Does Ryzen Pro have any other advantages?
To help businesses establish and manage a stable platform, AMD guarantees that all Ryzen Pro processors will be available for 24 months from the date of release – which means multiple generations of the hardware are on sale at once.
AMD also promises no new mandatory software updates for the first 18 months, and backs up the hardware with a 36-month warranty – three times as long as it offers for consumer processors.
Summary
- Ryzen Pro processors have the same features as AMD’s regular Ryzen CPUs, plus custom capabilities aimed at businesses.
- Hardware security in Ryzen Pro chips prevents many types of malware and hacker attack.
- Ryzen Pro systems can be managed remotely, using Microsoft Endpoint Manager or other DASH-compatible tools.
- Unlike Intel’s vPro platform, the Ryzen Pro branding applies only to the CPU, and system builders are free to use the chips in any configuration.
This article was originally published on the 12th of February 2023. It was then updated on the 28th of August 2023 with three additional questions and minor updates to other entries.
What are Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO?
At their core, both Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO technologies are made for enterprise/business use. As a part of Intel’s vPro or AMD Ryzen PRO platform, you get some additional features with which you can expect things like improved security, stability, easy management features, top-notch performance, and more. So while the processors themselves are doing all the heavy lifting, it’s these extra features that make these platforms more enticing as enterprise solutions.
Intel made a notable upgrade to its vPro technology last year with the launch of its 12th Gen Alder Lake mobile CPUs. With a newfound focus on remote work emerging in the last few years, Intel expanded the vPro platform into new areas to coincide with its 12th Gen chips. There are now four different categories of vPro processors that have carried forward with the unveiling of Intel’s 13th Gen Raptop Lake mobile processors.
- Intel vPro Enterprise: Built for large-scale businesses and companies with a global workforce.
- Intel vPro Essentials: Tailored for small businesses that may not necessarily need the advanced scalability that comes with vPro Enterprise.
- Intel vPro Enterprise for Chrome: Built for Chromebooks that need extra security and performance for business work.
- Intel vPro, An Evo Design: A combination of nimble and powerful Evo-certified laptops with extra security and management features.
Intel vPro now goes beyond just the basic standards of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or network format support. You now get a set of management tools that cater to a specific set of users. For instance, an enterprise IT department can access a remote machine via vPro’s remote management tools whenever there’s a need. The remote assistance feature can also be used to diagnose problems, deploy software updates, and more.
AMD’s Ryzen PRO technology offers a similar set of features focused on business and enterprise use. AMD separates their PRO SKUs in a more distinct way, as you’ll see in the list of compatible processors below. But if you’re buying a laptop with the Ryzen PRO badge, it means you’re getting a laptop that focuses not only on security and management, but also strong performance.
Security is a big factor to consider when it comes to enterprise machines, and we think both Intel and AMD handle it very well with their own platforms. Both vPro and Ryzen PRO chips offer great security features that go beyond what the operating system and hardware offer to protect your sensitive data.
For starters, both Intel and AMD have worked with Microsoft to offer Secured-Core PCs that keep you safe at all times from firmware and OS vulnerabilities. This is crucial, especially when a new version of the software is released. Notably, AMD has a three-layer security system that works in tandem with the OS and hardware to protect your data. AMD’s Ryzen 5000- and 6000-series chips add a Shadow Stack to the chip’s architecture to help prevent software attacks. These chips also have a memory guard to protect your PC’s memory.
Intel vPro chips also offer a good set of security features for their enterprise customers. There’s a Hardware Shield that’s exclusive to the Intel vPro platform. And just like in the AMD system, this feature operates below the OS level to enhance the overall security of your PC. Intel vPro chips also get a secure boot sequence thanks to virtualization-based security (VBS) reinforcement. Notably, we’re looking at a bunch of security features with the Hardware Shield including Intel Threat Detection Technology, Intel Total Memory Encryption, Intel Trusted Execution Technology, and more.
These features can be a little overwhelming for average PC users, but it becomes an easy pill to swallow since they’re deployed and managed by IT departments within an organization. As an end-user, all you need to know is that both AMD and Intel enterprise platforms have ample security features baked into them. It’s just a matter of picking the right SKU based on your use case.
Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen PRO laptop availability
ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10)
Some of the best laptops available today can come equipped with either an Intel vPro or AMD Ryzen PRO processor. The generation of processor might change depending on how much you want to pay or what your employer is looking to supply, but you’re still going to get the same core security and management features that make them perfect for business work. Laptop OEMs might also be a bit behind in getting the latest processors into their machines, as 13th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 7000 mobile CPUs were only recently introduced.
In any case, you can distinguish between an Intel vPro/AMD Ryzen PRO laptop and a regular one by looking for a branding that’s physically displayed (with the CPU sticker). Alternatively, you can also look at the specs to find out more.
If you’re looking to buy a new laptop with one of these technologies, be sure to have a look at our best business laptop collection. Our favorite is currently the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) with 12th Gen Intel Core vPro CPUs, and we know that the X1 Carbon Gen 11 model is on the way with newer 13th Gen Raptor Lake Intel chips. You can check out our ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) review for more information about what Editor-in-Chief Rich Woods calls «the pinnacle of business productivity.»
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 10) comes equipped with Intel’s 12th Gen Alder Lake vPro processors for strong performance and security. The laptop itself is stunning and has many high-end features geared toward a life of business.
See at Lenovo See at Amazon
On AMD’s side, Lenovo has another hit with its first-gen ThinkPad Z16. It’s available with AMD Ryzen 6000 PRO processors and supporting hardware for relatively intensive tasks. In our Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 review, Editor-in-Chief noted its impressive battery life, strong performance, sleek design, and gorgeous display.
What’s the difference between Ryzen Pro and Ryzen Threadripper Pro?
Ryzen Threadripper Pro CPUs are Ryzen Pro chips with a very large number of internal cores, aimed particularly at high-end workstation tasks.
In the past, AMD offered both Threadripper and Threadripper Pro processors, just as with regular Ryzen chips. For example, system builders seeking a powerful CPU could choose between the Ryzen Threadripper 3990X and the equivalent Ryzen Threadripper Pro 3995WX.
Today, however, the latest Threadripper Pro 5000-series chips all come with Ryzen Pro features as standard.
The entry-level model is the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5945WX, which has 12 physical cores and a top Boost speed of 4.5GHz.
The top-of-the-range chip is the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX, with a massive 64 physical cores, capable of servicing 128 execution threads at once, while also fully supporting AMD’s advanced security and administration capabilities.
What’s the difference between a Ryzen 5 Pro and a Ryzen 7 Pro CPU?
AMD’s Ryzen Pro processors are enhanced versions of regular Ryzen chips. While they offer extra security and manageability features, their computing capabilities are the same as those of the corresponding non-Pro models. For example, the Ryzen 5 Pro 5645 has the same core specification as the Ryzen 5 5600, with six cores and a maximum Boost speed of 4.6GHz.
This means the difference between a Ryzen 5 Pro processor and a Ryzen 7 Pro processor is the same as the difference between non-Pro models.
Ryzen 5 Pro CPUs are designed for everyday desktop tasks, while Ryzen 7 Pro and Ryzen 9 Pro models deliver more power for intensive computations – but all of them offer AMD’s signature Ryzen Pro security and management technologies.
What does Ryzen Pro mean for security?
AMD takes a layered approach to security, working with partners such as HP, Lenovo and Microsoft
Ryzen Pro chips have all the same security and stability features as regular Ryzen CPUs, including support for UEFI Secure Boot and ECC memory. However, they also include a co-processor dedicated to security: the AMD Secure Processor (ASP).
AMD describes this as the “root of trust anchored in hardware”, as it validates code before it can be executed. So unauthorised software — such as malware — simply won’t run.
AMD additionally uses a technology called Shadow Stack, as shown in the image above. This detects hacking attempts by checking stored instructions and data against a “shadow” copy stored in hardware.
Then there’s AMD Memory Guard. With so much sensitive data stored in RAM, this is one way for hackers to bypass other security measures and even access encryption keys. Memory Guard encrypts login credentials, encryption keys and other text-based files stored in RAM.
A feature called Secure Encrypted Virtualisation encrypts virtual machines in a similar way, so their working data can’t be accessed by the host OS or hypervisor software. This provides an extra layer of privacy protection for virtual servers, and protects them if the host is infected by malware or compromised by a hacker.
Which one should you buy?
If you are a casual user who is shopping for a personal computer to handle your basic day-to-day workloads, then you don’t need to worry about either. We say that because both Intel vPro and AMD Ryzen Pro branded PCs aren’t intended for the average user. These computing platforms are best suited for business purposes. And in most cases, the laptops based on these platforms will be deployed to you through a business or an enterprise. This means that there’s a very good chance that you may not even get an option to choose between the two. But in case you do get to pick between an Intel vPro or an AMD Ryzen PRO-based machine, then we’d say the decision should come down to the processor you want to use. It’s the overall performance of the processor that matters the most at the end of the day.
Intel has the new 13th Gen Raptor Lake vPro processors for business whereas AMD has its new Ryzen 6000 processors with PRO technologies for businesses. While Intel’s 12th Gen processors have shown a significant performance improvement that’s continued with 13th Gen chips, AMD’s 6000 series hardware (as well as the Ryzen 7000 PRO chips we’re expecting to see this year) are also very promising.
It’s safe to say that both platforms have some capable machines that can handle even the most demanding workloads with great power efficiency. If you are hung up on which platform to pick, then we suggest you check out the extra features included with the machine. Modern Intel vPro laptops, for instance, have support for Thunderbolt 4 while most AMD laptops do not use Thunderbolt.