Ryzen 7 7745HX performance debut: Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16 Gen 8 laptop review

The Lenovo Legion Professional 5 16ARX8 is the AMD model of the Intel Legion Professional 5 16IRX8. Each fashions make the most of the similar Legion Professional 5 16 Gen 8 chassis and are in a different way visually an identical. We advise testing our current evaluation at the Legion Professional 5 16IRX8 to be told extra concerning the bodily options of the type as a lot of our feedback nonetheless practice for the Legion Professional 5 16ARX8.

Our take a look at unit is a higher-end configuration with the Zen 4 Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU, 140 W GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and 165 Hz 1600p IPS show retailing for roughly $1600 USD. Different SKUs might come with the Ryzen 5 7645HX, GeForce RTX 4050, or 240 Hz IPS show. This actual type is likely one of the first to send with the midrange Ryzen 7 7745HX while previous Zen 4 laptops have been handiest to be had with the pricier Ryzen 9 7945HX.

Competition on this house come with different midrange to high-end gaming laptops just like the Asus ROG Strix G16, Razer Blade 16, Uniwill GM6PX7X, or MSI Pulse GL76. The Legion 7 collection is one step above our Legion Professional 5 with a lot sooner CPU and GPU choices to choose from.

Extra Lenovo evaluations:

The AMD Legion Professional 5 16ARX8 stocks the similar chassis because the Intel Legion Professional 5 16IRX8. Whilst there are normally a couple of port variations between maximum AMD and Intel variants, there are in fact none between those two fashions since Lenovo has opted to exclude each USB 4 and Thunderbolt reinforce on all Legion 5 Professional SKUs irrespective of CPU choice. This will also be observed so that you can drive customers to imagine the dearer Legion 7 collection as an alternative which contains Thunderbolt reinforce via default.

The AMD type swaps out the typical Intel AX211 for the fewer commonplace MediaTek MT7922. Efficiency is in a different way stable and dependable when paired to our 6 GHz community.

Apparently, our AMD-powered Legion Professional 5 16ARX8 makes use of a special IPS panel than at the Intel-powered Legion Professional 5 16IRX8 (CSOT MNG007DA1-Q vs. AU Optronics B160QAN03.1) even if each panels have a identical 165 Hz local refresh charge, 1600p local solution, ~1000:1 distinction ratio, and entire 100% sRGB protection. The CSOT panel has somewhat sooner black-white and gray-gray reaction occasions, however the variations are marginal at absolute best for an necessarily an identical viewing revel in.

A 2nd panel is to be had that guarantees a fair brighter 500-nit backlight and sooner 240 Hz refresh charge. Our measurements underneath replicate handiest the bottom 165 Hz panel.

The show comes pre-calibrated out of the field with superb moderate grayscale and colour DeltaE values of simply 1.4 and 1.13, respectively. Making an attempt to calibrate the show even additional with our X-Ceremony colorimeter would in fact reinforce grayscale and colour deltaE values to only <0.5 each and every. Even so, an end-user calibration is typically now not vital if deltaE values are already <2.

Outside visibility is moderate for the class because the presentations on maximum gaming laptops in most cases vary between 300 to 400 nits. The 240 Hz panel choice guarantees to be 500 nits or about 200 nits brighter than our 165 Hz panel which must reinforce out of doors visibility if this can be a fear. Regardless, you will want to paintings beneath color on every occasion conceivable to attenuate glare and maintain colours.

We set our unit to Efficiency mode by way of each Home windows and the Lenovo Vantage instrument previous to working any benchmarks underneath. We additionally made certain to set the graphics to dGPU mode with the preset GPU Overclock function energetic. It is really helpful to turn into accustomed to Vantage as it’s the major interface for controlling keyboard lights options, Lenovo-specific updates, GPU conduct, and extra.

MUX is supported for switching between Optimus (iGPU + dGPU) or dGPU handiest. G-Sync is supported at the interior show handiest when on dGPU mode. A reboot is needed when switching between Optimus and dGPU modes since Complex Optimus isn’t supported. Annoyingly, the rebooting procedure when switching between graphics modes could be for much longer than an ordinary reboot.

After experiencing the improbable Zen 4 Ryzen 9 7945HX handiest to let down via the underwhelming Zen 3 Ryzen 7 7735HS, we were not certain what to anticipate from the Zen 4 Ryzen 7 7745HX. Fortunately, effects are superb for a midrange CPU with single- and multi-thread efficiency rankings which can be 15 % and 30 % larger, respectively, than the Ryzen 7 7735HS. The Ryzen 7 7745HX is due to this fact inside of succeed in of the competing Core i7-13700HX via simply 5 to fifteen % in maximum benchmarks together with LibreOffice and HWBOT x265 4K. It is indubitably an inexpensive improve from final ’s Ryzen 7 6800H or Ryzen 9 6900HX when in comparison to the Ryzen 7 7735HX.

Lenovo gives a slower Ryzen 5 7645HX choice with fewer cores than the Ryzen 7 7745HX (6 vs. 8). Then again, we have but to individually take a look at the Ryzen 5 7645HX as of this writing and so the efficiency variations between the 2 choices are unknown for now.

LatencyMon unearths no main DPC problems when opening more than one browser tabs of our homepage or when working Prime95 tension. 4K video playback at 60 FPS is very good .with only one dropped body right through our take a look at video.

Our unit ships with a 1 TB Samsung PM9A1 NVMe SSD which is likely one of the quickest client PCIe4 x4 SSDs to be had. Switch charges height out at about 6600 MB/s, however efficiency would throttle to as little as 3300 MB/s after only some mins into our tension take a look at as proven via the graph underneath. The effects recommend that the SSD within the Lenovo is not being correctly cooled as the similar SSD in different laptops just like the Uniwill GM6PX7X can maintain larger switch charges for for much longer sessions.

Uncooked graphics efficiency is similar to final ’s cellular eForce RTX 3070 Ti. The 140 W TGP goal lets in the cellular RTX 4070 within the Lenovo to marginally outperform maximum different laptops with the similar GPU.

Downgrading to the cellular RTX 4060 or cellular RTX 4050 SKUs is predicted to lower efficiency via 15 % and 20 %, respectively. There may be sadly no cellular RTX 4080 choice which might have boosted efficiency considerably via 40 to 50 % over our cellular RTX 4070. As a substitute, such high-end GPU choices are reserved for Lenovo’s top-end Legion 7 collection.

Working the dGPU at the balanced energy profile with out a overclocking would lower graphics efficiency via about 13 % in step with 3DMark Time Undercover agent.

Our AMD-powered RTX 4070 type would carry out about the similar because the Intel-powered RTX 4060 type at worst and as much as 20 % sooner at absolute best. As to be anticipated, the efficiency hole between the 2 GPUs has a tendency to widen when enjoying extra not easy titles at larger resolutions and settings. For instance, F1 22 and Returnal run about 15 to twenty % sooner on our AMD Legion type whilst older titles like GTA V would display smaller body charge benefits of simply 5 to ten %. You can due to this fact wish to be enjoying extra more recent titles to raised exploit the cellular RTX 4070.

Normally, the cellular RTX 4070 pairs smartly with the local 2560 x 1600 solution show particularly since G-Sync is supported. Although the cellular model is way weaker than the desktop model via about 30 %, it is nonetheless tough sufficient to run the most recent video games at 1600p and 60+ FPS on excessive settings. Players unbothered via the disadvantages of body technology can permit DLSS3 on supported titles for even larger body charges.

Fan noise when gaming is ready the similar between the AMD and Intel fashions at round 48 dB(A). If the CPU is wired significantly extra, on the other hand, fan noise can succeed in a most of 54 dB(A). The low 50 dB(A) vary is conventional of maximum gaming laptops together with the Asus ROG Strix G16 or Razer Blade 16.

Apparently, fan noise is slightly quieter and with much less widespread pulsing when working undemanding lots like place of business paintings or video playback. The AMD CPU attracts much less energy than the Intel CPU when boosting which might give a contribution to the steadier fan noise.

Floor temperatures are warmest close to the middle and rear of the chassis the place sizzling spots can succeed in simply over 40 C when gaming. Competing fashions just like the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 would run even hotter at simply over 50 C when beneath identical trying out stipulations. There is no doubt that the relatively higher air flow grilles at the Legion design are in part liable for the easier temperatures.

The palm rests slightly warmth up regardless of the onscreen load to stay palms comfy when gaming.

When working Prime95 to fret the CPU, clock charges and board energy draw would spike to 4.9 GHz and 110 W, respectively, prior to temporarily losing to the 4.6 GHz and 90 W vary only some seconds later. Core temperature would stabilize on the very excessive 90 C to 100 C vary which is even hotter via a couple of levels than the already heat Core i7-13700HX within the selection Intel Legion type. It is transparent that the Ryzen 7 CPU is pushing the boundaries of the chassis cooling resolution and {that a} sooner Ryzen 9 resolution would have necessitated compromises.

The dGPU would stabilize at 2430 MHz core, 2050 MHz reminiscence, 67 C, and 105 W in opposition to a goal TGP of 140 W when working Witcher 3 on Efficiency mode. The RTX 4060 within the Intel Legion type would additionally stabilize between 105 W and 110 W since each GPUs are beneath identical energy envelopes regardless of their efficiency variations. Gaming on Balanced mode with the GPU Overclock function disabled would lead to a slower GPU clock of 1965 MHz and a miles decrease board energy draw of simply 80 W. The efficiency deficit between Balanced and Efficiency modes is ready 10 to fifteen % as discussed above.

Working on battery energy reduces efficiency. A Hearth Strike take a look at on batteries would go back Physics and Graphics rankings of 10865 and 9334 issues, respectively, in comparison to 11477 and 12617 issues when on mains.

The AMD type is extra energy environment friendly than the Intel type when idling on desktop. In a different way, each fashions call for about the same quantity of energy when working larger lots like video games. Each fashions additionally send with the similar 300 W AC adapter which supplies greater than sufficient headroom for the ~140 W GPU and ~100 W CPU.

It is price noting that the Core i7-13700HX within the Intel type can spice up as much as a board energy draw of 159 W in comparison to simply 110 W on our Ryzen 7 7745HX which might in part give an explanation for its efficiency edge over the AMD CPU. When Turbo Spice up clock charges calm down after a few mins of tension, on the other hand, energy intake between the 2 fashions would turn into a lot nearer as proven via the comparability graphs underneath. For instance, the Intel and AMD fashions when working Prime95 for a couple of mins would stabilize at 158 W and 149 W, respectively, even if the Intel type can spice up to as excessive as 220 W right through the beginning of the take a look at.

WLAN runtime is simply somewhat longer than the Intel model via about half-hour when set to the Balanced energy profile with the iGPU energetic. Although now not dangerous for a gaming computer, choices just like the Schenker XMG Neo 16 or Asus ROG Strix G16 have higher capability batteries and longer runtimes via over two hours each and every.

Charging from empty to complete capability with the integrated AC adapter is rapid at about 1 to at least one.5 hours. Fast Rate is enabled via default in contrast to on older Legion or Yoga fashions the place it can be disabled. Charging with third-party USB-C adapters is supported handiest at the USB-C port alongside the rear.

Lenovo has two very attention-grabbing choices right here: The Intel Core i7-13700HX Legion Professional 5 16 with RTX 4060 graphics for $1600 USD or the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX Legion Professional 5 16 with RTX 4070 graphics — additionally for $1600 USD. The previous gives about 10 % sooner CPU efficiency at the price of 15 % slower GPU efficiency whilst the latter is the other. Virtually the entirety else concerning the two choices is the same since they each proportion the similar chassis design. Thus, customers who price CPU efficiency over the GPU might need the Intel choice whilst customers who price the GPU extra might need the AMD choice. 

For the reason that Legion Professional 5 16 is a gaming computer at the beginning, nearly all of customers will need to select the AMD choice for the quicker RTX 4070 graphics. Just about all the newest video games are GPU sure and so any further CPU efficiency benefits above the Ryzen 7 7745HX would have handiest minimum affect at the gaming revel in. On this situation, the quite excessive $1600 asking worth is healthier justified as customers are getting an RTX 4070 as an alternative of the slower RTX 4060.

Lenovo is recently delivery its Legion Professional 5 16 Gen 8 beginning at $1280 USD for the bottom Ryzen 5/RTX 4050 configuration as much as $1600 for our Ryzen 7/RTX 4070 configuration. The type isn’t but extensively to be had thru main resellers like Absolute best Purchase or Amazon as of this writing.