Everywhere you go you glimpse, RTX 4080 gaming laptops are priced excessively high, but thankfully, GIGABYTE’s AORUS 17H bucks that craze by supplying a stable device for a ‘not so ridiculous’ selling price of $2,299.99 on Amazon. For some, even that inquiring rate is preposterous, but there have been times in which we noticed RTX 3080 gaming laptops for $2,000, and when you are obtaining the ideal of the very best, paying out a minimal extra will not glimpse lousy at all.
Generally, we do not advise 17-inch gaming laptops thanks to their sheer sizing, but the pricing and configuration of the AORUS 17H definitely caught us off guard. The screen is an IPS Lcd panel with a 1080p resolution that supports up to a 360Hz refresh rate. It appears that this certain design was geared toward esports fanatics.
The gaming notebook just oozes worth thanks to its outstanding hardware and pricing
However, you can also enjoy AAA titles at the greatest top quality options as the RTX 4080 not only supports DLSS 3. and Frame Generation, but its 12GB GDDR6 VRAM buffer will allow you to continue to keep the device for a significantly extended period for immersing you in individuals visually spectacular games. Also, the GPU is operating at the greatest 175W electrical power restrict that NVIDIA has specified, so GIGABYTE has not slice any corners in this regard.
For the CPU, you get a 14-main Core Intel 13th-generation Main i7-13700H, which can run at 5.00GHz when essential, so it is not likely that the processor will get limited. Apart from that, you get 16GB of DDR5 RAM, together with a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe 4. SSD, the two of which can be upgraded down the road and at your discretion. Given that the AORUS 17H attributes an Intel processor, the 99.9WHr battery will very last you for a few hrs, but do not expect an ‘all day’ endurance from this gaming laptop.
In this article is the I/O on the gaming laptop
The port collection is stacked on this RTX 4080 device, and for utmost throughput, GIGABYTE has involved a Thunderbolt 4 port, if that matters to you. Possibly the only downside to the AORUS 17H is that 1080p display, and we say this because RTX 4080 can easily push out ample frames at 1440p or even 4K in most games. What future end users can do is increase the rendered resolution when they are actively playing a AAA video game. Regrettably, this alternative is not offered in each and every game, so your experience will fluctuate.
Then all over again, for $2,299.99, you are getting best-tier elements, so we see no reason to complain if GIGABYTE made a decision to use a 1080p display screen on a 17.3-inch gaming laptop computer. Personally, we would have liked to see the same components on a 15.6-inch or even a 16-inch laptop, but potentially the business will have equivalent options in the foreseeable future.
Average of class Gaming (0.012 – 0.425, n=180, last 2 years)
0.05596 ms * ∼58{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}-366{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}
HP is selling the new Omen 17 gaming laptop with an Intel Core i7-13700HX at a 16{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} discount (Image: HP)
A 10-percent coupon code brings the powerful configuration of the HP Omen 17 with an i7-13700HX and RTX 4080 very close to the US$2,000 mark, which is a more or less reasonable price considering the sky-high MSRPs for the 2023 models of most gaming laptops.
Most gamers are probably aware of the painfully high prices of most gaming laptops that have recently hit the market, and RTX 4080-powered machines such as the brand-new 2023 HP Omen 17 probably remain out of reach for most buyers from a financial perspective. However, affluent enthusiasts with a large budget can finally save a few hard-earned dollars on the purchase of one of these new notebooks.
For example, a high-end configuration of the aforementioned HP Omen 17 with the fast Intel Core i7-13700HX and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 with 12 GB of VRAM can now be ordered for US$2,033 in the manufacturer’s official online store. To get this price, please use the coupon code “GAMEAPRIL10” after the gaming laptop has been added to the shopping cart. This version of the HP Omen 17 also comes with the 17-inch QHD display, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, but the coupon code may also work for more budget-friendly configurations.
Before ordering, please check out our recent review of a slightly different model variant of the 2023 HP Omen 17. Among other things, we praised the gaming laptop for its decent 165Hz display as well as the quick SSD and the second available M.2 slot. Furthermore, we liked HP’s software that allows undervolting, although the machine’s battery life, noisy cooling system and underperforming RTX 4080 didn’t exactly impress us. But as it approaches the US$2,000 mark, the Core i7-13700HX-equipped notebook is a solid choice in this price range until other competitors receive similar discounts.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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Enrico Frahn – Tech Writer – 1759 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2021
My fascination for technology goes back a long way to the Pentium II era. Modding, overclocking and treasuring computer hardware has since become an integral part of my life. As a student, I further developed a keen interest in mobile technologies that can make the stressful college life so much easier. After I fell in love with the creation of digital content while working in a marketing position, I now scour the web to bring you the most exciting topics in the world of tech. Outside the office, I’m particularly passionate about motorsports and mountain biking.
It’s big, it’s powerful and it might arguably be from another planet. That’s an easy way to think about the Alienware m18, a new big-screen gaming laptop from Dell’s Alienware brand. Announced during CES 2023 in January, it’s already on the CNET testing bench and blowing me away with its massive display and top-shelf components.
That’s because Alienware sent one of the highest-end configurations possible, including an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. Along with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive (the only choice that felt kinda skimpy), that means this exact build will cost $3,549. Note that prices and configuration options can shift in build-to-order systems like this. Also, the Core i9-13980HX isn’t listed as an available option just yet. Dell says it’s coming later in April.
If you’re more interested in the big screen than the big performance, the least expensive build of this system is currently $2,099, but includes only an Nvidia 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM and a single 512GB SSD — a configuration that would cost much less in other gaming laptops.
Like
Massive screen for gaming
Amazing performance from the Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU
Tactile CherryMX keyboard
Lots of ports and connections
Less expensive than the other 18-inch gaming laptop we’ve reviewed
Don’t Like
Blander color options than the previous generation
Better components drive up the price
Fans can get loud while gaming
This is not the only 18-inch gaming laptop of 2023. In fact, it’s not even the first one we’ve reviewed this year. That was the Razer Blade 18, which is very similar to this in overall look, feel, options and performance. While some may prefer the slightly less gamer-y design of the Razer, the version we reviewed cost $3,799 and only had an Nvidia 4080 GPU, not the 4090 found here. It’s $4,499 to jump up to a 4090 GPU in the Razer.
Per-key lighting is highly customizable.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Unlike the relatively flat mainstream keyboard on the Razer Blade 18, the Alienware m18 has a CherryMX RGB keyboard with a hefty 1.8mm of key travel… and a very audible clack to its keys. Some people prefer this for adding to the desktop gaming keyboard feel. I find it distracting, but can see how you might like it.
Big-screen star
The screen is the big star here. There are two 18-inch options to choose from — a 2,560×1,600-pixel panel with a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1,920×1,200-pixel one at a wild 480Hz. While pairing an Nvidia 4090 GPU with a 1200p screen seems like a waste, the super-fast refresh rate will appeal to competitive gamers who care more about insane frame rates than resolution.
As it is, in the 1600p version I tested I was able to crank new games up to their full graphics settings at full resolution and get great results. For Hogwarts Legacy, I ran everything on ultra settings, including the ray-tracing effects (which have been criticized for killing performance on other PCs) and still got a steady frame rate of at least 120 frames per second.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Our other benchmarks were equally impressive, and the 4090 in this Alienware outmatched the 4080 in the Razer Blade 18 in every test. (Test results are at the end of this review.) So yes, this is the most powerful gaming laptop we’ve ever tested, but that’s always true of the latest and greatest, until the next hardware gen comes along.
Legendary look and feel
The latest revamp of the Alienware design language, called Legend 3.0, doesn’t reinvent much but makes some interesting tweaks. The rear panel is flatter, rather than slightly angled, and some small tweaks to the front lip make the system easier to open one-handed. There’s a new foot design underneath, basically a plastic riser that allows for decent airflow.
The 15-inch Alienware x15 R2 I reviewed last year ended up being one of my all-time favorite gaming laptops, and that was partly because of the great design and color palette. I really liked the retro-futurism of the matte white outer chassis. This time, the only option currently available is a near-black that Alienware calls dark metallic moon. It’s fine, but feels much more like a gaming laptop cliche than the previous color scheme. But if you like dark, brooding gaming laptops, you’re all set.
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Alienware m18 Is a Massive 18-Inch Gaming Laptop
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If you have an older Alienware machine, another interesting recent update is to the Alienware Command Center. That’s a proprietary software package that allows for fine-tuned controls of many system functions as well as performance monitoring.
The two big things you’ll probably use it for are jumping between performance presets and adjusting the per-key RPG lighting effects, which also extend to the alien head logos, a color border around the rear panel and even matching accessories like the new AW620M wireless mouse, a $99 accessory with 26,000 dpi tracking. Yes, it’s expensive, but it also carries over that matte white look I liked so much from last year.
The Alienware Command Center software.
Screenshot by Dan Ackerman
The latest version of ACC is an improvement over older versions, which I always found unintuitive. Some functions, including for lighting control, are simpler and the entire app feels less cluttered.
If you’re going to play around with the performance presets, get ready for some fan noise and hot air. Presets include Battery, Quiet, Performance and Max, and by default the system can be set to jump into performance mode when a specific game (or any game) is launched.
A combination of quad internal fans, a vapor chamber and big heat pipes all help keep the system cool, and even running high-end games it doesn’t feel as fiery to the touch as the 15-inch Alienware x15 did. That said, hot air does blow out from vents on both sides and the rear, and I found my right hand getting hit with warm air when using a mouse relatively close to the system.
The rear panel holds many of the system’s ports.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Another advantage of a big system like this is that there’s room for a lot of ports and connections. While some slim laptops are down to a couple of USB-C ports, this has almost everything you’d want. I’ll just list the ports below.
1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare
4x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
2x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 Type-C
1x RJ45 Ethernet port
1x audio jack
1x HDMI 2.1 port
1x Mini DisplayPort
A big screen with a big body for all those ports, fans and other goodies is never going to be easy to lug around. I clocked the laptop itself at 8.7 pounds, and a total of 12 pounds including the power brick.
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Yes, this is a wildly expensive laptop with components far beyond the needs of mainstream gamers (or anyone who doesn’t want to spend $3K-plus on a laptop). That said, it feels like a bargain compared to the similar Razer Blade 18, so there’s an argument to be made that it’s really a very financially reasonable option. I’m not saying your spouse, parent or partner would agree with that argument, but it’s worth a shot.
Fun fact: This isn’t the first 18-inch gaming laptop from Dell. Back in 2013, I reviewed the then-new Alienware 18, a $4,000 monster that supported dual GPUs. The 18-inch design didn’t catch on back then, but I think it has a much better shot now.
Geekbench 5 (multicore)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro, 2023)
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro, 2023)
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Guardians of the Galaxy (High @1,920×1,080)
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
The Riftbreaker GPU (1,920×1,080)
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Cinebench R23 (multicore)
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro, 2023)
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Online streaming battery drain test
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro, 2023)
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
System configurations
Alienware m18 R1
Microsoft Windows 11 Pro; 2.2GHz Intel Core i9-13980HX; 32GB DDR5 5,800MHz RAM; 16GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090; 1TB SSD
Razer Blade 18
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.2GHz Intel Core i9-13950HX; 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz RAM; 12GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080; 1TB SSD
Origin PC Evo17-S
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 32GB DDR5 4,800MHz; 16GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.9GHz Intel Core i9-12900H; 32GB DDR5 4,800MHz; 16GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080Ti; 1TB SSD
MacBook Pro (16-inch, M2 Pro, 2023)
MacOS Ventura 13.2; Apple M2 Pro (12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores); 32GB LPDDR5 RAM; 1TB SSD
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments.
The final time the GIGABYTE AORUS 17H was outlined on Amazon, the RTX 4080-run gaming laptop computer was accessible for $2,389. Now, for $2,299, you get the exact very same requirements as previous time, but at a lessen value. We can realize if there is some apprehension pertaining to the cost, but if you browse the on-line retailer, you will uncover that most RTX 3080 Ti gaming laptops are much more high-priced than the equipment you are about to appear at.
Also, this notebook has a 17.3-inch screen, and although we advise versus purchasing these types of goods due to the fact of their sheer dimensions, the pricing caught our consideration, and it will catch yours way too. The establish high-quality of the AORUS 17H is best-tier, sporting a blend of metal and plastic, with the hinges currently being rigid as perfectly. The RTX 4080 attributes 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM and can operate up to 175W, the maximum restrict NVIDIA sets for GPUs functioning in gaming laptops.
The RTX 4080 is complemented by a 14-main Core Intel 13th-era Main i7-13700H, which can strengthen up to 5.00GHz. The exact configuration of the CPU includes six general performance cores and 8 ability-performance types. Other than that, the screen is a 1080p IPS Lcd and supports up to a 360Hz refresh charge, suggesting that this gaming notebook was intended with esports titles in brain.
The AORUS 17H also attributes 16GB of DDR5 RAM, alongside with a 1TB PCIe NVME Gen 4 SSD, and you will be pleased to understand that equally the storage and memory can be upgraded down the street. Supplied that this is a 17.3-inch gaming notebook, it is loaded to the brim with significant-speed USB and exhibit ports, alongside with a single Thunderbolt 4 input, which is terrific to see.
GIGABYTE went the total nine yards and included a 99.9WHr battery in this device, which is the greatest capability any laptop can have whilst however remaining authorized to be boarded on a aircraft. Our only gripe about the AORUS 17H is its 1080p display. With an RTX 4080, it should be authorized to flex its muscle groups at a 1440p resolution, as it will not just give a large framerate encounter to the consumer, but that higher resolution provides additional detail on a 17.3-inch screen.
The I/O of this gaming notebook is stacked
Thankfully, there is a workaround to this minimal dilemma, assuming you treatment about it. In some video games, you can increase the render resolution to 150 {b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}, so if you are gaming on a 1080p screen, the rendered resolution will go up to 1440p. If the render resolution benefit goes up to 200 p.c, then it will fairly a lot imply that you are gaming at 4K, and belief us, the notebook RTX 4080 GPU can deal with that load.
We do not know how several units are stocked on Amazon, but that $2,299 is a person of the most beautiful factors of the AORUS 17H. Gaming laptops with comparable specifications are about $400 to $500 a lot more high priced, so if it is an insane benefit that you look for, then appear no more than this.
There are two types of budget gaming laptops: Ultralow-cost models well under $1,000 with entry-level Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics and models priced between roughly $1,000 and $1,200 equipped with a low-end GPU from the superior GeForce RTX series. The HP Victus 15 is solidly in the former category. It costs $800 at Best Buy and can frequently be found on sale for as little as $580. It’s based on a 15.6-inch, 1080p display with a 144Hz refresh rate and powered by an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU, 8GB of RAM and GeForce GTX 1650 graphics.
I wouldn’t pay $800 for a laptop with a midrange Core i5 CPU, a meager 8GB of RAM and an aging GTX 1650 GPU because you can usually find a budget model with a better CPU, twice the RAM and — most importantly — an RTX 3050, 3050 Ti or even 3060 GPU on sale for less than $1,000. So, the question becomes, is the Victus 15 a good buy when it’s on sale for less than $600? At that price, it begins to make sense for those just dipping their toes into the 3D-gaming waters and looking to play older or more casual games rather than rocking the latest AAA titles with ray tracing and other quality settings dialed up.
Like
Ultralow price for gaming laptop
Speedy 144Hz display
Decent battery life
Don’t Like
Dim display
Grainy 720p webcam
Keyboard lacks RGB lighting
Enough 3D performance for some
Our Victus 15 test system (model 15-fa0031dx) has been available at Best Buy for nearly a year and is based on an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and GeForce GTX 1650 graphics. Released at the beginning of last year, the 12th-gen Alder Lake CPU is relatively new. While some high-end, high-priced laptops have been released with 13th-gen Raptor Lake CPUs, we’ve yet to see a lower-end model based on a mainstream 13th-gen Core i5 or Core i7 chip. The Victus 15’s GPU is another story. The GTX 1650 was released nearly four years ago and has been surpassed by three generations of GeForce RTX graphics processors.
The only place you’ll find the GTX 1650 GPU these days is in not just a budget gaming laptop but an entry-level budget gaming laptop. You really can’t drop down a level without entering integrated graphics territory. That said, this four-year-old GPU isn’t entirely useless. While it will struggle with the latest, most demanding AAA titles, it’s more than capable of playing most games at 1080p at medium to high settings.
HP Victus 15 gaming laptop
Price as reviewed
$800
Display size/resolution
15.6-inch 1,920×1,080 144MHz 16:9 display
CPU
2GHz Intel Core i5-12450H
Memory
8GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM
Graphics
4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Graphics
Storage
Samsung MZVL2512HCJQ 512GB SSD
Networking
Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.3
Operating system
Windows 11 Home 21H2
For casual gamers looking to play around with co-op shooters, the Victus 15 is a cheap way to get there. We experienced smooth gameplay at 1080p on both CS:GO and Riftbreaker. The laptop averaged 105 frames per second on the Riftbreaker GPU benchmark and an even more impressive 191fps on the CS:GO benchmark. Both tests were run at 1080p with High settings enabled. It also achieved a playable 61fps on the newer and more demanding Guardians of the Galaxy — also at 1080p and High settings.
On our Shadow of the Tomb Raider test (1080p with Highest settings), however, it dropped to 46fps. When we dialed back the detail settings to High, the Victus 15 averaged 53fps. It was able to surpass 60fps only when we dropped the settings to Low, where it averaged 73fps. (It got close at Medium settings, with an average frame rate of 58fps.)
Gaming laptops rarely, if ever, deliver long battery life, so all we are looking for from such a machine is a passable runtime. And the Victus 15 delivers just that. It lasted for nearly 6.5 hours on our demanding streaming video battery-drain test, which placed it in the top half of the other budget gaming laptops we are using for comparison in this review. Don’t plan on getting anywhere near that if you’re gaming, though.
Matt Elliott/CNET
Plastic chassis, dim display
There’s certainly a limit to its 3D performance — not a surprise with an $800 gaming laptop that’s frequently on sale for less than $600. The laptop’s design doesn’t overcome its budget price, either. The all-plastic, all-black body is a bit flimsy but not too bulky. It’s a hair less than an inch thick and weighs just over 5 pounds. The display hinge isn’t quite tight enough, causing the display to wobble at the slightest nudge. Some flex can be felt with the plastic keyboard deck under your fingers when you are typing and particularly when mashing keys during a game. The plastic lid protecting the display also flexes a bit too much for my comfort.
Matt Elliott/CNET
The keyboard feels cramped because HP decided to squeeze in a number pad. The keys have snappy response but lack RGB backlighting, a fun feature offered on nearly every gaming laptop. I wasn’t expecting per-key or even multizone RGB lighting, but the Victus 15 offers neither R nor G nor B — nor any other color than white. You get the bare minimum of keyboard backlight — one-level white lighting.
Matt Elliott/CNET
The display offers a crisp, full-HD image across the 15.6-inch panel along with a speedy 144Hz refresh rate but is rated for only 250 nits of brightness. That’s typical of budget laptops, but I measured a peak brightness of only 220 nits. Games and images looked a bit dull, even at max brightness. The 720p webcam, too, is underwhelming. It produces a grainy, poorly balanced image compared with that of 1080p cams that have quickly become the norm.
Affordable fun for a first gaming laptop
Do you remember your first car? Unless you were born into the 1{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}, it was likely on the level of a Ford Taurus that could receive a dent or two without your parents getting upset. It’s also likely you recall that dented Taurus fondly. You made great memories in that car, because you and your friends had the ability to cruise around without a parent at the wheel. The Victus 15 is that beloved Ford Taurus. It’s not the sleekest or fastest gaming laptop, but it’s an inexpensive rig that you can afford right now. You could keep saving for a pricier gaming laptop that would deliver greater gaming capabilities and more bells and whistles than the Victus 15, but the Victus 15 will let you start making fond memories online with your friends right now.
The Victus 15 can regularly be found on sale at Best Buy for less than $600. For first-time gamers, it makes sense at this price. If it’s selling at its full price of $800, however, then budget gaming laptops in the form of the Acer Nitro 5 or Dell G15 are better buys. Or you could check out this RTX 3050-based Victus 15 model available directly from HP that is regularly discounted. Each cost less than $1,000 (and can be frequently found discounted closer to $800) and feature RTX 3050 or RTX 3060 graphics for better 3D gaming performance than the Victus 15 and its aging GTX 1650 GPU.
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments.
