Don't know which computer to buy (Advanced/Power use)

The Razer Blade 2017 is one of the best gaming laptop lineups in the market, and its fully configurable RGB keyboard backlight is one of Razer's most distinctive selling features.

The Razer Blade 2017 was released just in time for the 2017 holiday season; this new version features a full HD or 4K display, a 7th gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad core Kaby Lake processor and the much loved Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card.

The Razer Blade's main drawback is the loudness of its cooling system. It would be the perfect Windows alternative to the high end MacBook Pro if only it weren’t so excessivly loud!

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Killer Wireless AC Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac w/Bluetooth 4.1 Combo Card

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3, Audio, HDMI, DisplayPort

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Battery: 70Wh Li-Ion

• Weight; 1.9kg

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 146 Points (One of the highest single core scores)

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   747 Points (Great score for an extremely powerful CPU)

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  16050 (High score, perfect for gaming)

Reviews on other sites

This model got excellent reviews with an overall rating of 86% (Notebookcheck) and 3.8/5 Stars (Amazon)

Pros:

• Rigid, thin, sleek and high quality metal chassis
• Great Wi-Fi performance
• Very good 4K display
• Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI 2.0 ports

Contras:

• Fingerprint magnet
• Very loud under gaming sessions
• No SD Card reader
• Short battery life

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for any gamer enthusiast looking for the most powerful compact gaming laptop as possible.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The HP Z238 is an entry-level workstation desktop PC designed for creative professionals that don't need powerful 3D graphics capabilities.

The combo of the powerful quad core Intel Core i5-7500 and integrated HD Graphics 630 help this workstation being a valid companion to every serious photo/video editor.

The Z238 has been especially designed for heavy duty CPU and 2D graphics computations and, like all HP Workstations, has been thoroughly tested under extreme conditions.

This compact workstation is fully modular and easily upgradable, and if you need an inexpensive yet powerful, mainly used for 2D creativity workstation that will last in time, the HP Z238 is probably the best solution on the market.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Gigabit Ethernet

• Ports: 3xDisplayPort, Serial, PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, 4xUSB 3.0, 6xUSB 2.0, RJ-45, 4x Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 162 Points (One of the highest single core scores)

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   617 Points (Excellent score)

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  1914 (Low score, but better than most Intel integrated graphics)

At just 715$, the HP Z238 is a total deal and thanks to its modularity and expandability, a seemingly perfect entry into the creatives workstation world.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

This ultrathin beast of a convertible laptop is perfect for every business use, and, thanks to its Nvidia Quadro GPU, is a good entry-level workstation for professional 3D modeling and CAD engineers. It's Gaming-suitable as well, but you can find much less expensive and better performing alternatives for that.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Intel i219-LM Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 8260 w/Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (usually everything you need for Cabled and Wi-Fi connectivity)

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, Audio, Ethernet and Docking Station Support (great selection of ports that can be expanded thanks to the docking station socket)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

• Weight; 1.83kg (extremely lightweight for workstation standards)

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Engineers and other 3D professionals who need a powerful and versatile convertible laptop.
• Enterprise users who need some serious 3D graphics capabilities.

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 132 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   302 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  2629 

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews (77% Notebookcheck and 5 Stars on Amazon).

Pros:

• Quiet operation
• Versatility
• System performance
• The digitizer pen is already included
• Great typing experience only Lenovo can provide.

Contras:

• Relatively high system temperatures
• Glossy screen
• Overall good but unimpressive speakers.

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer an ideal choice for engineers and other 3D graphics professionals that are in need something more powerful and versatile than an iPad Pro but don't want to sacrifice portability.

You can buy right now for about 1600$ on Amazon.com

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This review was last updated on June 1st, 2016. It is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay. 

This powerful business laptop is an extremely valid gaming machine as well. Thanks to its rare combination of features the MSI prestige packs in the great performance of a gaming laptop, combined with the style, design and features of a business laptop.

Other characteristics

• Networking; Atheros AR8161/8165 Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (everything needed for cabled and wireless connectivity)

• Ports: USB 3.1 Type-C, 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, 3,5mm headphone, 3,5mm Microphone (great selection of ports, lacks only a docking station)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Professional 64bit

• Weight; 2.41kg (standard weight for high end laptops)

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Gamers that want a lot of performance in a less aggressive and more stylish design.
• Business users that want a great amount of graphics power without breaking the bank with an ultra-expensive workstation.
• Professional Photographers and Video Editors, thanks to its high quality IPS screen with almost full SRGB coverage.

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 148 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   672 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  5775

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 82% (82% on Notebookcheck), this computer has an above-average rating.

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Powerful quad speakers with subwoofer
• Keyboard backlighting
• Easy maintenance
• Keys with backlighting
• Amazing screen
• USB 3.1 type-C port

Contras:

• Lack of rigidity of the display lid
• Short battery life, which sadly is typical of this kind of High End/High Performance laptops

Conclusion

The MSI PE60 6QE Prestige iBuyPower Edition is a great choice if you are willing to spend some extra bucks for an extremely powerful, stylish and versatile machine.

You can buy and configure it on iBuyPower or directly on Amazon.

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This review was last updated on June 1st, 2016. It is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The HP Pavilion Gaming 15-ab102nl/ak113nl is a great upper mid-range gaming laptop! Great performance combined with an ultra-aggressive design, a wonderful display and a boatload of storage, the honest pricing makes it a very desirable gaming laptop.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek RTL8101/2/3 Fast Ethernet + Wi-Fi b/g/n w/Bluetooth 4.0 (Sadly this is the weakest point of the Pavilion Gaming series, Ethernet is limited to 100MBPs and lacks the latest Wi-Fi ac Standard)

• Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, RJ-45, Audio 3.5mm  (Average selection of ports for a multimedia laptop)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.38kg (Relatively lightweight for a gaming laptop)

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Gamers that are happy with playing all the latest games as of 2016 at high details and FullHD resolution.
• Multimedia enthusiast looking for a super aggressive design.

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews (78% Notebookcheck and 5 Stars on Amazon).

Pros:

• Matte IPS display
• Cool green backlighted keyboard
• Great balance between hardware components
• Fast and large storage.

Contras:

• Relatively difficult upgradability
• Short warranty

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer an ideal choice for gamers and multimedia enthusiast alike in search of a powerful laptop at a very honest price.

You can buy it right now for about 1199$ on Amazon.com

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This review was last updated on June 1st, 2016. It is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Asus K501 is a great 15.6" laptop suitable for gamers and multimedia fan alike. Although the Nvidia GeForce GTX 950M is not-apt for ultra hardcore gaming, it can still play the vast majority of games in full HD. Users will appreciate its sturdy chassis, powerful speakers, it's very high quality IPS matte display, and a keyboard that offers an amazing, almost Lenovo level, typing experience. Overall, the price/performance ratio is extremely good and this laptop is worth all the money.

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0 (All you will need for cabled and Wi-Fi connectivity)

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, USB 3.0 Type-C, HDMI, miniDisplayPort, RJ-45, Audio 3.5mm

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.5kg

Reviews on other sites

This model got very good reviews (85% Notebookcheck and 4 Stars on Amazon).

Pros:

• Gorgeous display
• High performance Intel Core i7 and Nvidia Graphics
• Great and stable network interface
• Awesome design

Contras:

• Small keypad
• ASUS used the 2GB version of the GeForce GTX 950M instead of the 4GB one used by the HP Pavilion 15 Gaming.

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer an ideal choice for PC gamers on a relatively tight budget that, at the same time, don't want to sacrifice too much performance.

You can buy right now for about 749$ on Amazon.com

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This review was last updated on June 1st, 2016. It is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Acer Aspire V17 Nitro is a 17" All-Around multimedia laptop with a gaming twist. This laptop features a great matte IPS display, a GeForce 945M graphics card suitable for gaming combined with a high performance 6th gen Core i5 from Intel for your applications and multimedia tasks and a fast & large 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive for storage.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek Gigabit Ethernet + Qualcomm Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0 (usually everything you need for LAN and Wi-Fi connectivity)

• Ports: USB 2.0, 3xUSB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, 3,5mm Audio Jack, USB Type-C (great selection of ports! Almost workstation like...)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 3.1kg (as most gaming laptops, it's a bit heavy)

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews (84% Notebookcheck).

Pros:

• High quality chassis
• Superb keyboard
• Ultra-high speed USB Type-C port
• High contrast IPS screen with perfect viewing angle
• Good multimedia and gaming performance
• Outstanding price/performance ratio

Contras:

• Extremely difficult upgradability

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer an ideal choice for every multimedia and gaming enthusiast in search of a large and powerful do-it-all machine with an outstanding battery life and a relatively low price.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Acer Predator G6-710 in an unstoppable war machine!

This giant is ready to defeat your enemies and offer you the best gaming experience in FullHD. The last technology is embedded here, like a powerful Quad Core Intel Core i5-6600K, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 Graphics, the proprietary Acer IceTunnel cooling system and many other functions exclusively dedicated to gaming.

Full Specs here:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K Quad Core 3.5Ghz (3.9Ghz Turbo Boost) 6MB L3 Cache 91W TDP
• CHISPET: Intel Z170 Express
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 2GB GDDR5
• RAM: 8GB DDR4-2133 Single Channel
• STORAGE: 1TB SSHD 5400 RPM 8GB SSD Cache
• AUDIO: Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi
• CONNECTIVITY: 2xUSB 2.0, 6xUSB 3.0, 6xAudio 3.5mm, Ethernet, 2xDVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD Card Reader
• NETWORKING: Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0
• KEYBOARD: Acer Keyboard USB
• MOUSE: ACER Mouse USB
• PSU: 730W
• OPERATING SYSTEM: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64bit

This Gaming Desktop has an attractive futuristic design. Many programmable LEDs are visible through the chassis.

This advanced gaming PC hosts a powerful 6th gen Intel Core i7, a powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 and DDR4 memory almost twice as fast as the old DDR3, plus all the ASUS technologies like SonicMaster, GameAlive and Aegis II are present in this computer.

Full Specs ahead:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 (Skylake-S) 3,4-4Ghz 4 Cores / 8 Threads 9MB Cache 64bit 65W TDP
• CHIPSET: Intel H170
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 950 2GB GDDR5
• RAM: 16GB DDR4-2133 (Dual Channel)
• STORAGE: 1TB SATA III 7200RPM Hard Drive
• NETWORKING: Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi n
• CONNECTIVITY: HDMI, VGA, 6-In-1 Smart Card Reader, Ethernet, 10xUSB 2,0, 4xUSB 3.1, 2xAudio 3,5mm, 
• OPTICAL DRIVE: Yes
• PSU: 300W
• OPERATING SYSTEM: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64bit

The Acer Aspire At3-710 is a good all-around multimedia PC. It features a powerful 6th Gen Intel Core i7 (which is great for video or photo editing), 8GB DDRL-1600 and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 745 Graphics Card, giving this desktop a decent gaming performance at medium settings.

Specs here:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 (Skylake-S) 3,4-4Ghz 4 Cores / 8 Threads 9MB Cache 64bit 65W TDP
• CHIPSET: Intel H110
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 745 w/4GB DDR3
• NETWORKING: Gigabit Ethernet  + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi ac/Bluetooth 4.0
• RAM: 8GB DDR3L-1600 Single Channel
• STORAGE: 1TB SATA III 7.200RPM Hard Drive
• CONNECITIVITY: DVI, HDMI, SD Card Reader, 4xUSB 3.0, 2xUSB 2.0, Ethernet, 4xAudio 3.5mm, 
• OPTICAL DRIVE: Yes
• KEYBOARD: Acer Keyboard
• MOUSE: Acer Mouse
• PSU: 300W
• Operating System; Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64bit

The Acer Predator G6-710 in an unstoppable war machine.

This giant is ready to defeat your enemies and offer you the best gaming experience in 2K Ultra HD. The last technology is embedded here, like a powerful Quad Core / Octa Threaded Intel Core i7-6700K, Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 Graphics, the proprietary Acer IceTunnel cooling system and many other functions dedicated to gaming.

Full Specs here:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K Quad Core / Octa Thread 4Ghz (4.2Ghz Turbo Boost) 8MB L3 Cache 91W TDP
• CHISPET: Intel Z170 Express
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 4GB GDDR5
• RAM: 8GB DDR4-2133 Single Channel
• STORAGE: 2TB SSHD 5400 RPM 8GB SSD Cache
• AUDIO: Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi
• CONNECTIVITY: 2xUSB 2.0, 6xUSB 3.0, 6xAudio 3.5mm, Ethernet, 2xDVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD Card Reader
• NETWORKING: Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0
• KEYBOARD: Acer Keyboard USB
• MOUSE: ACER Mouse USB
• PSU: 730W
• OPERATING SYSTEM: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64bit

This powerful business laptop is an extremely valid gaming machine as well. Thanks to its rare combination of features, the MSI prestige packs in the great performance of a gaming laptop combined with the style, design and features of a business laptop.

Other characteristics

• Networking; Atheros AR8161/8165 Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (everything needed for cabled and wireless connectivity).

• Ports: USB 3.1 Type-C, 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, 3,5mm headphone, 3,5mm Microphone (great selection of ports, lacks only a docking station).

• Operating system: Windows 10 Professional 64bit

• Weight; 2.41kg (standard weight for high end laptops)

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Gamers that want a lot of performance in a less aggressive and more stylish design.
• Business users that want a great amount of graphics power without breaking the bank with an ultra-expensive workstation.
• Professional photographers and video editors, thanks to its high quality IPS screen with almost full SRGB coverage.

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 82% (on Notebookcheck), this computer has an above-average rating.

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Powerful quad speakers with subwoofer
• Keyboard backlighting
• Easy maintenance
• Amazing screen
• USB 3.1 type-C port

Contras:

• Lack of rigidity of the display lid, but it may be an isolated case
• Short battery life, which, sadly, is typical of this kind of High End/High Performance laptops

Conclusion

The MSI PE60 6QE Prestige iBuyPower Edition is a great choice if you are willing to spend some extra bucks for an extremely powerful, stylish and versatile machine.

You can buy and configure it on iBuyPower or directly on Amazon.

--
This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Black Edition is a powerful and relatively lightweight gaming laptop. This laptop features a great matte 4K IPS display and a GeForce GTX 960M graphics card that, in combination with high performance Quad Core 6th gen Core i7 from intel, is great for high detail gaming and for all your applications and multimedia tasks. The combination of a fast 512GB SSD, together with a large 1TB Hard Disk, offers awesome storage performance and size.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek Gigabit Ethernet + Qualcomm Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0 (usually everything you need for LAN and Wi-Fi connectivity)

• Ports: USB 2.0, 3xUSB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort Ethernet, 3,5mm Audio Jack, Thunderbolt 3 (great selection of ports! Almost workstation like...)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.3kg (as most gaming laptops it is a bit heavy)

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews (85% Notebookcheck and 4/5 Stars on Amazon).

Pros:

• High quality chassis
• Superb keyboard
• Ultra-high speed Thunderbolt 3 port
• High contrast 4K IPS screen with perfect viewing angle and matte coating
• Great multimedia and gaming performance
• Outstanding price/performance ratio

Contras:

• Extremely difficult upgradability

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer an ideal choice for every multimedia and gaming enthusiast in search of a portable and powerful do-it-all machine with an outstanding battery life and performance at a relatively low price.

You can but this powerful gaming laptop on Amazon.

--
This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Asus G501VW is a powerful and lightweight gaming laptop. This laptop features a great matte FullHD IPS display, a GeForce GTX 960M graphics card that, in combination with high performance Quad Core 6th gen Core i7 from intel, is great for high detail gaming and for all your applications and multimedia tasks. The combination of a fast 128GB SSD, together with a large 1TB Hard Disk offers awesome storage performance and size. This Laptop is a valid alternative to the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro Gaming Edition if you are looking for something equivalent but more light and portable.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.0 (this PC lacks Ethernet and has only Wi-Fi connectivity)

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, 3,5mm Audio Jack, Thunderbolt 3 (great selection of ports! Almost workstation like...)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2kg

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews (84% Notebookcheck).

Pros:

• High quality chassis
• Superb keyboard
• Ultra-high speed Thunderbolt 3 port
• High contrast FullHD IPS screen with perfect viewing angle and matte coating
• Great multimedia and gaming performance and outstanding price/performance ratio

Contras:

• Lack of LAN Ethernet Port

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer a good choice for gaming enthusiast in search of a portable and powerful do-it-all machine with an outstanding battery life and performance that is a bit less heavy and portable than the competition.

You can but this powerful gaming laptop on Amazon

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The 2016's Pavilion 17 Touch is a mix between a multimedia notebook and a gaming notebook. It's more powerful than what its simple yet stylish plastic and metal design would otherwise suggest, and its excellent cooling system can cool all this laptop's powerful components with ease. The Pavilion 17 Touch 2016 is a valid competitor for the crown of most stylish and modern looking gaming laptop on the market.

Key Specifications

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (everything needed for cabled and wireless connectivity)

• Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, 3,5mm audio, SD card Reader (average selection of ports nothing exceptional)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 3kg

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 148 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   672 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  5775

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 76% (76% on Notebookcheck and 4.5/5 Stars on Amazon) this computer has an above-average rating.

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Keyboard backlighting
• Amazing screen
• Extremely long battery life
• Keys with backlighting
• Presence of a DVD Drive

Contras:

• Rigidity of the display lid
• Lack of USB ports
• Poor touchpad

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Gamers that want a lot of performance in a less aggressive and more stylish design.
• Professional Photographers and Video Editors, thanks to its high quality IPS screen with an almost full SRGB coverage.

Conclusion

If you are a gamer looking for something more modern and classy than the average gaming laptop and you don't need a lot of USB ports this may be the right choice for you, but if you are looking for more ports connectivity at a slightly higher price the MSI Prestige P70 may be a better choice.

You can buy it on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The 2016's Pavilion 15 Touch is a mix between a multimedia notebook and a gaming notebook. It's more powerful than what its simple yet stylish plastic and metal design would otherwise suggest, and its excellent cooling system can cool all this laptop's powerful components with ease.  The Pavilion 15 Touch 2016 is a valid competitor for the crown of MSI Prestige PE60 for the most stylish and modern looking gaming laptop on the market.

Key Specifications

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (everything needed for cabled and wireless connectivity)

• Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, 3,5mm audio, SD card Reader (average selection of ports nothing exceptional)

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 3kg

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 80% (70% on Notebookcheck and 4.5/5 Stars on Amazon) this computer has an above-average rating.

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Keyboard backlighting
• Amazing screen
• Extremely long battery life

Contras:

• Lack of rigidity of the display lid
• Lack of USB ports
• Poor touchpad

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Gamers that want a lot of performance in a less aggressive and more stylish design.
• Professional Photographers and Video Editors, thanks to its high quality IPS screen with an almost full SRGB coverage.

Conclusion

If you are a gamer looking for something more modern and classy than the average gaming laptop and you don't need a lot of USB ports this may be the right choice for you, but if you are looking for more ports connectivity at a slightly higher price, the MSI Prestige P60 may be a better choice.

You can buy it on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

If you are an engineer looking for a laptop that is capable of running all your advanced CAD projects with ease without breaking your back, The HP Zbook 15 G3 can be your ideal choice.

This mobile workstation is incredibly thin and light for workstation standards (less than 3kg) and packs the incredible power of the Intel Xeon E3-1505M v5 processor combined with a powerful, CAD/Maya/3D Studio+ optimized, mid-range professional 3D accelerator from Nvidia (Quadro M1000M).

Like all HP Z series computers, the system has been tested with military standards MIL-810 for working in extreme conditions of heat and humidity.

The system can, of course, run modern videogames pretty well, but if you are a gamer it may be better for you to save your bucks and buy the equivalent HP Pavilion 15 Touch , since it can offer about the same level of gaming performance at a much lower price.

Key Specifications

Other characteristics

• Networking; Intel I219LM Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card (everything needed for cabled and wireless connectivity)

• Ports: 4xUSB 3.0, 2xThunderbolt 3, HDMI 1.4, VGA, Ethernet, 3,5mm audio, SD card Reader (Awesome connectivity!)

• Operating system: Windows 7 Professional 64bit + Windows 10 Pro 64bit

• Weight; 2.6kg

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Engineers and 3D modeling professionals looking for a powerful and portable device.
• Gamers that want a lot of performance in a less aggressive and more stylish design.
• Professional Photographers and Video Editors, thanks to its high quality IPS screen with an almost full SRGB coverage.

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 4.5/5 stars (4.5/5 Stars on LaptopMag) this computer has an above-average rating.

Key points mentioned in the reviews & our take on them:

• Not surprisingly, this model gets a lot of praise for its excellent performance, for being one of the most lightweight workstations ever made, and its stylish and classy design.

• LaptopMag criticizes the excellent, but a bit too dim display, and its relatively high temperatures near the cooling vents.

Conclusion

The HP Zbook 15 G3 is one of the best workstations on the market, if you are a professional 3D graphics artist and you can tolerate the high operating temperatures, you will find a classy and powerful travel companion, if you just plan to play videogames you should definitely buy the similar HP Pavilion 15 Touch instead.

You can buy it on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The Dell Alienware 13 R3 is the best and most powerful 13" windows PC to date! Sure, this PC is much heavier than most 13,3" laptops and really, really expensive, but by looking at the overall specs, you will soon realize this PC is top quality! Recomended to anyone willing to pay ~1800$ (especially hardcore gamers) thanks to its high-end Quad core 7th Gen core i7-7700HQ and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Graphics!

Other characteristics

• Networking; Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet + Killer Wireless-AC Wi-Fi ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 (supports the latest Wi-Fi ac standard 866MBPs)

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, 2xDisplayPort, 3,5mm audio

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.46kg

Application Performance

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ is, as of early 2017, the most powerful mobile CPU. This quad core/ octa threaded processor is capable of blazing through every workload with no problems.

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Power users who travel very often and need a very lightweight travel companion, but need an impressive amount of performance.
• "Core" Gamers: This machine is a video games enthusiast's dream!
• The Multimedia enthusiast, thanks to its good speakers & Intel Quicksync Video Encoder/Decoder this system is great for music and videos.

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 162 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   762 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  10805

Gaming Benchmarks:

• Bioshock Infinite (Ultra 1080P.): (Playable)
• Battlefield 4 (Ultra 1080P.): (Playable)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: (Ultra 1080P.): (Playable)

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 88% (Notebookcheck.net), this computer has an excellent rating and ranks at #1 in the Top 10 Gaming Laptops.

Pros:

• Compact and study chassis
• Amazing OLED Touchscreen
• Overall performance
• Good keyboard with backlight
• Connectivity, upgradability
• Fast storage
• Thunderbolt 3
• Basically everything!

Contras:

• Weight
• Lack of SD Card Reader

Conclusion

If you are a gamer/power user looking for the best laptop under 14" well.... with the Alienware 13 R3 you may have found your ideal PC.

You can buy it on Amazon.

The Gigabyte P55W v7 is a great choice if you are looking for an high end gaming laptop at a relatively cheap price. The corners cut by Gigabyte to lower the computer's price has been chosen very wisely and everything needed by the average gamer, like e.g. high end graphics, quad core processor and lots of RAM and storage, are all here.

Other characteristics

• Networking; Gigabit Ethernet + Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 (supports the latest Wi-Fi ac standard (866MBPs)

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, 3,5mm audio, Ethernet, SD Card Reader.

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit.

• Weight; 2.63kg

Application Performance

The Intel Core i7-7700HQ is, as of early 2017, the most powerful mobile CPU. This quad core / octa threaded processor is capable of blazing through every type of workload with no problems at all.

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• Power users who travel very often and need a very lightweight travel companion, but need an impressive amount of performance.
• "Core" Gamers: This machine is a video games enthusiast's dream!
• The Multimedia enthusiast: Thanks to its good speakers & Intel Quicksync Video Encoder/Decoder, this system is great for music and videos.

Gaming Benchmarks:

• Bioshock Infinite (Ultra 1920x1080): (Playable)
• Battlefield 4 (Ultra 1920x1080): (Playable)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: (Ultra 1920x1080): (Playable)

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 84% on Notebookcheck.net and 4.7/5.0 stars on Amazon, this computer has an excellent rating.

Pros:

• Impeccable build and sturdy chassis
• Long battery life
• Lot of gaming power for a cheap price
• Good keyboard
• USB 3.1 Type- C Port
• Great matte IPS display from LG

Contras:

• Loud
• Relatively slow SSD if compared to the competition
• Lack of Thunderbolt 3 Connector

Conclusion

If you are a gamer/power user, looking for the best bang for the bucks the Gigabyte P55W v7 may be your ideal PC.

You can buy it on Amazon.

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This "review" is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The newly released HP ProBook 640 G3 features the latest 7th gen Intel core i5 processor and thus its processing power and graphic performance are much improved if compared to the 2016 ProBook 640 G2. Other than this, nothing else changed, and the HP Probook 640 still remains one of the best (if not the best) upper mid-range business laptops. This PC's only serious drawback is the lack of a backlit keyboard that, for the computer's price range, should be standard nowadays.

Other characteristics

• Networking; Intel i219-V Gigabit Ethernet + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n/h/ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 (supports the latest Wi-Fi ac standard 866MBPs)

• Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, USB 3.0 Type-C, VGA, DisplayPort, Serial, SD Card Reader, 3,5mm audio, Docking Station, Fingerprint Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

• Optical Drive: Yes

• Weight; 1.95kg

The Intel Core i5-7200U is one of the most powerful 15W CPUs ever made, this dual core / quad threaded processor is capable of blazing through most workloads with ease.

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 124 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   289 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  1518 

Gaming Benchmarks:

• Bioshock Infinite (Low 1366x768): (Playable)
• Battlefield 4: (Unplayable)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: (Unplayable)

Reviews on other sites

With an overall rating of 86% on Notebookcheck.net, this computer has a very good rating.

Pros:

• Fast NVMe SSD Storage
• Quiet cooling system
• Docking port
• USB Type-C
• 4G LTE support
• Great keyboard

Contras:

• Display that, even if very bright has a very low contrast ratio
• Lack of keyboard backlight

(Typical) user groups

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for:

• "Road Warriors" in need of a very versatile travel companion packed with a good amount of processor performance and connectivity features.
• Enterprise professionals will find this PC an excellent companion.

Conclusion

The HP Probook 640 G3 is a great choice if you are a professional looking for a powerful, sturdy and versatile machine.

You can buy it for 930$ on Amazon.

The new HP Pavilion 15 Power is the stronger and most recommendable of the Pavilion series of multimedia computers. Compared to the previous Pavilions, the "Power" is a huge upgrade especially regarding system stability (the 2016 Pavilion 15/17 and 2015 Pavilion 17 models suffered of sudden random system reboots and crashes). The HP Pavilion 15 Power's chassis has been redesigned, making the system much cooler. The keyboard also benefits of the renewed chassis stability. Gaming performance is good, thanks to its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050, roughly on par with the 2016 HP Pavilion 15/17 models and entry-level 2016 HP Omen laptops.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek RTL8168/1111Gigabit Ethernet(1GBPs) + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/h/n/ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Card

• Ports: 3xUSB 3.0, USB 3.0 Type-C, HDMI, Ethernet, Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.4kg

Reviews on other sites

This model got good reviews with an overall rating of 82% (Notebookcheck)

Pros:

• Powerful graphics card
• Dual storage bay that supports NVMe SSDs
• Good FullHD IPS display
• Stronger and much improved chassis and system stability
• No CPU throttling and great battery life.

Contras:

• Uneven surface temperatures
• Slightly weaker hinge (compared to older models)
• Loudness under full load,
• Difficult upgradability and spongy touchpad

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for gamers looking for a good, all around gaming device at the lowest price possible without any compromise other than not being able to play in 4K. 

You can buy it for 1000$ on Amazon

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The new Omen 17 is a bigger, more expensive, more powerful and much more "badass" looking alternative to the HP Pavilion 15 Power and HP Omen 15t gaming notebook PCs. The build quality is top notch and it features a DVD Drive, which the Pavilion 15 Power lacks. The price is very good and the components used are well balanced and powerful. For storage the Omen 17 uses a blazing fast PCIe SSD for the OS and a large 1TB 7.200RPM Hard Drive for all your multimedia. Gaming is great on the installed FullHD screen thanks to its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, designed to play every game at ultra-high at that display resolution. Sadly, all this power makes it even louder and hotter than its smaller Pavilion 15 Power cousin does, so headset use is highly encouraged during the hottest gaming sessions!

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek RTL8168/1111Gigabit Ethernet(1GBPs) + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/h/n/ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Card

• Ports: 4xUSB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.9kg

Reviews on other sites

This model got good to excellent reviews with an overall rating of 80% (Notebookcheck) and 5/5 stars on Amazon.

Pros:

• Fast SSD and large Hard Drive Storage,
• User replaceable battery
• Aggressive yet classy design, ,
• Fast processor and graphics
• 16GB RAM
• Long battery life and extremely good price/performance ratio.

Contras:

• Loud fan noise
• High temperatures
• Some screen bleeding,
• Poor touchpad and difficult upgradability

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for gamers looking for a good, all around gaming device without any compromise other than not being able to play in 4K. 

You can buy it for 1200$ on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The new Omen 15t is a more expensive, powerful but much more "badass" looking alternative to the HP Pavilion 15 Power gaming notebook PC. The build quality is good but less impressive than the one of its bigger sibling the HP Omen 17. The price is very good and the components used are well balanced and powerful for the fullHD resolution this laptop targets. For storage the Omen 15, uses a blazing fast NVMe SSD from Samsung for the OS and a large HGST Travelstar 1TB with 7.200RPM and 32MB cache Hard Drive for all your multimedia. Gaming is great on thanks to its Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti that is designed to play every game at ultra-high details at that display resolution. Sadly, all this power makes it even louder and hotter than its Pavilion 15 Power cousin does, so headset use is highly encouraged during the hottest gaming sessions.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Realtek RTL8168/1111Gigabit Ethernet(1GBPs) + Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC7265 Wi-Fi a/b/g/h/n/ac w/Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Card

• Ports: 2xUSB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Home 64bit

• Weight; 2.25kg

Reviews on other sites

This model got good to excellent reviews with an overall rating of 82% (Notebookcheck) and 5/5 stars on Amazon.

Pros:

• Good system performance
• Fast SSD and large Hard Drive
• DDR4-2400 RAM
• Long battery runtime
• Excellent gaming performance at 1080P
• Smart port positioning
• Keyboard backlighting
• Compact, slick and lightweight chassis

Contras:

• Loud fan noise
• Lack of modern ports like Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort
• Good but average display
• The chassis feels much weaker if compared to the one of the HP Omen 17
• Difficult upgradability
• Good but unimpressive speakers

Conclusion

The above characteristics make this computer a great choice for gamers looking for a good all-around gaming device without any compromise other than not being able to play in 4K. 

You can buy it for 1260$ on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

The HP Z238 is an entry-level workstation desktop PC designed for creative professionals not in need of powerful 3D graphics capabilities.

The combination of the powerful quad core Intel Core i5-7500, integrated HD Graphics 630 and fast 256GB Solid State Drive help this workstation being a valid companion to every serious photo/video editor.

The Z238 has been especially designed for heavy duty CPU and 2D graphics computations and, like all HP workstations, has been thoroughly tested under extreme conditions.

This compact workstation is fully modular and easily upgradable. If you need an inexpensive, yet powerful workstation mainly for 2D creativity that will last in time, the HP Z238 is probably the best solution on the market.

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Gigabit Ethernet

• Ports: 3xDisplayPort, Serial, PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, 4xUSB 3.0, 6xUSB 2.0, RJ-45. 4X Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

Benchmarks & Tests (Learn more about benchmarks)

Processor (Tested with Cinebench R15).

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 162 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   617 Points

 
Graphics Benchmarks: (Tested with 3DMark11)

• 3DMark 11:  1914

Conclusion

At just 760$, the Solid State Drive based version of the HP Z238, is a great deal, thanks to its modularity and expandability, a seemingly perfect entry into the creatives workstations world.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.

Powered for business, the HP ProDesk 600 SFF is a highly expandable PC featuring flexible connectivity options, strong security and comprehensive manageability, features in a stylishly redesigned chassis for the modern workplace.

Probably the most secure Small Form Factor Desktop PC on the market, it features all the most powerful and advanced security and remote management technologies, from HP BioSphere secure booting to HP's WorkWise and PhoneWise remote control mobile phone apps.

The Intel Core i5-7500 quad core processor and integrated Intel HD Graphics 630 offer great performance and the best video quality for office applications and, if you need advanced 3D graphics, you can even upgrade it to a more powerful discrete AMD or Nvidia Graphics Card .

Key characteristics

Other characteristics

• Networking; Gigabit Ethernet

• Ports: 3xDisplayPort, Serial, PS/2 Mouse, PS/2 Keyboard, 2xUSB 3.0, 6xUSB 2.0, RJ-45. 4X Audio, SD Card Reader

• Operating system: Windows 10 Pro 64bit

Benchmarks & Tests (learn more about those benchmark tests)

    Processor Speed (Powered by Cinebench)

• Cinebench R15 Single Core: 162 Points

• Cinebench R15 Multi Core:   617 Points

    Graphics Speed (Powered by 3Dmark 11)

• 3DMark 11 Overall: 1964 Points

Conclusion

The HP ProDesk 600 G3 is one of, if not the best, Small Form Factor enterprise class desktop PC and is a highly recommended to every medium/big business.

You can buy the HP ProDesk 600 G3 on Amazon.

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This review is part of the Solutionbay product reviews and may contain affiliate links but is committed to being 100% objective. Read more about product reviews on Solutionbay.