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Razer Slims Down Blade, Debuts MacOS-Compatible eGPU Enclosure (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Today, Razer debuted big updates to its Razer Blade laptop, focusing on design and performance to usher the gaming notebook into 2018. While the new Blade still looks unmistakably "Razer," its design has changed dramatically for the better. Razer upped the screen size from 14 inches to 15.6 inches, reducing the surrounding bezels to just 4.9mm so that the device fits in with the other nearly bezel-less ultrabooks popular today. Razer is offering 1080p 60Hz or 144Hz panels, along with a 4K touchscreen option as well. The larger display panel makes the laptop slightly heavier than its predecessor, and it's a bit wider overall, too (4.7 pounds and 9.3 inches, respectively). However, the slimmer bezels, sharper edges, and aluminum unibody make the new Razer Blade look like a clear upgrade from the previous model.
Another new addition to the Razer lineup is the Core X, a Thunderbolt 3 external graphics enclosure with space for large, three-slot wide graphics cards. The Core X joins the Core V2 graphics enclosure as one of Razer's solutions for gamers who want to add desktop-like graphics power to their laptops -- and it's more affordable than the V2 as well. While it's a bit stockier than Razer's existing enclosure, the Core X has an aluminum body with open vents to properly handle heat, regardless of the task at hand. The Core X connects to a compatible notebook through one Thunderbolt 3 port, providing eGPU access and 100W of power thanks to its 650 ATX power supply. It's both cheaper and seemingly easier to use than the V2, but that comes with some compromises: the Core X doesn't have Chroma lighting, and it lacks USB and Ethernet ports. Some other specs of the new Blade include a Intel Core i7-8750H processor, Nvidia GTX 1060 or 1070 with Max-Q graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, up to 2TB of PCIe-based SSD, and 80Whr battery. There are three USB-A 3.1 ports, one proprietary charging port, one Thunderbolt 3 port, a Mini DisplayPort, and an HDMI port.
Another new addition to the Razer lineup is the Core X, a Thunderbolt 3 external graphics enclosure with space for large, three-slot wide graphics cards. The Core X joins the Core V2 graphics enclosure as one of Razer's solutions for gamers who want to add desktop-like graphics power to their laptops -- and it's more affordable than the V2 as well. While it's a bit stockier than Razer's existing enclosure, the Core X has an aluminum body with open vents to properly handle heat, regardless of the task at hand. The Core X connects to a compatible notebook through one Thunderbolt 3 port, providing eGPU access and 100W of power thanks to its 650 ATX power supply. It's both cheaper and seemingly easier to use than the V2, but that comes with some compromises: the Core X doesn't have Chroma lighting, and it lacks USB and Ethernet ports. Some other specs of the new Blade include a Intel Core i7-8750H processor, Nvidia GTX 1060 or 1070 with Max-Q graphics, up to 32GB of RAM, up to 2TB of PCIe-based SSD, and 80Whr battery. There are three USB-A 3.1 ports, one proprietary charging port, one Thunderbolt 3 port, a Mini DisplayPort, and an HDMI port.
If so, no thank you. I'll wait until they fix that dumpster fire.
n/t
Have gnu, will travel.
We aren't the audience you're looking for with this.
So nearly the entire summary is devoted to the fact that it is made out of aluminium and has a 15.6" screen...and we just tack the processor and maximum RAM on at the end as an after thought? A laptop that can handle more than 32 gigs of RAM would be fantastic for when I have no internet connection and need to run some complex MCMC computations.
Fucks given. That is all.
Maybe I’m just to old.. but what the fuck is this article about? Laptops with refresh rates? External graphics cards? A scooter company makes laptops? And graphics rigs?
Captcha: readable
Razer = Beats by Dre. Overpriced "premium" name. In actuality the mice, mics, keyboards and headphones are subpar. Just ask google about all the failures.
If it's Microsoft, it's useless.
eGPU case cost just as much as gpu for only x4 pci-e best case. And with most intels system that is TB over the X4 dmi bus that is sheard with so much other stuff like pci-e storage / networking / usb / etc.
What does Intel think about using a similar name to their Core X-series processor range?
https://www.intel.com/content/...
I really wanted to buy a razer blade a couple of years ago, Then I got a Razer Blackwidow Chroma keyboard
To use the keyboard as more than a dumb USB keyboard, you have to have an always-on connection to the internet. If they need that kind of invasive control of your computer to blink a few colored lights, how invasive is an actual computer from them? Never buy Razer products.
Yeah but it seems like a really good match for an iMac Pro that can really take strong advantage of the enclosure, and people who would be happy to attach some powerful nVidea GPU's for deep learning work...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
If Tensorflow supports the Thunderbolt 3 external box, it becomes interesting to Mac programmers interested in ML. Tensorflow only supports nVidia, which isn't built-in to any Macs.
And what's wrong with it?
I can have a nice thin laptop for moving around mobile. And when I'm at the office, I can plug it into a dock and get high-powered graphics and all that nice stuff.
It has uses for laptops, allowing them to be more mobile in the "mobile" mode, but having awesome power when you're not needing mobility.
Traditionally, you'd require two machines for this - a lightweight mobile laptop to travel around with, and a heavyweight desktop PC. And yes, this is ideal, but it's also more stuff to manage, more data to have to sync, etc.
Yes, one could buy a suitably equipped laptop, but those generally are heavy and big, and generally get very poor battery life.
and people who would be happy to attach some powerful nVidea GPU's for deep learning work...
It would literally be cheaper to build a separate PC, which would also be a superior solution. Also, *Nvidia
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
what about ext pci-e?
https://www.serialcables.com/l...
Make an laptop with the cpu pci lanes going to an EXT port. NO TB overhead and more bandwidth then only pci-e X4.
I've been a Mac fan for a long time, but I use the latest MacBook Pro for work and I don't like it - useless Touch Bar, poor keyboard, poor battery life, no USB-A or HDMI ports, high price (starts at $2400 with a dedicated graphics chip), &c.
I recently played with a Razer Blade 14 and I was impressed; $1900 from Amazon for better specs. (Windows 10 is tolerable enough and unobtrusive enough for my tastes.) Though, the Razer reviews are extremely hot or cold; some people love them, others have had endless problems with hardware failures and recalcitrant tech support. Looks like this is the price of high-end Windows laptops at the moment.
My next laptop might be a Razer Blade. Change my mind.
Since it would probably be running Windows, it would automatically be inferior in all respects. Even with Linux you'd have to administer it which is more annoying...
Also, *Nvidia
That's exactly the point of getting the eGPU, so you could use some really powerful Nvidia cards with the iMac Pro...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Even with Linux you'd have to administer it which is more annoying...
Linux requires no more complex administration than MacOS. And when it does break, it's easier to fix.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Linux requires no more complex administration than MacOS.
Look man, I have run many different Linux distributions at home and offices before and that is a FLAT OUT LIE. Come on.
And when it does break, it's easier to fix.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HO HE HA!!!
Yeah it's easy to fix when you turn to your working internet connected device and hunt down possible solutions for fixing bad drivers or whatever....
Mean while on OS X it is SO HARD to drive to a Genius Bar and say fix it. Yeah that is so much harder than administering linux boxes... I switched to using only OS X because running Linux systems was just so easy, I needed the extra "challenge" of running a commercial OS where someone else made sure the drivers and main OS paired....
Or I remember how "easy" it was I had to fix the code for the driver for my networking card once so it would function properly. Yeah that was way easier than OSX could ever imagine being!
Seriously, get a grip.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley