14 DAY TRIAL // The Graphics Core Next architecture is AMD's main means of enabling OpenCL computation and GPU parallel processing on desktops, servers and laptops. It so happens that HP has chosen its graphics chips for its newest mobile workstations.
Mobile workstations are notebooks with professional graphics cards and powerful Intel/AMD CPUs. These laptops are normally superior to consumer-oriented ones, save perhaps gaming notebooks.
HP's ZBook 14 certainly lives up to that image, featuring AMD's FirePro M4100 (1 GB GDDR5) professional graphics adapter, with its OpenCL support and the Enduro Technology, which allows it to optimize battery life.
The power features are dynamic, adjusting GPU requirements in idle mode, but providing max power when needed.
It's a sort of alternative to NVIDIA's Optimus technology really, only that it powers down the GPU instead of turning it off and leaving everything to whatever iGP the CPU possesses.
In this case, the Intel HD graphics 4400 is available, as part of Intel Core i5 or i7 processors.
Speaking of specs, HP included up to 16 GB DDR3-1600 MHz memory and a SATA HDD of 1 TB, although there are other options too: SATA SSD, SATA SE SSD, M.2 SSD (around 500 GB), SATA 7200 rpm, SATA SED, and SATA FIPS 140-2 SED 5400 rpm.
All in all, not bad hardware for a 14-inch notebook, and definitely not something that will hurt AMD's marketing performance.
Though some might not like to admit it, AMD has always been behind Intel and even NVIDIA on the mobile front.
Now, with mobile APUs and discrete graphics cards becoming more common, it is slowly making up for not entering the mobile segment sooner.
"Together, AMD and HP offer workstation users industry-leading technologies in a portable design that deliver users next-generation, powerful mobile graphics processors for exceptional workstation performance," said David Cummings, senior director and general manager, professional graphics at AMD.