Origin EON17-S

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a gaming laptop that you can design from the ground up, the Origin EON17-S is a terrific option, experts say. However, you'll pay dearly to get the best performance.

Performance

It's all in how you make it. The Origin EON17-S's myriad customization options make gauging performance difficult. The base model's Core i5 processor, Nvidia GeForce GT660M GPU, 4 GB of RAM and 320 GB hard drive can play games at moderate settings and handle most tasks with ease, but the performance won't blow you away.

Most experts test an advanced $3,500 configuration with a Core i7-3920XM Extreme Edition processor, GeForce GT675M graphics, 16 GB of RAM and two SSDs in a speed-boosting RAID 0 setup. Unsurprisingly, that version blows through anything thrown at it and can play even the newest games on the highest graphics settings.

The EON17-S's battery life is abysmal, even for a gaming notebook, at slightly over two hours in most tests.

Ergonomics

Chunky but comfortable. This is no Ultrabook; at nearly 2 inches thick and 8.6 pounds -- and that's without the bulky power adapter -- the Origin EON17-S is a burden to lug around. Actually using the notebook, however, is a breeze. The keyboard and touchpad are both very comfortable and responsive, although some reviewers are bothered by a couple of keys that are smaller than average. Port selection is top-notch, rivaling that of a full-blown desktop. There's even a fingerprint reader.

Design

Bland on the outside, beautiful on the inside. The nicest thing experts call the generic-looking notebook is "bland." Origin offers several airbrushing, color and etching options, however, and reviewers say you'll be impressed once you open the laptop. The EON17-S sports a stunning 1,920-by-1,080-pixel, high-definition screen, a keyboard with fully customizable backlighting and solid-sounding audio.

Support & reliability

Great customer service. As a boutique system builder, Origin prides itself on its customer service and forum users say it shows. When you buy an Origin laptop, you receive free phone and online support for the life of the computer, and a team will help you with technical details if you ever want to upgrade the notebook in the future. In the case of a return, shipping is free and the company offers a 45-day "No Dead Pixel Guarantee" for the display that you can double to 90 days for an additional $50.

Value

Top-notch support and customization options don't come cheap. It's a fact: Origin's laptops cost more than most of the competition. However, the competition doesn't have Origin's excellent customer support or wide array of powerful customization options.