Benchmarks And Conclusion
We ran a combination of synthetic and gaming benchmarks to test the EON17-SLX, including PCMark 8, 3DMark Fire Strike (including Fire Strike Extreme and Ultra), Unigine Valley and GFXBench. Our game tests use the built-in benchmarks in Bioshock Infinite and Metro: Last Light Redux.
The EON17-SLX arrived overclocked from Origin PC, with its Core i7-6700K set to 4.5GHz and the GeForce GTX 980 bumped up 70MHz on the core and memory clocks. We tested the system at both overclocked and stock settings. We also left G-Sync off for these tests, unless otherwise noted.
To compare the EON17-SLX to the mid-range laptops in our lab would be pointless. Origin PC is a beast of a machine sporting desktop components, after all. So, in an effort to provide meaningful results, we tested a custom-built desktop PC with almost identical hardware specs at default clock rates and settings. We even swapped out the graphics card to compare performance to slightly lower- and higher-end configurations, using a reference GeForce GTX 980, and factory-overclocked GTX 980 Ti and GTX 970 boards. Here are the desktop test rig's specs:
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-6700K |
| Motherboard | Asus Maximus VIII Ranger |
| Memory | 16GB (2 x 8GB) G.SKILL DDR4-2133 |
| Storage | 512GB Samsung 950 Pro NVMe SSD |
| Graphics Cards Tested | EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW 6GB GDDR5Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 (Reference) 4GB GDDR5Asus GeForce GTX 970 Strix 4GB GDDR5 |
| CPU Cooling | Corsair H75 Closed-Loop Liquid Cooler |
Although the desktop's specs are similar to the EON17-SLX, differences in the BIOS, the motherboard's base clock rate, storage interface, memory timings and thermal solution can all affect results.
Synthetic Benchmark – PCMark 8
The EON17-SLX easily outperforms the Acer Predator 15 and Gigabyte P37X v4, both out of the box and at stock clock speeds, proving that a comparison to more mobile-oriented hardware isn't exactly fair.
Compared to my desktop configurations, the overclocked EON17-SLX fares better than even the GTX 980 Ti-equipped setup in everything except the Creative test, where GPU power has a profound impact on performance. At stock settings, though, the EON17-SLX outruns the desktops in Futuremark's Home and Work test modules, regardless of graphics card. This could be due to differences in the system’s memory timings, BIOS or CPU tuning. The bottom line is that Origin's EON17-SLX does hold its own against high-end desktops.
Synthetic Benchmark – 3DMark Fire Strike
Gaming performance is likely important for anyone considering purchasing an EON17-SLX, so we're running Fire Strike Extreme and Fire Strike Ultra to really push the GPU to its limits.
At stock clock rates, the EON17-SLX is on par with the desktop GeForce GTX 980. However, Origin PC’s overclocked frequencies facilitate higher scores. The Physics result, in particular, enjoys a notable bump due to the CPU's significant tune. Once again, we're including results from our Acer and Gigabyte laptop samples, just to show the performance difference between a desktop replacement and mainstream gaming notebook.
Fire Strike Extreme and Ultra demonstrate much of the same, with the EON17-SLX's overclocked settings beating the desktop rig with a reference GeForce GTX 980. Its Physics score also reigns thanks to an aggressive CPU overclock.
Of course, the desktop GTX 980 Ti outperforms the EON17-SLX's GTX 980. Still, it's interesting to see how the very best in mobile hardware compares to a desktop with one top-of-the-line GPU.
Synthetic Benchmark – GFXBench
The built-in battery test in GFXBench 4.0 gives the EON17-SLX's eight-cell battery an estimated run time of 130.8 minutes, or about 50 minutes less than Origin PC's estimate. We did test the laptop at maximum brightness though, and saw incredible average frame rates. Given that much performance and power consumption, roughly 130 minutes sounds reasonable. We weren’t able to test the laptop on battery power while it was overclocked; instead, we tested at default clock rates.
Synthetic Benchmark – Unigine Valley
At stock settings, the EON17-SLX falls within four points of the desktop Core i7-6700K and GeForce GTX 980 setup. Overclocked, the EON17 improved its score by over 100 points. As expected, the GTX 980 Ti-equipped desktop takes the lead in this test, though Origin's EON17-SLX puts up an impressive score.
Gaming Benchmark – Bioshock Infinite
The EON17-SLX performs on par with with the desktop system when we analyze the average and peak frame rates, but it also achieves consistently better minimums, too. Only the GeForce GTX 980 Ti fares better. Again, this could be attributable to nuances in the firmware, base clock rate or memory timings. What's clear is that the EON17-SLX keeps up with a similarly-equipped desktop quite well, and that it performs well ahead of standard gaming laptops.
Gaming Benchmark – Metro: Last Light Redux
Metro: Last Light Redux has a built-in benchmark that taxes the GPU heavily, and it’s no surprise the EON17-SLX performs on par with the desktop Core i7-6700K and GTX 980 combo. It also predictably beats the desktop GTX 970 and Acer Predator 15.
I took a moment to actually play the game to see if the obvious screen tearing I witnessed from the benchmark with v-sync disabled was noticeable during game play. It was, but enabling G-Sync rectified the issue immediately. With average frame rates below 60 FPS, the added value of a G-Sync display pays off with a better experience when playing Metro: Last Light Redux.
Conclusion
Origin PC's EON17-SLX is a laptop in the technical sense, but it competes against desktop configurations and leaves other high-end laptops in the dust. It's almost unfair to compare this desktop replacement to notebooks sporting mobile CPUs and GPUs.
As a consequence, though, the EON17 isn't going to be comfortable in your lap. Its considerable weight, large size and abundance of vents (with corresponding heat output) makes this machines better suited to a tabletop. At best, it's one heck of a portable machine for LAN parties.
The configuration Origin PC sent us will set you back $3,382. For that price, you get excellent build quality and premium performance with high-end desktop hardware and a G-Sync-capable display. It doesn’t feel right to call this thing a laptop, given its power, weight and size. You do get what you pay for though: some of the best mobile gaming performance currently possible.
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Derek Forrest is an Associate Contributing Writer for Tom’s Hardware and Tom’s IT Pro. Follow Derek Forrest on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
