportunity to go with Ryzen 4000 in my opinion.Drkrieger01 - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
Could be that the 4000's were just too new to start with in a prototype device. Intel also tends to have more technologies to improve power consumption which works better for tiny devices such as this. Agreed on the performance side though, Zen2 with Vega II would be a powerhouse in this tiny unityeeeeman - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
What opportunity? AMD is not nearly as good as Intel when it comes to low power. CCX, infinity fabric, all that stuff consumes lots of energy. I think most of the people don't really understand that the architecture AMD has chosen is very scalable, but as we saw better in going higher than going lower in the power envelope.As for the graphics used, given they said it is a 10th gen device we can assume it is not Tigerlake which is a shame. Nevertheless, maybe it is an Ice Lake Y model of some sort. Or even maybe the DG1, but I doubt.
Irata - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
I guess we'll have to wait for the first Ryzen 4000 mobile (monolithic die btw) equipped laptops to see if low power is an issue or not.cilvre - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
if they can keep this around 800 dollars i think it will do well. I wish it had an AMD mobile 4000 series chip thoughKorguz - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
$800 ?? no thanks... would be at least $1100 where i am.. way too expensive...Martijn ter Haar - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
The Nintendo Switch sells for about €350 here in the Netherlands. And decent laptops with 8 GB memory and a IPS full HD screen are about €550. Since the UFO would be more powerful and versatile than a Switch and the games are cheaper, they could make the price higher than that, but not much higher than an even more versatile laptop with a bigger screen. Of course the special form factor and controller add some value to the UFO, but the smal screen and lack of keyboard subtract from it.I think €500 would be the sweet spot. That's including 20% Dutch VAT, so the US price (without sales tax) would be around $420.
PeachNCream - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
It shares a little common ground with some of those GPD handheld micro laptops with an integrated controller and crosses that with some Nintendo Switch. Not a bad idea really, but if this is a PC platform, there are going to be games (a healthy chunk of them) that need a keyboard and mouse so those other interface devices have to be somewhere in close proximity which makes a clamshell like the GPD a better option than a tablet form factor device with clip on controller pieces.Jon Tseng - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
Agreed. I have a GPD Win 2 and the value of having even a fingerboard for all those corner cases is wildly underappreciated.Gemuk - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
For comparison, the SMACH Z with Ryzen Embedded V1605B starts at $700 for 4GB DDR4 + 64GB SSD. Add another $200 to double both. The DRAM is SODIMM and the SSD is M.2 2242 so they are user-upgradeable. You can't detach the controllers but you can always use whatever controllers you prefer instead.As for the Concept UFO, I'd imagine an ICL-Y chip? Something like the 1030G4 with 48EUs or 1030G7 with 64EUs.
timecop1818 - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
SmachZ doesn't fucking exist, and is a total scam. This actually has a possibility to become a real product.Gemuk - Wednesday, January 8, 2020 - link
Good pointyeeeeman - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
It doesn't exist simply because Ryzen embedded is a power hog.Medallish - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
lol, I'll never understand why non-backers get so aggressively upset about a product they have no stake in. It does exist, Phawx on youtube has reviewed a preproduction unit, the latest news is, the final units are being made.Medallish - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
Smach needs to update it's prices, from what I remember it's pretty expensive to upgrade ram, and they don't have the 1807B upgrade available on the site yet, fortunately they aren't taking money for it atm. and only a small $10 reservation fee that you can refund, still.As for the UFO, Alienware afaik isn't rumored for being cheap, if it uses I7 Ice Lakes, I expect at least 1k for a barebones model.
Mday - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
Put an arm processor in it, and price it around $500, and I'll use it as a pc controller with a secondary touch screen macro pad, if games support it. Make it cheaper, and it can compete with the elgato stream deck.psychobriggsy - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
Definitely this is surely where the 7c, 8c or 8cx ARM chips from Qualcomm are a perfect match?willis936 - Thursday, January 9, 2020 - link
Then you don’t get access to the huge library of x86 games. If you don’t care about that then get a tablet or switch. There’s no innovation left in that.bonehead123 - Friday, January 10, 2020 - link
Hello, it's 1995-2001 calling, and we want all our same ole same same look-alike consoles back (including all blatant copycats), as they all are belong to us anyways :)Seriously, it's been 20+ years now, can't SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, come up with a new and revolutionary design for friggin game consoles & controllers.....