Tech_Advisor_-_November_2019

14 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019

REVIEW

Area-51m offers fantastic performance, but costs a

lot more – we tested a £3,799 model.

Comparison aside, the Blade Pro 17 scored 19,

in Geekbench 4’s multi-core CPU test. GPU-wise,

the laptop managed an average of 122fps in Total

Warhammer at medium, and 73fps when set to ultra.

That drops down slightly in the more graphically-

demanding Ghost Recon: Wildlands, scoring 84.5fps

at medium quality and only 50fps at ultra quality.

While the benchmark results suggest that it’s

capable of running games at a decent 60fps+ frame

rate with Ultra-level graphics, it’s more suited to

high or even medium-quality graphics – especially if

you want to hit high frame rates and take advantage

of that 144Hz display.

Connectivity and audio

The Blade Pro 17 has an Intel AX200 chipset for Wi-Fi,

offering Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) alongside

Bluetooth 5.0 and an RJ45 Ethernet port with

theoretical speeds of up to 2.5Gb/s, ideal for gaming,

streaming and just about anything else you need.

You’ll notice a 1Mp 720p HD webcam and array

microphone sat above the display, which are good

enough for video calling, but not much else. The

key feature here is the Windows Hello-supported IR

webcam that sits beside it, enabling you to unlock

your laptop with your face instead of a password.

Audio-wise, the Razer Blade Pro has a stereo

speaker setup housed to the left and right of the

keyboard, helping direct the audio towards your

ears. Of course, they are no replacement for a decent

14 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019

REVIEW

Area-51moffersfantasticperformance,butcostsa

lotmore–we tested a £3,799 model.

Comparison aside, the Blade Pro 17 scored 19,

in Geekbench 4’s multi-core CPU test. GPU-wise,

the laptop managed an average of 122fps in Total

Warhammer at medium, and 73fps when set to ultra.

That drops down slightly in the more graphically-

demandingGhostRecon:Wildlands,scoring84.5fps

atmedium quality and only 50fps at ultra quality.

While the benchmark results suggest that it’s

capable of running games at a decent 60fps+ frame

ratewithUltra-levelgraphics,it’smoresuitedto

highoreven medium-quality graphics – especially if

youwanttohithighframeratesandtakeadvantage

ofthat144Hz display.

Connectivityand audio

TheBladePro 17 hasanIntelAX200chipsetforWi-Fi,

offering Wi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax) alongside

Bluetooth 5.0 and an RJ45 Ethernet port with

theoretical speeds of up to 2.5Gb/s, ideal for gaming,

streaming and just about anything else you need.

You’ll notice a 1Mp 720p HD webcam and array

microphone sat above the display, which are good

enough for video calling, but not much else. The

key feature here is the Windows Hello-supported IR

webcamthatsitsbesideit,enablingyoutounlock

yourlaptop with your face instead of a password.

Audio-wise, the Razer Blade Pro has a stereo

speaker setup housed to the left and right of the

keyboard, helping direct the audio towards your

ears. Of course, they are no replacement for a decent