EVGA Launches SC17 1080 Laptop: Core i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080, TB3
by Anton Shilov on August 14, 2017 4:00 PM ESTEVGA has launched its new flagship 17.3” laptop with a new CPU, a new GPU, and with Thunderbolt 3 support. The new SC17 1080 gaming notebook is thicker than its predecessors, but it features higher performance due to Intel’s latest Core i7-7820HK mobile CPU as well as NVIDIA’s flagship GeForce GTX 1080 graphics processor for laptops. Just like predecessors, the SC17 has a 4K display and allows its owners to overclock the CPU.
EVGA introduced its first SC17 notebook in March 2016 with an aim to offer desktop-class performance and feature set in a clamshell chassis that is 1.05” (26.9 mm) thick: a 4K (3840×2160) display, an overclockable CPU, 32 GB of memory and a rather advanced storage sub-system are meant to serve this purpose. Earlier this year EVGA launched a new version of the SC17 with NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, bringing the performance of the system on par with other contemporary gaming laptops. This month, the company decided to increase the performance of its flagship notebook further and in a bid to do that, it had to introduce new chassis. The SC17 1080 laptop is 1.3” (30 mm) thick, but its weight is still around 4 kilograms, in line with many 17”-class gaming machines. The new enclosure enabled EVGA to equip the SC17 1080 with a new cooling system that can handle Intel’s new Core i7-7820HK CPU based on the Kaby Lake microarchitecture (4C/8T, 2.9G-3.90G) and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1080 mobile GPU (2560 stream processors, 160 texture units, 64 ROPs) with 8 GB of GDDR5X memory. In addition, the flagship laptop now features a Thunderbolt 3 port to connect the system to various high-performance peripherals (such as external storage or displays).
Apart from the upgraded CPU and GPU, the new SC17 1080 has the same features and configuration as the original: it is equipped with 32 GB of G.Skill’s DDR4-2666 memory, a 256 GB M.2 NVMe SSD (PCIe 3.0 x4 interface) and a 1 TB hard drive with 7200 RPM spindle speed. When it comes to connectivity, the SC17 1080 is almost identical to its predecessors: it has an 802.11ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 module, a gigabit ethernet RJ-45 connector, one Thunderbolt 3/USB 3.1 Type-C port, three USB-A 3.0 ports, two mDP headers, an HDMI output, an FHD webcam and so on. Just like on the previous SC17 models, the SC17 1080 allows the user to fine-tune CPU voltages in a bid to maximize overclocking potential, as well as to overclock the GPU. If something goes wrong, there is a CMOS clear button on the chassis.
By making its SC17 1080 thicker than its predecessors, EVGA is going against the industry's recent trend to make gaming laptops thinner. EVGA's rivals Acer and ASUS have embraced NVIDIA's MaxQ initiative that enables notebook manufacturers to make their GeForce GTX 1080-based PCs thinner and lighter at the expense of performance in games (which is still very high, especially for a mobile PC). By contrast, EVGA wants its SC17 1080 to offer the highest performance possible (but without going extreme with add-on liquid cooling, etc.) and have an additional overclocking headroom both for the CPU and GPU.
The new EVGA SC17 1080 laptop is not only thicker and faster than its predecessors, but it is also more expensive too due to the updates. The new gaming laptop costs $2999.99, up from $2549.99 for the SC17 1070.
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Source: EVGA
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Notmyusualid - Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - link
I guess you never leave the house...jabber - Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - link
A gamer should always use the best machine for the job. A laptop is never the best machine for gaming full stop.Ro_Ja - Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - link
Well gaming laptops are for people who wants to play anywhere and anytime.But if you're the type of guy who games comfortably at home, desktop is the way to go.
prophet001 - Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - link
This is dumb unless you never go anywhere.Do you take your desktop with you when you go on trips?
damianrobertjones - Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - link
A laptop with a 1070 is a pretty damn nice gaming machine.jabber - Tuesday, August 15, 2017 - link
Doesn't look too embarrassing. However, you know once you buy it it will have to go back toEVGA for fixing at least twice. These big gaming laptops are soo flakey.
BurntMyBacon - Wednesday, August 16, 2017 - link
Sorry your experience has been poor. Since you didn't come off as over exaggerated or trolling, I'd like to add this to my sample set. How many big gaming laptops have you had that have needed returning? Also, if you recall, how many times and at what age from the date of purchase? Brands and models would also be extremely helpful. Thanks in advance.I've had experience with a fair number of gaming laptops on the larger size and they seem to hold up more or less well depending on brand and construction quality. However, I've only had a dozen or so samples of large Clevo sized (can support dual GPUs) mobile workstations. The unfortunate is that some of these very large chassis have an inordinate amount of flex either in the base, screen, or both. Somewhat consistent with your comment, I've seem quite few issue pop up that could very well be related to shock, vibe, and flex in an unsuitable chassis.
Mr. Fox - Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - link
Oh great... Just what the world needed. Another disposable soldered BGA turdbook being pitched to the kiddos by a pack of lies about it being something more special that the rest of the emasculated soldered crapbooks out there. Sad days we're living in folks. Real sad. My P870DM3 effortlessly benches the 7700K at 5.2GHz and the dual 200W 1080 setup it is sporting has no match in laptop land. That beast will literally rip the head off of this pathetic toy computer and poop down its neck.damianrobertjones - Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - link
I bet you feel special. Other people have different needs to yours.bennyg - Tuesday, August 22, 2017 - link
A worthwhile response.The point is, there are laptops built for overclocking, and there are laptops marketed for overclocking. If your need is "feels" of performance instead of actual performance, buy a compromised unit like this evga.