AMD Ryzen SoC-Powered Zhongshan Subor Z+ PC/Game Console, A Closer Look
Since its initial announcement, additional details surrounding the systems that the new Ryzen/Vega hybrid chip will go into have surfaced. The GPU and CPU will share 8GB of GDDR5 that's mounted on the motherboard (AMD has previously incorrectly told us that the GDDR5 was on-package), which is quite an interesting pairing for a desktop system.
As for the actual hardware, the Zhongshan Subor Z+ will be available in two configurations: a gaming PC and a dedicated gaming console. In the PC configuration, it will run Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. The console version will use this same operating system with a custom UI layered on top, likely for providing quick and easy access to installed games and an app/game store.
Besides the aforementioned semi-custom AMD processor and 8GB of GDDR5 memory, these are the other confirmed specifications shared between the two consoles:
- 128GB M.2-based SSD is standard, while a 1TB HDD is optional
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Four USB 3.0 ports along with two USB 2.0 ports
- HDMI 2.0 (VR, 4K60, HDCP 1.4)
It's also stated that the console will consume 30W in its "background download" power mode, while it will be able to operate in at 33dB in its "Ultra-Mute" configuration.
This is definitely a rather "interesting" usage case for an AMD semi-custom chip, but we'll be eager to see how this plays out in the coming months. The gaming PC will be the first up to bat (with a release as early as the end of August), while the console is pegged for a late 2018 launch.
