There are a growing number of options for folks that want to buy a laptop that comes with Linux rather than Windows or OS X. But most of those options come with an Intel processor. A handful have ARM chips. But AMD-powered Linux laptops are rare.
Enter the Tongfang PF5PU1G. It’s a 15.6 inch laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor and Radon Vega 8 graphics. The notebook is available from Laptop with Linux for €769 ($865) and up.
The Tongfang PF5PU1G is a 3.1 pound laptop with a 15.6 inch, full HD display and a magnesium alloy body that measures 14″ x 9.2″ x 0.67″.
Specs include:
- 1 x SODIMM slot for up to 32GB of DDR4-2666 RAM
- 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 NVMe slot for SSD
- 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3x4 SATA sloe for second SSD
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port (does not support charging or video out)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
- 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A port
- 1 x HDMI 2.0 port
- 1 x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port
- 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
The notebook supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, has a 1MP webcam, stereo speakers, and a backlit keyboard. It’s powered by a 91Wh battery and comes with a 65 watt charger.
You can choose an operating system from a variety of popular GNU/Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Elementary OS, and Zorin.
There are a few things to keep in mind before pulling out your wallet though:
- AMD’s Ryzen 5 3500U chip is a 2019 processor that’s not nearly as powerful or efficient as this year’s Ryzen 4000U “Renoir” chips.
- Laptop with Linux offers EU, UK, IT, DK, and CH laptop chargers… but there’s no US option. So you may need to buy an adapter if you plan to use this notebook in North America.
- The starting price is for a model with no memory or storage, so you’ll have to pay extra if you don’t plan to provide your own RAM and SSD.
The base price does include a 32GB USB flash drive with the operating system of your choice pre-installed though, allowing you to use the drive to install or restore your OS.
via /r/AMD
I think it is neat that one has a choice of operating systems.
No Ryzen 4000U, no deal.
To be honest, there’s not many Linux laptops fullstop (ZorinOS ftw!!).
And of the ones, there’s even less that are 15.6in as most are 13inch (which I prefer).
To go even further, most Linux machines use Intel chips because they’re much better fleshed out driver-wise.
So this laptop, even with it’s (basically 2017-era) old AMD SoC, serves a purpose for an audience out there. I think the 4000-series is hotly in demand, but I think there may be a supply issue with the release of the PS5/Xbox and the Namebrand laptops.
Which are the “handful have ARM chips” ?
Chromebooks ? – Never properly run Linux. ( Mediatek MT8183 and Rockchip RK3399 a.k.a OP1)
Pinebook Pro? – Don’t properly run Linux + Hardware issues – check it’s forum and reddit.
What else? I really want to know.
I’d say the Pinebook and Pinebook Pro qualify as Linux laptops with ARM chips, seeing as they ship with Linux… and ARM chips.
You could also make the case for the MNT Reform and the Novena… although those aren’t exactly the most consumer-friendly laptops. And then there are any number of laptop docks for transforming a Raspberry Pi or other single-board PCs into Linux laptops.
But mostly I meant the Pine64 series.
Thank you. So the waiting continues.
Do you know “Teres I” by Olimex which is same as Pinebook A64 , Open Source Hardware ?
A64 is tablet SoC, not fit for desktop at hardware level.
Let’s hope Apple announcement for going ARM will make others consider it too.
That will pressure Intel and AMD to do something (x86 or ARM) to compete.
That is a win for us the customers.
Hardware AND Software wise RK3399 is the best there is so far.
!remindme 1year 🙂
“AMD Ryzen 5 3500U”
… well that was anticlimactic.
Seems to be the same chasis as the Schenker you had on here recently. And that was with a 4800H. Buy it without the OS, and you have yourself a much better Linux laptop deal.