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

So better performance overall compared to previous blades?

 

Instead of the i7 8750H they should have used the i7 8559U. A 28W 2.7 - 4.5GHz Quadcore based on coffe lake would in my opinion do a better job paired with the 1060 MaxQ and the 1080p144Hz panel.

 

I don't know why, but 28W CPUs mostly coming with Apple laptops.
Very few in Windows laptops.

 

Yes for 1070 max q one is over 30% performance increase and 1060 max q slightly better than full 1060 on 2017 Model due 30% faster CPU, saw dave2d leaked FS strike on that lower model but he seems deleted it.

 

Lots of TALK about repasting, and from the look of it it should take about 5 minutes [FINALLY, I dunno what the idea was behind those craters in the 14" 2016!]. . . really interested to see what LM looks like on this thing: mostly because mine will show up Thursday, and I have my Cryonaut standing by on my desk


I'm kinda surprised tho at everyone kinda knocking the 1060: Ok, I'm not into "heavy" gaming anymore [Mostly Bliz titles, MMOs, etc] but I know the standard 1060 can drive a 2k panel just fine in overwatch at medium/high and stay over 150FPS... at least on the AW 13R3 and even the SB2 [though aspect ratio configuration is P.I.T.A.

Yea, I get it, "go big or go home". I guess it helps that I have bigger at home should I need it.... but as much as I'm on the road, this thing looks like the ultimate laptop if temps can be curbed.......

I'm curious tho: Has anyone dropped max processor state to 99% and re-tested temps yet? My understanding is the new Synapse has full manual fan control as well, has anyone tried testing at stock voltage with max fans?

 

Quite unlucky. But if you didn’t buy that one. Someone else would of. But look at it this way. If the temps out the box was good. Which one would you be returning?

I’d of given a repaste a go before writing it off. Or even reordering since not everyone is having the same issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Call me extremely interested in seeing how the grizzly kryonaut TIM reapplication works out for people on this unit.

 

Windows FINALLY pooped out the 1803 update after sitting on 94% for an eternity. Battery life today is looking around 5-6 hours normal use.

 

That's sad. The 8559U looks like a i7 7700HQ but as a battery+temp friendly evolution. Razer could have done quiet a nice split of hardware but no, why would anyone do good if you can have 90890890 cores. My toughts are wandering to something like this:

Razer Stealth > i7 8550U 15W + MX150 > Multimedia/Office
Razer Blade 15 > i7 8559U 28W + 1060 > Gaming/Multimedia/Office
Razer Blade Pro > i7 8750H 45W + 1070/1080 > Editing-Professional Stuff/Gaming/Multimedia/Office

 

I think we just need factory liquid metal applications and 1tb storage option, then I'd never need to open her up xD

 

Everything looks great so far except for the high CPU temps, but I just can’t see spending this kind of money on a laptop now when new GPU’s might be coming out soon.
I’m still rocking my 14” Blade with 870m...lol
Saying that if I needed a new laptop like right now the 15” Razer would be pretty high on the list, all I know is spending over 2k on a laptop knowing a year (maybe less )from now we most likely get new GPU’s.
I already have a GTX 1070 laptop but still use my 14” Blade regularly so I’m in no rush to get something new from Razer unless we see new GPU’s no matter how bad I really want one.
It’s good too see Razer go in this direction and I’m excited to see what comes in the future.

 

Waiting is not a bad choice, especially if you use a laptop that long lol. Volta should be a good chunk stronger by how the hell are they gonna keep it cool if they can't already? It seems like nothing is future proof anymore though. Everything changes so much year to year.

 

Here’s Firestrike from base model, seems nice physical score, good to pairing with core and high end gpu.

 

Went in for the kill! then got scared. WTF is this plug and how do I get it off, I chickened out. Good news is i can repaste now and upgrade SSD later.

 

realistically im positive you side it <<< out. but it was being stubborn and i had to go haha. super easy to disassemble this thing. youll need to remove the screen cables (pictured) to upgrade ram though.

 

What is that cable!

 

Nice first Blade 15 tear off!! You should popping out that giant vapor chamber too right to access CPU?

 

I was about to, but was unsure of that one cable. I'll end up repasting it, but i want someone more experienced to confirm the removal first

 

I cant get my blade to go quiet, i have it on balance mode. I disabled hyperthreading and I limited the power limit to 99% and undervolted 145. It idles mid 50s and the fans stay on constantly.

 

Part of the reason, IMO, is those 28W chips are also Iris SKUs, with the 64/128MB eDRAM and bigger IGP. The package is the same size as the regular quad core (46mm x 24mm), but has a different BGA layout with more balls.
FC-BGA1356 vs FCBGA1528

For reference, the hex cores seem to be (package) 46x28, and FCBGA1440.

That being said, I'd rather see the Iris SKU in the Stealth (like the current MBP13) and the 15 offer a quad core paired to something like a GTX1050ti (or whatever next gen GPU occupies this segment). IMO, TDP values are somewhat bunk, nowadays, especially with the granularity of modern turbo implementations. Technically speaking, the U series quad cores have 15W TDPs, but we've seen them poorly stuffed into chassis that were formerly hosting dual core U series 15W chips. While the quad-Us do perform better, they are much more limited by the same "15W" TDP than the dual cores were.

 

are your fans in auto mode or manual? if its set to auto, check if windows updates are installing. if not, try a reboot

 

At least the M.2 seems unobstructed. That should be easy to replace.

 

You're right about that tape, what the heck is that? It wasn't in any of the stock photos!

 

they are on auto, and all updates are done and rebooted. I am going to do a clean install. I think the upgrade did something.

 

Looks from you picture like they are using Samsung PM961 ssd? Not the newest but still not bad

 

Well it seems the GPU temps are fine just the CPU temps that are high, so I’m guessing new Volta GPU’s should be about the same TDP wise.
Is it hard taking the bottom off for upgrades?
Keep us updated with the repasting .

 

Here are some scores playing the witcher 3 for an hour. Please bear in mind I have limited my clock speed and undervolted by -.135 (cannot go lower).

The fans run, but aren't super loud. The chassis is a bit warm, but nowhere you need to touch is blazing. Near the display is, as has been mentioned, the warmest place on the laptop. Gameplay was super smooth.

 

I popped mine open as well. I'm really wondering if the two square plates are able to be removed without the entire chamber. I kind of doubt it, but they do feel like they might have a lip.

 

Was the Fans loud playing Witcher? Did you maybe measure the Fans noise with dB meter like from phone apps?

 

It's just a few T5 torx* screws, and a lip at the fan vents so remember to pull trackpad-side-out first. Yes it's a pm961. The IHS looks like a giant block with fins left and right. I'm thinking you don't have to remove fans too.

 

They were moderately loud. No sound meter, that's better left to people with actual equipment.

 

Linus had 1060 model seems not too loud, maybe 1070 different.

 

There are ALWAYS new GPUs a year down the road. They release every year pretty much.

I had a problem with some recent update that was causing my EVOC not to downclock properly using Speed Shift. The CPU was running full clock speed at all times. Go into the BIOS and make sure Speed Shift/C-States are enabled. You can also try using Thottlestop to do this.

First make sure that's the issue.

 

Im totally comfortable with my acoustics, even using manual and cranking them up. theyre not "quiet" but theyre way less annoying than last blade.

check this out guys, western gents is undervolting the new XPS with the i9, and it was running 3ghz now its at 3.5. Thats obsurd, having all that power and it throttles down because it cant handle the heat. Id say the i7 is still too powerful for a thin-and-light like the blade and xps.

 

Assault <3... was it worth the trade up from the GS65? I love my GS65 but coming from a macbook pro I might return it for the 1070 blade 15

 

I'm a quality-nut, so I appreciate the razer leaps and bounds over the gs65. I didnt like the msi's crappy feeling trackpad, poor metalwork, and eeky-creaky body. The razer is like the Black Macbook Pro. Its build solid, great high quality characteristics, and really nice screen. I say it was worth the price upgrade, especially if you're coming from OSX. The only other laptops this nice in build quality are the Surface laptops, and the Huawei Matebook X. maybe the XPS too lol.

 

I knew this was your answer. but hearing it reaffirms my reason to return mine for a blade. should I just order direct from razer? amex gives me another year of warranty so i'm not that worried.. also i assume based on the comments I don't really need a repaste right?

 

I bought direct, but go with whoever has a good warranty. I'll likely buy one from upsie or squaretrade, though theyre not cheap. It will need a repaste IMO, lower temps is always better and the blade (though nicer everywhere else) does get hotter than the GS65. I'll be doing Kryonaut eventually

 

This is more for whoever asked about the individual covers over the CPU/GPU coming off: If you notice, the 8 screws holding the chamber down are numbered 1-8, suggesting it's all one piece.

As for that giant cable. . . From the run it looks like it's the DISPLAY cable O.O Hell of a strange place for it. Just gently pull up the bottom of the cables, and then go to town on the repaste-- PLEASE I think we'd all like to see someone do it first before we all get/tear into our machines

 

There's a fat cable with a lever release (display) and one more cable under it following its route.. I'm assuming it plugs in sideways but again I'm a pansy and don't want to risk it lol. I could be the first to repast.... But I could also be the first to screw up my blade XD

 

I've never done a repaste in my life. sure as hell won't try it for the first time on a new blade

 

I'll likely be trying mine tomorrow with Kryonaut.

 

Keep me posted on the disassembly.

 

I've done it to my Omen and an XPS, it's not super complicated but I'm super overly cautious by nature lol

 

is there a good list of things i need... and a good youtube vid link too

 

What settings did you use? I can't get above 13,351

 

I dare to say that's the display cable and display power (or webcam?). Definitly display cable. One has to love the fact that you can see the display cable going out of the bas, in to the display fromt he outside.

I remember hearing that this 8559U isn't just higher power because of the graphics. I mean, even if it was only 10-15% faster than the 8550U, it's still plenty if you pair it up with a 1060 MaxQ and the 144Hz display.

In general i like how razer went from "this gap in the heatsink is by design the best thing you can have" to "SLAP A MASSIVE HEATINK ON EVERYTHING!!!!". If they had a small piece of heatsink that overlaps the main one with some TIM, they would have killed it. Also, did you see that you can have the notebook closed while running now?????? To many laptops, including the RB14, exhaust only up to the display and can't be used in a closed maner, but this is fixed here.

 

If anything you can go to power settings and select "do nothing" for Closing Lid action, but I hope there software to not have to do that.

 

The laptop firmware likely does not do anything on its own when you close the lid, that is usually an OS setting. Since they market the use of this laptop with the Core eGPU, it makes sense to allow the laptop to run with the lid closed as you can use external monitors and peripherals.

As for the 2 cables, those are 100% the display for the wider one and the webcam/microphones for the smaller one. That would be consistent with pretty much every laptop I have ever worked on. You will note that the 2 wires for the WiFi snake through a hinge as well - the antennas are always in the lid while the card is on the base of the laptop.

 

Oh, definitely. Intel's power management is (claimed to be) clever enough to use the extra TDP when it can.

Amusingly enough, the Vaio SVS13 in my signature is just the opposite. The hinge actually blocks airflow when the screen is fully open, and the exhaust is least obstructed when the display is closed. I could not believe it at first.

Seriously, the hinge is shaped so when the display is fully open, airflow cannot go under the hinge, and it there is a piece of the exhaust shielding that prevents it from going above the hinge, into the display area. The air forces itself to go around the hinge, anyways, but with the help of a fan that's putting up an epic fight (and you know it - the fan makes its effort very public). That being said, it can sustain CPU&GPU performance better than my newer and heavier Dell Latitude E5450 (with a nearly identical footprint). Go figure.