Got this monster on 21st Working day! It has been a looong wait, but first impressions, it was worth it even if one had to wait for a few more weeks ;-)
My Config:
Chassis & Display
Vortex Series: 15.6" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-3610QM (2.30GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M - 4.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB SEAGATE MOMENTUS XT HYBRID, SATA 3 Gb/s, (7200rpm)**SPECIAL**
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND (£9)
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Network Facilities
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® ADVANCED-N 6235 (300Mbps) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
To start with, the packaging was definitely sturdy, easy to unpack (though I did drop the behemoth sized adapter from 5 feet height cos it slipped right off the box when I held it in my left hand - So don't hold it in ur left hand alone!!). And yes, the adapter is still functional. Note: box was heavy - I need to hit the gym ASAP, though not sure now that I have received this baby! Self explanatory photos attached.
About the looks - its simply classic. I'm not the type who likes glittery objects (ex Alienware etc), all I need is a simple classy look and this undoubtedly has it. My roommates are totally mesmerized by its looks - and so am I!! The matte finish is brilliant. Coming to the keyboard - my Microsoft Sidewinder looks like a Sidekick in front of it. It would be an insult to Vortex if I were to compare these 2, but still for those who are interested....! All the buttons are in perfect condition, also the feel when you hit the buttons isn't bad at all. Once you use it, you'll like it even more. Though I did hit an issue when I installed the OS - some of the displayed secondary options in the keyboard got swapped. you need to set UK as your default Keyboard Language. Self explanatory photos attached again (SEPAA).
Now coming to the screen, the glossy screen is fantastic. Back home had a 32" Samsung LED TV 2011 edition - I was totally impressed by that and this definitely beats it. I dont have any "glare" problems because I've set my system up in such a manner. After watching this screen for 30 mins, I looked at my Samsung Galaxy S2 to see if I had received any mails / messages, and believe me when I say this, for a second I felt the the mobile screen just died on me and the brightness was so damn low that I felt like watching a 1980s movie in one of them crazy old Indian theaters!!! The brightness of my Galaxy S2 was set to 80% of the max when I looked at it, bummer!
No issues with the touch pad whatsoever, works perfect, but I'm not the type to use the touchpad. It just doesn't cut it! Got a Sharkoon Fireglider, works like a charm. Though my finger when gets sweaty kinda gets stuck on the tocuhpad. Not sure if it's my finger or the touchpad finish that is at fault. I wouldn't accept it even its my finger that is at fault - cant really replace it or cut it off just like that!!!
Coming to the sound quality of the in built speakers - they are decent. You could be contempt using this alone if you do not have any other speakers. But someone who has fine taste for quality output, this falls short by light-years! Back home I had a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series Sound Card and Sennheiser PC350. I also used Sennheiser HD 202 with Creative Sound card, and the bass HD 202 produced even blew away my PC350. And yes, PC350 is low on bass. I am not an audiophile, but I do like to hear it clean and clear! After using that setup for 2 years now, I'm not even going to try to explain how the sound output on HD 202 from this laptop is!!! I might open another thread to ask for advice on a decent external sound card.
I had opted for NO OS. Got the 30 days expiry warning when started. (SEPAA)
This is about I have done and noticed since yesterday. Also, did install Mass Effect 3 and play it for an hour with everything maxed out - not a hitch or a glitch! Need to do some bench marking. Will do it over this weekend and update the thread. Beware: Do not disable the Intel Display Adapter. I did that thinking 680M display would kick in, but the display went off and I had to restart the PC for about 10 times, when it sorted itself out on its own!
3D Mark11 Score:
http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3908517
http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3909282
P.S. Massive apologies for my pathetic English, and thank to the ones who read it patiently
My Config:
Chassis & Display
Vortex Series: 15.6" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-3610QM (2.30GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M - 4.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB SEAGATE MOMENTUS XT HYBRID, SATA 3 Gb/s, (7200rpm)**SPECIAL**
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND (£9)
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Network Facilities
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® ADVANCED-N 6235 (300Mbps) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
To start with, the packaging was definitely sturdy, easy to unpack (though I did drop the behemoth sized adapter from 5 feet height cos it slipped right off the box when I held it in my left hand - So don't hold it in ur left hand alone!!). And yes, the adapter is still functional. Note: box was heavy - I need to hit the gym ASAP, though not sure now that I have received this baby! Self explanatory photos attached.
About the looks - its simply classic. I'm not the type who likes glittery objects (ex Alienware etc), all I need is a simple classy look and this undoubtedly has it. My roommates are totally mesmerized by its looks - and so am I!! The matte finish is brilliant. Coming to the keyboard - my Microsoft Sidewinder looks like a Sidekick in front of it. It would be an insult to Vortex if I were to compare these 2, but still for those who are interested....! All the buttons are in perfect condition, also the feel when you hit the buttons isn't bad at all. Once you use it, you'll like it even more. Though I did hit an issue when I installed the OS - some of the displayed secondary options in the keyboard got swapped. you need to set UK as your default Keyboard Language. Self explanatory photos attached again (SEPAA).
Now coming to the screen, the glossy screen is fantastic. Back home had a 32" Samsung LED TV 2011 edition - I was totally impressed by that and this definitely beats it. I dont have any "glare" problems because I've set my system up in such a manner. After watching this screen for 30 mins, I looked at my Samsung Galaxy S2 to see if I had received any mails / messages, and believe me when I say this, for a second I felt the the mobile screen just died on me and the brightness was so damn low that I felt like watching a 1980s movie in one of them crazy old Indian theaters!!! The brightness of my Galaxy S2 was set to 80% of the max when I looked at it, bummer!
No issues with the touch pad whatsoever, works perfect, but I'm not the type to use the touchpad. It just doesn't cut it! Got a Sharkoon Fireglider, works like a charm. Though my finger when gets sweaty kinda gets stuck on the tocuhpad. Not sure if it's my finger or the touchpad finish that is at fault. I wouldn't accept it even its my finger that is at fault - cant really replace it or cut it off just like that!!!
Coming to the sound quality of the in built speakers - they are decent. You could be contempt using this alone if you do not have any other speakers. But someone who has fine taste for quality output, this falls short by light-years! Back home I had a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series Sound Card and Sennheiser PC350. I also used Sennheiser HD 202 with Creative Sound card, and the bass HD 202 produced even blew away my PC350. And yes, PC350 is low on bass. I am not an audiophile, but I do like to hear it clean and clear! After using that setup for 2 years now, I'm not even going to try to explain how the sound output on HD 202 from this laptop is!!! I might open another thread to ask for advice on a decent external sound card.
I had opted for NO OS. Got the 30 days expiry warning when started. (SEPAA)
This is about I have done and noticed since yesterday. Also, did install Mass Effect 3 and play it for an hour with everything maxed out - not a hitch or a glitch! Need to do some bench marking. Will do it over this weekend and update the thread. Beware: Do not disable the Intel Display Adapter. I did that thinking 680M display would kick in, but the display went off and I had to restart the PC for about 10 times, when it sorted itself out on its own!
3D Mark11 Score:
http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3908517
http://3dmark.com/3dm11/3909282
P.S. Massive apologies for my pathetic English, and thank to the ones who read it patiently
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