New Vortex IV: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen

[Steric]

After ordering the laptop on 15/12/2013 and being kept up to date with each step it arrived this morning.

I opted for a Saturday delivery because we can guarantee we would be in but it was not delivered by DPD it was sub-contracted. No problems though, it arrived safe and sound within the one hour window I was given (9.37 - 10.37 am) arriving at 10.02 am. Packaging was brilliant, well boxed with additional foam protection. I ordered a laptop cooler which would also angle the keyboard to make using it easier to use. I have not had a chance to unpack this yet, the same with the rucksack but as the main box had no damage or marks I am happy they will be fine. The laptop itself was in another box inside the larger box; again well protected against damage. Did have a slight fear that the additional battery and mains adaptor I ordered were missing but they were found safe and sound in a corner of the laptop box well protected.

So far I have put one of the batteries in and charged it for a few hours and then booted. Had the welcome set up which took about five minutes (not the one hour for my Vanquish Enforcer because the hologram Windows 8 key was nearly impossible to read), this time the key was easy to read and got it connected to the wireless, wow the GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ 1202 WIRELESS is fast, much faster than my old Dell laptop. There was some 197 GB of updates and it downloaded them within minutes.

Screen is great with no dead pixels and very clear to read. I was afraid that having a 17.3" model it would be massive but actually it was not to bad and as I usually only take it out of the car and take it into the businesses I am visiting, the weight will be no problem and it is not much heavier than my old Dell Precision. It is very well constructed and looks like it will stand up to punishment. The only downside is the case marks easily with finger marks and they are hard to remove. Any recommendation of a cleaner to use PCS?

Hopefully will start to install software later but I will keep you informed of how it is going.

The spec is:

Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4900MQ (2.80GHz) 8MB
Memory (RAM) 32GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (4 x 8GB)
Graphics Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 780M - 4.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - 1st Hard Disk 480GB KINGSTON HYPERX 3K SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 450MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk 750GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD7500BPKX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive 6x BLURAY ROM, 8x DVD ±R/±RW & CYBERLINK SOFTWARE
Thermal Paste ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card Intel 5.1 Channel High Definition Audio + SPDIF/MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ 1202 WIRELESS GAMING 802.11N + BLUETOOTH 4.0
Operating System Genuine Windows 8.1 Professional 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
Cooling Stands Zalman ZM-NC11 Ultra-Quiet Laptop Cooler, upto 17.3 inch
Carry Case Wenger/Swissgear iBex 17" Backpack
Warranty 3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee 1 Year Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Delivery SATURDAY DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (BEFORE 12 NOON)
Build Time Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days

This is the third PCSpecialist computer purchased; a standard i5 for the wife, a i7 Vanquish Enforcer which I am using to type this thread at present and now this laptop. All the computers are well built and have not let us down with blue screens etc.

 

[SlimCini]

Nice laptop. A heck of a RAM to use, what are you going to use it all for? You edit video?

And hang on... you downloaded 197GB of data in 'minutes'???

 

[Steric]

Sorry 197MB not GB

Lot of the work is animation but the laptop will have to last for about 8 years before being replaced, so want high spec to last the lifetime.

The Wenger/Swissgear iBex 17" Backpack is very impressive, well made and balances the weight of the laptop, power adaptor & extra battery well.

 

[Neumie]

I got the same model with a similar spec. I have had it for about a month now.
Its a great laptop overall in my experience. I hope you enjoy using it.

I got the same bag also and I find the laptop to be a bit of a squeez to get in. It fits but the corners are right up against the zip I find.
The bag is vast though. Exactly what I was looking for.

 

[maygri]

Cool laptop, i am looking at buying the same model.

Could you tell or screenshot the Soundcard software you get with the intel onboard sound please? like EQ, effects, virtual 3d ect?

 

[Steric]

Hi Maygri,

The software is just standard software which came on the driver disk and was already installed. Sounds good, much better than my old Dell Precision.

 

[Steric]

Hi Maygri,

The software is just standard software which came on the driver disk and was already installed. Sounds good, much better than my old Dell Precision.

Here are some photos

 

[PCS]

Great review, +rep.

We have added your review to the configurator section on our website!

 

[Steric]

Laptop Update,

Had the laptop now for a month and I have to say I am still pleased with it. Build quality is really good; other laptops have play in the screen as you open and close it but this one does not have any. I even played with the keyboard colours last night even though this is something I would not bother with normally. I do have one question thought? It has the fingerprint scanner; what software should I use to make this work?

Keyboard layout is slightly different and I find that being able to touch type I find I am hitting the wrong keys especially the enter key as it is not double height. I will and am getting used to typing on it and getting faster again. I have noticed the spacebar gets dirty quickly but that is not a laptop issue it is off my thumbs but it comes off with a damp cloth. Screen is high quality and has no dead pixels (did have the dead pixel warranty) and the colours are vibrant and clear. The graphics card drivers have automatically updated since having the computer and all the software is working correctly and hassle free. Boot time is about 2 seconds from login and no waiting for the computer to complete something. The fan does run quite a lot as others have said but I now use the Zalman cooler which also positions the laptop angle for better typing most of the time and when I do this the laptop fan hardly works at all. The Zalman is also quiet in operation; another bonus. I don't really stretch the power that often though.

Still a happy customer and I am sure I will be for many years.

 

[SlimCini]

Interesting to see how long your zalman lasts. I had two that each lasted less than 4 months each before falling apart. Went for a different make in the end.

 

[Steric]

Interesting to see how long your zalman lasts. I had two that each lasted less than 4 months each before falling apart. Went for a different make in the end.

What make did you go for in the end?

Sorted out fingerprint scanner, it only needed setting up.