Eurocom Raptor X17 laptop review: The MSI and Asus ROG alternative

After having not too long ago looked at the 15.6-inch Raptor X15, we are now in a position to take on its larger brother the 17.3-inch Raptor X17. Its chassis is a brand new design (X370) that we have got no longer but noticed from different manufacturers on the time of evaluation. However, we totally be expecting different resellers like Schenker to in the end be offering this identical chassis underneath other branding for markets in a foreign country.

Our configuration in evaluation is a high-end SKU with the thirteenth gen Raptor Lake Core i9-13900HX CPU, 175 W GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 3x 1 TB SSDs, and 1440p 240 Hz show for about $6600 USD. In fact, customers can configure with much less RAM and garage and an i7-13700HX or an RTX 4080 for decrease beginning costs.

Competition to the Raptor X17 come with different skinny to midsize 17-inch gaming laptops just like the Razer Blade 17, Asus ROG Strix Scar 17, Gigabyte Aorus 17X, or the MSI GS77.

Extra Eurocom opinions:

The Raptor X17 is almost definitely the sleekest pc we’ve got noticed from Eurocom. The super-smooth and most commonly steel skeleton contrasts closely with the older and thicker ABS designs from the similar corporate. Chassis tension is superb as neatly with minimum flexing alongside the bottom and outer lid for cast first impressions.

Most likely the weakest facet of the chassis is the hinge because the show teeters slightly extra aggressively when adjusting angles in comparison to the stiffer and bigger hinges of an Asus ROG pc. The keyboard middle would additionally flex relatively when making use of force with a finger which negatively affects key comments while typing. Optimistically any long run redesigns can deal with those considerations.

At 3.5 kg, the Raptor X17 is likely one of the heavier gaming laptops in its measurement elegance edging out even the three.4 kg Alienware m17 R5. Maximum particularly, the machine is relatively smaller than the ROG Strix Scar 17 G733 and but it’s 20 p.c heavier for an overly dense really feel. For one thing considerably lighter and smaller, customers might wish to imagine the Razer Blade 17 as a substitute.

Port choices are extra numerous than on maximum different 17-inch gaming laptops. As an example, it is unusual to discover a style that integrates each mini DisplayPort and RJ-45. All USB ports are alongside the perimeters of the chassis whilst the rear properties virtually the whole lot else.

The two MP webcam is standard of maximum different laptops without reference to worth. No less than IR is integrated for Hi beef up and there may be an digital shutter for privateness. Optimistically subsequent era fashions will combine 5 MP webcams similar to on the most recent Razer Blade 18.

The ground panel is secured by means of 16 Philips screws for reasonably simple removing. As soon as within, customers have get admission to to the detachable WLAN module, 2x SODIMM slots, and 3x PCIe4 x4 M.2 2280 slots. The machine does no longer beef up PCIe5 speeds in contrast to at the fresh MSI GE and GT refresh.

The retail field features a instrument drivers CD, Home windows 11 drivers USB stick, and a velvet wipe along with the standard bureaucracy and AC adapter. The usual one-year restricted guaranty applies with choices to increase as much as 3 years.

The typing revel in is constant throughout maximum Eurocom fashions for the reason that underlying ODM stays the similar. The Raptor X17 has the similar membrane-based keyboard as at the Raptor X15 in spite of the display screen measurement variations which is a disgrace since the numpad keys proceed to be narrower and extra cramped than the principle QWERTY keys.

Key comments is softer than the keys at the MSI GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 17. Clatter is reasonably quiet because of this which some typists may want, however hardcore avid gamers is also dissatisfied by means of the loss of “clickiness”.

The clickpad is huge at 15 x 9 cm in comparison to the smaller 13 x 8.2 cm clickpad at the MSI GE78 HX. Gliding is tender at medium to raised speeds whilst there’s a little bit of sticking at slower speeds to assist in accuracy. 

Comments when clicking at the clickpad is at the cushy facet with shallow go back and forth no longer in contrast to at the Razer Blade 17. Drag and drop movements are subsequently slightly bulky to accomplish in spite of the huge floor house. A devoted USB mouse remains to be learn how to cross every time imaginable.

Two show choices are to be had: QHD at 240 Hz or 4K UHD at 144 Hz each and every with 100% DCI-P3 colours and G-Sync beef up. Our explicit check unit ships with the previous.

Our machine employs an overly equivalent IPS panel from BOE as the only discovered at the ROG Strix Scar 17 (NE173QHM-NZ1 vs. NE173QHM-NZ2). We will be able to realize no primary variations between the 2 panels all the way down to their speedy refresh charges, speedy reaction occasions, large colour coverages, brightness objectives, and respectable distinction ratios. It is a high-end panel have compatibility for each gaming and content material modifying functions.

One grievance we now have pertains to the noticeable backlight bleeding on our check unit. Regardless that some bleeding is to be anticipated from maximum IPS panels, it is extra critical right here than on different laptops we’ve got examined which can be underneath part the cost.

The show does no longer come pre-calibrated out of the field. As an alternative, Eurocom fees additional for manufacturing facility calibration which we discover to be absurd given the already excessive worth. Different makers like MSI, Asus, Dell, and others be offering pre-calibration as same old for lots of in their respective fashions.

Out of doors visibility is standard of maximum gaming laptops since 300 nits is reasonable for the class. The panels on some competing fashions can succeed in as much as 500 nits similar to with the Alienware m17 R5 or Razer Blade 17 for an more straightforward time viewing open air, however we do not see this as an enormous merit over the Eurocom making an allowance for the dimensions and weight of 17-inch gaming laptops.

We set our unit to Efficiency mode by way of each Keep an eye on Heart and Home windows previous to operating the benchmarks beneath. Annoyingly, the Keep an eye on Heart energy settings aren’t tied to the Home windows energy settings which means there might be some war if each settings aren’t equivalent. As an example, it’s imaginable to set Home windows to Energy Saver mode and Keep an eye on Heart set to Efficiency mode concurrently. OEMs like Dell have already addressed this factor on their Alienware sequence.

We additionally set our unit to dGPU mode previous to benchmarking. The Raptor X17 helps hybrid graphics mode (Optimus), dGPU mode, and Dynamic (aka Complicated Optimus) mode. Regardless that we admire the choices, the settings are buried deep inside of a number of layers of submenus within the BIOS. When put next, competition like MSI and Asus have equivalent settings of their respective Keep an eye on Heart programs for more straightforward get admission to.

The Core i9-13900HX in our unit is appearing relatively slower relative to different laptops with the similar processor by means of about 5 p.c. Regardless, it’s nonetheless probably the most quickest H-series CPUs out there rivaling the competing Ryzen 9 7945HX. Upgrading from remaining yr’s Core i9-12900HX will spice up multi-thread efficiency by means of about 20 p.c.

Efficiency sustainability is superb particularly when in comparison to the Aorus 17X which ships with the similar Core i9-13900HX. CineBench R15 xT loop rankings can be steadier on our unit right through the strain check as proven by means of the comparability graph beneath.

Downgrading to the Core i7-13700HX configuration from our Core i9-13900HX is predicted to scale back multi-thread efficiency by means of about 20 to twenty-five p.c.

LatencyMon unearths DPC problems when opening a couple of browser tabs of our homepage. 4K video playback at 60 FPS is differently easiest with low CPU usage and no dropped frames.

Our unit comes configured with 3 Samsung 980 Professional PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 to maximise efficiency. Actually, this is likely one of the few gaming laptops to even beef up this many drives in RAID configuration. Most switch charges most sensible out at about 19000 MB/s, however be expecting efficiency to hover between 15000 to 18000 MB/s when underneath pressure which remains to be spectacular. We will be able to realize no primary throttling problems on this regard.

Graphics efficiency is inside of a couple of share issues of the typical pc in our database with the identical GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. Working on Leisure mode as a substitute of Efficiency mode would lower graphics efficiency by means of about 4 to five p.c. A “right kind” desktop GeForce RTX 4090 remains to be considerably quicker than our cellular RTX 4090 by means of about 60 to 80 p.c because of the heavy thermal barriers of cellular GPUs.

Word that downgrading to the cellular GeForce RTX 4080 configuration would most effective lower graphics efficiency by means of about 5 to ten p.c. Thus, the cellular RTX 4080 is also price making an allowance for since efficiency is so equivalent between the 2 GPUs.

Whilst the cellular RTX 4090 is nowhere close to as speedy as a desktop RTX 4090, it is nonetheless potent for even probably the most hard of titles like F1 22, Returnal, or Cyberpunk 2077. Extra in particular, the cellular RTX 4090 seems to be perfect for concentrated on 1440p at 120 FPS or 4K at 60 FPS at excessive to extremely settings. It would be best to run in dGPU mode or Complicated Optimus mode every time imaginable particularly since G-Sync isn’t to be had on hybrid graphics mode.

The fanatics are all the time lively regardless of the ability environment or onscreen load. Even if set to Quiet mode, for instance, there would nonetheless be a minimal fan noise of 33 dB(A) towards a silent background of 23 dB(A). This stage is louder than on maximum different gaming laptops and it’s audible underneath place of job environments. If set to Efficiency mode or Leisure mode, the fanatics would pulse frequently although merely surfing or video streaming. You’ll be able to undoubtedly wish to be on a decrease energy environment every time imaginable when the additional horsepower is not wanted.

Gaming on Efficiency mode would induce a fan noise of just about 61 dB(A) to be considerably louder than competing gaming laptops just like the Alienware m17 R5 or MSI GE78HX. The 50+ dB(A) vary is loud however tolerable with a just right pair of headphones, however 60+ dB(A) makes it extraordinarily tricky to play noise-sensitive video games like Fortnite or Overwatch the place footsteps and different audio queues are important to gameplay.

Converting the ability environment from Efficiency mode to Leisure mode would drop fan noise simply relatively from 60.7 dB(A) to 59.7 dB(A). The adaptation is so small you can as neatly run on Efficiency mode when gaming and skip Leisure mode altogether.

Floor temperatures are warmest towards the keyboard middle as each the CPU and GPU are at once beneath. Sizzling spots can succeed in over 56 C on this area in comparison to 46 C and 35 C at the Aorus 17X and MSI Raider GE78 HX, respectively. Fortunately, the palm rests, WASD keys, and numpad spaces aren’t just about as heat to stay fingers comfy when gaming.

When operating Prime95 to fret the CPU, clock charges and board energy draw would spice up to 4 GHz and 155 W, respectively, for only a second sooner than temporarily falling to the three.3 GHz and 110 W vary. Core temperature would stay particularly warm at 97 C which is the most probably explanation why for the very short-lived most Turbo Spice up. Repeating this check at the MSI GE78HX or Eluktronics Mech-17 GP2 would lead to equivalent core temperatures of over 90 C to signify that almost all thirteenth gen H-series CPUs are most often hotter than reasonable when underneath load.

When operating Witcher 3 on Efficiency mode to constitute standard gaming lots, the GPU would stabilize at 2235 MHz core clock, 81 C, and 170 W board energy draw towards a TGP goal of 175 W. Tuning the machine all the way down to Balanced mode (or Leisure mode) would decrease the GPU to 2055 MHz clock, 76 C, and simply 146 W. Thus, you can wish to permit Efficiency mode and bear its louder fan noise if you want to get probably the most out of the GPU.

Working on battery energy limits efficiency. A Fireplace Strike check on batteries would go back Physics and Graphics rankings of 12863 and 10075 issues, respectively, as opposed to 36634 and 44766 issues when on mains.

The built-in audio system are disappointing. Now not most effective is bass replica deficient, however the most quantity of 71 dB(A) is noticeably quieter than maximum different gaming laptops the place 80 dB(A) or louder is not unusual. This undoubtedly looks like a lower nook for this new chassis design.

Idling on desktop consumes between 13 W and 43 W relying at the energy profile, GPU environment, and show brightness. Actually, 43 W is set the similar as a Core U-powered Ultrabook just like the Samsung Galaxy Book3 15 on most load. Merely switching from iGPU mode to dGPU mode would build up energy draw by means of about 9 W at the Eurocom. Energy intake is subsequently very touchy to the lively energy profile.

Reasonable energy intake when gaming may be very excessive at 304 W in comparison to 278 W each and every at the competing Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 or Aorus 17X with the similar GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. The triple SSDs, speedy 240 Hz refresh charge, excessive RAM capability, and relatively upper GPU energy draw all give a contribution to the upper intake at the Eurocom.

We are in a position to report a most draw of 320 W from the huge (~18.5 x 8.5 x 3.5 cm) 330 W AC adapter when each the CPU and GPU are at one hundred pc usage. This charge would fall through the years as proven by means of the graph beneath because of thermal barriers.

Runtimes are beautiful just right making an allowance for how tough the internals are. We are in a position to report just below 5 hours of real-world WLAN surfing when at the Balanced energy profile with the iGPU lively. Even so, competing fashions just like the Aorus 17X or MSI GE78HX are each and every in a position to remaining over an hour longer than our Eurocom.

Charging from empty to complete capability with the incorporated 330 W AC adapter is reasonably sluggish at 2 to two.5 hours. Charging by way of third-party USB-C AC adapters is supported, however be aware that it most effective works on simply probably the most two USB-C ports (the port closest to the rear).

The most productive facet of the Raptor X17 is its very speedy efficiency relative to the skinny profile. It is going to unabashedly run particularly warm and really loud with the intention to squeeze as a lot efficiency out of the CPU and GPU as imaginable. Efficiency hunters particularly are prone to admire this means in addition to the beef up for as much as 3 PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSDs.

Sadly, there are a handful of drawbacks to remember. At over 60 dB(A) when gaming, the machine is noticeably louder than maximum different gaming laptops out there. When competing fashions just like the MSI GE78HX or Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 can be offering equivalent processor choices whilst operating 10 dB(A) quieter when gaming, it turns into a more difficult promote to want the Raptor X17 over many choices out there. The a lot heavier weight does it no favors, both.

The {hardware} and function are cast, however different facets just like the susceptible audio system, very loud fanatics, and unrefined Keep an eye on Heart tool don’t correctly replicate the excessive asking worth.

There are a couple of extra main points we expect can have been higher as neatly. The complicated energy profiles, pulsing fan conduct, hid GPU modes, reasonable asymmetric backlight bleeding, and non-compulsory calibrated show are all unlucky to look on a high-end pc beginning at neatly over $3000 USD. Eurocom says it’s lately within the technique of redesigning the BIOS menu and Keep an eye on Heart tool which will have to with a bit of luck deal with a few of our court cases.

Eurocom is now transport the Raptor X17 in North The united states beginning at $3550 USD for the bottom configuration as much as over $6000 as configured with our check unit.