*** Official Clevo P870DM2/P870DM3 (Sager NP9873/NP9872) Owner's Lounge! - The Phoenix 2 is here! **

as always, things like this are extremely dependant on the personal standards, and those always vary extremely from individual to individual.

refresh rate / ghosting / flickering
sound quality
fan noise
surface temperatures
color saturation / accuracy
viewing angle stability

are all factors that can surely be objectively quantified, but that are more prone to subjective opinion

 

Well, the DM3 is much louder and has worse noise characteristic than the DM1, I still have both units here to compare side by side.

People reporting the DM3 to be a silent unit may have the fan bug reported by a couple of owners.

To make it clear to all interested in buying the DM3: I would have sent back this notebook because of fan noise if I hadnt found a way to get rid of the noise by investing nearly 200 additional Euros in 3 ASUS fans.

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I agree, when set to comparison, its beyond personal standards, especially when the difference is that big ;-) (e.g having significant screen green tint isnt going to suit anyone but the ignorant)
DM3 users with "silent" fan, post your gpu temp while gaming here, it would be useful.


p.s: the fans annoyed the people around me before the fix

 

Can you post your fan's rpm with hwinfo64 during stress test please? It would be useful info for some users with the issue. Thanks.

 

62 db? Where did you get that value? It is stated on the review that "however, it is fortunately not much louder than regular single chip notebooks. Between 40 and 44 dB(A) in 3DMark 06 and up to 53 dB(A) under maximum load are clearly audible and right at the edge for sensitive gamers without a headset, but other high-end laptops like the MSI GT72VR (GTX 1070) or the Alienware 17 R3 (GTX 980M) reach similar levels – at a much lower performance. Compared to the 18-inch monster from MSI, the GT80S 6QF with the GeForce GTX 980 SLI at 51-60 dB(A), the XMG U727 performs well."

 

Toilet reading material time saved.

 

"It is not easy to keep two high-end GPUs and a desktop CPU cool, even in a desktop computer. That the Pascal chips inside the XMG U727 reach up to 90 °C (194 °F) is therefore not a big surprise. One GTX 1080 utilized its Turbo (~1730 MHz) during our stress test with the tools FurMark and Prime95, while the clock of the other card dropped significantly (~860 MHz). The Core i7-6700 (up to 100 °C/212 °F) also throttled (~2.9 GHz). The benchmarks do not show any sign of throttling though, so this behavior should be limited to extreme scenarios."

look they have the same bug! and i have the exact result in temps aswell, indeed silent, fans spinning at less than 2k, doesnt make sense at all, just raising it to 2.6k (custom fan profile after removing xtu) drops temp to 85c (for gpu, cpu was delidded) here.
Oh that 62db was from a german site doing fn+1 (at least gpus werent throttling) 40-44db is really not noisy no way that is close to what we (owners) hear, remember decibels isn't linear for human ears here is the non deaf human ear scale:



Its actually much more productive to figure out the issue than comparing " speculations" with actual hands on as it has been discussed many times, even prema admitted that xtu messes up the fan table. btw about that, i just tried version 0.75 (from prema) which does not install xtu, it works well, except the automatic (low fan speed issue) alongside separate xtu 6.1.2.13 update. OC is consistent across boots/reboots and fans actually spin! no more 90c mark Though once I hit FN+1 neither custom or overclock setting work anymore until i shutdown.

@Meaker@Sager FN+2 FN+3 did not work last time i tried them, also there are media keys like play/pause button (using fn) mentioned in manual that aren't available on P870.

edit: correction.

 

That is the reason why I said the noise produced by the unit can be subjective to the individual using it. By the way thanks for that dbA reference. Now that we have a basis, if only owners of DM3 post their dBA levels that they are getting from the unit so that we can verify that 40-44 dBA since it is an acceptable value imo specially during benchmark.

 

Here are some decibel values from me:

The following tests all took place with the following:
-i7 6700k delidded with CLU @ 4.5 GHz w/ -50mV
-2 x 1080 w/ IC Diamond @ Stock Frequencies
-Tacklife SLM01 Sound Level Meter with sensor 6" above center of trackpad (I have to watch the numbers and spit out an approximate average)
-77 degrees F (25 degrees C) ambient
-CC version x.83
-3DMark TimeSpy without demo

Test 1:
Fans - "Overclock"
TimeSpy - 9474 ( http://www.3dmark.com/spy/577770)
CPU: Min - 46 C Max - 79 C
GPU1: Min - 47 C Max - 75 C
GPU2: Min - 48 C Max - 70 C
Decibels: Avg - 62.5 Max - 63

Test 2:
Fans - "Automatic"
TimeSpy - 9422 ( http://www.3dmark.com/spy/577805)
CPU: Min - 46 C Max - 91 C
GPU1: Min - 47 C Max - 86 C
GPU2: Min - 48 C Max - 81 C
Decibels: Avg - 52.5 Max - 54

Test 3:
Fans - "Max"
TimeSpy - 9476 ( http://www.3dmark.com/spy/577849)
CPU: Min - 43 C Max - 77 C
GPU1: Min - 48 C Max - 75 C
GPU2: Min - 48 C Max - 70 C
Decibels: Avg - 62.5 Max - 63

Comparison of all 3:
http://www.3dmark.com/compare/spy/577770/spy/577805/spy/577849

EDIT:
Test 4 (Browsing the web & watching videos):
Fans - "Overclock"
CPU: 50 C
GPU1: 47 C
GPU2: 47 C
Decibels: Avg - 44 Max - 46

Whenever I'm at home I use the "Overclock" profile due to me wearing headphones. I don't even notice the fan noise. It gives me great temperatures. Whenever I go to a coffee shop or some other public place I use the "Automatic" profile and it isn't too ridiculous. The only bad thing with the "Automatic" profile is that the top part of the laptop (above the keyboard near the power button) gets noticeably hot. The keyboard never noticeably heats up for me on either "Automatic" or "Overclock." I do not have a temperature gun to verify that though.

 

The hotkey software has to be working properly to allow the Fn + 2 and Fn + 3 key combinations.

 

Thank you for this. It definitely gave me another perspective on the DM3 noise complain that other owners are having. I just have some request/questions, first can you verify that 63 dBA on test 1 & 3 is comparable in terms of noise level to a running WINDOW AC unit based on the dBA scale that are good fried dmxt posted above? Would you please do a test 5 which is playing demanding games at ultra 4k at overclock profile and post the result.

Also I notice that your ambient temp is 25 deg C, is that value a little bit high? Did you try to make the room temperature maybe bet 20-21 deg Celsius.

 

On full fans, you won't be comfortable.

On any normal day activity, it's totally ok. It's almost dead silent in everyday activities.

Ramped up in Dota2 4K DSR, everything maxed out, it's too loud to play without headphones. At least you hear it.

With headphones on, I personally don't hear the fans. Open headphones at average to low volume playing dota.

 

Hi my friend
Please can you tell us which referencse of Asus fans did you choose to replace original fan on the DM3 (any weblinks on amazon or any other trader?). did ypou have to customize anything on the new fans to make them fit well on the dm3? thanks for your answers

 

Playing 15 min of Metro: Last Light Redux at 4k very high settings was enough to cause the fans on "Overclock" profile to reach the 62.8 dBA average just like the TimeSpy benchmark. I do not have a window A/C unit in order to test that for you, and our central air system is not that great, so me getting an ambient temp of 20-21 is not achievable right now.

 

Note we have no had proper test results on those fans in terms of an extended game session and the temperatures reached.

 

You have a 870DM3 now too?

 

P775. Should be pretty similar.

Also, sorry, I forget that this is P870 thread sometimes.

 

Not quite. The 870 has one extra fan.

 

So I uninstalled the Control Center, and like this machine a lot more. No more random spin ups while surfing the web or with 5% CPU utilization. Fans only spin up under proper usage. I don't mind it being loud during gaming (and quite frankly doesnt seem that much louder than the DM to me) but the occasional spike was driving me crazy. I happen to like the control center - hopefully some future version addresses whatever ails it. Guess I'm lucky just an uninstall seems to have worked.

 

When are you going to source those quieter fans and test them out?

 

Hard modding such fiddly cables to mess with a cooling system I have tweaked to make anything else just look small fry?

I'm not really tempted.

 

Ordered my P870DM3

 

Pls check my older posts in this thread, I already described and posted photos. When I find the time I will do a howto. Atm work wont let me...

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Epic report, thanks a bunch for the info!

 

--removed seems useless been said over and over (edit)

Oh indeed 40 db for me feels like two times more silent than 60 db, its logarithmic.

 

Is it bad to use CLU for gpu? Im thinking of replacing it every year to avoid staining gpu die and heatsink, heard that copper affects gallium over time turning it into chips. CLP needs heat to be removed, guess CLU should be better.

 

That's because auditory perception is also roughly logarithmic.

 

Can anyone from Sager or Clevo answer why the 9873 with QHD with g-sync display had the back order date pushed again? This is extremely frustrating as I'm traveling back and forth between NC and SC and depending on when it ships I need to keep changing the shipping address. And my home is in Ohio and I won't be back for another two weeks.

Any help is appreciated. I ordered through LPC digital

 

Yeah, I'm wondering about that too. When I first ordered 9/27, the ETA on the Sager website was 10/12, then it changed to 10/14 and now it's 10/19.

Has anyone who ordered a QHD gotten an order status change? My order from HIDEvolution is still "Parts/Product On Order".

 

Nothing yet for me....I believe I am in the front row at HID. But I have never been given at specific date just mid OCT.

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same here "Parts/Product On Order"
ordered on 9/24

 

Seems we may be waiting a while on the g-sync 120hz FHD panels.

Eurocom just responded: '
NVIDIA is unable to get Gsync working with FHD 120Hz IPS 17.3” panels

The 17.3” QHD 120Hz panels are approved for G-Sync.'

So it seems we are still waiting on firmware for the 120hz FHD g-sync cards (if ever), but the QHD is now a runner. Maybe just a supply/demand issue??

 

I wonder if these are the same screens that alienware is putting in their aw17. And those aren't ready yet either, coincidence?

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I finished my mod with the ASUS fans and made some temp testing. I created a separate thread in this subforum: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/p870dm3-phoenix-2-silence-mod.797077/

Work is killing me atm, so I am not able to do a more in depth howto right now.

 

I haven't heard anything from my reseller but I have already bombarded them with a million and one questions (I am a hard customer to please), so I'm going to give them a couple more days. With that said, I will be angry if they aren't communicative (they have already received a very strong worded e-mail from me about that very subject) and upfront about any delays.

For the record I have noticed an increase from 10/12 to 10/19 on the 3K screen and 10/14 to 10/28 on the 4K screen. Perhaps, these delays have no bearing on customers that ordered during September. We shall see.

 

I have just ordered a few days ago my P870DM3 from Hidevolution and now it's likely I'm not gonna have it until next month.

 

These models have been really popular to be fair and require the top tier parts, that's the issue with new tech sometimes.

 

This is totally true! but with the DM2/3. It will enhance the experience more.
Time to start giving them credit for listening to the masses my friend. Stock setup's out of the box can compete with any desktop counter part. We have already proven this.

 

I, for one, don't really mind delays, as long as there is dialog between the seller and buyer. The same pressure and attention to detail I put on sellers is the same I put on my own employees and especially myself. Communicate and follow through.

 

The problem with this is...It does not always produce results. Why? Because "the seller" has no say over how long it will take to ship your item. And if your item is "drop shipped" That makes it even worse.
You are told what is told to them. And unfortunately...No amount of calling/emailing/texting/stalking/skype ing/face timing is going to change that i'm afraid....
But I'm glad to hear you are one of the few who don't mind waiting and not condemning the seller! Not everyone is as nice as you are.

 

I agree with you on some fronts but from what I've seen personally thus far with my interactions with several resellers, some need to learn the fundamentals of customer service. I am not going to name the bad artists but one reseller I was interested in buying the DM3 from never called me back. I called this particular reseller's line five times during their business hours over a two day span and left messages on three of those calls.

Delays suck. No one likes them. Not the seller and surely, not the buyer. Yet, if you communicate the delays and you're are upfront about them, the majority of buyers won't care or whine a bit and then get over it.

 

Yes... You are right..... Some have made mistakes. Others have redeemed themselves while maybe a few haven't. No arguments here on that front.

As to the last part....I'll let you hold on to that, but from my point of view...I can't hold on to that. It might be different if people weren't asking for compensation for delays... That are out of the re-sellers control.

 

I had a nice long session of shadow warrior 2. It's a good game for really testing the cooling system. Running stock it pegged my cards up to 85C due to the high loading on both cards. Butter smooth and no clock changes though, 1823Mhz solid.

 

Yeah, with proper tweaking this laptop is a beast. I capped out at 83C with max fans/+150/+0 on RotTR at 4K, DX12, everything 100% maxed except using FXAA, FPS sitting comfortably between 55-80.

 

As shown here:



(source: http://gamegpu.com/action-/-fps-/-tps/shadow-warrior-2-test-gpu)

The scaling is pretty nice.

 

ASUS fan mod:
Did now some prolonged tests with heaven (1 hour) and witcher 3 (2 hours) at maxed settings in 4K.

GPU one reaches 86C max and GPU2 88C max with fans at full speed. The cards clock at around 1800 MHz. The unit is sucking about 490 W from the wall. In witcher 3 CPU reaches 83C with no OC, no dellidding but undervolted by -140mV.

Everything is stable and noise level is wonderful. Compared to the original fans at max speed, temps seem to be about 4-5C higher.

 

Question to DM3 SLI 1080 owners:

Are there any temp differences between your GPU1 and GPU2 under load?

In my case GPU2 seems to run 2C hotter after the mod. Before I had roughly the same temps on both cards. Maybe I did a worse repaste job on GPU2?

 

well, 2C is nothing to worry about if u ask me ^^

 

2C? That's nothing. Before I did a washer + shim fix, I was seeing 10C difference between my GPUs.

 

I see about a 2C difference after adjusting the thermal pads. I had a look, power consumption for me with the GPUs at stock was over 525W from the wall at points in SW2.

With an overclock of +125/+300 you can see peaks over 550W....

This is all with the CPU at 4.4ghz