AVADirect D901C Review

Hardcore gamers often resemble a clandestine brotherhood of druids that proudly use obscure language and hide the depths of their knowledge from the general public. AVADirect has long been one of their resources for overpowered gaming setups. The AVADirect D901C is their latest in a series of blindingly fast, custom gaming machines suitable for both the underground gaming occult and the demanding independent gamer. The 17 inch AVADirect D901C is basically a carbon copy of a gaming notebook by Clevo—another mantra familiar to the international conspiracy of gamers. Like many heavy gaming laptops, the AVADirect D901C uses desktop processors—that means unholy muscle in a build that is more powerful but somewhat less portable than a laptop that relies solely on laptop components.


Standout Features


• 3.3GHz Intel Core Duo E8600 Processor
• Dual GeForce 9800M GTX video cards
• Thorough Customizability


Features


Diehard fans swear by AVADirect’s custom built gaming laptops. Power like that found in the AVADirect D901C is not available at your local RadioShack. Like custom cars built from the ground up, custom computers offer what mass production and the mainstream can’t: outrageous power. A solid configuration for the AVADirect D901C includes a 3.3GHz E8600 processor. You’ll recognize the desktop class, dual-core processor from the Falcon Northwest FragBook DRX and Sager NP9262. The E8600 is the best dual-core processor you can get without venturing into over clocking or unstable prototype territory. The processor and 4GB of high-speed RAM work together to deliver power to the AVADirect D901C’s dual GeForce 9800M GTX video cards. The SLI configured video cards mean that, performance wise, the AVADirect D901C will be indistinguishable from a high-end gaming desktop. Yep. You’ll be playing Far Cry 2, Fallout 3 and Starcraft 2 on your laptop. While you’re waiting for Blizzard to release Starcraft 2, you can even replay Crysis the way it was meant to be played: with the graphics settings turned up. The AVADirect D901C is more than your run of the mill laptop, it’s a gaming Godzilla on a rampage, destroying any competition unfortunate enough to cross its path.


AVADirect gives you tons of hardware and accessory options when you custom build a D901C. This can be a bit daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the complicated innards of a computer. For the initiated, however, AVADirect’s ample build options are fun to tinker with. Want two 64GB solid state hard drives and a conventional 500 GB hard drive in the same machine? No problem! One of our favorite customization options is the paint job—available in a rainbow of unique colors. Nothing says ubergamer like a “cotton candy pink” or “viper blue” paint job.


Value


There are cheaper gaming laptops around. Budget gaming machines like the Toshiba Qosmio X305 and Gateway P-7811FX are a bit friendlier on your pocketbook than the AVADirect D901C. They just don’t come with the promise of godlike performance. For around $4,000 with SLI and a high-end processor, the AVADirect D901C is pretty affordable as far as extreme performance laptops go. AVADirect offers a boatload of build options, so if you’re looking to save a few hundred dollars you can always downgrade a few components. If you’ve recently come into big money and are looking to get rid of it before the economy collapses, the AVADirect D901C can be outfitted with a quad-core processor, dual 1GB video cards and threesolid state hard drives . A gaming machine of that magnitude will run upwards of $7500. But for the elite ranks of the hardcore gamers, price is secondary to performance and bragging rights.


Summary of Reviews from Across the Internet


Reviewers use a lot of exclamation points to describe their satisfaction with performance. Benchmark tests routinely rank the Clevo-inspired AVADirect D901C setup as the fastest in the world.


It doesn’t come as a surprise to hear that the AVADirect D901C tends to run hot and loud when you consider the formidable hardware its packing. Reviewers deride the term “laptop” for the AVADirect D901C—the computer and AC adapter weigh 13 back-breaking pounds.


Summary


Like most high-end, custom built, performance oriented computers, the AVADirect D901C is awesomely fast and exaggeratedly over powered. A maximized AVADirect D901C configuration will cause gamers to quiver with desire. SLI video cards, desk top processing speed with a 17 inch display. What’s not to love? Like a cherished relative, the AVADirect D901C does have its minor flaws. If you can overlook its hefty price tag and bulkiness, the AVADirect D901C promises unrivalled gaming performance and the prestige of owning a frighteningly powerful supercomputer.

[computers.toptenreviews.com]