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Friday, September 30, 2011

Schenker XMG P701 PRO Notebook Review

Desktop replacement. They are looking for a mobile game based on the results, if the technology does not mean AOT already belongs to yesteryear is well served with the manufacturer of barebones Schenker. The 17-inch PRO XMG P701 shines with a stylish design and high-end components of the highest order.

While other manufacturers have a more or less limited to a pre-hardware configurations, Schenker offers to customers via free to choose its members. Except for the big screen, XMG P701 PRO can be tailored to the different ways the band's website mysn.de.

Gamers are obviously of great importance. In place of the GeForce GTX 560M, a reference to current models of Nvidia and AMD can be replaced. 6990M GTX and Radeon HD 580M is the current heavy-class mobile graphics notebook market.

The processor also has a strong genetic line, Schenker offers a nearly perfect palatte Intel, the latest AOS Sandy Bridge processors. When you look at the performance of graphics cards above, we recommend nothing less than the quad-core Core i7-level or 2630QM 2760QM (the most expensive model is only justified in certain circumstances).

Memory should not be, mind bending second place the other components, AIA, up to 32GB of DDR3 memory, it is possible, although for most users, 8GB is too much. The choice of the largest selection of hard drives. Thanks for your two different bays, available disk, SSD, and SSH AOS, AOS (hybrid modules) can be combined with a wild way.

In front of Schenker also offers entertainment products. Instead of a normal DVD player combo Blu-ray or Blu-ray option. A radio module is not part of the standard package Äîdepending the model that will pay up to 40 euros extra. Finally, Aren, AOT surprises when it comes to operating system 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Home Premium, Business or Ultimate is available.

For the basic configuration equipped little, Schenker is asked 1199 euros. Those who aspire to a level or another is quick to put on a higher price measurable: Our well-equipped test model (see data sheet on the right side) is more than 2000 euros.

Specifications Schenker XMG P701 PRO :
  • Processor : Intel Core i7 2760QM 2.4 GHz
  • Mainboard : Intel HM67
  • Memory : 16384 MB, 4x 4096 MByte SO-DIMM DDR3-RAM (1333 MHz)
  • Graphics adapter : AMD Radeon HD 6990M - 2048 MB, Core: 715 MHz, Memory: 900 MHz, Clevo 8.850.0.0
  • Display : 17.3 inch 16:9, 1920x1080 pixel, LG Philips LP173WF1-TLC1, Full-HD, LED-Backlight, glossy: yes
  • Harddisk : Crucial RealSSD M4 (CT128M4SSD2), 128GB + Samsung Spinpoint M8 (HN-M101MBB), 1000 GB, 5400 rpm
  • Soundcard : Realtek ALC892 @ Intel Cougar Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
  • Connections : 3 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, 1 Firewire, 1 DVI, 1 HDMI, 1 Infrared, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 eSata, Audio Connections: Headphones, Microphone, Line-In, S/PDIF-out, Card Reader: MMC,RSMMC,MS,MS Pro.MS Duo,SD,Mini SD,SDHC,SDXC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Antenne (CATV)
  • Networking : JMicron PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (10/1000MBit), Bigfoot Networks Killer Wireless-N 1103 Network Adapter (abgn)
  • Optical drive : Optiarc DVD RW AD-7710H
  • Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 52 x 412 x 276
  • Weight : 3.842 kg Power Supply: 1.008 kg
  • Battery : 76.96 Wh Lithium-Ion, 5200 mAh, 14.8 V, 8 Cells, 0.42 kg
  • Price : 2024 Euro
  • Operating System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
  • Additional features : Webcam: 2.0 Megapixel, AC Adapter: 220 Watt, Handbook, Driver- Tool-DVD, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, 24-48 Months Warranty
Case
Matt black frame leaves an impression of quality behind the user. The underlying P170HM-barebone Clevo is, in itself, a seemingly very frugal. Compared to other manufacturers, Clevo ahead and experiment with colored design that justice is not portable. The highlight is the only removable XMG-logo on the cover.

17 incher is qualitatively worth a look or two, as the screen cover and palm rests are made of high quality. The brilliant (and very sensitive) bits of plastic cups could have been saved, but when it comes to labor is very little to complain. Aside from the vaguely band located above the keyboard and not quite as perfect as the screws of the battery, the chassis is still a neat figure.

In addition, the laptop has an acceptable sound for her, even when the frame is showing a little give in the area in the optical drive is a lot of pressure. As with most laptops, the screen cover could also be a little more stable and relatively heavy hinges of the screen where the search is not fully trusted by induction, as show moved back and forth, when the base has affected. Positive: the process of opening the cap only allows the base unit to move a little.

In short: a large number of users are completely satisfied with the design. Traffic routine, however, is not so friendly laptop, which weighs about four pounds, a number that is not suitable for those on the go.

Connectivity

Connections
Abundant interfaces available on XMG P701 PRO is one of its greatest assets. As long as you're willing to overlook the lack of an ExpressCard slot, users can find all the interfaces that you can expect these days from a desktop replacement.

Four audio ports (surround), five USB ports (2 ports USB 3.0) to connect two digital video outputs (DVI and HDMI) as well as Firewire and eSATA port. The package is completed for the treatment of a 9-in-1 card reader, Kensington lock and the antenna input (TV tuner card is pre-installed).

The positioning of the interface is something very good, because all the ports are located near the back or the very back is a lot of space, even though many of the cables, a mouse. Super!

Communications
Schenker interior of our test model of the wireless radios offer more expensive. Bigfoot Killer 1103 Wireless-N network (WLAN / b / g / n, 2.4 and 5 GHz) is not Bluetooth, but the calculator software suite. For the Hard Wired, RJ-45 Gigabit LAN, you can immerse yourself in the infinite expanse of the Internet.

Software
Those who order the XMG P701 PRO included with OS should not worry about software installations obsolete. Besides the free Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Schenker provides only the necessary drivers for the hardware selected. As such, the experience after the initial boot is pleasantly sweet. Other manufacturers who like to fill their units with unnecessary programs should take a page from the book of Schenker.

Delivery
In our case, Schenker did not pack extra accessories on our boxes. Under normal circumstances, the books come with a manual and a DVD full of drivers and tools. Buyers also specify an operating system will also receive a genuine copy of Windows 7 data stick. Included AC adapter 220W (about 1 kg) is quite massive.

Guarantee
The warranty is valid for 24 including a maximum of 48 months. If a defect in the rear its ugly head, the laptop will be collected free of charge (if this service is only available in Germany).

Input Devices

Keyboard
Except for small details here and there, input devices has left a positive impression. Thanks to the free-standing and intelligent where the keys, users can get way with the keyboard. In addition, asset-cutting action buttons. Dimensions of the same buttons, size 14x14mm is good, although sometimes interferes with the key below. Dedicated to the numeric keypad is a standard 17-inch machines.

WASD are highlighted in red should address the players. It is disappointing that the buttons are not backlit, and also its high dilapidated is useful when you write to complain as well.

Touchpad
The touchpad is secured into tiny 90x47mm proportioned. Slightly rough surface with touchpad offers a good compromise between the feedback and the ability to glide.

Gestures supported (multi-touch) to activate the zoom and scrolling house images, text documents or web pages. The classic functions of displacement on the edges of the touch screen on board, they were able to combine a high degree of accuracy with the touchpad. For the players out there who do not want to risk unwanted entries, there is an option to disable the keyboard.

Display
When it comes to showing the quality of products is often a lottery Clevo barebones complete. Even when they use a really good panel from time to time (see, for example, XMG P501 PRO), we also tested the products, which have been equipped with specific 08/15-model cheaper (as XMG U700 Ultra). Before you can determine which category of P701 PRO is the panel, there are some basic things that need explaining.

In the current configurations are available with a glossy full-HD model, which, less surprisingly, has a 16:9 format and LED backlighting. 1920x1080 pixels is perfect for a 17-inch panel, because there is enough space to work (two windows at once, etc.)

After a brief look at the display settings back, our euphoria was running just that much further. With the exception of a good gloss (average of 196.1 cd / m²), LG Philips panel LP173WF1 of TLC1 sample gives a weak in our tests.

Due to the high value of black (0.8 cd / m²) in dark areas of games and movies tend to fall into the gray area. Or, in other words, a deep black is simply not available to the user. It is also very weak, 242:1 contrast in these figures are very poor (high quality panels are capable of reaching up to 1000:1). The table certainly could be better could have used more color saturation.

As the surface of the glossy screen, you can use outdoors is limited. Even the brightness of the user receives moderate pain that is annoying reflections, even for internal use can mitigate reflections implementation of the display could not completely solve the problem.

Stability angle of view is disappointing with the entire series. Those who are sitting on a tendency to view all content on the screen-combat with a clear reversal of the colors. All in all the lower panels has no place in a notebook, to fight for an alternative post office. That said, we must look to blame in this case for Clevo Schenker, because they are barebones supplier to Schenker.

Performance
Processor: Intel Core i7-2760QM
Processor service on our test model is a quad-core, in this case, the Core i7-based 2720QM 2760QM like its predecessor, the new Intel Sandy Bridge. Technical data, that would be a user is in some attention: 995 million transistors, six megabytes of L3 cache (range i5: 3 MB) and the base frequency of 2.4 GHz for superior performance.

Depending on temperature and CPU load is automatically clocked at 3.5 GHz. Intel calls this technology "Turbo Boost". "Hyper-Threading" is another keyword. Thanks to the simulation of four virtual cores it is possible for the processor to work on eight threads simultaneously. The Core i7 2760QM process produces a 32mm with a total TDP of 45 watts. Clevo does not switch as integrated GPU HD 3000 Graphics chip is idle, battery life is impossible.

CPU performance
Benchmarks CPU Core i7 2760QM equipped with some bravery. In Cinebench R10 64-bit rendering test single-core processor mentioned sprinter right at the base liked 2630QM i7 5471 points with a gain of 17% (4665 points MSI GT780R @). When multiple cores are used, the siblings seem old dual-core in comparison. With 19,747 compared to 11,936 points, dual-core i7 benchmark 2640m drops to 65% behind (XMG PRO P701).

The CPU score in Cinebench R11.5 further illustrates the differences in favor of the Core i7-2760: 5.63 percentage points from 3.17 points is an increase of about 78%. Ergo: those who are not on a tight budget should definitely choose the model that quad-core programs and games will almost always benefit from having more than two cores at their disposal.

Graphics card: AMD Radeon HD 6990M
As our thorough testing has been confirmed, AMD has an interesting range of high-end graphics cards with the Radeon HD 6990M. Nvidia's flagship model, the GeForce GTX 580M active with a number of features, although the prices AMD side wears the crown. Its flagship GPU is the classy codenamed "Blackcomb XTX" and is based on a 40nm manufacturing process today.

Computing power of the raw data, the graphics card is more than impressive: 1.7 billion transistors, 1120 and 2048 unified shaders GDDR5 (256-bit interface), are some key points. 715 MHz and 900 MHz core speed of about VRAM in the package of AMD.

HD video conversion is supported with the help of video decoders and HD audio UVD3 is achieved through the HDMI HD audio driver. Of course, DirectX 11 is compatible. The decisive factor against the Radeon HD 6990M is rich in energy consumption: a TDP of 100 watts, a good cooling solution must be affordable. The GPU driver was Catalyst version 11.5 (Clevo 8.850.0.0).

GPU performance
ATI Radeon HD 6990M itself is not a problem demanding graphics benchmark. In DirectX 11 based on 3DMark 11 (1280x720, performance preset score GPU), which pulls out of 3227 points, just over the top with Nvidia, the GeForce GTX 580M (3191 points @ Alienware M17xR3).

Visually stunning sky Unigine 2.1 benchmark (1280x1024, high, normal tessellation) favors the Nvidia GPU, as usual. 43.8 vs. 36.6 FPS is an advantage of 20%. It is the GeForce GTX 580M also takes the initiative of games to be examined shortly.

Hard Drives
Hard drive that Schenker has chosen not worse. Windows 7 Premium is pre-installed 128GB SSD drive away from a decisive. RealSSD M4 (CT128M4SSD2) is still relatively young and brings a wonderful show. Sequential read speed is 413 Mb / s and sequential write speed of 196 Mb / s (as a benchmark SSD) can be dreamed of standard units. Thanks for the SATA III is not holding nothing back to the solid state disk SATA II, because the older models have a maximum of 300 MB / sec. The access time of 0.1 ms (read) and 0.2 ms (write) are excellent.

Moreover, the increase Schenker 1000 GB hard drive in our test model. Samsung Spinpoint M8 (HN-M101MBB) is, despite a speed of only 5,400, with faster models. The bank established CrystalDiskMark hard disk that has read and sequential write speeds of up to 100 MB / sec.

In comparison, the hard drives of the average yields of around 80 MB / sec. According HDTune, 17.2m access time possible, a good price. Since both drives are accessible to the user, a change / upgrade is possible, even for fans.

System Performance
The combination of a high-end CPU / GPU and a fast SSD / resulting from the performance of the system it is downright impressive. 20 113 possible points in PCMark Vantage, although most gaming laptops to settle for less than 10000 points. The new Toshiba Qosmio X770-10J tested (2630QM Core i7, Geforce GTX 560M) just opened the 7895 points.

The new PCMark 7 XMG P701 PRO also emerges as a great, our test model has reached 4601 points (the Qosmio X770-10J: 3001 points). It is not so often that this power is more in the mobile industry, this will certainly Schenker Brownie Points for future-proofing points.

Gaming Performance

Wie wir testen - Leistung
Practical benchmark game out there focusing on the following two questions: 1) How strong can the Radeon HD 6990M distance from its predecessor, the 6970M HD. 2) How much performance difference in relation to the reference design from Nvidia, the GTX 580M.

Although the results of the Radeon HD 6970M Racer is based Eurocom, the results of the GeForce GTX 580M is largely based XMG PRO P501. Tip: use the aforementioned laptop weaker 2720QM Core i7, the results are not comparable to 100%.

Crysis 2
It begins with Crysis 2 is a heavyweight when it comes to the current dismantling facilities. Ego-Shooter includes a high-res textures and DirectX 11 to activated carbon tower up to a high-end graphics cards are sure to break a sweat. When you play 1920x1080 pixels "Ultra" ready, you do not get to 29.4 FPS, the more playable experience.

Without a high-res textures, muted with DirectX 11 and "the best" pre-active, action game runs a little 'smoother, Fraps tool returns the result of 33 fps. Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M managed to reach about 10% faster than 36 fps (R3 Alienware M17x). ATI Radeon HD 6970M to be content with about 30 fps (XMG U700 ULTRA). We recommend that you complete a "very high".

Dirt 3
Slick racing Dirt Game 3 was played in back-to-back with Crysis 2 details as possible. Resolution 1920 x 1080, 4xAA and "ultra" in pre-production 40.4 fps. ATI Radeon HD 6970M was a little 'difficult, these settings are not optimal 33.2 fps (Alienware M18x). When the GeForce GTX 580M users smooth 44.2 frames per second, 9% more than the Radeon HD 6990M.

Call of Duty: Black Ops
The most current version of Call of Duty franchise is running really well, thanks to the hardware below. With very high detail, 4x anti-aliasing, 8x anisotropic filtering and 1920x1080 we arrived at an excellent 90.2 fps. Phare Nivida was slightly behind at 87.3 fps, the difference becomes even larger compared to the GeForce 6970M, to achieve "only" 74.5 fps.

StarCraft 2
Real-time strategy game Starcraft2 driven effortlessly with the Radeon HD 6990M. The presentation of "For a Swarm" surrogate challenge managed 63.5 fps and a resolution of 1920x1080 and "ultra" pre-prepared. 580M GeForce and ATI Radeon HD 6970M steam along with a slight less than 59 fps. If you do not worry, smooth experience is still quite possible, since every high-end graphics card is equipped to handle the intensity of multiplayer battles.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Hardly a game now so there is expected to be Battlefield 3 and 'the Radeon HD 6990M is better from the optical point of view is to show, even if the (indirect) predecessor, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 presents the GPU with an AMD solvable task. High details (including HBAO), anti-aliasing 4x, 8x and filter structure back to 1920x1080 pixels 56.1 fps. Both the GeForce GTX 580M (50.9 fps), and the Radeon HD 6970M (49.7 fps) to get a nod here.

Verdict: Games
For GPU performance gaming notebook Radeon 6990M is just phenomenal. In addition, a very demanding game like Crysis or Metro 2 2033, the modern Games, all the bells and whistles are CAKEWALK. High resolutions, and improving the quality of the screen is almost forcing the pilot to break up in many games has exceeded the performance of XMG P701 PRO.

Several Nvidia, AMD will not charge you arm and a leg of supermodels, although a performance identical to the GeForce GTX 580M to pay more than $ 300. AMD has therefore created a uniform and attractive high-end Radeon HD 6990M graphics card. Future blockbusters like Skyrim Rage is a reproduction or untouched.

Emissions

System Noise
Emissions-sensitive users are forced to cut XMG P701 PRO some slack, which, even at idle the laptop turns things with two chassis fans turn away.

In 3D applications the noise level reached a worrying level. While his intense film and game sequences are not silenced by the noise, quieter scenes are the lower overtones of the fans. The adapter can also be a "model of Monday," annoying whistles heard during the operation.

Temperature
Temperature changes, however, leaves little open to criticism. During normal operation the surfaces of the chassis stays comfortably cool, with an average of about 30 ° C, quite reasonable. In situations of stress, especially the back of the laptop gets hot. A maximum of 44 ° C was observed on the upper surface and 43 ° C in the background, these values ​​are within the normal range. Remarkable that the palm rest stays consistently below 30 ° C.

The graphics card did not fare so well in the stress test (Furmark and Prime), after a while the Radeon HD 6990M is heated to 100 ° C. Bottleneck remains out of the question, although the heat output of the other components vary slightly.

Speakers
The sound quality does not shake us to the core. In spite of five speakers and a subwoofer, the sound quality is quite negligible. For one, the speakers completely inaccurate, the amount and dynamics. Secondly, the sound passes through a vacuum and metal. The increased volume may be higher. Taken against the speaker of the Dell XPS 17 and the Toshiba Qosmio X770, XMG P701 PRO is not available.

Battery life
Energy demand is much higher than the level of a typical middle-class notebooks. 129 watts of 3DMark 06 (average) and 204 watts under load (maximum) to deliver the message as clearly as possible. Really surprising for us was the least fuel consumption: 53.8 to 63.5 watts, are gaming notebooks, the unnatural, at least.

Similarly, a comparison with XMG P501 Pro (Core i7 2720QM, the GeForce GTX 580M) to use only half as much energy as possible. Like the Radeon HD 6990M downclock no less than the load, can not be responsible for excessive use.

Although XMG P701 PRO is a powerful 8-cell battery (76.96 Wh, 5200 mAh) battery life is nearly worth mentioning. Under load, the light goes out fairly quickly with maximum brightness and power saving options disabled, we arrived at a meager 27 minutes of battery life.

During DVD playback, the battery doubles (our test movie was playing 67 minutes), although this is still a tragedy in many ways. Even the lowest brightness and maximum energy efficiency options for the battery does not have a lot more wind in its sails. Rustic Battery Eater Readers test was baptized 17-inch with a 81-minute life. You get the point: this laptop is not intended to be portable.

Verdict
The XMG 701 PRO Schenker illustrates exactly what is possible today in the field of mobile games. Intel and AMD quad-core high-end graphics cards offer optimal performance. If we are talking about games or other applications, the latest components have the brute force behind them. With SSD just go from there, the operating system reacts to the PEP and the load times are nice and short.

In addition to raw power connection is also quite impressive, since it is presented with almost all of the interfaces is most important at the time. Positive things we should add a good supply of material, a fresh install of Windows (no bloatware here!) And various configurations and upgrade opportunities.

Of course, energy efficiency components as a result limitations with respect to mobility. The battery life of 3.8 kg heavier and larger than 5 cm high P170HM barebones is thin. Besides, limiting the development of unbearable noise. The two fans ran out of air supply to turn a fierce game speed under load.

In short, we were very disappointed with the screen. The image quality is still lower than our expectations of a desktop replacement € 2000, especially in black areas of value, color and contrast. Clevo Barebones producer must follow a clear upgrade path and do not update the panels when the whim strikes. Those who are lucky enough you could end up with a panel of more after purchase.