AMD Is Crushing Intel in Laptops Too?? - ASUS Zephyrus GA502 Review
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Check out Displate's metal posters at lmg.gg Use code LINUS and get 25% off GlassWire at lmg.gg We take a look at the first Ryzen mobile processor to hit our office... and spoilers... it's damn good. Buy the Zephyrus GA502: At BestBuy: geni.us Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Our Affiliates, Referral Programs, and Sponsors: linustechtips.com Get Private Internet Access today at geni.us Displate metal posters: lmg.gg Linus Tech Tips merchandise at lttstore.com Linus Tech Tips posters at crowdmade.com Our Test Benches on Amazon: amazon.com Our production gear: geni.us Twitter - twitter.com Facebook - @LinusTech Instagram - @linustech Twitch - twitch.tv Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com
The Zephyrus GA502 review kicks off with a side-by-side Cinebench drag race, pitting Intel’s latest mobile CPUs against AMD’s Ryzen 7 3750H in a laptop-first comparison. Linus emphasizes that the GA502 is the first laptop to ship with a mobile Ryzen processor designed for laptops, and it sits among the top contenders in the bench but isn’t dramatically faster than its peers. The core takeaway is that AMD’s four-core, eight-thread Ryzen 7 3750H provides excellent gaming performance for its class, delivering AAA titles above 60 frames per second at high details and maintaining solid 120 Hz refresh rate in esports titles, all while keeping power draw reasonable. In terms of value, the GA502 impresses with its price point, around 1200, and a balanced combination of a GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU and 16 GB of RAM, yielding competitive gaming performance without resorting to higher-end, more expensive GPUs. Beyond raw speed, Linus notes practical design and usability strengths: slim profile and sturdy build quality for the price, a bright, 120 Hz 1080p IPS screen, strong keyboard with short-throw keys, and good battery life for a gaming laptop, though the trackpad can be quirky until it becomes naturally smooth with use. The review also weighs practical drawbacks, such as a plastic-feeling chassis, absence of RGB lighting, and, most notably for many, the missing webcam, which sparks a broader discussion about privacy and the evolving laptop design tradeoffs. Finally, the video connects these points to a broader market narrative, arguing that AMD’s laptop strategy fills a gap left by Intel’s branding and configuration pitfalls, and that the GA502 represents a strong, budget-conscious option for gamers who want decent CPU performance, compelling display quality, and good all-around usability. The call to action remains: consider the GA502 for an affordable gaming laptop, while acknowledging its compromises, and explore related gear and accessories linked in the description.
Topics · technology · computers · laptops · hardware · gaming_laptops · cpu_performance · amd_vs_intel
Questions answered
- Why does the Zephyrus GA502 with Ryzen 7 3750H perform so well against Intel laptops in gaming benchmarks?
- Because the Ryzen 7 3750H focuses on delivering strong gaming performance per watt with a balanced four-core, eight-thread design, and the GA502 pairs this CPU with a capable GPU and ample RAM at a competitive price, making it a compelling value option even when Intel offers higher-core-count options.
- What are the standout strengths of the GA502 according to the review?
- Key strengths include a slim, solid build for its price, a bright 120 Hz 1080p IPS screen, a comfortable keyboard with short-throw keys, good battery life for a gaming laptop, and overall good gaming performance for the price point.
- What are the notable downsides of the GA502 mentioned in the video?
- Main downsides discussed are a plasticky chassis feel, lack of RGB lighting, and most notably the absence of a webcam, which some users see as a privacy benefit while others see as a significant usability drawback.