Xi PowerGo XT Notebook Review

First, I will go ahead and point out that this system is huge—but that’s a good thing. The spacious 17.3 in. LED screen enhanced the viewing experience and made it easier for me to work on. If your eyes are less than perfect, like mine, the larger screen makes the user experience even more enjoyable and gives the feel of a desktop monitor. The keyboard also has an illuminated backlight that adds both flair and ease of use in rooms with minimal lighting. I found the backlighting to be a great option for varying environments, especially in low light areas. This is an option I never even thought of incorporating into a system. Nonetheless, the PowerGo XT also has a wider, yet stylish, body that is heavier than an average notebook, but with the amount of power, performance and stability packed into this device, I am surprised that it doesn’t weigh more. There are several premium features in this workstation, such as the sixth-generation Quad Intel Core i7-6700K desktop processor with Turbo Boost, along with a Microsoft Windows 7 OS and 16GB DDR4 dual-rank interleave RAM to support system performance and multitasking between programs. I definitely took advantage of this, since it seems that I can never run less than five programs at a time, in addition to having multiple social networking Internet tabs opened simultaneously. The PowerGo XT integrates a full keyboard, multitouch track pad, video camera and dual-band wireless Bluetooth module to name a few. I must also mention the vibrant audio. It is a must that I listen to music while I work, and this internal audio system did not disappoint me. Multiple inputs to choose from include:

• (3) USB 3.0 connectors
• Headphone and microphone inputs
• Multi-memory SD card reader slot
• HDMI input
• (2) Rear DisplayPorts (for optional dual monitors)

Graphical Performance and Efficiency 

A few general benchmarks were run for the PowerGo XT Notebook and are illustrated below

Figure 3. Windows Experience Index score for system components.

Using Windows 7 built-in experience index, I compared the PowerGo XT to my trusted work HP ProBook laptop that I use on a daily basis. The index score measures computer hardware and software capabilities and reports the metric for the lowest performing component. I was curious to see just how well the PowerGo XT matched up, but as you can see from the illustration above, the base score for the Xi PowerGo XT came in a lot higher at 7.8 in comparison to the 6.5 base score for the HP. The scores were nearly perfect across every subscore. As such, the Xi PowerGo XT performed better when performing resource-intensive tasks such as CAD modeling and even high-level gaming.  

Figure 4. PassMark comparison with other systems.

A second benchmark for system performance was run using the PassMark 8.0, which measures system performance against several standard hardware configurations. The Xi PowerGo XT produced an overall PassMark composite score of 6,442.7, while the HP ProBook eked out a 2,165 for the same test—yes, a significant difference in processing speed, giving the upper hand to the PowerGo XT. Figure 5. SPECviewperf benchmark for Xi PowerGo XT Notebook and other models. 

For the SPECviewperf benchmark, which specifically measures real-world professional graphics performance, I pulled a few recent scores of a few comparable mobile workstations that were published on the SPECviewperf 12 site. Higher scores in each category indicate a higher graphical performance when used for each listed application—for instance, behavior under conditions within SOLIDWORKS, CATIA, NX, etc. From Figure 5 above, you will see that the Xi PowerGo XT returned a composite score of 112.58 in the SOLIDWORKS test. In comparison, the HP ZBook 17 mobile workstation reported a score of 61.9 and the Lenovo ThinkPad W540 returned a score of 35.06 for the same test—another hands-down win for the Xi PowerGo XT. Online SPECviewperf scores from the compared models can be found here.

Figure 6. Cinebench benchmarking.

The final benchmark comparison involved the Cinebench benchmark. This benchmark measures CPU processing power and OpenGL GPU performance under real-world conditions. I ran this benchmark for both the Xi PowerGo XT and my trusted HP ProBook. In addition, I added another laptop, an HP Pavilion G series that I use for other graphics applications. The comparison from Figure 6 shows that the PowerGo XT generates the highest metrics of 104.65 for the graphics and 485 for the CPU. My everyday ProBook, sporting the modest consumer-grade Intel HD Graphics 4000 consistently failed the graphics test and consequently would not return a value. Furthermore, the CPU ran at less than half the rate of the PowerGo CPU. Finally, the Pavilion scores were nothing less than disappointing and don’t even compare to the performance of the Xi PowerGo XT. This notebook is a beast. 

Pricing Summary 

The base model for this notebook is stacked with multiple features, comes with a Xi parts replacement warranty and is competitively priced at around $1,699. Now, this price level may not be right for everyone, but again, high-quality workstations that can handle 3D modeling tasks and simulations demand more coin. As such, the as-reviewed configuration is significantly pricier at $3,120, but of course this is not your average off-the-shelf notebook. The PowerGo XT is built for professional performance and is meant to be driven by users requiring graphics-intensive applications. If you are only looking to surf the Web or send an occasional email, then there may be too much power under this hood for you. However, if you are looking for a high-quality notebook that can operate as your main CAD workstation by supporting on-the-go design and gaming capability as a bonus, then the PowerGo XT will inspire you. See the added component options below.    

Figure 7. The PowerGo XT Notebook pricing options.

Conclusion I must commend Xi for producing this premium notebook that encompasses enough onboard power to support a 3D designer’s passion for stability, as well as a gamer’s critical desire for system performance. The PowerGo XT has the power of a professional desktop but merits praise for remaining a robust mobile CAD workstation with the fortitude to effortlessly outperform many notebooks and desktop PCs on the market. The benchmarks clearly show the PowerGo XT notebook is worth engaging for serious CAD workflows. Not every company can stake that claim about their mobile computers.