Shootouts

The Great Gaming Notebook Shootout of 2013

By Kenny Yeo - 19 Dec 2013

Conclusion

Best of the Best

We were pretty surprised with the current crop of high-end gaming notebooks. Not only have they proven themselves to be powerful machines, more than capable of running today’s games at decent to high settings; they have also shrank considerably in both size and weight (well, most of them anyway).

Since these notebooks have differing specifications and varied feature sets, it was a little tricky to make meaningful comparisons between them. However, after much deliberation, we have decided that performance should be the foremost consideration. These are after all high-end gaming notebooks that users buy to play the latest games, and they should expect no compromises in terms of performance. To further elaborate, performance would take into account other aspects such as audio performance, the quality of the display and also general usage experience.

Next on the list is features, and this takes into consideration things such as Killer network connectivity, number of USB 3.0 ports, any cool features such as customizable lighting or macro keys. These two - performance and features - are our key comparisons. Rounding up our comparisons are design, mobility and finally, value.

Additional Findings - Heat vs. Performance

As we tested these notebooks, we also noticed that there is a correlation between performance and temperature.

One of the new technologies to be introduced by NVIDIA is in recent times is GPU Boost, which dynamically adjusts clock speeds depending on certain parameters. The latest iteration of this technology - GPU Boost 2.0 - takes into account GPU temperatures as well as available power. This means the cooler the notebook runs, the more likely there is headroom for the GPU to overclock, resulting in better performance.

This is most evident when you compare the performance between the Aftershock Titan and Dell Alienware 18. On both Crysis and Tomb Raider, the Dell Alienware 18’s scores were dismally poor when compared to the Aftershock Titan.

We also noticed the same phenomenon on Tomb Raider when comparing results between the ASUS G750JX and Toshiba Qosmio X70. Since both have the same GeForce GTX 770M GPU, we expected comparable scores, but the ASUS performed noticeably better on the "Normal" game quality setting.

Cooling efficiency should therefore be an important consideration for both notebook manufacturers and consumers.

 

Analysis and Results

Before we provide our individual analysis on each of the notebooks, here is a quick look at the final scores. Take note that it has been a while since we reviewed the Razer Blade Pro and the scores we've given it previously are valid a standalone review. However, when considering other contenders in this gaming notebook shootout, we've decided to adjust some of its ratings to better fit the entire comparison.

Score Breakdown
  Aftershock Titan ASUS G750JX Dell Alienware 18 MSI GT70 Dragon Edition 2 Razer Blade Pro Toshiba Qosmio X70
Design

7.0

8.0 7.5 8.0 9.0
(adjusted up from 8.5)
8.5
Features 9.0 8.0 8.5 8.5 8.0 7.5
Performance 9.0 7.0 8.0 8.0 7.5
(adjusted from 8.5)
8.0
Value 8.5 8.5 6.0 8.0 6.5 8.5
Mobility 7.0 7.5 3.0 7.0 9.0
(adjusted up from 8)
8.0
Price $4159 $2198 $5099 $3299 $3599 $2999
Overall 8.5 7.5 7.5 8.0 7.5
(adjusted down from 8.0)
8.0


 

Aftershock Titan (Winner)

For its blazing fast performance and rich list of features, the Aftershock Titan was crowned the winner.

The Aftershock Titan offers performance by the bucketload and was easily the fastest and best-performing notebook in this category. Its dual GeForce GTX 780M GPUs allowed it to coast through our gaming benchmarks, and its formidable Core i7-4700MQ processor and speedy Samsung SSD 840 Evo drive contributed to its strong general computing scores. Its performance was consistent too, unlike the Dell Alienware 18, and is good enough to consider a multi-monitor gaming setup. The Titan certainly lives up to it name where it counts.

It is also very well equipped, sporting four USB 3.0 ports and is one of the few notebooks to have a discrete audio chip, courtesy of the Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity. Furthermore, it has a Thunderbolt port, which is useful for both connecting to high-speed external storage devices and high resolution (above 1080p) displays. Finally it also features Killer network connectivity over Ethernet and wireless, which help ensure low latencies when playing multiplayer games. Furthermore, as a custom notebook specialist, Aftershock is able to tweak the configuration to you heart's delight.

From a performance and features standpoint, the Titan has it all covered. However, considering the price, we would have expected the Titan to have better build quality. Also, the discrete audio chip was letdown by its substandard built-in speakers. However if you're going to be using your own headset or speakers, then you get to take advantage of Creative's audio chip and to your preferences. The Titan’s design is also a bit drab, but fortunately, Aftershock provides customizable options where users can choose to wrap their notebooks in automotive wraps or even have them spray painted. This will surely add some visual flair to an otherwise uninspiring chassis design.
 

Toshiba Qosmio X70

Overall, the Toshiba Qosmio X70 was argued the most polished and refined gaming notebook. As an overall package, it seemed to have most of the bases covered. To begin, performance was decent, though not chart-topping considering it 'only' has a GeForce GTX 770M. Besides, it was the only other notebook (apart from the Aftershock Titan) to offer a flash storage drive, so experiential usage was good as the system felt speedy and responsive.

It might be lacking a tad on features - it does not offer Killer network connectivity nor any type of video output other than HDMI and VGA - but it makes up for that by being the only notebook to offer a Blu-ray drive rewritable drive as standard and its Harmon Kardon-branded speakers were an absolute peach. Movie and home entertainment buffs will surely be happy.

Finally, build quality was top notch and its had one of the more aesthetically and visually appealing designs. And with a price tag of just under S$3000, it was also one of the more affordable notebooks in this shootout. If you're on the look our for a great all-rounder, not necessarily the best pixel crusher and you've no intention to use the notebooks as a desktop replacement unit with a multi-monitor setup for gaming, then the Toshiba Qosmio easily gets our recommendation and thus bags our Best Value award.
 

MSI GT70 Dragon Edition 2

MSI has made impressive improvements in terms of its notebook build quality and its latest G-series notebooks reflect this. Although the dragon motifs on the notebook is questionable and not to everyone’s liking, we cannot deny that the latest flagship MSI gaming notebook is one well put together machine, despite the pretty extensive use of plastics.

That aside, The latest GT70 Dragon Edition 2 features a lot of bells and whistles that will please gamers. For example, it is equipped with NVIDIA’s flagship mobile GPU - the GeForce GTX 780M - and it also features Killer network connectivity over both Ethernet and wireless, a boon to online game players. It was also one of the few notebooks to feature a Mini-DisplayPort, which will come in handy when outputting video to displays with resolutions in excess of 1080p.

We were also impressed with the performance of its speakers and also liked that it had customizable keyboard backlights. Unfortunately, much like the ASUS, it was undone by its lack of flash storage, which contributed to its uncompetitive general computing benchmark scores and also made it feel unresponsive to use.
 

Razer Blade Pro

The Razer Blade Pro scored top marks for design and portability, since it is by far the thinnest and lightest notebook. Despite the large 17.3-inch display and overall footprint, it remains highly portable due to its slim dimensions and relative low weight - it was the only notebook to weigh under 3kg. It is also impressively well built. The all aluminum unibody design chassis feels remarkably solid and bulletproof.

Unfortunately, you cannot have your cake and eat it and to achieve such slim dimensions, the Razer Blade Pro has had to sacrifice on performance. Although it has a comparable quad-core processor and most of its competitors, it has to make do with a GeForce GTX 765M GPU, hence the lower frame rates in our benchmark tests. Also its missing some features found on its competitors such as an Ethernet port - which some online game players swear by. Still, it makes up for that by offering Killer wireless connectivity and the pretty nifty SwitchBlade UI interface.

However, in such good company the Blade Pro is hardly competitive, because slightly underwhelming performance aside, screen quality is average and it has an exorbitant price tag of a whopping S$3599, which we find hard to justify considering all that it offers.
 

Dell Alienware 18

The Dell Alienware 18 wades into battle with very impressive specifications and features, but we found it be wanting, especially on the performance front. Despite having the same dual GeForcE GTX 780M configuration as the Aftershock Titan, its performance on our gaming benchmarks - was dismal. As we mentioned earlier, it seemed that the Alienware’s poor cooling system was the cause behind its lackluster performance.

Poorer than expected performance aside, the Alienware 18 was also easily the largest and heaviest notebook. Sure, it was 'portable' in the sense that you can carry it around as compared to a traditional desktop, but if you ask us, this is one notebook we would not want to be carrying around for any extended periods of time.

Luckily, it does have a rich list of features. For instance, it was the only notebook in this article to offer an IPS panel display. As a result, it had the best looking display in this shootout. It was also the only notebook to support the latest Wireless-AC standards for faster connectivity. Apart from that, it also has a Mini-DisplayPort and Killer network connectivity over Ethernet and wireless, and finally, customizable lighting.

But with a asking price of $5,099, which makes it the most costly notebook by far, there are clearly more value for money and affordable alternatives around.
 

ASUS G750JX

The ASUS G750JX is a notebook of missed chances. Its unusual chassis design was not only unique-looking, it also proved itself to be particularly efficient at keeping the notebook cool. It was also well optimized in terms of power consumption for its specifications and as a result, it was the longest running gaming notebook in our comparison.

We also appreciate that it was the only other notebook in this shootout to possess a Thunderbolt port, which can be daisy-chained with compatible devices, or be used directly with displays or high-speed external storage devices. We also liked that it has a built-in headphone amplifier which can drive high impedance headphones of up to 600 ohms. This is an unusual but useful feature, especially for headphones enthusiasts.

Unfortunately, it was let down by its lackadaisical 5400rpm hard disk drive, which we find unforgivable for a notebook for this class. The lack of flash storage is bad enough, but one that spins at 5400rpm really takes the cake. It scored the lowest on the “Storage” scenario on PCMark 8, and in practical usage, the ASUS G750JX felt slow and unresponsive despite its powerful quad-core processor and 8GB of RAM.

If you're willing to overlook its slow hard disk drive, the ASUS G750JX can be had for just S$2198, which makes it the most affordable notebook in this shootout. The next most affordable notebook - the Toshiba Qosmio X70 - costs over S$800 more.

Take note that when we mean its storage drive is slow, it's in the context of a SSD-based system versus that of a HDD-based system and not that the hard drive is slower than expected; it's just an inherent issue of the storage type used that we find it unacceptable in this day and age for this class of notebook. ASUS does have beefier variants of the G750 series, but they are unfortunately not available locally for our consideration.

Final Ratings
The Aftershock Titan

 





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The Toshiba Qosmio X70





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The MSI GT70 Dragon Edition 2

 



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The Razer Blade Pro

 



Click here for detailed results break-down  

The ASUS G750JX

 



Click here for detailed results break-down  

Dell Alienware 18

 



Click here for detailed results break-down

 

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