2019-11-01 Tech Advisor

(Jeff_L) #1
10 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019

REVIEW

Hardware
Much like with the display, regardless of the model
you choose, you’re going to get a 9th-gen six-core
i7-9750H processor with a 2.6GHz base speed, boosted
to 4.5GHz with Max Turbo. It’s the same story with
RAM and storage, with all variants offering 16GB
Dual-Channel DDR4 2,667MHz RAM and a 512GB
PCIe NVMe SSD alongside an additional M.2 slot to
further upgrade the storage post-purchase.
The only real difference is in terms of graphics; all
feature Nvidia RTX cards, but only the mid and top tier
laptops feature Max-Q cards. The base model comes
with the RTX 2060, while the mid-tier option has the
RTX 2070 Max-Q and the top-tier offers the RTX 2080
Max-Q. If that’s not enough, you could always pick up
Razer’s Core X eGPU to house a desktop card.
For reference, we’ve been testing the base model
with a 9th-gen core i7, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and an
Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU, and performance is what we’d
expect from an entry-level RTX, although there are
cheaper, more powerful options on the market if you
can do without the Blade Pro 17’s sleek design.
As you can see in our benchmark results opposite
and overleaf, the Razer came in below the Aorus 15 X
in every test despite costing £200 more. Admittedly,
the Aorus has a more powerful RTX 2070 GPU, so the
higher results aren’t surprising, but it’s worth noting
the premium that you’re paying for Razer’s design
aesthetic and the larger, faster 144Hz display.
We’ve also included the Razer Blade 15 from 2018
for comparison as well as a top regular laptop in the
Huawei MateBook X Pro. Note that the Alienware

10 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019

REVIEW


Hardware
Much like with the display, regardless of the model
youchoose,you’regoingtogeta 9th-gensix-core
i7-9750H processor with a 2.6GHz base speed, boosted
to 4.5GHz with Max Turbo. It’s the same story with
RAM and storage, with all variants offering 16GB
Dual-ChannelDDR42,667MHzRAManda 512GB
PCIeNVMe SSD alongside an additional M.2 slot to
further upgrade the storage post-purchase.
The only real difference is in terms of graphics; all
feature Nvidia RTX cards, but only the mid and top tier
laptops feature Max-Q cards. The base model comes
with the RTX 2060, while the mid-tier option has the
RTX 2070 Max-Q and the top-tier offers the RTX 2080
Max-Q. If that’s not enough, you could always pick up
Razer’s Core X eGPU to house a desktop card.
For reference, we’ve been testing the base model
with a 9th-gen core i7, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and an
Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU, and performance is what we’d
expect from an entry-level RTX, although there are
cheaper, more powerful options on the market if you
can do without the Blade Pro 17’s sleek design.
As you can see in our benchmark results opposite
and overleaf, the Razer came in below the Aorus 15 X
in every test despite costing £200 more. Admittedly,
the Aorus has a more powerful RTX 2070 GPU, so the
higherresultsaren’tsurprising,butit’sworthnoting
thepremium that you’re paying for Razer’s design
aesthetic and the larger, faster 144Hz display.
We’ve also included the Razer Blade 15 from 2018
for comparison as well as a top regular laptop in the
Huawei MateBook X Pro. Note that the Alienware
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