Razer Returns With the 'Most Powerful 14-inch Gaming Laptop' at E3 (cnet.com) 38
CNET News : We'll let Razer have its 5 minutes of E3 glory for the "world's fastest 14-inch gaming laptop," the Razer Blade 14. Razer's simply the first to announce one this size with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX -- also Razer's first AMD CPU in the Blade line -- and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 crammed inside. But a svelte, small, no-compromise (well, minimal compromise) gaming laptop from Razer is always welcome. Along with the laptop, the company launched a new wall charger, based on Gallium Nitride rather than silicon, its USB-C 130W GaN Charger. No weird names for that one. The last 14-inch Razer Blade debuted in 2017, and it makes sense that Razer would revive it for the 14-inch laptop renaissance that began around 2020. The 2021 Blade 14, as you'd expect, looks like a somewhat shrunken version of the 15-inch, though it's roughly the same thickness as the 15-inch at 16.8mm.
There will be three models of the Blade 14 at launch. All use the Ryzen 9 5900HX, with the same 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM and 720p webcam, as well as Razer's THX Spatial Audio, HDMI 2.1 and other ports and so on. The entry-level $1,800 model incorporates a 144Hz 1080p screen and an RTX 3060 GPU; for $2,200 you upgrade to an RTX 3070 with a 165Hz 1440p display, and $2,800 bumps that to an RTX 3080. The SSD is upgradable but the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, which is kind of a bummer. The screens support FreeSync Premium adaptive refresh through G-Sync compability mode. Razer rates the battery life at up to 12 hours, though it's likely in the ballpark of 10 hours based on what we've seen elsewhere. As you'd expect, the RTX 3080 isn't being pushed to the max in this system; the GPU power draw can range anywhere from 80 to 150 watts, and Razer takes the middle road at 100 watts. In comparison, the hefty 15-inch Asus ROG Strix Scar we're testing pulls down 130 watts.
There will be three models of the Blade 14 at launch. All use the Ryzen 9 5900HX, with the same 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM and 720p webcam, as well as Razer's THX Spatial Audio, HDMI 2.1 and other ports and so on. The entry-level $1,800 model incorporates a 144Hz 1080p screen and an RTX 3060 GPU; for $2,200 you upgrade to an RTX 3070 with a 165Hz 1440p display, and $2,800 bumps that to an RTX 3080. The SSD is upgradable but the RAM is soldered to the motherboard, which is kind of a bummer. The screens support FreeSync Premium adaptive refresh through G-Sync compability mode. Razer rates the battery life at up to 12 hours, though it's likely in the ballpark of 10 hours based on what we've seen elsewhere. As you'd expect, the RTX 3080 isn't being pushed to the max in this system; the GPU power draw can range anywhere from 80 to 150 watts, and Razer takes the middle road at 100 watts. In comparison, the hefty 15-inch Asus ROG Strix Scar we're testing pulls down 130 watts.
Soldered RAM (Score:4, Insightful)
The SSD is upgradable but the RAM is soldered to the motherboard
Lame
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(This is one of several reasons why I don't want one of these)
Mid teir it is (Score:1)
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It's not a 3080 though, it's a mobile 3080 which makes it closer to a 3070. Still paying a $1000 upgrade for a chip that MSRP's at $500 is pretty absurd.
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Which actually brings up an interesting idea: Most people seem to buy gaming laptops only to anchor them to a desk for 99% of the time. The main attraction is that it can be picked up and moved as a self contained unit and take up less space than a full sized desktop. What about ditching the laptop screen and keyboard and making what's essentially a very miniaturized and portable gaming
Re: Mid teir it is (Score:2)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
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"A RTX 3080 in a 1440p 14 inch display is massive overkill"
But not for VR, or external monitors.
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Plus I would imagine that all configurations are using the same thermal control hardware, so you've got more headroom in a lower wattage 3070 before throttling than with a 3080.
How's the cooling? (Score:3)
That's always my first question with gaming laptops. Second question is: how easy is it to open up and clean?
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I've also used FreeBSD since the late 90's, but every time I've tried it on a laptop... It wasn't the greatest experience (no suspend, etc).
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Water cooling that needs no pump! Hoses included!
It's just so stupid they would sell like hot cakes. But instead it heats water. Optional attachments for brewing coffee or tea.
Re: How's the cooling? (Score:3)
Water cooling without a pump is called a heat pipe
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And neither should any other cooling solution, unless you want to have to descale the heated elements inside on a regular basis, which >95% of people wouldn't bother with, and then wonder why their shit is slowing down after only a month or two of use.
There's a reason why distilled water is recommended for even your car's radiator, and that has a whole lot more surface area than anything you can fit inside a laptop.
Re: How's the cooling? (Score:2)
All heatpipes you see in a PC use plain distiled water
I'll buy it after my Razer Stealth 13 dies (soon) (Score:3, Interesting)
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What the fuck?
Why would changing the software load have anything to do with the warranty? That alone would make me avoid buying one of these like a leaky vat of Ebola-infected entrails.
Glad I didn't place an order for one of these, because I was actually waiting for the announcement before pulling the trigger on a new laptop purchase.
What is "E3"? (Score:2)
Fuck E3.
AORUS 15G, upgradable ram, great cooling, 105W GPU (Score:3)
Typing this comment from a "works out of the box" installation of linux from an Aorus 15G YC (the one with an RTX3080 setup for 105W max draw)
Thing screams, and doesn't get that hot - definitely not throttling.
2 SSD slots even, and the GPU is on it's own IOMMU so PCI passthrough for KVM gaming should work
https://www.gigabyte.com/WebPa... [gigabyte.com]
Soldered ram, who would do such a thing?
What a waste. (Score:3, Insightful)
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To check the marketing box saying it has a camera. If you need 4k, get a 4k camera and plug it in.
Do you really expect them to thicken the bezel in order to fit a camera in there that 10% of the intended market will care about?
Anyone streaming anything even semi-pro won't be using a 14" laptop to do it. They'll have a desktop with a real camera plugged in, and a real GPU that doesn't thermal throttle in the middle of trying to stream stuff.
"Gaming" laptop. (Score:2)
Amazing how we'll shove all manner of tech under the keyboard, and then bolt it to a 14" screen. The executive assistant's laptop, has more real estate than that. Sure, that's an amazing screen. Compared to a smartphone.
I'd imagine this thing isn't exactly Bendgate-thin, and earns an "Air" moniker based on weight. Couldn't find justification for a larger screen on a gaming system? Really?
It's like building a Ferrari with a four-banger.
14" screen... (Score:1)
Gaming Laptop (Score:2)
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Is the need to game so great that you need a laptop? You can't go home and play your games there? For half the cost, you could get a gaming desktop with better performance, no heat issues, and no swelling battery. Gaming laptops have always been an absurd luxury, and one that I see more complaints about than any other tech product.
This.
Oh, and if you kids think you are suffering with the idea of a modern desktop, I had to lug a pair of 22" Sun CRTs and a chassis the size of a large toddler to LAN parties back in the day. Uphill. Both ways.
Almost changed my gamer tag to Hernia Nutsacker.
I'm waiting for 15" (Score:2)
I figure eventually they'll have a 15" version with a THX-certified panel a