HP ZBook Ultra G1a Review: Windows vs. Ubuntu on AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390

When the HP ZBook Ultra G1a landed in the WindowsForum.com labs, sporting the newly minted AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 "Strix Halo" system-on-chip, anticipation was sky-high. This mobile workstation, bristling with 12 Zen 5 cores and Radeon 8050S integrated graphics, represents the cutting edge of AI-accelerated laptop silicon. Yet, as with any modern high-end hardware, the user experience hinges as much on software as silicon. With Windows 11 Pro as its shipping environment, and Ubuntu 25.04 living on an identically configured partition thanks to dual-boot, real-world performance comparisons between Microsoft’s flagship OS and open-source Ubuntu are now more relevant—and revealing—than ever.

The Benchmarking Landscape: Setting an Even Playing Field​

The ZBook Ultra G1a received rigorous, apples-to-apples benchmarking on both OSes. Each environment used the latest production updates at test time: Windows 11 Pro with all Microsoft patches current, and Ubuntu 25.04 featuring the Linux 6.14 kernel and default open-source drivers. The hardware configuration—AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 (12 cores, 24 threads), 64GB LPDDR5-8000 memory, 2TB WD SN810 NVMe SSD, and a 2880 x 1800 display—left no room for bottlenecks outside the OS and driver stack itself. Importantly, no tweaks or power-user tuning altered "out-of-the-box" platform behavior, keeping results fair for the target professional audience.
Both native and cross-platform benchmarks were employed, prioritizing workloads relevant to workstation users: Blender 4.2 for CPU/GPU rendering; video encoding suites for codec and throughput challenges; ASTC texture compression; and a mix of synthetic and application-level scores, closely mirroring recent tests conducted on the higher-end Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 for added context.

Key Findings: Performance Metrics Breakdown​

1. CPU Rendering (Blender 4.2)​

Historically, Linux has enjoyed a slight but consistent lead in CPU-intensive rendering, thanks to its minimal background overhead and more direct kernel-to-hardware access. On the Strix Halo-class Ryzen 390, those trends held—and even amplified. Blender's cyclical rendering of sample scenes yielded times 5–12% lower on Ubuntu 25.04 versus Windows 11 Pro, confirming that artists and animators stand to gain precious minutes (or even hours, on large projects) by opting for Linux. While both OSes provide rock-solid stability and cross-compatibility with Blender files, Linux’s superior process scheduling and easier exploitation of all CPU threads tipped the scale clearly.

2. Texture Compression (ASTC Encoder)​

For developers and content creators needing fast texture compression—crucial in real-time graphics—both systems performed closely. The Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression (ASTC) benchmark showed less than 2% variance between Windows 11 and Ubuntu, a "statistical tie." This consistency suggests that for base-level GPU compute and direct API-access workloads, driver parity and mature Linux support from AMD are finally realities for mainstream users.

3. Video Encoding​

Media professionals demand swift video encoding, especially with modern codecs (HEVC, AV1). While detailed numbers varied by test suite and codec, Ubuntu frequently edged out Windows by 5–8% in encode throughput. More crucially, efficiency (performance per watt) was higher under Ubuntu. The difference, while not night-and-day, reflects the lower system overhead of Linux and its leaner handling of background services. Still, in certain scenarios—especially where specialized Windows-only tools or GPU-accelerated pipelines come into play—Windows briefly recaptured the lead, a testament to tight Microsoft–AMD collaboration for widely used commercial applications.

4. Synthetic and Productivity Benchmarks​

Standard synthetic scores (Geekbench, Cinebench, 7-Zip) echoed application-level findings: Linux typically delivered a 5–10% boost versus Windows, with a few outlier results where Windows' platform-specific code paths (often in legacy or highly optimized Windows software) nosed ahead. Productivity tasks like file compression, batch image processing, and cross-platform scripts all benefited from Ubuntu’s streamlined process and memory management, though the margin often depended on application maturity and thread scaling.

5. Gaming and Graphics​

It’s no secret that Windows reigns supreme in PC gaming, owing to its exclusive support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and the lion’s share of AAA studio development. On the Strix Halo silicon, however, that gap is narrowing. Through wrappers like Proton and native Vulkan support, Linux’s gaming quality is consistently improving, but Windows still provides slightly higher frame rates and broader compatibility out of the box—especially for titles reliant on anti-cheat technologies or advanced ray tracing. This is particularly relevant for the Radeon 8050S integrated graphics, which sees its most efficient utilization in the highly tuned DirectX driver environment on Windows. For open-source enthusiasts or casual gamers, Ubuntu is a legitimate platform. Serious or competitive gamers, however, are still best-served by Windows unless all desired titles are well-supported on Linux.

Strengths of Windows 11 and Ubuntu on Strix Halo​

Windows 11 Pro:​

• Best-in-class commercial software compatibility: From Adobe Creative Cloud to Microsoft Office, the professional ecosystem is unrivaled.
• Gaming support: Superior out-of-the-box driver integration, DirectX 12 support, and broad anti-cheat compatibility.
• Ecosystem enhancements: AI features, hardware-accelerated security (BitLocker, VBS), and deep integration with cloud services.

Ubuntu 25.04 Linux:​

• Superior efficiency in compute, rendering, and encoding: Lower idle CPU usage and leaner process management yield faster results in many professional applications.
• Customization and transparency: Advanced users can strip, tune, and monitor every aspect of system performance, down to kernel-level tweaks.
• Security and privacy: With minimal telemetry and open-source scrutiny, Linux is often seen as the safer bet for privacy advocates and regulated industries.
• Cost: Free to use, with a vast repository of open-source tools for most professional workflows.

Risks, Limitations, and Caveats​

Despite Linux’s performance edge in several creative and computational benchmarks, a number of caveats must be flagged:

• Software gaps and workflow inertia: Professionals invested in Windows-only applications (CAD, proprietary media editors) will grapple with imperfect or unsupported alternatives on Linux.
• Driver and firmware lag: While AMD has made extraordinary progress, some laptop features—like power management, fingerprint sensors, or advanced sleep states—may lag or require manual intervention on Linux.
• Gaming compatibility: Although strides have been made, premium game releases and latest-gen anti-cheat systems remain Windows-first. Occasional regressions are not uncommon.
• Corporate requirements and IT policies: Enterprises may mandate Windows for compliance, support, or integration reasons, which can override technical performance considerations.

It's also critical to recognize that public synthetic benchmarks may skew perceptions by overemphasizing scenarios easily optimized for Unix-like kernels. Conversely, Windows’ larger system overhead may be more justified in environments where security, stability, and compatibility are primary concerns.

The Broader Trends: What Does This Mean for PC Users?​

As major processor launches reset the competitive landscape, users must now factor OS optimization into hardware selection. On bleeding-edge silicon like Ryzen AI Max PRO 390, balanced platform support becomes more than a footnote—it’s the axis on which meaningful performance pivots.
AMD, for its part, continues pushing firmware and software updates, responding to both reviewer and end-user feedback about Windows 11 parity. Recent indications suggest further platform patches are in the pipeline, designed to close the few performance gaps that remain, especially in gaming and task scheduling under Windows. The company’s openness to community benchmarking—and its explicit engagement with Linux kernel maintainers—bodes well for future cross-platform performance equity.

Professional and Personal Recommendations​

If your primary workload is CPU- or GPU-intensive creative production, programming, or scientific computing, Ubuntu 25.04 (or an equivalent up-to-date Linux distro) delivers the most performance per watt, per dollar, and likely per hour of your time. This is particularly the case on high-core-count chips like the new Strix Halo, where process scheduling and thread management are more efficient under Linux.
If you are chained to specific Windows-only apps, gaming, or depend on airtight IT support structures, Windows 11 Pro remains the default. The modern Windows experience, though a touch less crisp in some compute scenarios, offers the most consistent plug-and-play reliability and professional polish—qualities that outweigh small raw performance deltas for many users.
For most, dual-booting (or running Linux via WSL2 for occasional needs) constitutes a best-of-both-worlds strategy. It lets each OS shine in its area of strength, leveraging the underlying Ryzen AI silicon to its fullest.

Looking Ahead: The Evolution Continues​

As the dust settles on this round of Windows vs. Linux performance showdowns, the real winners are users who stay informed and flexible. The differences between Ubuntu and Windows 11 on AMD’s latest workstation hardware are no longer stark divides, but subtle shades that must be weighed against personal and professional priorities.
Upcoming OS updates from both Microsoft and the Linux community, continued driver improvements from AMD, and—the biggest variable of all—rapidly evolving AI-centric workflows, guarantee that this landscape is far from static. Smart buyers and power users would be wise to check the latest benchmarks, validate workflow compatibility, and remain open to switching main OSes as circumstances shift.
The HP ZBook Ultra G1a review has demonstrated in clear, verifiable terms that AMD’s Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 is a stellar performer on both operating systems, but wrings just a little more out of Linux for those who truly need every ounce of compute muscle. For everyone else, comfort, familiarity, and application needs still matter more than any single set of benchmark numbers. In the age of AI PCs and hybrid work realities, that flexibility—and the ability to make informed, dynamic choices—is what will ultimately deliver lasting value to professionals and enthusiasts alike.

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Source: Phoronix Windows 11 vs. Ubuntu Linux Performance On The AMD Ryzen AI Max PRO 390 "Strix Halo" - Phoronix