Falcon Northwest has been one of the longest running companies in the custom PC world and has built its reputation on gorgeous, high performance desktop and laptop gaming PCs. This year, it took its DRX desktop-replacement line-up back to the drawing board and has now returned with a thinner, lighter, and more powerful model than ever before.
The new DRX is power unbridled. It features a 24-core Intel Core i9-13900HX processor, your choice of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 mobile GPU (unlocked to run at full power), a minimum of 32GB of memory and 2TB of NVMe storage, and a gorgeous 17.3-inch 4K, 144Hz G-Sync display. The specs are top notch, but the improvements don’t end there. The Falcon Northwest DRX is an outstanding, premium option that’s well worth considering if you’re shopping for an upgrade.
Specifications
- Current Price: Starting at $3,632 (Falcon Northwest)
- Processor: Intel Core i9-13900HX
- Memory: DDR5 4800MHz, 32GB or 64GB
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090
- Display: 17.3-inch, IPS (400-nits max brightness)
- Display Resolution and Refresh Rate: 3840x2160, 144Hz
- Adaptive Refresh: Nvidia G-Sync
- Operating System Drive: 2TB or 4TB Kingston KC3000
- Data Drives: Two addition M.2 drives with 2TB or 4TB options
- I/O: Mini DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI Port, 2 Thunderbolt™ 4 ports with video out capability (3 additional monitors max), 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports (Type-A), 2x 2-in-1 audio jacks (Headphone/Microphone & Microphone/SPDIF out), Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 LAN port (10/100/1000/2500 Mbps)
- Connectivity: Intel WiFi 6E AX211 + Bluetooth
- Per-key RGB Keyboard: Yes
- Webcam: 1080p30
- Customization: Custom UV printed lids available
- Battery: 99WH
- Battery Life: 1 hour (gaming), 5 hours (video playback)
- Dimensions: 15.8" Wide x 11.25" Deep x 1.25" Tall
- Weight: 7.7 pounds
- Warranty: 1-year with Falcon Overnight Perfect Pixel Guarantee
Falcon Northwest DRX (2023) - The DRX Reborn
Desktop replacement. That’s a term that doesn’t get thrown around too much anymore, but for a good long time, it was an entire category of laptop. They threw size and weight to the wind in favor of sheer power. They were also quite expensive and understandably hard to travel with, so as gaming laptops chased thin and light designs, desktop replacements fell out of vogue for many people.
Falcon Northwest carried the torch. Its DRX line of laptops used desktop-caliber parts, outperforming what would otherwise be possible in the notebook form factor. That alone made them compelling. They were, in essence, full-fledged gaming PCs that had the ability to travel. Sure, at 10+ pounds, not very easily, but it was possible and a sure sight easier than carting a full tower everywhere.
And yet, here we are in 2023 and the idea of a desktop replacement is once again upon us in a big way. Technology has advanced enough that you no longer have to relegate yourself to the world of “thick and heavy” to have a top-tier gaming experience, though you’ll certainly pay extra for it. The brand new Falcon Northwest DRX (2023) is an example of that evolution of the desktop replacement, and we’re here for it.
The new DRX has been updated with more features, cutting edge hardware options, and a new thinner, lighter design. It’s a 17.3-inch laptop, a size that on paper seems imposing but is actually engrossing, and is 1.25 inches tall at its thickest point. At the lid, where you’ll be engaging with it, it’s about an inch. It’s a dramatic improvement from the prior DRX, which was two inches. And though there are thinner laptops, the angle from the hinge to the lip gives a distinct impression of thinness in actual use.
The DRX (2023) has also slimmed down in weight. Any high-powered, 17-inch laptop is going to have some extra ounces. Compared to last generation’s 10.3 pound weight, this generation comes in at a relatively svelte 7.7 pounds.
It’s a touch heavy, but the trade-off for that extra thickness and weight is a more effective cooling system. The CPU and GPU use thick heatsinks and powerful fans, leading to a max CPU temperature of 96C in our tests. The fans, while fairly loud, are a noticeable improvement from the smaller TLX we reviewed back in 2020. The i9-13900HX, like most high-end Intel CPUs now, gets quite hot under load, so fan noise is to be expected.
That extra size earns you top-tier hardware and a great display. There are options to choose from to customize and make it your own, but the design ethos here clearly sets “outstanding performance” as a baseline. Its hardware is clocked high and full-powered. There’s no latitude to configure a version that’s going to be bottlenecked. No matter what options you choose, this laptop is peak performance in every way.
Inside its aluminum chassis, each DRX comes with the aforementioned Intel Core i9-13900HX, a 24 core powerhouse of a laptop CPU. It features 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, ensuring that your games and applications aren’t bottlenecked and that background processes don’t cause stuttering. It can also reach a boost frequency of 5.4GHz for the highest possible FPS.
The 13900HX is paired with your choice of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090. Upgrading to the 4090 comes at a $504 price increase, but considering that both chips are unlocked to run at a full 175 watts, they’ll run at their full potential, which hasn’t been the case with every 4080 and 4090 laptop this generation. Put another way, the DRX runs like a 4080 or 4090 should; there are no disappointing surprises here. Even the 4080 version that I tested is blazing fast and can run games at their highest presets, including ray tracing.
The DRX also comes with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, but even the base configuration is equipped with 32GB. The memory is user-upgradeable, so if you can’t afford or won’t use the extra RAM, you can upgrade it at any time. Falcon Northwest offers excellent after-sales service for exactly such upgrades, and can ensure that the hardware used is compatible (wattage can be an issue with SSDs, for example).
It also comes with a 2TB NVMe SSD stock and can be expanded with up to two additional M.2 drives with up to 4TB each. That brings the total configurable memory up to 12TB, which is just incredible. But even with its default 2TB config, Falcon Northwest is one-upping the competition here with additional storage. 2TB is enough for quite a few games with space to spare. That’s perfect if you’re also using the machine for content creation and need additional space for storing gameplay clips.
Each model also comes with the 17.3-inch IPS display I mentioned earlier, running at a full 4K (3840x2160) resolution. It runs at 144Hz and is G-Sync compatible to eliminate screen tearing. It peaks at 480 nits of brightness, making it look especially vibrant and bright enough to use in direct sunlight. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space, so is perfect for content creation, and comes with Falcon Northwest’s Pixel Perfect Guarantee, so if you find a single dead or stuck pixel within its 1-year warranty, the company will replace the whole screen, free of charge. Brightness uniformity was also excellent in our tests with no visible blooming around the edges.
Like last time, Falcon Northwest is offering full customization of the lid. Using its proprietary UV printing process, you can choose from an array of existing options at no additional cost (including some neat patterns, gradients, and Falcon logos) or submit your own design for an additional $150. The results are truly impressive and a level of customization that’s truly exceptional.
This year’s DRX has a number of other upgrades too. The keyboard now uses per-key RGB LEDs. It’s tactile, accurate, and feels great to use, and also includes a full number pad. The speakers are also surprisingly good with a full-bodied sound signature. You can easily game or watch videos on these speakers, though a headset is almost always going to give the best experience when gaming on the go.
Another major feature of desktop replacement laptops is plentiful connectivity, and the DRX is no exception. It features two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports with video output capability and PD in (for one) up to 100W, a Mini DisplayPort 1.4, a full size HDMI port, two 2-in-1 audio jacks (one for headphone and microphone, the other for microphone and SPDIF out), and a Gigabit ethernet port. It also supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth.
All of this power comes with a big trade-off: battery life. The DRX (2023) has a 99WHr battery, which is the biggest currently available due to flight restrictions. Even with such a large capacity, the CPU and GPU use a lot of power. Gaming on battery will only last about an hour. Video is rated at five hours. The power brick outputs 330 watts of power but is quite heavy at 2.2 pounds, so I would recommend investing in a 100 watt GaN charger to carry for productivity use.
There are things you can do to extend that battery life. The DRX features a MUX switch, which allows you to disable the Nvidia GPU and instead use the processor’s graphics chip at far lower power usage. The laptop supports Advanced Optimus to intelligently swap between the integrated and dedicated graphics chips, however, the different power modes also engaged the MUX switch. Advanced Optimus generally worked well, except for benchmarking. Launching the 3DMark suite sent it into a loop that I had to force the dGPU on to bypass. For gaming, it worked perfectly.
The final thing to note is the after sales support that comes with the DRX. Falcon Northwest includes one year of its overnight repair service and lifetime technical support. As a small company with a dedicated team and loyal fanbase, it has a long history of taking care of its customers that can be found across the internet. Overnight repair service is an excellent, customer-first addition to this purchase.
Falcon Northwest DRX (2023) - Software and Addons
The DRX features a Windows installation that is almost completely stock. The only additional software installed is Falcon Northwest’s Control Center suite and the Creative App to tune the audio.
Control Center is lightweight but important. It’s broken into multiple tabs. The first provides you with a system monitor to quickly check frequencies and temps. It also allows you to select from Performance, Entertainment, Power Saver, and Quiet performance modes. For gaming, Performance mode is the ideal option as it raises the thermal threshold and fan speed to really let the CPU and GPU excel. In Power Saver and Quiet modes, the system runs smoothly for browsing and productivity.
Control Center also allows you to customize the keyboard. There are lighting controls, including customizable preset effects and colors, and the ability to record and map macros and custom commands. It’s all easily accomplished without unnecessary fluff, though doesn’t go to the extent of a full suite like Razer Synapse or Corsair iCUE.
It also allows you to customize how the laptop charges the battery. Constantly charging to 100% can prematurely shorten its life, so you can choose a more limited 70-80% charge range or set your own. This does seem to slow the rate at which the battery accepts the charge from the USB-C port.
The Creative App features several options to tune the system’s audio. I would recommend leaving this software installed as it definitely enhances the performance of the built-in speakers. There are also Gaming, Music, and Movie presets which apply EQs to tune the sound for different types of content. For gaming, you can enable Scout Mode to increase positional awareness, though I personally didn’t find this useful for the trade-off in overall audio quality. You can also apply your own EQs and customizations to the microphone.
Overall, the DRX’s software is free of bloat, which is, in my opinion, exactly as it should be.
Falcon Northwest DRX (2023) - Pure Performance
Now we get to what you really want to know: how does it perform in games? The DRX is an expensive machine, and I’m pleased to say that it performs very, very well.
Before diving into benchmark results, let’s talk about what it’s like to live with the DRX. I’ve been using it as my main laptop for a little over two weeks. I was initially worried that it would be too big or too heavy for me to carry comfortably throughout the day. I didn’t need to worry. Coming from the ASUS ROG STRIX G15, which weighed 5.5 pounds, the jump to 7.7 was noticeable but not dramatically different. It’s far more noticeable if you carry the included adapter, though, so I took to leaving that home and going with a GaN charger if I knew I wasn’t going to be gaming through the day.
The actual experience of using the DRX is sublime. The display is engrossing. Its brightness, colors, and extra size truly take gaming and even web browsing to the next level. 4K resolution is incredibly crisp. It’s immediately noticeable coming from a 1080p screen. The quality and size really provide an experience that is desktop-like, even kicking back in the recliner. I was worried about the size, and now I don’t ever want to go back.
I was also very pleased at how usable it is outside of gaming. The keyboard is tactile enough to avoid most typos and having a number pad is great for getting work done (and macros when it’s game time). It’s one of the few laptops I think works well for music and movies, too, thanks to its great speakers. The webcam (1080p) is also clear and performs very well for virtual meetings.
For gaming, however, it absolutely shines. The RTX 4080 GPU and Core i9-13900HX make an excellent pairing for max settings gameplay. Let’s take a look at the benchmarks.
Synthetic Benchmarks
Starting with synthetic tests, the DRX performed very well. As you can see from the results above, its figures are less than its desktop counterparts, but it offers results exactly where you would expect this combination of hardware to be when running at its full potential without custom overclocks.
Real World Gaming
Moving onto gaming tests, I broke this down into 1080p, 1440p and 4K resolutions. All games were run on their highest preset graphics setting. Ray tracing was turned on if it was available, including shadows and reflections. In cases where DLSS was available, it was set to balanced. Frame generation was turned on in combination with DLSS wherever possible. DLSS and non-DLSS results are separated out.
As you can see from these results, the DRX is a beast. It’s able to play games at 4K, absolute maximum settings, at playable frame rates across the board. The visuals are so crisp that I found myself becoming more engrossed in the games I was playing. Combined with the screen’s brightness, colors, and fluidity, the gaming experience is nothing short of tremendous.
That said, the 4080 notebook version is less powerful than the desktop variant, so you can definitely see it begin to struggle at that resolution, though. The DRX, like any 4K laptop, will force you to be open to reducing graphics settings on the most demanding games (at least, if they don’t offer frame generation).
In practice, however, I found lowering the resolution proved to be a much better option than simply lowering settings — something you definitely do not want to do when you’re spending several thousand dollars on a laptop. Dropping to 1080p or 1440p allows you to crank all of the settings to their absolute highest and enjoy an absolutely gorgeous, full-fat gaming experience. And unlike in years past, you don’t have to sacrifice much visual fidelity to get there.
That’s because the RTX 4080 supports integer scaling, a method of upscaling lower resolution content with far less quality loss than simple stretching the image. With that setting enabled in the Nvidia Control Panel, I found that 1080p looked as good if not a little crisper than 1440p. That’s because 1080p scales perfectly into 4K while 1440p does not, allowing the drivers to do the work of scaling and enhancing the 1080p image.
With that said, 1440p is still perfectly reasonable. Ahead of this review, I researched gaming with 1440p on a 4K monitor and was warned away. Because 1440p doesn’t scale perfectly into 4K resolution the same way 1080p does, it can often lead to fuzzier textures. In practice, the impact was very minor. Gaming at 1440p still looks great on the DRX. 1080p-Integer just gives you more headroom.
Temperature and Acoustics
Laptop manufacturers are always trying to balance three factors: noise, temperature, and performance. The DRX is all about the latter, so when gaming, it does get warm and quite loud. As I mentioned in the previous section, the company has made improvements, but under full load, the CPU easily hovers between 95-100C. This is warm but not unusual for a gaming laptop and is to be expected from a system that’s not being throttled for lower temperatures and power efficiency.
With that in mind, outside of gaming, it stays both cool and quiet. In Power Saving and Quiet Modes, the fans are barely audible and the temperatures cover between 47-50C.
Final Thoughts
With a price tag that starts at nearly $3,700, it’s fitting to expect big things. The DRX delivers. It’s a reinvention and a refresh of one of the most unique laptops on the market and is better than ever. With its thinner, lighter, and much more powerful design, it is one of the best options on the market today for a desktop replacement and provides an outstanding gaming experience.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes
