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I’m a big fan of system76 For years. They have long been champions of Linux machines and whenever I get a chance to work with one of their new computers, they never fail to impress me on every level.
I purchased my first system (a Leopard Extreme) from the company in 2013. That machine served me for six years, after which I upgraded to their latest offering. Thelio. It came out back in 2019, and it performed like a champ until recently, when the on/off button stopped working and one of the HDMI ports stopped sending a signal.
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Although the second machine didn’t last as long as the first, I had to remind myself that I bought that first Thelio as soon as it was released, which meant it was the first iteration. Since then, the company has made serious changes to the Thelio line-up and improved each machine.
When my original Thelio signaled that it was on its last legs, I had to act fast. I spend a lot of time working at my desk, and that machine is essential to my daily life. So, I started configuring my new PC and immediately decided I was going to do something I’d never done: ignore Intel. That’s right, I went the AMD route with the Ryzen 9 7900X (12 cores/24 threads). The rest of the custom details look like this:
- RAM – 32 GB DDR5 4800 MHz (1×32)
- Internal Storage – 500 GB PCIe4 M.2 SSD
- GPU – 8GB AMD Radeon RX 7600
- Top Port – 1x USB 3.2 Gen2 (Type-C), 1x USB 3.2 Gen1 (Type A), Mic, Headphones
- Rear Ports – 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (Type-C)
- Rear Audio – Mic, Line Out, Line In
- Networking – Built-in WiFi 6E (a/b/g/n/ac/ax) with 2.5GbE, Bluetooth 5.2
- Dimensions – 12.87″ × 8.15″ × 11.46″ (327 × 207 × 291 mm)
- OS – Pop!_OS Linux
- Price – As configured, just over $2k.
My original Thelio included an Intel i9 CPU and 32GB of RAM, but it relied on the integrated Intel graphics card. That machine was a beast and didn’t blink at anything I threw at it, from virtual machines, containers, video rendering and anything else I needed.
It was hard to say goodbye to that r1 Thelio, but I knew it was time. However, when its replacement arrived, those concerns were quickly put to rest. Upon taking the computer out of the box, I was immediately amazed at how much the machine had evolved from the first iteration. Yes, there were a lot of similarities, but the differences made it a whole new experience.
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First of all, having the port on the top of the case is a welcome improvement. I often have to switch on various peripheral devices (like card readers, external drives, etc.) and hate pulling out the case, grabbing a flashlight, and switching them on. Now, I can do this work easily.
Also, I opted to go with carved panels (instead of wood inserts) and I’m glad I did. This addition provides enough shine to make the case stand out.
But the flare up does not stop here. Open the case and you’ll find all kinds of art on display, like tiny rocketships made from chassis. I’ve always felt that System76 never fails to move forward and this new Thelio proves it.
Can this machine take me to the moon and back? Perhaps.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
But what about performance?
So far, I’m seriously impressed. AMD CPU is performing better than Intel i9. Of course, the power may be increased by the Radeon RX 7600, so it’s hard to tell. But the overall impression is that the r3 Thelio is a huge improvement over the r1…and that’s saying something.
When you’ve been dealing with a great piece of hardware for years, replacing it with something else can be a mess. But when you’re dealing with a company like System76, you know what kind of efforts they’ve put into improving their machines and they haven’t disappointed with their latest Thelio incarnation.
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This machine is exactly what I wanted and needed and it will serve me well for years to come. Although I haven’t really stressed it with any heavy workloads, I have developed several virtual machines, and have gone through my normal workday for about a week now and have been impressed at every turn. System76 Thelio is completely upside down and doesn’t have a single problem.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
Out of all the computers I’ve ever used System76 Thelio By far, the best. hands down. End of story. If you need an upgrade to the hardware you’re currently using, you can’t go wrong with one of these.
If you’re looking to replace your current desktop computer, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a machine that matches the power and beauty of the Thelio. Trust me when I tell you that you will not regret the purchase.
