Razer Blade 15.6" (GTX 1060/1070, 2018 edition) Owner's Lounge

Not going to lie, I dropped my clock speeds down to 3ghz whole playing Fortnite and didn't experience really any FPS drops, what I did experience was some amazing temp drops though. Hovering at or below 80c CPU temp almost the entire time. I'm going to start doing my homework on what games need/want when it comes to hardware and FPS. I can totally sacrifice a few frames for dramatic temp drops.

 

I did a ton of firestrike tests last night and I seem to be mostly sitting around 14500. It's mostly in line with other laptops specced the same. I messed with TS and XTU... And while you have a little more control in TS it made no difference than just undervolting in xtu and not messing with anything else. Clocks will fluctuate all over but I don't see any real hit to performance in games. CPU manages to average 3.6ish GHz sometimes a little higher.

To be dead honest these 8750H cpu's are a little too strong for thinner laptops. If we can get this bios modded and hold our 3.9-4ghz speeds I highly doubt thermally any of these machines can handle it without LM. I don't want to jump to conclusions but I can almost guarantee you it's going to be the case.

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So played Diablo 3 for a couple hours last night. Turned the Razer Synapse setting to Gaming Mode and the Windows Power Setting to Max Performance. Something about this combination must have changed a threshold because my CPU bounced off 100c and the CPU package apparently hit 103c according to HWinfo64. I have not undervolted anything yet. The thermals may not be as magical as I originally hoped :| If nothing else, if I return the Blade, I will definitely be seeking out a 144 Hz screen for my AW 15 lol - definitely have my life changed on that one

 

You really can't use windows power settings at max performance. It tries to force higher CPU clock speeds even when not needed and it will spike temps way way up.

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Interesting, have not messed with it much. Kind of backed out of the benchmarking and performance tuning scene back in 2012 when still on Windows 7, lot has changed since then. Back to learning how to tune the OS properly

 

some of ya'll are like "max performance!!! push it to the limit!!!" "omg HEAT AHHHHH!!!!!!"... but seriously, when you are just playing games and you limit CPU turbo to, say, 3 -3.4 ghz, you wont see anything above 85 degrees. at 3ghz i get 80 max with 0 frame rate drops, no shuttering, and basically the same performance. I get that the laptop CAN do 4.1.. but ask yourself... do you honestly need/use 4.1

 

Words of wisdom here. To be clear, I am just beating up on the laptop while in the 30 day return window to know what I am signing up for if I decide to keep it. During day-to-day usage and gaming I would never run it at full tilt, it is only a 1080p screen lol, what am I worried about on performance?!

 

yeah man . like I get it, I really do with some of these guys. If you buy a laptop with specs, you should be able to use it at max with no issues. But these new CPUs literally cannot be cooled enough in a thin and light. So it's no big deal to limit it a bit and still have a fantastic laptop with great performance. Luckily, only the CPU has issues and I havent had my GPU go over 80 degrees yet playing games.

I may be old school but I don't care about firestrike scores and what not. Does it play games at max, does it work properly, and is it reliable is all I ask and want. And after limiting the CPU in throttlestop, I'v never been happier

 

How do you limit the CPU turbo to 3-3.4gh exactly? XTU doesn't let you downclock the multipliers...?

 

I use throttlestop in FIVR set max to 3.2 under turbo ratio limits

 

Got it, so I've set my turbo ratio multiplier limit to 35 in my case. Here's an even sillier question, do I have to hit "Turn ON" on the Throttlestop front page for these limits to be implemented, or are the ratios set on the FIVR page working regardless of whether you hit "Turn ON" or not?

In addition - do I have to use task scheduler to make sure Throttlestop loads at log in to enable these reduced multipliers to take effect after every restart/relog, or do you just set them once in FIVR and never have to load Throttlestop again? Apologies for these inane queries.

 

Oh yes high five o/\o
I realized I get a couple more degrees drop when I position the legs like in the pic to channel the air through the center and Cool down where the cpu and gpu is while giving fresh air to the fans. I’ve also added some non slip 3m plastic things to the bottom so it stops moving when I move the screen

 

yeah definitely have it turned on. I have the task scheduler open it when I turn the computer on. I also keep it open to display my temps in the task bar. but thats my own preference.

 

If anyone finds more info on the panel: LGD05C0

I am very interested in trying to figure out if I can get one to throw into my AW 15 R3 If I can do that I will likely just stay put for now. But definitely had my eyes opened by the 144 Hz! This panel seems like a rare TN panel that is actually good quality picture - read about a LOT of horror stories where if you want 120/144 Hz you have to sacrifice a lot of picture quality and accuracy with TN panels

 

One small build quality issue - there is a very small gap between the track pad and the case. It is about half a millimeter, but with the right light behind you, you can actually see a glint of something in the gap (battery?). It's wide enough to stick a newspaper paper down (I tried), so it will collect bits of dust/skin/crap etc.

You can see the glints in this picture https://imgur.com/a/uWw3o2P

 

Did anyone try bios 1.03? Any difference?

 

FYI, its not a TN panel; it is IPS. It is an amazing panel for sure.

 

I've installed it - no idea what it did, haven't noticed anything (but I've only had the laptop for less than a day, so my baseline is pretty uninformed).

 

It was a fix for some USB issues. Nothing crazy as far as I know.

 

Do you have a changelog ? (My razer blade is preordered)

 

Is the Synapse that comes with the RB15 Synapse3, or v2? I think it's v2, but not sure...

 

It is v3.

 

It comes with 3... you can install 2 alongside if you still need it.

 

There’s still mysterious ASPM off mode from bios setting that we saw on last gen, yes they are always hiding something in Bios setting and we still have plenty time to score that magic 15K, I saw other bios tweaker is aiming also this laptop...can’t wait my Blade 15 can score that 15K lol

 

Magic 15k was back in the Vantage days when I was pushing my M17x R1 to the absolute limits I calculated my best GPU score and best CPU score combined would have given me P15001 - never broke P14959

https://www.3dmark.com/3dmv/2328587

Back then was when Throttle Stop was pretty new, we used it to push the QX9300 to 4.2 GHz! (had to put the laptop in my chest freezer to chill it down haha

 

So FYI... Despite my repaste in assassin's Creed origins I was hitting 100c on cpu. Doesn't help that you can't undervolt in that game because it just crashes immediately.

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try limiting to 3.2 ghz. I bet that wont happen anymore

 

Oh I’m sure it won’t if I limit it yes. I just hate to make any sacrifices lmao

 

Actually to add to this... I can’t wrap my head around running this cpu slower than I ran my 7700hq. It’s just crazy to think. That’s why I may end up going liquid metal route. I could run all 4 cores on my 7700hq at advertised turbo boost speeds.. so if I can’t run the 8750H at least at 3.6 I don’t feel like I upgraded. Just bugs the s**t out of me.

 

As I said before. Sacrifices yes I do understand but it is just a 2.2 ghz cpu that turbos at 4.1 as razer advertises. The issue I’m seeing with your data and any data really is that the laptop forces it to run at 4.1 when it doesn’t need to. Really it’s useless to do it especially for a thin and light because of the heat ( as you recently pointed out). The game runs like butter on a 4 core 3.2 ghz cpu. I think the turbo boost is set too hi imho. You don’t need it that high for games. The 4 core cpu didn’t need it and even now with two more cores you still don’t. Games don’t really need that (yet). But like I said. That’s my opinion.

 

You bought a .5" thick 6-core gaming laptop, you inherently made sacrifices already like it or not lol

 

Turning off turbo boost will still allow the cpu into the 3.2ghz range right?

 

That game is just like doing prime stress test. The only game that could bump my 7700 HQ cpu around 8 celcius to nearly 90 from stable 81 on all my games, even eat cpu worse than FFXV. I should lower the game setting to high, and doing undervolting through Bios and limiting turbo boost. On default setting I think it’ll also crash, because the game detect my system on ultra high (that was setting with core 1080ti on 4K resolution, didn’t play on dgpu 1060 because the Fans was louder than eGPU, and I like higher resolution for that game)

 

Turning off boost will put it around 2.2 ghz. I run mine like that and I’m 60s.

 

Off topic but LOOK HOW PRETTY THE NEW LENOVO LEGION LAPTOPS ARE.
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/legion/?IPromoID=LEN760377


... Team Razer ftw.

edit: Notice how Lenovo is offering a quad core i5 8300H model. That sucker will likely be plenty powerful, and perform well thermally, too. I may have liked to see this in the Blade as well.

 

IMHO the Razer is at the top as far as looks go. Unfortunately that comes at the expense of ports and cooling. But they have always been amazing looking

 

Agreed, blades speak for themselves, very sleek and classy looking lil' monster. I enjoy the sheer Windows experience on this laptop more than any I've ever used.

 

Can I limit the turbo boost range in throttlestop or another program? And should I be worried about a slight buzzing sound from the power brick. Didn’t notice it until I leaned closer

 

This is why I haven't pulled the trigger yet, same experience as you on my former 7700hq Blade. Ran like a dream. Throttling in a "top of the line" CPU combined with an already gimped GPU in the 1070 max-q really has me on the fence, leaning toward a 'no-buy.'

8th Gen mobile offerings so far have really been a disappointment for me (even my X1 Carbon quad core, although it is solely used for work so I don't really care about throttling). I would never waste money on a desktop CPU or PC that behaves like this. I know all laptops over the years have had various thermal and power issues, but something just seems so wrong to me with this latest gen. Too many compromises. As others have said, too much power for these thin laptops. To each his own.

 

To be clear... the laptop definitely runs better than my 7700HQ with 1060 did. I am not knocking the laptop as a whole because the 144hz screen, non soldered Ram, GPU (still stronger than 1060), bigger screen etc are all great improvements. I just wish I was able to unlock all the power of this CPU without starting a fire... but its just a VERY powerful CPU to have it a laptop this thin. Asus, MSI, and any other manufacturer of thin and lights are all experiencing the same. To me this is still the best thin and light gaming laptop to go with.

 

Agree, this Blade is a beast and I love it. I didn't mean the Blade is a disappointment, I meant (and you agree) that all manufacturers have had to make compromises with 8th gen 6 cores. This part I just don't like. I'm sure I'll cave at some point and buy the Blade. It pained me when I sold the 7700hq Blade, but it was time.

 

Has anyone had issues with their 3.5mm jack? Mine just intermittently stops working - I plug in ear phones and nothing happens, sound continues to come out the speakers. Happens in games and just web surfing (eg yourtube). Am I doing something silly?

 

Well my testing has abruptly come to a close. Saw that the screen here uses a 40 pin eDP and got excited so I popped off the whole lid (pretty easy to do) and plugged it into my AW 15 to see if that would work (also eDP 40-pin). I got a cute melodic tone and then a 3-2-1 beep tone from my AW. No dice. Put the screen back on the Blade, nada. Backlight comes on but that is it. So wiped the SSD and will take it back tomorrow. Do not think I will get a 2nd Blade at this point. While I love the form-factor to death and the screen is stunning, the thermals/acoustics are just not where I would like them to be and it is a sideways performance move for me.

My biggest takeaway from this whole exercise is that 144 Hz is much better than I was expecting and now has me looking into what screen upgrade options I have for my AW 15. I will keep popping in and giving comment when I see something interesting though

 

Hmm, I remember that my core setting could cool the 7700HQ cpu from 81 to 73 pairing with 1080ti. So at home mostly i use the core. But I tempted to get 1070maxq just for idk fun?, before I was planning to get 1060 144Hz because I play mostly with the core for better experience like thermal and fan noise (stealth cpu isn’t good enough for my gaming needs), still confused on which one should I get:/ Any input?

 

1070 is stronger than typical max Q, and even runs cooler than the 1060 from what data I've seen so far. Definitely worth grabbing it instead!

 

Can I limit the turbo boost range in throttlestop or another program? And should I be worried about a slight buzzing sound from the power brick. Didn’t notice it until I leaned closer. WHY DO THE FANS RAMP UP WHENVER I"M BROWSING THE WEB, like this website for example. I am using chrome. There is also a strange clicky sound everytime I load a new page?? Sorry for the double post.

 

I see, I’m probably get that one. I hope Razer Core could cool down a bit the CPU like my previous setting. Meantime hope someone find the tweak or Razer updates the bios to be more accessible like late 2016 model or I will open it my self...with asking here and there of course to cool the cpu without re-pasting. Too lazy opening the new Blade

On power setting option, advance, Set power settings to 99% max CPU power in order to disable turbo boost completely.

 

Use Throttlestop to limit turboboost. The limit multiples are in the FIVR page - you can also underclock the CPU on this page. Make sure you save them.

My power brick buzzes too - more than the usual power brick buzzing I've heard over the years, it's almost crackling. I spoke to Razor and sent them audio/video - they said to take it to the MS store for them to order a replacement. I'll pop in tomorrow and see what the wait time is (I'd like to keep using it until then).

What fan profile are you using in Synapse? My fans ramp up at weird times too sometimes, but not all the time when I'm browsing, just occasionally.

P.