Soon to be owner of the NP8157/P650HS-G

Specs are here https://pastebin.com/hF45hB50, any modifications I made I highlighted with a ***

I've quite a few questions, so let's get to it.

A) Build/Physical related
Are there any structural weaknesses? I'm mostly asking this cuz I banged up my MSI and I'd rather avoid damaging this new machine in any way possible.

Would an external laptop fan help with the temperatures? If so are there any suggestions?

B) GPU related
The last GPU I had a 780m. The way I used it was I kept the machine locked to the intel GPU at all times, and only ran the 780m on games by binding it to applications. However, it seems that the nvidia control has changed a bit (I'm reading bits about adaptive mode/ discrete mode); how would I go about replicating this behavior on the 1070?

I've never used a G-Sync monitor/GPU setup before, how does it work? Does every game automatically default to it?

C) Software/BIOS related
What are the most recommended utilities/software I should install? I've heard quite a bit about the Prema bios, but it looks like it isn't out yet for this model. How much of a setback might that be?

D) Information about me
I won't be overclocking at all.
I probably won't modify the laptop.
I'm a mostly stationary user, but will probably move around for classes/relocating for LAN (well more like Wifi lul) parties.
I've never used a Sager/Clevo before.

 

A) The best way to avoid damage lies between the keyboard and chair. You don't need to treat the machine with kid gloves, but don't go throwing it around your computer room. The fan grilles could crack, if you're not careful, but Clevo machines don't have anything out of the ordinary that I would consider a weakness.

B) The system has a setting in the BIOS to switch between "MSHybrid" which is NVIDIA Optimus and "Discrete" which disables the Intel GPU all together. If you want to use G-Sync on your built in display, you need to run in Discrete mode. If you have an external G-Sync monitor, you can use MSHybrid because the video outputs, both HDMI and DisplayPort, are connected to the NVIDIA GPU.

The Clevo Control Center software, which is primarily used for governing the keyboard lights, is supposed to have the ability to switch between MSHybrid and Discrete without needing to enter the BIOS, but it's extremely unreliable, so don't use it.

As far as how G-Sync actually works, well, it's not quite as cut and dry as NVIDIA's marketing materials would like you to think. Here is a thread with some video links and more detailed information.

C) Did you buy your computer from a Prema partner shop? If not, then you won't be able to install that BIOS on your machine. I'm going to tell you, though, I bought what is essentially the 17-inch predecessor to your P670HS almost exactly 6 months ago, and the BIOS that I'm entitled to still has not been released, so I have no idea when it will be available on this later model. I'm guessing it will be around the same time because, aside from the CPU, the RS and HS machines are basically identical.

For your software question, have a read through this thread, which talks about how to tweak Windows 10. Depending on where you bought your machine, @Phoenix may be able to assist you in setting it up with a remote session. One thing I would advise is to download the Clevo driver update utility from Obsidian-PC, which is a one-stop shop for keeping your system drivers up to date. What you can download through that utility is more current than what Sager and Clevo provide, plus you can save the installers on a USB flash drive for safe keeping in case you have to reformat.

D) These machines are fairly easy to upgrade in terms of storage, memory, and the WiFi card. I made a video about that on my Youtube channel that you can see here. Your system is smaller, obviously, but the general layout will be the same.

Good luck.

 

I only do this for the EVOC Gaming Team Members

And to answer your question if he bought his laptop from a Prema Partner, his laptop model NP8157 which means it's a Sager laptop, which means, he wouldn't have the Prema BIOS.

To answer the OP's questions:

a) I don't know, never owned any of the P6xxx models

b) By default, the nVIDIA Settings are Optimal for the nVIDIA GPU. Optimal means when there is no draw on the screen, the nVIDIA GPU sits at 0 MHz and ramps up the clocks when there is something that needs it. Sounds great on paper, but never works well and causes performance issues. I recommend setting the Power Management in the nVIDIA Control Panel to Adaptive, which works well, the GPU clocks would then be lower when there isn't anything that demands that power and ramps up the GPU clock speeds to the max when there is.

c) The PREMA BIOS isn't out for the P6xxx series yet and unless you bought your laptop from a Prema Partner, then you cannot get it.

d) Check these threads:

Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)
O&O ShutUp10 - Do not use Windows 10 without it!
Phoenix Software Updates
Obsidian-Tools to update your drivers

 

Ah, I can't use the Hybrid mode and G-Sync? That's disappointing.

In what way is the Clevo CC unreliable?

Also I bought it off GenTechPC, but I don't think they're a prema partner since I didn't see an option for it when I was customizing.

 

Yes bro, GSYNC only works when you have a MUX switch, as in, you select to boot off the nVIDIA GPU OR Intel but not both running together at the same time which is the case with Hybrid

Clevo Control Center hasn't ever been reliable for me personally, the only problem with it, by default, it installs Intel XTU components and that built in overclocking tool which a lot of times, messes up the fan tables where the fans would start spinning up fast for no reason. If you uninstall CCC then install it via the Obsidian Tool, then it installs CCC without the built in CPU overclocking/XTU components so it doesn't mess up the fan tables