Review of the Creator-Friendly Laptop: Raytrek R5-RL5
Recently, a new laptop arrived at the Klala household, so I’d like to share my review of it.
This time, I purchased the “Raytrek R5-RL5," a creator-friendly laptop from Dospara.
URL: https://www.dospara.co.jp/TC489/MC12566-SN3123.html
Equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 4050 GPU, this laptop offers incredibly powerful specs that rival a desktop PC—all at a highly cost-effective price. It’s an excellent choice for tasks like 3DCG creation and video editing.
In this review, I’ll summarize my impressions after actually using the laptop, focusing mainly on its performance with the 3DCG software, Blender.
For any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/klala_lab)! 😊
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Why I Chose the Raytrek R5-RL5
My wife, who uses her laptop for DTM (digital music production) and video editing, has been struggling with her current machine. With only 8GB of RAM and integrated graphics, it often feels underpowered, resulting in slow and laggy performance. This led us to decide on an upgrade.
When searching for a replacement, we came up with the following criteria:
- Laptop form factor: Our workspace is small, leaving no room for a desktop PC and monitor setup.
- 15-inch or larger screen size: To match or exceed the current laptop’s screen size.
- 32GB of RAM: For handling large video editing files with ease.
- Dedicated GPU: A system with a dedicated GPU to significantly reduce video encoding times.
Based on these requirements, we filtered through the options using price-comparison websites. Among the candidates, we ultimately chose the Raytrek R5-RL5, and here’s why:
- Equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, offering fast processing speeds.
- Designed for creators, featuring a high-resolution display (2560×1440) with vibrant colors.
- Sold by Dospara, a trusted Japanese PC and parts retailer known for reliable support.
- Priced in the 160,000 JPY range, making it relatively affordable for its specs.
Dospara is a well-established name in the PC and parts retail space and is familiar to PC enthusiasts like me.
In recent years, their gaming brand “GALLERIA" has gained significant recognition.
https://www.dospara.co.jp/5shopping/shp_about-dospara.html
The R5-RL5, on the other hand, is part of Dospara’s “Raytrek” lineup for creators, designed to provide exceptional high performance under demanding workloads and tailored to meet the needs of creatives.
https://www.dospara.co.jp/TC489
Basic Information about the Raytrek R5-RL5
Here are the specifications of the Raytrek R5-RL5 (Adobe Creative Cloud Recommended Model) that I purchased.
With an impressive CPU, GPU, and memory configuration, this laptop also offers a spacious 1TB SSD, ensuring ample storage for your projects.
| OS | Windows 11 Home 64-bit |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H (up to 5.00 GHz, 14 cores, 20 threads) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6 Laptop GPU + Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (PC4-25600/16GBx2/dual-channel) |
| SSD | 1TB SSD (NVMe Gen4) |
| Display | 15.6-inch anti-glare WQHD (2560×1440) LCD 165Hz refresh rate |
| Color Accuracy | ~99% sRGB coverage (sRGB ratio ~103%) ~74% AdobeRGB coverage (AdobeRGB ratio ~76%) |
| Ports | USB Type-C:USB3.2 Gen2 x1/USB Type-A:USB3.2 Gen1 x2 /USB2.0 x１ Audio: Mic input x1, Headphone output x1 Video Output: HDMI 2.1 x1, MiniDP x1 |
| Card Reader | SD card reader (SD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS-I compatible) |
| LAN | 1.0Gb Ethernet port x1 |
| Wireless | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211NGW (802.11 ax/ac/a/b/g/n 2×2, up to 2.4 Gbps) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Audio | Built-in stereo speakers, HD sound |
| Webcam | HD-quality webcam with an IR camera (Windows Hello support) |
| Keyboard | Japanese layout keyboard (102 keys with kana print, numeric keypad included) |
| Power Supply | 230W AC adapter |
| Battery | Lithium-ion (approx. 6.1 hours battery life measured by JEITA 2.0 standards) |
| Optical Drive | None |
| Dimensions | Approx. 360mm (W) x 245mm (D) x 20-28mm (H) |
| Weight | Approx. 2.2kg |
| Security Features | Windows Hello facial recognition, security slot, TPM 2.0 |
| Warranty | 1-year carry-in repair warranty |
| Price (as of July 23, 2023) | ¥165,980 |
For benchmark performance and more detailed reviews, I recommend checking out articles from other users, like this one:
The Raytrek R5 series includes a higher-end model, the R5-RL6, with the following key differences:
| R5-RL5 | R5-RL6 | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H (14 cores, 20 threads) | Intel Core i7-13700HX (16 cores, 24 threads) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB + Iris Xe | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB + UHD Graphics |
| Ports | USB Type-C:USB3.2 Gen2 x1 USB Type-A:USB3.2 Gen1 x2 / USB2.0 x１ | USB Type-C:Thunderbolt 4 x1 (DP1.4 compatible) USB Type-A:USB3.2 Gen2 x1 / USB3.2 Gen1 x2 |
| Memory | 32GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 |
The RL6 offers better CPU and GPU performance, as well as USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 for video output, making it a better option for users who prioritize GPU rendering speeds in tools like Blender.
The price difference is around ¥25,000 (~$170), so if GPU performance is critical for your workflow, the R5-RL6 is highly recommended.
Would you like me to continue with the next section? 😊
About Dospara Support
When purchasing the laptop, I decided to subscribe to Dospara’s “Safety Service".
This subscription service costs ¥980 per month and offers comprehensive coverage for up to three years. The plan includes not only protection against hardware failures but also damage from accidents like drops. Given the extensive coverage, I highly recommend considering this service if you’re purchasing from Dospara.
For more details, you can visit their official page:
Packaging
Here’s what the packaging looked like when the R5-RL5 arrived at my home:
The laptop came double-boxed—a sturdy cardboard box within another box—providing excellent protection during shipping.
As for the laptop itself, the matte silver chassis gives it a premium and sophisticated feel.
The hinge doesn’t open a full 180 degrees but still offers a decent range, opening up to about 135 degrees.
The AC adapter, as anticipated, is on the larger side. Its length is comparable to a 500ml plastic bottle, making it relatively sizable.
Screen & Usability
The screen is non-glare, which is now the industry standard, allowing you to work without worrying about reflections.
As per its specifications, the screen is high-resolution and delivers vibrant colors, making visuals sharp and vivid.
When testing Blender, the Cycles rendering preview ran smoothly, offering a seamless experience for real-time adjustments.
Additionally, the built-in trackpad supports intuitive two-finger gestures, enabling you to zoom, pan, and rotate the view without needing an external mouse.
Rendering Performance
To gauge rendering performance, I measured rendering times on the Raytrek R5-RL5 and compared them with my desktop PC.
The specifications of the compared systems are as follows:
| raytrek R5-RL5 | Desktop PC | |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H (14 cores/20 threads) | Intel Core i5-10400 (6 cores/12 threads) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6GB GDDR6 LaptopGPU + Intel Iris Xe Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8GB GDDR6 |
| メモリ | 32GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 |
I used the following scene (approximately 8 million vertices) and compared rendering times under identical settings: OptiX, GPU rendering only, 256 samples, and denoising enabled.
Results
The rendering times were as follows:
| raytrek R5-RL5 | デスクトップPC |
| Approximately 30 seconds | Approximately 51 seconds |
The Raytrek R5-RL5 completed the render in roughly two-thirds of the time required by the desktop PC.
This result aligns with expectations, as the GeForce RTX 4050 offers performance comparable to or better than the previous generation’s RTX 3060, making this an impressive outcome.
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Liquid Simulation
The Raytrek R5-RL5 excels in CPU performance, allowing it to handle Blender’s physics simulations with impressive speed.
For instance, the following fluid simulation, which has a voxel size of 128 x 128, was baked in just about 2 minutes.
For those interested in learning how to create fluid simulations in Blender, I previously shared a tutorial on this topic. You can refer to it for detailed instructions:
Pros and Cons of the Raytrek R5-RL5
Here’s a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Raytrek R5-RL5, which may help in your decision-making process.
Pros:
- Portability: Being a laptop, it can easily be moved around within your home.
- Powerful Performance: Equipped with the 13th Gen Intel Core i7 and RTX 4050, it runs video editing and 3DCG tasks smoothly.
- Large and High-Resolution Display (WQHD): The screen’s size and clarity make it easy to work with multiple windows simultaneously.
- Wide Color Gamut (100% sRGB): The screen is vibrant and ideal for creative tasks.
- Cost-Effective: At around ¥160,000, it offers great value for its specs.
- Comprehensive Warranty: The Dospara-exclusive warranty covers physical damage (requires subscription to the Safety Service at ¥980/month).
Cons:
- Heavy for a Laptop: At 2.2kg, it’s not ideal for daily commuting (though it is manageable with a laptop bag or backpack).
- Fan Noise Under Load: The fan noise increases under heavy computational load, though it’s typical for laptops.
- No Optical Drive: Lacks a DVD drive, which may be a limitation for some users.
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Conclusion
In this review, I’ve summarized my thoughts on the Dospara Raytrek R5-RL5.
It’s an excellent choice for 3DCG and video editing, especially with Blender. My experience using it has confirmed that this laptop is truly designed with creators in mind!
If you’re considering purchasing a laptop, I highly recommend giving this one a try.
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