Experience with HIDEvolution - EVOC P650RG

Final specs:
EVOC P650RG 15.6" Custom Built Gaming Laptop w/ nVIDIA GTX 980M w/ G-Sync

LCD Panel
15.6" 1920x1080 IPS FHD (16:9) LED Antiglare Matte Type Display w/ NVIDIA G-Sync Technology (LG)

Display Warranty
30 days no Dead Pixel Warranty

Video Card
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M w/ 8GB GDDR5 w/ Unlocked Prema ...

Processor
6th Generation Intel Core i7-6820HK Quad Core Processor, 2.7GHz (Max Turbo Frequency 3.6GHz), 8MB Smart Cache

Prema Custom BIOS - Latest Updated Version

Thermal Paste
Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra 100% Metal Thermal Interface on CPU, IC Diamond on GPU

Memory
32GB (2 x 16GB) G.SKILL Ripjaws Series Dual Channel DDR4/2666MHz

M.2 PCIe NVMe or SATA SSD Slot 1
HIDevolution Specified 1TB M.2 SATA 6Gb/s SSD

1st 2.5" SSD Bay
Samsung 850 EVO Series (3D VNAND Tech) SATA3 6Gb/s 1TB SSD

2nd 2.5" SSD Bay
Empty HDD bay (with caddy/adapter)

Wireless Cards
Intel 8260

Operating System
Genuine Windows® 10 Home, 64bit, English - $80.00

Power Adapter
200W AC Power Adapter (supports 100-240V)

Power Cord
UK 6 Ft Power Cord C13 - $10.00

Internal Battery
1 x 4 cell battery - 60Wh (Internal)

Audio
Onkyo Speakers x 2

Back-lit Gaming Keyboard
Customizable Gaming Macro Back-lit Keyboard

Keyboard Language
U.S. English

Warranty and Service
1 Year HIDevolution Limited Global Warranty + LIFETIME ...

06/07/2016 - After a long round of discussions and back and forth emails specs confirmed.

06/07/2016 - Revised Order sent by HIDEvolution

06/07/2016 - Payment initiated from my side.
Things get interesting here. On account of it being a bank holiday in the UAE for the next 4 days, payment will actually be initiated from the bank on Sunday 10/07/2016
Which means it will get through to HIDEvolution most likely by Tuesday 12/07/2016.
HIDEvolution informs me that pre production/ gathering of the components for my laptop can start only after the funds have reached their account. Which is a big waste of time in my opinion (and illogical). Which means this laptop is at least 2 weeks away.

12/07/2016 - Funds have reached HIDevolution (finally). Apparently 28$ short. Transfers with my bank are free so....? No update on the build yet.

12/07/2016,2 - 28$ shortage waived. Build will start Tuesday morning PDT time.

12/07/2016,3 - Build in Production.

13/07/2016 - Laptop expected to ship by Friday. Fingers crossed .

15/07/2016 - Ship estimate changed to Monday 18/07/2016. Repeated follow ups are not appreciated.

22/07/2016 - Laptop received!

 

...I hope you aren't blaming them for waiting for funds. That's just a safe business practice. I know its annoying with the banking holiday though.

 

Well, they did start production on my system after the weekend, since the funds took 3 freaking days to reach them within the same state. Luckily, international transfers are much faster from my experience. But they kept their word on the production and delivery time line.

 

At the end of the day, they're doing a local US bank transfer which in my eyes risk wise, is safer and also your's is not a BGA laptop.. So they can easily reconfigure and resell.. Not that easy with a BGA one.. So on the whole, I can see where their logic came from.. If OP wanted the laptop quickly, he could have paid using Paypal which should have gone through faster!

 

Da. But i dont think you get the cash discount if you do Paypal.

 

Perhaps I haven't understood the assembly process correctly. Since it's the P650RG, doesn't the laptop come mostly assembled from Clevo with a few parts changeable? Or do they get only the chassis to start with?

Payment was not done through PayPal because their exchange rates are horrible.

The whole wait is illogical from my point of view, because I've paid and sent a transfer advice across and a supplier refuses to do anything.

My view was that the build could be completed and kept ready to be shipped when funds reach the account.

Hmm..will just have to wait I suppose.

 

Thing is that changes like applying CLU, takes time. You have to be really careful when applying this stuff, one slight slip and the system will be toast as soon as you try to power it up. So they have to be very careful and meticulous.

 

This is accurate. HIDevolution just selects the base chassis with your desired GPU, CPU, LCD and adds in the RAM, SSD/HDD, repastes, flashes Prema mod, installs Windows, and then QC's the machine before sending it on it's way. This still takes time and it's not like they are slapping machines together in 10 minutes.

I side with HIDevolution on this, I would not start work before funds were 100% received because you would be running the risk of having technicians perform work without the company being paid.

Patience is a virtue. Your laptop will be well worth the wait!

 

+1

As much as a company wants to be helpful and get your machine in your hands as fast as possible. Somethings just have to go by the books, you cannot pre-order a car, laptop, or any item really without the company having the funds. In the event that the funds do not reach them, then they are left with a laptop configured according to your specs that needs to be reconfigured to be sold to someone else.

No other company / system builder / reseller would accept starting a build without having the funds for it.

Any order through any reseller/system builder has stages

Stage 1 = receiving the payment
Stage 2 = verification (in case the payment was done through credit card)
Step 3 = Gathering system components (they already have those ready for you so that's a huge time saver)
Step 4 = system building
Step 5 = installing Windows
Steps 6 = quality checks / stress tests
Step 7 = shipment

no company can skip a step and go to the next without the previou step being fulfilled.

 

Thank you all for your replies!

Still doesn't change the fact that the total build time for this system will be at least 14 days from the date of ordering - due to regrettable circumstances but still.

Also, as a buyer, and by making a wire transfer, I am essentially trusting HIDEvolution to deliver a system which they may not be able to (for whatever unforeseeable circumstances). There has to be a better way to establish trustworthiness of both buyers and sellers (and no I don't mean rating aggregates,safe site reviews etc. - most of these can be faked).

Also,I have no confirmation from HIDEvolution that components are available and "gathered".

All in all a huge amount of (perhaps) unavoidable frustration for me. This thread serves to show people what could happen if a payment is delayed.

Also, in all other aspects, working with HIDEvolution has been commendable.

Peace

 

I dont think they take that long. But case to case scenario might differ.

 

No worries @AxB, everything is in stock at this time.

However it cannot be allocated, or the status changed, until your payment is received.

Once your payment is received, things will start moving quickly.

Thank you for understanding that HIDevolution.com is not to be blamed for the fact that banks are closed during Eid...and that the timing is unfortunate and frustrating.

 

What you are describing is a contract. It's what you entered into when you placed your order since you agreed to their terms and conditions. In this case, your purchase order constitutes a legally binding contract between you (the buyer) and HIDevolution (the supplier, vendor, etc.).

 

Hi All ,

There is a bit of confusion now as HIDEvolution specified both GSync and Optimus while I ordered the laptop, but are not too clear on the implementation.

Is this possible? How would it work?

Also @Phoenix, did you pay anything other than import tax/ duty when Fedex brought your shipment in?

 

don't know about the first part of your question as I hate Optimus and will never buy a laptop with Optimus technology.

As for the second part, no I only paid the customs tax which is 5% of the total value to FedEx when the guy arrived at my door.

 

The confusion is not with HIDevolution, but with me. When you originally asked about switchable graphics my mind was on pre-G-Sync models and I erroneously told you that the EVOC P650RG used Optimus technology and explained how it worked, including how to lock your applications on to the nVIDIA GPU in the nVIDIA Control Panel. I then told you that I was wrong. The models using G-Sync do not support Optimus technology.

I apologize for this error...and had hoped that my email reply to you had cleared this matter up. However since you are posting here after I sent that email, please clarify your continued confusion.

 

Hi Donald and everyone else,

The confusion (as I wrote about in my reply ) is whether this laptop comes with MSHYBRID(Optimus - iGPU to screen) and DISCRETE(GSync - dGPU direct to screen) bios modes as some people on the forum have stated.

I am thinking of using the NVIDIA GPU while plugged into a socket and going to MSHYBRID mode when on the move (which was the whole reason I wanted OPTIMUS and GSYNC ).

Looking for some sort of confirmation on this.

Also, @Phoenix , thanks!

 

As a result of your reply I have asked Prema to clarify this. I will let you know once he has replied.

I appreciate your patience and understanding.

 

Here is Prema's reply:

"The P6xxRx systems have a 'GearDsiplay' (aka MUX) switch which allows them to be set to MS-Hybrid and dGPU mode.

- MS-Hybrid is the Microsoft licensed automatic dGPU/iGPU switching version instead of older systems NVIDIA licensed version aka Optimus.

- dGPU mode has direct access GPU to screen and external ports and thus allows for things like G-Sync and VR"

You can change the setting in the Prema Custom BIOS.

I apologize for the confusion...I hope this clears it up. Kudos to @Prema !!

 

Amazing how Prema makes such things possible. Really, without the Prema BIOS we would all be stuck with sucky technology / crippled BIOS!

He made the 4K screen laptops have the possibility to have G-SYNC and now this! Superb!

 

Not taking anything away from Prema but the MUX functionality is a core feature of the P6**R* models, it's something that we have been pushing Clevo to do for a number of years. The G-Sync requirementforced the implimentation but also because VR requires a direct connection from dGPU to the external ports. It was a long time ago but there were many discussions about this new technology implimentation in October/November last year and I remember posting a lot about it because fo the confusion over Optimus vs HMHYBRID. The switch can be controlled in the Clevo Control Center software (requires a restart) or in the stock BIOS. As explained it is necessary to have this switch in order for the internal panel to have a direct connection to the dGPU - without this G-Sync can't function. In the P7**D* models this switch isn't necessary because there is no GPU switching/Optimus functionality/MSHYBRID.

"The external outputs in the P870DM, P75*DM, P77*DM, P775DM, P6**R* are all permanently connected to the dGPU. Only the internal display switches between iGPU and dGPU through MSHYBRID.Even in the P640RE one of the mDP ports is permanently connected to the dGPU = 4K output capable."

Hope this helps explain things a little more clearly.

P.S. Not that everyone reads the user manual (!) but you can refer to this for more information on how to switch if you're not familiar with it.

 

Yes, that is correct, and is what @Prema said. He did not say this functionality was only available in his Custom Prema BIOS, and my comment was only to confirm that this functionality was indeed in the Prema BIOS as well.

Thank you for your further clarification.

 

I do need to add though...the Custom Prema BIOS does a much better job of battery life and temperature management than the stock Clevo BIOS.

From @Prema "The stock Clevo vBIOS uses same voltage for NVIDIA in dGPU and MS-Hybrid mode.


In your Prema Mods on the other hand I have undervolted the MS-Hybrid vBIOS so that the battery life and temps are improved (the dGPU vBIOS uses stock voltage in order to allow for simplified OCs).

To switch between modes in F2 BIOS menu go to:
'Advanced' > 'Advanced Chipset Control' > 'MSHYBRID or DISCRETE Switch'"

I hope this helps.

 

Thank you all! I believe the idea of going into DISCRETE while plugged in and MSHYBRID while on this move is right then?

Also will there be optimus settings in the NVIDIA control panel while under MSHYBRID mode or?

 

Thank you all! I believe the idea of going into DISCRETE while plugged in and MSHYBRID while on this move is right then?

Also will there be optimus settings in the NVIDIA control panel while under MSHYBRID mode or?

 

If you choose the dGPU from the BIOS, then the system will only see that in Windows / nVIDIA Control Panel and thus, you will not see settings to manage what app uses what GPU.

On the other hand, if you keep it in MSHYBRID in the BIOS, then you can manage the Optimus settings in the nVIDIA Control Panel as it will then see both graphics chipsets so you can tell it what app uses what GPU in the Global Settings.

Basically, if you are going out and need max battery, you would set it to MSHYBRID but if you want the max performance always (for example if you're at home for a long period of time), then let it use the discrete GPU from the BIOS and not worry about what app uses what GPU as they will all use the nVIDIA GPU in that case.

 

Forgive me if I misunderstood.

Does that statement say for example that the P77*DM (or g-sync version) can switch the internal display to use either the iGPU or dGPU? Because looking at the circuit diagram all display ports and internal display are only connected to the dGPU. If for example i remove the MXM dGPU (if it does not work/replacement needed), could I still use the internal display with the iGPU? If not then I have a dead laptop until i source another MXM dGPU.

 

@Omexis - this quote was part of a larger post which is why I prefaced it with "In the P7**D* models this switch isn't necessary because there is no GPU switching/Optimus functionality/MSHYBRID." - sorry for any confusion, in this single quote each sentance should be read as a separate statement. In a DM model you must have a dGPU for the laptop to function, it's not posisble to use the iGPU.

 

Yup - I was making the comment for @Phoenix as he said that Prema makes all these things possible in direct response to the explanation of the MUX switching - which implied that some people had read Prema's explanation and assumed that the function was made possible by him

 

There is no more Optimus, only MS-HYBRID:
" - MS-Hybrid is the Microsoft licensed automatic dGPU/iGPU switching version instead of older systems NVIDIA licensed version aka Optimus."

There are no settings for MS-Hybrid, the whole idea of it is that it switches automatically depending on the graphics demands of what you are doing at the time. However you can still select certain applications to lock on to the nVIDIA card when in MS-HYBRID mode...you just can't use G-Sync when in MS-HYBRID mode.

*

 

11:15 pm on Monday 18/07/2016 - No update on shipping/ status of the laptop yet.

Tuesday 19/07/2016 - Laptop expected to ship today.

Fingers crossed.

 

Laptop received.

Performance wise all ok (as expected) .

Only quite a bit of backlight bleed (I think)...please see the attached file and let me know what you think + possibly what I should do .

 

Had a hard time seeing the photo because the XenForo software is so buggy, but finally got it to show. Yeah, that's a lot of backlight bleed. I have never seen that on this model before. I would contact them about taking care of that. It may be as simple as the front bezel is not installed correctly or something underneath it is out of place and putting pressure where it does not belong. Is it a 1080p or 4K screen? The metal rim around the outer edge of the LCD could also have a ding or dent in it.

 

This is a 1080p screen. To be complete honest, I didn't think it will make a difference in normal usage. But now I can see with just a black wallpaper.
Also, there are no visible dings/ dents on the rim.
Yes, will get in touch with HIDEvolution. Thanks for the advice.

 

Mind you, light bleeding appears so bad on a camera and makes it more obvious. Like on my screen, I see 0 light bleeding but if I take a pic of the screen on a black background right now and post it, it would have diff light levels in diff. Portions of the screen. As long as it's not something obvious that is getting in your way, that is fine. That is how LCD screens are but some have more light bleeding than others and some are just unbearable

 

Thanks for sharing your experience AxB. One question though, did you have to pay any duties at the U.A.E. customs? I'm planning on getting a laptop myself and I'm not sure if there's going to be an additional charge when it gets here.

 

Hey Lightning ,

You have to pay 5% of the shipment invoice value as customs duty.

Other than that there were no other charges when the laptop came in.