Help! Is it possible to build a Clevo (probably p150em or p170em) that's QUIET? What specs recommended?

Hey guys,

I currently have a Asus G73sw with a GT 460m.
I'm looking for a new gaming notebook which has the following features:

- Powerful enough to play mid range games. Diablo 3, Path of Exile, Neverwinter and Planetside 2.
- Backlit keyboard.
- QUIET AS POSSIBLE.
- Pretty keen on a SSD.

I'd love to try a Clevo rig. I don't need to play the very latest games at ultra settings - my main concern is that it's quiet enough that I can play it while my girlfriend reads her book next to me. Or so it won't keep her awake if I stay up a little late (open design apartment - can't hide in the study).


Can a Clevo be set up this way? Do any video cards or intel chipsets run quieter than the rest? Is there a best config I should be choosing? I'd obviously prefer as fast a rig as possible (G75mx / 7970m etc), but quietness will reign supreme for me.

Thanks muchly guys, greatly appreciated.

PS. If anyone has another (notebook brand) recommendation, please share!

 

telling us your country and max budget will help.

you wont get advice on other makes here as this is clevo land.

for general what to buy could you post > What Notebook Should I Buy? - A Laptop Buyers Guide

 

I'm Australian.

Really not fussed about budget. As long as it's under $2500. Obviously cheaper would be nice.
Our Clevo makers are Metabox and Horize ( Metabox Laptops Australia / www.horize.com.au).

Thanks for the reply DJ.

 

Metabox is a bit cheaper than Horize. I recently bought a P170EM with 7970M from them and I am very happy with it. I don't have any hands on experience with Asus G73, so I can't compare the Clevo to it. All I can say that while running Civ V the P170EM runs very quiet.

 

Asus and alienware tend to be quieter.

 

With some clever fan control and underclocking, I don't see why you couldn't get any Clevo you'd like. Just downclock the video card at night, and make your fans run at 30% or less.

Hell, you can do that with any notebook, which gives you the best of both worlds. Quiet at night, and the extra power during the day.

 

How do you downclock the video card hybrys? Is this a BIOS thing? Is it different whether I get an ATI or a GeForce?

Sounds like a good solution.

 

You should be able to just use a piece of software such as MSI Afterburner. Anything that can overclock can underclock. You'll have to see which program can control your fans, though, and make some kind of profile to let them run hot without overheating, and without crazy fans going nuts.

I'd personally wait a month for the Haswell models, and get one with an 8970m. ATI cards offer a little more customization, and you may also be able to undervolt it a bit to lower the heat further. And pick up a laptop cooler with large, slow fans. (Single 200mm fan + custom speed controller, like the Notepal X3)

 

Don't, stay with Asus. For requirements you've described Asus is optimal choice. Clevo will be vastly inferior in fan aspect, it's just don't have cooling system designed for any quietness unlike Asus. You go with Clevo if you need performance, which is not a priority for you, Asus will fully cover your requirements here.

 

I'll be interested in the G750 with 780M but it's probably not going to be cheap

 

Buy her a pair of noise cancelling earphones.

Unfortunately, quiet is not an adjective I'd use to describe my np9170em. It isn't loud or distracting to me, but I could see how in a small, quiet apartment it would be noticeable.

 

I agree Asus is going to be your best bet if you need the quietest possible. Since you're not looking at top performance the video cards they use will suite you well. They are still great cards, just not top of the line. If your current Asus's fan volume is good and you dont need even quieter stick with them. Sagers are best for top performance and ease of user upgradability, but they arent the quietest.

 

Ah, that's a little disappointing. Is there any other machine you might recommend (Lenovo Y500 etc), or is the Asus G series truly head and shoulders above the rest (in fan noise)?

 

Thanks for the replies above. It seems, no matter how much I'd like one, the Clevo just isn't right for my current living arrangement.

If anyone wants to throw their hat into the ring with a possible alternative to the Asus G series, that would be very appreciated (It's an odd niggle, but I find the back-heavy design of the G series means the machine balanced rather awkwardly on my knees. If there was another quiet gaming machine with a backlit keyboard, I'd be all over it).

Again, thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

I just moved, within the last week, from an Asus G73JH to a P150EM.

The Asus was updated to 16GB of Vengeance, 920XM, 5870M, SSD. Everything on it was overclocked as far as it could possible go.

The Clevo has a 3630QM, 16GB Samsung, 7970M, SSD. Nothing on it is overclocked.

While I love the Clevo and would not give it up, there is no comparison in sound levels. I would never call the Clevo loud but the Asus was basically silent. It spoiled me. It is easily the most quiet laptop I've ever personally heard. Even when the fans ran full speed you could barely hear them. Asus did a fine job with the cooling on the G73.

I haven't spent any time in a quiet room with the newer Asus models but if their efforts in that area continued then their computers will be a clear winner in the silence area.

 

What about Razer Blade? I don't know how loud it is...

 

To be honest, I don't think there is anything here that beats ASUS in terms of TDP/dB. With other laptops, you have to make them quiet by not using their cooling (like not using GPU or going low-midrange). ASUS will be much quieter even when you use it at full load. The only downside that full load TDP maximum is less than competition.
Blade is not particularly quieter, and its also less powerful.

Why are you looking to move away from ASUS to any other brand? From what you described its unclear what you particularly dislike.

 

Well, I've been convinced to stay. It truly does seem that other brands cannot compete on fan noise.

I suppose I just wanted a change, and there is a lot of buzz around Clevo equipment online.

I'd also say that, as I noted, the weighting of the controller bugs me a little bit. The light front and heavy back feels disproportionate, to the extent that, when on the couch, the front of the G73sw actually lifts up a little.

Not a huge qualm though.

 

That buzz is the sound of Clevo fans revving.

As good of systems as they are, you will definitely hear them and pay in dB. Generally when going with a gaming system, people don't worry too much about that, as it comes with the territory. But it sounds like Asus will suit you better as far as noise output. I'm glad fellow NBR users were able to help!

 

My friend has an Alienware with a GTX 680M, it's decently decked out. I've never sat in a totally silent environment with it but it definitely struck me as being more quiet than my Clevo. Hard for to say if it's as silent as the Asus was though.

 

Well, for this 1kg extra weight, its pretty damn better be quieter.

It's not as quiet as Asus though.