Origin EON17-S (Intel Core i7-3920XM) review: Origin EON17-S (Intel Core i7-3920XM)

The third generation of Intel Core i-series CPUs from Intel are following the same general path as the second-generation chips. First to be released are the high-end quad-core Core i7 processors, followed a month or so later by the everyday dual-core versions found in most mainstream laptops.

8.1

Origin EON17-S (Intel Core i7-3920XM)

The Good

The <b>Origin EON17-S</b> is one of the first laptops to offer Intel's third-gen Core i7 CPUs. It's a powerful, highly customizable gaming laptop that can get expensive, but can also include overclocked components.

The Bad

Customizing can drive up the price very quickly, and even with a new back panel, it's still very generic-looking.

The Bottom Line

First out of the gate with the latest quad-core Intel CPUs, Origin is one of the few high-end boutique gaming PC makers that really pays attention to laptops.

What this means is that to be the first on the block with one of the new CPUs (formerly code-named Ivy Bridge), you'll have to get a high-end PC, typically the type aimed at serious gamers. Origin, a boutique PC maker founded by former Alienware employees, is one of the first companies to offer the new CPUs, in a refreshed version of its EON17-S gaming laptop.

New CPU aside, this $3,499 EON17-S is very similar to the previous model, which we reviewed in 2011. It's still based on a customized version of a Clevo 17-inch laptop chassis (Clevo is a Taiwanese manufacturer that makes generic laptops that other computer companies tweak and rebrand as their own). This Ivy Bridge version will also add a new custom panel on the back of the lid, but otherwise the chassis and interior are identical.

Note that the new lid panel wasn't ready in time for this review, so it's not reflected in the photographs or video here, but you can see it here, and the system can be ordered with either the old or new lid design. We saw the new lid design at CES 2012, and it has an angular, finned look that's clearly Alienware-inspired.

With Origin, you get first crack at the latest hardware, although the benefits of Intel's new Ivy Bridge CPUs are largely focused on the HD 4000 integrated graphics performance. With the powerful (and also new) Nvidia GeForce 675M graphics card included here, you probably won't get much of a chance to appreciate that.

Companies such as Hewlett-Packard and Dell offer more inventive proprietary industrial designs, but their systems lack the hand-assembled and tested boutique feel. The starting price for the EON17-S is a reasonable $1,592, but if you're looking for a dual-core Core i5 CPU, a mere 4GB of RAM, and other midlevel components, this is not the laptop for you. Anyone building an EON17-S from Origin's extensive list of customizations is probably looking for serious components.