AMD Launches Ryzen Pro Mobile CPUs For Business Laptops

Back in February, AMD launched its revamped Ryzen Mobile 6000 family of CPUs. Now the company has released the Pro CPUs from the same family for business customers. They use the same Zen 3+ architecture as their non-Pro counterparts, but include extra security features enterprise customers appreciate. These chips also feature the company’s latest RDNA2 GPUs, and are made on TSMC’s 6nm process.

Like the company’s regular mobile CPUs, the Pro series comes in both high performance “H” variants, and battery-sensitive U series. In addition to offering 6000 series “Rembrandt” CPUs AMD is also offering three 5000 series “Cezanne” chips as well. AMD claims its latest professional CPUs are more efficient and powerful than Intel’s Alder Lake chips, and a step up from its previous generation CPUs too. As we reported previously, AMD’s Zen 3+ is architecturally the same as Zen 3, but are power-optimized for better efficiency. The family of chips range in power consumption from 45W all the way down to 15W, paving the way for an interesting low-watt showdown with Intel.

The Pro chips support the latest technology, including DDR5 memory, PCIe 4.0, USB 4, and Wi-Fi 6. It should be noted that although Alder Lake desktop chips offer PCIe 5.0, its mobile chips are PCIe 4.0, just like AMD’s. The RDNA2 GPU offers both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.0, and AMD says it can run four 4K displays too.

On the security and IT front these are the first x86 SoCs to have Microsoft’s Pluton security chip integrated. It provides “chip-to-cloud” security and prevents certain attack vectors between the CPU and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). There’s also a separate processor for remote management and deployment. It works with tools like Windows Autopilot and Microsoft’s Endpoint Manager.

AMD is making some bold claims with these chips, and directly calling out Intel in the process. It claims its Ryzen 7 6850U offers up to 29 hours of battery life, for instance. On a similar note it also says its Pro chips offer up to 45 percent better battery life for team conferencing performance compared to the Intel Core i7-1260P. AMD says overall the Pro series offers 2.6X the efficiency of Intel’s flagship mobile part, the 45W Core i9-12900HK. That’s Intel’s most power-hungry mobile chip though, which can guzzle up to 115W in Turbo mode.

At launch the Pro CPUs will only be sold by HP and Lenovo, with more manufacturers to follow. Lenovo is introducing a new model called the ThinkPad Z, which will be available in both 13″ and 16″ sizes. They will cost $1,549 and $2,099 and will be available in May. Next up is the HP EliteBook G9, which will also come in a variety of sizes. No pricing information is available so far, but according to PCMag it sounds like a premium laptop. The company will also be announcing several workstations with its Pro chips in the near future.

The arrival of these super efficient chips is setting up an interesting battle between AMD and Intel. All we’ve seen thus far is the top chips going head-to-head. In that battle Intel still comes out on top but it wasn’t necessarily a fair right. Intel sent reviewers a bulky desktop replacement laptop for its reviews to achieve the “fastest mobile CPU” crown. AMD, on the other hand, shipped reviewers a much more efficient 14″ laptop. AMD is clearly very focused on efficiency with its 6000 series mobile chips, and the Pro chips continue that trend. How that shakes out against Alder Lake in the 10W-15W landscape will be an interesting matchup.

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