Our review model, priced at $2621 (as of November 3, 2011), comes packed with a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor (the i7-2860QM, to be exact), an Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 750GB hard drive plus a 120GB solid-state boot drive for quick startup. It also comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a webcam and microphone, and a TV tuner. This laptop runs the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium.

In PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark tests, the x17 scored very well, earning a mark of 162 and ranking as one of the best performers in the category. By contrast, although the achieved a score of 152--fairly high for the category--that model will set you back a whopping $5700. Needless to say, such excellent performance in a machine that's half the price is definitely impressive.

Thanks to the x17's GTX 580M graphics card, which has 2GB of dedicated video RAM, the x17 performs well on graphics-intensive applications and games, too. In PCWorld's Dirt 2 tests at high quality, the x17 produced an average frame rate of 121 frames per second across all resolutions tested. In our Far Cry 2 test at high quality and a resolution of 1920 by 1080, the x17 generated a frame rate of 74.2 fps, almost twice the average frame rate of recently evaluated desktop replacements in the same test (42.7).

As for the x17's design, well, let's just say that the company won't win any style points with the x17. The laptop has a black brushed-aluminum case, which sounds like it should look pretty good--except for the huge, unattractive "Digital Storm: Customized Systems" logo emblazoned across the cover. I understand that Digital Storm is trying to market its product, but this is the largest logo I've ever seen on a computer. Plus, it doesn't even try to be cool--it isn't shiny, it doesn't light up--it's just a matte white print.

The x17, which weighs 8.5 pounds (about 11 pounds with the massive power brick), is otherwise pretty typical. Its 2.1-inch-thick chassis is part brushed aluminum and part plastic, and it's quite bulky-looking. The interior isn't much better, though the keyboard deck and touchpad are both made of brushed aluminum; this design decision makes for a strange-feeling touchpad but an attractive deck, so that's something.