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The SMACH Z [Official Site] gaming handheld is still a thing apparently and they've now release the final specs along with a trailer and pre-orders start soon.

First up, here's their shiny trailer:

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There's still going to be two models, a standard and a "Pro" variant. Here's their final specs sheet:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen V1605B
  • GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
  • RAM: 4GB DDR4 2133MHz or 8GB DDR4 2133MHz (pro)
  • 6" 1080p touchscreen
  • 5MP Camera (pro only)
  • 64GB SSD or 128GB SSD (pro)
  • WiFi (b/g/n etc) and Bluetooth v2.1
  • Ports: USB-C, USB-A, Micro USB, Display Port, SD card slot, Audio "minijack"
  • SMACH OS Linux or Windows 10 Home

It's not going to be cheaper either, the standard model will set you back $699 and the pro model $899.

I'm happy they're still including the option to have Linux on it and it will be interesting to see how they've customized Linux for their needs, as a super nerd I'm quite interested.

I will still be surprised if this actually turns out to be 100% real and not completely awful. They say pre-orders will start on March 15th, although as usual I urge you to go for a "wait and see" approach.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: AMD, Hardware
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70 comments
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Julius Mar 7, 2018
Quoting: KuduzkehpanNvidia Shield is much more than this device. Even if we think linux and nvidia experience compability in the future
i can stream a game from my pc to my shield device and play.

Yes, from a windows PC using closed source streaming tech... very future proof and Linux friendly :p
Julius Mar 7, 2018
Quoting: Ardje
Quoting: JuliusHave been doing that with my GPD-Win for some time now :p
So if you have no problems with the GPD-Win, can you tell me which kernel and config you are using?
I only use the hansdegoede tree from github as that fixed a few things, but the microsd controller is such a pain... Missing hardware interrupts continuosly, stalling access to the microsd on a regular interval. It might be even bugs in the bios, or just bios settings.

The microsd card itself is fine, as it works without problems in an odroid xu4. But then again, ARM platforms usually don't need to do all kinds of weird ACPI and bios stuff... Everything is in the dtb (which BTW is part of the openboot "standard" used for Suns).

All documented here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/forum/topic/2765

Truth to be told though... I am barely using the MicroSD as with my config it only supports up to 8GB cards. With those small cards it seems fine though. There is a Kernel hack to make it work with larger cards, but I never tried it and I guess it might be causing issues?

But everything other than the microSD seems to be working great. And MicroSD really isn't the best medium for storing games. Probably stick to old roms and other stuff that doesn't need quick access.
Ardje Mar 7, 2018
Quoting: Julius<snip>
All documented here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/forum/topic/2765
<snip>
But everything other than the microSD seems to be working great. And MicroSD really isn't the best medium for storing games. Probably stick to old roms and other stuff that doesn't need quick access.
Ah, yeah, I remember that thread. The big thing in the thread is the bm16ton (Ben Maddock)'s announcement of his kernel tree, which he really keeps up. I just wonder how the house fire happened. At least his tree is for the GPD WIN, and hans's tree is his personal workspace.
I will clone compile and install...
Hopefully the uSD will work without the timeouts.
BTW: this microsd should be "almost" as fast as the on board eMMC. The win emmc seems to max out at 160MB/s, and theoretically this microsd should do > 95MB/s read and write. My Xu3 made it 58MB/s probably because it doesn't support UHS-1 or maybe the kernel support was not there yet... And of course, the micro-sd detect works on it :-). But of course, always: eMMC >> microsd (in stability). But at least we can replace microsd.

My current project is running MIXXX with a "my first dj set" (hercules universal DJ). So loading .wav, aiff, or .mp3 should not be a real load.
Ardje Mar 7, 2018
Quoting: NotSoQTI can't call the SMACH Z portable at all. It's big, seems heavy, uncomfortable, barely "handheld". Can't really imagine myself using one unless I'm at home, maybe even lying in bed (for like 1 hour max).
I must confess I had tons of fun time with my atari lynx. In the train, at work, at home. Even my girlfriend was playing crystal mines II. That was actually the last real game she played.
(the last game was wordfeud and some other mobile phone game).
I think the atari lynx is a tad bigger than the S-MACH Z.
Anyway, would be cool to play those games on the S-MACH Z, upscale from 160x160 roughly to 10x bigger 8-D.
slaapliedje Mar 8, 2018
Quoting: Doc Angelo
Quoting: slaapliedjewho's going to carry around a controller just for whipping out at random times to play on a smart phone?

If you don't intend to carry something around in order to whip it out and play on it, you wouldn't be interested in this product at all - or any other mobile gaming product.

The big difference here is if I run out of batteries on a train on a game system, I can still use my phone for you know... the smart phone bits.
slaapliedje Mar 8, 2018
Quoting: Ardje
Quoting: NotSoQTI can't call the SMACH Z portable at all. It's big, seems heavy, uncomfortable, barely "handheld". Can't really imagine myself using one unless I'm at home, maybe even lying in bed (for like 1 hour max).
I must confess I had tons of fun time with my atari lynx. In the train, at work, at home. Even my girlfriend was playing crystal mines II. That was actually the last real game she played.
(the last game was wordfeud and some other mobile phone game).
I think the atari lynx is a tad bigger than the S-MACH Z.
Anyway, would be cool to play those games on the S-MACH Z, upscale from 160x160 roughly to 10x bigger 8-D.

I'm the proud owner of two Atari Lynx's and two SD Lynx Carts. :) Brilliant machine for the time, too bad it had poor battery life and Atari wasn't able to market it very well and get developers on board...
Doc Angelo Mar 8, 2018
Quoting: slaapliedjeThe big difference here is if I run out of batteries on a train on a game system, I can still use my phone for you know... the smart phone bits.

If you are somehow repeatedly not able to stop playing when your battery reaches X percent, then this would indeed be a big difference for you.
slaapliedje Mar 9, 2018
Quoting: Doc Angelo
Quoting: slaapliedjeThe big difference here is if I run out of batteries on a train on a game system, I can still use my phone for you know... the smart phone bits.

If you are somehow repeatedly not able to stop playing when your battery reaches X percent, then this would indeed be a big difference for you.

Ha, I do that all the time on my PS4, slap the controller on the charging dock, grab the second controller, continue playing.
Ardje Mar 21, 2018
Quoting: slaapliedjeI'm the proud owner of two Atari Lynx's and two SD Lynx Carts. :) Brilliant machine for the time, too bad it had poor battery life and Atari wasn't able to market it very well and get developers on board...
I almost feel bad for giving my two Atari Lynx I away to a friend. OTOH, he really gives them TLC, that's worth something...
But sd-lynx carts... You can finally play alien on it!
Or all the other games that exist but were never ever sold. Actually abused as road filling in the USA. Blasphemy!
slaapliedje Mar 21, 2018
Quoting: Ardje
Quoting: slaapliedjeI'm the proud owner of two Atari Lynx's and two SD Lynx Carts. :) Brilliant machine for the time, too bad it had poor battery life and Atari wasn't able to market it very well and get developers on board...
I almost feel bad for giving my two Atari Lynx I away to a friend. OTOH, he really gives them TLC, that's worth something...
But sd-lynx carts... You can finally play alien on it!
Or all the other games that exist but were never ever sold. Actually abused as road filling in the USA. Blasphemy!

The one game that I think should have released but never did was Eye of the Beholder! It looks amazing on the Lynx, sadly Atari never managed to figure out how to get a chip in there for saving games at least without making the cartridges really expensive.

The AvP engine on it is really impressive though!
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