*** Official Clevo X170SM-G/Sager NP9670M Owner's Lounge ***

If I were a gamer a console would be the more logical choice. No point in paying extra for something special if it's not. This is largely the mentality of gamers already. Otherwise, there would be no market for mediocre consumer stuff like an i5 CPU, 2060 or 2070 GPU among gamers. They're doing the genocide thing to their biggest spenders and they're too damned stupid to even recognize their own idiocy, LOL.

 

Depends on your priorities. For you, you love overclocking and pushing hardware as hard as possible with the fattest margins available. Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't moved to LN2 already since you establish daily driver clocks and OC clocks for HWbot and leader boards.

 

The only reasons I haven't are time (primarily) and I am not too excited about the idea of spending money on getting everything set up for that. Kind of a pain in the butt. Phase change would be better but that probably even more expensive. Although, better because it is more permanent and less of a mess.

 

I picked up a Startech Thunderbolt Dock and can only get 1 monitor to work at a time. I have a Display Port cable going from the dock to one monitor. I have the USB-c to Displayport cable Startech included in the box going to my 2nd monitor. Both are 2560x1440 monitors, one is 60hz and the other is 144hz.

If both cables are plugged in, the 60hz monitor will show up. If I unplug the 60hz monitor and then reboot the dock, the 144hz one will show up. So the cables are fine, the connections are fine, it just seems like the dock only supports 1 monitor. I set the 144hz monitor to 60hz and it's still doing the same thing. This dock is advertised to do two 4k displays at 60hz so mine should be fine.

I reached out to Startech support and they blamed the laptop. They said that the laptop is configured where it only allows 1 monitor through the Thunderbolt port. I reached out to Sager Support a week ago asking if that was the case but have not heard back from them. I sent them another email today asking if that was the case or not.

Below is a screenshot of Thunderbolt Control Center, it detects the dock fine. All other functions of the dock work flawlessly. I'm currently using the 60hz monitor through the dock and the 144hz monitor direct to the laptop but was wondering if Startech is correct in saying the laptop is the problem.

 

Sager just got back to me. You can only use 1 monitor through the Thunderbolt port by design. See below.

The Nvidia GPU supports a maximum of 4 monitors. The system has more than 4 physical monitor ports (LCD, HDMI , 2 Mini display, plus the thunderbolt port) The system routes only one monitor to the Thunderbolt 3 port. This limitation is by design.

 

That's right, they have all been that way, one DP signal per TB port.

 

Well, that really sucks. If you can't use it in a multi-display configuration that totally shoots to hell the idea some folks have had as far as using the eGPU as a monster docking station for a single-cable connection to the laptop. I'm not personally fond of the concept, but that limitation really cements it in my mind that using an eGPU is not a good solution to explore. I use multi-display setup at least 10 hours per day, 5 days per week.

 

eGPU shouldn't matter because the the GPU inside the case would be driving the monitors, not the laptop.

Laptop just sends the data to the GPU, which sends it to the external monitors. Now, if you're using the eGPU to put a display on the INTERNAL screen, then yes, there will absolutely be issues (also not recommended as it causes FPS loss)

 

Optimus through a thunderbolt connection, I'm sure Mr fox would love that lol.

You can always use something that can split the signal rather than needing separate sources.

 

I'll try and test the eGPU thing later. I've got a GTX 980 I can toss in mine, but it won't properly fit due to having an AIO installed, so I'll have to run the eGPU caseless

 

All the outputs from it would work fine.

 

As weird as it might sound, would it be possible to purchase those cpu head screws for the heatsink? one of mine got stripped and it's a nightmare to remove and re install if needed

 

Nope, at least most sellers only sell them with the complete heatsink.

 

That's a bummer, I hope to either find a replacement or get one when/if it becomes available as a clevo spare part

 

I don't know why ALL laptop manufacturers use the crappiest screws known to man. You can use the exact size screwdriver and they are such soft metal that they either strip out the first time you remove them or quickly show wear. The more you remove and install them, the worse they get. And, some manufacturers seem to always overtighten them which only compounds the problem. Using screws of better quality that are durable would set them back at least 50 cents per system. I'd gladly pay 10 times more than that to offset their costs, but selling junk seems to be the norm for the industry.

 

Well how else are they supposed to know you’ve been inside the laptop? They loooooove telling you that it’s your fault the machine stopped working because you were poking around inside of the laptop.

 

I've only ever stripped one

 

The size of the screw if its for the cpu part of the heat sink thats 3 screws is 2.5mmx10mm pan head screw add a washer. I believe @Mr. Fox mentioned this i believe the other screws on the back and most of the machine is 2.5mmx8mm all pan head. I could be wrong

 

Try taking apart a current generation HP Omen without severely mangling the Philips head on a least a couple. It is like they used an impact wrench to put the screws in and the Philips head is a goofy size that no screwdriver fits correctly. That said, knock on wood, I've never had one that I could not remove using conventional means on any laptop. But, I've had many that I had to replace the screw the first time it was removed because the act of removing it caused enough damage to the head that there was no way I was going to try re-using it. By the time I eventually managed to get the screw removed it was so wallowed out that the screwdriver slot barely had any metal left in it.

 

HP sucks so bad. Had to disassemble my sister's the other day to change thermal paste and other stuff.
Just had to replace 7 screws.. All damaged to oblivion. And yes you are correct, not a single Phillips screwdriver fits properly. Not one

 

Does anybody know whats the max voltage on the memory modules?? I have cl19 4000mhz memory someone gifted me from corsair and their rated at 1.35v. I have an unlocked bios where I can modify the xmp profile settings and even memory voltage but don't wanna chance burning out something so expensive? @Mr. Fox @Papusan @Meaker@Sager @Spartan@HIDevolution

 

It is unlikely that you will be able to boot with less than 1.350V at 4000 CL19 and if it will boot you may not be able to load Windows without a BSOD. Running 1.350V is totally normal and not even the least bit dangerous to the memory or the laptop.

I've had no trouble with 1.500V. The memory modules can safely handle more than the laptop can likely supply. I have used 1.650V on my desktop and the limit is like 2.100V. Even my TongFang turdbook has no trouble with 1.400V. I haven't needed to try more on it because the CPU is locked and it's like peeing into a headwind on a BGA POS.

The 1.200V standard for DDR4 is a joke that was invented by tree-hugging wusses that are scared of the planet blowing up if we use too much power.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

I sure it has been asked before, but is it possible to run these laptops decently quiet without losing too much performance, or is it leaf blower mode all the way?

 

Reduce processor modifier to what is enough for whatever you do, in games i played there was no difference between 4.700 and 4000 MHz boosts. Kinda waste of money was first thought but it keeps the machine quieter.

Frame limiting is another joke but works as well.

I'd recommend returning if it's too loud. No point in spending so much money and then limit it if you can't take the noise or have family.

 

I've tried gimping the cpu/gpu and set a custom fan curve like 50% when it reaches 60c and that hasn't been too bad but I'm no expert, works for me.

 

Well, I wouldn't be so arrogant as to say it's clevo / pc specialist's fault regardless. However I did have the correct screw but it just wouldn't move from there, I could have tried clamping it on the outside and turning which is exactly what unscrewed it in the end. By the way @JCordero31 , no, they are not the same, there are 4 black screw types, 1 for gpu mount, 1 for cpu mount, and 2 types for the rest of the chassis not to mention the normal white non coated ones and those I may be missing.

 

Thanks for the answers fellas. I guess it just may be too loud for me.

 

That's where you learn that gaming laptops speaker could be thrown out for better cooling mechanisms because you need headphones anyway.

Addionally you learn if you reduce your turbos the machine becomes colder thus quieter with the drawback about feeling why you just wasted 3000-5000 €/$ on a system that "can't" be run better than a laptop for 2000 €/$.

Imo the entire concept needs to be overthrown and built with a new amazing heatsink. Won't see that ever tho.

 

I run that kit at cl13 1.45v 3333Mhz, the b-die scales well with voltage but you will be limited by the traces on the board for speed.

 

The issue with that idea is the less expensive and less powerful laptops have equal or worse thermal management issues and end up being a more unacceptable option in the end.

The problem is the OOBE with all laptops is a sucky one and the only way around a crappy experience is to take matters into your own hands. If you pay less you will generally get less. That is not to say you get what you pay for, only that you will not get more from less.

I can tell you from hands-on experience that the X170 has more potential than most folks realize and something is going to surface soon that will make that a little more obvious. I can also say from hands-on that the less expensive options are more compromised, offer less value and less potential to be something special. The X170 is the only product for sale today that has potential to be something awesome in a niche (gaming laptops) where excellence is on the brink of extinction. It is sort of a diamond in the rough.

 

Oh I'm never trying to be arrogant. It doesn't suit my style of being overly sarcastic. But, like anyone I've been there when one of those screws just deforms at the sight of a screwdriver. I've had to use a small drill bit to drill off the head of the screw so I could pull a panel off and then take the stem out with a pair of pliers. And I've gotten some bone headed reasons why some place would not want to repair things. So if someone sees a mangled screw they'll assume you were careless. Even if they themselves can't get the screws out without messing them up. But, like @Mr. Fox points out if they used half decent screws this would not be an issue. I honestly for the life of me understand why they would even make "ONE TIME USE" screws. I guess when people want to save money on production they really just don't care.

You make it sound like Christmas is coming early this year. Go oooon.

 

All things will be revealed in the fullness of time.

 

You sound just like Donald.

 

What happend to their benchmarks? Wasn't it suppose to be shown recently?

 

They're out there already for anyone that takes time to look. Easy to spot at the top of the Futuremark search results. I'm sure more will follow soon when the product is ready to buy.

Time Spy - https://www.3dmark.com/classic-sear... GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (Notebook)&gpuCount=1

Fire Strike - https://www.3dmark.com/classic-sear... GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (Notebook)&gpuCount=1

 

Ain't that the truth mate!

 

<tongue-in-cheek>Maybe the manufacturers are sitting there with a large rubber band material type mat they can put down on the screw and tighten with that in place.</tongue-in-cheek>

 

Oh I've taken some of the really cheap stuff apart as well, there is certainly an art to it but my ifixit kit saw me right.

 

Same as any DDR4 really, 1.5V would be fine.

 

I heard next week we will get more details. Not sure if there are many benchmarks running around.

 

Tweaking has always had large gains

 

It seems you missed my post.

 

This is very exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing the X170 get a Prema BIOS release. That's gonna make the laptop super enticing for me.

 

Thats what im anticipating as well. Along with the RTX 3000 series GPUs in this notebook it will be the holy grail for laptops. For the time being....anyway..

 

That I did. I’ve been MIA for awhile and came back once I caught wind there was some good news about this machine finally.

 

May have to skip the prema bios myself (unless prema decides to allow folks to pay for installation), but i'll probably pick up a 3070 to go in this machine when they are available

 

It will be interesting to see results from mobile chips.

 

I see an Alienware 51m r2 made the top five. Broke 12k on GPU score too.

 

anybody getting Vmax throttling? im also getting edp and power throttle as well....any suggestions