new Gigabyte P35K

I think only the branding on it is different, and possibly the warranty. It was easy enough to miss as MSI isn't typically known for offering debranded laptops.

I think you're from Canada, the only markets I've heard getting the 8870m upgrade in is Germany. I think you'll have to wait a while for it to come to USA or Canada. The 8870m is somewhere between the 765m and 760m, but I don't think AMD has been pushing the mobile graphics division very far. Especially since they got the contract for all Xbox ones and PS4s. Also they're really banking on their APUs for regular consumers. So don't expect much from AMD in the next year or two I think.

My MSI GT627 I got 5 years ago has a bit of flex as well. Mainly around the keyboard (I never did the keyboard fix where you double-sided taped it down) but if you press down in the middle by the touchpad it will flex a bit as well. I think the problem with the p35k is that there is key stress point above the ODD that makes any deformity very apparent. I wish I could buy the story about the "bottom of the palette" story but being an engineer makes me believe otherwise. A force strong enough to deform aluminum should be enough to at least damage cardboard. So either the box is made of super cardboard or the aluminum isn't very thick and strong.

 

I still have hope for the P35K

 

Same.

Here is my rant on what has happened so far, (Flame Shield On)

Before you read just know that this is coming from a guy who mostly uses desktops and has a plastic multimedia dell that's pretty darn old. (Speakers crackle, plastic flexes etc)
I am also trusting GB information stating that the bottom of the pallet was improperly packed for shipping resulting in the bottom portion of the laptops to bend.

You only read about the bad apples online, most owners don't even go to message boards unless they have a problem with their product. IE if you search up the MSI GE60 online, you instantly see that people have complained about its heat issues and it's hard to find anything positive unless you go and view an actual non biased review.

And forgive me for saying this, but then their are the kind of people who post negative stuff about a product because they were expecting something that was not listed in the specs.
The P34G is a perfect example of this, people who complained about the screen knew that the laptop had an IPS Matte finish screen, yet they were expecting the smoothness of a glossy screen. So what do they do online? Complain that it's grainy, and that they can't handle it and must return it because they aren't used to grainy screens.

Same thing with the speakers, some kid stated that it had no bass and that they don't compare with a nice set of wooden speaker. I mean common it's a little 5 cm speaker, what can you expect? From the videos I've seen the speakers are perfectly fine for laptops, they don't make weird noises or get extremely distorted / crack when watching a video on youtube. And before complaining on the forums that the sound is bad adjust your settings, download different drivers, remove that Dolby gimmick, play with it. I understand if you want help because you don't know how to do those things, but still I'm pretty sure any one is capable of messing with an equalizer and unchecking a few settings.

Lastly we aren't paying for a $2600 MacBook Pro solid aluminum chassis, pretty much all laptops that are classified as gaming grade are usually made with plastic and flex quite a bit. Drive down to your local microcenter or bestbuy and test the machines, personally I found that only The Asus laptops to be the sturdiest, everything else was flexing.

It's cool with me if you want to discuss what are the issues with the laptop at the moment so you know what to watch out for I'm not against that at all. Facts are facts and I can't change that. However the recent comments have made me write this. I'm respecting your opinions but we can't be that quick to think with such little info, again OCUK has a couple of members who did not have the bending issue and they are reporting good conditions for the laptops.

End of rant.

Mind the spelling errors typed this on my iPad.

 

Having held one I think it puts me in a good position to comment.

Bottom line is the chassis is too weak. The aluminium felt very thin, the base plastic also.

If this was in a "normal" laptop they'd get away with it (P34G) but the p35k introduces additional weaknesses via the odb - which is essentially a hollow tube with support at one end.

It is a lovely machine - but deeply flawed.

In answer to your question, i cancelled my replacement as I'm not confident in the machine.

Your decision at the end of the end of the day. OCUK are quick to resolve issues. Gigabyte as yet untested.

 

The GS70 on our review video was a engineer sample and it doesn't even comes with a box. retail version does not have this issue.

Had dinner meeting with Gigabyte USA few hours ago and I did show them the bend issues. I told them Gigabyte has better packaging than Asus or MSI and why others does not suffer this problem? so the packaging shouldn't to be blame, if they think changing the packaging will solve the problem then they are just digging a bigger hole.

the cause of the issue must be the soft material they use and suggest changing the material, I also request official statement from Gigabyte HQ from Taiwan and if they can provide one I'll post it here in the forum.

 

Yep. How could the cardboard box itself remain undamaged yet the laptop within has metallic deformity admittedly due to stress caused by weight, if indeed the "bottom of the palette" story is true. Surely, they don't ship laptops from their facility outside of the box and then box it later in shipment...

If you read their Facebook comment, GB has also admitted, albeit between the lines and without explicitly saying so, that they are working towards a more suitable permanent solution, even as they pass out this "bottom of the palette" story. That being said, it is not entirely inconceivable that there may be buyers who will never hit this structural issue, now or during the duration of their ownership of the p35k. The events leading up thus far however makes this a bit of a risk, more so given the price of this machine. This whole thing is really unfortunately though, because going by its specs this laptop is indeed in a class of its own.

 

So base on your conversation with Gigabyte, are you still going to carry the P35K? At this point do you think they are going to be able to implement any long lasting solution for this generation of the P35K or are the improvements going to be forwarded onto the 2nd generation?

 

That's good to hear. The cheaper unbranded version shouldn't have that problem either so that laptop has risen on my list. I really liked the Gigabyte though...I think I'll just let this work itself out for a few months and see if anything's changed. I don't need a new laptop that bad.

 

What I don't get is why did gen tech get an engineering model of the P35K?

In all the foreign reviews about the engineering laptop the reviewer complained about flex, and stated somewhere in the line of that gigabyte knew this and was fixing it by using a better quality aluminum.

I'm perplexed right know, let me ask some Brits if they have the thunderbolt cut out, because on gigabytes page it's not even there anymore.

 

I'm pretty sure mine did not have a TB port blank

The flex to which you were referring to was keyboard flex.

How are you getting on with yours?

 

I posted this on their FB page.

 

XoticPC should be getting their shipment this week, I'll keep you up to date if my order gets shipped or not.

 

why repeat what you just said and add a sentence instead of edit your previous post?

 

That would be bad, although unlikely.

 

Mine does have the TB port but has been plugged with rubber. not sure you can see it in this image but that last cut out at the bottom is where it is... or used to be anyway.

 

Hmm, interesting.

I wouldn't be surprised if they mass produced the engineering chassis and are now trying to get rid of it in shipments, or were at least hoping to do so.
Hopefully gigabyte is already making the new ones with the stronger material.


You compare them yourself and see what has changed.

Here is the engineering model (Provided by Sienchen)
www.flickr.com/photos/linsinchen/9661662308/lightbox/

And from Kokoh who took a picture of the laptop he received a week ago.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eblzypwx08bufen/hlBy6_DQGZ#lh:null-2013-10-12 07.53.25.jpg

Only difference I see is the warranty sticker, meaning they are using the engineering chassis which was reported by linsinchen as clumsy. Note that the thunderbolt port is still a rubber stopper on both, and that the motherboard has a little notch for the actual port.

Interesting enough many of the pre release reviews stated that gigabyte acknowledge that the laptop was flimsy and that they were going to use a premium grade aluminum for production machines to stop that.

 

I really hope you're right. That gives me hope

 

If you look carefully you'll see that the engineering model has an "x" in a circle where the thunderbolt port would have gone on the motherboard. Also the upper chassis is aluminum I believe so it wouldn't be clear from these photos if they changed anything. Bottom cover is plastic which could also look identical but use a different type of plastic. Generally you don't want to use the stiffest plastic as that would be brittle and prone to shattering, too much flex and you get other strain problems.

Aside from that, you can't really determine if the thunderbolt port inclusion was because they used the engineering model plates. The plastic was probably injection molded and creating the molds can be expensive and time consuming on a laptop that was already pushed back a few months. My guess is that they decided the latter and that since the port was non-structural anyway it wouldn't matter so they didn't waste time/money creating new molds. For all we know it was a manufacturing issue, and not a design issue.

 

Well I forgot to post this with that, its from gigabytes website.
http://www.gigabyte.com/fileupload/product/5/4626/8624_big.jpg
So yes the group who designed the laptop after it was changed to black, did not plan to have it.
Your probably right about the manufacturing error.

 

That does look a bit like a generated image - rather than an actual photo?

 

I got no clue, but that's not the point they didn't design it with a rubber stopper.

 

Well, apparently the shipment is arrived shortly at Xoticpc according to an order confirmation email I got from Xoticpc. Though, I am having a bit of a hard time convincing them, despite the evidence and official response from Gigabyte (saying their shipping material/method to blame), to put a single piece of foam under the middle of the laptop.

They want me to shell out for "white glove treatment" for $39, which sees expanding foam around the product (or just the product's box, which may be useless if that is the case). I just want to save myself the headache and them from having to perform an RMA in such a short time because of a squabble over simple foam to get the product safely to the customer.

 

I really would not pay for that service.

It's in the retailers best interest to get it to you in one bit. If it doesn't arrive in perfect condition, they can pick it up from you.

In the UK, the retailer looks after the customer for two weeks ish, after then it's passed onto the manufacturer. does this not work in the USA?

 

Well, usually. I am in Canada, order from the US, so you can see my dilemma. I just want piece of mind and not really have to fight to get it. That's why I don't buy hard drives from Newegg. Very rarely do they get packaged properly and is a big reason why they have so many DOA feedbacks on their site.

 

@Likebutta did you get the CF2 model?
I got the CF1 and I'm not getting any emails.
Also on the live chat they told me they could tell the guys in the shop to put some extra foam in the box, but it was at their opinion and that it might not happen. (If they do it for mine they will do it for everybody as it has to get approved by the PM)

NewEgg has great prices, but holy crap does their customer service suck. (I talked to their REP on the phone right after I placed my order and it took the guy 15 minutes to find my order, then when he tried to change something in my order he said "Sorry looks like you CC has just been charged, please cancel this order and resubmit your order")
I recommend shopping at amazon if you need anything at all. I have not had a single hiccup with them.
They also take stuff back no questions asked, on every product that is fullfilled by them. (Be sure to read the fine print on newegg as some products aren't eligible for returns, especially if they are on sale)

@Blk

It really depends who you order from in the US.
Most of the companies here take refunds / returns only for an extended amount of time (15-30 days after shipment)

And isnt the UK very strict when it comes to warranties?

 

People you guys don't know what you are talking about!!!!

First of all the pictures on the gigabyte website are computer modelled and it says the pictures could be different from real life! So that's point one!
Point two! Thunderbolt port is there for everyone!! And it should be rubber cause they intend to produce cf3 with thunderbolt! So it will be costly I manufacture two chasis!! I am a computer technician and iv seen DELL HP ASUS TOSHIBA use rubber or plastic to cover the ports they don't want in the model they release!

Point three! Adding more rubber under the package during shipping will cause the damage it's a light weight metal that is used, so if you put foam and stuff under and the box gets hit, the laptop will be easily cause the foam helped transfer the force so keep that in mind and just take it as is! Every company has some good units and some bad and every store sold atleast 40 imagine that's over 200 units in the states and only a total of 10 returned for damage.... So relax and don't give them a hard time.

 

I pre-ordered the CF2, along with the crucial 256GB msata for the second slot, since its about the same price as I could get it for in Canada. I got the first "confirm" yesterday and then another today to reconfirm. At any rate, I'm going to push the issue about the extra foam without charge, given Gigabyte has openly stated it's part packing material, part lower pallet issue (I believe it's more but it's moot). I think for them to send it double boxed without any extra support would be a gross error of judgment. I mean, they would essentially be dumping responsibility on the customer even though they know there is an issue. And for the money being spent...

At any rate, I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll see what they say tomorrow.

Newegg used to have the best prices all the time but now it's few and far inbetween. And with some of the shipping issues, I almost completely avoid them now. In Canada, I use shopbot.ca to canvas all the tech shop sites to find the lowest price, then I go to memoryexpress.com, which offers price beat (they beat the price of a competitor by 15% of the difference + they match the shipping costs if lower than the 4.99 they offer). So I always end up ahead in regards to that.

 

Thanks WhiteBoy, for that feedback.

I had no clue manufactures did that in thought of future models.

Lastly how do you know how many units sold across the US?
Excaliber only got 10 laptops, Gentech refused the shipment and XOTIC is just getting the laptops, dynamism says stock due on the 22nd.

 

I'm planning on ordering mine with a 750 GiB HDD and 8 (maybe 16) GiB of RAM. I'm also planning on upgrading the WiFi card to the Intel AC card. Is that a good idea? I'm planning on getting a small SSD for it later.

 

I work in a computer store and we have information on all shipments and units brought in to every store and from the company,cf2 is completely almost sold out, except for gentech everything was damaged for them but they sold a few

 

In that context you know what's the word withe the CF1?

 

Friday everyone should have it, but worst case late shipment it should be Monday. But if you wanna make the worst out if it, next Friday will be as late as it will get. In two weeks there will be another shipment available, cause the units sent out for tomorow Friday the 18th are not that much so I'm sure not everyone will get there pre orders

 

Alright thanks man, appreciated.

Just got my RAM, Wifi card and mSSD by mail. I'm surprised how small this stuff can get.

 

thats nice man, you are ready to go!
which ram did you get ? can you send me the page of the place you got it from ?

 

We also talked about that there is possibilities that it might got bent at production to begin with and QA just didn't catch it, but we don't know for sure. So I decide to take a look at the review unit I have and do some test on that weak spot, it turned out to be pretty strong. Something has to hit it super hard in order to bend it and the lid or the screen bezel should show some kind of damage too but it didn't. Gigabyte put a metal under the plastic to support it.



I think it's strong enough for daily use and travel.

We will return the damage units to Gigabyte for exchange and if it turn out to be okay we will start shipping it.

 

You don't know what you are talking about!!!!!!

Its pure speculation that they will release a cf3 with a thunderbolt port, that not a justification. The real reason they did it is because making a new master mold would cost a load of money and time. The thunderbolt was not used since nobody uses the interface, only apple uses it at the moment. Apple supports firewire and now thunderbolt these interfaces are both better then USB, the problem is nobody uses them. Apple can support them since it created its own ecosystem they decide what goes.

Next point you talk how adding additional support to the middle will damage it, bro you don't know physics. You don't distribute the force down you distribute it to the sides and always from the weak points it how bridges work.

Of course there is good and bad units however lets look at some variables. Virtually all PC makers use multiple material when designing a laptop this cuts cost, however this make the laptop a lot weaker, this is why apple notebooks are durable. Next aluminium is not the optimal choice of material you wanna use, its used cause it cheap, light and easy to manipulate. It has a lot of weaknesses first being the fact that it retains heat and second if not formed properly it is weaker then plastic. Now lets look at the P35k, it seems like the business team got there say in how it was designed cause no engineer me being a computer engineer myself would never add a gap in the middle of a distributed system, the gap being the swap-able hard drive. Good for marketing pain in the for engineers. Coupled with the fact they joined plastic bonded to aluminium (weakness). They didn't even bother to reinforce the aluminium shell. This was definitely a rushed job. You say any 10 have been returned so what, there pretty clear that over time this laptop will not last at all. You pay 1400 + for a laptop and they screw up the casing, this is nothing new in the PC market. Clearly the unit needs a recall so stop kissing companies asses.

Finally you made a point where somehow you got all the shipping list for area. I call b.s. on that why would retailer store besides the local shipping company have access you anyone else's inventory list. Most of the time retail chains don't even know when they will get new stock for new products until after they have contacted the company.

 

Thanks for doing the video. I have a query in that you can see the surface supporting the laptop in the middle moving (ie taking load). The flex is still more evident when the lid is open as you'd expect

I know it's a ball ache but could you shoot it again but on a hard surface showing the gap in the centre & surface where there is no foot. It'd be interesting to see if it doesn't flex down then. Raising & supporting the outer edges also?

If you are really confident show the machine being picked up in the left hand (holding just the left front) with the lid open.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

 

Could you please show that in a video? I am curious to see what it looks like.

 

you clearly dont know physics and you're bad at engineering... if you look at the front gap the opening curve is facing downwards as the curve could be easily bent if pushed upwards, so when you add support in the middle from the bottom and the box hits and pressure applied it will bend, and no i dont represent any company, im just saying that you havnt had a hold of the laptop to know yourself and you are talking crap. as for distribution we are the primary shippers for gigabyte. and only 8 places in the states have it.

you seem to be full of assumptions my friend. check yourself before you wreck yourself.......

 

1. Have you held the laptop yourself? I bet you didn't.
2. When you first posted your comment that I replied too you clearly stated to the people of the forum they don't know what they are talking about. Your really humble aren't you.
3. I agree I made made some assumptions in my post and so did you which you clearly didn't state.
4. In terms of the physics I did not phrase myself correctly enough. You don't just add another piece of foam on the bottom, what I meant is you custom design it so it re-distributes the force away from the weak spot.

This is the last post I make regarding this issue with you and me.
Next time don't be high and mighty when you post

 

Here is the video:



I also compare the units has bent with the review unit that does not have problems, the unit bents feel soft probably because it's already bent.

It's late but yes, I can shoot another video tomorrow. I was just really curious that why the lid or bezel wasn't damage. it looks to me the bent was there without the lid hitting it, maybe it was even there before the unit was assembled.

 

Thanks. Appreciated.

 

Thanks GenTechPC

In your tests because the unit is supported in the middle, all you are testing for is compression (of which there is a fair bit of movement).

If the middle were unsupported you would be testing the flexing strength - which is the apparent problem.

 

From Gigabyte NB Facebook page:

The P35K hairline phenomenon on the top chassis edge near the DVD drive (ODD) is due to inadequate packaging of the P35K box. This hairline phenomenon has been assessed and further tests have shown that the new and improved packaging is an effective solution. This solution has been confirmed by the experimental report attached ->http://goo.gl/OiB5dx . All poorly packaged shipment has been fully recovered, and consumers can rest assured to make a purchase in the near future with the new and improved packaging.
Our commitment to delivering a unique product like the P35K has been overshadowed by this unfortunate incident. We apologize for the inconvenience and the further delay in the availability of the product.

2: Consumers who have purchased the P35K before October 18th, 2013, please note the following:
(1) If you have purchased the P35K, you may return the P35K to your reseller for a new unit with original proof of purchase. This scheme is effective only till 6:00pm December 31, 2013.
(2) If you are satisfied with the current unit and choose not to return/replace, we will provide free maintenance service for a five-year period (beginning from the time you purchased the unit) only for the top chassis near the DVD body of the unit. (intentional damage will not be covered under this warranty). This is our commitment and confidence in our products.

https://www.facebook.com/GIGABYTE.Notebook.Global?ref=stream&hc_location=stream

 

This makes me happy

 

Hmm, not convinced. If the laptops bent inside a carefully paged box, why won't it bend in my laptop bag when I carry it around? I.e. surely Gigabyte need to strengthen the laptop chassis.

 

Im glad, that we finally got more info. (Thanks Gentech)
I told ya you guys were jumping on the gun to quick.

And it's nice to know we get an extended 5 year warranty on just that part <3

Now I'm not regretting anything.

@jonathon

Gentech just fisted the laptop with all kinds of forces, didn't even bend. I'm pleased.

 

Only if you bought before the 18th of Oct.I bought mine before that and returned it for a replacement, so I'm not covered. I'm concerned that a bit of movement during transport could produce that level of bending damage, i.e. it still seems to be a structural weakness.

The new packaging is shown here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151923630791880.1073741841.106627006879&type=1

 

Don't worry so much, it will be fine. And if I recall your original laptop had no bend line correct?

I would of have kept it till they sorted the issue out.

Also here is the RAM I got,
http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Signa...id=1382103469&sr=8-10&keywords=8gb+sodim+ddr3

 

YAY!! Now I wish I'd bought this already...that 5-year warranty is KILLER.