***Gigabyte P35X owner's lounge***

I’ve been having all sorts of wireless issues, which I have been attributing to my new router acting up and my ISP going down. However I’ve had too many weird issues I’ve had to work though like Windows not remembering the network (they never would show up in the known networks either). I had to input the password every time and it would disconnect on its own. I finally added the networks manually and that seemed to fix it. I tried a ton of other solutions I found but none worked for me.

Wireless randomly stopped working completely last night, the adapter disappeared from windows. After much troubleshooting I finally figured out that it was turned off, and all I had to do was use the keyboard shortcut to turn it back on, but I have no idea how it was off in the first place. I suppose I could have done it in Far Cry 4 as they have several game menus going to the function keys by default.

Also I noticed that steam, gog downloader, and hwinfo64 the snap to edge of the screen (to split it to half screen automatically) does not work anymore. It works fine for chrome and windows explorer windows. That is odd. I know how to turn the option on and off, but it IS working, just not on everything it used to work on. I’m hoping maybe it’s related to the video drivers issue (seems unlikely since they aren’t very old at all and those functions used to work fine)

Of course I’ve also been unable to update video drivers too (at least the normal way that I’ve tried so far).

I’m starting to talk myself into stop messing with trying to fix these issues one at a time, and see if a clean windows install would fix them ALL perhaps. I’ve spent so much time getting a clean factory updated image and now I may not even use it lol. I’ve not had to do a true clean install like this in so long, since way back in the days when laptops used to come with tons of bloatware. As much as I love this laptop, I have to say Gigabyte has to have something screwed up in their setup, either with windows, drivers, configuration, or a mix of all of the above.

 

By default, the maximum turbo multiplier varies based on how many cores are currently active.
I think these are the specs for a 4710HQ

1 core - 35X
2 cores - 34X
3 cores - 33X
4 cores - 33X

Most apps constantly vary how many cores are active so that is why you will see ThrottleStop report your multiplier constantly changing.

A lot of people get worried when they see a high multiplier when their CPU is lightly loaded or idle. No worries. Intel designed these CPUs to operate like this. When a CPU core has nothing to do, it automatically enters one of the low power C States. This is how modern CPUs save power. When a core enters C7, it is disconnected from the voltage rail and is basically not doing anything. At idle, individual cores can be spending up to 99% of the time in this state. If you click on the C7s button in your ThrottleStop screenshot, you will see real time information about what C States your CPU is using.

The speed the CPU is operating at when the cores are in C7 becomes meaningless but for some reason, people still like slowing their CPUs down. It makes them feel good that they are saving power but if you do some power consumption monitoring, you will probably find that you really are not saving anything. A slow CPU is not an efficient CPU. If you still like seeing a slow CPU, give the Power Saver option a try. I don't recommend it but it keeps people happy.

Anyway, you should be using ThrottleStop 7.00 which is in my signature. It lets you access CPU voltage as well as overclocking of the 4th Gen CPUs. I believe the 4710HQ allows you to increase your maximum turbo multipliers by +2 over those values I posted above. You do not need any special options in the bios to access these features. ThrottleStop writes information directly to the CPU and when you reboot your computer, it will be back to default specs until you run ThrottleStop again. A little bit of under volting can reduce power consumption which allows these CPUs to stay in full turbo boost for a longer period of time. One of those win, win situations.

 

That sucks you're starting to get issues and I think it's a combo of all the above.

I believe they threw in new heat pipes, 980m and expected everything to work without testing outside of their drivers or expected users to stick to theirs until they come out with updated drivers.

Sad to see since this laptop has so much potential with the 980m outside of the CPU running hot. I also think they should of went with the m2 wifi module instead of the m-pcie. Been hearing great things about the Killer 1525 AC on the board.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

Just in case any other prospective buyers are on here, excaliberpc has the cf2 for only $2000 ($100 discount)

Gigabyte P35X v3-CF2 15.6" Ultrablade Gaming Laptop. Gigabyte P35Xv3-CF2

 

Can't get windows to reset to factory conditions.

Cloned the OS drive back over to the default RAID drive on the msatas. Then tried to bit from them and reset windows, but it's not working. Windows has ended up all borked and broken. What can I do?

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

I've really been having various issues since the beginning, but it's hard to pin down exactly if it was the laptop or my network or something I had done. I know I caused some of my own issues initially. Note that I have been having a lot of issues with my ISP and WRT1900AC router. I am about to give up and move back to my old N router that worked great (I just wanted something newer with better wireless signal and external antenna ability for my new house).

That said, I have been running solely on all Gigabyte drivers (other than trying the NVidia drivers a couple times), updated through the smart update program. I may try the opposite and clean install, and only use updated versions of drivers from online. Never had to do that before but I am getting desperate to be done with messing around and enjoy playing more games!

 

Ugh. I'll have to install windows from my Clevo disk. The Gigabyte partition is lost forever.

Hope they don't count that against me when it's returned.

I'll just have to be honest and say it completely f***ed up.

Buggy Windows pos. Grrrrr.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

I had no issues seeing my new Asus AC router but my wifi had issues seeing N routers with the drivers from Gigabyte. I had to downgrade to the Windows version to see N routers. No matter how many times I did a fresh install and then use drivers from Gigabyte, I could always replicate my issues and fix it by using a particular driver version.

 

OK so the recovery partition is still intact over on a different drive... how can I copy it over to reset the P35X's drive? The P35X's drive won't boot.

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

I'd help if I could, but THAT was what I messed with the first few days and gave up. My recovery partition is there but non functional. I finally just made my own images which work fine, but I have to use a bootable USB, find the drive with the images if I ever want to use it.

 

Can you boot into recovery pressing F9 on startup? If so, did you try doing a full reset there?

TBH, the quickest and easist would be to look for a Windows 8.1 ISO image on the internet and create an UEFI bootable usb flash drive

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

Just copy all the settings you see from the picture when you're at that site.

 

If he has the same issue I found, the F9 became non functional. One time it would just ignore F9 and do nothing, on this current install it tries to start but you get an error which I never found a solution to.

It's unfortunate because a reimage takes minutes, a complete clean reinstall, with all drivers and software and windows updating could take all day.

 

Why don't you just wipe all the drives clean? You're returning the laptop anyway.

Regards

 

Good point.

I had to leave mine with a working OS so they can just boot up and run 3DMark to see my error but he's should just wipe everything as you suggested, so much easier.

 

Dude I'm sorry for all of your turmoils, I haven't had nearly as many difficulties with my p35 : / Are you going to end up returning it? I'll be getting the np8651 tomorrow so I'll do a direct comparison and post it which may be able to help you with your decision

 

I haven't had really any of these Bios/hardware difficulties. Albeit, I have had a lot of driver problems and such, but I blame that more on windows 8.1 with a 3k screen and poorly designed compatibility with the ac7620 and such... If I were to get this laptop again I would get the 1080p version with windows 7 no questions asked. Nevertheless, I'm fine with this 3k one with windows 8.1 now, it just required a sh*t TON of tweaking haha (which isn't THAT unenjoyable haha, kinda fun)

 

Yea that's a LOT thicker... The difference between .7inches and 1.15 inches is surprisingly noticeable. It's not really thin anymore haha. The 650SE is somewhere in the middle

 

I don't really see that many finger prints, no more so than any other laptop i've ever used.

 

Any advice you can give I would appreciate. Especially with wireless driver versions and where you got them, also the intel, and of course if you had to do anything special to get the latest nvidia drivers loaded correctly without BSOD. Also any general tweaks you had to do to “fix” something. I’m not talking performance tweaks, I mean stuff that may help me fix problems I’m having.

I have heard from several others, and will be trying some of their suggestions but if they don’t work I will likely be doing a clean windows install just to rule out a bad Gigabyte factory image.

I may put off redoing everything for a few days so I can get some good Far Cry 4 time in first (At least it plays games great)

 

Alright, as promised a 3DMark FireStrike run with an +135/+575 Overclock and fans set to Auto-High gets 8362 points: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M video card benchmark result - Intel Core i7-4860HQ Processor,GIGABYTE P35V3



Sadly, nVidia Inspector intereferes with HWMonitor and thus I cannot give you a chart of the GTX980M temperature.

 

Ugh, installing Windows 8 from disk takes a lifetime... it's first got to update everything before it can download Windows 8.1. Then that'll no doubt require a billion updates. And then all the drivers from Clevo website.

I would try to install it on the Gigabyte but I don't know the OEM windows key... it must be somewhere in the packaging or on the machine, but I can't spot it anywhere...

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

I believe with all new systems its built into the BIOS and does it automatically when the right OS is installed, correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

there are readers out there that can read your Windows 8 key. I believe it's held in the bios now but you really shouldnt need it anyway it should automatically read it

 

When I just installed it on my Clevo just now, it asked for one. Luckily I had it.

Apparently 8/8.1 still needs a product key for installing from ISO files.

My only hope is to clone the OS onto a drive, plug it into the hot swap bay. Then clone that OS onto the laptops SSDs. Then it might work...maybe...

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

Did you measure the the temperatures of the 980M, what were they? (I know you said you couldn't graph them). Also, what is the stable GPU clock when the 980M is overclocked by the +135Mhz that you did? (I asked you that one before).

 

I'd just use the drivers that it came with, those are what I'm using and I haven't had any issues. I didn't update the nvidia drivers or anything ever. The other tweaks I did were just for some of my own little pet peeves about the trackpad (so I edited some of the files with regedit to allow for greater sensitivity customization and response time, etc), lots of windows 8 tweaks to make it look like windows 7, and a few other minor things which are mainly personal changes I always do when I get a new computer. What are you specifically having problems with? I haven't even gotten a single BSOD... sorry to hear you guys are ><

 

So I had read though the thread and follow it for a week. It seems that P35X V3 do have some issues.
I'm now choosing between GS60 1080P 970M-6G and P35X V3 CF2 1080P 980M.
The P35X V3 is $200 more than the GS60, and I know both of the laptop have their virtue and shortcoming.
Personally I'm tend to the P35X since GS60 is a little bit too "show off", but this doesn't convince myself to abandon it.
Any suggestion? I try to push myself towards the final decision, since Thanksgiving is approaching

 

It depends if you need a 980m. If you don't really care about a 980m vs a 970m, id go gs60, as it is cooler, cheaper, and has less problems. However, if you are like me and want max performance, go with the gigabyte. Even a throttling 980m is better than a non throttling 970m, plus you can always reduce temps, it's hard to increase power as you can only over clock so much. Furthermore, the drivers will eventually be fixed, so that will only be a temporary downside.

TLDR if you don't care about the jump in performance to the 980m get the gs60, otherwise get the gigabyte. That's just my opinion though.

 

@Sandwhale would you be willing to try to recreate the problems other lads have encountered? Cakefish's wifi/bluetooth issue for example. This way we can be sure whether it's hardware problem or driver's problem or just bad luck (faulty components).

I'd attempt them myself, but my P35X CF2 is once again "Overdue since...", and it's getting my nerve. I'm so tempt to change my order to GT72 later today (currently 2:17 in the morning, have just finished a piece of coursework to hand in few hours later) after I get up, but also don't want to give up the 980m and possibly the laptop that suits me perfectly... Especially I'm so close to be able hold it in my very own hands... My preciousssss

Regards

 

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder can be a useful tool for situations like this. It is not a cracking tool. It simply allows you to see what Windows key was used to install your operating system. It works with Windows 8.1

Download Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - MajorGeeks

 

Wha??!!! OCUK have P35X CF2 in stock!!!!

Scan still listed as overdue, DAMN!

Regards

 

Oooooh! That would explain it then. You haven't BSOD'd because you haven't updated your nvidia drivers yet. You will need to eventually to gain new features and improvements

The only thing you could do to help is try updating and verify you get BSOD's too. Otherwise it's pointless because that's the one thing we all need to do and haven't figured out why it's doing it. I am having wireless problems but it still could be my router, I will swap it out this weekend and see if the problems go away or come back. The wireless issues really don't matter to me much until I figure out the video driver issue, because that is what will force me to reinstall again if I cant get it going.

 

sorry guys all the hype about the p35x and disappoint made me pull the trigger on a 17" beast and a 15.6" which plays all games atelast on low (for travel) at medium


best of luck everyone with your p35x's!!!

 

Thank you very much. I will consider your suggestion.

 

SandWhale,

If you tried the latest NV drivers and run into issues, check your Intel GFX and make sure it's not been updated to the latest version. If it has, try using the one from GB to see if it fixed your issue.

Just pulled the trigger on a GS70 6GB, had to get something that works out of the box and couldn't risk it anymore since I'm in the US and got from a US seller. Best of luck to all of you folks with the P35X and hopefully you don't run into issues like a few of us did.

 

So I still haven't been scared off by all of the issues people have been having. I guess I'm lucky since I don't have a pressing need to buy it right now (though that could change depending on my current laptop... hoping to hold out till mid-Jan when I get back home) It would be interesting if we could start definitively figuring out exactly which issues are caused by what. Anyone have a 3k screen with win 7? How is that holding up?

 

7 with a 3k screen is rather annoying, and 8 is mediocre at best in dealing with 3k scaling... But still the crispness makes up for that usually, imo it can be worth it.

 

Yea I know I just figured that the drivers a brand new system came out with were modern enough to get me through the day... as the system was tested in manufacturing with these drivers and thus it is reasonable to expect all the pre-configured drivers to be relatively error-free and compatible. Of course, once the new Nvidia drivers get refined down and DSR becomes more streamline then I'll definitely update haha. I'm just not sure updating at such a premature stage in the development is a good decision for anyone who buys this laptop, at least not for the time being.

 

Yea I was weary to install the new Nvidia drivers haha, as I didn't like the idea of those various programs and extra options (like 3D support, and the GeForce experience failware) and I ended up rolling back my ac7620 driver to the original after the update and it became much more stable. Likewise, I just have the barebone drivers. I wouldn't recommend using the Gigabyte smart updater at all for the next month...

 

I have been very happy to have the anonymity of the gigabyte, and in lecture/seminar I remember distinctly thinking "I'm so glad this ins't high profile..."

 

Yahh I'll do that for the sake of ya'll, even though I think it will cause these same difficulties I'm fairly certain it is the combination of relatively new hardware with relatively new drivers that is causing these widespread difficulties, and not actually faulty components (at least in the majority of cases). Windows 8 doesn't help tbh, as I never had any of these problems on my Windows 7 partition running at 1080p, everything works just fine, even with updating the intel ac7620 and audio drivers to their most current versions (not the Nvidia though, didn't wanna risk updating that one just yet).

 

My experience so far:

* Thin, sleek and light. Coming from a Clevo I was surprised when I picked it up even when I expected it.
* Trackpad feels nice but I keep zooming with it. I usually hold one finger on left-click and browse with another. Since the buttons are integrated I sometimes zoom instead of scroll. I mostly use a mouse so for me it´s not an issue and maybe it can be configurated in some way.
* The 2880x1620-screen is really crisp and beautiful. Some bleeding from the edges mostly visible only when black or blue image but then it´s quite apparent. The dark main menu of Shadow of Mordor has noticable bleeding too.
* 100% scaling in Windows is really small. Other scaling options can be a bit wonky. For example at 150% icons are crisp, Steam-windows seem a bit blurry and Origin-windows are crisp but scaled at 100%. 125% seems to work fine but is the lowest I can go for comfortable reading.
* Mine came with 344.65. I haven´t touched any drivers yet.
* Boots to Windows in 13 seconds, I dread going back to my Clevo with a hybrid HDD/flash SSD
* No issues with Wifi. I have no Bluetooth-equipment to test any conflicts.
* I have to use Throttlestop to run the CPU over 1.6 GHz.
* I´ve had one BSOD Driver Power State Failure when trying to open Geforce Experience with Riva Tuner, Throttlestop, Hwinfo, Steam and Fraps running. No issues after that.
* It´s very quite in idle mode, doesn´t ramp up sporadically like my Clevo. Idle temp CPU around 40 degree C.
* The fans are quite loud during load (3DMark & games) but not more so than other gaming laptops. But hey, we can´t have thin, powerful AND quite now can we.


I tested Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor yesterday. 3K Ultra/Very High/High/Medium and 1080P Ultra was tested by fighting in a stronghold during alarm.

* CPU throttles due to temps in all scenarios though I didn´t notice any hickups or extra stuttering.
* There is surprisingly small difference in fps going from 3K Ultra to Very High to High.
* CPU throttles alot more during 3K Medium and 1080P Ultra, the GPU is probably being taxed hard at the higher settings.
* Ultra settings uses just below 6 GB VRAM
* The fan was set at Stealth or Auto Low, will check tonight. Edit: Fan profile was stealth
* All tests done with the laptop on a cooler, ambient temps 22-24 degree C.


FPS Comparison

Spoiler

3K Ultra CPU

Spoiler

3K Ultra GPU

Spoiler

3K Very High CPU

Spoiler

3K Very High GPU

Spoiler

3K High CPU

Spoiler

3K High GPU

Spoiler

3K Medium CPU

Spoiler

3K Medium GPU

Spoiler

1080 Ultra CPU

Spoiler

1080 Ultra GPU

Spoiler

It was quite playable at 3K Ultra. Here´s a short clip recorded with Shadowplay:

 

That's great Mr Najsman! GPU performance was really good there, stable at max boost the whole time - at first I thought it wasn't, but then I paid closer attention to the y-axis of the graph! CPU is getting hammered though at lower detail settings where you are undoubtedly getting much higher frame rates which is stressing out the CPU - some major thermal throttling there. GPU remains very impressive in this laptop, but I'd be using Unclewebb's Throttlestop and undervolting and capping the multiplier too to prevent excessive throttling, I'd try & keep it at and limited to 3GHz if possible.

 

Thanks Robbo. Yes, that Y-axis for the GPU clock is deceiving, I don´t know if and how I can change it.

The cpu is having a rough time as you say. I forgot to check the fan profile, maybe it was on stealth. If so I´ll do another run with higher fan to see if there are any changes.

I want to get through my planned games with unlocked multiplier first and see how it fares. If there´s time left I can cap the multiplier and do some tests.

I´m not allowed to do any undervolting but overcklocking is ok.

 

I'm a bit confused. I understand the benefit of throttlestop to remove throttling, undervolting to reduce some of the small amount of power that is not used by the CPU and gets wasted as heat, but I don't understand why you would want to cap the CPU multiplier. Wouldn't this reduce CPU performance?

If I'm running a demanding CPU intensive application or game, isn't the point of undervolting and throttlestop to enable the CPU to perform at a faster clock than it would otherwise?

 

What is it that makes you recommend the GS60 over the P35W v3 when it comes to a 970 card? I know that at least on XcoticPC, they are pretty much the same price. Their specs are pretty much the same, though the P35W v3 has 6 GB of VRAM vs. the GS60's 3 GB. Is it well known that the GS60 has fewer heating issues? I am pretty much decided that I will stick with the 970 video card, so I am just trying to decide between the P35W v3, GS60, and the Clevo P650SE (all from XoticPC). I must admit, I like the simplistic look of the P35W v3, but I am a bit concerned that some people are saying the build quality is lower than the GS60.

 

Someone else have to chip in here but I´d say it´s because thermal throttling can produce noticable stuttering when it occurs. Capping the cpu a bit will give you slightly lower, but more solid, performance.
Then there´s the risk of raising overall temps inside possibly affecting gpu-performance.
Basically, if it can´t cool itself properly, prevent it from getting as hot in the first place.

I didn´t notice anything during gaming so performance-wise it really doesn´t matter to me what Hwinfo reports. Will see how it handles other games.

 

Well I haven't heard anything about the p35w physically, but I'd assume that it would have the same driver issues as the p35x. It also has the exact same chassis, so any positives and negatives about the x probably areally the same on the w. Temperature wise, it depends how much cooler a 970m is. Does anyone have any stats for that? The extra vram is important if you play aaa games, just look at those shadow of mordor vram stats. I just said 5he gs60 bebecause it was between that and the p35x. Or did you says p35w?

Edit

Nope you said the x

 

Apart from it's design (which is subjective) - I'd say reliability and dependability may be the most important factors in favor of a GS60. Haven't seen many reports of widespread BSODs and MSI fixed the Wifi problems the previous GS60 was having in the new release.

Objectively speaking, the GS60 is thinner, lighter yet runs cooler. Doesn't throttle as badly as the P35X. It has better speakers.

On the other hand, the P35W runs quieter in idle and during light tasks, has an ODD if you need it, better battery life and (maybe) a better, more consistent screen when it comes to the IPS glow.

Personally, if I'm going for a 970m machine, I'd go for the GS60 due to its solid reliability and temperatures alone.

 

I actually had a gs60 ghost the 064 version I returned it to get a p35. The ghost ran hot while gaming as all thin gamers do tho not quite as hot as the 870 version. The track pad was lousy and the battery life was lame everything else was great. Only reason I sent it back was the battery life, which is supposed to be much better on the p35. So if you prefer a good battery and track pad id avoid the gs60 if those are something you don't care about then id recommend it because every other aspect of it was great imho. Im getting the p35w v3 with the 970 hoping the less demanding video card will help a bit with heat and maybe not tax the processor quite as much as the 980 tho it may not make the least bit of difference, the 970 on a 1080 screen is plenty powerful to play most games at max anyway.