Razer Blade Pro: Can you build a similar desktop PC for much less?

One of the main 'criticisms' if you can call it that from the more vocal parts of the PC crowd is that the Razer Blade Pro is way too expensive and you can build a desktop rig for much less. While there may be some truth in that, it does miss the point of what the Blade Pro actually is: a portable high-end gaming PC.

But we're never ones to shy away from science, so let's see just how the pricing stacks up when you compare a Razer Blade Pro to an equivalent desktop PC that you can build yourself.

We're pricing up an entire system here, too, not just the rig. The Razer Blade Pro has a mechanical keyboard, a precision trackpad input device and a 4K G-Sync display, so we'll be throwing equivalent parts into the mix for the desktop system, too. It's not an exact science, but we're getting as close a match as we can.

To recap first on the Blade Pro specs:

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CategorySpecification
ProcessorIntel Core i7-6700HQ Quad Core2.6GHz / 3.5 GHz
Display17.3-inch IGZO UHD G-Sync touchscreen3840 x 2160 LED
Storage512GB / 1TB / 2TB SSD
RAM32GB dual-channel DDR4 2133MHz
GPUNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
KeyboardAnti-ghosting, backlit mechanical keyboard
OSWindows 10 64-bit
NetworkingKiller DoubleShot ProWireless-AC 1535 (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac)E2400 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000)
Bluetooth4.1
PortsThunderbolt 3, 3x USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0, SDXC reader
AudioBuilt-in stereo speakersDolby Digital Plus Home Theater Edition7.1 codec support (via HDMI)3.5mm headphone/microphone portArray microphone
Webcam2.0MP
SecurityTrusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) security chipKensington security slot
Battery99Wh lithium-iron polymer battery
Weight3.54kg (7.8lbs)
Dimensions22.5mm (H) / 424mm (W) / 281mm (D)

GTX 1080

GTX 1080

To build a similar desktop PC we'll need:

  • A case
  • A motherboard with USB-C Thunderbolt 3
  • A power supply
  • NVIDIA GTX 1080 GPU
  • 32GB 2133MHz DDR4 RAM
  • Intel Core i7 6700k processor
  • 512GB SSD
  • 4K G-Sync display
  • Mechanical keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Windows 10 license - because it isn't free.

If you're building a PC yourself you'll be shopping around to get the price for the parts you want. For consistency we've got prices for each part from Amazon U.S., Razer peripherals where possible and with the comparison based in dollars. Naturally, prices may vary in your part of the world.

But here's what we're looking at for each:

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ComponentPickPrice
CaseFractal Design Define S (our favorite case)$99.54
MotherboardGigabyte GA-Z170X-Gaming 7$184.99
PSUCorsair AX860, 860 Watt$169.99
NVIDIA GTX 1080 GPUZotac Amp! edition (best price)$580.66
32GB 2133MHz DDR4 RAMCorsair Vengeance LPX$186.99
CPUIntel Core i7 6700k processor with Corsair H115i liquid cooler$448.92
SSDSamsung 960 EVO Series 500GB$269.95
4K G-Sync displayASUS ROG Swift 27-inch$879.99
Mechanical keyboardRazer Blackwidow Chroma$135.00
MouseRazer Deathadder Elite$69.00
OSWindows 10 license$90.72

All that comes to $3,115.75. So yes, you can build a desktop rig that meets the spec of the Razer Blade Pro for less than its asking price of $3,699.99, and by a fairly substantial amount. Further savings can no doubt be applied, and that's the freedom building your own system affords.

But you can't take that system with you wherever you go. Sure, the Blade Pro is large, but it's still a go anywhere PC, which is entirely the point of it. High-end laptops generally command a premium over desktops, that's just the price we have to pay for the convenience of having our computer in our bag.

It doesn't take away from the remarkable piece of engineering that the Razer Blade Pro is.

See at Razer

Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine