***Aorus X7 Pro owner's lounge***

So, how is fan noise in idle or low performance mode? Can the fan speeds be customised all the way down to 0 rmp? Just bought the MSI GS70 and for some strange reason, MSI decided to use a fan with 3000 rpm minimum. So instead of something like running with 1500 rpm constantly, it goes back and forth between 0 and 3xxx rpm which is quite frustrating in an open office environment.

 

I've test the fan noise at 8:13 in our review video:



The fan speed can not be customized all the way to 0 rpm, it will cause overheating. on the GS70, looks like they try to make the laptop quieter but the fan was idle for too long so the fan has to kick in to cool it down, once the laptop is cool the fan goes to idle again and so on.

 

I find the fans are barely audible during normal operation. I turn the "turbo" profile for my fans so they ramp up quickly when the CPU or graphics load requires it. Typically they idle at 1800-2100 rpm and are quiet. Running the balanced performance profile also keeps things on the quiet side. I have a Kill-O-Watt meter to monitor power consumption and found that the draw is about 34 watts while doing normal tasks like surfing or document development. Gaming will bring the power up as high as 250 watts and the fans are noticeable but not obnoxious. There are quite a few review videos on You Tube about this computer. Most end up putting a meter right behind the fans to show they run about 50+ db. That noise is directed to the rear and sides so sitting in front with your head a couple feet from the screen is a more realistic scenario and the fans aren't too bad.

 

How do you make the fans less obnoxious during gaming? I was playing Witcher 3 yesterday and could barely hear the audio behind the hurricane of fan noise. Did you undervolt the CPu?

 

As I assume you have experience from both, could you please compare the fan noise of the X7 (Pro)/X3 compared to the MSI GS70? Mainly during idle or low power mode (writing an email, editing a Word document or similar). I can live with high fan noise when gaming or doing something graphic intensive, but it's more irritating when you edit an email and the ATI/nVidia GPU isn't even enabled but still you get fans going up and down between 0 rpm and 3000 rpm as on the GS70. I wonder what MSI was really thinking here.

 

The fans aren't too bad for me when gaming. I don't think BF4 or BF Hardline are all that graphics intensive so my fans don't spin up to max very often. If you are using the speakers in the computer you can always use the EQ function in the RealTek audio app. I boosted the bass and high ends way up and it helps overcome the fans. At home I have it hooked up to a 5.1 surround system so I rarely pay attention to the fans. I was on BF4 when I snapped this pic. I use Decibel 10th app on my iPhone to get readings.

 

anyone else have poor network performance issues? Seems it dl's slower than my macbook and file transfers are slow off my NAS. Any fixes?

 

Wireless or wired networking? I haven't seen any slow downs transferring files between computers on my network. Wireless is on par with my Alienware laptops. What version drivers are you running?

 

latest drivers according to the driver update tool. It is the wireless performance I am concerned about.....

 

Vandit you are on to something here. I tested wireless vs. wired ethernet and there is a huge disparity in transfer speeds on my network. Here is what I have for tranfering a large movie file over wired ethernet.


This transfer is from an old dual core Atom processor server. Nothing to write home about as far as speed.

 

Here is the speed over wireless with the Intel AC7260. The adapter is connecting at 54Mbps and nothing else. Same file only over wireless. Running latest Intel drivers.

 

Just for ****s and giggles I tried the same file on my old Alienware with killer wireless adapter. First thing I noticed was the adapter connected to my router at 300Mbps. Rock solid connection on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz bands. Same file transfered, laptop on battery. It seems the intel wireless is utter crap. I have tried various versions of the drivers and nothing helps it connect any faster than 54Mbps. I don't know if there is an issue with Netgear routers and Intel wireless cards. Something that needs more research.

 

I got it figured out after about an hour of research and troubleshooting. I noticed I was connecting to my router at 300Mbps for about 15 seconds and then it would dive to 54Mbps and stay there. Looking online I see this intel card is a pain in the ass when it comes to connecting at high speed. I changed the following settings: Under Ad-hoc choose WMM Enabled, under HT mode choose VHT, under preferred band choose 5.2ghz, under transmit power choose 5 highest, and under wireless mode choose 6: 802.11 a/b/g. Press okay to save changes.

Then I went into my Netgear router and checked the QOS settings. I enabled WMM for both 2.4ghz and 5.2ghz bands. After rebooting the router my connection speeds are 650Mbps or 780Mbps. It varies. Changing roaming aggressiveness to minimum didn't help any. Its a rock solid connection and I can transfer large files considerably faster. Whew. I though for sure I was going to have to spend another $50 on a new wireless card. Happy happy happy now.

 

cool. Thx for the research gdmaddog. I will try that!!

 

on an unrelated note, what backpack did everyone get to tote the X7 in? I ordered a Tumi backpack I had my eye on for a while. It wasnt cheap, but I'm a sucker for Tumi. It was the Kingsville Alpha Bravo and it is advertised to hold a 17 incher. Damn thing won't fit

 

I have a couple Swiss Gear backpacks that mine fits it, barely. Something like this http://www.amazon.com/SwissGear-17-...sbs_147_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0PZAE8CJ61RMST01MEW9

 

Hi everyone!! I'm new here and first of all I would like to thank u guys for all amazing info shared.

I've been lately searching for a high-end gaming laptop to replace my old dead previous alienware m17x r3. Since the main use will be gaming and some office work I though about getting a thinner chasis. My final decision will go to either:

- Aorus x7 pro
- Gigabyte p37x
- Asus g750jy (the new version upgraded with 980m 8gb)

I read all messages and googled plenty of info including unboxings, reviews, benchmaks..so I'm aware of the pros and cons of theses machines but still can't make my choice. The thing is I like and dislike some features from each model so I don't find the perfect one for me.

I know Aorus is a beast in terms of performance and there is nothing out there really portable to compare with. But If I'm planning to play on its screen or an external fullhd projector at 1080p (60hz compatible max) with v-sinc at say stable 60fps I wonder what would be the differences against a laptop with a single gpu 980m. I mean being used now with current modern games. I also like its shape design and look. In the other hand I read about excess of noise, sli compatibility issues, overheat and comsumption that might end up annoying the experience. An additional problem is that this computer is not available for sale in Spain where I live so I need to purchase through another amazon's country website (the one I mostly trust) or a retailer that ships international (please recommend me some) with the added inconvenience of the keyboard layout and dealing with warrant in case anything goes wrong.

Then I'm looking closely the Gigabyte p37x which in terms of quality seems to be similar (same manufacturer). This one is available. Design is more simple but personally I like it too since can be used more on "professional enviroments". I appreciate a comparison of these two from the people that have deeply tested both. It's 980m 8gb solution seems to be enough future proof too.

Lastly the new Asus g750jy. This one I bought it but had to return it because I found out It came with an ugly TN screen which in my opinion compared with my iMac retina dispay I'm used was so disappointing. Blacks looking greys, bad viewing angles...However this machine looks and performs great. It is thicker but runs so cool and quiet at almost every situation. It would be my first choice if it came with ISP screen. I like the black matte style of the chasis much nicer than new g751 I think. Although it is heavier and less usefud to carry around and perhaps it is more a "desktop replacement".

In conclusion:
- Aorus = extreme performance
- P37x = hybrid work/gaming station
- Asus = less portable but balanced solution

I would really appreciate your comments, experiences with your computer after a while, anything that shows up some light even if it is subjetive. I don't spend 2.500€ on a laptop everyday and wish to be as sure as possible.

Thanks in advance!!

 

Please post in the 'What Notebook Should I Buy?' subforum.

 

Thanks for your answer! I honestly don't really mind much 3K-4K resolutions since they impact on fps and general performance. I don't have a 4k tv or monitor so playing fullhd on 120" with a proyector or tv plus the 17.3" laptop screen seem far enough for me.

I will move my posts as suggested.

 

Any of you tried playing the Witcher 3?? Seems like I can play at max but damn!! the temps are too hot. It Throttles like crazy too. Wanted to know if its my laptop or everyone's around here. The CPU temp goes to around 92-95 when the game really gets going in action and it throttles a hell a lot. Anyone else experience this as well??

 

I have had some thermal throttling during benchmarks like Furmark. During normal gaming in BF4 or BF Hardline I see nothing. Haven't tried Witcher 3 so I can't comment on that. I have seen the CPU temps as high as 94 degrees. Have you updated to the latest bio's? It minimizes the throttling quite well. I did re-paste the the heatsinks on this right after it arrived. That helped quite a bit. My idle temps for CPU/GPU were 60ish/55 before pasting and after they idle at 55/45.

Right after I got the laptop I ran a bunch of tests. Running a balanced power plan fit my needs and reduced the overall power usage to about 35 watts during everyday computer tasks. I also use the turbo fan profile which ramps the fans up quickly under load. Power will go as high as 230 watts during some BF4 gaming and the temps for the GPU's run in the high 70's. Running the system in a "Performance" power plan keeps the CPU running at 3.5ghz all the time and increases my power consumption to 140w. Its kind of pointless. I don't really notice anything running faster for normal tasks so I'd rather save a few bucks on the electric bill every month.

 

Seems like the CPU is better used by Witcher (better mutli-threading scaling) and temps are ramping up. I play it on performance mode, so the CPU temps go crazy. I did repaste all the plates with IC Diamond about 5 months ago, helped a lot in cooling off the temps. I'll try balanced and see what the trade off is in fps for temp. Also trying to buy some good USB fans that I can sneak under the CPU vent and blast air into it.

 

Hi there,

Apologies, I couldn't see a standard X7 lounge. Wondering if any bright sparks out here might be able to help me!

I have now owned the Aorus X7 for exactly 2 months, yet have had the laptop in my hands for a total of 9 days. This is due to the laptop freezing on nearly every game I try and play. It has been sent back to ebuyer.com and then to the manufacture and has done the lap between the two for 41 days. I now have it back, have re-installed a few of my favorite games: World of Warcraft, Cities: Skylines, League of Legends. I was so so disappointed to have the laptop crash on me within the first 15 seconds of each game. It becomes completely unresponsive, and eventually sorts itself out about 1 minute after the original crash. I have now managed to capture it on video across all 3 games, and am hoping that ebuyer will give me a full refund..

In the mean time, I needed to ask the question. Has anyone else here had the same issue, or heard of it before? I love the laptop, it's design is great and I'm sure I would really enjoy the performance if I could get past 10 minutes playtime without a crash!!

Looking forward to hearing from you all,

Thanks

*EDIT: spelling!!

 

What kind of crash are you getting Josh? Its it a blue screen or just the games quiting and dropping you back to the windows desktop? None of those games are terribly graphics intensive so I don't suspect a heat issue. Sounds like drivers/OS conflict. Without seeing a screen shot of the error its going to be all guessing...

 

Anyone know the thickness of the stock thermal pads (0.5mm/1mm/1.5mm)? Think I might replace all of them with Fujipoly extreme variants if I attempt a repaste.

Thanks in advance.

 

There is always a risk of pulling up a poorly soldered VRAM chip if those pads don't come off easily. Usually the symptoms will be something like speckling in the display or vertical lines if the chip is partially connected. Have you removed the heat pipe assemblies to look at the paste spreading? The first attempt on mine left the corners bare on my GPU's. I applied another tiny blob and screwed everything down once more and removed to see of the entire surface of each chip was fully covered. They were and since then my temps have been stable and about 5-6 degrees C cooler than stock.

 

I am 2 bios versions behind. Does anyone know what the latest ones upgrade? If I update my bios, does it get rid of my raid setup?

 

The latest bios raise the temp limits before throttling. The intel CPU's are good to 100 degrees C. Gigabyte limited them to 90 C in the earlier versions of bios. The last version moves this limit up to 96 C so the CPU won't throttle back under heavy load. I flashed mine and my raid was fine before and after.

 

So, how would you rate the dual GPU (SLI) compared to single GPU on the Aorus X7 Pro? Ie, if it is worth running games with SLI or not? Have just tried Crysis 3 and didn't really notice any performance gains in SLI compared to single GPU, but I haven't really given it that much time yet or tried to optimize anything.

Is the GeFore Experience good at optimizing for SLI or will it just optimize for one GPU?

 

Can answer my own question now that I am also the proud owner of a Aorux X7 Pro. The fan noise in idle or low performance mode is fantastic. Or perhaps I should say lack of fan noise. When I put the fans into Eco/Silent it really is silent. Nothing compared to the MSI GS70 which kept going back and forth between 0 and 3000 rpms driving me crazy. Yes, under heavy load the fans are LOUD but which thin gaming laptop with these specs isn't?

Overall really impressed with this laptop, main gripes are with the keyboard (it works but isn't all that great compared to the best) and the fact that it is a fingerprint magnet. Most other things are really good, and I also think that Gigabytes software deserves a gold star, much better than similar software I've seen from other competitor. Overall this laptop really feels premium.

 

I was in between the aorus and gigabyte p37x for a while but finally decided to go with the last one. I believe aorus is a total beast and specs are amazing considering its thin shape. I agree with the premium feeling too. The other model sports a single GPU 980m with 8gb vram (vs 970m sli 3gb vram) which I believe will be also more than enough to play latest games in high-ultra settings. My choice has been motivated by lower power consumption which is supposed to be translated into less overheat levels and lower fun noise plus longer battery life. The SLI setup don't even work properly with all games or 3D software and disables optimus and integrated graphics. Besides what's the point if you end up playing at 1080p 60hz screen. Different would be adding external 4k displays and using higher fps and resolutions. I will also be using the laptop in work enviroments so the design seems more appropiate to me. But at the end both are great machines built under the same quality standards. I think gigabyte as manufacturer has pushed the limits in terms of the relationship size-cooling-performance with these computers and we will see improvements in this area within the next months. Today is still soon and we still need to deal with throttle and overheat issues if we want powerful but thin laptops.

 

Did some more testing and SLI actually do improve framerates in Crysis 3, just that the game is so heavy that even with SLI it drops down to 45+ FPS sometimes. Do you guys usually have SLI enabled only when gaming or always? Using this laptop for workstation purposes as well.

 

gmmdag- Thx. Flash went fine

Yeah. I really love the Aorus after a few weeks. The SteelSeries keyboard in the MSI GS60 is way better than the X7's keyboard, but everything else is better with the X7. The screen is great, the build quality is fantastic, Witcher 3 needs 970 SLI'd to turn everything to max on 1080p, so can't imagine having a single 980m. With gaming headphones on (bluetooth HK), you can't hear the fans. It is virtually silent when not gaming too

 

I just purchased my aorus x7 pro last week and looks like they're coming out with a g-sync version coming out in a couple weeks?

Should I return the aorus and get the x7 pro sync or keep it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

According to this article, the X7 Pro already has hardware support for it but necessary drivers are missing.

http://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/nvidia-plans-to-add-g-sync-technology-to-laptops/

 

No G-Sync for owner of the original Aorus X7 Pro, looks like its the exact same laptop with some G-Sync stickers and DRM or something that'll stop any X7 Pro users from getting G-Sync as well.

Well done Aorus, we bought your product that was said to get G-Sync back in January ( http://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/anton-shilov/nvidia-plans-to-add-g-sync-technology-to-laptops) and you decide to release a new model instead of giving the X7 Pro owners the G-Sync that they were promised.

 

That's what my worse fears was. I'm going to return my x7 pro then. Such a disappointment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I don't think lack of G-Sync is a show stopper. It would be nice if Nvidia implemented this at the driver level with PSR. It looks like they chose to go the route of using an embedded chip instead of software. Can't blame the manufacturers here, there have no control over what Nvidia chooses to do. Since I do 90% of my gaming on an external large screen monitor it makes no difference to me. If I just got the computer yesterday and this press release came out the day after I got it I'd be a little pissed.

I'd be really surprised if this isn't just going to be a software driver thing. We'll know in the next few weeks.

 

There is no module, http://www.pcper.com/news/Displays/NVIDIA-G-Sync-Notebooks-Announced-No-Module-Required
It looks like it's only software. I did contact Nvidia and Aorus to ask what the difference is between the X7 Pro-Sync and the X7 Pro, still waiting for a reply.

 

Do you guys have any information on update this g-sync thing. I know a guy said he sent his x7 pro back to factory for g-sync module installation, it take three weeks to complete

 

There is no module though, read my previous post

 

No comments on this? I notice some troubling stuff with SLI enabled, like that it seems to be impossible to get into BIOS with SLI enabled (at least I wasn't able to until I disabled SLI). SLI performance is of course a great thing when it works, but as you probably know, it has historically been plagued with problems also. Haven't used SLI for a few years though so I don't know if things have changed, but things like BIOS lockout has me worried.

 

Could someone please upload the default color profile for the X7 Pro as I reinstalled but forgot to copy it before?

 

Haven't played Crysis 3 but all my games that support SLI have significantly higher FPS.

Just download "Command & Control" and "Drivers Update" from official Aorus website, they'll allow you to change your color profile to the default one.

Aorus X7 Pro: http://www.aorus.com/x7pro.aspx
Command & Control: http://www.aorus.com/public/downloa...o-win7-win8.1-64bit-command-control-1.7.1.zip
Drivers Update: http://www.aorus.com/public/downloa...ro-win7-win8.1-64bit-drivers-update-1.2.7.zip

 

Thanks, but already having these installed. I was looking for an actual color profile to be used in Windows "Color Management". Noticed it was a profile there before I reinstalled.

 

Check under C:\Program Files\AORUS\SmartManagerV3\color\X7V3

 

Thanks

 

i am still within my 30 day return policy for my X7 pro with newegg. Maybe I should return it and get the g sync model? Is Gsync worth it?

 

YES!

 

ok then. Hopefully it will pop up on the website soon. I see multiple other vendors offer the GSYNC model now.