Vigor Atlantis

Design/Features
It’s not quite as imposing as the Voodoo Envy u:909, but at 18.7 x 13.5 x 1.9 inches and 14.8 pounds, the Vigor Atlantis is epically proportioned. While some gamers will love the giant SiN decal that adorns the lid, others will rightfully want a more demure decoration. Vigor also offers five different colors or four decals for those who want a less gaudy design.  A quartet of quick-launch buttons is the only distraction from the full-sized soft-touch keyboard. The centerpiece is a 19-inch WSXGA (1680 x 1050) display with excellent color depth and enough brightness to allow gameplay in well-lit rooms. The right side of the case carries four USB 2.0 ports, a card reader, and a mini FireWire jack; the left side houses the DVD drive and sound ports, while the rear offers two more USB ports, S-Video in and out ports, and a DVI and RGB port. Vigor also packs in a cushioned backpack capable of swallowing the Atlantis, as well as a power pack and accessory mouse.

 

Performance
When it comes to benchmarks, the Atlantis is head and shoulders above other gaming notebooks. Its first-place 3DMark03 score of 26,057 was unthinkable only a year ago, and Vigor’s rig tied the Voodoo for a first-place F.E.A.R. score of 84 fps at the highest settings. In practice, the scores come to life, as the Atlantis is easily one of the best platforms for F.E.A.R. and Quake IV. The games glided along on maxed-out settings, and the heat output was less intense than the Voodoo and Widow models, even though Vigor packs an SLI configuration. But the Vigor is purely a gaming rig. DVD playback was acceptable but hardly impressive, and the average PCMark05 score of 3,717 (average for such a powerhouse, that is) reflects the rig’s orientation toward stellar 3D performance and little else.

 

Verdict
Vigor delivers pure, unadulterated performance to match its brut physical size. Amazingly, the price is more than 30 percent less than the fully tricked-out Voodoo Envy, the next-best performer. At the same time, Vigor’s machine is entirely based on performance, and for that price you’ll sacrifice elegance and portability.