PC Specialist laptops?
Discussion
Hi all,
In search of a new laptop - I'm thinking of getting something that can do a bit of gaming but will be mostly used for work, programming and graphic design so will need some power anyway.
However a lot of the "gaming" laptops are totally bling, with silly lights all over them... So not the look for meetings and the like.
I was looking at the Gigabyte Aero, but the 4k screen is quite expensive.
Then saw the PC Specialists - their laptops are pretty reasonable prices, however they're not much of a known brand... I see Curry's sell them, so they must be OK, but are they any good? The customisation choices are nice and if the chassis and motherboard are good then I'd think they'll be worth a look?
Or any other options? I'd be keen to get something with an Intel 11th or 12th Gen i7, and RTX 3070 or 3080 - max of about £2k (inc VAT) but less would be better
Any advise would be appreciated.
In search of a new laptop - I'm thinking of getting something that can do a bit of gaming but will be mostly used for work, programming and graphic design so will need some power anyway.
However a lot of the "gaming" laptops are totally bling, with silly lights all over them... So not the look for meetings and the like.
I was looking at the Gigabyte Aero, but the 4k screen is quite expensive.
Then saw the PC Specialists - their laptops are pretty reasonable prices, however they're not much of a known brand... I see Curry's sell them, so they must be OK, but are they any good? The customisation choices are nice and if the chassis and motherboard are good then I'd think they'll be worth a look?
Or any other options? I'd be keen to get something with an Intel 11th or 12th Gen i7, and RTX 3070 or 3080 - max of about £2k (inc VAT) but less would be better
Any advise would be appreciated.
Curry's just sell a pre-built, to a price-point version of what the full PC Specialist line-up offers.
PC Specialist is a huge company, and probably does something like 10,000 custom-builds per year.
The PCS website will allow you to configure a similarly-specced computer in either gaming rainbow vomit style or a more professional-looking grey/silver.
The PCS forum (https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/) will give you a lot more info, and suggestions where to optimise the build (both in performance and cost).
Something like a 17.3" Ionico with an 12th Gen i7 and 3070Ti is right at that £2k mark, and you can simply turn off the RGB on the keyboard when you're at the office.
https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/form-view/ionico-ii...
PC Specialist is a huge company, and probably does something like 10,000 custom-builds per year.
The PCS website will allow you to configure a similarly-specced computer in either gaming rainbow vomit style or a more professional-looking grey/silver.
The PCS forum (https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/) will give you a lot more info, and suggestions where to optimise the build (both in performance and cost).
Something like a 17.3" Ionico with an 12th Gen i7 and 3070Ti is right at that £2k mark, and you can simply turn off the RGB on the keyboard when you're at the office.
https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/form-view/ionico-ii...
Edited by mmm-five on Friday 29th April 13:43
That's great to know they make decent kit... It may be a good option, I was looking at either the Recoil or Icono - 15" as I like the idea of the 17" but they're too big really - I have a Dell XPS 17, which was touted at the time, to be a 17" laptop in a 15" chassis, which is true given it was the first with the thin bezels, but now everything has thin bezels the 17's are big bits of kit!
Then they have an 11th gen i7, RTX 3070 for about £1700... Which should do it I'd think. Neither have the 3080 as an option it seems.
Then they have an 11th gen i7, RTX 3070 for about £1700... Which should do it I'd think. Neither have the 3080 as an option it seems.
Joey Deacon said:
The Lenovo Legion laptops are not bling at all, I have a Lenovo Legion Pro and I would be happy to use it as a work laptop.
I have a weird phobia to laptops which a screen that hinge's on top of the chassis - and has "that bit" sticking out the back... I have no idea why, but I just can't get over it The quality of a PC Specialist laptop is likely to be the same as a Gigabyte. A lot of Gigabyte laptops are based on a Clevo chassis and PC Specialist also use Clevo chassis. All the custom gaming laptop builders are likely to source their chassis from either Quanta, Clevo or Compal.
What the chap above me said. I’ve bought desktops from PCS and would do again, same applies for their laptops.
Be aware though that the Nvidia laptop GPU’s are not comparable to the desktop versions. They are all significantly cut down and lower power parts so if you want great gaming performance on a laptop, aim high IMO.
Be aware though that the Nvidia laptop GPU’s are not comparable to the desktop versions. They are all significantly cut down and lower power parts so if you want great gaming performance on a laptop, aim high IMO.
Also seen Cyber Power do one with an Intel chassis:
https://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/Tracer-V...
Seems a decent price?
Thanks for the tips on the GPU, I'm looking to get rid of my laptop and desktop as separate items, so hook the laptop into a dock (or monitor via HDMI) and use it as my main work tool - if it can run Forza then that's all I'm really interested in TBH.
So it'll be casual gaming, and to replace a Dell XPS 17 from 2015 and a HP desktop from ages ago - with a 4th Gen i7 and GTX 760 - so loads of stuff would be a massive improvement... There's another part of me which says get a cheaper laptop and an XBox or PS5 for the gaming, but the kids will demand that stuff soon enough
https://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/Tracer-V...
Seems a decent price?
Thanks for the tips on the GPU, I'm looking to get rid of my laptop and desktop as separate items, so hook the laptop into a dock (or monitor via HDMI) and use it as my main work tool - if it can run Forza then that's all I'm really interested in TBH.
So it'll be casual gaming, and to replace a Dell XPS 17 from 2015 and a HP desktop from ages ago - with a 4th Gen i7 and GTX 760 - so loads of stuff would be a massive improvement... There's another part of me which says get a cheaper laptop and an XBox or PS5 for the gaming, but the kids will demand that stuff soon enough
lenovo legion 5 or 7's will tick these boxes. £2k or under. if you switch off the RGB it look like a relatively normal laptop. I don't know about the legion5, but the legion7 is due for a refresh soon for this year, so you could potentially grab a bargain off the curren/last year model
I've got a PC Specialist laptop. Bought some five or six years ago - memory fades. Absolutely no problems with it. Nice case, keys about average 'feel' for laptop. Specced to my needs and it is just what I want. Apart from Win11 upgrade. I'd recommend them. Good reviews generally, and the only complaints were of delay in builds and poor service, neither of which I experienced. Rather oddly, I did not need a webcam so deleted on the order, the price dropping a little. Come lockdown I discovered they had left it in. I've been told it's too much trouble to take it out.
However, met a chap in Neros who had bought one from them about four years previously and he was unable to buy a replacement battery, so needed to plug into a power socket.
I bought a PCS desktop for someone else and I was quite impressed by the build - cables nicely routed, which is often ignored. It's still going without problems; I know that because they haven't phoned me to moan. You don't save an awful lot, if anything, in building a desktop yourself, although upgrading is different.
My experience is that they are as good as their reviews.
However, met a chap in Neros who had bought one from them about four years previously and he was unable to buy a replacement battery, so needed to plug into a power socket.
I bought a PCS desktop for someone else and I was quite impressed by the build - cables nicely routed, which is often ignored. It's still going without problems; I know that because they haven't phoned me to moan. You don't save an awful lot, if anything, in building a desktop yourself, although upgrading is different.
My experience is that they are as good as their reviews.
PC Specialist isn't a laptop manufacturer. They buy laptops made by Tongfang, Clevo and a few others and then add their branding and mix up the components a bit.
A PC Specialist will be the same machine as an Eluktronics, XMG, Medion and plenty of others. You'll have to dig around to find the actual original Tongfang or Clevo model number to find more reviews.
I've got a Medion Erazer Beast X25 which is the same Tongfang as the 17.3" Ionico.
In certain aspects it's pretty crude - crap sound, loud fans, BIOS features that seem to come and go - but it's a lot cheaper for the same hardware as other brands and I do like how bland it looks and it's the lightest 17.3 inch machine out there.
I've had PC Specialist Clevos in the past. In general I prefer the way these rebranded machines are built compared to name brands. They don't have bizarre design choices like flipped motherboards and soldered RAM like some do so they're easy to upgrade and repair, and the finish and chassis is unflashy and durable with plenty of space inside.
I've also got a MSI GS65 which has eaten 5 sets of fans and the screen hinge constantly wants to die.
The only problems with these types of machines may be spares and BIOS updates.
A PC Specialist will be the same machine as an Eluktronics, XMG, Medion and plenty of others. You'll have to dig around to find the actual original Tongfang or Clevo model number to find more reviews.
I've got a Medion Erazer Beast X25 which is the same Tongfang as the 17.3" Ionico.
In certain aspects it's pretty crude - crap sound, loud fans, BIOS features that seem to come and go - but it's a lot cheaper for the same hardware as other brands and I do like how bland it looks and it's the lightest 17.3 inch machine out there.
I've had PC Specialist Clevos in the past. In general I prefer the way these rebranded machines are built compared to name brands. They don't have bizarre design choices like flipped motherboards and soldered RAM like some do so they're easy to upgrade and repair, and the finish and chassis is unflashy and durable with plenty of space inside.
I've also got a MSI GS65 which has eaten 5 sets of fans and the screen hinge constantly wants to die.
The only problems with these types of machines may be spares and BIOS updates.
Edited by bloomen on Friday 29th April 22:10
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff