AMD laptops, thoughts?
Posted by strikesbac@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 42 comments
We’re an intel shop and are considering moving to AMD, mostly because of supply constraints. How have you all found them? Is it a non-event or is there any gotcha, or benefit to AMD these days?
Tharos47@reddit
Ime the biggest problem as been the mediatek wifi cards included with most AMD laptops (Afaik intel doesn't want their wifi cards in AMD laptops).
It has gotten better lately afaict. Battery life is usually better than intel. If you don't go with the cheapeast you will be fine.
Moist-Chip3793@reddit
Huh?
My personal T14s Gen4a has an Intel AX210?
But it's correct in the sense, if you go lower to the E-series, those usually come with either Broadcom or Mediatek WiFi adapters, although I have some with the AX201 as well. And given the amount of problems, I've had with the AX201, in this case Broadcom or Mediatek might even be preferable. :)
ender-_@reddit
Intel BE200 cards don't work on most AMD systems. There are no problems with AX2xx cards.
OTOH, I've got MT7925 in my machine, and never noticed any problems (though I've seen a bunch of AMD systems shipping with Realtek cards – if you have one of those, search the hardware id for both WiFi and Bluetooth on Windows Update Catalog, and manually install the latest driver from there for both, it will solve a ton of problems; for some reason those drivers rarely show up on Windows Update automatically, and they're usually newer than what you get from manufacturer's site).
Moist-Chip3793@reddit
Do you support machines with the AX201?
Because that adapter is a POS, even with the newest driver direct from Intel ...
ender-_@reddit
I've got a few users with them, and hadn't heard any complaints. AFAIK the only difference between AX200 and AX201 (and similarly AX210 and AX211) is that the -1 versions only work with specific Intel chipsets.
Smith6612@reddit
A better description is, the MAC portion of the Wireless chipset is baked into the processor. The PHY is also soldered down into the board.
No swaps, no repairs if the WiFi goes bad.
ender-_@reddit
You can get -1 cards on M.2 CNVi modules, just don't expect those to work if you plug them to a PCIe port.
ihaveabs@reddit
Better than intel. Low voltage Intel mobile chips are garbage
Smith6612@reddit
Oh yeah. The iGPUs are weak, and once the chip starts thermal throttling those e-Cores might as well become p-Cores. The chips are very sluggish in the way most OEMs configure them.
Bjotte@reddit
The only major issue with AMD laptops are the ones with the Mediatek wifi chips, if you can manage to get models without Mediatek wifi then you shouldn't have any issues IMO, just make sure that any models you pick actually state support for thunderbolt if you use thunderbolt docks.
Like for real stay away from the laptops with Mediatek wifi chips as they are truly shit. They are even known for knocking APs into prolonged frequency searches, even for APs the laptop is not even connected to. For a good experience with wifi intel wifi chips are IMO the best, if intel wifi is not an option then get a realtek one but those are IMO a far 2nd after intel.
Smith6612@reddit
The scary part is, I have seen Intel laptops ship with the choice of MediaTek or Realtek chips instead of an Intel BE200. It's such a tough choice to choose between the two because Realtek and MediaTek are both buggy in different ways.
DesignerGoose5903@reddit
It's not the 2000's anymore, what exactly are you doing that you think only Intel could do but AMD could not?
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
Eh? I’m asking has anyone had any issues with performance, battery life, driver support etc. I have no love for Intel and don’t think they can do anything better than AMD. I’m just looking for general feedback as Intel still dominate the enterprise space client computing.
DesignerGoose5903@reddit
I think you just haven't noticed the shift perhaps, every place I've been to in the past 5 years at least has been majority AMD CPU's at this point. Servers are a different matter, but for client machines AMD has been giving better performance AND battery life in my experience.
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
That does differ from my experience. Enterprise SKUs also are intel biased, not surprising with intels history. Mind you I’ve not heard from anyone else that is running AMD as their preferred platform.
DesignerGoose5903@reddit
Any specific models you've encountered this with?
I absolutely buy that there was a heavy bias towards Intel like 10 years ago, but it's not something I've seen at all since the pandemic, only thing I can think of would be the Thread Director "issue", but that was like 5 years ago and was never really much of a problem in my experience.
rfc968@reddit
Is vPro a MUST for you? If not AMD is fine. Been running on a Dell PB14255 for a year now, next general refresh at corp will probably switch over unless team blue gets their crap together
the_doughboy@reddit
AMD had its own version of vPro. You’d just be using different tools to manage.
rfc968@reddit
Did you get DASH working with WiFi only?
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
Not interested in vPro. :)
theevilsharpie@reddit
AMD's laptop's are fine technology-wise (caveat: I use them with Linux). I think their biggest issue historically has been a lack of Thunderbolt support, but I'm not sure if that's still the case or how much that even matters anymore.
The main "gotcha" with AMD laptops (which admittedly may be dated at this point) is that it's a segment that AMD has often deprioritized in favor of more lucrative data center parts. While they support their hardware regardless, it's meant that AMD laptop offerings can sometimes be sparse, with limited stock. That's not a big deal for an individual buying a laptop for themselves, but if you're a fleet buyer outfitting an enterprise, you may simply be unable to get the supply you need.
ender-_@reddit
Newer AMD laptops often have USB4 ports, which are functionally identical to TB4 (at least on PCs – Microsoft won't certify USB4 drivers that don't support full TB4 functionality).
Even on those with just USB-C ports (with DP-Alt support), they're usually better than Intel laptops without TB3/4 (with Intel I wasn't able to drive more than one 4k display without TB, with AMD 3 4k displays work fine over USB-C, though one will be limited to 30 Hz).
KING_of_Trainers69@reddit
I had a bunch of issues with the RealTek 8852BE NIC in our AMD laptops. Intel laptops are going to have Intel wifi which is generally a little better.
ender-_@reddit
Search the Hardware ID (VEN_10EC&DEV_xxxx for the WiFi card, VID_0BDA&PID_xxxx for Bluetooth – you need to get both separately) on catalog.update.microsoft.com and download the latest drivers from there – they're usually newer than what's on manufacturer's page, and installing them should reduce or solve a bunch of issues with Realtek cards. Windows Update only rarely offers these drivers automatically for some reason.
Stringsandattractors@reddit
I had driver and utility issues with them years ago so won’t touch them now
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
I did as well, but it was years ago and not looked at them in the mobile space for best part of a decade.
ender-_@reddit
I've had far more problems with drivers on Intel laptops recently than AMD, especially with graphics.
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
That doesn’t surprise me. Intel is a bit of a mess these days.
Unable_Drawer_9928@reddit
Performance-wise no issues. I've experienced some power issues with a few lenovo AMD models that the intel counterpart did not have.
tejanaqkilica@reddit
It's mostly fine. Some driver small issue here and there, but nothing crazy.
padde0711@reddit
Our 2 year old cheap Acer laptop is very noisy, because the AMD CPU gets pretty hot, even when doing very basic things. Definitely don't by a cheap model like that. Sorry, don't have the model at hand at the moment.
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
Only looking at enterprise class laptops, ThinkPad T14/ HP EliteBooks etc
ender-_@reddit
Better than Intel, especially for users with 4k external monitors (with Intel multiple 4k displays only work with TB docks, with AMD they work with regular USB-C docks).
Livid-Setting4093@reddit
Intel vPro is obviously not there, other than that what is the question?!
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
Just looking for general feedback like the others have posted. Back in the day AMD has had issues with mobile CPUs, I know in the consumer space they are solid but for enterprise they are still a niche pick.
dmitri_ac@reddit
Non-event. AMD has had a good story for enterprise drivers for years now and performance per watt on mobile is absolutely there. Ryzen 7000 series laptops will beat Intel configurations in most tasks on battery life. The only thing to audit before deploying across your fleet is if you have Intel specific code lurking somewhere in your software stack. Not super common but pretty embarrassing when you find it after rollout. Purchase a laptop or desktop from Lenovos or Dell's business segment that's AMD based and you likely won't notice the difference operationally.
strikesbac@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the info.
xCharg@reddit
tbh still doing intel CPUs is a disservice to your users, they are much slower in same price segment especially when on battery but not only
As for managing them point of view - no difference whatsoever.
ludlology@reddit
they are still x86/x64 so it’s very unlikely you’ll even notice a difference unless you depend on vpro or something
fwiw i have a ryzen laptop i use for gaming and work (dual boot) thats an absolute beast for the price. just stick to nvidia if your users are doing anything gpu heavy
Adventurous-Cat8847@reddit
mostly a non-issue now, AMD laptops are solid, often better battery/performance, just check driver and docking compatibility.
TinyBreak@reddit
We did a year back. No real difference for us at all,
srekkas@reddit
Wife work have them, like 4-5 years was some problems, which was solved by drivers or bios update.
Now i think it is mostly ok. I have 3 of AMD powered Lenovo tinys in my home lab, works without problem.
Have Lenovo T14s g1 AMD, works very nice, good battery life.