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

They made same comment on Razer forum, but it’s locked thread which I don’t like because of the lack commutation, unlike before which was open thread that allows user throwing questions.

 

So if it's about increasing production then it's right about being half finished but they think they can get away with it because the temps aren't to bad lol.

 

I think I know why they locked the thread

 

Gents, I just updated to the latest 398.86 NVidia drivers (clean install) and now I've lost all the settings menus in the NVidia Control Panel other than 3d Settings (so no more Display Settings menu, no Video menu, etc).

Has this happened to anyone else and, if so, how do you correct it (I tried reinstalling again to no avail)? Thanks.

EDIT: I tried uninstalling all the drivers and NVidia programs and doing a clean 398.82 (not .86) installation from scratch and I still only have the 3D Settings menu in the NVidia Control Panel... argh!

 

On a laptop with optimus, you don't really get those options unless connected to an external monitor through HDMI or display port.

 

Oh! That would explain why it was working the other day when it was connected to my Alienware UW... Thanks!

 

New updates for Synapse and EC (supposedly fixes powered off charging).



https://dl.razer.com/drivers/BladeC1/RazerUpdater_v1.1.0.9_C1-ECv0102-v2.exe

 

ok i repasted my Razer Blade 15 gtx 1060 1080P 60Hz now with some Kryonaut and this are my results all on 29.1C Room temp and gaming mode with fans on auto, aswell as a -150mv undervolt




after a timespy stress test


and my Firestrike score

 

I have officially joined the RB 15 club. Been installing and updating (and upgrading to WINX PRO, cant be a beta tester for M$) the rig in the last 24H+. Its assembled 07/2018 however screen bleed( screen's (R) lower edge), no thermal pads on SSD and definitely a black vapor chamber / HS. SSD upgraded to 1TB (970EVO, reasonable deal for us in the land down under), although i feel this might just be sufficient for all my storage needs. Prolly get around to understanding how you folks do underclocks (never needed it before for any rig of mine). My most annoying issue with this rig, is i cannot get the BATT> life to get above 5 hours, and to find a way for this to use the IGP to display video onto a screen (using either DP /HDMI) rather than the dGPU (1070).

 

Yeah, if you use an external monitor it always uses the dGPU as far as I can tell. I also couldn't get it to use the IGP on my external monitor.

Regarding battery life - have you installed throttlestop? If so, and if you haven't tried this already, try setting the SpeedShift-EPP setting to something like 200 or even 255 - this will keep the CPU downclocked a lot more than the default setting of 128. So, if you're just on battery doing light work, that might do the trick for you?

 

You can try using the thunderbolt 3 port for an external monitor, pretty sure it will use the iGPU instead of the dGPU like the HDMI and DP use.

Enviado de meu Pixel 2 usando o Tapatalk

 

Isn’t battery life improved on Windows is 1803? Not tested yet though, saw recently YouTuber showed decent 9 hours battery life on battery saver mode, Brightness 50% and no chroma lightning, when I’m not wrong. I’ve usb c dock that has hdmi port, so basically it use usb c port...isn’t it, I’ll try later if it could connect iGPU to external monitor, like old Blade 14 I believe...forgot

 

@Joikansai i guess the quickest way is to see whether which GPU is active is when you right click on the desktop do you see NVIDIA only or including Intel's graphic Control panel, also what USB C- adapter are your running?
As far as the battery life goes, i have the brightness to 0 and nil chroma lighting, and i can barely eke out 5+ hours, i mean my 17Xr4 behemoth running AMD switchable was able to get me 5.45+/- hours. On top of this, the battery has already degenerated by 5% so i am unable to charge it to 100%, on the good side since i have been running this in battery saving mode while doing most of my work, the temps ( via AIDA64 installed in the last 10H) have ben hovering around 50 degress (ambient temp 20- we are nearing the end of our winters)

 

Glad I got a 1060 version, I really have always like the Razer Products but Batteries and Heat have always been the achilles heal for Razer. I have enjoyed my Razer Blade 15 immensely to the point where I almost considered off loading my Macbook Pro 15. But I think that's still going to have to wait a little.

 

Yes I want to try that later at home. I don’t really care if my external monitor running on dGPU or iGPU actually, so I didn’t put attention on that. I was using this before got Core v2.
I was on vacation when I saw a YouTuber that mentioned 9 hours battery life, not tested yet. But I believe disabling chroma and lowering refresh rate will bump battery life, unless there’s still windows update issues bugging battery performance like my old Blade 14 that could 8 hours survive but after windows update it down to under 5.

Edit: yes using TB3 port, iGPU is being used. Battery life sucks with same profile with that YouTuber, 60Hz, chroma off, battery saver it stated not 4 hours, 3:40~50. It’s weird though there’s nothing different between rgb external keyboard, external HDD and mouse plugged or without it... But charge rate is around -17.xxx Watt which I think too huge to reach 5 hours, right? But PKG Power is under 4 watt, which is same with my stealth that has 7 hours battery life...

 

But Mobiltechreview, and some of these guys are mirroring battering lives that i can't achieve, and this PC is meant to accompany me to my workplace occasionally, where i would like to get through a few hours of teaching and presentations without interrupting it to charge it. I am going to run with it for another week, if it doesn't "behave" then i am putting in for a return, and going for the AERO, but i would be sad to let go of this machine. I have never owned a laptop quite like this, it truly is the Macbook Pro of PCs
EDIT, i just purchased this USB C multi adaptor https://www.i-tech.com.au/vantec-vl...MI-qyxkMjm3AIVl7aWCh3Gtgk1EAYYASABEgIQn_D_BwE

 

Yes I don’t know why, maybe synapse or Windows update ruined that, or maybe windows battery report isn’t accurate idk. I use it mostly at home so i don’t really care. But I think in order to get decent battery life discharge rate should be around -10.xxx watt on HWinfo when I’m not wrong, at the moment on battery saver I got -17.xxx. Yes Aero has decent battery life but I heard it has decent software issues, if poeple complain already about synapse, they shouldn’t go with Aero, idk now though maybe they fixed it. If I don’t like my Blade, I would go with gs65 but idk about battery life, definitely Aero is better. Hard to find perfect laptop.
Digitus, my usb c adapter brand has similar model with cheaper price like that around €80. For that price i would like to confirm that it’s 4K 60Hz not 30Hz. Mine unfortunately 30Hz...I think (never tried it with my 4K monitor since I can get 4K 60FPS only with core and 1080ti setting)

 

Has anyone posted a BIOS dump of their RB15 in this forum? So far I can only find .exe from the Razer site. Would be nice if I can make a BIOS setting comparison between Razer, ASUS and MSI.

 

Is it worth it to get a cooling pad ? ive seen a couple pretty intense pads that have tons of fans and extra hubs. does anyone have one does it actually help with thermals?

 

For those with battery questions never judge the battery in the first week because there are a bunch of background stuff that windows does with the page file system and all that jazz I remember reading about im in my 3rd week now and I het between 5-6 hours of battery life with no tweak just balanced battery mode display brightness on 70% I listen to Spotify or Pandora with my Bluetooth beats studio 3 I turn my keyboard brightness down to 42% and a wireless g903 gaming mouse I use all day worst I got was 4 hours 45 minutes because I was watching a lot of youtube videos with a few tabs open in chrome. (chrome leeches battery life) Im getting used to Edge because its so much easier on the battery than Chrome.

 

How do you like the G65 Im trying to decide if I want to return the blade and get the MSI but every review I read comparing the 2 chose the Razer because of brand awareness and the unibody design. But from what ive read the MSI is cooler because it has more fans and is more ventilated.

 

GS65

Pro:

1. BIOS easily unlocked with key combination.
2. IMON Trick works on GS65, you can go 3.9GHz 100% CPU usage 24/7, there's no TDP limit with this IMON Trick.
3. Very capable Samsung RAM can OC to 2933MHz 16-16-16-38.
4. RAM overvolt is allowed on the GS65, 2933MHz @1.25V = Stable and smooth.
5. Very detailed and flexible fan control.
6. 4 fan exhaust, 1 side exhaust for CPU, 1 back exhaust for CPU + GPU, 1 extended back exhaust for GPU, 1 side exhaust for graphic RAM & Regulators. Best if you synchronize both CPU and GPU fan for the back exhaust for CPU + GPU to work better.
7. Slim Power Brick.
8. Nice Keyboard (8 keys at once no problem) and responsive track pad.

Con:

1. GS65's GTX1070 Max-Q Max Power Limit is 80W, I think Razer has it set at 90W or something, Max fire strike graphics score I can get with GS65 is 16400, where some Razer users can go for 17000. There's a way to raise the Pascal Power Limit but requires a chip programmer, no one has tested yet on the GS65.
2. Body Flex and makes sounds, requires some modding.
3. Dragon Center is a very bad piece of software (Overvolt your CPU by itself and messes with your GPU clock settings, cannot be used together with MSI afterburner), recommended utility from MSI are Silent Option (For Fan profile), MSI True Color(Very nice), MSI Afterburner, SCM, MSI Battery Calibration and no other stuff.

So... Anyone have the RB15 BIOS ROM that they want to share?

 

Some other gs65 user asked me but I don’t know how to do that, tried with nvidia n Flash, couldn’t create .rom file. I can share you if I could, can you give a clue?
Btw isn’t gs65 cpu under stress test prime95 hitting 90ish, according notebookcheck? It because gs65 maximized cpu performance imo. I saw also Blade users with high cpu temperatures but my Blade 15 on prime95 was straight under 70ish. That’s with power limit throttle to around 3,3gh to keep cpu cool. Unfortunately no one seems successful with imon tweaks on Blade yet. Can’t imagine if it could get stable 3,9Ghz, with a bit higher Temperature as trade off, I believe I can get full 1070 laptops performance, and 15,5K Firestrike overall isn’t impossible.

 

Compared to review unit from notebookcheck my Blade 15, at least, running cooler. Yes it has less fans and ventilation but new vapor chamber, black one do the jobs well.
Same stress test...I think.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/MSI/GS65_8RF-019DE_Stealth_Thin/stresstest.jpg
vs mine.

 

My buddy decided on building a desktop and selling me his 2 month old Razer 15 with a 1060 for 1600. That a good deal? I have the 1070 now but don’t use the laptop as my main machine as I have a gaming desktop. I was going to return that and save about $800.

Thoughts??

 

If you have main machine that more powerful for your gaming needs, i would get it and save 800 bucks. I heard that 1060 also runs cooler, has longer battery life, and slightly lighter both system and ac adapter. It’ll be even better if it’s 144Hz 1060 one.

 

On the GS65 for VBIOS, backing up using nvflash64 /b [BIOS name].rom works (Need 64 bits version to use in Windows 10 64 bits), not sure on the Razer, but if it does work, do not flash back using nvflash by any chance, there's some kind of certificate check as I read in some forums, flashing back using nvflash seems to corrupt the VBIOS chip, only use a chip programmer (voltage has to go as low as the chip will accept otherwise the programmer throws full voltage and chip fries) for that.

However the one I'm looking for is the BIOS not the VBIOS, to backup your BIOS, go to
https://ami.com/en/download-license-agreement/?DownloadFile=Aptio_V_AMI_Firmware_Update_Utility.zip
(This link is from the official site of AMI)

Once downloaded extract and navigate to \AMI AFU for Aptio V\afu\afuwin\64
You will find there's a zip file called AfuWin64.zip, extract that.
Once extract look for AFUWINGUIx64.EXE, right click and select Run as administrator.

By the way AFUWINGUIx64.EXE will not run and throws you an error message if you are not plugged-in.

Once the program is running, you should see a screen like this (Ignore the Chinese):


Click on save (or Backup, I'm not sure how it is written in the English version)!


Choose where you want to save to


Once you click save Afuwin will start reading your BIOS chip, while reading you'll see a screen like this:


Go to your destination and find your BIOS


I'm not sure if this backup can be used to reflash back, because the file size is different from the one provided by the OEM, I wouldn't try until someone can confirm. But with this file I can still read its settings.

 

Always interesting to mine in different brand's BIOS to learn the differences between them

 

Yup it has the 144Hz screen.

 

Yes, the copper plate pressure is horrible on the GS65, and that makes a huge gap between the minimum and the maximum temp. Currently I can maintain @3.9GHz for 1 hour straight with Prime95 with the following result:

Core #0 92C
Core #1 83C
Core #2 93C
Core #3 83C
Core #4 88C
Core #5 81C

Using Cooler Master Nano gel.

And yes I did raise the thermal throttle temperature to 96C, so it's not touching any throttling mechanisms.

This indicate there's a problem with the pressure which results in poor contact with the chip, I'm still studying what is the best practice to even out the pressure. As you can see, the lowest temperature is 81C for 3.9GHz for 1 hour. Which means if you even out the pressure, you might get 81-85C for 3.9GHz, I've already done some thermal pad thickness adjustment, only minor improve, can't really rely on just the thin feet of the GS65 heatsink, I think I'll make some reinforcement to the pressure with longer screws and some bend metal plate. I'm really looking forward to see the real power of this cooling system when the pressures are even out, until then I'll keep trying.

 

D'oh you beat me to it. This definitely works.

 

Logged a ticket with them last week, screws getting sent out today. Thanks Razer! Overall the support process was very good and I really did feel like they are making an effort.

Yeah, I'm worried there is an issue with the hole. At the moment, it's REALLY hard to get a screw in, and as a result, I wrecked a screw. I suspect some (but not all) of the thread has broken off and fallen inside the screw hole, which sounds like the root cause.... So I wonder... Do I have any thread left? Well I think so, because the screw is able to go in and out. However, it sounds like this hole will need a clean before it gets screwed again.

 

If there was a way to make the 1070 act like a full 1070 I would be all over that . The blade comes with a 230w brick so it supplies more than enough power and last time I checked that's the biggest difference in Max Q is just lower power limits .

Speaking of charging has anyone else been getting the "plugged in, not charging" message at all it happens to me quite often as I'm always gaming or working on it plugged in it will drop to 98% even though I've never unplugged it and say plugged in not charging

 

Do the screws have blue rubber thing like it, if the Nylok ® patch falls in it could also cause difficulty re-screwing in. You can try using tweezers to pick it out if that is the case.

I'm sure it is possible, as some forum members has already done the same to the regular GTX1070. Just with the current Pascal tweaker made by @Coolane, it is unknown that if the battery mode TDP limit of the GTX1070 will disappear or not, if it does, you might be facing something like pulling too much power at once from the battery when the dGPU wakes, that could damage the battery.

That is the Battery protection mechanism, GS65 has this as well.

 

How are your screws getting sent out so fast? I was told this on July 27th. Since then, I've had to contact support three times and I'm still waiting for them to ship them out. Initially, I was happy with their response time, but it's been all downhill since.

 

Thanks l, I’ll try it again. That mega trends didn’t work when I tried first time last month when to check bios setting that could be unlocked, I’m also familiar with that since I moded bios on previous Blade 14. Other users showed me to use n flash from nvidia also didn’t work. Mega trends just close the dos window when I wanted to read my bios, so I couldn’t open it.

I see, I just took my Blade tight screw pants first time in my life for under warranty product to upgrade ssd, applying thermal pad on it since it’s a bit higher according another user, and check if it the limited black vapor chamber not the new edition copper color one. I have personal policy that my Blade shouldn’t meet 90ish on benchmarks and stress tests without loosing the performance that it should be. Only for demanding triple A title i can compromise to hit low 90ish. That brings my machine always 0 hardware issues and has good value when I resell it.

Yes i noticed that when check pubg, Battlefront 2 l, FFXV, I think I got over standard FPS compared to other maxq 1070 laptop, also on Firestrike and timespy it’s similar with 1070 on zephyrus when I check it, but note that the Blade 15 comes with factory overclocking features that called gaming mode on synapse by +100 core and +300 on memory, this mode keeps (throttle) also cpu tdp on Minimum 45 Watt to regardless low temperature. That means I have room for overclocking more, with 200/600 mine can easily surpass 15K Firestrike and 5,5K which I think surpass another similar specs laptop and same with default performance 1070 laptops. It likes 1070ti and 1080 performance difference, of course full 1070 laptops can be better also with overclocking. Previous Blade heat sink couldn’t manage good overclocking, temperature will go high, but with new vapor chamber i think I’ve room in temperature for stable OC.
And about battery like @hackness said it’s for battery protection, my Blade 15 shows also that.

 

I am thinking of repasting my 1070 RB15, is there big difference between thermal grizzly kryonaut vs conductonaut. Currently I am hitting 95C on 60 W turbo on autofans while compiling software or during firestrike

 

b
HUGE difference one is liquid metal and conductive meaning if you have spill over you could potentially destroy/fry/short your main board (But although somewhat dangerous it has great thermal properties and could lower your temps tremendously while the other will not be harmful if spillover were to occur but will not ruin your system.

So at the end of the day it's just about risk and reward I suppose and how good/confident you are on applying the the compound. Watch videos and definitely do your research. I'm going to liquid metal my Macbook Pro and see how that goes for a little while and then slowly migrate to my Razer Blade 15.

 

I moved from Macbook Pro to Razer and will not look back.

 

MacBook Pro is great for paperwork and printing jobs, I’m still using it

 

When you are using performance mode in synapse are you using the razor cortex power plan as well or do you use the high performance power plan?

 

So if you had to choose between the 2? Im also considering the Zephyrus M because I really hate optimus… I find myself plugging it into my TV more than anything because most games have broken ingame Vsync and Optimus blocks all NVCP optimization tweaks

 

Razer cortex power plan? I remember that on my old Blade 14, on this Blade 15 I’ve only Balance mode on power option. On nvcp i let it balance as well (let automatically choose between performance and quality). I tweaked a lot of things on Blade 14 2017, because on default performance are lame compared to other similar specs but now I’m too lazy doing that, the performance and temperature is satisfying. Maybe I’ll try to look at battery tweaks since it’s quite short as other reported, not 5 hours on battery saver mode, with discharge rate around -16xxxWatt, will try to get under -10xxx Watt. But I rarely bring it outside anyway.

 

Gaming wise RB15 will perform better than the GS65 due to higher GPU TDP limit, but the concern about the RB15 is that display cable going across the whole Vapor Chamber, I'm not sure if this will cause any damage overtime. GS65's display cable is near to the VRAM's heat fins, but attached to the fan, so the GS65 doesn't have similar concern. These 2 machines will provide you at least 4.5-5.5 hours of Youtube, 5.5-6.5 hours of office work, 7.5-8.5 hours of idling.

But if battery life is not a concern to you and you hate MS hybrid (Current name for Optimus) and don't need thin bezel, ASUS Zephyrus M is going to be the KING for you.

 

Just a heads up. I bought a new (spare) 230w power supply about a week ago and it died today. Just started to stink and caput. Called Razer and they agreed to send me a new one except...they’re out of stock. Super.

 

Does anyone keep their laptop raised at an angle? Noticed temps increased 3-4 degrees after placing the blade on a stand. Curious if this because of the design of the vapor chamber or just an isolated incident.

 

No it won’t be a problem imo, asked CS before and I think a user who has technical background and Lisa from mobiletech have talked about this. And it’s taped on it quite tight, without using some thermal protection materials that could bear it, they’re just killing them self of repair cost that will occur with that.
My concern about Blade 15 is the minimum Backlight Bleeding, there seems no unit without it, at least on 144Hz 1070 LG Screen that i see. 4K Model seems free of it that made it perfect. It’s unnoticed on usage but I’m kind of perfectionist Btw it was actually free on previous Blade 14 with LG display, but it was 60Hz with thick bezels, color is similar good though. Other things to mention that battery life seems variety, some reports 4 hours other 7 hours or even 9, mine is around 4~5 hours battery saver, paperwork with WiFi on.

Yes I use that trick since my previous Blade using something like this. It let Blade breathing better since it throw heat a lot from bottom grill area.

 

ok guys ...a new BIOS and EC update have come up on RAZER's support website for the RB15, interestingly the link to the files are contained within the PDF document

https://dl.razer.com/drivers/BladeC1/Blade 15 (2018) EC Updater v1.02.pdf

the EC update seems to fix not charging when off issue

http://drivers.razersupport.com//in...ownload&downloaditemid=2923&nav=0,350,765,766

A further update... the EC update seems to be for both versions of the RB 15, the 02385 and 02386 ( i am assuming the 07/2018 assembled) however the bios is only for the "older" version i.e 02385 ( even though it does say on the side its for "all" Razer blade 15 models"

 

Don't do it, I used Conductonaut and it dried. Running Kryonaut again and my temps are insanely good, 78cpu 71gpu (1070) I'm dropping clocks to 3.3ghz, -150mv and still getting 144fps.

I've been testing a lot of this, elevating the laptop allows heat to go under the laptop and to the intakes. Have you noticed how the rubber feet is long and straight? It acts as a barrier between intake and exhaust.

 

Same thing happend to me last night! Heard a loud Pop! And it actually cut the breaker off in the room. The laptop is fine and the other adapter (replacement from the original that also died) is still working. I might start to reconsider owning a Razer now as I have had 3 adapters now die on me.