Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor • Hacker News Board

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#91

Post by scns » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:46 PM UTC

silon42 wrote: post #29

formerly_proven wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For desktop use 120 vs 60 Hz is noticeable on Windows (obviously very noticeable on the mouse cursor, but that doesn't change the UX much), but because DWM has basically optimal latency as far as dragging windows around goes, it's not that big of a difference. On Linux it's a pretty huge difference since Linux compositors aren't as good as DWM. Basically, Linux with 120 Hz feels like Windows on 60 Hz.

First thing I usually switch off on Linux is the compositor. It's not that bad typically (you notice latency only if you look for it), but why add unnecessary latency...

If you use Cinnamon, you can switch of compositing when in fullscreen mode.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#92

Post by mushufasa » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:52 PM UTC

How does it work with linux?

My colleague got last year's x395 with the AMD 3000 series. It only lasts 3.5 hours battery with web browsing and moderate coding, whereas it's supposed to last ~7 hours real-world on windows.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#93

Post by noir_lord » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:57 PM UTC

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #37

pachico wrote: post #25

Pitty the screen is so bad. I still don't understand the point for glossy screen, to be honest.

Aren't MacBooks also glossy?

Til they offer the fancy laser etching at a premium I guess.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#94

Post by pedrocr » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:58 PM UTC

nobleach wrote: post #54

indymike wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After spending about six years with a Macbook with a retina display, going to even 1080p feels like a step back.

I have both a 15" MacBook Pro (2018 model) and a Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 open in front of me right now. I have 20/20 vision and it really is not striking me as that much better. I spend quite a bit of my day in a terminal and the remainder looking at the web, so font rendering definitely matters. Even with Linux's abysmal font-rendering, the mac really doesn't feel like it has the edge.

20/20 vision is only average for the population when you get to 60. So most people here will see significantly better than that. At 20/20 1080p is probably enough. Most people will enjoy a 1440p screen and 2160p will have marginal gains but it may be helpful to be able to use 2x scaling instead of needing fractional steps. But that depends on how you drive it.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#95

Post by q3k » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:58 PM UTC

justaguyhere wrote: post #80

q3k wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you need more performance benchmarks? Here's my experiences on Linux (NixOS). I've done some light Blender work on it and it handled things just fine. Haven't tried GPU acceleration for Cycles, though. If I bump up thermal limits to 95 degrees then it compiles things at similar speeds to my old i7-6700k machine, if not slightly faster. At stock 60 degrees it's still pretty damn fast, but aggressively throttles if…

Thank you. I really want a AMD laptop, but they don't seem to have good displays. If I am to stare at the screen 10+ hours a day, I'd like a good screen. Do you like the display?

Yes.

But I also really dislike some displays that some people love, like Macbook displays. So, you know, de gustibus.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#96

Post by noir_lord » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:58 PM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #79

iakov wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A similarly specced ThinkPad or Latitude is built to last, has user-replaceable components and will not fall apart in 2 years after a warranty expires. From my experience you get what you pay for with those professional machines.

my thinkpad X1 with soldered-in RAM and dead non-replaceable battery disagrees. i only paid $100 for it on ebay, so i can't really complain, but it doesn't seem much different to the average consumer laptop to me.

Not all thinkpads are created equal.

If you want more serviceability then T series (and P if you have the budget) are much better.

Though even on the T’s they started soldering they dimms which is annoying.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#97

Post by katmannthree » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 5:59 PM UTC

mushufasa wrote: post #92

How does it work with linux? My colleague got last year's x395 with the AMD 3000 series. It only lasts 3.5 hours battery with web browsing and moderate coding, whereas it's supposed to last ~7 hours real-world on windows.

You'll want to run a recent kernel, >=5.8 for a renoir chipset. I get maybe 75% of advertised battery life on my fedora rawhide install.

Granted mine is an ideapad 5 with an amd 4500u but it's been terrific. There are a handful of bugs still but nothing that prevents productive work. The worst one is where turning down the backlight too fast kills the backlight entirely, but you can fix it by just bumping the brightness up key and then going back down to your target.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#98

Post by pedrocr » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 6:00 PM UTC

rowanG077 wrote: post #3

All of the ryzen laptops that exist have abysmal screens. I would have bought one if it weren't for this fact.

I would have ordered an AMD Lenovo T14s if they hadn't artificially segmented it by not offering the 4K screen available on the Intel version. Hopefully AMD can increase the volume for these chips and more configurations show up.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#99

Post by noir_lord » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 6:02 PM UTC

solarkraft wrote: post #45

silon42 wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First thing I usually switch off on Linux is the compositor. It's not that bad typically (you notice latency only if you look for it), but why add unnecessary latency...

On Wayland it's difficult to disable the compositor :-) With which setup have you been able to achieve the lowest latency? I'm currently trying to get an overview of the situation.

I went to Gnome over Cinnamon because with an RTX2080 Gnome on wayland is butter smooth and janky as hell on Cinnamon.

The difference was vast.

It’s a shame because I much prefer Cinnamon, so much I considered just shoving a cheap RX AMD card in for work stuff/Linux.

Re: Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 7 is a showcase for AMD’s exceptional new processor

#100

Post by bl4ckm0r3 » Thu, Sep 10, 2020, 6:02 PM UTC

formerly_proven wrote: post #18

notacoward wrote: post #12

I have one. The US version "only" has a 4800U, but it was still an absolute steal at US$800. It's a nice size, feels solid, and lasts all day easily . I've used it all day more than once and not seen the battery go below 50% yet. Then again, I haven't really pushed it that hard. I'm sure if I played some games it would "only" last five or six hours. And no, I haven't had any issues with the screen. In fact I turn it…

> If you're staring at a 500nit screen at full brightness all day, you're probably not doing your eyes any good. I'm kinda surprised how many people set their screens to 100 % brightness (300-400 nits for most screens) on their desktop. I find that blinding and very uncomfortable. That also seems to be a reason why people complain so much about IPS bleed and glow; using the screen near full brightness in a dark room…

Last time I talked with an eye doctor (some months ago) and he mentioned that the ideal brightness should match the one of the environment around. if it's darker your eyes work harder and if you are working without environment light (dark room) is bad because you blink less!