CyberPowerPC Raven X6-100 Gaming Laptop: IPS screen and 860M for $1200?

[Scionyde]

Just noticed this article on Tom's Hardware. I don't know why their title is talking about "sipping" power - as far as I can tell, it's using Nvidia Optimus and BatteryBoost like almost every other recent gaming laptop, so it's battery life is going to be just as mediocre as everybody else's.

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/gaming-cyberpower-haswell-geforce-raven,27515.html

 

CyberPower laptops seem to include Gigabyte, MSI, and Clevo rebrands. And at first, I thought it was a Alienware rebrand, but Alienware hasn't made a 15" laptop in years, and the chassis looks different in a few areas. Besides, Alienware isn't likely to sell a laptop with these specs for that cheap. I don't recognize it, so perhaps it's their own design? (If somebody else recognizes the chassis, let me know)

 

Hardware-wise, it includes a i7-4710HQ and a GTX860M 4GB, with one 2.5" drive bay(1TB HDD default) and space for one mSATA SSD(no SSD default). But what I'm most glad to see is that it includes a 1080p IPS screen. For the most part, it seems like you can only find IPS screens on ultrathin laptops, and those tend to be available at higher priceranges. From the images, it looks like it has 2x USB 3.0 ports and 1x USB 2.0. The ethernet port is on the back, with HDMI and VGA. Also, I think there's an SD card reader, but I'm not sure.

 

 

What I like about the laptop: Very decent pricetag considering the specs and IPS screen. At this price point, people tend to suggest the Lenovo Y50, but aside from the 4K model, the Y50 has a TN panel, and limited storage upgradeability with just the one drive bay. I also like that the dual vents on the back suggest a separate fan for the CPU and GPU for better cooling (although without pictures of the internals and thermal benchmarks, I can't be sure). And although most people might think this looks too 'gamerish', I think this laptop actually looks pretty stylish.

 

What I dislike: The CPU is HQ, so that means it's soldered to the motherboard, so no upgrading. Also, I think the GPU is Kepler and not the slightly more powerful Maxwell 860M, but I'm guessing this solely on the 4GB VRAM. While I like that it's an IPS screen, the bezels are kinda huge and take up a lot of space. Details are a little sparse right now, so I don't know the physical dimensions other than it's a 15" laptop. However, it looks normal-sized instead of being ultrathin. That might be a dealbreaker for some people, but in my mind that makes for better cooling. Finally, I'm not sure on what the build material is. The laptop's lid looks like glossy plastic which would be kinda cheap. Meanwhile, the palm rests look like it has a rubberized finish with maybe silver brushed aluminum? Again, without more details, that's just guesswork.

 

I already bought my Sager with a 250GB SSD and 870M for ~$1500 so I'm not exactly kicking myself over missing out on this laptop. Still, I'm curious to see what kind of reviews come out. 

 

 

[ShadowCaptain]

not sure of the aesthetics but it seems a great deal

 

If its a clevo or something they are generally really good laptops I have had a few in the past

[Scionyde]

not sure of the aesthetics but it seems a great deal

 

If its a clevo or something they are generally really good laptops I have had a few in the past

 

If it is a Clevo, it's a model I haven't seen before. Most Clevo laptops I've seen are very 'business-like' in appearance. I think I've seen one 'gamer-stylized' laptop from them, but it includes a design on the touchpad that strongly resembles a tramp stamp in my mind.  :lol:

[EChondo]

If its a clevo or something they are generally really good laptops I have had a few in the past

It sure is a Clevo. Looks like the outer shell has been modified a bit though.

 

Lenovo and OriginPC use Clevo as well.

[ShadowCaptain]

If it is a Clevo, it's a model I haven't seen before. Most Clevo laptops I've seen are very 'business-like' in appearance. I think I've seen one 'gamer-stylized' laptop from them, but it includes a design on the touchpad that strongly resembles a tramp stamp in my mind.  :lol:

 

Yeah I thought that too, I assume its somebody along those lines though

 

Still fucking ugly

[Scionyde]

It sure is a Clevo. Looks like the outer shell has been modified a bit though.

 

Lenovo and OriginPC use Clevo as well.

 

Maybe, it's certainly priced well like a Clevo.  

 

Still, I don't think I've ever seen a Clevo with a soldered CPU instead of socketed one. I also don't think I've seen one with a default IPS screen (unless a laptop reseller offers it as an upgrade), but if this means Clevo is starting to switch to IPS default, they'll get no complaints from me!

[rambi36]

MSi has a pretty thin gaming notebook for about the same price http://www.xoticpc.com/msi-ge60-apache-pro003-p-6958.html

[PopReference]

Yeah I thought that too, I assume its somebody along those lines though

 

Still fucking ugly

Dude it's a Dell.

 

Seriously though the shape is exactly like Alienware, no idea how they managed that however.

[ShadowCaptain]

Dude it's a Dell.

 

Seriously though the shape is exactly like Alienware, no idea how they managed that however.

 

It is nothing like the alienware laptops

[Scionyde]

It is nothing like the alienware laptops

 

Well, with the position of the hinge, the thin LED strip around the touch pad, and the 'faux front vent' design, it looks a little close to some of their models from a few years ago. I have an Alienware m14x from 2012, and it actually looks pretty similar. But with the Raven, I don't think those front vents light up. I'm not sure if they're purely decorative, or if they are actually air intakes.

[PopReference]

It is nothing like the alienware laptops

 

Well, with the position of the hinge, the thin LED strip around the touch pad, and the 'faux front vent' design, it looks a little close to some of their models from a few years ago. I have an Alienware m14x from 2012, it it actually looks pretty similar. But with the Raven, I don't think those front vents light up. I'm not sure if they're purely decorative, or if they are actually air intakes.

What he said.

 

Anyway Clevo models tend to have many companies rebrand their models so...

[dlpatague]

It is a Compal NL8: LINK

[Victorious Secret]

Why does every single gaming laptop NEED to look like such a gaudy pile of plastic crap? 

Some people actually like clean designs, manufacturers of the world. Maybe follow Razers lead. SIMPLE IS PRETTY FUCKING GOOD when you do it right.