A few years back, a number of manufacturers dabbled into combining technologies for a portable PC VR experience. The idea was simple. Scale down a desktop PC, then add a battery and package with a backpack. Not quite a desktop, nor a laptop, these hybrids offer an interesting niche product. ZOTAC was one such company, and it has now upgraded its VR GO line to 3.0. This latest edition features a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor paired with an NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU.
Specifications
- Processor: 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H (six-core 2.6 GHz, up to 4.5 GHz)
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (Max 32GB)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB GDDR6 256-bit)
- Display Outputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DP 1.4
- Storage: 240GB M.2 SSD, 1 x 2.5-inch SATA 6.0 Gbps HDD/SSD bay
- WiFi: 802.11ac WiFi & Bluetooth 5 technology
- Network: 10/100/1000 Ethernet (RJ45)
- Ports: 3 x USB 3.0 Side, 3 x USB 3.0 ports
- Battery: 2 x Li-ion battery (rated at 86.4Wh, 6000mAh)
- Weight: 5.2 kg / 11.46 lbs
Aimed at a very specific niche market, it does offer some unique options in portable gaming versus, say, a traditional gaming laptop. This mini PC has hot-swappable batteries. Providing up to an hour of VR gaming, you could change batteries without powering down. With a larger case, cooling has a better potential and is also vented through the sides. ZOTAC has also upgraded its backpack design to position the PC further from the body. Most laptops are not designed for such mobile gaming. Similar to a desktop, the case allows easier access to upgrade items like memory or storage as well.
Obviously, at a time when some manufacturers are releasing immensely powerful laptops, many could find themselves asking why backpack VR systems still have relevance. Bottom line is usually going to be price. In order to get a premium gaming laptop with similar specs, potential buyers would have to shell out anywhere from $2000 to $5000. No price has been announced yet for this model, but ZOTAC’s previous VR GO 2.0 GTX 1070 version was last seen for $2299.99 on its store page.