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Here’s how the Medion Erazer X6603 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Sky Diver: 19426; Fire Strike: 6683; Time Spy: 2439
Cinebench CPU: 747; Graphics: 79.1fps
Geekbench: 4232 (single core); 12202 (multi-core)
PCMark 8 (Home Test): 3248
PCMark 8 Battery Life: 1hr 58min
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 2hr 42min
Total War: Warhammer (1080p, Ultra): 42.5fps; (1080p, Low): 85.5fps
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (1080p, Ultra): 35.8fps; (1080p, Low): 72.0fps
Given that we're testing the higher-tier Erazer X6603 here – SSD, Core i7 and all – general desktop performance is expectedly slick. That said, even at this level, it's not rocking the absolute top-tier of components: the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti card on the pixel-pushing end contributes hugely to the reduced price of this machine, and means you're not going to be hitting maximum settings in many modern games.
As expected, the Erazer X6603 pushes through the majority of our benchmarks with ease, stumbling only when attempting ultra settings – and even with the dials turned to full, it does an acceptable job on Total War Warhammer's notoriously brutal benchmark, averaging 42.5fps. That may not be enough for the most hardcore gamer, and it doesn't augur well for the next generation of games, but it's pretty damn good at the price.
Battery life and fan noise
Our PCMark battery test highlights the Medion Erazer X6603's key weakness, and it's one that we expected coming into this review, and one that's by no means unusual for gaming laptops. Its battery life is absolutely pathetic, with those high-end components generally exhausting it after less than two hours, and running games only accelerates the process.
It's a good job the speakers are so solid, too, as the cooling solution on offer makes quite the racket. It's highly effective – the X6603 doesn't get nearly as hot as some of its rivals – but hard to ignore.
We liked
It's hard to argue with the Medion Erazer X6603's price point. It settles nicely into the mid-tier gaming bracket, and it's powerful enough to satisfy anyone who's willing to make a couple of in-game quality sacrifices.
We disliked
Making those sacrifices, even on games a year old, is all but mandatory, and this is a loud, heavy, large machine that you're not going to want to drag around often.
Verdict
The Core i7 iteration of Medion's Erazer X6603 is an impressive achievement. It's a cheap(ish) laptop that doesn't seem cheap, with a muscular makeup that can handle gaming well. It wouldn't be our first choice for a day-to-day machine, particularly given its minimal battery life, but as a gaming standby for those click-happy road trips it's a solid companion.
