Eluktronics p950hr vs Prostar p955er?

Both are Clevo chassis. Both are relatively thin and light.

Both can have multiple configurations.

But the the p950hr seems to have more bottom vents and a cooler 4 core CPU while the p955er has fewer bottom vents and a hotter? CPU.

Any thoughts on which to purchase?

 

Vents around the system cool the motherboard, directed vents right over the fan focus on cooling the heatsink. Bigger feet help raise it up too.

 

Considering the feedback from customers, I think ProStar has a better rep than Eluktronics when it comes to support.

 

You will likely see lower temps on the 4 core, 7th CPU, at the expense of performance compared to the 8750h on the P955ER. It's a give and take you'll have to decide on for yourself based on how you'll be using the computer (but of course, you can contact us for some guidance on that).

Dimensions and weight are pretty similar, aesthetics differ somewhat, but that's obviously a matter of personal taste. Both are solid machines.

 

Well I think i'm going to go with Prostar P955ER since I have already had a positive experience with the Prostar P650HP. I will definitely be using a laptop cooling pad.

 

wondering ...are the P650 OR P670 models still available with you guys ? have noticed most high-end sellers like yourself do not have any P6XX models listed for sale on their websites recently, does that mean there are no more to be had ?

 

Eluktronics still sells the P650.

https://www.amazon.com/Eluktronics-...0hp6+120hz&dpPl=1&dpID=41nt05NnYyL&ref=plSrch

 

yes, thanks for that info ....however I found that (in having done some previous extensive research) Eluktronics machines have a crippled BIOS that does not allow for one to install/run Linux distros, which is my preferred OS. also they have a somewhat spotty record as a seller (repeated frequently in all I have read on various forums/reviews etc) so based on those aspects (and a couple of other serious downsides I wont even mention), I personally steer clear of Eluktronics. but thanks anyway !

 

Support/warranty is often overlooked when making a choice.

 

Hey there,

How do they cripple the BIOS? Can you follow up this claim with some examples? I've never used or owned any Eluktronics H/W, so this info would be useful for future reference.

 

hi ~ I do not own a Eluktronics laptop, so I do not have any personal experience with this issue (purported by those who have actually purchased an Eluktronics laptop) however if you do some simple straightforward research ....say by simply googling "Eluktronics Linux", you can find various forum threads/reviews etc that discuss this specific issue in detail (as well as discussing other various issues ...all of which frankly dissuaded me personally from purchasing any Eluktronics Clevo laptop). for instance, here is one particular review posting exchange regarding this particular Linux issue from the Eluktronics facebook review page ( https://www.facebook.com/pg/Eluktronics/reviews/ ) >
"
Charles Wismer reviewed Eluktronics — 1 star
June 13 at 6:49 PM ·
Laptops will not install Linux, they have a custom bios that does not support it. This is a big issue for developers and also the only time I have heard of a pc not being able to run Linux. Worse they do not disclose this and charge 15% restocking fee after you find out (we bought 2 for the office). Had to call amazon to get a proper refund. Would not recommend buying electronics from a company that operates like this. Good luck to warranty people 6 months in. Looked like an ok laptop but a bios that doesn't support Linux is unheard of. Likely other major incompatibility issues here as well. Attached pictures. It seems the person handling sales doesn't understand that not running Linux is a unheard-of-issue. Rep just told me it was my fault "the computer doesn't meet my needs," considering they are a computer manufacturer, that reply is crazy for this issue.

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Eluktronics Hi Charles, we’re sorry you’re not pleased our products do not support Linux. We only advertise and support Windows 10. We do not modify our BIOS to restrict the possibilities of Linux, but there are no drivers or applications to support an operating system which we do not offer. " (end quote)

~ naturally, it is up to each individual person to take away what they will from various forum threads/reviews/discussions of ANY company or manufacturer etc, but in this case (based on all that I had personally read in various forum threads/reviews etc) ...I simply was not willing to take that kind of a risk purchasing from Eluktronics. a side note ...I did actually notice that as of late there are multiple ebay listings for the Eluktronics Clevo P650 model directly from Eluktronics (Brand New ?) at a fairly decent price (dead pixel barebones ? ; https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eluktronic...178697?hash=item33ec343d89:g:Q78AAOSwiHZbEWTt), and in normal circumstances the Clevo P650 from most all Clevo sellers is traditionally a very good candidate for installing/running Linux (System 76 oryx pro was using the P650 model up till this past year, but even most any barebones Clevo is capable of installing/running Linux) ....but again, based on all I have read regarding Eluktronics/Linux etc, I would not feel comfortable spending that much money for something that could end up being more trouble than it was worth (with possible dead pixels no less on their ebay offering mentioned above) ...but that is just my own personal perspective.

 

That's expected.

Modern Clevo barebones need a few workarounds to install Linux on them, often related to blacklisting the nouveau driver, among other steps.

It's NOT a plug and play experience, unless you're getting your stuff from the likes of System76 and Tuxedo systems.

 

lol ... NOT being able to install Linux vs being able to install Linux using work-arounds are 2 very distinctly different scenarios, so frankly, that is not "to be expected" (this coming from someone who has installed Linux on many dozens of various kinds of laptops). For the sake of other forum members (and/or others who may use this thread as reference), please don't misrepresent something you know little about. in fact, Linux installs very easily on certain laptop models (some being Clevo) like "plug and play", some laptop models require varying degrees of "work-arounds", and certain laptop models will not install Linux at all (depending on any number of factors). But, by all means, do your own due diligence, and if you feel comfortable, and risking your money/time/effort is no big deal, than purchase from Eluktronics at your own risk , good luck !

btw, it's not very constructive on forums to minimize or be dismissive of substantive/significant issues others may face, have raised or may have regarding a particular problem/issue/machine model/seller/manufacturer just because you fancy yourself a smug super-genius with all the answers and/or just like to casually troll.

 

Sadly, no, we're not stocking them any longer. They were let go with the most recent refresh.

 

Yep, that chassis is no longer being sold.

 

I did not dismiss THAT issue of not being able to install Linux on the Eluktronics. Infact, I acknowledged it.

You portray the kind of bullish arrogance with the assumption that any comment on a topic like this that doesn't flow with the usual Clevo bashing narrative is to be discarded.
This forum, in particular, has many of your ilk. Feel free to join them in bashing Clevos.

If what the user was after is a plug and play experience with Linux, a clevo build such as Eluktronics is not an ideal pick.

This is not dismissive, its the statement of fact based on experience with the likes of System76 who're very happy to sell you an out of the box Linux experience on a Clevo barebones at a steep markup.

Stand corrected, and troll elsewhere.

 

And by the way,

is virtually unheard of in this present time on the hardware he described: A Clevo laptop.

If this was a Mac, or one of these legendary Lenovos (before the BIOS update that added the AHCI mode back), that claim would bear weight.

As it stands, what this user describes eerily resembles a failed installation attempt, and not a deliberate effort by Eluktronics to 'brick" running Linux on their machines.

And if it is the case that Eluktronics deliberately sabotages Linux running on their machines, then THAT would be an issue singled out with this vendor in particular.

 

Literally no information about the system in question, not even distro. For starters, it's a recent review which probably means a new Coffee-Lake machine which won't work properly without a newer kernel. The popular Ubuntu 16.04 core and it's variants (such as LinuxMint which is also hugely popular) will likely not work properly.

I'd find it highly unlikely the BIOS is at fault. That's a level of effort a reseller would have to go to which is not practical. Most get their BIOS shipped from Clevo, add a custom boot logo and they're done. The exception is those who offer PremaMod pre-installed.

I haven't had any issues getting Linux to run on any Clevo laptop I've owned or sold, including a relatively recent P950HP. That being said, every Clevo laptop which use a Optimus graphics (most of the popular ones) WILL need several tweaks to make it run properly as well as extra software to make things like the backlit keyboard work. Almost no modern distro ships with the Nvidia binary drivers (and for good reason) and Nouveau is nowhere near feature-complete for Pascal GPUs.

Here's a list of what doesn't work in Linux on most Clevo laptops (with switchable graphics):

• GPU switching is non-functional on the Nouveau driver
• GPU power control does not function with Nouveau
• Graceful switching does not work with the Nvidia Binary (reboot required)
• Bumblebee/Primus development seems dead in the water
• Keyboard backlighting requires additional software and does not respond to numpad key mappings
• Function keys outside the standard keyboard set do not work
• Brightness keys likely do not work
• P950 touchpad may not work

System76 is an exception to the rule here, because they now roll their own OS (Pop!) which is based on Ubuntu and includes the Nvidia binary driver specifically to smooth out the experience as well as tweaks unique to the Clevo chassis that they sell.
They also maintain a PPA which includes several drivers.

 

@Dennismungai @Stooj > LOL, if either of you even bothered to actually read in detail (and comprehend, if possible) all that I wrote/described/quoted in all posts (and if you actually bothered to read thru this entire thread) instead of obsessively insisting on pushing your own misguided "all-knowing" childish ego-based BS, you would have simply understood, and looked elsewhere to troll & argue ...as frankly all that you are saying is nothing new and offers no revelations to anyone who knows anything about BIOS, Linux or Clevo laptops, in fact what you are saying is, at best, derivative, and for the most part, pointless ...as I never asked for your advice or help regarding installing Linux on a Clevo LOL ...and there is no Clevo bashing going on here ...only in your misshapen head(s). I stand by all I have written in the previous posts I wrote based on years of extensive experience, and frankly have no desire to argue or engage with either of you (I never asked to hear from either of you in the first place) ...as I came here to ask one simple question (of Prostar)... and it was since answered (if you even bothered to read the posts instead of being so blindly self-absorbed, you would get that). at any rate, I'm out, feel free to argue between yourselves about all things stupid, as it appears that's what you're all about anyways, and frankly everybody was doing just fine here before either of you decided to show up

 

Good, good.

Next time you "cite" knowledge (or the claim of knowledge), come with proof.

Arguments without concrete proof is a waste of time.

Now, debate, argue and troll the ignore button henceforth.

 

LOL, not sure if even you know what the hell you are saying or talking about with that nonsensical gibberish ....but suggest you have that discussion with a qualified psychotherapist, as you should very seriously consider getting your head examined , take good care !

 

Immediately followed with...

Huh?

This is a discussion forum, where people "discuss" things. You asked a question, sure, but any question on a forum tends to be "open". That goes for "apparent" statements of fact as well such as this:

Suggesting people are lacking knowledge without presenting any of your own is not a great start. Particularly when the statement you follow up with is patently false.

Your entire post I replied to was an open statement to everyone: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...vs-prostar-p955er.819469/page-2#post-10752291

Mine was simply offering an explanation as to how that particular circumstance came about as well as detailing what people should expect on the Linux front in regard to modern Clevo based systems in case they stumble on this thread.

Just chill out man. Jeez...

 

Leave him be.

What stemmed from a logical discussion evolved into a personal attack, an ad hominem, defined as a fallacious argumentative strategy whereby genuine discussion of the topic at hand is avoided by instead attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, or persons associated with the argument, rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.

That's a bigot you're dealing with in this case. Ignore and move on.

 

Take your bigotry out of here, and most importantly:

****.OFF.

 

@Dennismungai @Stooj > LOL, yeah um ...you should both start a boy band together ...The Trolling Whiners, maybe eventually you'll find someone who actually cares what you think best of luck & be well.

 

Let's all just VMware/Virtualbox and get along.

 

A nice ESXi host running CentOS, Redhat and windows all happily together

 

I'm running the new-ish Ubuntu-on-Windows and it works pretty well (for terminal stuff, haven't tried any GUI apps). Combined with ConEmu I can pull down a Bash shell (Quake style) whenever I need it and pretty much anything that doesn't require hardware ties works straight away.
I've got a secondary Virtualbox vm for whatever doesn't work.

As much as I'd love to run Linux as the primary OS and stick Windows in a VM, it's just not a great experience with a laptop, particularly if you want to use the GPU.

That being said, one potentially game-changing solution to the Hybrid Graphics problem would be the new LookingGlass project. It functions somewhat similarly to DXHybrid/Optimus by transferring framebuffer data from one GPU to another, but in this case it also works between a KVM VM and the host OS. So you'd run Linux as your host, Windows as your VM with the Nvidia GPU passed through with VFIO, then have the display project back into a Window on the host OS. Plus it supports keyboard/mouse capture into the guest.

 

Fascinating.