I don’t typically review desktop PCs without a dedicated graphics card. Normally I like to push systems to the limit. But I’ve also been fascinated by AMD’s “APU” technology for years, checking in on them periodically to see how they’ve improved. That brings us to my coverage of the System76 Thelio, a gorgeous Linux desktop crafted in Colorado that ships with an AMD Ryzen 5 3400G in one of its cheaper models.
The System76 Thelio is quite the capable Linux PC -- even without a dedicated GPU.
Can you finally enjoy some 1080p gaming without needing a dedicated AMD or Nvidia graphics card? Yep. As it turns out, you can do a lot more — and the Thelio stays shockingly quiet while you’re putting it through the paces!
System76 Thelio Core Specs:
- Processor: 3rd Gen Ryzen 3400G
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4 @ 3200 (2 x 8GB)
- Storage: 250 GB Samsung 970 EVO
- Power Supply: 650 W
- Wood Style: Birch
- Operating System: Pop!_OS 19.10
- MESA Driver:
(Note: You can configure the Thelio with a 450W power supply, but my inclusion of a 650W model means I can easily upgrade it later with multiple drives and a powerful dedicated GPU — which is exactly what I plan to do for future coverage.)
For my first session with the Thelio, I had one mission: fire up a handful of games at 1080p and see how smoothly they ran. And then layer a bunch of additional tasks on top.
BELOW: Watch my Thelio in action including the “multitasking reveal”
About The AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
The Ryzen 3400G isn’t the kind of beastly, thread-ripping AMD processor that normally dominates headlines. It’s a humble 4-core processor with a base clock of 3.7GHz, but it also includes integrated Radeon Vega 11 (that stands for 11 GPU cores) graphics clocked at 1100MHz.
Historically these types of processors were adequate for 720p gaming, or extremely light 1080p gaming (think indie games, not graphically demanding 3D shooters or racers).
Times have changed, especially when you consider what I was doing while running the Dirt Rally benchmark in the video above.
Linux Gaming Performance At 1080p
DOOM 2016 running at Medium quality (Vulkan)
My first mission with the Thelio was to get a snapshot of how my specific build handled gaming at 1080p. I ran a mix of demanding native Linux games and Windows-only games via Steam Proton.
Yea, I could have tested stuff like Dota 2 or games that run on a potato, but where’s the fun in that?
Here’s the average FPS I observed while playing the following titles:
- Dirt Rally (Native): 64 FPS Average Benchmark, MEDIUM Quality
- Dirt Rally (Native): 42 FPS Average Benchmark, ULTRA Quality (!)
- CS:GO (Native): 55 to 70 FPS, MAX quality
- Risk of Rain 2 (Proton): 32 to 40 FPS, MEDIUM quality
- Ballistic Overkill (Native): 50 to 62 FPS, MEDIUM quality
- DOOM 2016 (Proton): 35 FPS average, MEDIUM quality with Vulkan API
- Overwatch (via Lutris): 44 to 55 FPS, MEDIUM quality with DXVK
Overall I’m impressed, especially with the non-native games like Risk of Rain 2 and DOOM running with the Proton compatibility layer.
The Dirt Rally Multitasking Test
The fact that a 4-core processor can handle all of this is impressive
I’ve timestamped the above video so you can jump exactly to the point where I decided to run the Dirt Rally benchmark again at 1080p Medium quality, while adding several more tasks to the mix:
- Streaming YouTube at 720p
- Recording the voiceover for the video with Audacity
- Running OpenSUSE Leap 15.1 inside a virtual machine
As you’ll see, not only was the gameplay and YouTube playback smooth, but I only lost about 10 to 13 FPS on average with Dirt Rally.
Quiet As A Mouse
Fans matter. So I'm thrilled System76 chose Noctua.
There’s one more important detail to highlight: noise, or the lack of it.
System76 recently made small but meaningful tweaks to the chassis (something the company can do practically on the fly with its Denver-based factory), and also upgraded the CPU fan cooling the Ryzen 3400G. This has resulted in noise output that’s equivalent to a whisper, even when being stressed in my multitasking test.
And when it’s not under a heavy load? The thing is dead quiet.
Now I’m even more motivated to see just how far I can push the system (can it handle streaming to Twitch + gaming?). But if these initial tests are any indication, the Thelio is certainly built for quiet performance, and the AMD Ryzen 3400G is a wonderfully capable processor for most people’s day-to-day needs.
