TONGFANG GK5CN5Z / GK5CN6Z / GK5CQ7Z / GK5CP0Z

I bought from Raiontech because PCSspecialist doesn't accept the teacher coupon I had, otherwise I'll probably had bought from their because seems a bigger company with, maybe, a better know how and experience. In any case the pc from raiontech is the same, the label on the botton panel says PCSpecialist Recoil II and the preinstalled bios was a PCSpecialist one, they only applied a Raiontech logo on screen cover as in the picture. From my experience I don't know who is better but I'm satisfied with Raiontech, the shipping was fast and the customer care service is excellent, using the chat on their website they reply almost immediatly. I asked they for a BIOS update and how to install it so they called me explaining step by step what to do, really convenient! (The new bios they gave me is a generic American Megatrends one). If the price is good for you I can definitely recommend Raiontech.

 

According to the specs on the Intel chipset it can support gen 2. Though I don't know of they are configured for it.

Well overall the ck5cn6z has a good thermal design. With the vents on the back and side and more open bottom airflow. Nobody has had thermal throttling issues since the bios situation was resolved.

Don't know about the p950ep6.

 

Did you get this issue resolved? I just installed my Seagate Firecuda and I'm not sure if it's working as iit should be.

 

Yes it's working good. The Firecuda is a pretty disappoint in terms of speed

Can you tell us Which version of bios and EC do you have?​

 

The enumaration seems different from the one of other bios but looking at the build date I think it's not the most recent version of tongfang bios. In any case I'm not discovering any issue and performance are good (12400 on passmark).
If deciding to switch to another vendor's bios wich one do you recommend? And where could I download it? Possibly from an official source.

 

What is th latest version of the Control Center? The one I have from PCS is v1.1.15.3.

 

The latest is 1.1.16.1
DL LINK: http://driver.tongfangpc.com/d.mechrevo.com/driver/GamingCenter_1.1.16.1.zip

 

Thanks!

 

I've installed the version 1.1.16.4 from eluktronics site that hasn't the brand logo.
http://www.eluktronics.com/mech-15-g2-drivers/

 

do you guys ever use wake-on-lan feature? I can't make it work on my gk5cn5z

 

Did anyone already figure out a way to solve the over-protective fan? Is it solved with the BIOS update? Or any other program? I reaaally want to get rid of the cooling spikes when it's not necessary

 

I installed both versions and ran Cinebench, each produced a different score above 1052 my original result and then as advised elsewhere although for a different reason I pressed F3 in the BIOS to load optimized value and my score dropped to 880 because my PL1 and PL2 have both ben reduced.



If I am using PCS 1.0.4 with no modifications should I be able to get 1150 in Cinebench?

Just un-installing Control Center got me back to 1093 in Cinebench.

 

Id like to know this too,
also, would you say this is an RMA level of backlight bleed for this panel?

https://imgur.com/gallery/Fme0xzr

 

Maybe I mean that should be black right?

Is that the 60 or 144hz screen using a IPS LG panel?

 

So what's users opinion of the switches in the laptops? Would they be better with brown switches?

 

Personally I think brown switches would be awesome, for two main reasons :
- NOISE : being able to choose either to make some either to be silent (in some places and usages you have to). I would like to have a more silent keyboard for sure
- FEEDBACK : In my opinion, feedback on the actual keyboard sucks. The feeling is actually great, but as I described in a previous post, it is not relevant and even makes you do more typing errors because sometimes you can switch a key on without having to push it enough to hear the click and feel the feedback. So for me the actual feedback is not a true feedback but more like a simulation of a feedback which sometimes fails and makes you do mistakes. So yes I would be very happy with new kind of switches.

In the personal account section of PCS website you can buy parts for your laptop, especially new keyboard layouts (ENG, FR, etc.). They told me that if you buy a new keyboard here, it includes both switches and caps, which is great when you see that these replacement keyboards cost between 1.13 and 4.54€. So a new keyboard with new kind of switches might not be too expensive !

 

Well Eluktronics says they are looking to have Brown Switch Options on their Mech 15 G2 around Mid November.

So the query is if its worth the wait?

 

I'll wait for sure, because i need the touchpad working on Linux using this laptop

 

That's possibly tied into the windows precision drivers and how they work

 

Hi,

Finally my computer went in RMA because of the screen back-light issue at the bottom.
I bought the 60Hz panel but as mentioned here the 144Hz is really better so before sending it I asked PCS if at the same time they can upgrade my panel to the 144Hz one (ofc with paying the difference) and they said it should be ok and I have to write it in my RMA.

They have my computer for 10 days now, only one "automatic mail" 3 days after they received the computer, and I just received a mail saying that they replaced my screen but they could not put a 144Hz because the chassis isn't compatible...

I also asked for the 180W adapter and they also said that it isn't compatible with my chassis so considering this and no information about my requests I am a bit suspicious they changed my screen without taking care of my upgrade request and said that everything isn't compatible to send it back faster.

So does the chassis with GTX1060 and 60Hz panel is really incompatible with the 144Hz panel?

 

On the PCS forums they always recommend calling them rather than sending emails or messages.

 

I'm in France and I tried many time to call them on their french number but no answer... I think they have less customers here so the support is not as strong as it is in the UK. I ll give a try tomorrow morning with some luck.

 

Wouldn't think so. Its not on the Eluktronics MECH-15-G2 at least. I'll drop them a note to ask

 

Does anyone know if the oring mod works on these laptops?

 

It is the PCSpecialist version: Recoil II with GTX1060 (TongFang GK5CN6Z chassis) so I don't think there is really a difference with the Eluktronics.

 

Yes, it's possible. Tongfang released few days ago a new "gk5cn6z" style laptop, but with a 17" display. It has have the same specs of our gk5cn6z, but with a better and quieter switches.
You can see it here item.jd.com/100000012874.html

 

They (PCS) confirmed today that the 60Hz and the 144Hz panel are in two different chassis. It seems weird to me but why not...

Edit: They told me the 180W PSU is not compatible with my computer but if I configure a new one with the same specs as mine on their own website I only can choose the 180W PSU...
There is something wrong with their answer.

 

Is someone using one of the Mini DispalyPorts? Does the audio exits thorugh these?
I've noticed that using Vsync with my external monitor connected through hdmi the framerate is not always constant causing some lags, this doesn't happen with the internal display. I want to try to connect the external monitor using a Mini DisplayPort to hdmi cable to see if it's better but need to know if the audio exits also through the Mini DP or have to manage it separately.
Thx in advance!

 

I didn't tried on this computer but mini DP support the audio and you can keep it through HDMI but be careful with some cheap adapter.
Regarding the lags I have no idea right now
But you could give more information for others: as you mention V-sync do this happen only when gaming? Videos? On any external screen? Tried to use a different HDMI cable? No tearing?

 

Tried different cables and monitors/TVs with same result. In addition disabling Vsync seems run smooth so I'm excluding both monitor and cable. I've noticed the issue when gaming and checked with Nvidia's fps counter overlay. Normally shouldn't give any problem because Vsync is enabled by the game itself, infact I've never noticed lags with youtube's 60p or more videos.
I'll try soon with the mini DP cable and let you know.

 

Interesting. Are there any spec of the other switch design to tell what's been changed? Also looks like the keys are larger hexagonal versions

 

Hi all,
Since there are still people using this thread for purchasing decisions and optimization ideas, I wanted to chip in my impressions of the GK5CN6Z.

I got mine this week from the Dutch reseller laptopparts4less. They had really good reviews online and when I got an answer to an inquiry in less than an hour on a Saturday, I went ahead. Their prices are unbeatable. This is my config:

144hz screen
GTX 1060
2x8 GB 2400Mhz Kingston Ram
500GB Samsung Evo 970
Intel AC-9260 Wireless
180W adapter
Liquid Metal Mod with TG Conductonaut
Win10 Pro

I paid €1410 for this machine, which seems very good compared to other resellers.

I am basically replacing my desktop with this, since I travel a lot and want to play some games on the go. I'll keep using my 13" MacBook Pro (2016) for most of my work tasks, but I'll be running heavier Python/CUDA stuff (data analysis) on the TongFang. Here are some thoughts, based on some of the issues discussed in this thread:

• The screen is pretty nice, no obvious light bleeding - coming from the MBP, it's certainly not better, but still quite good.
• I really like the keyboard and don't think that it's that loud, at least not compared to the 2016 MBP, which gets pretty loud itself when typing with some verve.
• Case is pretty sturdy, no complaints, but it's not a tank either. I was actually surprised by the thinness and weight; I don't have a 2.5" drive, so it's just 2kg and that's really very portable.
• I was going to do a liquid metal mod myself, but since laptopparts4less offers to do it for €19, I got it from them.
• I haven't changed the BIOS so far and maybe just stick with it, since I got ~1200 in CB after raising the power limit in XTU and that's pretty fine.
• I undervolted CPU/Cache/iGPU with -0.125V, so far no problem. Nvidia GPU is undervolted too, using Afterburner. I got the CPU to run at 3.9 steady on all cores in CB and the GPU to ~1950 in the only game I tried so far (Borderlands 2). Both hover around 70C.
• I was kind of expecting the fans to be louder. Even the Turbo isn't that bad - when I game on my MBP with Bootcamp it's not that much less and both require headphones for optimal pleasure. I plan on optimizing the fan noise under load in the future to find a good balance between performance and sound, particularly for work. I will probably do this by reducing the power limit in XTU.
• Using equilibrium mode in combination with undervolting means that the machine remains silent in general office use. In the beginning, the fans jumped up to 30% regularly, but with the various mods, even installing some stuff on steam + Netflix + surfing on the side no longer gets them spinning at all. I won't be using the battery a lot, but from some early testing, I expect to get over four hours without difficulty with some aggressive optimization. Using it for an hour this morning for some surfing and YouTube, I lost 18% charge on relatively low brightness.
• The speakers are, well, horrible. Coming from a MBP, which sounds awesome, they are almost laughably bad. Since I'll keep my MBP as my main computer, I don't mind, but it's still a missed opportunity, I think.
• I loathe the keyboard effects at startup. I turned them off in the BIOS, which removed the effect during POST, but while Windows boots, there is an effect that I haven't been able to remove and I hate it. I don't want my laptop to make moving colors, ever.
• I may be too stupid to get this right, but there is no white backlight color, right? I like the per-key RGB, it's nice for programming and gaming, but no white light?

So far I am really happy with the machine. The keyboard lighting is my biggest gripe and that's probably a bit petty. While I cannot compare, it seems like the liquid metal mod was kinda worth it, the power I am getting from this machine is phenomenal, especially the GPU clock is almost desktop-worthy. But maybe heavier games will push that down.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I found the impressions in this thread very useful for my buying decision, so I wanted to add my own.

 

Tongfang GK5CN6Z (i7-8750H, GTX 1060, FHD) Laptop Review
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Tongfang-GK5CN6Z-i7-8750H-GTX-1060-FHD-Laptop-Review.331426.0.html

 

Hi! I use equilibirum mode as well and undervolted everthing by -0.120 as well, but I cannot seem to get the fans from staying quiet when even just browsing files/the web. I use office mode with 30% fan at 50 degrees. Could you maybe tell me/PM me about what modifications you applied apart from undervolting and equilibrium mode? Thanks!

 

The difference is probably the liquid metal mod then. If the shop did this well (I can't really verify without taking off the heatpipes), it can be a powerful thing. When I just browse or do some light tasks, the CPU hovers around 42C-43C - and the fans only start at 45C IIRC. I'm also in a room that is not too warm - about 20C. We're talking about very small temperatures differences that trigger the fan or not...

 

Good review.

Speakers on Laptops in general are way I bought an Amp and good headphones.

To ask what's the feel of the keys while using them.

Like what's the push back and click feel like in use, is there much impedances when trying to rapid click.

 

In the NBC review was written, "Unfortunately, it oscillated quite heavily during our benchmarks. For example, when running the Cinebench R15 multi-core test core frequencies fluctuated between 2.6 and 3.9 GHz (3.2 GHz on average). Accordingly, it was not surprising to find the Tulpar T5 trailing behind its similarly equipped competitors slightly."

I'm finding it hard to get stable CB results and I'm only using XTU to change TPU and undervolt.

 

I have no experience with mechanical keyboards, so it's hard for me to describe the feeling - the keys go down very slightly before the resistance comes and the weight needed to move beyond the click is not a lot. I can mash the buttons very fast and there is no character missed. Sorry if that's gibberish... I did some typing today and I thought that the keyboard was great, although I would much prefer a centered keyboard without the numpad.

I've got TB Power Max set to 70W and TB Short Power Max to 85W, with undervolt of -0.125V and I'm locked to 3.9Ghz on all cores during XTU stress test, getting 1200+ in CB every single time, sometimes going up to 1250. I use Game Mode in Control Center System Monitor and Gaming Mode in the Fan Settings. Temp remains between 65C and 70C. Fans are far from running at full speed. Crazy how much the results for this machine can vary.

 

I just ran on game mode, no changes and I got 682.



1033 with the fan on turbo.

 

There seemed to be something wrong with the Tulpar since it could only pull 150 which might have been the cause of some of its instability.

 

Also i had this problem PCS Bios. After reset bios settings you will have low Turbo Boost values.

Try with this
turbo boost power max 45
turbo boost short power max 56W
turbo boost power time windows 56sec

There is just a bit of Thermal Throttling under benchmark, but no power throttling

 

Anyone know if the LG 144hz panel is a 5ms panel or such?

 

Hi everyone!
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=200787.
there is someone who managed to make the touchpad work on linux!

 

Hi everyone, I am lurking in this post for the last four month, finally pull the plug and brought my Recoil II Ultra from pcspecialist. I want to contribute to this post as well. Just to give the community something back. A few questions here were never properly answered, here is what I know:

1. Bigger battery option. Well, the 62WH battery is only available in the i5 and gtx 1050 model, currently not available in the high end gtx 1060 model. TongFang seems very responsive to Chinese gamers and a lot of them are very price sensitive. So we wouldn't see bigger battery any time soon.

2. The nosie keyboard. Just a few days ago, TongFang released a new barebone which uses a new keyboard. See link: http://item.jd.com/100000012890.html
This is Mechevro Z2 Air, it is an improved version of Mechevro Z2 (GK5CN5Z). This new model is 1mm thinner than GK5CN5Z, so they couldn't fix a mechnical keyboard there. Other features include ligher weight and a gtx 1060 max-q. Battery is very small, I think only 38WH because they still kept the 2.5in drive bay.

Anyway, that's all I know, hope this help everyone here.

 

Are you from China?
Do you know where's the cheapest place to buy the Z2? I visit China often so it'd be nice to buy directly in China.

 

Illegear told me that 62Wh battery can't fit in the gk5cn6z because the motherboard is different from the 1050ti version but origin pc sells the gk5cn6z with a 62wh battery. I don't know what to say.

​

I read mechrevo has a bad quality control

 

Everyone I know online knows China more than I do, lol, seriously though you need to know these things if you are tech savvy. Anyway, you really shouldn't aiming for the cheapest. Some laptops are cheap for a reason. Especially about Chinese products which has a long history of bad reputation. Only in recent years they are getting better. If you are in China around end of October and early November, you may get some deals during the Single Day week where laptops get huge discounts.

 

I never knew Origin is selling the 62wh with GTX 1060. At least the 62wh gtx 1060 version is not even released in China. Has anyone got a hand on the bigger battery version? I have yet to see a review. I wish I could just buy the battery stand alone.

Yeah, I know Mechrevo had quality problems but they are also very popular with Chinese college students who extremely price sensitive.

 

Good to know some more battery info.

Does anyone have more information on this model

item.jd.com/100000012874.html
the Mechrevo X8Ti Plus

Which looks to be a larger screen version of the TONGFANG GK5CN6Z.

Trying to find out their new key design Like if it's the same as the current version but just in a linear or tactile configuration.

Because Eluktronics says they should have a brown switch equivalent by November for their Mech 15 G2 so I wonder if these are the same switches being used or another design.

Also how does the trackpad feel on the TONGFANG GK5CN6Z models. What's it made of?

 

You may want to have a look at the review here, its in Chinese though
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?timestam...7SmCVhVFrDhh5OCqFD*YRiVFdoFJUUIB3DD-TyAHyl7c=

For the new evolved Z2 air, also a Chinese review:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?timestam...VOcccLWhZ80nvNLjKxH-zklUMFsdfR2BThHf3qJi5VOg=

I don't use trackpad much, so can't really feel anything different. It just works.