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EVGA reveals its first gaming laptop, and a new desktop case, at CES 2016

EVGA SC17 Gaming Laptop
EVGA might be known mostly for its internal components, but at this year’s CES it’s expanding out of its comfort zone and launching not only a high-end gaming laptop, but a brand new case design, too. Both offer something interesting for gamers, and like other EVGA products, certainly look the part.

The notebook, known as the SC-17, is EVGA’s first attempt at building a gaming notebook, but it’s an impressive piece of kit. With a display that measures in at 17 inches, it’s a compact 1.05 inches thick and weighs in at just 8.5 pounds. That’s actually not bad for a power gaming rig.

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And powerful it is, with a GTX 980M inside. We don’t have the specifications on the CPU or memory – according to PCWorld they’re still being finalized – but they should have plenty of grunt, as they have to power a 4K, 60HZ display.

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Related: High-end laptops and hybrids headline CES 2016 for Dell

Rounding out the package is a pair of speakers that are said to have been created by the same group that designs audio systems for Bose and Apple. EVGA also claims the laptop has class-leading cooling that keeps the system nearly silent despite its internal hardware.

No price has been announced, but the SC-17 is expected to ship sometime in Q1 2016.

Also on show was EVGA’s new gamer orientated chassis. Although said to be still in-development, it’s already a monster of a case, but it’s size isn’t the most defining quality, its layout is. Unlike most cases, this one has its ports and front-panel buttons on the left hand side panel, where you also find a giant Plexiglas window to show off your system’s internals.

evgacase
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The idea is to make all of the switches accessible to gamers that like their rig side to showcase their cable routing and lighting setup.

To make gaining access to the pretty hardware easier, EVGA ditched the usual convenience enhancing thumbscrews and replaced them with push buttons, removing the need to unscrew either of the side panels to get inside. We can’t promise the same for the PCI brackets, but it’s a nice touch all the same.

Cooling was also a big focus, with a type of fin in the base of the chassis that is said to funnel in cold air, helping to drop overall system temperatures by six degrees, according to EVGA representatives.

With a rough release date of “2016,” we don’t know much about the final price or launch details of the case of yet, but it’s certainly going to be one to keep an eye on.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
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