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Razer updates Blade 17 with faster 130 W GeForce RTX GPUs but with no changes to the 230 W AC adapter

Razer updates Blade 17 with faster 130 W GeForce RTX GPUs but with the same 230 W AC adapter (Source: Razer)
Razer updates Blade 17 with faster 130 W GeForce RTX GPUs but with the same 230 W AC adapter (Source: Razer)
The under-the-hood changes should are expected to boost GPU performance by about 10 to 20 percent from last year's 10th gen Intel Blade Pro options. Prices start at $2399 USD for the RTX 3060 up to $3699 for the RTX 3080.

Most laptop makers have been updating their gaming laptops with 11th gen Intel CPUs these past couple of weeks and Razer is no exception. The 15.6-inch Blade 15 Advanced Model recently had its 11th gen Intel upgrade and now the 17.3-inch Blade 17 is getting its turn.

The first major change aside from the CPU is the name. Razer will be dropping the "Pro" from the Blade Pro 17 to just "Blade 17". We're always down for shorter model names (we're looking at you Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 G732LQS), so the new change is appreciated.

The second update relates to the GPU itself. Razer will be bumping the maximum GPU TGP to 130 W for higher clock rates. The previous generation Blade Pro 17 had a lower TGP of only 100 W. This is an easy way to boost performance from the same graphics chip albeit likely at the cost of warmer running temperatures.

Naturally, the 11th gen Intel platform comes with a few other auxiliary benefits including PCIe 4 and Thunderbolt 4 support instead of only PCIe 3 or Thunderbolt 3. Such features are common on most other gaming laptops equipped with the same 11th gen Intel CPUs. However, it's worth noting that the Blade 17 is one of the only 17-inch gaming laptops to have Thunderbolt 4 ports on both sides of the chassis for added versatility when charging or docking.

The 230 W AC adapter remains unchanged from last year's model despite the more demanding 130 W TGP GPU. We would've preferred a more capable AC adapter to better exploit the more demanding hardware.

The Blade 17 is otherwise visually similar to its predecessors meaning most of the changes are internal. Users who have been crossing their fingers for hardware-based upgrades like a fingerprint reader, webcam shutter, or keyboard update will have to keep waiting. The Blade 17 will start shipping worldwide before the end of this month for a starting price of $2400 USD.

ModelRazer Blade Pro 17 (2020)Razer Blade 17 (2021)
CPUIntel 10th gen Comet Lake-H
Core i7-10875H
65 W PL1
Intel 11th gen Tiger Lake-H
Core i7-11800H
Core i9-11900H
65 W PL1
GPUUp to GeForce RTX 3080
100 W TGP
Up to GeForce RTX 3080
130 W TGP
Display165 Hz QHD non-touch
350 Hz FHD non-touch
120 Hz 4K UHD touch
165 Hz QHD non-touch
360 Hz FHD non-touch
240 Hz QHD non-touch
120 Hz 4K UHD touch
Storage2x PCIe 3.0 x42x PCIe 4.0 x4
RAMUp to 64 GB 2933 MHzUp to 64 GB 3200 MHz
Weight/Size2.75+ kg
19.9 x 260 x 395 mm
2.75+ kg
19.9 mm x 260 x 395 mm
Ports

3x USB-A 3.2 Gen. 2
2.5 Gbps RJ-45
SD reader UHS-III
2x Thunderbolt 3
HDMI 2.0b
3.5 mm audio

3x USB-A 3.2 Gen. 2
2.5 Gbps RJ-45
SD reader UHS-III
2x Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 2.1

3.5 mm audio
AC adapter230 W AC adapter230 W AC adapter
static version load dynamic
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 07 > Razer updates Blade 17 with faster 130 W GeForce RTX GPUs but with no changes to the 230 W AC adapter
Allen Ngo, 2021-07-14 (Update: 2021-07-14)