Even though you can install desktop Linux on many computers, a PC specifically built and supported for Linux is the best option. System76 has been selling Linux-powered desktops and laptops for years, and now the company is updating its Adder workstation laptop with newer hardware.
The Adder WS is one of the higher-end laptops sold by System76, intended for graphically intense workloads like 3D modeling, generative AI, and gaming. The new updated model has a14th generation Intel i9-14900HX processor, with 8 performance cores, 16 efficient cores, and a max turbo frequency of 5.8 GHz. The previous model used a13th generation Core i9-13900HX, so that’s a decent upgrade.
The rest of the hardware is mostly unchanged from the older Adder WS. You can pick an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 4060, or 4070 graphics card, or switch to the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics when you want to save some battery life. The display is a large 15.6-inch 1920x1080 panel with a matte finish, and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. There’s also a large multi-color backlit keyboard and a multitouch trackpad. However, all that powerful hardware can’t comfortably fit into an ultrabook-like frame. The Adder WS is a fairly large laptop at 0.98 x 14.21 x 9.72 inches (24.9 x 360.9 x 246.9 mm), and it weighs 5.08 pounds (2.3 kg). That’s around the same size as the16-inch M3 MacBook Pro, while weighing a bit more.
The laptop is configurable with up to 96GB dual-channel DDR5 RAM, three M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSDs (up to 12TB in total), and your choice of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS. You should be able to install any other Linux desktop distribution, since all the hardware is supported by the Linux kernel and System76’s open drivers, but the Nvidia GPU may require extra setup on some distros. You can also install Windows if needed.
The Adder WS has a wide range of connectivity options, including four USB 3.2 ports (two Type-A, two Type-C), HDMI with HDCP support, gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and a Kensington lock. You probably won’t be reaching for a USB hub with this laptop.
You canbuy the Adder WSstarting today from System76’s online store. The price starts at $1,749 for the entry-level model with an RTX 3060, Core i9-14900HX, 16GB RAM, and 500GB SSD.
