Eurocom Panther 5D Notebook Review: Faster Than Your Desktop

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There's a good chance that Eurocom's Panther 5D notebook is faster than your desktop. The sample we're reviewing sports a six-core Core i7-3970X, two GeForce GTX 680M modules in SLI, 32 GB of DDR3-1600, and three 256 GB SSDs. Talk about a beast!

Size Comparison: Panther 5D Vs. R17x Vs. M6700 Covet

We have access to several other 17” notebooks for comparison. One of our favorites is the original Alienware R17x, which has gone through several iterations and is consequently widely-used. It is a prime example of a large notebook built exclusively for high-end gaming. We do not  use the Alienware for design or style comparisons; it simply a large gaming machine that people will have likely seen in real life. We are using the R17x to help people get an idea of how large the system being reviewed is.

The Alienware has a slightly smaller footprint than Eurocom's Panther 5D.

The Panther 5D is thicker than the Alienware, too. I never thought I would be able to call the original R17x relatively thin.

Our second comparison system is Dell's M6700 Covet mobile workstation. Like the Panther 5D, the M6700 is a mobile workstation with a 17” chassis. The Dell has a single graphics module and a mobile quad-core processor.

Eurocom's Panther 5D has a slightly larger footprint than the more conventional Dell mobile workstation.

The keyboards and touchpads are similar sizes.

Again, Eurocom's Panther is a good bit thicker than the M6700.

Stephen Taylor
65 Comments Comment from the forums
  • vmem
    I want the satisfaction of just dropping this monster on someone's desk, and say

    "personal server: DEPLOY!"
    Reply
  • coffeecoffee
    Great for individuals that moves around often (i.e LAN parties, get togethers, etc) IF the hardware can be kept cool AND if the fan doesn't sound like a space rocket taking off. However, one will need a deep pocket to afford something like this.

    @vmem "Personal Server: Please insert Credit Card to continue! $_$"
    Reply
  • Razerium
    Sure it's better than my desktop, but it's also three times more expensive!
    Reply
  • f-14
    now this is how you're meant to play crisis 1-2-3 right by any one with an iMac.

    the main people i can see needing this bad boy is division commanders on a battlefield as well as NSA hackers and CIA spies and Drone operators
    Reply
  • airplanegeek
    you guys didn't review the sound volume :(
    but what i really wanted to see was the effects of ocing the gtx 680Ms :P
    Reply
  • 16bit
    Great article. Puts my 17.3 inch laptop to shame.

    Finally I can have high end desktop performance on the go.
    Reply
  • palladin9479
    I once had a Desktop Replacement laptop, huge monster that required a large AC adapter, was loud and heavy. These things are NOT portable, they are heavy to lug around and completely impractical for mobility. They are for people who, for whatever reason, do not want a desktop +monitor at their house. These are just desktops that are easier to transport around.
    Reply
  • belardo
    This seems more for bragging rights. Sure some people will NEED this... For a portable gaming system with 3 power-bricks, etc... why not get customized AIO? Or simply brink a small (SFF) case with keyboard and 20" display which would weight less? If you're gaming anyway - you'll need a mouse. The keyboard looks crappy, the numeric keypad is up against the main keys.

    Lets see, a SFF setup parts:
    PC: 5 = SFF-PC, keyboard, mouse, monitor, 2 power cords.
    5D: 7 = 5D Panther, Mouse, 2 power cords, 3 power bricks/converter.

    In return, you get a much better keyboard... then when broken, its a $10~150 replacement...
    Reply
  • Avus
    It may be fast, but it sure look ugly. If i compare this notebook to a car, it will be a Mitsuoka Orochi.
    Reply
  • zodiacfml
    awesome photography. i enjoyed looking at the parts.
    Reply