System76 Adder WS
Unleashing Power and Performance: A Closer Look at the System76 Adder WS Laptop
I have been using my System76 Adder WS for over a year now and I have no complaints at all. I run Pop!_Os 22.04 LTS and this laptop is my daily driver, it is the only computer I use for everything. The most intensive use I have for it right now is playing video games on Steam, yes there are games not compatible with Linux, but there are a lot that are. I have rendered high resolution 3-D models in both Blender and FreeCAD with no Problems at all.
My Adder WS is a 17” Laptop weighing in at 6.28 pounds It is not a light laptop by no means you carry this in a backpack or tote, you definitely know it’s there especially adding the 280W power supply.
System76 has made some changes in the new version of the Adder WS, for instance it sports the 14th gen i9-1400HX Processor, it’s only available in with the 15.6” display, and you can add up to 12TB of Storage space with three SSD’s. This post will be about my Adder WS. The specifications for my Adder WS is at the end of the article.
When it comes to finding a high-performance laptop for your professional or personal needs, the System76 Adder WS Laptop is definitely worth a closer look. With its sleek design and advanced features, this laptop is built to unleash power and performance like never before. From its lightning-fast processing speeds to its stunning display, the Adder WS Laptop offers everything you need to tackle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're a graphic designer working on intricate projects or a software developer in need of a reliable workstation, the System76 Adder WS Laptop has the capabilities to meet your needs. With top-of-the-line hardware and a user-friendly interface, this laptop is sure to impress even the most discerning tech enthusiasts. Join us as we delve into the features and capabilities of the Adder WS Laptop, and discover how it can revolutionize the way you work and play.
Design and Build Quality
Performance and Speed
Graphics and Display
User Experience and Accessibility
Pricing and Value for Money
Design and Build Quality
The System76 Adder WS Laptop is a powerhouse when it comes to design and build quality. From the moment you lay eyes on this sleek machine, you can tell that it means business. The matte black chassis is both stylish and functional, providing a professional look while also minimizing fingerprints and smudges. The laptop feels sturdy and well-built, with no flex or creaking when opening or closing the lid. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with just the right amount of key travel and spacing between keys. The touchpad is responsive and smooth, making it easy to navigate around the screen. One of the standout features of the Adder WS Laptop is the brilliant 17.3-inch display. The colors are vibrant and the details are sharp, making it a joy to work on creative projects or watch movies. The thin bezels around the screen also contribute to a more immersive viewing experience. In terms of ports and connectivity, the Adder WS Laptop has you covered. With three USB ports, an HDMI port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a headphone jack, and a dedicated Microphone jack, you'll have plenty of options for connecting your peripherals and accessories. The addition of an MicroSD card reader is a nice touch for photographers or videographers who need to transfer files quickly and easily. The cooling system on the Adder WS Laptop is also worth mentioning. Despite the powerful hardware inside, the laptop gets warm to the touch especially on the right side of the keyboard and when the fans are at max speed they are definitely noticeable under heavy workloads. This is thanks to the strategically placed vents and the two fans that help dissipate heat efficiently. Overall, the design and build quality of the System76 Adder WS Laptop are top-notch. It's clear that attention to detail was paid to every aspect of the laptop, from the sleek exterior to the comfortable keyboard and vibrant display. Whether you're a creative professional, a gamer, or a power user, the Adder WS Laptop is sure to impress with its premium look and feel.
Performance and Speed
When it comes to performance and speed, the System76 Adder WS laptop truly shines. The Intel Core i9-13900HX processor paired with up to 96GB of RAM ensures that you can tackle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're editing videos, rendering 3D graphics, or running multiple virtual machines, the Adder WS has the power to handle it all. With its NVMe GEN 4 SSDs that offer lightning-fast read and write speeds, you can say goodbye to long loading times and hello to seamless multitasking. The Adder WS also features NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards, providing you with unparalleled visuals and rendering capabilities for any creative project or gaming experience. Thanks to its advanced cooling system, the Adder WS Components stays cool under pressure, allowing you to push its performance to the limit without worrying about overheating. This means you can work or play for hours on end without any performance drops or slowdowns. The System76 Adder WS laptop is also highly customizable, allowing you to configure it to meet your specific needs. From choosing the amount of RAM and storage capacity to selecting the display resolution and graphics card, you can tailor the Adder WS to suit your workflow and preferences. Whether you're a professional designer, developer, gamer, or all of the above, the System76 Adder WS laptop delivers the speed and performance you need to excel in your field. Its robust hardware and cutting-edge technology make it a powerhouse machine that can handle anything you throw at it. In addition, the Adder WS comes pre-installed with Pop!_OS, an Ubuntu-based operating system that is designed to optimize performance and enhance productivity. With its sleek interface and user-friendly design, Pop!_OS ensures that you can make the most of your Adder WS right out of the box. Overall, the System76 Adder WS laptop is a high-performance machine that is built to exceed your expectations. With its top-of-the-line components, customizable options, and advanced cooling system, the Adder WS is a reliable workhorse that can keep up with your demanding workload and deliver exceptional results every time. So whether you're tackling a complex project, diving into a virtual world, or simply browsing the web, the System76 Adder WS laptop is ready and waiting to unleash its power and performance to help you achieve your goals and surpass your limits.
Graphics and Display
The System76 Adder WS laptop is not only a powerhouse in terms of processing power and performance, but it also excels in the graphics and display department. With its top-of-the-line graphics card options and stunning high-resolution display, this laptop is sure to impress even the most demanding users. One of the standout features of the Adder WS is its graphics capabilities. This laptop can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, offering unparalleled graphics performance for tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering. Whether you're a hardcore gamer looking to experience the latest titles at maximum settings or a creative professional working on graphic design projects, the Adder WS has you covered with its impressive graphics horsepower. Additionally, the display on the Adder WS is nothing short of breathtaking. The laptop features a 17.3" 1920x1080@144Hz LCD display, providing vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp details that make every image and video pop off the screen. Whether you're watching movies, editing photos, or playing games, the high-resolution display on the Adder WS ensures a truly immersive and visually stunning experience. In addition to its stunning resolution, the display on the Adder WS also boasts a high refresh rate, with options up to 144Hz available. This means that fast-paced games and action-packed videos will look smooth and fluid, with no blurring or ghosting to detract from the experience. The high refresh rate also makes the Adder WS an excellent choice for competitive gamers who demand precision and responsiveness in their gameplay. Furthermore, the Adder WS offers support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), allowing for greater contrast and color accuracy in supported content. HDR content on the Adder WS looks more true to life and immersive, with brighter highlights, deeper shadows, and richer colors that make everything on the screen look more vivid and realistic. Overall, the graphics and display capabilities of the System76 Adder WS laptop are truly impressive. From its high-end graphics card options to its stunning 1080p LED display with high refresh rate and HDR support, if you need higher resolution display you can connect up to three external displays at up to 4K resolution, this laptop is a powerhouse when it comes to visual performance. Whether you're a gamer, creative professional, or multimedia enthusiast, the Adder WS has the graphics and display features to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
User Experience and Accessibility
The System76 Adder WS laptop is designed to provide users with a powerful and high-performance computing experience. From the moment you open up the sleek and modern-looking laptop, it becomes clear that the designers have paid attention to every detail to enhance the user experience. The first thing you'll notice is the keyboard, which is spacious and comfortable to type on. The keys have a nice feel to them, making it easy to type quickly and accurately. The keyboard is also backlit, so you can easily see the keys in low-light conditions. The touchpad is also well-designed, with a smooth surface that makes it easy to navigate around the screen. The touchpad is responsive and accurate, making it a pleasure to use for tasks such as scrolling, zooming, and selecting items. The screen on the Adder WS is bright and vivid, with crisp colors and sharp detail. Whether you're watching movies, editing photos, or working on a spreadsheet, the display provides a beautiful viewing experience. The laptop also features a high refresh rate, which is great for gaming or watching videos with fast-paced action. In terms of accessibility, System76 has made sure that the Adder WS is easy to use for all types of users. The laptop runs on System76's own Linux-based operating system, Pop!_OS, which is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. Even if you're not familiar with Linux, you'll find that Pop!_OS is easy to navigate and customize to your preferences. The Adder WS also comes with a variety of ports and connectivity options, making it easy to connect external devices such as monitors, printers, and storage drives. The laptop has multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, a MicroSD card reader, a headphone jack, and a dedicated Microphone jack, giving you plenty of options for expanding your setup. One of the standout features of the Adder WS is its performance capabilities. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor and can be configured with up to 96GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM at 5600 MHz, making it capable of handling even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're running multiple programs simultaneously, editing high-resolution videos, or playing graphics-intensive games, the Adder WS can keep up without breaking a sweat. Overall, the System76 Adder WS laptop offers a user experience that is both enjoyable and streamlined. From the comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad to the vibrant display and powerful performance, every aspect of the laptop is designed to enhance your productivity and enjoyment. Whether you're a professional working on complex projects or a casual user looking for a reliable and capable laptop, the Adder WS is sure to impress with its power, performance, and accessibility.
Pricing and Value for Money
The pricing and value for money of the System76 Adder WS laptop is something that many tech enthusiasts and professionals have been eager to learn more about. With its impressive specs and cutting-edge performance capabilities, it's only natural to wonder if the price tag matches up to what you're getting. First things first, let's address the initial cost of the Adder WS. As one of System76's flagship models, it does come with a higher price point compared to some other laptops on the market. However, when you take into account the powerful components and high-quality build of this machine, the price suddenly doesn't seem quite as steep. The Adder WS is equipped with a range of top-of-the-line components that contribute to its exceptional performance. From the Intel Core i9 processors to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards, this laptop is designed to handle even the most demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're a designer, video editor, or gamer, the Adder WS has the horsepower needed to tackle your projects without breaking a sweat. In addition to its impressive specs, the Adder WS also boasts a sleek and modern design that exudes professionalism and sophistication. The chassis not only looks great, but it's also built to withstand the rigors of daily use. The backlit keyboard is comfortable to type on, while the large trackpad provides smooth and precise control. When you consider the combination of top-tier components, premium design, and exceptional performance, the value proposition of the Adder WS becomes even clearer. While it may have a higher price point than some other laptops, the level of performance and quality that you're getting in return makes it a worthwhile investment for those who rely on their machines for intensive tasks. Furthermore, System76 offers excellent customer support and warranties, ensuring that you're covered in case anything goes wrong with your laptop. This peace of mind is invaluable, especially when you're investing in a high-end machine like the Adder WS. Ultimately, the pricing of the System76 Adder WS may seem intimidating at first glance, but when you factor in the top-tier components, exceptional performance, and high-quality build, it becomes clear that you're getting excellent value for your money. Whether you're a professional in need of a powerful workstation or a gamer looking for a laptop that can keep up with the latest titles, the Adder WS delivers on all fronts.
In conclusion, the System76 Adder WS laptop is a powerful and performance-driven machine that is sure to meet the needs of even the most demanding users. From its sleek design to its cutting-edge hardware, this laptop has everything you need to tackle any task with ease. Whether you're a high-powered professional or a casual user looking for a top-of-the-line machine, the Adder WS has got you covered.
I have contacted System76 for tech support and I have always received a fast response and knowledgeable answers on any problems I ran into.
I am a big fan of System76 and Pop!_Os and can't see myself using anything else. Let's take this ride together and see where it goes.
My System Specs are below:
• CPU
◦ Intel 13th Generation (Raptor Lake) Core i9-13900HX CPU
• BIOS
◦ GigaDevice GD25B256EYIGR flash chip
▪ WSON-8 form factor
◦ Programmed with System76 Open Firmware
• EC
◦ ITE IT5570E
◦ Programmed with System76 EC
• Graphics◦
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050
◦ eDP display:
▪ 17.3" 1920x1080@144Hz LCD
◦ External video outputs:
▪ 1x HDMI 2.1
▪ 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.4
▪ 1x DisplayPort 1.4 over USB-C
• Memory
◦ Up to 16GB dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMMs @ 5600 MHz
• Networking
◦ Gigabit Ethernet
◦ M.2 PCIe/CNVi WiFi/Bluetooth
▪ Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210/AX211
▪ Bluetooth 5.3
• Power
◦ 280W (20V, 14A) DC-in port
▪ DC-in port accepts rectangular (not barrel) connector
◦ Included AC adapter: Chicony A18-280P1A
▪ AC power cord type: IEC C13
◦ 73Wh 4-cell Lithium-Ion battery
▪ Model number: NP50BAT-4-73
• Sound
◦ Internal speakers & microphone
◦ Combined headphone & microphone 3.5mm jack
◦ Dedicated microphone 3.5mm jack
◦ HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, USB-C DisplayPort audio
• Storage
◦ (1x WD_BLACK SN850X 4TB 7,300 MB/s
◦ MicroSD card reader
• USB◦ 1x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4
◦ 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type C)
◦ 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type A)
◦ 1x USB 2.0
• Dimensions
◦ 17": 2.82cm x 39.69cm x 26.2cm, 2.85kg
