Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 could disappoint with older AMD hardware

surface laptop 3
(Image credit: Future)

It looks more and more likely that Microsoft’s long-awaited Surface Laptop 4 could be using an outdated AMD processor. A leaked benchmark for a computer using a so-called ‘Surface Edition’ CPU suggests we could be stuck with a Ryzen 4000 series chip, and not newer 5000 series ones.

The UserBenchmark entry was spotted for an unknown PC using an ‘AMD Ryzen 7 Microsoft Surface Edition’, with an integrated ‘RX Vega 8 4000’ - the generation of graphics used by the older Ryzen 4000 CPUs. Specifically the chip on the supposed Surface Laptop 4 looks a lot like an eight-core Ryzen 7 4800U.

This is certainly disappointing to hear given that better processors are out there, but the 16GB RAM included in the benchmark could give these older chips a boost. Nothing’s confirmed yet so Microsoft could still surprise us with a more powerful hardware than we’re expecting, but with all the rumors flying around we aren’t hopeful.

What are the other Surface Laptop 4 CPU leaks? 

A 2020 benchmark suggested that we could be getting a Surface Laptop 4 with a choice of either an AMD Ryzen 4000 processor or an Intel Tiger Lake-U CPU. This was later backed up by benchmarks this year which showed a custom AMD CPU and an 11th gen Intel Core i5 CPU being used in suspected Surface Laptop 4s.

It seems odd for Microsoft to use newer Intel chips alongside older AMD processors, but evidence is suggesting this could be the case. However, it might not be a knockout punch for AMD, as rumored benchmark scores for each device place Intel behind with its multi-core score of 4970 - compared to 5726.

Until an official reveal, we won’t know for certain what hardware the Surface Laptop 4 will come packaged with. So, we’ll have to wait and see which version comes out on top in this latest battleground for AMD and Intel.

Via APISAK

TOPICS
Hamish Hector
Senior Staff Writer, News

Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.

Read more
Surface Laptop 7
Amazon warns customers about the Surface Laptop – and it’s not just bad news for Microsoft
An AMD Ryzen processor slotted into a motherboard
Future AMD-powered gaming handhelds and notebooks could miss out on a key feature – and it might be a deal breaker for gamers
A man riding a rocket with the AMD Ryzen logo on the side.
AMD raises the bar for gaming on lightweight laptops – its new Strix Halo chip could run games better than an Nvidia RTX 3060
Ryzen 9000 promotional material
AMD's most powerful processor ever actually runs better on Windows 10 than Windows 11
AMD Ryzen AI
New leak suggests AMD's working on an Arm-based processor to rival Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series
Black Friday 2020
AMD exec hints that discrete RDNA 4 GPUs won’t be in gaming laptops anytime soon, leaving Nvidia’s RTX 5000 cards unchallenged
Latest in Windows Laptops
The Microsoft Surface Laptop on a blue background with text saying Lowest price next to it.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is our best-rated model and right now it's close to half price with this massive $700 discount
Dell XPS 13 Laptop in graphite on yellow background with big savings sign
Save $400 on the top-rated Dell XPS 13 - one of the best laptops money can buy
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro on a blue background next to text saying Don't Miss.
This half-price Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro is easily the best Presidents' Day laptop deal
Microsoft Surface Pro on a blue background
Best Buy has a huge $350 discount on this excellent high-end Surface Pro bundle
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 angled with coffee
I tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15IRU9 and found a no-frills laptop at a decent price
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid open
I tried the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid and found it very unique - and very expensive
Latest in News
Girl wearing Meta Quest 3 headset interacting with a jungle playset
Latest Meta Quest 3 software beta teases a major design overhaul and VR screen sharing – and I need these updates now
Microsoft
"Another pair of eyes" - Microsoft launches all-new Security Copilot Agents to give security teams the upper hand
Hatch Restore 3 in Putty
You can finally start your day with The Office theme song, and I couldn't be more excited
Cassian Andor looking nervously over his shoulder in Andor season 2
New Andor season 2 trailer has got Star Wars fans asking the same question – and it includes an ominous call back to Rogue One's official teaser
Ncuti Gatwa as The Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who
Disney+ drops new trailer for Doctor Who season 2 that promises an epic adventure across time and space
23andMe
23andMe is bankrupt and about to sell your DNA, here's how to stop that from happening