Razer updates Blade 17 with faster 130 W GeForce RTX GPUs but with no changes to the 230 W AC adapter
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.
Model | Razer Blade Pro 17 (2020) | Razer Blade 17 (2021) |
---|---|---|
CPU | Intel 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 |
GPU | Up to GeForce RTX 3080 100 W TGP | Up to GeForce RTX 3080 130 W TGP |
Display | 165 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 |
Storage | 2x PCIe 3.0 x4 | 2x PCIe 4.0 x4 |
RAM | Up to 64 GB 2933 MHz | Up to 64 GB 3200 MHz |
Weight/Size | 2.75+ 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 | 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 adapter | 230 W AC adapter | 230 W AC adapter |