Laptop spec for review, any non-obvious considerations?

[64ormore]

I'm planning to build a multi purpose laptop (hopefully this is the right place to ask), which I hope to serve me for years (the PC I'm planning to replace I've had for over 10 years).

I hope to use it for every day stuff like web surfing or watching videos or listing to music, but also more resource demanding stuff like gaming, music recording or application development.

Below is the spec I have in mind and I would appreciate any comments, especially around less obvious matters than just performance (which I suspect should be satisfactory).

Chassis - 17" Recoil
CPU - Intel Core i9 24 Core CPU 13900HX
RAM - 64GB Corsair 4800MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2x32GB)
GPU - GeForce RTX 4070 8GB
Drive - Corsair 4TB SSD
Sound Card - Nahimic by SteelSeries w Channel HD Audio
Ports - 1x Thunderbolt 4 + 3x USB 3.2
OS - Windows 11 Pro

I am also considering a dock station, but have no idea which one would be suitable if I'm planning to use it for powering the laptop and connecting external monitor and peripherals like keyboard, mouse, printer or external drive.

 

[Tron1982]

Hello, if you want some help from us, you must give us your budget
And give us the full specs (and the configurable blue link) ^^

This being said, this laptop can't be powered with any kind of docking station ^^"

 

[64ormore]

Here it is:

Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 17" Matte QHD 240Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 13900HX (5.4GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair 4800MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 32GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
4TB CORSAIR MP600 PRO NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/R, 6850 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 280W 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 PORT + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
RECOIL 17 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [MUP-00005]
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 For Gamers: 1 User, 3 Devices - 1 Year Subscription
Browser
Google Chrome™
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Price: £0.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/recoil-VII-17/04pSFpzYAK/

Budget around 2-2.5k.

What's the problem with the dock?, too much power needed?, how can I check/calculate how much is needed?

 

[Tron1982]

Hey, sorry, i'm starting to fall asleep, i'll answer tomorrow about your specs (but please, don't buy this laptop with those specs ^^")
But about the docking station, yeah, something like that.

More answer tomorrow

 

[64ormore]

What's wrong with this spec?, why is it a bad idea?

 

[Tron1982]

Hello,

So, let's get back to the beginning ^^

About the docking station : it's true that you will not be able to power your laptop with it, not enough power (the GPU and CPU combined should at least use 160 to 175 W)
About your config :
- the cpu and gpu are good, nothing to say about it ^^
- it's not a good thing to have only one SSD, it's better to have one "smaller" and faster one for the OS and your software and one for the data (so, for exemple, one 1to primary SSD and one 2to SSD, or more)
-i'm not sure you will have any gain with 64go of ram, 32 is, for the use you described (and as i understood it) plenty enough
-don't take any antivirus software, windows defender do a great job nowadays
- it look like you'll use your laptop on a desk, so, you may want to take the water cooling solution (it's work really well and allow the laptop to be used at it full capacity)
- you should go for the golden warranty and the dead pixel guarantee

With all those advices in mind, here is what i can propose you :
(and it's just under 2500£ )

Spoiler: Recoil spec

Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 17" Matte QHD 240Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1600)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24 Core Processor 13900HX (5.4GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair 4800MHz SODIMM DDR5 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 4070 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
Liquid Series® Laptop Cooling
PCS Liquid Series® Laptop Cooler
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB 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 280W 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 PORT + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
RECOIL 17 SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
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
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD 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 GM7PX7N (8GB RTX-4070, i9-13900HX, 240Hz QHD)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days
Price: £2,470.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/recoil-VII-17/3Gd0Mjqcc8/

 

[64ormore]

Thanks for your comments.

Good point about SSDs, I will get two smaller instead.

I'll probably go with 64GB of RAM, just to make it more future proof, unless you think it's going to have a negative impact on anything?

I did consider adding water cooling later in the future if I find that it gets too hot or noisy.
Do you think that's going to be big problem if I don't and I should definitely get it from day one?

I plan to use external monitor most of the time, except when I use it for making music, which I will do from a different location, where I will rely on laptop screen, so a few dead pixels should not be a problem, unless there's a lot of them.
Area dead pixels common in laptops nowadays?

As for docks: how can I calculate how much power I need from it?
I assume I can still use one for the extra slots if the laptop has its own power source?

Is this build going to have a big impact on electricity bills?, are PCs much cheaper from that perspective?

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

Thanks for your comments.

Good point about SSDs, I will get two smaller instead.

I'll probably go with 64GB of RAM, just to make it more future proof, unless you think it's going to have a negative impact on anything?

I did consider adding water cooling later in the future if I find that it gets too hot or noisy.
Do you think that's going to be big problem if I don't and I should definitely get it from day one?

I plan to use external monitor most of the time, except when I use it for making music, which I will do from a different location, where I will rely on laptop screen, so a few dead pixels should not be a problem, unless there's a lot of them.
Area dead pixels common in laptops nowadays?

As for docks: how can I calculate how much power I need from it?
I assume I can still use one for the extra slots if the laptop has its own power source?

Is this build going to have a big impact on electricity bills?, are PCs much cheaper from that perspective?

Having masses of RAM doesn't do absolutely anything for performance, there's a lot of miscommunication out there, it's only used if the program you're using requires that much. If you're developing apps, then you'll know exactly how much you're utilising for them, but nothing else you say you're doing would warrant more than 32Gb, unless you're doing 128 Channel audio recording with huge amounts of plugins?

 

[Tron1982]

Thanks for your comments.

Good point about SSDs, I will get two smaller instead.

I'll probably go with 64GB of RAM, just to make it more future proof, unless you think it's going to have a negative impact on anything?

I did consider adding water cooling later in the future if I find that it gets too hot or noisy.
Do you think that's going to be big problem if I don't and I should definitely get it from day one?

I plan to use external monitor most of the time, except when I use it for making music, which I will do from a different location, where I will rely on laptop screen, so a few dead pixels should not be a problem, unless there's a lot of them.
Area dead pixels common in laptops nowadays?

As for docks: how can I calculate how much power I need from it?
I assume I can still use one for the extra slots if the laptop has its own power source?

Is this build going to have a big impact on electricity bills?, are PCs much cheaper from that perspective?

Having more ram than needed will have any negative impact, but it will be pointless

The water cooling his a must have (saddly), it's not that the laptop will not be usable, but it will be quite hot, so, i definitly encourage you to get it if you can afford it

I think that when you buy a laptop at this price, you should go with the best guarantee/warranty you can get.
Even if it's not common, but better safe than sorry

About your first question for the dock, I don't know.
But yes, you can use it for the extra slot ^^

I have no idea about electrical consumption ^^"