（#PC #Computer #AI #CPU）New Computer! Things to Check Before You Buy

Buying a laptop for entering school or starting a new job.
Your current laptop is getting old, and you are considering an upgrade.

To find the optimal laptop,
let's organize the necessary specs before rushing to buy.

Here are the items to keep in mind.

OS
Graphics
CPU
What are 12 cores and 24 threads
WiFi
Memory
Storage
What is Office, such as Microsoft Word
Screen Inches
NPU-AI

PC with Ideal Status

Here are the ideal specs for a computer today.
If you have all of these, it can be considered an excellent machine.

● Regarding CPU: Core Ultra 9, or Ryzen 9

● Regarding GHz: 5.00GHz or higher

● Regarding cores and threads: 12 cores and 24 threads, preferably 16 cores and 32 threads

● Regarding WiFi: WiFi-7 supported

● Regarding memory: 32GB, or 64GB, along with DDR5

● Regarding storage: 512GB, or 1TB or more, and it is an SSD.

● Regarding Office: It probably comes with it. The Microsoft tax.

● Regarding screen size: 16 inches

● Regarding AI: Equipped with NPU, with Copilot+ PC

OS

Windows

Windows. It's the only choice.

In terms of usage rate for work and gaming, Windows accounts for 100%.

If you get used to using Windows for daily use,
you can directly apply it as a PC skill in your work.

It may be a slight exaggeration, but saying Windows holds a 100% market share is not far from the truth.
There is no alternative here; it has to be Windows.

Especially if this is your first time owning a PC, go with Windows.

When purchasing your first PC, even if someone recommends buying a Mac,
there is no sincerity in their advice, and that choice is inappropriate.

OS means
Windows.

x86

"x86" is the name of the design standard (instruction set architecture) for the CPU (processor), which serves as the brain of a personal computer.
Beginning from an old CPU called the "8086" developed by Intel in 1978, this series has evolved over decades and has become the standard specification for modern computers (excluding some Macs and certain systems).

Why are there "almost no compatibility issues with apps and games"?

The greatest strength of x86 is its high compatibility, meaning "almost everything from older software to the latest software runs as-is."

Length of History and Standardization
For many years, the vast majority of personal computers in the world (such as Windows PCs) have been built based on the x86 standard.
As a result, companies developing apps and games have a history of creating software under the premise that "it must run on x86."

Common Standard for Intel and AMD
Today, both Intel and AMD, the two major manufacturers of PC CPUs, make their CPUs using this common language called "x86".
This is why, regardless of which manufacturer's PC you buy, the software that runs on it is basically the same.

"x86" and "ARM"

Smartphones (such as iPhones and Androids) and recent Apple Silicon (Macs equipped with M1/M2/M3 chips) use a different standard called "ARM".

x86 (Intel / AMD)
Features
High processing power, with outstanding compatibility and synergy with a vast amount of legacy software assets.

Weaknesses
Higher power consumption (faster battery drain).
ARM (Apple Silicon / Smartphones, etc.)
Features
Power-efficient for long battery life and low heat generation.

Weaknesses
Running older, traditional x86 apps as-is requires translation (emulation), which can cause some specialized games or older software to fail to run or become unstable.

x86 on Windows with Intel or AMD Ryzen

"x86" refers to
"the most reliable and secure common language (standard) built up by the history of PC games and apps to date."

Therefore, it has the major advantage of rarely causing troubles like "I bought it, but old apps or minor games won't run."

Graphics (GPU)

You don't really need to worry too much about graphics.

By prioritizing specs other than graphics,
you will naturally get graphics appropriate for that level of specs.

Classification and Features of Graphics (GPU) Types

Intel Graphics
Type
Integrated Graphics (iGPU)

Features
Graphics functionality built by default
into Intel CPUs (such as Core i3/i5/i7 and Core Ultra).

What it can do
Web browsing, 4K video playback on YouTube, etc.,
creating documents in Office, and general office tasks.

What it struggles with
Heavy 3D games and serious video editing.

Suitability
Sufficient for daily use and business purposes, with excellent power efficiency and battery life.
(The latest Intel Arc / Intel Graphics brands boast quite high performance for integrated graphics.)
AMD Radeon 880M / 680M / 820M
Type
Integrated Graphics (iGPU)

Features
Graphics functionality built into AMD CPUs (Ryzen).
Since AMD has traditionally been strong in graphics technology,
it offers exceptionally superior rendering performance among integrated types.

"High" AMD Radeon 880M
High-end integrated graphics of the latest generation (Zen 5 / RDNA 3.5).
Boasting top-class performance for an integrated type,
it delivers high-level performance capable of handling light to medium PC games like Apex Legends and FF14, as well as Full HD video editing.

"Mid" AMD Radeon 680M
A standard high-end integrated graphics from the previous generation.
Still highly performant today, and most games will run if settings are adjusted.

"Basic" AMD Radeon 820M
An entry-level configuration,
mainly targeting everyday tasks and business use.
NVIDIA GeForce
Type
Representative brand of Discrete Graphics (dGPU)

Features
Equipped with "graphics-dedicated chips and memory" separate from the CPU,
this is the world's top market share brand for discrete GPUs.

Advantages
Overwhelming rendering processing capability,
allowing you to comfortably enjoy 3D gaming, video editing, and AI processing (such as image generation).

Disadvantages
High power consumption, tends to make the device heavier and thicker, and increases the price.
(Installed in gaming laptops and creator laptops.)
RTX 5050 Laptop
Type
NVIDIA GeForce latest generation / entry-to-mid discrete GPU

Features
A latest-generation discrete GPU adopting the Blackwell architecture (equipped with 8GB VRAM).
It has steadily evolved from previous entry models (like RTX 3050/4050) and supports rendering assistance features such as the latest DLSS 4 / AI frame generation.

What it can do
Comfortably play the latest 3D games (1080p to 1440p resolution).
4K video editing, 3D CAD, and AI generation tools also run smoothly.

How to choose
An optimal entry-to-standard graphic for those who want to "seriously enjoy PC games"
or "smoothly handle video editing for work or hobbies."

Graphics	Type	Use Case	Specification Applications
RTX 5050 Laptop	Discrete GPU	Latest PC games 4K video editing 3D creation AI processing	Full-fledged gaming PC Creative work laptop
Radeon 880M / 680M / 820M	High-Performance Integrated	Light PC games Video editing General tasks	Gaming and editing on thin & light laptops
Intel Graphics	Integrated	Office work Internet browsing Watching videos	Daily use Portable work laptop Standard laptop

CPU

In the PC CPU market, for many years,
the market has been shared by two major manufacturers: "Intel" and "AMD".

Characteristics of Intel

1. Brand power, overwhelming recognition, and peace of mind
With a track record of building industry standards over many years,
it has a high adoption rate in corporate PCs and major manufacturer PCs,
offering a sense of security backed by operational stability and compatibility.

2. Strong single-thread performance (single processing speed) and maintaining game frame rates
It offers high processing performance per core,
and has the strength to stably maintain high frame rates, especially in gaming apps and certain specialized software where single-processing speed is important.

3. Hybrid architecture with P-cores and E-cores and software optimization
It adopts a design combining high-performance "P-cores" and power-saving "E-cores",
enabling efficient separation of background processing and main tasks, as well as a high level of optimization in major creative software.

Characteristics of AMD Ryzen

1. High cost-performance
Compared to Intel CPUs of equivalent performance, many models are priced lower, offering excellent cost-performance.

2. Excellent graphics performance (screen rendering power)
Since AMD also possesses graphics-specialized technology (Radeon),
the graphics features built into the CPU (integrated graphics) are extremely powerful.
Even thin laptops without dedicated graphics cards have the advantage of running light games and video editing smoothly.

3. Power-saving with long battery life
The latest Ryzen series (such as Ryzen AI) features high power-saving performance,
tending to provide longer battery life for laptops.

CPU Classes

Grade / Rank	Intel	AMD Ryzen
Flagship Top Tier	Core i9 Core Ultra 9	Ryzen 9
High-Spec High Performance	Core i7 Core Ultra 7	Ryzen 7
Standard	Core i5	Ryzen 5
Entry-Level	Core i3	Ryzen 3

What is "Core Ultra"?

It is Intel's latest generation CPU brand, a complete revamp from the traditional "Core i" series.

It features a powerful built-in AI processing chip (NPU), high power efficiency, and graphic performance,
boasting strengths in AI capabilities (such as Copilot+ PC) and long battery life.

Equivalent Specs of Intel and AMD Ryzen

Core Ultra = Ryzen 9
Core Ultra
It is Intel's latest generation CPU brand, a complete revamp from the traditional "Core i" series.
It features a built-in AI processing chip (NPU), high power efficiency, and graphic performance,
characterized by AI capabilities (such as Copilot+ PC) and long-lasting battery power-saving performance.

Ryzen 9
Top-tier, for professionals (video streaming, 3D graphics, peak gaming)
Core i7 = Ryzen 7
Core i7
High performance (for heavy tasks, video editing, and gaming)

Ryzen 7
High performance (for video editing and serious PC gaming)

(Models where the maximum clock speed reaches close to 5.00GHz)
Core i5 = Ryzen 5
Core i5
Mainstream middle class. The #1 cost-performer that versatilely handles everything from office work to image editing.

Ryzen 5
Mainstream middle class. Highly popular for its good balance of performance and price.

(A GHz of 3.0GHz or higher is comfortably sufficient)
(Frequency benchmark: 4.0GHz or higher)
Core i3 = Ryzen 3
Core i3
Entry class (for web searching, watching videos, and creating simple documents)

Ryzen 3
Entry class (for daily use, studies, and office work)

CPU and GHz.
What is GHz (Gigahertz / Operating Frequency / Clock Frequency)?

Numbers like "5.00GHz", "3.4GHz", and "2.80GHz" are indicators representing the processing speed (rotation speed) of the CPU.

"GHz (Gigahertz)" represents the tempo (calculation speed) at which the CPU executes processing per second.

The larger the number, the faster the data processing.

5.00GHz
Approx. 5 billion times per second
Ultra-high speed
(Situations requiring instantaneous power, such as heavy gaming or video encoding)
3.4GHz
Approx. 3.4 billion times per second
Somewhat high speed
(Standard processing when running multiple applications)
2.80GHz
Approx. 2.8 billion times per second
Standard to power-saving speed
(Operation focused on daily use and battery life)

Example of Laptop Spec Notation

Laptop specification tables often list
"Base clock (e.g., 2.8GHz)" and
"Max boost clock (e.g., 5.0GHz)",
operating on a mechanism where the number is automatically increased (such as 5.0GHz) to run at high speed only when performing heavy processing.

Current CPUs automatically adjust between
"Base clock (power-saving operation)" and
"Max boost clock (temporary ultra-high-speed operation)".
For example, it is described in a format like "Base 2.80GHz to Max 5.00GHz".

If it says max "3.4GHz",
that is the limit.
It means that PC cannot reach 5.00GHz.

12-Core, 24-Thread CPU

As mentioned, the main CPUs, which are the brain of the computer, are either
Intel-based,
or AMD Ryzen-based.

These serve as the computer's brain and possess advanced intelligence, but they lack a
"body" or "working hands".

To actually move data around,
"workers" and "hands for the work" become necessary.

This is where things like 12 cores and 24 threads come into play.

What is a Core?

A 12-core processor is, so to speak, 12 workers.

It represents how many physical brains are inside the CPU.
For example, in a "6-core" processor, literally 6 small brains work side by side to perform separate calculation processes simultaneously.
The higher the number of cores, the less likely the system is to slow down even when running multiple applications at once (strong at multitasking).

What is a Thread?

Next are threads.
Since there are "basically 2 lanes" for data work inside a computer,
12 x 2 = 24 threads.

It refers to the "apparent working rooms (logical processors)" as seen by the OS (such as Windows or Mac).
By skillfully splitting a single physical core and efficiently assigning two jobs at the same time,
it processes information at high speeds as if there were twice as many cores.

Main Combinations of Cores and Threads

CPUs (processors) consist of a combination of
the physical brain, the "number of cores," and
the logical brain as seen by the OS, the "number of threads."

In many modern CPUs (such as Intel and AMD),
technologies like "Hyper-Threading (Intel)" and "SMT (AMD)" that handle two tasks simultaneously on a single physical core are used, so
it is generally mainstream for "the number of threads to be twice the number of cores."

The Emergence of Efficiency Cores (E-Cores)

• In recent Intel CPUs and others, an increasing number of models combine performance-focused "P-cores (2 threads)" with
power-saving-focused "E-cores (1 thread)."

• As a result, irregular combinations that don't double neatly, such as "14 cores / 20 threads," are starting to appear.

The "Double" Rule Remains Mainstream

• That said, in classic CPUs like the familiar "6 cores / 12 threads" and "8 cores / 16 threads," the structure fits that exact image.

Cores	Threads	Class
2 Cores	4 Threads	Entry Class (Office work, web browsing, video viewing, etc.)
4 Cores	8 Threads	Mid-Low (Light gaming, general multitasking)
6 Cores	12 Threads	Mid-Range (Popular gaming PCs, standard creative work)
8 Cores	16 Threads	Mid-High (High-performance gaming PCs, video editing)
12 Cores	24 Threads	High-End (Full-scale video editing, 3D rendering)
16 Cores	32+ Threads	Professional (Heavy processing, simultaneous streaming and gaming, etc.)

WiFi

Here is an easy-to-understand explanation of
"Wi-Fi standards" and
"communication standard codes (IEEE 802.11~)" found in laptop specifications.

Wi-Fi 7 > Wi-Fi 6E > Wi-Fi 6
They are newer in this order, evolving in communication speed and resistance to congestion.

Differences in Wi-Fi Generations (Wi-Fi 6 / 6E / 7)

Generation Name	Frequency Band (Type of Road)	Features
Wi-Fi 7	2.4GHz 5GHz 6GHz	In addition to the 6GHz band, the communication bandwidth (road width) is doubled. Capable of communicating by bundling multiple frequencies simultaneously. Achieves ultra-fast speeds and ultra-low latency.
Wi-Fi 6E	2.4GHz 5GHz 6GHz	Newly adds the "6GHz band (a dedicated empty road)", making it less susceptible to radio interference from neighboring Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi 6	2.4GHz 5GHz	Faster than the conventional Wi-Fi 5. A basic standard that is strong against simultaneous connections of multiple devices.

The Meaning of Code-like Alphabets (IEEE 802.11~)

"IEEE 802.11" is
the official name for the globally common wireless LAN standard.

The alphabets that follow, such as "be", "ax", and "ac",
represent the successive generations of Wi-Fi standards supported by the computer.

To ensure that even a computer with the latest standard can connect to older routers,
all past standards (backward compatibility) are listed side by side.

Each description in the computer's spec sheet means:
"It supports the latest standards while also being able to connect to older Wi-Fi routers."

Correspondence Table of Alphabets and Wi-Fi Generations

●—be (11be): Wi-Fi 7 (Latest & Ultra-fast)

●—ax (11ax): Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 6E (Current mainstream & Fast)

●—ac (11ac): Wi-Fi 5 (Previous generation)

●—n / g / b / a: Wi-Fi 4 or earlier (Older legacy standards)

Wi-Fi 7 = 11be (be)

If Wi-Fi 7 compatible
IEEE 802.11be/ax/ac/a/b/g/n
Look for 11be (be)

Compatible with the cutting-edge "11be (Wi-Fi 7)".

Of course, it can also connect directly to older routers such as Wi-Fi 6 (11ax) or Wi-Fi 5 (11ac) as backward compatibility.

It is recommended to choose the latest Wi-Fi 7 compatible model.
(The router side also needs to be Wi-Fi 7 compatible)
If Wi-Fi 6E compatible
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
(Or labeled as 6GHz compatible)
Based on the "11ax (Wi-Fi 6)" standard, it is compatible with the new 6GHz frequency band (Wi-Fi 6E).
If Wi-Fi 6 compatible
IEEE 802.11ax/ac/a/b/g/n
Compatible with the current standard "11ax (Wi-Fi 6)".

Memory
RAM and DDR

Memory is a place to temporarily hold data, and
is often compared to the "size of a workspace desk."

The wider the desk, the more documents (applications and files) you can spread out and work on at once without cramping your workspace,
allowing you to process tasks efficiently and smoothly.

8GB
Entry (Minimum Required Capacity)
Tasks It Excels At
Web browsing, watching videos like YouTube,
writing emails, and creating simple documents in Word or Excel.

Points to Note & Supplementary Info

If you open dozens of tabs simultaneously in a browser like Google Chrome,
that alone will consume most of the memory and can cause the system to slow down.

Modern operating systems like Windows 11 use about 4GB to 5GB of memory just to run the OS itself.

Therefore, with 8GB, only about 2GB to 3GB of free space is left for the user to freely use,
increasing the risk that future updates will make the system feel sluggish.
16GB
(Most Recommended Standard Spec)
Tasks It Excels At
General business (multiple web tabs + Excel + Zoom used simultaneously),
Full HD video editing, basic image processing, and standard PC games.

Reasons for Recommendation & Supplementary Info

"If you are buying a laptop now, 16GB is effectively the global standard."

It runs smoothly and stress-free even during "multitasking" (such as opening documents while in an online meeting on Zoom or Teams,
and running chat apps or browsers in the background).

Because it can comfortably handle OS and app updates over the next several years,
it is the safest choice considering the replacement cycle.
32GB
High-Spec / Creator-Oriented
Tasks It Excels At
4K resolution video editing,
complex 3D graphics creation (CAD/CG),
heavy PC gaming combined with live streaming,
and AI image generation.

Details & Supplementary Info

When handling heavy videos with high-definition effects and captions using professional video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects, 16GB can lead to a shortage of memory and frequent freezing.
32GB provides a very comfortable experience.

It is also an essential requirement for power users performing serious programming (such as launching virtual environments) or
running heavy processes in the background.
64GB or More
Professional & Special Purpose
Tasks It Excels At

Native 8K video editing,
advanced 3D animation rendering,
and building large-scale local AI models, etc.

Intended for specialized professional tasks that process massive amounts of data all at once.

DDR

DDR stands for "Double Data Rate," and
is the name of the standard used for a computer's main memory (RAM).

2x Data Transfer Efficiency:
While traditional SDR (Single Data Rate) memory transferred data once per clock cycle,
DDR transfers data on both the rising and falling edges of the clock,
allowing it to efficiently process twice the amount of data even at the same clock frequency.

Generational Evolution:
Starting from the initial "DDR", it has continued to evolve into DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5,
becoming faster and more energy-efficient.

Differences by Standard (DDR4 / DDR5 / LPDDR5)

There are standards for communication speed as well as capacity (GB).

The latest "DDR5" and the energy-saving model oriented
"LPDDR5 / LPDDR5X"
have much faster data read/write speeds than traditional DDR4, contributing to processing speed and battery life.

Difference Between RAM and DDR

The difference between RAM and DDR lies in an inclusion relationship:
Is it a term representing the whole, or a term representing the internal technology and standard?

●—RAM: The type and role of the part itself called memory (main storage device)

●—DDR: The operational method and generational standard used inside RAM

Conceptual Difference (Understanding Through an Analogy)

Using a "car" as an example, it looks like this:

Term	Meaning	Car Analogy
RAM	Temporary storage device for reading and writing data (The part)	"Passenger Car" Category
DDR	Communication mechanism technology adopted within RAM	"Gasoline Engine" Mechanism
DDR4 / DDR5	Generation of DDR (The standard)	Displacement or performance boost Latest engine

Detailed Roles of Each

What is RAM (Random Access Memory)?
It is like a workbench where data currently being worked on is temporarily saved in computers and smartphones.

It has the characteristic of losing data when the power is turned off (volatility).

Data read and write speeds are extremely fast,
and it is used as the main memory with which the CPU directly interacts.
What is DDR (Double Data Rate)?
It is the operating technology used when exchanging data in RAM.

Because it uses both the "rise" and "fall" of a single electrical signal
(clock) to perform data transfer,
it operates twice as efficiently as the conventional method (SDR).

The main memory (SDRAM) used in modern computers and smartphones
is basically built on this DDR technology.
Summary of the Relationship
When buying computer memory,
it is common to see them written together like "RAM 16GB (DDR5)."

●—RAM = The "part" that temporarily stores data

●—DDR = What "standard/speed generation" that part is built with

The current mainstream generational standards are DDR4 and the latest DDR5.

What is DDR5?

DDR5 is the 5th generation DDR memory standard introduced as the successor to DDR4.
It was developed to maximize the performance of recent multi-core CPUs.

●—Overwhelming Speed Up
Transfer speeds start at 4800 MT/s,
and data bandwidth has expanded significantly compared to the previous generation.

●—Lower Voltage and Better Power Efficiency
Operating voltage has been reduced to 1.1V (DDR4 was 1.2V),
and stable power supply is achieved by mounting a PMIC (Power Management IC) directly on the circuit board.

●—Improved Stability (On-die ECC)
Equipped with a built-in feature that automatically corrects data errors inside the chip (On-die ECC),
enhancing reliability accompanying higher speeds.

●—Larger Capacity
The maximum capacity per module has expanded significantly.

Storage (SSD / HDD)

Storage is the "data vault (bookshelf or drawer)" where the computer's OS (Windows or macOS),
installed applications, and files such as photos, videos, and documents are stored for the long term.

256GB
For Light Users (Minimum Required Capacity)
Usage
Mainly web browsing, emails,
creating documents in Word or Excel,
with usage habits that do not accumulate large amounts of data on the device.

Notes & Details

Even if 256GB is indicated, the OS (Windows, etc.) and initial apps consume about 40GB to 60GB from the start.
Therefore, the actual free space that users can freely use is about 180GB to 200GB.

If you continue to save high-resolution photos and videos (such as smartphone backups) on the device,
free space tends to run out within 1 to 2 years.

This capacity assumes an operation style where you "utilize cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive"
or "use external SSDs/HDDs together."
512GB
(Most Recommended Standard Spec)
Usage
General business and studies in general,
storage of photos and videos, installation of many apps,
illustration creation and light video editing.

Reasons for Recommendation & Details

"If you are buying a laptop now, 512GB is the most balanced and secure choice."

There is plenty of room even after installing the OS and many apps,
and you can keep photos taken on trips and several hours of video data right on the device.

When a computer's available storage space becomes low (e.g., remaining capacity below 10-15%),
operation speed drops and it becomes prone to freezing,
so choosing 512GB from the start allows you to maintain performance over a long period.
1TB (1000GB) or More
For Large Capacity, Pros, and Gamers
Usage
High-definition video editing such as 4K/8K,
full-scale 3D gaming (it is common for a single PC game to consume 50GB to 150GB),
storage of large amounts of RAW photo data,
and retention of AI-related large-scale data.

Details

If you install many game software and professional video editing apps, 512GB will fill up quickly.

For video creators, gamers,
and power users who want to centrally manage data locally (on the device), 1TB or more is an essential choice.

Supplementary Knowledge on SSD Storage

Why "SSD" instead of "HDD"?

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Because it reads and writes data by physically spinning a magnetic disk, it is vulnerable to shocks and its operating speed is very slow. (Booting up can sometimes take several minutes.)

SSD (Solid State Drive)
Because it reads and writes electrically to memory chips, it is 5 to 10 times faster than an HDD and resistant to shocks.
Modern laptops require an SSD as an absolute condition, and models with only an HDD should be avoided.

SSD Standards (PCIe NVMe / Gen3 / Gen4 / Gen5)

Currently mainstream SSDs use an ultra-fast communication standard called "NVMe".
As the generations advance (Gen3 → Gen4 → Gen5), transfer speeds improve,
dramatically shortening the time it takes to copy large files or launch heavy applications.

As important keywords regarding SSDs,

"NVMe" and (Gen5)

Presence of Office

Presence of Office (Word/Excel, etc.)

This means that Microsoft application software such as Word or Excel is included.
Basically, you probably don't need it.

Models that include Microsoft Office are about 20,000 to 30,000 yen more expensive than models without it.

If Office is provided by your university or company account,
or if you can use alternatives like Google Docs, choose "Without Office" to keep costs down.

```

Screen Inches

Common laptop screen size ranges include:
11 inches, 13.3 inches, 14 inches, 15.6 inches, 16 inches, 17.3 inches, etc.

The particularly mainstream ones are:
for portability (13.3 to 14 inches), and
for stationary/large screen use (15.6 to 16 inches).

Assuming both 15.6-inch and 16-inch are 16:9

15.6 inches
Diagonal—39.62 cm

Width—34.5 cm

Height—19.4 cm
16 inches
Diagonal—40.64 cm

Width—35.4 cm—(Difference is about 0.9 cm)

Height—19.9 cm—(Difference is about 0.5 cm)

16-inch is predominantly the 16:10 aspect ratio

The width is almost the same as the 15.6-inch (16:9),
and in very many cases, "it becomes about 1.5 to 2 cm taller vertically."

Inches	Diagonal	Mainstream
13.3 ~ 14 inches	33.8 cm ~ 35.6 cm	Mainstream for mobile use. Light and easy to carry, suitable for working in cafes or on the go.
15.6 inches	39.6 cm	The most standard size for many years. Easily accommodates a keyboard with a numeric keypad, suitable for stationary use at home or in the office.
16 inches	40.6 cm	Recent trending size. While the body size is almost the same as a 15.6-inch, the vertical screen space expands, improving work efficiency.
17.3 inches or more	44.0 cm+	Large / Desktop replacement. Unsuitable for carrying around, but chosen when you want a large screen for gaming or video editing.

16:9 Screen Size Reference (Inches to cm)

Screen Size (Inches)	Width (cm)	Height (cm)	Diagonal (cm)
10 inches	22.1 cm	12.5 cm	25.4 cm
11 inches	24.4 cm	13.7 cm	27.9 cm
12 inches	26.6 cm	14.9 cm	30.5 cm
13 inches	28.8 cm	16.2 cm	33.0 cm
14 inches	31.0 cm	17.4 cm	35.6 cm
15 inches	33.2 cm	18.7 cm	38.1 cm
16 inches	35.4 cm	19.9 cm	40.6 cm
17 inches	37.6 cm	21.2 cm	43.2 cm
18 inches	39.8 cm	22.4 cm	45.7 cm

"NPU" and "AI-Powered Laptops"

What is an NPU (Neural Processing Unit)?
It is a dedicated processor (part of the brain) specialized for handling artificial intelligence (AI) processing.

It can handle AI processing "more energy-efficiently and at higher speeds"
than conventional CPUs (general processing) or GPUs (image and parallel processing).
What is an AI-powered laptop?
It refers to computers that have this "NPU" built-in,
in addition to the traditional CPU and GPU.

What can it do?

Perform real-time processing such as webcam background blurring, noise cancellation,
and eye-contact correction without consuming much battery.

In models called "Copilot+ PCs,"
you can perform high-speed processing locally (on the device) for features like screen history search (Recall), automatic real-time subtitles and translation,
and real-time illustration generation.

Copilot+ PC

A "Copilot+ PC" is
a next-generation laptop certification standard (brand) that meets criteria set by Microsoft for advanced AI functions to run smoothly.

It is not just about "having an AI chip (NPU) inside";
only products that meet all of Microsoft's strict hardware requirements can use this name.

Conditions (Spec Requirements) to be Recognized as a Copilot+ PC

Microsoft has established the following specs as minimum requirements
in order to perform heavy AI processing smoothly and energy-efficiently on the PC alone.

Requirement	Required Spec	Condition
NPU Performance	40 TOPS or more	The most important condition. Equipped with a dedicated processor (NPU) capable of 40 trillion or more AI operations per second.
Memory (RAM)	16GB or more	Because AI processing consumes a lot of memory, 16GB or more is required. (32GB is recommended for comfortable use)
Storage	256GB or more (SSD)	Must be a high-speed SSD.
Keyboard	Equipped with Copilot Key	Must have a dedicated key to call up Microsoft AI with a single touch.

What is TOPS?

Short for Tera Operations Per Second,
it is a unit representing AI calculation speed (how many trillion operations can be processed per second).
"40 TOPS" means a speed capable of 40 trillion calculations per second.

What can you do with a Copilot+ PC?

In the case of a standard computer,
many AI functions rely on "servers in the cloud via the internet" to perform calculations.

On the other hand, a Copilot+ PC
directly processes using the NPU inside the PC body (locally), so there is no communication wait time, and
the following unique functions can be used ultra-fast and energy-efficiently even offline:

1. Recall Function
When you wonder, "What was that website or document I saw a few days ago?",
this function allows the AI to search and analyze past screen history and find it using natural language.

2. Cocreator
From a rough sketch you draw yourself in apps like "Paint" and a text prompt,
the AI turns it into a high-precision illustration in real-time.

3. Live Captions (Real-Time Translation Subtitles)
The AI translates and displays foreign YouTube video or web conference audio
into subtitles in Japanese or other languages in real-time. (No internet connection required)

4. Studio Effects (Advanced Camera & Microphone Correction)
Automatically processes webcam background blurring, eye-contact correction for selfies, and background noise removal
with almost no battery drain.

Are AI-enabled PCs only from Intel? Does AMD Ryzen have them?

It's not just Intel. In fact, AMD has been equipping its processors with NPUs even earlier!

The lineup status among major CPU manufacturers is as follows:

AMD (Ryzen Series)
Ryzen AI 300 Series (Strix Point)
Actually, AMD is the pioneer.

Starting with the "Ryzen 7000 series (partially)" released in 2023, they were ahead of the industry in equipping processors with an NPU called "Ryzen AI."

The latest "Ryzen AI 300 series (codenamed: Strix Point)" and others feature extremely powerful NPUs and
meet Microsoft's strict AI PC standard (Copilot+ PC).
Advantages
Emphasis on power, such as video editing, image processing, and multitasking.
A well-balanced type combining extremely powerful CPU and graphics performance (Radeon).
Excellent multi-threading and graphics performance. Strong against heavy tasks like image/video editing, CAD, and opening multiple apps simultaneously.
Being "x86" like Intel, there are almost no app or game compatibility issues.
For those who want to enjoy creative work (photo/video editing, etc.) and a bit of gaming, the AMD version offers high satisfaction in terms of power.

Disadvantages
Depending on the model, it may not be as specialized for power saving as Snapdragon or Intel Lunar Lake, and
battery life tends to be easily affected by the device's cooling and battery capacity design.
Intel (Core Ultra Series)
Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake)
Intel began standardly equipping NPUs starting with "Core Ultra (1st Gen: Meteor Lake, 2nd Gen: Lunar Lake/Arrow Lake)."

AI performance has been drastically enhanced in the latest "Core Ultra Series 2" and others.

Advantages
Avoids trouble where software won't run for work or school.
The mainstream "x86" standard, which has been the Windows standard for many years. Power-saving performance has evolved dramatically with the new generation.
100% app compatibility. Traditional Windows software, company/school systems, and peripherals run securely as they are.
Built-in graphics performance (Arc) is also high, making light video editing and illustration creation smooth.
Battery life has also improved to a level close to Snapdragon.

Disadvantages
Price ranges tend to be a bit high.
Qualcomm (Snapdragon X Series)
Snapdragon X Elite / Snapdragon X Plus
"Snapdragon X Elite / Plus" made by Qualcomm, famous for smartphone chips.

It has become a huge hit as an AI laptop chip featuring high AI performance and astonishing power efficiency.

Advantages
Don't want to carry a charger, battery priority.
An ARM-based processor applying smartphone-oriented technology, with astonishing power-saving performance as its greatest appeal.
Overwhelmingly long battery life. (Many models last around 20 hours for video playback, etc.)
Fans rarely spin, making it thin, lightweight, quiet, and low heat generation.
Resuming from sleep is instantaneous like a smartphone.

Disadvantages
App compatibility risks.
(While traditional x86 apps also run via a feature called "emulation,"
company-specific special software,
old peripheral drivers,
and some PC games or games with anti-cheat features may not run.)

Search This Blog

Lord Article