104 PCWorld MAY 2020FEATURE AMD RYZEN 4000 OR INTEL COMET LAKE H LAPTOP
laptops, typically using U-class CPUs
designed to sip less power and generate
less heat.
The latest 10th-gen Comet Lake CPUs,
and even their 8th-gen U predecessors, are
available right now. Buying a laptop with an
8th-gen CPU would be a good bargain for
those on a tight budget, while those who
could step up to a 10th-gen CPU will see
some incremental benefit in performance and
other features.
Think about Intel’s 10th-gen CPUs this
way: Comet Lake gives you up to six cores
(on some models), but its 14nm architecture
and integrated UHD graphics are basically
the same that we’ve seen for years. The
Lenovo Yoga C740 (go.pcworld.com/yg74)
2-in-1 we reviewed recently ($790 on
Lenovo.com [go.pcworld.com/by74]) isa good example of a 10th-gen Comet
Lake laptop that’s both capable and
affordable. Its higher-end sibling, the Yoga
C940 (go.pcworld.com/yg94; $1,430
from Microsoft.com [go.pcworld.com/
byc9]), uses Intel’s 10th-gen Ice lake CPU,
with a 10nm process and fairly powerful
Iris-based graphics performance. However,
these chips are limited to four CPU cores.
Differences aside, both would be fine for
mainstream users.THE SHAPE OF CPUS TO
COME
The good news is that there’s almost no bad
choice. You don’t have to wait for a good
laptop—Intel’s current lineup of 8th-, 9th-,
and 10th-gen mobile CPUs already offer
great options for all levels of user. If you do
wait, the future is even
brighter: Both AMD and Intel
have strong product lines in
the pipeline, and we’re
continuing to see more
leaked results (which can’t be
confirmed) from Intel’s
upcoming Tiger Lake U
chips. Based on an enhanced
10nm process used for its Ice
Lake U CPUs, Tiger Lake U
might very well be the
company’s first legitimate
response to Ryzen mobile
chips.The Lenovo Yoga C740 is a good example of a 10th-gen Comet Lake
laptop that’s both capable and affordable.