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

the keys are above the air intake, the air is cool because it's sucking air in partly through the keyboard. It's actually smart if it was designed that way, helps keep the board cool.

 

Currently giving this a shot, and its keeping my temps roughly in the high 70s with good FPS (fortnite) i recommend ya'll use a different profile in throttle stop and give this a shot. So far so good!

 

I'm going to try this as well. The only thing I question is his assertion that Better Performance power mode > Best Performance. My prior experience with a Surface Book 2 showed the opposite. We'll see how it goes with the Blade

 

It would be nice to see some results akin to this:

 

I will probably use LM for repasting my Razer Blade. I am pretty experienced with it and i guess there will be another drop in temps. Hopefully it stays around 80c at full load.
Only problem: The blades arent available yet in Europe/Germany. They will be shipped in two weeks from now on.

 

Really ? It's really sad that it takes so long in Europe

 

If this is the case why are you getting the 1070? Wouldn't' you be better suited with a 1060? 90% productivity?

 

The big question is: Is it that the fan profile quieted down, causing the temps to hover close to the same area? I know that Razer's fan profiles are very "MacBook centric" [meaning quiet over performance cooling], and I just wonder the notebook is just forcing the fans to slow down.

Have you done any comparable testing with manual fan profile in Synapse???

 

Because I go big lol I chose the 1070 because I wanted the stronger processor regardless. It puts out FPS I'm happy with when gaming while traveling, and it runs Optimus when I'm not gaming. Frankly, I just didn't want a 1060, and this particular laptop is creeping up in my gtx 1080 computer.

 

Yes, I've tested to see if there's much difference and there is. Auto actually is more behaved this time, not getting as high as using manual. They also take a long time to spool up. Manual mode does enable a bit more speed and reduce a couple degrees. When gaming I use manual, but at a speed barely above auto's max.

 

They'll probably anounce the new desktop GPUs during computex next week . Laptops gpus will follow in the months to come.

 

Did you not just say that you "Hardly Game on PC" I'm so confused right now...

 

Really confused... Unless I have horrible reading comprehension...

 

Neither of those quotes you quoted are contradictory. One can use a laptop for things other than gaming, and still appreciate the occasional times one spends gaming.

 

While I agree somewhat with what you're saying it doesn't mean I'd get the Highest GPU from a company that is known to have thermal issues... Every single thread in this Razer Section is labeled as having questionable thermal issues. If I knew I was only gaming like 10% or less I wouldn't try to get the hottest running GPU from a company that is known to have thermal issues.

But that's just me. The additional thing I would state is that, if you're using the phrase "Go Big or Go Home" I believe you are also fully accepting any thermal issues that could come your way by using such a phrase. It's nearly identical to the guy who is driving his car with 22 inch + rims on his car and says "Go Big or Go Home" and then has tire/wheel problems. I literally see no difference here...

 

So you've seen folks with GPU temp issues? Because I haven't. I think the CPU is the main issue in this laptop and every other laptop in this category regardless of equipped GPU.

 

This is something I'm actually very curious about and it'd be great to get folks to weigh in.

Is there a link between increased power consumption of a GPU and increased thermals / greater "overall" (CPU / GPU) throttling within a laptops chassis?

Based on a quick search, it looks like the 1060 MQ is 80W part while the 1070 MQ is 115W part.

The question is, what are the benefits of having 35W less of GPU draw?

 

At this point it's pretty much irrelevant, as the limiting factor here is resolution. If they were moving to 4k 144Hz panels in on notebooks it'd be different, but at this rate 1060/1070 is a really good match for 1080/2k for MOST games. I doubt we're going to see the huge jump that we did moving to Pascal, so figure 10-20%. . . . Unless you're getting the 4k panel, you're talking 200FPS vs 160-180. . on a 144Hz panel. I know some people chase max frames [I used to be one of them] but there comes a point where the additional gain is not worth the perpetual "I bet X is coming out soon" wait [especially since there are a few sources speculating that Nvidia won't even LAUNCH a new line before late Q4]

 

Yeah I doubt we'll be seeing new GPUs in desirable gaming notebooks until 2019. A lot of companies just released new stuff in the last couple-few months.

 

It's here! 2 days earlier than originally predicted by FedEx. Will post numbers and thoughts vs the MSI later.

Edit: First run https://www.3dmark.com/fs/15627677 : 14292. Was run in gaming mode with fans up to 5000. Temp was 85.

Edit 2: I came close to 14k on the MSI, but never made it. This ones a keeper for me. As luck would have it, I bought the MSI 2 days before Razer finally announced, but fortunately at Best Buy, so back it goes. Hopefully my Razer luck holds up, as I haven't had any issues with the previous ones I have had.

 

For the above run. Not sure what's up with the clock speed drop outs though ...

 

Probably the transitions between tests, the huge window of GPU idle time might be the CPU tests which are not hard on the GPU at all.

 

Looks like I missed a bit today lol. And to clarify on my usage, I work 9 hours a day, several of those hours are done on my laptop. Evenings, if I have the will to, I'll play a game now and then. I've dialed in my blade to run low 80s, and I'm happy with that. As for thermal issues, i doubt I'll ever see those, and if I do, I have a 3 year warranty with upsie now. I won't be replacing this laptop for awhile, it fits my taste to a T. I wanted a well built laptop with some horsepower to play with now and then, and I got that. Sorry if that doesn't make sense to anyone, but I'm more of a hardware and design enthusiasts than a straight up gamer. Plus if I remember correctly, my 2016 blade I sold was hitting 82c on a 1060, and was IRRITATINGLY loud. Razer improved a lot here.

 

Yes, I bet it will be another whole year before refreshed laptops are out. Might get a couple before Christmas, but probably by next year at computex is most likely.

 

I keep reading this thread up and down @Owners: Would you say it's someone can buy this device without any regret? Like build quality and thermals a.s.o. ? I bought an XPS 9370 a week ago and then I saw that thing came out :/ I will then definitely have a tradeoff losing some money when selling the small XPS which actually is a perfect device in terms of quality, but since I travel a lot I'd like to have the possibility to game at least a bit when I am in hotels on some business trips. I tend to buy either the XPS 9560 for like 1570€ or the newer 9570 for like 1870€ , both with 4k . I am totally curious for the blade but it is not available yet in Germany :/
Are there any points you would favor an XPS 15 compared to the Blade?

I had them all at home before buying the 9370: AW13R3, AW15R3 and R4, Asus Gm503, Acer bla bla Black Edition and then had a MacBook Pro 15 2016 which I sold because the keyboard was simply crap for me, also I always had marks on my screen though I cleaned it (and my hands) before using it Always!
So I went for the 9370 which is nice but a little small :/

I got a normal PC with 32GB RAM, 8700k and a 1080ti for gaming and work learning stuff, thought maybe I'll buy a Core X for the little XPS, but then I would always need to take the 1080ti out of my PC and the Core X isn't actually small what I saw from photos.
I am doing heavy Virtualization stuff like 8 VMs at a time for my learning to keep up with new stuff for work. So....what would you guys do? Wait for the Razer and buy it? Buy an XPS 15?

 

I've had several of the laptops you mentioned, they're all not bad but the Razer is really good in build quality. I have an XPS 9560 4k for sale right now and I just don't like the mushy keyboard, the 9570 didn't change that keyboard. Good laptop otherwise, the screen is gorgeous. Don't lose that desktop if you really need the power. eGPU's are better suited for laptops with old or no graphics cards, they lose massive amounts of their power through thunderbolt.
Personally I like the 9370 (especially in white). It makes a good, light daily use computer. If you don't need the 6 core or Gtx on the go, you can save a lot keeping what you got. However the Razer is now my favorite laptop this decade, and Im very picky.
Find what best suits your needs, a desktop will get the most work done and you can easily pop a new graphics card in it.

 

I must have a bad unit or something. I’ve owned every model Blade they’ve released and the 2018 one is just as loud and has the exact same whine when the fans ramp up. I measured over 49db yesterday just playing WoW. Not at all pleased with that

 

On gaming and auto fan mode?

 

Auto

 

By the way mine is in for RMA due to temperatures and the noise coming from my power brick. I'll let everyone know how long the process takes and what the result is. Was shipped back to them yesterday via 2 Day FedEx using a label they provided to me.

Thus far they were very understanding and wanted to make sure I was happy with the laptop.

 

Huh. Even on max fans, I find the new blade not that bad (for a thin and light).

Dang man, RIP. Looking forward to knowing how timely they take care of you. Sucks it hasn't been staying cool enough for you... What is your room temp if you don't mind me asking?

 

Room temp around 70F. I was even in my basement with it which is even cooler and no dice.

 

So mine just showed up about 15 minutes ago, and I'm JUST getting things setup. I'll get into the juicy tech pr0n in a day or so, but wanted to do a quick first impressions post.

My honest first thought was "This is what the MSI G65 stealth series should have been from day 1". I always loved the MSI, but I refused to buy one because they felt beyond flimsy to me. Aluminum chassis FTW. Size wise, they SAY it's not much bigger than the 14" it replaced, but it's bigger than the 15" SB2 in both length, width, and about the same in height [even with the hinge on the SB2] Of course they put actual risers on the bottom for airflow this time, so there's that.

the keyboard isn't bad, it's not mushy, but I wanna say it feels that way: mostly because my main productivity/daily driver is a 13" macbook pro, and I'm used to the really short throw keys.

Speakers: Crisp, clear, but overall incredibly average quality and volume. They work.

Trackpad: Good feeling, very linear compared to the MbP, but that's to be expected with the way the mac handles acceleration. Palm rejection best defined as "good", but I've had my cursor jump once or twice already.

And now, for the big one: The 1080 Matte IPS 144Hz screen.

I'm VERY spoiled when it comes to screens. I'm used to the nice glossy screen on the MbP. My desktop monitor is an Asus ROG Swift PG279Q IPS 165Hz. All the other monitors in my house are 4k 60Hz IPS 100% P3/SRGB, etc.

And I haven't had a plastic bezel or a "lowly" 1080 panel on any notebook I've owned in YEARS.

I'm not gonna mince words here: Razer NAILED IT.

Period. Full stop. End of paragraph.

So for now, I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to get stuff installed and try some Overwatch on this bad boy, so I'll be back in a day or two with thermals and repaste [unless I have so few issues that I don't bother.... but it *IS* a Razer....

 

So did anyone’s blade come in with scratches on the charging port? I know it’s not a big deal but it’s insane to have wear already. This was like this out of the box. I’m very careful putting the plug in.

https://imgur.com/a/mPx6DES

 

Nice, have fun with it, looking forward to all your temp details.

 

Mine is starting to look like that now that you mention it. Also extremely careful with plugging in ports.

 

Sorry for your luck, but least I am not the only one.

 

i ordered my last week from HIDEvolution. I added the LiquidMetal repaste and new thermal pads. Was this a bad idea? I dont see anyone doing liquid metal on the blade 15.

 

for how risky it can be a 1-2 degree difference is not worth it. Just do the regular kryonaut.

 

Blades have always been easy to scratch. I ordered a Dbrand skin already so I can get this thing protected. I'll have to figure something out with that charging port though... Maybe even just use a permanent marker or touch up paint for the inside edge.

 

I heard HIDevolution warranties against LM damage, should be safe. I'm super curious if / how much cooler it runs over Kryonaut

 

I've always heard that LM returns FAR better temps than nonconductive paste..is this not true? 1-2 degrees C doesnt sound right.

 

Its hit or miss with laptops. Someone said that even after repasting it wasnt that much of a difference in temps, due to the fans not being able to push the heat out.

 

Replacing a generic thermal paste with liquid metal is not 1-2° difference, for me it was 10°. But yes there are risks and people should always be ultra cautious when it comes to LM.

 

It really is hit and miss. LM makes a lot of sense on desktop intel chips because there's TIM between the die and the heat spreader which is absolute GARBAGE so repasting between those two with LM nets fairly huge [15-20+c] changes in temps. On a notebook computer, the die is exposed, so you have direct contact between the die and the heat sync. Yea, the TIM tends to still be garbage, but the difference between decent paste like Kryonaut and LM ends up only being 1-3c +/-. Add to that the manufacturer erring towards "quiet" rather than "cool" for fans, and the change can become minimal as the cooler heat soaks.

And for the record, waiting on windows updates sucks ><

Edit:

PCH and other components seem to generate a LOT of heat. . I had the fans on manual 100% while I was downloading my Blizzard library and windows update 1803 [which STILL isn't done] and on my lap the machine was hot, while the air coming out of the back was, at best, mildly luke warm. I dunno why machines get so hot during sustained disk access, but they always do. Also, as tall as the feet are, they're not tall enough. Set it down at 100% fan and you'll get a nasty high pitched fan whine, while lifting the back up an inch turns it into a nice satisfying "Woosh". Going to look into some feet for the back @ Home Depot later. I travel too much to use a stand.

I am blown away by the screen. I'm not a fan of matte, but they went with the high quality matte finish this time around, and it shows! That I mention this twice in two posts should give you an indication of how good it looks. The difference between the Retina Macbook screens and the Blade 15 is literally the matte vs glossy, with the MbP screen having just slightly better blacks/contrast as a result. . but ONLY slightly.

 

The difference the LM makes will depend on how much the heatspreader can spread. Don't think we ever had a laptop with a large vapor chamber instead of heatpipes so it would be nice to see a spreedshet pop up here.

 

I'd like to see that as well. With the machine heat soaked, still installing windows updates, with the entire machine and the 1060 set to balanced, Ran Overwatch @ Medium setting 100% for 20 minutes of target practice and one match. GPU temps are up to about 82-83c, but what REALLY shocked me is that only 2 cores broke 85c [87c on core 0 and 86c on core 2] the others were all 82-83c.

[for reference, FPS was up in the 160-170 range with dips down to 130]

For a Razer laptop, that's by far the COLDEST TEMPS I HAVE EVER SEEN WHILE GAMING!!!!!

Gonna give it a few days, but if it stays like that, I may actually just leave the paste alone and thank my lucky stars ..... Because we may have ourselves a Unicorn here, ladies and gentlemen!

 

Dang the 1060 gets that hot!? My 1070 model pushes similar temps. Did you undervolt yet?

 

That was the entire laptop at bone stock, at the end of a heavy heat soak with software installations and updates. Honestly, that's the best I've EVER seen a Razer product perform, so I'm REALLY happy with the stock results. if I start running into heavier temps in the next few days I'll see about a repaste, but the temps are in line with my LM'd Alienware 13R3, and that has a LOT more copper.

Heh, hell must've frozen over. . a Razer Laptop from the factory that doesn't hit 100c and CPU throttle???? I didn't think I'd live to see the day.

PS: I can feel the cool air from the fan kicking up from under WASD, and the keys DO stay decently cool... but MAN the wrist rest are to either side of the trackpad can get TOASTY when the thing heat soaks

 

Assault, still liking it better than the MSI? Besides build quality of course.

How is the fan noise?