HP’s AI-Powered Computers Raise the Bar for PC Performance

AMD and HP team up on powerful new OmniBook Ultra laptop: AMD has partnered with HP to develop a custom Ryzen AI 300-series processor with a boosted Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for HP’s latest flagship laptop, the OmniBook Ultra:

• The custom AMD chip is rated for 55 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of AI performance, a significant increase over AMD’s recently announced 50 TOPS Ryzen AI 300-series processors.
• This makes the OmniBook Ultra the “world’s fastest AI PC” for now, with HP claiming a 44% AI performance advantage over Apple’s M4 chip and 3x faster response times in AI chatbots.
• The 14-inch laptop weighs 3.48 pounds and features a 2.2K IPS touchscreen, Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, and a 9MP webcam. Battery life is rated at up to 21 hours of video playback.
• Configurations include 16GB or 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB to 2TB SSDs. Pricing starts at $1,449.99 with availability in August, though the 55 TOPS chip version may not launch until September.

HP unveils new OmniStudio X all-in-one desktop PCs: HP also debuted the OmniStudio X line, positioning the 31.5-inch model in particular as a machine for light gaming and content creation:

• The 31.5-inch and 27-inch OmniStudio X feature 12th Gen Intel Core Ultra processors, with the larger model offering an optional Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 mobile GPU capable of 194 TOPS AI performance.
• Both come with 16GB or 32GB DDR5 memory and 256GB to 2TB SSDs. Pricing starts at $1,149.99 with availability slated for August.

AI performance takes the spotlight as the PC industry adapts: The focus on AI capabilities and performance metrics like TOPS in these new HP systems underscores how the PC industry is rapidly pivoting to make AI a central selling point and differentiation.

• HP’s close collaboration with AMD to develop a custom high-TOPS processor for the OmniBook Ultra foreshadows more purpose-built AI hardware to come from PC makers.
• However, the fast pace of AI hardware development means any performance crowns may be short-lived, as evidenced by how quickly the OmniBook Ultra leapfrogged AMD’s own previously-stated 50 TOPS figure.