Benchmarks

Geekbench 5

Blackmagic RAW Speed Test (8K)

CPU: 19-29fps
iGPU: 19-21fps
dGPU: 20fps

galp5-review.md · 4.2 KiB · Markdown Raw

## Context - I received my first galp5 (iGPU) about 30 days ago; replacement galp5 (dGPU) arrived yesterday (defective thunderbolt port on first) - I don't use my laptop as a daily driver as I'm working from home and I have a desktop workstation (HP Z840) - Been a Linux desktop (Pop!_OS) user for about 100 days, migrated from macOS (10.5 - 10.14), have lightly managed linux servers for ~10 years - Previous laptops: - 2007 15" MBP - 2011 15" MBP - 2010 17" MBP - 2011 17" MBP - 2014 15" rMBP dGPU - 2015 15" rMBP dGPU - Galp5 was purchased primarily for software engineering for the web (docker containerization and JavaScript bundling) - Secondarily, this machine should be a light media workstation for the field (photo and video media management) as well as docked in an office (photo editing and video post-production) - Other machines passed up for the galp5: - Apple 2020 M1 13" MBP - Apple 2019 16" MBP - System76 Lemur Pro (lemp10) - other i7-1165G7 laptops (Dell XPS 13" I think?) ## Builds tested https://system76.com/laptops/galago ### i7 iGPU ($1,198) - Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics - **i7-1165G7 CPU** - 8GB DDR4 3200MHz (self upgraded to **32GB (2x16) DDR4 3200MHz**) - 500GB NVMe PCIe 3 (WD Blue) ### i7 dGPU ($1,447) - **NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650** 4GB VRAM (to my surprise, I received a 1650Ti) - **i7-1165G7 CPU** - 8GB DDR4 3200MHz (self upgraded to **32GB (2x16) DDR4 3200MHz**) - 500GB NVMe PCIe 3 (WD Blue) ## Pros ### Port selection - 1x Thunderbolt4/USB4 - 1x USB-C 3.1 rev2 - 2x USB-A 3.1 rev1 (I think...) - 1x HDMI (full-size) - RJ-45 1GBe - 1x 3.5mm audio combo headset jack - SDXC card reader ### Performance (see benchmarks) ### Open firmware - [keyboard layout customization](https://github.com/system76/ec/compare/master...curiousercreative:galp5#diff-4270367625a9de86825c17f9122ef7a9fd9398a822f8cb915955f3fdde6ee848) (I've got mine mimicking my '15 MBP) - [fan curve personalization](https://github.com/system76/ec/compare/master...curiousercreative:galp5#diff-198f0231dadddcc1692e1557f98782a282a0e540eb1664fd95402cb0574caab8R53) - [fan smoothing improvements](https://github.com/system76/ec/pull/139) ### Open OS - [improved power profiles allowing better performance](https://github.com/pop-os/system76-power/pull/212) ### Keyboard - layout - key travel - typeface printed on keys ### Trackpad - size - tap + click on trackpad itself ### Customer/User experience I've contacted System76 dozens of times (pre-sales, during assembly, technical support) and I've had pleasant experiences. Questions answered sufficiently, problems either solved or clarified and my first galp5 return accepted painlessly. Additionally, my interactions with engineers on [chat](https://chat.pop-os.org/) and [GitHub](https://github.com/system76) have been fantastic. I've never touched Rust (language), but there's a [channel on chat just for learning Rust](https://chat.pop-os.org/community/channels/rust) and with a [couple of pointers](https://chat.pop-os.org/community/channels/rust/tz8j33pjainsiquxiszzsey3ba) I was able to [submit a pull request](https://github.com/pop-os/system76-power/pull/212) ## Cons ### Battery life While I haven't tested this thoroughly, looks like 3-4 hours of casual browser use. ### Standyby battery drain When in standby (clamshell shut), expect ~2%/hour or about 48 hours of total standby time. I'll look into implementing hiberation myself if it becomes a bother. System76 recommends shutting down rather than standby, doesn't sound like they're working on improving standby time. ### Screen resolution and quality 16:9 1080p and sRGB gamut :/ Not a deal breaker thus far. ### Speaker volume & quality Truly, the low point of this package. Doesn't matter much to me thankfully. ### Trackpad It's a touch sticky and the clicking becomes "harder" towards the top of the trackpad. I've adjusted by now, but I wasn't sure that I would. ### Fan noise (pitch/timbre) While I've updated firmware to make the fan curve and smoothness of adjustment to my liking, it's true that the fan noise is a bit high-pitched. ### USB headset bug (upstream pulseaudio) If you're USB headset isn't properly recognized, you can run `systemctl --user restart pulseaudio` after plugging in

Context

I received my first galp5 (iGPU) about 30 days ago; replacement galp5 (dGPU) arrived yesterday (defective thunderbolt port on first)
I don't use my laptop as a daily driver as I'm working from home and I have a desktop workstation (HP Z840)
Been a Linux desktop (Pop!_OS) user for about 100 days, migrated from macOS (10.5 - 10.14), have lightly managed linux servers for ~10 years
Previous laptops:
- 2007 15" MBP
- 2011 15" MBP
- 2010 17" MBP
- 2011 17" MBP
- 2014 15" rMBP dGPU
- 2015 15" rMBP dGPU
Galp5 was purchased primarily for software engineering for the web (docker containerization and JavaScript bundling)
Secondarily, this machine should be a light media workstation for the field (photo and video media management) as well as docked in an office (photo editing and video post-production)
Other machines passed up for the galp5:
- Apple 2020 M1 13" MBP
- Apple 2019 16" MBP
- System76 Lemur Pro (lemp10)
- other i7-1165G7 laptops (Dell XPS 13" I think?)

Builds tested

https://system76.com/laptops/galago

i7 iGPU ($1,198)

Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
i7-1165G7 CPU
8GB DDR4 3200MHz (self upgraded to 32GB (2x16) DDR4 3200MHz)
500GB NVMe PCIe 3 (WD Blue)

i7 dGPU ($1,447)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB VRAM (to my surprise, I received a 1650Ti)
i7-1165G7 CPU
8GB DDR4 3200MHz (self upgraded to 32GB (2x16) DDR4 3200MHz)
500GB NVMe PCIe 3 (WD Blue)

Pros

Port selection

1x Thunderbolt4/USB4
1x USB-C 3.1 rev2
2x USB-A 3.1 rev1 (I think...)
1x HDMI (full-size)
RJ-45 1GBe
1x 3.5mm audio combo headset jack
SDXC card reader

Performance (see benchmarks)

Open firmware

keyboard layout customization (I've got mine mimicking my '15 MBP)
fan curve personalization
fan smoothing improvements

Open OS

improved power profiles allowing better performance

Keyboard

layout
key travel
typeface printed on keys

Trackpad

size
tap + click on trackpad itself

Customer/User experience

I've contacted System76 dozens of times (pre-sales, during assembly, technical support) and I've had pleasant experiences. Questions answered sufficiently, problems either solved or clarified and my first galp5 return accepted painlessly. Additionally, my interactions with engineers on chat and GitHub have been fantastic. I've never touched Rust (language), but there's a channel on chat just for learning Rust and with a couple of pointers I was able to submit a pull request

Cons

Battery life

While I haven't tested this thoroughly, looks like 3-4 hours of casual browser use.

Standyby battery drain

When in standby (clamshell shut), expect ~2%/hour or about 48 hours of total standby time. I'll look into implementing hiberation myself if it becomes a bother. System76 recommends shutting down rather than standby, doesn't sound like they're working on improving standby time.

Screen resolution and quality

16:9 1080p and sRGB gamut :/ Not a deal breaker thus far.

Speaker volume & quality

Truly, the low point of this package. Doesn't matter much to me thankfully.

Trackpad

It's a touch sticky and the clicking becomes "harder" towards the top of the trackpad. I've adjusted by now, but I wasn't sure that I would.

Fan noise (pitch/timbre)

While I've updated firmware to make the fan curve and smoothness of adjustment to my liking, it's true that the fan noise is a bit high-pitched.

USB headset bug (upstream pulseaudio)

If you're USB headset isn't properly recognized, you can run systemctl --user restart pulseaudio after plugging in