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Velocity Micro Raptor S77 gaming laptop review: Custom-made for the hardcore
Jason R. Rich
There are plenty of quality gaming machines out there, from brands like Asus ROG, Dell Alienware, Lenovo and Razer. But what if you’re such a hardcore gamer that you want the same level of customization from a gaming laptop as you’d get from a dedicated desktop? You’ll want to check out Velocity Micro’s latest offerings.
The team at Velocity Micro recently sent me a fully loaded Raptor S77 gaming laptop for review. After spending weeks using it to play all sorts of locally installed, cloud-based and multiplayer titles, I’ve got thoughts. If you’ve been dreaming about investing in a high-performance gaming laptop, keep reading to see why the Raptor S77 might be the mobile gaming machine you’re looking for.
Velocity Micro Raptor S77: At a glance
Velocity Micro
Display size: 17-inches | Display type: QHD or UHD | Display resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 or 3,840 x 2,160 pixels | Display refresh rate: 144Hz or 240Hz | Operating system: Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro | CPU: 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX | GPU: Nvidia RTX 4000 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 500GB | Battery capacity: 6 cell 80Wh Polymer battery pack | RGB lighting: Backlit keyboard with numeric keypad | Keyboard: Two layout options | Ports: 1x HDMI, 1x mini DisplayPort, 1 Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-A, 1x USB Type-C, 2x 3.5mm audio jack, 1x Ethernet | Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0 | Speakers: Stereo | Dimensions: 15.59 x 10.32 x 0.98 inches | Weight: 6.17 pounds
The Velocity Micro Raptor S77 that was provided to me included a 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, Nvidia GeForce 4070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 17.3-inch 4K UHD (3,840 x 2,160 pixel) resolution display with a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 2TB SSD for storage. The price for this configuration would be just over $3,000.
Every gaming laptop sold is supported by a lifetime upgrade program. During the life of the computer, the user has the option to return a system at anytime for updates; you can pay to have certain components, like the RAM, SSD and Wi-Fi card upgraded. You’re also entitled to have your gaming laptop professionally cleaned and maintained.
A gaming laptop made just for you
What sets this company apart is that you can completely customize your gaming laptop — including its core components, audio and video components, storage, communications capabilities and selection of pre-installed software. The exact laptop you configured online gets custom-made just for you.
Velocity Micro also puts a U.S.-based team of experts at your disposal via live messaging, phone or email. You can get unlimited help with the configuration and setup process and then get tech support moving forward.
Velocity Micro Raptor S77: First impressions
The first thing I noticed was its size and weight. It’s definitely on the hefty side. It measures 15.59 x 10.32 x 0.98 inches and weighs in at 6.17 pounds. But consider: You’re getting a 17.3-inch display, full-size keyboard, and an extra-large touchpad — and this computer accommodates an embedded six cell polymer battery pack (80WH).
Jason R. Rich
The keyboard includes a numeric keypad, supports multiple languages, offers customizable RGB lighting and lets users create macros. The touchpad is seven inches (measured diagonally), so it’s on the large side. I also found it to be extremely responsive, but when gaming, I wound up using an external mouse to play games in the way I prefer.
Jason R. Rich
The larger size of the Raptor S77 also means plenty of space for ports. There’s an HDMI output port, a Mini DisplayPort, a DisplayPort over USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a Thunderbolt 4 port, an ethernet port and two 3.5mm audio jacks. These ports make it easy and convenient to connect whatever accessories you need, but there’s one drawback: The two USB Type-A ports are on the left side, while the USB Type-C ports are on the right side.
Jason R. Rich
I would have liked to see one USB Type-A and one USB Type-C port on each side of the laptop. The power, HDMI and ethernet ports are conveniently located on the back.
Jason R. Rich
Like all gaming laptops, the battery life in this model can be limited, based on the games you’re playing. When you’re using the computer in your own gaming space, you’ll probably wind up keeping it plugged in. For that, you’ll use the included power adapter. The one that comes with the Raptor S77 is also on the large and heavy side, which takes away from the computer’s overall portability, unless you plan to leave the adapter behind.
The main part of the power adapter is shaped like a brick (and is almost the same size). It measures 7 x 3.25 x 1.5 inches. The thicker cable than runs from the AC outlet to the charger block is just over three feet long, while the thinner cable that goes from the charger block to the back of the computer is just under four feet long.
Jason R. Rich
Based on your gaming style, you can likely enjoy at least a few hours of gaming on the go. To use it as the centerpiece of a powerful gaming setup in your usual gaming space, consider an external gaming monitor, mouse, keyboard and gaming headset. Whichever option you choose, you can expect premium performance and ultra-smooth gameplay — even when playing the most graphic-intense and action-oriented games.
Velocity Micro Raptor S77: My gaming experience
I logged into my Xbox Game Pass account and downloaded a handful of games. I also installed “Fortnite: Battle Royal” and a few other titles from different sources. During play, I relied on the laptop’s own keyboard, display and stereo speakers. At times, I added an external mouse and used the Raptor S77 with Bluetooth earbuds and a wireless gaming headset. I also tried a few games using an external controller.
Regardless of what game I was playing or the accessories I used, the Raptor S77 consistently delivered the smooth gaming you’d expect from a high-performance laptop. And while it automatically switched to optimum settings for each game I played, I could easily tinker with those settings whenever I felt like it.
Jason R. Rich
The built in speakers offer high quality audio, although, like most gamers, I found myself using either a gaming headset or wireless earbuds most of the time. My biggest complaint with this gaming laptop is the noise of the cooling fans that run whenever a game is played. The fans can be annoyingly loud.
As you’d expect from a premium gaming laptop, there are cooling vents along both sides and the back of the laptop. So, while it runs at the temperature needed for peak efficiency, expect to hear the almost constant hum of the fans. (For this reason, I recommend noise-cancelling headphones, earbuds or a gaming headset.)
Despite the noise, the Raptor S77 is extremely well made and delivers fast and smooth performance. It also comes ready for VR and Windows mixed-reality tech, and has a built in FHD webcam. And if you take advantage of Velocity Micro’s Lifetime Upgrade Program and included maintenance program, you can keep this laptop up to date as needed.
Is the Velocity Micro Raptor S77 worth it?
I’ve yet to find a “perfect” gaming laptop. But, when it comes to a portable gaming machine, I found the Raptor S77 to be exceptional. Here are 10 things about the Raptor S77 that I love, plus a few things I wasn’t a huge fan of.
10 things I like most about the Raptor S77 gaming laptop
- The 17.3-inch QHD display is gorgeous. And thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate, fast-moving animations are consistently smooth.
- The display offers G-Sync support, 100% DCI-P3, an exceptionally wide viewing angle and a matte finish that’s easy on the eyes.
- Up to five displays can be connected and controlled simultaneously. Thanks to all those ports, you’ll find using the Raptor S77 as a centerpiece for a gaming system to be an absolute pleasure.
- Connecting an external keyboard and mouse is a viable option and allows gamers to stick with their preferences without serious sacrifice.
- Velocity Micro’s Lifetime Upgrade Program and Maintenance Program ensure that your investment in the Raptor S77 will allow for years of future gaming. When the time is right, upgrade the Wi-Fi card to support Wi-Fi 7. These programs alone offer serious value.
- Velocity Micro’s sales and tech support team are U.S.-based and readily accessible. The company’s online support hub is one of the most extensive we’ve encountered, and it includes video tutorials. Lifetime tech support is included.
- All of the components, from the CPU and GPU, to the RAM, SSD and other key components, come from name brands and are expertly installed and thoroughly tested.
- Beyond gaming, the laptop’s 4K display, HDR support, fast refresh rate, Wi-Fi 6E and integrated stereo speakers make it ideal for streaming video, especially high-action special-effects movies. Of course, you can use this model for any school or work tasks too.
- Create programmable macros and assign unique RGB colors to keys to further enhance your gameplay.
- Right out of the box, the computer supports variable rate shading, Microsoft DirectX 12 and Nvidia CUDA technology to provide the most visually compelling gaming experiences possible.
Three things I don’t like about the Raptor S77 gaming laptop
- The laptop itself is portable, but it’s neither small or lightweight. It measures 15.59 x 10.32 x 0.98 inches and it weighs 6.17 pounds, but that’s without the power adapter.
- The power adapter is also bulky and heavy – with a brick-like shape.
- The cooling system and fans are very loud (almost annoyingly so). I used noise cancelling headphones, but people in nearby rooms could easily to hear the fans.
Velocity Micro Raptor S77: Final thoughts…
A custom Velocity Micro Raptor S77 will cost you. But what you’re getting is personalized computer, expertly made just for you, using high-quality and name brand components. You can also to send the laptop back to the factory anytime to upgrade components (for a fee), which virtually guarantees it’ll be future-proof for years. Plus, you get the computer professionally maintained and have access to U.S.-based tech support for the life of the computer. Those are perks most gaming laptop companies just don’t offer.
Regardless of what types of games I played, my experience was fun and hassle-free. While the starting price of the Raptor S77 is around $2,300, plan on spending around $3,000 to get the gaming laptop of your dreams.
For all of your consumer tech needs, be sure to check out our extensive and continuously updated tech coverage, including an ever-expanding lineup of product reviews and buying guides from our in-house tech experts.
Renad Atallah is an unlikely internet sensation: a 10-year-old chef, with a repertoire of simple recipes, cooking in war-torn Gaza. She has nearly a million followers on Instagram, who’ve witnessed her delight as she unpacks parcels of food aid.
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We interviewed Renad via satellite, though we were just 50 miles away, in Tel Aviv. [Israel doesn’t allow outside journalists into Gaza, except on brief trips with the country’s military.]
“There are a lot of dishes I’d like to cook, but the ingredients aren’t available in the market,” Renad told us. “Milk used to be easy to buy, but now it’s become very expensive.”
I asked, “How does it feel when so many people like your internet videos?”
“All the comments were positive,” she said. “When I’m feeling tired or sad and I want something to cheer me up, I read the comments.”
We sent a local camera crew to Renad’s home as she made Ful, a traditional Middle Eastern bean stew. Her older sister Noorhan says they never expected the videos to go viral. “Amazing food,” Noorhan said, who added that her sibling made her “very surprised!”
After more than a year of war, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins. Nearly everyone has been displaced from their homes. The United Nations says close to two million people are experiencing critical levels of hunger.
Hamada Shaqoura is another chef showing the outside world how Gazans are getting by, relying on food from aid packages, and cooking with a single gas burner in a tent.
Shaqoura also volunteers with the charity Watermelon Relief, which makes sweet treats for Gaza’s children.
In his videos online, Shaqoura always appears very serious. Asked why, he replied, “The situation does not call for smiling. What you see on screen will never show you how hard life is here.”
Before dawn one recent morning in Israel, we watched the UN’s World Food Program load nearly two dozen trucks with flour, headed across the border. The problem is not a lack of food; the problem is getting the food into the Gaza Strip, and into the hands of those who desperately need it.
The UN has repeatedly accused Israel of obstructing aid deliveries to Gaza. Israel’s government denies that, and claims that Hamas is hijacking aid.
“For all the actors that are on the ground, let the humanitarians do their work,” said Antoine Renard, the World Food Program’s director in the Palestinian territories.
I asked, “Some people might see these two chefs and think, well, they’re cooking, they have food.”
“They have food, but they don’t have the right food; they’re trying to accommodate with anything that they can find,” Renard said.
Even in our darkest hour, food can bring comfort. But for many in Gaza, there’s only the anxiety of not knowing where they’ll find their next meal.
For more info:
Story produced by Mikaela Bufano. Editor: Carol Ross.
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“Sunday Morning” 2024 “Food Issue” recipe index
Delicious menu suggestions from top chefs, cookbook authors, food writers, restaurateurs, and the editors of Food & Wine magazine.
It’s been said the best meals come from the heart, not from a recipe book. But at this USDA kitchen, there’s no pinch of this, dash of that, no dollops or smidgens of anything. Here, nutritionists in white coats painstakingly measure every single ingredient, down to the tenth of a gram.
Sheryn Stover is expected to eat every crumb of her pizza; any tiny morsels she does miss go back to the kitchen, where they’re scrutinized like evidence of some dietary crime.
Stover (or participant #8180, as she’s known) is one of some 10,000 volunteers enrolled in a $170 million nutrition study run by the National Institutes of Health. “At 78, not many people get to do studies that are going to affect a great amount of people, and I thought this was a great opportunity to do that,” she said.
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It’s called the Nutrition for Precision Health Study. “When I tell people about the study, the reaction usually is, ‘Oh, that’s so cool, can I do it?'” said coordinator Holly Nicastro.
She explained just what “precise” precisely means: “Precision nutrition means tailoring nutrition or dietary guidance to the individual.”
The government has long offered guidelines to help us eat better. In the 1940s we had the “Basic 7.” In the ’50s, the “Basic 4.” We’ve had the “Food Wheel,” the “Food Pyramid,” and currently, “My Plate.”
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They’re all well-intentioned, except they’re all based on averages – what works best for most people, most of the time. But according to Nicastro, there is no one best way to eat. “We know from virtually every nutrition study ever conducted, we have inner individual variability,” she said. “That means we have some people that are going to respond, and some people that aren’t. There’s no one-size-fits-all.”
The study’s participants, like Stover, are all being drawn from another NIH study program called All Of Us, a massive undertaking to create a database of at least a million people who are volunteering everything from their electronic health records to their DNA. It was from that All of Us research that Stover discovered she has the gene that makes some foods taste bitter, which could explain why she ate more of one kind of food than another.
Professor Sai Das, who oversees the study at Tufts University, says the goal of precision nutrition is to drill down even deeper into those individual differences. “We’re moving away from just saying everybody go do this, to being able to say, ‘Okay, if you have X, Y and Z characteristics, then you’re more likely to respond to a diet, and somebody else that has A, B and C characteristics will be responding to the diet differently,'” Das said.
It’s a big commitment for Stover, who is one of 150 people being paid to live at a handful of test sites around the country for six weeks – two weeks at a time. It’s so precise she can’t even go for a walk without a dietary chaperone. “Well, you could stop and buy candy … God forbid, you can’t do that!” she laughed.
While she’s here, everything from her resting metabolic rate, her body fat percentage, her bone mineral content, even the microbes in her gut (digested by a machine that essentially is a smart toilet paper reading device) are being analyzed for how hers may differ from someone else’s.
Nicastro said, “We really think that what’s going on in your poop is going to tell us a lot of information about your health and how you respond to food.”
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Stover says she doesn’t mind, except for the odd sounds the machine makes. While she is a live-in participant, thousands of others are participating from their homes, where electronic wearables track all kinds of health data, including special glasses that record everything they eat, activated when someone starts chewing. Artificial intelligence can then be used to determine not only which foods the person is eating, but how many calories are consumed.
This study is expected to be wrapped up by 2027, and because of it, we may indeed know not only to eat more fruits and vegetables, but what combination of foods is really best for us. The question that even Holly Nicastro can’t answer is, will we listen? “You can lead a horse to water; you can’t make them drink,” she said. “We can tailor the interventions all day. But one hypothesis I have is that if the guidance is tailored to the individual, it’s going to make that individual more likely to follow it, because this is for me, this was designed for me.”
For more info:
Story produced by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Ed Givnish.
“Sunday Morning” 2024 “Food Issue” recipe index
Delicious menu suggestions from top chefs, cookbook authors, food writers, restaurateurs, and the editors of Food & Wine magazine.
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