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Linux hardware vendor System76 [Official Site] (and now a Linux distribution maker too) have just announced their new Oryx Pro laptop and it's a beast.

They also made a rather amusing video to go along with it:

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From what they told me, they've been able to make it more powerful than their last model while also making it thinner at 19mm, with a weight around 4.37 lbs. (1.98 kg.). For those interested in picking one up, they will be giving a choice between their brand new Pop!_OS 18.04 LTS (64-bit) or Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

As for the rest of the specs, have a look at this:

  • Processor: 8th Gen Intel® Core i7-8750H (2.2 up to 4.1 GHz - 9MB Cache - 6 cores - 12 threads)
  • Display: 15″ HiDPI and IPS display options (4K display only available with the NVIDIA 1070)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060 or 1070 (plus Intel graphics to switch between)
  • Memory: Up to 32 GB Dual Channel DDR4 @ 2400MHz (8GB base model)
  • Storage: 1× M.2 SSD, 1× 2.5″ 7mm height drive. Up to 6 TB total (250GB M.2 base model)
  • Expansion: 2× USB 3.1 Type-C, 3× USB 3.1Type-A, SD Card Reader
  • Input: Multi-Touch Clickpad, Multi-Color Backlit Chicklet Keyboard
  • Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Intel® Wireless-AC WiFi, Bluetooth
  • Video Ports: 1× HDMI output port (with HDCP), 2× DisplayPort 1.3
  • Audio: Stereo Speakers, Stereo Mic, Headphone Jack, Mic Jack, S/PDIF
  • Camera: 1080p HD Webcam
  • Battery: 4 Cell Polymer – 55 Wh

The minimum price is $1,599 and that will obviously go up depending on the configuration. It's available to pre-order now, with shipments expected at the end of May. You can find out more here if you're interested.

I think it's really great that a dedicated Linux hardware vendor is doing so damn well, considering most traditional stores don't offer anything outside of Windows 10. I certainly wouldn't mind one of their units one day, they always look really good.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Hardware
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haspadar 3 May 2018
Just use Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC with Ryzen 1700 (8 cores, 16 threads, no Meltdown, no Nvidia blob) for $1499. Runs Arch Linux perfectly.

And how is suspend to ram on that? Last time I looked it's a dice roll when it works under AMD, if at all.

Works like a charm. I never shut down the laptop, just suspend to RAM, sometimes hibernate. You may encounter problems with several consecutive hibernates but never with suspends.
haspadar 3 May 2018
Just use Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC with Ryzen 1700 (8 cores, 16 threads, no Meltdown, no Nvidia blob) for $1499. Runs Arch Linux perfectly.

With mesa drivers?

Yes, with mesa drivers. I played through the whole ROTTR with vulkan-radeon without any issues. Mesa is already mature enough. I even used Vulkan to play Serious Sam on my previous Lenovo y700-15acz with R9 M385.
Tiedemann 3 May 2018
I really don't like most of system76's stuff because they like Nvidia which means open source drivers are a no go. They also don't use coreboot both of which are things I like to see in a laptop.

I do agree that it would be best to ditch Intel/nvidia/UEFI/whatever else crap we have but I wouldn't exactly say they're acting very friendly towards Intel and AMI for example. It seems that disabling IME was just a tiny bit of what they have planned:

View video on youtube.com
14 3 May 2018
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My wife had a MBP for quite a few years and I bought her a Gazelle to replace it. I would have liked to buy her another MBP but they are stupid now for what you pay. The Gazelle leaves some to be desired in the looks and feels departments. It's not beautiful and it feels utilitarian. But you know what? I saved $1,500 by buying the System76 instead of Apple.
iiari 4 May 2018
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I am using (and gaming with) the prior gen Oryx Pro at home and can't say enough good things about it. I see it as more a mobile desktop to take around the house. It's built like a tank, has a great keyboard, oodles of ports, has a great screen, is easy to access and add SSD's and memory, and it's a guaranteed "will work" with Pop OS or any Linux distro. System 76 has been great with support when needed...
qhartman 4 May 2018
I own the previous generation oryx pro and it is pretty awesome. Wishing I had a reason to upgrade!
sarmad 4 May 2018
As others said, just look for a laptop with AMD GPU. I asked Pop OS developers on their mattermost channel about dual GPU and they confirmed that you need to reboot your machine every time you switch the GPU. Pretty useless if you ask me.
The video was hilariously cheesy. I loved it. (It helps that I drink my Americano black).

Although I have absolutely no need for this machine myself, I am glad it exists. You go, System76!
WJMazepas 4 May 2018
I would love a machine with only a i7-8750H, but every laptop with this kind of CPU has a GPU too to increase the prices.

I cant find even a THinkpad with a CPU like that, and in the past they had this options.
Pinguino 4 May 2018
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060 or 1070 (plus Intel graphics to switch between)

Pardon the ignorance, but what is the advantage of switching back-and-forth between Nvidia and Intel graphics?
lvlark 4 May 2018
Pardon the ignorance, but what is the advantage of switching back-and-forth between Nvidia and Intel graphics?

I'm gonna guess power consumption and as such battery life and heat production/dissipation.
Arehandoro 4 May 2018
If it wasn't because my company insists on only buying Mac Books for IT personnel, and I don't need more laptops, I would definitely consider one of these.
damarrin 4 May 2018
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This is seriously tempting, but I'll need to see more photos before I can make any decision. The one photo they show looks OK I guess, but if other laptops from them are anything to go by, it won't look or feel high quality. It's not helping that I'm coming from a decade of buying Apple hardware (and installing Linux on them)...
Scoopta 4 May 2018
I really don't like most of system76's stuff because they like Nvidia which means open source drivers are a no go. They also don't use coreboot both of which are things I like to see in a laptop.

I do agree that it would be best to ditch Intel/nvidia/UEFI/whatever else crap we have but I wouldn't exactly say they're acting very friendly towards Intel and AMI for example. It seems that disabling IME was just a tiny bit of what they have planned:

View video on youtube.com
They're not being friendly but I do like a complete open source stack on laptops that ship with Linux. Then again I do take a rather hard stance with FOSS anyway. The only proprietary software I allow on my desktop besides games is my motherboard's UEFI which I can't exactly get rid of and I don't know of any motherboard OEMs that ship coreboot. Well I suppose my GPU firmware as well but I use mesa for my driver.


Last edited by Scoopta on 4 May 2018 at 10:01 am UTC
Liam Dawe 4 May 2018
Small correction to the article: The 4K display is available now, but it requires you select the NVIDIA 1070.
stretch611 4 May 2018
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060 or 1070 (plus Intel graphics to switch between)

Pardon the ignorance, but what is the advantage of switching back-and-forth between Nvidia and Intel graphics?

The advantage is power savings. While this is a cost savings for desktop users, it is really a benefit to laptop user on a battery. In theory you use the nVidia card only when needed during games or graphically intensive apps like CAD/CAM programs. You use the much more energy efficient integrated graphics when simply browsing the web or composing emails.
FutureSuture 5 May 2018
Just use Asus ROG Strix GL702ZC with Ryzen 1700 (8 cores, 16 threads, no Meltdown, no Nvidia blob) for $1499. Runs Arch Linux perfectly.
Glad to hear that it runs great with Linux. I am looking to get a laptop this year and this one fits my requirements by far the most.
mihaib 9 May 2018
Graphics: NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1060 or 1070 (plus Intel graphics to switch between)

That's sounds like Nvidia Optimus; no thank you. Probably one of the worst investments that I made recent years.

Amen to that. never again...
Scoopta 13 May 2018
Weird thread, half of you are slamming this because of Optimus o_O I had an Asus gaming laptop.. technically still do just it's in pieces after the thing overheated so bad it almost caught fire. It did however come with a GTX 980m, so optimus. I don't know if you're against Optimus as a whole or just the way it was done in Linux? The tech itself is quite handy even in a desktop. Biggest PITA was some boneheaded move by distros to disable indirect rendering and remove remote X by default (*cough* ubuntu *cough*). Completely broke VirtualGL.

The drivers though have come a LONG, long way. I'd avoid this laptop for the simple fact it's Intel. The E485 looks interesting from a corporate user perspective though. Dunno about performance nor Linux compatibility.
I don't even have a problem with Optimus. I have a problem with nvidia cards requiring a proprietary driver for good performance. Honestly Optimus might be a PITA but I think nvidia is in general.
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