[Review] Sager NP8651 / Clevo P650SE with GTX 970m HTWingNut's REVIEW

I've developed a strange issue and I'm not sure if something is broken, or if some update somehow messed this up... Basically, the "automatic" fan control is broken for the GPU fans. Regardless of GPU temp, it stays at the same fan speed and the 970m quickly overheats and starts throttling at about 90C. I can put the fans on high with fn+1, and then the temps drop down to about 65C or so and it works fine. I used to be able to game on automatic fan control and the gpu fan would increase in speed enough to cool the GPU so it wouldn't throttle, just not all the way to 100% (and it often didn't need to be maxxed out so I would just use the auto speed). However, I now can't game on anything other than max fan speed or it starts throttling the GPU. The CPU fan seems to change speed fine on auto, but the GPU fan does not.

If I put it in "custom" mode, the GPU fans simply never turn on regardless of what settings I use. It seems almost like the GPU fan control system is reading a low GPU temperature regardless of the actual GPU temperature and therefore doesn't ever send a signal to the fans to speed up. I haven't updated the control center software recently. I just updated nvidia drivers, but I'm not sure how they would affect something like fan control, which I don't appear to have any control over beyond the Hotkey control center app thing. No third party software can report or control the fan speeds as far as I know.

Is something broken here, or is there some update I need? I have a 3 year warranty so it should still be covered, but I'm really not sure what would have caused this issue.

 

You could try taking an image and doing a factory restore of windows to get it back to stock and rule out software.

 

What would be responsible for this, the Hotkey utility? I haven't made any major changes to this laptop recently so it would have to be something like a windows update... Does the fan controller for the GPU fan get the temperature from the same sensor that MSI afterburner uses, or does it have a different hardware sensor that could be broken?


I installed windows on this myself, so I don't have a "factory image" to go back to and I would have to reinstall windows and all of the drivers for the laptop manually, which would take the better part of a day so I would only do that as a last resort.



I also reset the CMOS and stuff, which also did not fix the problem. The CPU fan seems to respond correctly with temperature, but the GPU fans do not and just seem to stay at 1660 RPM or so (which i think is the minimum value above stopped) when in auto mode. For some reason it seems to be reading the GPU temperature as always being low.

 

HWinfo or aida64 will show you a more detailed list of sensors and the output would be interesting to look at but I believe they share the same core value.

 

I was using HWinfo64, that is where I got the fan RPM from. It also reads the GPU temperatures fine, the on die sensor seems to be functional but for some reason the fans don't appear to be controlled based on that measured temperature as they used to be.

 

If you don't have a factory image when you do set up your computer and have it in a basic state then take an image at that point, it makes troubleshooting easier.

Without anything you can think of changing then basic steps like flashing a bios update (get the file from your reseller) and going back to your basic Windows install are your best bet to help narrow the cause.

 

Do you know what could have caused a BIOS issue without me changing anything in the BIOS? I have intel XTU running, but I have used it many times in the past and didn't have this issue before. What I am trying to find out is if the fan control for the GPU is based off the internal GPU temperature (which I can see), or another hardware sensor (perhaps on the heatsink or motherboard) that could have broken. Do you have any idea which is the case?

 

The EC takes the data from the card directly. Without it the machine will shut down after 30 seconds.

 

I see, so could some program be interfering with the Hotkey utility in a way that makes it not receive the right temperature reading?

 

Maybe, the sensor data is fed directly to the EC in firmware so it should function in auto with no software.

 

Could somebody tell me the difference between the P650SE and the P650SE-A? I know the second one has a Broadwell CPU instead of a Haswell but is one considered an update to another? Also would the P650SE-A still be a Sager NP8651 or not? Thanks

 

No, Sager did not release the broadwell models so there is no equivalent sager model. The only difference is the different CPU soldered on but that has implications on the BIOS for instance.

 

Oh because I have a P650SE-A Sager laptop. The CPU frequently hits 90 degrees celsius with no dust and Arctic MX-4. I heard that most heat issues are caused by warped heatsinks. Is there anyway to fix that?

 

I had the same problem but with mx4, i repasted with ic7 and max of 80c !

Enviado desde mi SM-G930F mediante Tapatalk

 

I would try a fresh coat of IC diamond too

You can check the contact pattern and see how good it is too, if you are not sure post a photo here when you remove the heatsink what the spread looks like.

 

So my laptop doesn't exist?

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I thought TG Kryonaut was the best non-liquid metal paste?

 

ICD is less likely to wear out quickly compared to Kryonaut... I personally have tried Gelid GC Extreme, ICD, MX-4 and won't use anything other than ICD!

 

Sager use NPXXXX model type numbers. Which is yours specifically?

 

I bought a NP8651 through Xotic but Sager was taking awhile so the sent me a P650SE-A with a 5700hq.

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I might have been thinking of the desktop CPU models it was such a short run with broadwell.

It would be an identical system to the other NP8651 (the motherboards are identical except for a different CPU), just flashing an old BIOS would be a very bad idea.

 

Would it still be possible to get a prema BIOS?

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I don't think he publicly offers one.

 

Prema has a BIOS for the broadwell P650SE-A

 

I heard from some people that IC damages the die so I went ahead and got some kryonaut and undervolted to -85mV. It maxes out at 80 in burn test.

 

Hi all, any idea why my NP8651's fan works just fine but it doesn't seems to blow much air? I made sure the internal was clean of dust too..

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Did you take the fan off and check where it meets the heatsink?

 

Hi just wanna let you know. I blew both cpu and gpu fan and somehow it fixed the fan position or something and it starts blowing air again. Hehe. All is good again

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Excellent

 

I am having an ongoing issue with the CPU temperature of my laptop. I noticed that the temperature were hitting 99c sometimes and throttling when stress testing or running handbrake that uses all the cores. So I re-pasted the CPU and that made the temperature max out at around 85c doing the same load.

Fast-forward to maybe a month and the temperatures are hitting 99c again. The laptop is dust free. Another re-paste got the temperature back down again but the same thing will happen again a month later.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have a feeling the heatsink is somehow getting loose causing the temperature to be high again but I have tried a little superglue where the screw goes in but that didn't help. Do you guys know if re-pasting the TIM myself voids the warranty?

 

The warranty should not be void, what paste are you using?

 

I am using Noctua NHT-1 which is a pretty good non-conductive paste. I guess I should contact Eurocom to setup an RMA or maybe have them send me a new heatsink. I really don't want to send the laptop back just for them to re-paste it to get the temps down temporarily and have it go back up to 99c again a month later when I can do it myself; but re-pasting myself every month is getting old haha.

I also don't think it's my technique applying the thermal paste because every time I take off the heatsink the tim is thinly/evenly spread on the CPU heatspreader.

 

Maybe the paste is getting thrown out of the heatsink due to heat->cool->heat process. It expands and then contracts and it causes the paste to slowly "fade" from the heatsink.

Try using Grizzly Kyronaut, Gelid Extreme or Artic MX-4.

 

please help me.. i cant format the laptop. whenever i take the boot menu all my fans kicks into high gear and leds blinks with beep sound and shut down after some time... this happens also in the middle of my gaming.. pease help me.. other wise no problem is showing.. what should i do??

sager np 8651 (p650 SE-A)

 

I've seen that behaviour when I tried to OC my 970M to the point my power adaptor could not deliver enough power.

Since you are not doing any OC I believe you laptop charger may be damaged. Can you ask someone to try a compatible one, to make sure it's the adaptor.

 

it even happens when im on battery

 

No ideia then.

 

not much luck.. i guess.. im in india.. so i cant rma this machine to us. i technically stuck without even get to play games..

 

Sounds like you dGPU is in trouble, I think sending it back is a good idea.

 

i cant since the shipping charge will cost me way more than the repairing charge since i am in india... if you can tell me what to do i steps ill do it myself ..

 

I have P650SE and using with 2x m2 ssd. I wanna use NVMe 960 evo or Pro but i am not sure wich NVMe drive will be compatible. I searched on internet and i just found this article. Could you tell me, can i use 960 evo or Pro? My model supporting PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 interface. why i can't use new generation NVMe PCIe SDD's, not bootable or not working?

https://www.ramcity.com.au/blog/m.2-ngff-ssd-compatibility-list/189


PCIe 80mm M.2 (e.g. XP941, SM951, 950 Pro, SM961, PM961, 960 Evo, 960 Pro) compatible systems (2280)

• • Clevo P650SE - tested and booting with the XP941

I sent an e-mail to Clevo and asked. They answered but i don't see 960 series in this list.

On our modle support M.2 list as below.

M.2 PCIe 6-85-D405B-S00 M.2 SSD 512GB MLC? MZHPU512HCGL-00000 SAMSUNG PCIe Gen2x4
M.2 PCIe 6-85-D40C8-L02 M.2 (22X80mm) PCIe GEN II X 2 SSD 128GB MLC 2280 LGT-128B1P LITE-ON
M.2 PCIe 6-85-D51R6-L00 M.2 (22X80MM) SSD 256GB MLC LGT-256B1P PCIE GEN II X 2 LITE-ON
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D515B-100 SSD M.2 2280 512GB CRUCIAL (CT512M550SSD4) (M550) (SATA3) (MLC)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D40Q0-101 M.2 (22X80MM) SATA 3 SSD 240GB CT240M500SSD4 F/W: MU03 CRUCIAL (M500 SERIES)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D40Q0-Z02 M.2 (22X80MM) SATA 3 SSD 240GB SSDSCKHW240A4XX INTEL (530 SERIES)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D404J-101 M.2 (22X80MM) SATA 3 SSD 480GB CT480M500SSD4 CRUCIAL (M500 SERIES)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D51R6-100 SSD M.2 2280 256GB CRUCIAL (CT256M550SSD4) (M550) (SATA3) (MLC)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D51R6-B00 SSD M.2 2280 256GB BIWIN (CNF82DS2301-256) (SATA3) (MLC)
M.2 SSD SATA 6-85-D51R6-N00 SSD M.2 2280 256GB FORESEE (P/N:NCSSD3F-256G MODEL: S600F256G) (SATA3) (MLC)

 

If you use both of the M.2 slots, don't bother buying a NVMe SSD. When both slots are occupied, the bandwidth is reduce to SATA3.
It seems that the laptop supports NVMe drives. I'm just not sure it uses the NVMe protocol, I think it reverts to the AHCI protocol, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

if I am not wrong PCIe slot not working same time with other M2 slot. In bios you need to choose.

''two M.2 2280 SSD (RAID 0/1 support), SATA interface or One M.2 2280 SSD, PCIe Gen2 x2/x4 interface''

For example, I have 2x 120B Kingston M2280 SSD drive. I wanna change one of them with Samsung 960 EVO NVMe. it will work together or not? I need to be sure Samsung 960 EVO can boot or not. if isn't boot, then I need boot from M2 SSD? that why i am asking.

 

Hi everyone. Long time stalker, second (?) time poster here.
I got a np8651 on may '15 while living in the US and was my main PC until aug '16 when I came back home and my good old desktop. Since then it's been mostly sitting around and being used every once in a while for light computing. I say this last thing because I can't recall one instance that I tried a game and found that the 970 wasn't working.

Thing is I'm getting a Code 43 on the Device Manager and shows up with an exclamation sign. 2 windows 10 clean reinstalls with different builds didn't fix it. I was initially using an expired technical preview, tried 1583 (I think) and a creators update build. Also, tried a bunch of nvidia drivers, including the one from sager site.

I'm already thinking the worst but wanted to post here to see if anyone has any ideas on anything else I can try or any advice on which actions I can take.

I'm also not sure if it would be more helpful to post this on another section, I don't want to spam the forum.

Thanks!

 

I have tried with NVMe ssd , model CORSAIR MP500 and CLEVO P650SE doesn't recognize it, meaning it will not boot from it. There is no support for this model...so this is already tested by me, do not waste money cause it will not work. BIOS/EC is on 1.05.01

 

Could anyone, help me with the following requestplease:
I am looking for the latest Prema mod for CLEVO P650SE , but I have no access to PREMA website . If any of you have the files , could you please share them BIOS/EC please? Would be much appreciated. I am interested in the BIOS/EC for CLEVO P650SE.

Thanks in advance.

Also, how many of you still own a CLEVO P650SE model / P651SE /Sager equivalent, would like to know what upgrades have you guys done through time and / or if you already changed to something newer.

 

I am at job now. I downloaded before but still I have or not i am not sure. If I find When i go home i can share with you.

 

Thanks

 

link deleted.

I found this but i think this is not updated bios.

 

well, what is it then?