Thoughts on this Ionico 17

[men8ifr]

I have been watching with an eagle eye and I can now order an Ionico (previously graphics card supply meant you could not even order one for the last 2 weeks or so ...)

I currently use a slim 15.6" (but with 15-20mm bezels) 4th gen i7 Asus laptop that was ££££ about 8 years ago with Nvidia 960M graphics (I dont try to run any games on it)

I would like:
Bigger much better colors, more detailed screen for 3D modelling ( On My Asus I struggle to differentiate shades of white and grey)
Fast single core and fast multi core CPU (this is where this build would struggle against any Ryzen 5000 series)
Slim / portable not too heavy (but Im willing to go upto 17")
GPU that can run modern games and games on Oculus quest (don't all have to be maxed out quality just decent... 1st game would be half like Alyx)
Something that can still provide decent CPU performance without sounding like a vacuum cleaner
Decent web browsing battery life - 4 hrs min 8 hours would be good...

My thoughts - big shame this does not have a Ryzen - everything else looks good apart from one forum user complaining of light bleed issues on the screen but other users have said how good it is?? ) But I'm worried if I wait for a Ryzen on the ionico build it will be £200-£300 more I think 11th gen intel chips would also be better than 10th gen...

I've gone for fast ram and SSD and bumped the ram upto 32G after seeing many games have a FPS increase with more Ram, I don't think / am not willing to splash an extra £200 -300 on a 3070. There is no fast 1TB NVME available I think this has a 2nd nvme slot so I can wait until (if) I fill the 500gb and then maybe but a secondary HDD

Rivals are
Acer Nitro 5 AN517-41 17.3 inch Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA RTX 3060, QHD 165Hz Display, Windows 10, Black)
Available start of June (ish) when it comes back on pre-order £1,300 so cheaper, faster CPU I don't know thickness or GPU TGP I think battery will be 60wh so less than this ionico but then the Ryzen uses less juice - maybe no MUX switch though??

Asus ROG Strix G17 with Ryzen - 5800 - 5900hx but I don't know availability and price (I think more than this build) yet, guess it may be 2-3 month but then I think by the summer there will be quite a few ryzen 9 3060/3070 QHD laptops.. again I think no mux switch

What I really need is this build with a ryzen 5800 for the same price... but I'm quite bored of looking/waiting now

I look at geenbench for CPU perfoemance.
My 8 yr old Asus 700 singe 3000 multi
10875h this build 1250 single 7800 multi (from generic results)
Ryzen 5800h1400 single 8000 multi
Ryzen 5900hx 1500 single 8600 multi

So maybe the 10875 is not so far behind, but still behind though it is available now... still in the 8 years since the Asus was built I thought CPU's would have got much faster...

Chassis & Display
Ionico Series: 17.3" Matte QHD 165Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1440)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10875H (2.3GHz, 5.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 2933MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Ionico Series Integrated 91WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
IONICO 17 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
TongFang GM7MG0P (6GB RTX-3060, i7-10875H, 165Hz QHD, Blank KB)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
FAST TRACK 5 WORKING DAY DISPATCH
Price: £1,457.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/ionico-17/j6QPrcR!fb/

 

[Macco26]

Sure about the RTX3060? Aren't you gaming much on this then?
I mean you have to drive a QHD screen. The RTX 3070 seems the perfect fit for that. Also 3060 is fast as like the old 2070, BUT has less VRAM: 6 GB. It all depends if you want to game seriously or not, after all.

Other than that:
- consider adding dead pixel warranty (30 days) as you'll avoid they select for you, who don't, one of the 'faulty' chassis with 2-3 stuck/dead pixel they can't deliver to whom opted for the warranty. You can't RMA for 2-3 dead pixel, as ISO says.
- consider Artic MX-4 paste. It's cheap enough. I asked for mine and thermals are perfect. Can't compare with stock chinese paste from the factory, of course, but can say PCS does know how to apply it.

I know my suggestion keeps rising your price. So it's fine you don't. Just consider this options.

PS: 5800H is great for productivity, but as like as the 10875H for gaming, if not slightly less performer. Again, it depends the tasks you put into this laptop. If you render 3D 24/7, you better wait for Zen3. Else..

 

[men8ifr]

Thanks for the reply, probably a good tip on the pixel guarantee, 3070 is £220 more I think I could justify £100 for a faster processor but not £220 on the graphics I don't think, I'm not a serious gamer but do enjoy the occasional game

 

[Paulbax]

I have been watching with an eagle eye and I can now order an Ionico (previously graphics card supply meant you could not even order one for the last 2 weeks or so ...)

I currently use a slim 15.6" (but with 15-20mm bezels) 4th gen i7 Asus laptop that was ££££ about 8 years ago with Nvidia 960M graphics (I dont try to run any games on it)

I would like:
Bigger much better colors, more detailed screen for 3D modelling ( On My Asus I struggle to differentiate shades of white and grey)
Fast single core and fast multi core CPU (this is where this build would struggle against any Ryzen 5000 series)
Slim / portable not too heavy (but Im willing to go upto 17")
GPU that can run modern games and games on Oculus quest (don't all have to be maxed out quality just decent... 1st game would be half like Alyx)
Something that can still provide decent CPU performance without sounding like a vacuum cleaner
Decent web browsing battery life - 4 hrs min 8 hours would be good...

My thoughts - big shame this does not have a Ryzen - everything else looks good apart from one forum user complaining of light bleed issues on the screen but other users have said how good it is?? ) But I'm worried if I wait for a Ryzen on the ionico build it will be £200-£300 more I think 11th gen intel chips would also be better than 10th gen...

I've gone for fast ram and SSD and bumped the ram upto 32G after seeing many games have a FPS increase with more Ram, I don't think / am not willing to splash an extra £200 -300 on a 3070. There is no fast 1TB NVME available I think this has a 2nd nvme slot so I can wait until (if) I fill the 500gb and then maybe but a secondary HDD

Rivals are
Acer Nitro 5 AN517-41 17.3 inch Gaming Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, NVIDIA RTX 3060, QHD 165Hz Display, Windows 10, Black)
Available start of June (ish) when it comes back on pre-order £1,300 so cheaper, faster CPU I don't know thickness or GPU TGP I think battery will be 60wh so less than this ionico but then the Ryzen uses less juice - maybe no MUX switch though??

Asus ROG Strix G17 with Ryzen - 5800 - 5900hx but I don't know availability and price (I think more than this build) yet, guess it may be 2-3 month but then I think by the summer there will be quite a few ryzen 9 3060/3070 QHD laptops.. again I think no mux switch

What I really need is this build with a ryzen 5800 for the same price... but I'm quite bored of looking/waiting now

I look at geenbench for CPU perfoemance.
My 8 yr old Asus 700 singe 3000 multi
10875h this build 1250 single 7800 multi (from generic results)
Ryzen 5800h1400 single 8000 multi
Ryzen 5900hx 1500 single 8600 multi

So maybe the 10875 is not so far behind, but still behind though it is available now... still in the 8 years since the Asus was built I thought CPU's would have got much faster...

Chassis & Display
Ionico Series: 17.3" Matte QHD 165Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1440)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 10875H (2.3GHz, 5.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 2933MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Ionico Series Integrated 91WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
IONICO 17 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
TongFang GM7MG0P (6GB RTX-3060, i7-10875H, 165Hz QHD, Blank KB)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
FAST TRACK 5 WORKING DAY DISPATCH
Price: £1,457.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/ionico-17/j6QPrcR!fb/

Sorry for late reply. Also, are you sure 500gb is enough storage?
I went with samsung 500gb for op sys. Yes way too big but fast. Another samsung 1Tb for games. Same ram and a 3070.
I am very happy. Noting your comments, I play HL Alyx on max settings wirelessly with OQ2. It's amazing and blows away normal OQ2 games. I also play MSFS20. I can run generally ultra @1440p and pretty good settings VR but better with link. I prefer OQ2 link to 2d screen for immersion. I could talk for hours about playing with settings on this but my take is that the ionico seems to punch above its weight.

 

[men8ifr]

H Paul Haha no problem, I ordered it earlier today but they had the 1tb fast SSD so I got that (they did not have stock when I posted this spec) , it's very good you can use Alyx on quest with max on your 3070 so my 3060 should be good but not maxed out which is fine for me. Lets face it any PC VR game graphics will be 10x better than the built in mobile processor it uses natively but hopefully with the laptop playing anywhere won't be a problem. Any other PC VR game recommendations?

 

[Paulbax]

H Paul Haha no problem, I ordered it earlier today but they had the 1tb fast SSD so I got that (they did not have stock when I posted this spec) , it's very good you can use Alyx on quest with max on your 3070 so my 3060 should be good but not maxed out which is fine for me. Lets face it any PC VR game graphics will be 10x better than the built in mobile processor it uses natively but hopefully with the laptop playing anywhere won't be a problem. Any other PC VR game recommendations?

Sorry. Tons on Steam but I only play MSFS and HLA at the moment. Filter steam for VR and there seems to be alot. You'll have to check reviews.

 

[men8ifr]

Bought Half Live Alyx yesterday as it was on offer for £27 from steam, got an email my laptop is being built so fingers crossed its done before the end of the week.