Rock Xtreme 770 review

The Rock Xtreme 770 contains the most powerful processor in this Labs: an Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme X9000. This runs at a stonking 2.8GHz and, when coupled with 4GB of RAM, propelled the Rock to a score of 1.25 in our 2D benchmarks.

Surprisingly, though, despite the fastest clock speed, the Rock isn't the fastest machine on test: the HP, Sony, Acer and Dell XPS M1730 are all quicker. The latter is also speedier in 3D, although performance from Rock's 8800M GTX isn't to be sniffed at. In our medium-quality Crysis benchmark, the Rock managed 45fps: plenty to handle almost all modern games.

The rest of the spec is what you'd expect. A Blu-ray reader - and a 17in screen with a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 - allows for Full HD playback. There's draft-n wireless, too, and the Rock is well appointed with four USB ports complemented by FireWire, four audio jacks, a card reader and S-Video.

All of this is encased in a rock-solid chassis. The relatively conservative looks - stylish and understated black - conceal superb build quality, with the Xtreme 770 barely flinching under duress.

But the keyboard isn't great. Several function keys and the number pad are small, without any obvious reason. However, the trackpad and buttons are responsive and comfortable to use.

Battery life is another area where the Rock is mediocre. Light use saw the 770 last just two hours, and the heavy-use test reduced this to just under an hour. It isn't a huge issue, as we can't see this 4.1kg laptop leaving home too often.

Despite these indiscretions, however, the Rock Xtreme 770 is still a great desktop replacement. The most powerful processor on test and a quality graphics chipset provide superb performance, and range of features - including Blu-ray and Full HD - is very enticing. It's one of the most expensive PCs in the Labs this month, but it's also one of the most powerful, making it a tempting alternative to the HP Pavilion.

Author: Mike Jennings