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System76 Gazelle

gaze15, gaze16, gaze17, gaze18

Processor:

Graphics Card:

Cosmetic Condition:

Functionality:

Charger Included?

The System76 Gazelle is a Linux-native gaming and workstation laptop built by System76 in Denver, Colorado, sold in four chassis sizes — gaze15, gaze16, gaze17 and gaze18 — across model years 2020 through 2023. It was built for developers, engineers and Linux gamers who wanted real NVIDIA graphics without fighting a Windows OEM image, and for anyone who valued a laptop with socketed, user-replaceable parts instead of a sealed board. Because System76 publishes open firmware and keeps the internals serviceable, a used Gazelle still runs current Pop!_OS or Ubuntu releases years after purchase, which keeps demand steady in the resale market. Pick your chassis size, processor, graphics card and condition in the picker above for an instant cash offer. If you want to see what happens after you accept it, see how the process works, or head to the sell your laptop page to compare it against other models.

Confirm you have the Gazelle

The fastest way to confirm your exact configuration is to check the sticker on the underside of the chassis, which lists the model name (gaze15, gaze16, gaze17 or gaze18) and serial number. If the laptop still boots into Pop!_OS or Ubuntu, open a terminal and run sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name, or check System Settings → About. If it has been reformatted with Windows, press Windows key + R, type dxdiag, and read the System tab for the product name.

gaze15

  • 15-inch chassis, the most compact and portable variant in the line
  • Matte, non-glare 1080p panel
  • Sold across all four model years listed here

gaze16

  • 16-inch chassis, a middle ground between portability and cooling headroom
  • Same open-bottom serviceable design as the rest of the line
  • Commonly paired with mid-tier NVIDIA graphics

gaze17

  • 17-inch chassis, more room for higher-wattage graphics and cooling
  • Larger keyboard deck and speaker enclosure than the 15/16 variants
  • Popular with buyers who wanted a desktop-replacement Linux machine

gaze18

  • 18-inch chassis, the largest and heaviest Gazelle variant
  • Built for maximum thermal headroom on the higher-end graphics options
  • Least portable of the four, best suited to a stationary desk setup

Prefer a visual check? Look for the System76 logo on the lid, the exposed bottom panel screws that give access to the RAM and storage without voiding warranty, and the matte black finish common across the whole line. If none of that matches, our model finder can help narrow it down.

Core hardware configurations

Processor

  • Intel Core i7, 10th Gen
  • Intel Core i7, 11th Gen
  • Intel Core i7, 12th Gen
  • Intel Core i9, 13th Gen

Graphics

  • NVIDIA GTX 1650, 1650 Ti, or 1660 Ti
  • NVIDIA RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti
  • NVIDIA RTX 3060

Memory & storage

  • RAM is socketed, not soldered, and user-upgradable through the bottom panel
  • Dual M.2 NVMe slots on most configurations
  • A unit with the RTX 3060 or the i9 13th Gen processor moves the resale value the most

Display & audio

Display

Every Gazelle ships with a matte, non-glare panel sized to its chassis (15, 16, 17 or 18 inches). The matte coating cuts glare in a way glossy gaming panels do not, which is part of why this line held appeal for people working long hours at a terminal.

Audio

Stereo speakers sit above the keyboard deck, with a combo headphone/microphone jack on the side. It is functional audio for calls and casual media, not a substitute for a headset during gaming sessions.

Software

Ships with either Pop!_OS or Ubuntu depending on year and buyer selection at checkout. Many units in the resale market have since been reformatted, which is fine — buyers care about the hardware underneath.

Ports & connectivity

The Gazelle keeps a full-size port selection rather than relying on dongles, which is part of its appeal to developers who plug in external displays and peripherals regularly.

Wired
  • USB-A ports
  • USB-C
  • HDMI video output
  • Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
  • Headphone/microphone combo jack
Wireless
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth

Linux-native Pop!_OS or Ubuntu User-upgradable RAM Dual M.2 storage NVIDIA discrete graphics Open firmware US-assembled

Battery, build & more

Battery

A gaming-class discrete GPU pulls the battery down faster than a thin-and-light ultrabook. Expect shorter runtime under load and longer runtime for light document or browser work.

Build

Matte black plastic chassis with a bottom panel designed to come off without special tools, so RAM and storage swaps do not require a technician.

Software

Sold new with Pop!_OS or Ubuntu preinstalled. It runs Windows as well if a buyer prefers, though System76's own drivers and firmware are tuned for Linux.

Market positioning

The Gazelle sits in the mainstream tier for System76's lineup — above the ultra-portable Linux laptops, below the workstation-class Serval and Adder lines. Configurations with the newer processor generation and the higher graphics tier hold value better over time.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I find the model number or exact configuration?
Check the sticker on the underside of the laptop — it lists the model name (gaze15, gaze16, gaze17 or gaze18) and the serial number. If the laptop still boots into Linux, run sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name in a terminal, or open System Settings → About. If it has been reformatted to Windows, press Windows key + R, type dxdiag, and read the System tab. The processor and graphics card can be confirmed the same way, or by opening the bottom panel and reading the labels directly off the components.
02 How do I tell it apart from the System76 Oryx Pro?
The Oryx Pro is System76's thinner, lighter gaming line, while the Gazelle is the thicker, more traditional gaming chassis with the removable bottom panel and socketed RAM. If the laptop feels notably heavy for its screen size and the bottom panel comes off easily, it is a Gazelle. The model sticker on the underside settles it either way, and it will read one of gaze15, gaze16, gaze17 or gaze18 rather than an oryp designation.
03 Can I sell it with damage, a weak battery, or it won't turn on?
Yes. A cracked screen, a battery that no longer holds charge, or a unit that won't power on can still be sold — the condition picker above adjusts the offer for exactly this. Before shipping, remove any disk encryption passphrase or BIOS/firmware password you've set, and sign out of any linked Microsoft account if the unit is dual-booted with Windows. A laptop that is still locked to an account cannot be tested or resold, so this step matters even on a device with physical damage.
04 What raises the trade-in value the most?
Graphics card tier matters most — an RTX 3060 configuration is worth noticeably more than a GTX 1650 unit, all else equal. After that, the newer processor generations (12th and 13th Gen) outvalue the older ones, a working battery and keyboard keep the offer from being discounted, and including the original charger avoids a deduction. Cosmetic wear on the lid or deck matters less than whether the machine boots cleanly and holds charge.
05 How do I erase it and remove my accounts, and how do I get paid?
Back up anything you want to keep first. If it's running Pop!_OS, reboot and select the recovery partition from the boot menu, then choose the clean install option to wipe the drive and reinstall the OS. On Ubuntu, boot from a USB installer and reinstall over the existing drive, or use the built-in reset option if your release includes one. If the laptop is dual-booted or was reformatted to Windows, go to Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC, and remove the device from your Microsoft account first. Clear any BIOS or firmware password you've set. Once it's wiped, ship it to us — shipping is free and insured — and we pay by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or check once testing confirms the condition. Full steps are in our data erasure protocols.