Recoil 16 - I think I'm finally ready to commit!

[edwardsw]

Hi Team,

After another year and a bit of lurking, I think I'm finally ready to commit to upgrading the laptop.
Times have changed a little since when I was last looking at the Defiance (https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/threads/time-to-upgrade-my-17-laptop.91216/#post-694358) . (Yes i originally said 17" screen was a hard line, but on balance, I think I prefer the design of the 16")

Main reason for holding back as long as I have was the problem with the Intel CPUs but on speaking with PCS, they assured me that this problem does not affect the Recoil due to it having an integrated CPU (as with most PCS laptops I understand).

The spec is fairly maxed out but wanted to check your opinion in case I've overlooked something.

Many thanks in advance

Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 16" Matte QHD+ 240Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 14900HX (5.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair 5600MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 32GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4090 - 16.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
Liquid Series® Laptop Cooling
Recoil 16 Laptop Cooler V2.0
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SAMSUNG 990 PRO M.2, PCIe 4.0 NVMe (up to 7450MB/R, 6900MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 330W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Recoil Series Integrated 99WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
LIQUID METAL PERFORMANCE COOLING
Sound Card
Nahimic by SteelSeries 2 Channel HD Audio
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.3
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 4 + 1 x USB 3.2 (TYPE C) + 3 x USB 3.2
Keyboard Language
RECOIL 16 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED IR+FHD Hybrid Webcam
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
Chassis
TongFang GM6IX9B (16GB RTX-4090, i9-14900HX, 240Hz QHD)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Price: £3,053.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/recoil-II-16/B0!uqzp2xe/

 

[SpyderTracks]

Main reason for holding back as long as I have was the problem with the Intel CPUs but on speaking with PCS, they assured me that this problem does not affect the Recoil due to it having an integrated CPU (as with most PCS laptops I understand).

This makes no sense, the degredation affects CPUs with or without integrated graphics including all parts from 65W upwards. The issue is with the CPU degrading, not related to graphics, and it's been confirmed by numerous reliable professional sources that laptop CPUs are affected, even moreso the 14900HX which is simply a rebranded 14900k with reduced power limits and slightly reduced frequencies. Intel have denied it affects laptop SKU's but it's taken them 8 months to admit there's an issue with desktop cpu's so quite frankly ignore anything Intel have said.

They've also only agreed on a microcode update for desktops currently, not laptops, I suspect that microcode update won't fix the issue anyway, merely lengthen the time it takes to degrade.

I would STRONGLY recommend NOT getting an Intel laptop. There are currently only entry level AMD chassis on PCS, but new AMD CPU's have just been released, although I have no idea if PCS will be stocking new chassis or when.

 

[edwardsw]

Thanks Spidey, I really appreciate that!
I was equally surprised when PCS said it was all fine and nothing to worry about.
Disappointingly, it looks like I'll be holding back my purchase for a bit longer but I'd rather not take the risk when we're talking about such a high value item..
I will ask the question but I can't imagine PCS will be introducing high end AMD chassis any time soon so I guess I'll be back again next year
Thanks again.

 

[Paul1964]

I think with your Warranty PCS will stand by you - the HX does run at a lower power than the K variant as it's laptop vs desktop.

You'll need the water cooler otherwise you will hit throttling issues when running under load.

Ditch the Norton trial - it's little better than malware these days.

I get what Spidey is saying about trusting Intel though. I would trust PCS but not Intel at this stage.

The 14900K and 14900HX are essentially the same but run at different power levels. It's your decision.

I run my 13900HX with an undervolt so that might also mitigate the issue for me personally. I think PCS may think the 14900HX is OK because it does not get to the wattage levels of the 14900K which is where the voltage spikes have been seen so it depends if you want to take the risk. We may find out later that the HX processors are borked as well though - which is what Spidey is getting at, I think.

It looks like PCS are accepting the risk from their side so .... I would be OK with it - others, including Spidey, will not.

It's your choice.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I run my 13900HX with an undervolt so that might also mitigate the issue for me personally.

It doesn’t unfortunately, the degradation still occurs, just will be a longer period before bsods set in.

The 13900HX / 13900k is the same chip as the 14900HX / 14900k, the 14th gen were simply a refresh, it's exactly the same silicon.

Server mobos get the same deterioration and run substantially lower clocks and voltages.

Its the up to 1.7v being pushed on the VID that’s substantially too high, the new microcode update reduces that to 1.55v, but experts are saying that’s still too high for the architecture, and remember, this microcode won't be available on laptops because Intel refuses to acknowledge there’s an issue

it’s already been confirmed that mobile chips are affected from numerous sources and people on this forum

It's just not worth it, especially with Intel denying any responsibilities for RMAs with them directly and refusing to acknowledge the issue with mobile CPU's, Intel have basically washed their hands of mobile cpus.

Sure, you want to risk it and get a replacement CPU under warranty after a year when it's burnt out, that's fine, what happens when your warranty has expired a year later and you need a motherboard replacement to replace the CPU at £2k?

Totally pointless. A system like this should last a good 5 years at least, it just won't on Intel, not a chance.

And it's not just me saying this, Gamers Nexus, Hardware Unboxed, LTT, Moores Law, Buildzoid, Der8auer, literally any YouTuber of any note is saying the same thing.

Skip to 38:10 in this video for a very clear picture from a game developer serving hundreds of thousands of gamers, both on his experience and his player base, both mobile and desktops and servers