Who Controls the User Experience? AMD’s Carrizo Thoroughly Tested
by Ian Cutress on February 4, 2016 8:00 AM EST#2 The HP Elitebook 745 G3 (Carrizo, PRO A12-8800B)
The Carrizo Elitebook 745 G3 looks practically identical to the Kaveri based 745 G2, so there’s no need to cover the visuals again, but the internals here cause a lot of talking points.
HP Elitebook 745 G3 (Carrizo) Specifications | |
Size and Resolution | 14-inch, 2560x1440 IPS |
Processor | AMD PRO A12-8800B Dual module, 4 threads 2.1 GHz Base Frequency 3.4 GHz Turbo Frequency |
Graphics | Integrated R7 512 Shader Cores 800 MHz maximum frequency GCN 1.2 |
TDP | 15W |
Memory | 4 GB in Single Channel Operation 1 x 4GB at DDR3L-1600 C11 2 SO-DIMM Slots |
Storage | 128GB SSD |
Battery Size | 45.76 Wh 3 cell Li-Po design, rated to 8.5 hours |
WiFi | Broadcom Broadcom BCM943228Z 802.11ac 2x2 |
Optical Drive | No |
Dimensions | 13.3 x 9.3 x 0.74 in (non-touch) 13.3 x 9.3 x 0.80 in (touch) |
Weight | 3.41 lb (non-touch) 3.76 lb (touch) |
Webcam | 1280x720 |
Other Features | Gigabit Ethernet 4 x USB 3.0 DisplayPort VGA Smart Card Reader |
Operating System | Windows 8.1 |
Website Link | link |
The G3 is almost the top premium model Carrizo you can buy, coming in at nearly $1100 if you put up the cash for the top model, which includes as much memory and storage you can fit in. For our unit, it came in at a more modest $700 ($700 for the base model, this was more $1100), which is more in-line with what price point AMD originally expected the Carrizo platform to hit. This is the first notebook with AMD’s new A12 line of processors, with this one being the PRO A12-8800B. This is a 15W part running at a base frequency of 2.1 GHz with a turbo mode up to 3.4 GHz. Any mobile APU in the A12 category has a full complement of 512 streaming processors similar to the FX mobile parts or A10 desktop parts, and the A12 runs these at 800 MHz. Unfortunately this is slightly crippled by only having the equivalent of one memory module in play, a single 4GB DDR3L-1600 module. It is dual channel capable if another is installed.
One of the big plus points with this model is the display, in comparison to the dire one on the G2, but this probably explains the majority of the cost in this 745 G3. With a 2560x1440 IPS display running a high contrast ratio (1422), it did have the best display out of what we tested for this piece. This is matched by the Wi-Fi solution, which had Broadcom’s BCM943228Z module which is an 802.11ac module in the M.2 form factor. One of the general feelings I had from the engineers here is that laptop Wi-Fi will all migrate to M.2 eventually on the understanding of better power control and form factor.
G3 Specific Testing
The 2560x1440 display varied from 0.21 nits all the way up to 297, nearly reaching the 300 mark but resulting in a 1422 contrast ratio. The white point was high, marking it up at 6657K.
While the color accuracy calibration graph looks as if the red line is the one going off on its own, it is actually the red line that is most accurate – we’re expecting a straight line through (0,0), (32,32), (64,64) and so on and while the red line is below most of these points, it isn’t as low as the green or blue.
The CPU-Z outlay shows the new FP4 socket with Carrizo over Kaveri, as well as having the full 12 compute units with those 512 SPs in tow.
On the integrated graphics side, despite the R7 graphics in there, the important element is that memory bandwidth running at 12.8 GB/s due to the single channel memory in use. We can also see the GPU clock running at 200 MHz idle, lower than the Kaveri implementation, which has power benefits.
With the 745 G3 we were able to do a run down on our light battery test, as well as run through some charge numbers.
175 Comments
View All Comments
CajunArson - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Yes, and while Zen is going to be much more power efficient, the first models are for servers and desktops. It won't be until well into 2017 until we see a mobile part from AMD based on Zen.Flunk - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Claims of future products should always be taken with a grain of salt. It's not real until the product is available and the benchmarks are in.CajunArson - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
I agree. I'm not saying that Zen will beat whatever Intel is selling in 2017. I'm just saying that it would be hard for mobile Zen parts not to be more power efficient than these last-gasp Carrizo's when mobile Zen finally launches.nandnandnand - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
2017 for mobile Zen? OmgCajunArson - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Well, I can guarantee it won't launch in 2016. I'm also an optimist so 2017 (and not January either) it is (a pessimist would say 2018).Dobson123 - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Obviously, a new mobile chip every year around June: Llano in 2011, Trinity in 2012, Richland in 2013, Kaveri in 2014, Carrizo in 2015, Bristol Ridge (same as Carrizo) in 2016, Raven Ridge (Zen, 14nm) in 2017.psychobriggsy - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Carrizo with single-channel DDR3 1600 is pointless, especially for games. Did I miss the results when you put the second DIMM in?I've said it before, AMD needs to create its own laptop designs, like it designs its own GPUs, and then sell them via its own OEM channels that it uses for Graphics Cards.
Obviously, it needs to shift its APUs to 14nm first, because 28nm has been pushed as far as possible with Carrizo, but there's a massive gap in power consumption and performance still.
ImSpartacus - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
Doesn't amd already have Radeon-branded ram and ssds? An entire device doesn't seem unthinkable.Ian Cutress - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
When we get the desktop Carrizo parts in (Athlon X4 845), we'll be doing a breakdown at 65W with IPC and DRAM analysis.nathanddrews - Friday, February 5, 2016 - link
It will be nice to finally see Carrizo get a proper shake. Limiting it to 15W and single-channel seems like a terrible shame, especially in the category of laptop it is being sold in. Nearly everyone that I interact with never actually counts the hours or minutes of battery life they get. Instead, they just keep their laptops plugged in any time they are near an outlet.Desktop Carrizo excites me mostly just because I want to build a UHD-proof HTPC out of it.