Another AMD Ryzen AI MAX 395 CPU equipped workstation laptop has been unveiled, leaving tech enthusiasts speculating about its price.
New Workstation Laptop from Emdoor Blurs the Line Between Gaming and Professional Hardware
Emdoor, a relatively unknown company since 2023, has entered the market with a new workstation system called the EM-959-NM16ASH-1. Despite being marketed as a high-end PC workstation with next-gen AI chip, the laptop exhibits some gaming-related features.
The EM-959-NM16ASH-1 features AMD's Ryzen AI MAX processors, also known as Strix Halo. This powerful AI processor is typically found in high-end gaming laptops, but Emdoor positions the EM-959-NM16ASH-1 as a workstation laptop.
The laptop sports a 16-inch panel at 2560x1600 resolution, with refresh options of either 165Hz or 180Hz. These high display refresh options might appeal to video editing laptop users but could also indicate a blurring of the line between workstation and gaming hardware.
The storage of the EM-959-NM16ASH-1 is flexible, with two PCIe 4.0×4 M.2 slots supporting up to 8TB. This high storage capacity is beneficial for workstation users dealing with large data sets.
However, the EM-959-NM16ASH-1 is heavier than many of its competitors, weighing 2.45kg compared to rivals like Sixunited's XN77-160M-CS and HP's ZBook Ultra G1a, which weigh less than 1.8kg. Its bulkier construction, designed to handle the 45-120W thermal design of Strix Halo, might make it unappealing for buyers seeking a business laptop.
The system comes with soldered LPDDR5X-8000 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing high bandwidth but no upgrade options. This is a common trait for workstation-class machines, as professional workloads require fast, stable memory.
Internal file names leaked during design suggest the system may have been designed with gaming in mind, as they included the term "GAMES." However, there is no direct mention of gaming-specific features such as RGB lighting, dedicated gaming keyboard design, or gaming-optimized cooling beyond standard dual-fan or efficient cooling systems cited for related Ryzen AI MAX devices.
The EM-959-NM16ASH-1 is primarily a workstation laptop enhanced with a powerful AI processor and strong graphics capabilities, but it includes some hardware traits (like the high-refresh display) that show elements commonly found in gaming laptops. Its main market positioning is professional/workstation use rather than gaming.
These devices cost well over $2,000, and considering the specifications of the Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1, it will likely cost more. The EM-959-NM16ASH-1, despite being marketed as a workstation, has aesthetics, refresh rates, and naming history suggesting gaming roots.
Emdoor, acting as an original design manufacturer, means the same model could easily appear under another brand marketed as a gaming system. Currently, only a limited number of PCs feature the Strix Halo chip, including the Asus ROG Flow Z13 (13.4′′), the HP ZBook Ultra 14 G1a, and a few others.
Cooling is handled by a dual-fan setup coupled with triple heat pipes and a quad-exhaust system. The exact battery life of the 99Wh battery, claimed to last eight hours, remains to be tested independently.
In summary, the Emdoor EM-959-NM16ASH-1 is a powerful workstation laptop with gaming-related features. Its main market positioning is professional/workstation use, but its high display refresh options, gaming roots, and potential rebranding as a gaming system suggest a blurring of the line between workstation and gaming hardware.
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