Skip to main content

System76 updates its 15.6-inch Orynx Pro Ubuntu laptop with a 4K ‘retina’ screen

system76 orynx pro laptop updated 4k hidpi screen
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Linux-based system builder System76 recently beefed up the resolution of the 15.6-inch version of its Orynx Pro laptop. Customers purchasing this model now have three display options when configuring the laptop before checkout: a standard TN screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, an IPS screen with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, or an HiDPI screen with a 3,840 x 2,160 resolution.

If you’re not familiar with these three display types, TN stands for Twisted Nematic and is the oldest of the three. It consumes less power while offering the brightest screen and fastest response times, making it perfect for gaming. IPS stands for In-Plane switching, and is newer than the TN panel technology, providing richer colors and better viewing angles, making it ideal for digital media creation.

As for HiDPI, that’s short for High Dots Per Inch, and is the foundation of Apple’s “Retina” display. It focuses on providing an extremely high resolution on a small screen while retaining sharp images and text. The display tech essentially crams in a higher number of smaller pixels per inch than the previous two mentioned above, and they are nearly impossible to see when examining the screen up close.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

That said, configuring the 15.6-inch Oryx Pro laptop with the new screen option will cost extra. The base configuration comes with the TN panel with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. The IPS panel costs $95 extra and the HiDPI panel costs an additional $249. On top of that, customers wanting to configure the laptop with Nvidia’s GTX 1070 graphics chip must pick either the IPS or HiDPI panel. Otherwise, the laptop defaults to the GTX 1060 chip.

Here are the hardware options for the 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch models:

Orynx Pro
Operating system: Ubuntu 16.04.01 LTS 64-bit
Ubuntu 16.10 64-bit
Display: 1080p LED-backlit
1080p IPS LED-backlit
4K HiDPI LED-backlit (not available on the 17.3-inch model)
Processor: Intel Core i7-6700HQ (3.5GHz)
Intel Core i7-6820HK (3.6GHz)
Memory: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB dual-channel DDR4 @ 2,400MHz
Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB)
GeForce GTX 1070 (8GB)
Primary storage (M.2): 128GB, 250GB, or 500GB M.2 SSD
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Secondary storage (M.2): None
128GB, 250GB, or 500GB M.2 SSD
Third storage (2.5-inch): None
1TB 7,200RPM HDD
1TB 5,400RPM Hybrid (8GB SSD)
2TB 5,400RPM HDD
250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB SSD
Ports: 2x USB 3.1 Type-C
3x USB 3.0 Type-A
SD card reader
1X HDMI
2x Mini DisplayPort
1x gigabit Ethernet
1x Microphone jack
1x S/PDIF
1x Headphone jack
Audio: 2x speakers
International headphone amplifier, Hifi DAC (GTX 1070 models only)
Webcam: 1080p HD
Battery: 60 watt hours, Li-Polymer
Input: Multi-touch pad, multi-color backlit keyboard
Connectivity: Wireless AC (Intel)

In addition to selecting the IPS or HiDPI panel to unlock the GTX 1070 option, the company suggests that customers choose the IPS or HiDPI display and the GTX 1070 graphics chip if they select the Core i7-6820HK processor. Different parts unlock specific hardware options in the configuration tool, so customers will have to fool around with it until they get the desired balance between price and performance.

Pricing for the Oryx Pro starts at $1,500, but as shown above, the new 4K HiDPI display option is only offered for the 15.6-inch model. To configure yours now, head here and have fun shopping!

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
4 CPUs you should buy instead of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D sitting on a motherboard.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best gaming processors you can buy, and it's easy to see why. It's easily the fastest gaming CPU on the market, it's reasonably priced, and it's available on a platform that AMD says it will support for several years. But it's not the right chip for everyone.

Although the Ryzen 7 7800X3D ticks all the right boxes, there are several alternatives available. Some are cheaper while still offering great performance, while others are more powerful in applications outside of gaming. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a great CPU, but if you want to do a little more shopping, these are the other processors you should consider.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Read more
Even the new mid-tier Snapdragon X Plus beats Apple’s M3
A photo of the Snapdragon X Plus CPU in the die

You might have already heard of the Snapdragon X Elite, the upcoming chips from Qualcomm that everyone's excited about. They're not out yet, but Qualcomm is already announcing another configuration to live alongside it: the Snapdragon X Plus.

The Snapdragon X Plus is pretty similar to the flagship Snapdragon X Elite in terms of everyday performance but, as a new chip tier, aims to bring AI capabilities to a wider portfolio of ARM-powered laptops. To be clear, though, this one is a step down from the flagship Snapdragon X Elite, in the same way that an Intel Core Ultra 7 is a step down from Core Ultra 9.

Read more
Gigabyte just confirmed AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs
Pads on the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

Gigabyte spoiled AMD's surprise a bit by confirming the company's next-gen CPUs. In a press release announcing a new BIOS for X670, B650, and A620 motherboards, Gigabyte not only confirmed that support has been added for next-gen AMD CPUs, but specifically referred to them as "AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors."

We've already seen MSI and Asus add support for next-gen AMD CPUs through BIOS updates, but neither of them called the CPUs Ryzen 9000. They didn't put out a dedicated press release for the updates, either. It should go without saying, but we don't often see a press release for new BIOS versions, suggesting Gigabyte wanted to make a splash with its support.

Read more