Eurocom Raptor X15 review: LGA1700 Core i7-12700K in a laptop

The chassis of the Raptor X15 is the Clevo NH57AF1 which Schenker also uses for its XMG Apex 15 laptop. Thus, we recommend checking out our Schenker review page as our comments on the ports and overall design of the model all apply here for the Raptor X15. This page will instead focus on the performance of the Raptor X15 and what users can expect from the 12th gen Core i7-12700K CPU when applied to a laptop form factor.

The Raptor X15 competes against other non-ultrathin enthusiast 15. 6-inch gaming laptops like the MSI GE66 , Gigabyte A5 X1 , Asus TUF Gaming A15 , or Lenovo Legion 5 15 . However, a key differentiating factor is its use of a LGA1700 socket desktop CPU instead of a typical mobile H-series processor.

More Eurocom reviews: At 2. 7 kg and 32. 5 mm thick, the Raptor X15 is heavier and thicker than most other 15.

6-inch gaming laptops including the MSI GE66 or Asus TUF Gaming A15. The extra weight can be partly attributed to the bulkier cooling solution required to adequately house and cool the LGA1700 socket and processor. Ports options are varied and identical to the Schenker XMG Apex 15.

Note that there is only one USB-C port with support for DisplayPort but not Thunderbolt or Power Delivery unlike on many other Intel-powered gaming laptops like the Razer Blade series or the MSI GS series. Strangely, the model integrates a microSD card reader instead of a full-size one despite the large and relatively thick form factor. Transfer rates are only average at less than half the speed of the card reader on the Dell XPS 15 .

The Intel AX200/201 is available as the highest-end option for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. 2 connectivity. We experienced no issues when paired to our Asus GT-AXE11000 test router.

Wi-Fi 6E is unfortunately not compatible. The webcam is poor at just 720p compared to 1080p on some other gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 15 . There is no support for Windows Hello, either.

The camera can be disabled electronically via the F10 key in place of a physical shutter. The retail box includes screws and pads for installing additional SSDs and a drivers disc. CPU thermal paste is not included.

The standard one-year limited warranty applies when purchased in the US with optional two-year and three-year extensions. The typing experience is comfortable with firmer feedback but louder clatter than what we’re used to on other gaming laptops. Keyboard lighting is unfortunately single-zone only compared to quad-zone or per-key RGB lighting on most other performance laptops.

We do, however, appreciate the dedicated mouse buttons for easier multi-touch inputs. Our unit comes configured with the same Sharp LQ156M1JW03 IPS panel as found on the Eurocom RX315 . This panel is notable for its very fast 240 Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and full sRGB coverage to be fit for both gaming and most graphics editing.

A higher resolution QHD panel is also available promising full DCI-P3 coverage albeit at a slower 165 Hz refresh rate. The display is decently calibrated out of the box with average grayscale and ColorChecker DeltaE values of just 3. 1 and 2.

35, respectively. We’re able to improve DeltaE even further with our X-Rite colorimeter as shown by our screenshots below. Our unit was set to Performance mode via both Windows and the Control Center 3.

0 software prior to running any performance benchmarks below for the highest possible scores without end-user overclocking. It’s recommend that owners become familiar with Control Center 3. 0 as fan controls, power modes, and LED/macro features are all toggled here.

There is no MUX switch and so there is only Optimus 1. 0 support. Eurocom says the Raptor X15 was not designed with a MUX switch in mind.

Unfortunately, our unit would exhibit performance bugs when running CineBench R15 which would prevent us from recording proper scores with the benchmark. Eurocom has confirmed with us that the bug is reproducible on multiple Raptor X15 units. Fortunately, all other benchmarks would run without any issues.

When compared to our reference desktop with the same Core i7-12700K CPU, the i7-12700K in our Eurocom would be 20 to 25 percent slower in multi-threaded workloads for an overall performance level that is most similar to the mobile Core i7-12700H . PCMark 10 scores are comparable to high-end gaming laptops equipped with “regular” mobile CPUs like the MSI GE66 i9-12900HK or Razer Blade 15 i7-12800H. The Digital Content Creation subtest score, however, is lower than expected.

LatencyMon reveals DPC issues when opening multiple browser tabs of our homepage. 4K video playback at 60 FPS is otherwise perfect and with no dropped frames when set to the integrated GPU. Performance sustainability is poor when a PCIe4 drive is installed.

As shown by our graph below, the Samsung SSD 980 Pro has issues maintaining its maximum transfer rate for even short periods. Performance throttling kicks in early due to thermal limitations stemming from the lack of an included heat spreader. Graphics performance is excellent at up to 10 percent faster than the average laptop in our database equipped with the same GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU.

The relatively thick chassis has allowed for a higher-than-average 140 W TGP target compared to just 105 W or less such as on the MSI GS66 . Performance is just shy of the GeForce RTX 3070 for desktops. Fan noise is dependent on the five Control Center power mode settings: Power Saving, Quiet, Entertainment, Performance, and Maximum Fan mode.

Quiet or Power Saving are recommended when simply browsing or video streaming to keep fan noise at a minimum. Otherwise, the fans will pulse more frequently when running undemanding applications on Entertainment or Performance modes. Expect fan noise to be in the low to mid 50 dB(A) range when gaming to be louder than many other gaming laptops under similar conditions.

If both Performance mode with Maximum Fan mode are active, then fan noise can be as high as 55 dB(A). Surface temperature hot spots are nearest the left palm rest and keyboard center when running demanding applications. The left palm rest is usually warmer than the right since the PCIe4 NVMe SSD is positioned underneath.

Hot spots can reach about 50 C on the top and bottom areas as shown by the temperature maps below. When stressed under Prime95, the CPU would boost to 3. 8 GHz and 100 W for almost a full minute before hitting a core temperature of 86 C.

Thereafter, clock rates would steadily fall before stabilizing at just 2. 6 GHz and 70 W in order to reach a more stable core temperature of 75 C. In other words, the CPU is unable to maintain the full 100 W power draw for extended periods due to thermal limitations.

There is a slight boost to graphics performance when switching to Performance mode from Entertainment mode. GPU board power draw and clock rate would stabilize at 118 W and 1620 MHz, respectively, when running Witcher 3 on Performance mode versus 113 W and 1530 MHz when running the same game on Entertainment mode. If Maximum Fan mode is activated, GPU clock rate and board power draw would stabilize at even higher values of 1725 MHz and 130 W, respectively.

It’s disappointing that the GPU cannot reach closer to the 140 W target as claimed on the Nvidia Control Panel and that users must turn on Maximum Fan mode in order to squeeze the expected performance level out of the GPU. Running on battery power limits performance. A Fire Strike test on batteries would return Physics and Graphics scores of 12708 and 3419 points, respectively, compared to 31240 and 30473 points when on mains.

Power consumption is reasonably low when idling on desktop. Our unit would consume between 12 W and 22 W when idling on desktop compared to 33 W to 44 W on the much older Eurocom Sky X4C with an Intel 9th gen desktop CPU. Nonetheless, consumption is still very high when running more demanding applications.

Running Witcher 3 , for example, demands more power than most any laptop with an Intel or AMD H-series CPU and similar GeForce RTX 3070-class GPU. The 280 W AC adapter may be large, but it is necessary for running the system at full power. We’re able to reach a draw of 260 W when both the CPU and GPU are at maximum utilization.

Runtimes are short at just under 4 hours of real-world WLAN use on the Balanced power profile and with the integrated GPU active. The charging rate is decent at 2 to 2. 5 hours from empty to a full capacity.

We do appreciate that the battery is easily removable, however, unlike on most other laptops. The Raptor X15 uses the latest Intel CPUs and Nvidia GPUs trapped in an aging chassis. The model is missing features commonly found on other high-end 15.

6-inch gaming laptops such as per-key RGB lighting, DisplayPort-over-USB, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 6E support, and better NVMe SSD cooling. When competing models like the MSI GE66 or Gigabyte A5 X1 can each be thinner and lighter while offering similar TGP targets than the Raptor, it can be difficult to recommend the Eurocom over such alternatives. Keep in mind that maximum performance is tied to Maximum Fan mode.

Thus, users must manually set the system profile to Maximum Fan mode and endure loud fans in order to get the most performance out of the system. The Raptor X15 has a removable LGA1700 CPU with lots of storage options, but its overall chassis design could use a facelift. There are still some notable features worth praising.

The model supports 2. 5-inch SATA III drives and an easily removable battery pack, for example, which are now rarities on modern gaming laptops. If you don’t think you’ll exploit its LGA1700 socket, however, then the biggest selling point of the Raptor X15 becomes moot.

Eurocom is now shipping the Raptor X15 starting at $2000 USD for the base configuration or approximately $3500 as configured in our review. .