Gigabyte Refreshes Gaming Laptop Lineup With Skylake, Shares Few Details
Gigabyte is preparing to release new versions of each of the company's gaming laptops. The upcoming models will feature Intel's 6thGeneration Core i7 (Skylake) processors paired with DDR4 memory. Gigabyte has included some of the latest I/O standards with the new laptops as well. You'll find an HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP 2.2 support, as well one Type-C connector, though the company has not specified which generation (read: transfer rate) the USB protocol is, nor whether it will support any Alt Modes like Thunderbolt 3.0 or DisplayPort.
The new laptops will also support M.2 PCI-e SSDs, but it is unclear if any models will support multiple drives.
Gigabyte has not released model names, nor detailed specifications, but suggested that they will be similar to the outgoing models other than the aforementioned updates. If we are to accept that at face value, it would suggest that we should see models equipped with a variety of options.
Outgoing models can be found with Nvidia GeForce GTX discrete graphics cards, ranging from GTX 965M to GTX 980M with 8 GB of memory. The current models offered multiple different display resolutions as well, which presumably will remain available. Some models come equipped with Full HD displays, while others are available with Quad-HD displays.
If Gigabyte plans to keep pace with the competition, it's possible that big things are forthcoming. A liquid-cooled model, perhaps?
Gigabyte did not include pricing, nor availability in the announcement.
Update, 9/8/15, 3:05pm PT. Gigabyte reached out to clarify that there is only one USB Type-C port, but did not elaborate on any further details...still...
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Update, 9/9/15, 4:55pm PT: Gigabyte let us know that the USB Type-C port is indeed Gen2 (10 Gbps), and that is supports power delivery, but because of the high power demands of the gaming laptop, you won't be able to charge the notebook itself via the USB Type-C cable. However, you would be able to power another device from the laptop's Type-C port. Any Alt Modes are still unconfirmed.
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