Lenovo Legion Professional 7i (Gen8)

The brand new Lenovo Legion Professional 7i is an impressive next-gen gaming laptop computer. It is a machine that is available in at a worth level that makes the remainder of the high-end RTX 40-series look much more ridiculous on their lofty $4,000+ perches. And its RTX 4080 GPU provides it the type of gaming efficiency that has me questioning why anybody would need an RTX 4090 machine.

That is the primary gaming laptop computer I’ve seen utilizing the second-tier Ada Lovelace GPU from Nvidia, and it is a doozy. 

Just like the RTX 4090 earlier than it, the numbering system Nvidia is utilizing for its cell graphics silicon is a step faraway from that contained in the desktop variations of the identical title. Whereas Nvidia is likely to be making a giant deal of the actual fact xx90-class GPUs are going into laptops for the primary time, they are not the identical because the graphics chompers within the newest and best gaming PCs.

The cell RTX 4090 makes use of the identical AD103 GPU because the desktop RTX 4080, although the cell RTX 4080 is definitely constructed from a cut-down model of the AD104 used contained in the desktop RTX 4070 Ti.

Which means you are getting 7,424 CUDA cores versus the 7,680 of the desktop GPU. That additionally places it a great distance behind the cell RTX 4090 with its 9,728 CUDA cores, which should imply the highest chip will at all times have the sting.

I’ve discovered that is not at all times the case given the acute confines of a gaming laptop computer chassis, because the constraints these can placed on a GPU have actually been working on this ones favour. Where the decrease energy calls for of the second-tier chip can permit it to clock as much as a a lot increased stage than the extra thirsty, larger chips, that may actually have an effect on their relative gaming efficiency.

The body charge delta is not at all times as nice as you would possibly assume, and typically it is not there in any respect.

The Legion Professional 7i runs its RTX 4080 at a 150W TGP, which is the efficient most of the GPU. Although producers are given an additional 25W leeway to bulk up their very own specs in the event that they really feel they’ll push just a little further juice via their very own programs. That is what has been finished with the MSI Titan GT77 and Razer Blade 16 machines, where their RTX 4090 GPUs have been given the total 175W allowance. Lenovo hasn’t gone down that route, the Legion Professional is aware of what it likes, and it likes the 150W TGP and no extra.

However the energy of this machine is not all about its GPU. And the complicated part nomenclature is not restricted to Nvidia alone, both. The Legion Professional 7i makes use of a thirteenth Gen Intel chip—the Core i9 13900HX. If, like me, you have been to imagine that may basically be a barely increased clocked model of the Core i9 13900H Asus has utilized in its wonderful Zephyrus M16 gaming laptop computer, then you definately’d be incorrect.

Regardless of the just about equivalent title, that is a wholly completely different, considerably higher CPU. Where the one within the Asus is a 14-core design, with six P-cores, it is a 24-core setup with eight P-cores and twice the variety of E-cores. They’re each able to 5.4GHz increase clocks, although inevitably the larger chip has a better base TDP of 45W.

System efficiency

That interprets to the precise efficiency figures although, and reveals in simply how shut it will get to the ever-so-slightly increased clocked Core i9 13950HX used within the Blade and Titan machines. 

Then, backing up the important thing CPU/GPU mixture is a 1TB PCIe 4.0 Samsung SSD, and 32GB of DDR5-5600 SK Hynix reminiscence.

The ultimate a part of the package deal is the 1600p 240Hz display. Which is ok. I worry I have been spoiled by the enjoyment of the mini LED backlights utilized in the previous couple of laptop computer shows I’ve examined, as a result of this one lacks the punch that I now need from a gaming panel. 

What it does have, nonetheless, is the 16:10 facet ratio I by no means knew I wanted in a gaming laptop computer till I began utilizing them on the common. The 2560 x 1600 native decision is a superb match for the 16-inch display measurement the Legion Professional comes rocking. It delivers a greater expertise when simply on the desktop, and provides that little bit of additional display actual property in video games, too. The slight improve in decision does not affect gaming efficiency considerably if you’ve bought a graphics chip this succesful baked into the system.

Which brings us neatly to the letters I’ve jammed collectively to kind my ideas on the Legion Professional 7i’s efficiency. Inevitably, I am benching this towards the three RTX 4090-based machines I’ve reviewed thus far, and I’d have assumed that it will be considerably—or not less than tangibly—behind the highest Nvidia GPU. However, as I’ve mentioned, that is not the case.

Gaming efficiency

The Legion Professional 7i manages to outperform each the Razer Blade 16 and the Asus Zephyrus M16 commonly, at each 1080p and 1440p resolutions. Solely the chonky boi MSI Titan GT77 is ready to utilise its RTX 4090-ish GPU to its fullest potential. After which on the expense of acoustics and probably your sanity. 

And most particularly your checking account.

As a result of that is the factor I hold coming again to after I’m this Lenovo machine. It isn’t the prettiest, nevertheless it positive can smash out them excessive gaming body charges. And does it for round $2,000 lower than the Blade 16. Okay, there’s at all times going to be a Razer premium for a Blade laptop computer, however the Zephyrus M16 continues to be $4,000, which suggests you are saving nicely over a thousand {dollars} to get the identical efficiency figures and a greater CPU. Certain, the laptop computer display is not mini LED, however that is a compromise I am prepared to make if I nonetheless get to have a 16:10 that also appears to be like good.

I am speaking about compromise right here, however there truthfully is not something huge you’ve got actually bought to compromise on past that tremendous costly display. And hell, it is nonetheless a 1600p 240Hz panel. The gaming battery life is fairly weak, nonetheless, decrease than any of the RTX 4090 machines I’ve checked out, however so long as you do not plan to play with out a charging cable it is a lot much less of a problem. 

The precise chassis does feel and look like a Lenovo; extra workplace machine than the type of hyper angular case you may see Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI historically wrapping round their gaming laptops. And that is no dangerous factor. I do not essentially need my laptop computer to be some monstrous hyper-aggressive wanting machine, and it is bought per-key RGB illumination and a lightweight bar up entrance so you may nonetheless get your laptop computer lit. And, talking of these keys, the Legion Professional has a superb keyboard. Just like the MSI Titan, you get a numpad, however in contrast to the MSI Titan it is truly usable.

I additionally respect the best way the cursor keys are separated from the mass of keys, too, and that the slight curl to the perimeters of the keys truly make them much less vulnerable to mis-strikes. A minimum of, that is what I’ve discovered with my fats fingers.

So, it appears like a grown up gaming laptop computer, is eminently usable, has efficiency in spades—in each CPU and GPU phrases—and does not value anyplace close to the identical quantity because the next-gen machines we have already checked out. I imply, it is not low-cost; $2,750 / £2,800 continues to be a not inconsiderable chunk of change. However that is not an sudden price ticket for such a excessive powered pocket book, and contemplating that is the identical worth because the RTX 4060-powered Blade 16 it is higher than a number of the competitors. And as a lot as I’ve beloved Razer’s gaming laptops through the years, I’d 100% be shopping for the Legion Professional 7i as a substitute.