Bhuna50
Author Level
OK - Hi all - I thought it was about time I put my review on here of my second laptop from PCSpecialist.
After my Defiance died (just under 5 years old), an insurance/extended warranty claim plus a bit extra cash from myself (as I was 50 this year) has led to me buying an Optimus XI Pro - specs:
Well after some fantastic service, which I have commented on before, and a few long waits on the phone (which were not so fantastic), the laptop arrived Saturday morning.
Its worth commenting here that we do see quite often mention of components coming loose etc during transit, however do not worry over the machine being damaged - the laptop is in a nice cloth bag, inside a packed cardboard box, this cardboard box is then encased in strong bubble wrap and then in turn put inside yet another box for transport. Really secure, really safe and sturdy packaging.
So after playing pass the parcel (as it seemed) I finally got to the laptop - and all its protective wrappings to stop it from being scratched. Across the keyboard, across the screen, across the back (see picture).
I checked it over and all seemed good.
Sat down, plugged in and pressed the on button. Now previously I used to have time to get a cup of tea waiting for windows but I didnt even get time to ask the wife to put the kettle on before I was greeted by the start up windows questions and logging in.
Ran a few extreme tests on it - as per one of the mods posts on here (sorry forgot to get the link to put in this review) and not a single crash or problem with it.
Laptop is extremely light compared to my old Defiance chassis and opens up lovely. Keys are well spaced and are all there, including number pad to side. They got a nice feel to them when keying in - no unusual stiffness or clicking - just a nice soft gentle press and no problem with them - they dont even stickkkkkkkkk (just kidding there).
Two negatives here regarding the keyboard (see pictures) - the left shift key appears to have a minor scratch across it which now 'bleeds' the LED light through it - I may have caused this somehow putting my glasses on the keyboard or something, I dont know - its not worth RMAing for unless I start to find the other keys easily start peeling or scratching off. The second negative - if you look closely, some people may not notice it, but I have a little OCD in me, some of the keys are not printed centrally...the Q, E, R and T all look slightly off centre and other keys - again not a severe problem and just being extremely picky and trying to remain balanced on this review (as 99% of me is over the moon about this laptop).
The touchpad is a good size, not too big / not too small and its great that I can turn it off / on for when I dont need to use it - ie using a mouse and resting my left wrist almost over it to use keys when gaming - previously my last Defiance (5 years old one) didnt have this facility.
I found the control centre easy to navigate for the LED keyboard (it does not do individual keys, just a blanket colour only on this chassis) and for fan settings, although I have never had reason to move it off of the current default gaming - which adjusts fans as you play.
Fan noise...yes what do you expect, but it is quieter than my previous laptop by some way - how do I know this...the wife has not complained yet. I cant say I notice the fans any more than a usual computer but I am wearing a JBL Quantum One headset (recommended if you are looking for a headset).
Wifi card - excellent built in one - I have an old Edwardian house - double brick thick walls and usually sit two rooms away from where the router is - a quick speedtest still showed I was getting my 300 service from Virgin Media (yes Im still jealous of those on the 600 trial...).
Excusing the quality of some of the pics (from my phone), I process a lot of photos myself on Lightroom and Photoshop as enjoy taking landscapes and pictures of my dogs when on walks - have to say this laptop runs those two programs excellently and no hang ups or anything when processing, stitching, mixing, HDRing several photos together.
OK - not sure what else to write except some of you will probably want to know about gaming performance - it is a gaming laptop after all - so a couple of pics of F1 benchmarking on Ultra in the heavy rain in Australia are attached to this, plus a few more stats here for you (bear in mind - this is 1080p gaming on the laptop screen itself):
Elite - Ultra Settings - between 90 and 120 FPS at times. Did reach 144 max occasionally.
Ghost Recon - Breakpoint - Very High settings - averaging 75 FPS
The Division 2 - in game Benchmark ran on High (Averages: FPS 75 / GPU 86% / CPU 43%) ran on Ultra settings (Averages: FPS 58 / GPU 90% / CPU 33%)
F1 2019 in game benchmark - Ultra High Dry Australia - Average FPS 80 (ranged from 64 to 95). Ultra High Heavy rain Australia averaged 75 (range 60 to 84)
Satisfactory - highest setting - big factory - 80 FPS
No game has crashed out yet when playing either. No BSODs or anything like that.
Hope this review has helped some people but just to recap:
Pro's:
- excellent service received throughout RMA and into new build
- quality packaging to ensure no damage
- solid machine, good quality
- nice key press
- good screen / clear and concise
- runs the games I like at higher settings than Im used to and I dont see any issues with lagging pictures etc (Im not one that worries about FPS, but I know when a game runs slowly and nothing I have played has done so so far).
- runs the photo programs I like with no problem
- quick boot up and quick response times to anything I am trying to do.
Cons, albeit minor picky points:
- I have a minor issue with the additional charger I ordered but hopefully this will be sorted (see link)
- the scratch on the Shift key (even if it was me that has done this, it shouldnt mark this easily).
- the off centre printing on the keys
- the one hour+ waiting on the phone to get through to someone at PCS (but this is due to current time of year AND the situation with most call centres during the pandemic)
Keeping an eye on:
- the top screen has a very very minor bit of give in it when i move in my seat with the laptop open - I dont think its an issue but it wobbles just very very slightly - this is probably because its quite a thin screen / casing and just me noticing it and lacking confidence as to whether it will stay where I have it...so far not an issue but just watching it.
OVERALL - I am really really happy with the laptop - none of the issues raised are major and me being extremely picky and it should not put anyone off considering an Optimus Pro XI from PCS.
I dont know if I have covered everything everyone wants so please please please feel free to ask me questions if you want to know anything. If you want to know a certain FPS on a certain game benchmarking (as long as I have it) then let me know and I will try to find time to load it up and let you know.
One other thing to mention on here - dont just ask me, ask the experts on this forum - they dont work for PCS but they know a hell of a lot and are really helpful in advice on desktops and on laptop builds or questions when you have received your products.
Thanks for reading...if you got this far.
PS - oops forgot to say - temperatures - I have put a screen print up of the HW Monitor I leave running - this was on the whole time I ran the above benchmarks and programs and as you can see the temps have stayed pretty good - I have seen the CPU go to 92 at another time, but nothing higher and rarely that high.
After my Defiance died (just under 5 years old), an insurance/extended warranty claim plus a bit extra cash from myself (as I was 50 this year) has led to me buying an Optimus XI Pro - specs:
Well after some fantastic service, which I have commented on before, and a few long waits on the phone (which were not so fantastic), the laptop arrived Saturday morning.
Its worth commenting here that we do see quite often mention of components coming loose etc during transit, however do not worry over the machine being damaged - the laptop is in a nice cloth bag, inside a packed cardboard box, this cardboard box is then encased in strong bubble wrap and then in turn put inside yet another box for transport. Really secure, really safe and sturdy packaging.
So after playing pass the parcel (as it seemed) I finally got to the laptop - and all its protective wrappings to stop it from being scratched. Across the keyboard, across the screen, across the back (see picture).
I checked it over and all seemed good.
Sat down, plugged in and pressed the on button. Now previously I used to have time to get a cup of tea waiting for windows but I didnt even get time to ask the wife to put the kettle on before I was greeted by the start up windows questions and logging in.
Ran a few extreme tests on it - as per one of the mods posts on here (sorry forgot to get the link to put in this review) and not a single crash or problem with it.
Laptop is extremely light compared to my old Defiance chassis and opens up lovely. Keys are well spaced and are all there, including number pad to side. They got a nice feel to them when keying in - no unusual stiffness or clicking - just a nice soft gentle press and no problem with them - they dont even stickkkkkkkkk (just kidding there).
Two negatives here regarding the keyboard (see pictures) - the left shift key appears to have a minor scratch across it which now 'bleeds' the LED light through it - I may have caused this somehow putting my glasses on the keyboard or something, I dont know - its not worth RMAing for unless I start to find the other keys easily start peeling or scratching off. The second negative - if you look closely, some people may not notice it, but I have a little OCD in me, some of the keys are not printed centrally...the Q, E, R and T all look slightly off centre and other keys - again not a severe problem and just being extremely picky and trying to remain balanced on this review (as 99% of me is over the moon about this laptop).
The touchpad is a good size, not too big / not too small and its great that I can turn it off / on for when I dont need to use it - ie using a mouse and resting my left wrist almost over it to use keys when gaming - previously my last Defiance (5 years old one) didnt have this facility.
I found the control centre easy to navigate for the LED keyboard (it does not do individual keys, just a blanket colour only on this chassis) and for fan settings, although I have never had reason to move it off of the current default gaming - which adjusts fans as you play.
Fan noise...yes what do you expect, but it is quieter than my previous laptop by some way - how do I know this...the wife has not complained yet. I cant say I notice the fans any more than a usual computer but I am wearing a JBL Quantum One headset (recommended if you are looking for a headset).
Wifi card - excellent built in one - I have an old Edwardian house - double brick thick walls and usually sit two rooms away from where the router is - a quick speedtest still showed I was getting my 300 service from Virgin Media (yes Im still jealous of those on the 600 trial...).
Excusing the quality of some of the pics (from my phone), I process a lot of photos myself on Lightroom and Photoshop as enjoy taking landscapes and pictures of my dogs when on walks - have to say this laptop runs those two programs excellently and no hang ups or anything when processing, stitching, mixing, HDRing several photos together.
OK - not sure what else to write except some of you will probably want to know about gaming performance - it is a gaming laptop after all - so a couple of pics of F1 benchmarking on Ultra in the heavy rain in Australia are attached to this, plus a few more stats here for you (bear in mind - this is 1080p gaming on the laptop screen itself):
Elite - Ultra Settings - between 90 and 120 FPS at times. Did reach 144 max occasionally.
Ghost Recon - Breakpoint - Very High settings - averaging 75 FPS
The Division 2 - in game Benchmark ran on High (Averages: FPS 75 / GPU 86% / CPU 43%) ran on Ultra settings (Averages: FPS 58 / GPU 90% / CPU 33%)
F1 2019 in game benchmark - Ultra High Dry Australia - Average FPS 80 (ranged from 64 to 95). Ultra High Heavy rain Australia averaged 75 (range 60 to 84)
Satisfactory - highest setting - big factory - 80 FPS
No game has crashed out yet when playing either. No BSODs or anything like that.
Hope this review has helped some people but just to recap:
Pro's:
- excellent service received throughout RMA and into new build
- quality packaging to ensure no damage
- solid machine, good quality
- nice key press
- good screen / clear and concise
- runs the games I like at higher settings than Im used to and I dont see any issues with lagging pictures etc (Im not one that worries about FPS, but I know when a game runs slowly and nothing I have played has done so so far).
- runs the photo programs I like with no problem
- quick boot up and quick response times to anything I am trying to do.
Cons, albeit minor picky points:
- I have a minor issue with the additional charger I ordered but hopefully this will be sorted (see link)
- the scratch on the Shift key (even if it was me that has done this, it shouldnt mark this easily).
- the off centre printing on the keys
- the one hour+ waiting on the phone to get through to someone at PCS (but this is due to current time of year AND the situation with most call centres during the pandemic)
Keeping an eye on:
- the top screen has a very very minor bit of give in it when i move in my seat with the laptop open - I dont think its an issue but it wobbles just very very slightly - this is probably because its quite a thin screen / casing and just me noticing it and lacking confidence as to whether it will stay where I have it...so far not an issue but just watching it.
OVERALL - I am really really happy with the laptop - none of the issues raised are major and me being extremely picky and it should not put anyone off considering an Optimus Pro XI from PCS.
I dont know if I have covered everything everyone wants so please please please feel free to ask me questions if you want to know anything. If you want to know a certain FPS on a certain game benchmarking (as long as I have it) then let me know and I will try to find time to load it up and let you know.
One other thing to mention on here - dont just ask me, ask the experts on this forum - they dont work for PCS but they know a hell of a lot and are really helpful in advice on desktops and on laptop builds or questions when you have received your products.
Thanks for reading...if you got this far.
PS - oops forgot to say - temperatures - I have put a screen print up of the HW Monitor I leave running - this was on the whole time I ran the above benchmarks and programs and as you can see the temps have stayed pretty good - I have seen the CPU go to 92 at another time, but nothing higher and rarely that high.
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