Origin's enthusiast gaming laptops are built for users seeking top-end power, and while they also come with a top-end price, they deliver in performance. The Origin EON17-X (starts at $2,167; $3,544 as tested) is the latest model in for review, and in addition to speedy gaming and all-around proficiency, it's packed full of features. It offers a 4K G-Sync screen, more than 2TB of storage (including fast M.2 SSDs), and a variety of ports. The Editors' Choice Alienware 17 R4 remains our top pick since it's less expensive with similar components and, in my estimation, a nicer design, but the EON17-X is a viable option if you have the budget.

Back to Basics

If you've seen other high-end Origin laptops both past and present, this laptop's chassis will look familiar. The design is fairly basic—there aren't many aesthetic flourishes. The lid on this unit is red (on the darker side, not candy apple red), which is about as adventurous as its look gets. Minimal is often better than garish, but it may border on too plain for some, which can be disappointing for a laptop with such a big price tag. The Alienware 17 R4 (2017) ($1,299.99 at Dell) , for example, brings a lot more flavor.

As a larger 17-inch system, it favors power over slimness, measuring 1.6 by 16.4 by 11.6 inches (HWD) and 8.6 pounds. That's far from a light laptop any way you cut it, and you won't want to move the EON17-X around much. The previous version, the first to come with an Nvidia Pascal card, was identical in size (but heavier) at 1.6 by 16.4 by 11.6 inches and 9.91 pounds. Its dual-card counterpart, the EON17-SLX (2,177.00 Base Configuration at ORIGIN PC) , takes it up another notch at 1.9 by 17 by 12 inches and 12 pounds, so know that there's always a bigger fish. Less extreme options are generally still around the same size and even a bit heavier, like the Alienware 17, which measures 1.18 by 16.7 by 13.1 inches and weighs 9.77 pounds.

This unit has a 4K display with a matte finish, Nvidia's G-Sync, and In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology. G-Sync matches the refresh rate of the screen to the game's frame rate for a smoother experience, and is something enthusiasts seek out in desktop monitors, so it's a nice inclusion. IPS allows for a sharper picture and wider viewing angles, while the matte finish cuts down on glare. The picture is a bit muted as a result of the finish, which I find consistent with other matte screens, so whether that's a positive inclusion may come down to preference. The laptop's GTX 1080 is up to smooth 4K gaming, albeit at or above 30 frames per second (fps) and not 60fps.

On the keyboard, each key is flush against the next, so typing might take some getting used to since most laptops these days have chiclet keyboards. But if you can put up with a few mistypes while you work up the muscle memory, eventually you won't likely notice. You also get a number pad, which can condense chiclet keyboards since they take up more room, but this layout affords you a roomy keyboard with larger keys. The touchpad tracks smoothly, with a fingerprint reader in its top left corner for secure sign in. The sound card, provided by SoundBlaster, yields good audio quality. The speakers get quite loud, and there's little distortion at higher volumes.

The EON17-X's size allows for plenty of ports, which are loaded onto both flanks and the back side. On the left there are two USB 3.0 ports, two USB-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3), an SD card slot, and an Ethernet jack. The right side has two more UBS 3.0 ports and four audio lines, while the rear holds two more mini DisplayPorts and an HDMI port. Further connectivity comes in the form of dual-band 802.11ac wireless and Bluetooth.

Storage is another high point for this laptop, with two lightning-fast 250GB Samsung 960 NVMe M.2 drives plus a 2TB hybrid drive. That SSD storage capacity is the same as the Alienware 17's but the hybrid drive is 1TB larger, so you're getting more space here for games and media. Origin covers the EON17-X with a one-year part replacement warranty plus free lifetime support and labor.

Packed With Power

One of Origin's highest-tier offerings, this EON17-X packs a 4.2GHz Intel Core i7-7700K processor (The "K" means the CPU is unlocked for overclocking), an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, and 16GB of memory. As you may expect, that means the EON17-X is quite fast, with enough power for multitasking, media creation, and of course, gaming. Its high PCMark Work Conventional score, achieved even while running at 4K, demonstrates its all-around productivity capability, and its fast multimedia times show how quickly you can churn through video encoding and Photoshop filters.

Graphics performance is top notch thanks to the GTX 1080, the most powerful single card available for laptops. The Alienware 17 and the Razer Blade Pro pack the same card, making head-to-head comparisons straightforward. The Asus ROG Zephyrus also includes the GTX 1080, but with a twist: It's a 15-inch laptop, and so to manage the card's high heat and power requirements in the smaller chassis, it uses a tuned-down version of the card. It's an intriguing option, and the EON17-X's scores help add more context to the differences. The EON17-X averaged more than 100 frames per second (fps) on the Heaven and Valley gaming tests in 1080p, if you'd like to turn the resolution down in some games for smoother performance.

See How We Test Laptops

4K gaming is more of stretch, even for a GTX 1080. A 1080 Ti or dual cards (as seen in the EON17-SLX) are better equipped, as maintaining the target 30fps or higher isn't a guarantee. 4K is demanding, and frame dips below 30 are pretty noticeable and make your game look choppy. The laptop averaged 29fps on Heaven and 37fps on Valley, so it's capable of 30fps or more, but it will vary from game to game and likely dip below 30fps on more demanding titles. 1440p, though, a sweet spot for many desktop setups, is a suitable resolution for gaming on the EON17-X. VR gaming is also well within the laptop's capabilities, two tiers above Nvidia's recommended minimum card for virtual reality, so you can crank up the settings as well.

Battery life is not a bright spot for this laptop, lasting just 2 hours and 17 minutes on our rundown test, which makes it unreliable for long sessions off the charger. Short battery life isn't uncommon for gaming laptops, but the EON17-X runs at the back of the pack.

Straightforward Speed

Origin's EON17-X is a highly configurable laptop, and this unit is decked out to be among the best in terms of performance. It's quite expensive, but if you're shopping toward the top of the range and have decided against a desktop, it's an appealing option. Obvious speed aside, it offers a 4K screen and a ton of storage, making it suitable for all types of use. It is fairly unexciting, however, with a very basic design that may be a turn off when you're spending so much money. The Alienware 17 R4 remains our top pick, since it offers similar specs for less money and with a more attractive design. With the Origin, you do get 1TB more storage and a 4K screen (even if its usefulness for gaming is debatable) over the Alienware 17 R4, so if you have the money and want those and other extras, it's worth a look.

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