Ubuntu outperforms Windows 11 on the Framework Laptop 16 with Ryzen 7 7840HS

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Ubuntu beats Windows 11 once again on another Ryzen-powered machine

Framework laptop
(Image credit: Framework)

Phoronix tested the Framework Laptop 16 in Ubuntu to see if the Linux OS can outperform Windows 11 on the most modular portable rig around. In testing — with Ubuntu 23.10 and 24.04, Phoronix discovered that both Linux versions were faster than Windows 11 in most applications.

The Framework Laptop 16 is a 16-inch notebook; What sets it apart from other laptops is its modular construction. The laptop can be customized with different aesthetic parts and components, and in there's a DIY edition where users can build their own PCs. For instance, all of the I/O is removable and replaceable with different ports, and the optional RX 7700S GPU comes in a module that can be installed (or removed) by the user.

That Framework Laptop 16 can be configured to come with Windows 11 pre-installed. That said, Framework promotes Linux as a viable alternative if you don't choose to your Framework 16 to come with Windows 11, which is the perfect segue into Phoronix's testing.

(Image credit: Phoronix)

Phoronix tested two different flavors of Ubuntu, the outgoing 23.10 version and an upcoming 24.04 version which is "near-final state". Over 100 benchmarks were conducted in a variety of applications including Java workloads, image encoding, creator workloads, video encoding, audio encoding, texture compression, Blender, and more.

Out of the 101 benchmarks run on the Framework 16, Ubuntu 24.04 had the most first-place finishes featuring 68 wins. Ubuntu 23.10 came in second place with 22 wins, and Windows 11 was last featuring an ironic 11 first-place finishes.

Percentage-wise, Windows 11 was the slowest of the three operating systems 73% of the time. Windows 11 wasn't the slowest OS in all of the benchmarks, but it was the slowest in most benchmarks run.

This isn't the first time we've seen Linux dominate on Ryzen hardware. This behavior has been surprisingly consistent over the past few years, with multiple different Ryzen CPUs (including the 7800X3D and 7995WX) boasting more favorable performance in Linux Ubuntu rather than Windows 11. We suspect this behavior comes down to better thread scheduling on the Linux side but we can't be certain. It might also help that Framework claims to develop hardware with Linux in mind, including selecting compatible components and offering distributers pre-release hardware.

If you can live without the creature comforts Microsoft's Windows ecosystem provides Phoronix's testing confirms that Linux is the more performant operating system, at least for the Framework Laptop 16.

See more Laptops News
Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Contributing Writer

Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

29 Comments Comment from the forums
  • maestro0428
    Love me some Linux and its great to see how well its running these days. However, until I can run all my software on Ubuntu, looks like Im sticking with Windows.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    This performance gap is only going to get wider as Microsoft builds in/up the adware components necessary in order to show you the latest item you should buy - and ad revenue Microsoft should rake in, of course. I doubt its terribly CPU expensive but it can't be free.

    I highly doubt any Linux distro will turn itself into serving adware. Certainly not the self-respecting ones.
    Reply
  • HaninTH
    maestro0428 said:
    Love me some Linux and its great to see how well its running these days. However, until I can run all my software on Ubuntu, looks like Im sticking with Windows.
    Will this be the decade that Linux becomes even remotely close to a daily driver for someone that uses commercial software?

    I've been waiting since the '90s.

    I fear it will always and forever be where it is as it's loudest proponents seem incapable of delivering what the mainstream user wants/needs:

    NO NEED TO USE A CLI!!

    Is it really just money, that can cure/solve this issue? I haven't had to use a command prompt under Windows in over 15 years. For any reason.
    Reply
  • Grobe
    HaninTH said:
    NO NEED TO USE A CLI!!

    Is it really just money, that can cure/solve this issue? I haven't had to use a command prompt under Windows in over 15 years. For any reason.
    Nah, not that.

    It's more like - if Windows was a car model made by Microsoft, and Linux was - well it's own thing going on in the car marked, it would be more like the Windows cars have all automatic transmission and pretty much drive by themself, while Linux cars have manual transmission, but can be modded in every feasible way - heck, why stuck in traffic jam when you can dig yourself a way under or even just fly over ? And there will always be somebody complaining about the lack of automatic transmission and that this they cannot drive.
    Reply
  • PEnns
    It is beyond ludicrous to compare Windows, a software system that's supposed to support every software and hardware system and platform or app on the planet, against Linux which is supposed to support itself!!

    But hey, it makes for sizzling clickbait headlines.
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    If you can live without the creature comforts Microsoft's Windows ecosystem provides Phoronix's testing confirms that Linux is the more performant operating system, at least for the Framework Laptop 16.

    There aren't many "creature comforts" that Windows offers that Linux doesn't in 2024. Application support, and I'll lump gaming into this category too since they are applications, is about the only thing Windows has over Linux, especially for the more user-friendly distros like Ubuntu and its even more user friendly variant Mint.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    So if you render a ton Linux is better, but wait this is a laptop and they didn't test power consumption so pretty much everything tested is meaningless. Linux is obviously going to be more optimized in many cases, but without complete information who knows what the gap really is.
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    thestryker said:
    So if you render a ton Linux is better, but wait this is a laptop and they didn't test power consumption so pretty much everything tested is meaningless. Linux is obviously going to be more optimized in many cases, but without complete information who knows what the gap really is.

    If you render a ton on battery you're going to use a Macbook, so not an irrelevant test.
    Reply
  • blppt
    Admin said:
    Phoronix tested two versions of Ubuntu Linux against Windows 11 on the latest Ryzen-powered Framework 16 laptop and discovered that Ubuntu is better performing OS most of the time.

    Ubuntu outperforms Windows 11 on the Framework Laptop 16 with Ryzen 7 7840HS : Read more
    I mean, how is this news? Hasn't the Linux kernel outperformed windows in native software since like 2.0? Pure benchmarks has never been the issue.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Alvar Miles Udell said:
    If you render a ton on battery you're going to use a Macbook, so not an irrelevant test.
    They're testing a laptop and not comparing power consumption between Linux and Windows if you can't figure out why that's a problem there's no hope for you.
    Reply