CyberPowerPC FangBook Gaming Notebook Review
by Dustin Sklavos on May 1, 2013 12:01 AM ESTBattery Life
Given that we're using a newer, much more vigorous battery testing methodology now, it's harder to make an accurate comparison between the CyberPowerPC FangBook and competing gaming notebooks. Unfortunately all we have for the moment are ultrabooks, all of which are running substantially slower (and less power hungry hardware). [Ed: I added the ASUS UX51VZ to the list as well; still an Ultrabook, but substantially faster than the ULV models.] Perspective remains important, though, and battery life is one of the major sacrifices made when you use a heavy gaming notebook. It's not as bad as it used to be thanks to switchable graphics technology, but we're still running a 45W CPU.
Given that we're dealing with a 45W CPU competing with 17W CPUs while running a bigger display, the FangBook's efficiency really isn't half bad. We still get a minimum of three hours of useful running time, which is appreciated.
Display Quality
Amusingly enough, we're starting to get to the point where a 1080p display on a 17.3" notebook may not cut it. For now, though, it's a good size, especially for a gaming notebook that isn't going to be able to push games beyond 1080p. The FangBook is using the exact same panel as iBuyPower's Valkyrie CZ-17 (again, same chassis), so it remains to be seen if there's any real difference. We also want to see how it stacks up against competing options in the gaming market. Note that the FangBook is also using a matte panel while the Alienware M17x R4's and Dell XPS 13's (filling in here for IPS 1080p) are glossy.
Interestingly, despite using the exact same panel and chassis, the FangBook posts slightly better performance all around. All of these 1080p displays are competitive, and for being TN panels they hold their own with Dell's XPS 13 and its IPS panel.
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blackmagnum - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
Fall CPU and GPU updates are so near. A gaming laptop >$1,500 is a tough decision. Maybe if they run a trade-in program...Meaker10 - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
Powernotebooks sell a tweaked 680m version of a better version of this case that scores around 8000 in 3dmark 11 ;) so you can get 780m performance today.darkhawk1980 - Friday, May 3, 2013 - link
Or just get an MSI GT70, which is what this, and the iBuyPower's chassis are based off of, as well as it's internals. I got one last October with a GTX680M in it, and it's great.MoneyLoo - Saturday, May 4, 2013 - link
@darkhawk I think it's important to note that the keyboard on the msi gt70 is utter crap and after two months of my palm moving the trackpad mouse inadvertently and registering clicks elsewhere on the screen that would cause my typing to become garbled and fragmented I was so frustrated with this pc that I sent it back and absorbed the restocking fee!StormyParis - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
FangBook. That sounds like an awkward name for something targeted at teens.Friendly0Fire - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
It also looks like it's straight out of what teens were thought to like in the 80s...a1strank - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
Man this thing looks like my 1998 Compaq Pentium 3...dakishimesan - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
this looks like my 1998 toyota camry.l_d_allan - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
or an angry kitchen appliance?Darkstone - Wednesday, May 1, 2013 - link
Is that thing really 3.1 Kg???Have you tested the cooling? Notebookcheck measures quite server throtteling issues onder prime95 and furmark, with the CPU throtteling to 1.2Ghz and shutdown due to undersized power supply. Whereas the M17x keeps the temperature under 85° without throttling.