For the longest time, it wasn't possible to buy a CPU based on Intel's Broadwell silicon outside of lower-power applications like notebooks or NUCs. Socketed desktop Broadwell parts are available now, of course, but Eurocom is making my head spin by taking the LGA 1150 Core i5-5775C and dropping it right back into its P5 Pro gaming notebook.
The Core i5-5775C's unlocked multiplier isn't just for show here, either. Buyers can specify an optional BIOS that allows full access to the same tweaks and knobs we would expect from an Intel Z97 desktop board, though it's probably not a good idea to push the chip too hard, even with the P5 Pro's heavy-duty cooling system.
The sockets don't stop with the processor. Nvidia GeForce GPUs ranging from the 965M to the 980M are available for the P5 Pro in MXM packaging, while fans of the red team can get an MXM Radeon R9 290X. To really put your pixel-pusher of choice to the test, Eurocom offers 2880×1620 or 4K panels as upgrades over the 15.6," 1080p IPS display that comes by default.
Four RAM slots support RAM as fast as DDR3L-2133, and four storage bays (two M.2 slots with SATA or PCIe connectivity and two 2.5" bays with SATA 6Gb/s ports) present plenty of room for drives, as well.
This being an exotic desktop-replacement notebook, none of the above insanity comes cheap—or light. The P5 Pro starts at $1699 with a Core i7-4790, 8GB of RAM, and a 4GB GeForce GTX 965M, and the price quickly begins to spiral upward in Porsche-like fashion once you start ticking option boxes.
With the eight-cell battery installed (good for two hours of battery life or less), this bruiser tips the scales at 7.5 pounds, and it's about an inch and a half thick. Only you can decide whether that's worth messing with people's expectations about what a Broadwell notebook can be.