Q&A: CyberPower's Core i7 Laptop Explained
We talk to CyberPower Inc. about the company's recently announced Core i7 gaming laptop.
We had some questions about CyberPower's Core i7 gaming laptop, the Xplorer X7-Xtreme S1, when it was first announced a couple of weeks ago. There was no mention of battery life in the specs, so how long could this thing last away from an outlet? What kind of fans or cooling solutions did they throw in there? Why a notebook and not a desktop? Check out our questions below, all of which were answered by CyberPower's Eddie Vong.
Tom's Hardware: One of the big questions we have is the issue of battery life. Eurocom and AVADirect have both launched laptops running on Intel's Core i7. Eurocom reports a battery life of about one hour with a 12 cell battery. Given that AVADirect's machine is based on the same OEM model, we can only assume that their machine has something similar. What kind of battery does the Xplorer X7-Xtreme S1 have and how long can users expect from this machine?
Eddie Vong: The Xtreme-S1 is a desktop replacement notebook and therefore, the battery life is not as great for long usage without having it plugged in for a charge. We’ve tested the Xtreme-S1 to last from 45 mins to 1 hour under full load on the 12 cell battery.
TH: The aforementioned laptops from Eurocom and AVADirect are extremely heavy. How heavy is the Xplorer X7-Xtreme S1?
EV: The weight will depend on the customizations the customer makes. The standard weight of the laptop is 11.55 lbs.
TH: Poor battery life and weight means Core i7 laptop offerings we’ve seen from other manufacturers are not so much considered laptops as they are mobile workstations. Is there anything that made you develop a gaming laptop as opposed to a Core i7 desktop?
EV: We've been focusing on Core i7 desktops since its initial launch back in November. The Core i7 platform for notebooks is one of the biggest upgrades as far as notebooks are concerned. Despite subpar battery life and being slightly heavier compared to more conventional laptops, we feel the Xtreme-S1 is a very suitable laptop for those seeking a desktop replacement and/or mobile workstation. Users can take advantage of the power and performance of a Core i7 desktop without taking up a huge amount of space.
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TH: Customers who go for the base configuration of this machine will be spending over $2,000, just to get their hands on a Core i7 laptop. However, Intel is set to launch Nehalem-based mobile chips before the year is out, which will result in cheaper, lighter laptops with similar power. What made you decide to push ahead with a laptop based on the desktop version of Core i7 rather than waiting a little longer for a mobile option that would be more appealing to the consumer?
EV: We are aware of the Intel mobile chips that will be released later this year but we pride ourselves on being in the forefront to deliver the latest technology to our customers. We want to be able to have all the options available and let our customers decide what best suits their needs.
TH: Do you guys have plans to release another Core i7 laptop based on the mobile chip once it is launched? If so will you be discontinuing the Xplorer X7-Xtreme S1? If that's not the case, who do you expect to purchase this machine when you also have another laptop based on a Nehalem-based mobile chip on offer?
EV: Yes. We will be amongst the first SI’s to carry the Calpella platform when it is available. As far as discontinuing the Xtreme-S1 when the new platform is released, we will make a final decision based on performance testing and feedback on the Calpella platform.
TH: Lastly, how have you addressed the heat that this machine will generate when used during long periods of time (eg, LANs)? We’re assuming that users cannot use this on their laps (as is the case with a lot of notebooks these days) but exactly how hot does the Xplorer X7-Xtreme get?
EV: The laptop does run pretty warm. That is why we offer notebook accessories such as notebook coolers to help dissipate the heat.
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Thanks to CyberPower for taking the time to answer our questions.
Now that some of the major questions about CyberPower's Core i7 laptop have been answered, is anyone tempted to purchase one?
Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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scook9 Why is Tom's asking CyberPower questions like they designed the laptop....Clevo did. This is no secret. All CyberPower does is put the parts in and provide a warranty. They had NOTHING to do with the engineering of this laptop.Reply
Now if Tom's were to talk to Clevo, then I would be a lot more interested since their answers would actually mean something since they actually did the work to come up with this design. -
Kill@dor Heavy and eats the battery... I would still get it because its very attractive and i like the specs on it. They should have just added extra features to reduce battery drain and extra cooling features then it would have been a complete package for me. I still think its a decent buy if you have the cash...Reply -
I personally would probably rather sell it if it was given to me for about 75% of the newprice, and buy myself a high end portable dualcore netbook, a nano desktop, and another netbook for that price.Reply
Or perhaps I'd go for a smaller Corei7 shuttle sized desktop, with a netbook.
I find no benefit whatsoever in a notebook that lasts only 1hour in battery; not only that, but if it breaks (which is a possibility due to heat) the whole netbook needs replacing!
Plus the graphics card is not (very) upgradeable.
If I sell the notebook, and buy a corei7 desktop, I'll probably still have money left (with which I would be able to buy a $300 netbook). -
gamerk316 Needs a new power source. The concept of a "gaming laptop" still doesn't make sense to me...Reply -
lifelesspoet Either its a laptop or a mobile workstation, you sir made a laptop. Honestly, how much serious work can you get done in 45 minutes. If you need that power to get your work done chances are its in the creative field and once you start getting into your work the battery is dead.Reply
Now if you build a computer into a brief case and had to plug it in wherever you went that would be something. i Just don't get the ultrapowered notebook guys, cost too much, heavy, short battery, runs too hot and its still not a decent desktop replacement. -
roastmaster CYBERPOWER sells crappy product. FACT: This is a Clevo notebook that cyberpowre just added hard drive, cpu, and memory. So it's not actually there's notebook to begin with.Reply -
frozenlead Agree, scook9. Too many manufacturers take credit for the latest and greatest notebooks when Clevo does all the work.Reply