New Razer Blade (2015)

I just got my razerblade in the mail today. I would try to get the student discount, I ended up getting about $240 off.

 

I think someone was mentioning that the Microsoft Store was offering free shipping and 10% off. That's about 230-260 off depending on the model you get. I would look into ordering from Microsoft as they have a longer and cheaper warranty service agreement for the notebook.

 

thanks guys. problem is.. i want the 1080p version, which doesn't seem like the MS store will be carrying soon or if at all. crazy that tax alone is almost another $200. i remember when i used to be able to order stuff online like amazon and not get charged tax. sigh. i'm having second thoughts now and looking into the Asus G751. it looks like more bang for your buck, but i've never owned that size notebook before. guess i'll hold off for now and think about it more.

by the way.. for the new owners of the Blade.. how are you guys finding the heat? i live in a small NYC apt, so sometimes i game with the notebook on my lap, since i have no space for a desk. is this doable with older games like Skyrim that wouldn't really draw that much gpu power, or would i need a cooling pad?

 

Get a lap desk.

I use this thing to game on the couch/recliner all the time.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0031047H8/ref=pd_aw_sim_op_1?refRID=0QNCMTNR66VZJS6PTZS1

 

This is the one I have. http://www.amazon.com/Lap-Desk-4530..._sbs_op_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1DKG5YGHH48PXZCWZG3X

 

I used to have that one, the cushions were a little thin and it used to bottom out on my lap. I like the lap King one much better.

 

So the Canadian online MS store now has the 2015 Razer Blade in stock but only the 256 GB storage option

Edit: They now also have the 512GB storage option

 

I'm going to try this! Do you use a mouse with it as well with your razer? enough room? Around 10cm if i'm correct

 

ended up going with an Alienware 15 instead for better cooling. i'm too concerned about the heat for the Blade, as the reviews i've read shows it's still too hot for an hour or so of gaming. i'll see how the AW15 goes. got it for a bit of a discount on Amazon. i'll keep an eye on the RB still tho. maybe the next version will be the ticket. if anyone gets the RB 1080p version, please let me know how it is in terms of battery life and heat. thanks

 

You definitely won't be able to use a mouse on it. The surface looks like tire tread to allow air to flow through the intake fans on the bottom.

I use a Logitech Anywhere MX (darkfield). It works on literally any surface. I use a stiff pillow or the arm of my chair is flat and just wide enough to use that in a pinch. I don't have to do it often as I use a 360 controller on every game that supports it, and those that don't most of them are fine with the track pad.

Something like Diablo that requires speed and accuracy I'll break it out for and change my seating location.

 

Eh? I've gamed for hours at a time on many occasions. It's not going to catch on fire or melt.

 

Kind of an odd thing. The RB isn't really meant to measure up to an Alienware. You are buying the RB for the form factory. AW is bulky. (I know, I've owned many)

Did you buy the new AW15 or last year's? New one is still running 870M if I recall correctly.

 

There was no AW15 last year. There was an AW14 but that had a 765M I think.

 

got this model:

• Intel Core i7-4710HQ Processor (6M Cache, 2.5 GHz)
• 16 GB DDR3
• 1000 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive, 128 GB Solid-State Drive
• 15.6-Inch 1080p IPS Screen (i believe it's matte)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M with 3GB GDDR5

i'll be replacing that hard drive. total was around $1700 with free 2 day shipping, so should have it Saturday the Amazon rep said. saved a couple of hundred bucks and gained more ram compared to the 1080p RB, and a mini display port.

i'll see how it is, but i've yet to count out the 1080p RB. my main concerns were bang for buck and heat. i almost got the ASUS G751JT, as that was really the best for the money, but i got to try it out earlier at B&H, and i just didn't like the form factor. i loved the big screen tho, and that's when i started leaning towards the AW15, as i do prefer the 15.6" more than 14".. i know i'm sacrificing a bit of portability, but i figured the better cooling, slightly bigger screen, and cheaper price are good trade-offs. we'll see.. i've been spoiled by my MacBook Pro, so if the AW15 doesn't come close to it's quality, i'll revisit Razer again.

 

Let me know what you think of the AW15 in terms of portability. Was also considering it but I thought it might be too heavy to carry to class every day.

 

will do. i lifted up some similar weight notebooks while i was at B&H, and 7lbs is not bad at all. i carry a 7lb Gibson ES-339 guitar around here in NYC, so i have an idea. but i should also consider the power brick, which would also add in a bit of weight.

 

To be honest, the cooling argument is pretty irrelevant at this point unless you will be playing games on your lap. Maxwell is cool and OC is blocked anyway so headroom is pointless as you will get no extra performance. Screen size and price are genuine concerns though and if you don't need/want the portability, aesthetic appeal and battery life of the Razer Blade then there are a lot of other good, if not even better, options out there.

 

unfortunately, i will be doing some lap gaming, as i don't have space for a desk in my small NYC apt. so this definitely played a factor. i mostly play Skyrim and Mass Effect 3, and with those 2 on my MacBook Pro, the aluminum unibody gets pretty hot. i was just imagining how much hotter it would be with a 970m and more powerful CPU in there.

 

Yeah, you made the right choice. I can't imagine the Blade at full load being comfortable on your lap.

 

I suggest a lap desk. The intake vents are on the bottom. There would be the risk of blocking them without a surface. Any gaming notebook really isn't suitable for lap placement without a lap desk.

 

i was hoping reviews would be out already for the 1080p Blade, as i really want that one, but just couldn't take the plunge without knowing how the temps are.

i actually have one with a usb fan. even with that, i found the MBP got pretty hot. it's just how the aluminum spreads the heat i guess.

 

Don't expect the 1080p version to be cooler as it has the same CPU, GPU and cooling setup so it should hit the same temps and I think the purpose of the table fan is to keep the vents unobstructed while separating the laptop from your lap. It's not supposed to cool the laptop. I will probably get myself one.

 

Why not consider the MSI Ghost Pro that weighs the same, is as thin, has two *user upgradable* mSATA slots plus one *user upgradable* 2.5" SATA bay, two actual *user upgradable* SoDIMM slots and a 15.6" high quality IPS screen, plus has HDMI 1.4 AND DisplyPort for $200 less (and has been available for the last six months). Only thing Blade may have going for it is the better battery life. Not sure how much better it will be though.

Not entirely true, I own a MSI GS Ghost Pro with 3k screen and the msata drives are mounted on the opposite side of the motherboard under the keyboard requiring extensive disassembling to flip the board over and expose the drives. A feat not for the inexperienced user to attempt. The 2.5" HDD is about the only component that's easily accessed for upgrading.

What's the wait time for getting a new RB 14 delivered after ordering? Thinking about picking one up.

 

that and a better build quality, plus I personally much prefer the looks of the blade. but yeah, thats just my oppinion

 

that and a better build quality, plus I personally much prefer the looks of the blade. but yeah, thats just my oppinion

 

Ghost Pro 3k seems like the best balance, but I haven't seen them for sale anywhere.

 

Good review here of the RB15

 

Get it today or looking like Monday?

 

My Blade arrived today by the way. The build quality trumps anything I've ever owned really. It looks even better built than the rMBP.

 

Someone I work with had just bought a 15' MBP and then saw this and mentioned her thoughts to me on my RB - "WTF is that? - OOO touch screen. I want one.

 

Got it yesterday.

Just realized the 512GB model costs more than any MBP. Finally something that isn't TOO gimped and costs an arm and a leg! It's like getting raped by Apple but not.

 

Hey, anyone know where I can buy a second charger? I found a charger on amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Charger-RZ09-0102-RZ09-01020101-R3U1-Gaming/dp/B00GDHT6YK) but I am not sure if it is for the razerblade 2015. Razer does sell the charger on their website but its over a 100 bucks not sure if its worth the price. Anyone know if that amazon charger will be enough?

 

Generic chargers, especially on gaming notebooks, aren't a good idea.

 

The Way Its Meant To Be Presented.

 

I feel like 47W cpu is a mistake on Blade, it already ran way too hot before. Can we get some temperature charts people? Like an hour of gaming (crysis 3 is a good benchmark) fans seem to spin around the neighborhood of thin and powerful form factors (50-54db), i wish they released a laptop with 37W cpu and 965m (2013 model was golden in terms of power form factor and heat management). I am kind of skeptical that in this form factor it will manage the heat.. Still it is the best looking gaming laptop on the market, enjoy folks!!

 

They probably did it because the GPU now has a much lower TDP. To be honest I'm pleasantly surprised by the temps. I did the intel XTU stress test for 15 minutes with the CPU utilisation being at 98-100% the whole time. It got hot at the beginning but when the fans got into full speed, the temps stayed at 88-90 degrees which I think is reasonable. The GPU is very cool too. After 3 firestrike runs, it got to 82 degrees which is fine to me. I think it's a good package.

 

I wouldnt call it good, but at least it survives for now (90c on cpu and 82c on gpu is quite hot) anadtech's review shows kind of heating towards 85c and then down to 80c constantly. Not to say its bad, i think it is the best choice for a gaming laptop, though i miss the excellent heat management of 2013 model. At the same time 970m is a marvel, it is too tough to hold it back for a minor win in temperature department. If cpu was 37w it would have been much better.. Either way it seems to be slowly reaching that 3k gaming level, next gen nvidia will be amazing

Edit: also try to undervolt, i am suffering the same issue on p35x, -60mV on cpu makes 6-7c difference on gpu temps!

 

10+ degrees below maximum safe temperature during a stress test seems good to me to be honest. It's not a processor that anyone should try to everclock anyway. It's true that lower is always better but I definitely believe that full load at 90°C in that kind of package is good. When playing games the GPU never gets to the 80s. Even 82 is well below thermal limits so I'd consider that good too especially in laptops when these GPUs are only in use when intense activities are running. A 37W CPU would have been cooler but I don't think the difference would have been that significant. The 2013 blade got just about as hot according to the notebook check review. And Yeah I guess 3K gaming is possible when you dial down settings but I can't even max out The Sims 4 at 3K with constant 30+ FPS so I'll stick to 900p for now.

 

I have the 2013 version and cpu gpu both stay at 70s, the laptop is running strong for 1.5 years already. Anyway, enjoy the laptop mate!

 

Thanks. How has the battery life changed on that model over time? Is it still as good as when you first purchased your machine?

 

The battery is still pretty good, at first it was 5-6 hours, right now it can do 3 hours (both during browsing)

 

Alright. Thank you.

 

Anyone have problems with the laptop not turning on the first time? When I press the power button it will get to the bios screen and after that it will turn off. Pressing the power button the second time will bring me to the windows login screen.

 

Haven't had that issue on RB but my second Aorus is having that issue which I'm sending in for RMA today because of that. It's not normal and something is definitely wrong.

 

Never had that issue.

 

I just want to see how many of you guys get dead pixels on their screen (the QHD+ one).
I returned my 512GB RB today in a Microsoft store because there was a dead pixel near the center. I wanted to do an exchange but they don't have 512Gb in store. So I just returned it and get a new 256GB one instead (the only one they have left). Well, the new one's got 3 dead pixels !!! Two near the center and one on the edge. I returned the new one as well.

Now I have to wait until the credit refunded back to me before I can order a new one. I kind of wish I kept the first one because the pixels are so tiny on the screen and I don't notice it until I am really close. But for a $2500+ machine, I just don't want to compromise.

 

Yes, I went through an awful RMA saga with MS/Razer when buying the 2014 Blade for just this reason. I ended up returning two that all had dead pixels before I received a third one that had a perfect screen. But the third one had a bad GPU--nearly every game I tried would crash 5 minutes in, and GPU check utilities would immediately report errors. So I returned that one, only to receive, wait for it--a unit with dead pixels. So I got sick of wasting my time and money I returned it for good. Like you, I'd expect dead pixels on a $700 machine, but not a ~$3,000 machine marketed as a premium product.

Now the RB 2015 is out and I was excited, expecting them to have improved their QA. I bought the 512 GB model, and of course, it arrived with not just dead pixels, but also a weird color shift--the left side of the screen is tinted yellow, the right side is tinted pink. Not very noticeable during gaming, but extremely noticeable on white backgrounds, like the Google homepage. I've set up a return for this one and am waiting a replacement, but I'm not going to give Razer more chances than this--looks like they're using the exact same B-grade screens from the RB 2014.

I suspect the issue is that larger vendors like Apple and Dell might have bought out all of Sharp's A-grade IGZO panels. Razer, a smaller vendor, would have gotten stuck with the B-grade panels. Or maybe they went with the B-grade panels to increase their margin and hoped nobody would notice. Typically B-grade panels are sold cheaper to entities that don't care about a dead pixel or two, like medicine and government.

All I can say is, if you're thinking of buying the RB 2015, buy from the MS store. They have a very generous return and exchange policy, including free return shipping. If you get a unit with a poor quality screen, make sure to mention you're returning it for dead pixels--maybe MS, and then Razer, will get the message.

It's really too bad--the RB 2015 hits nearly all of my checkboxes for a perfect laptop. 14 inches, good touchpad with independent buttons, ultrabook form factor, insane specs, hidpi panel. But they haven't gotten their QA down for their panels. If anyone from Razer is reading, I'd be happy to pay more to get a perfect-pixel warranty or guarantee.

 

Wow. Here I was thinking I was unlucky. You have gone through pretty much the same exact thing as I did with the RB 2014. Returned my first one due to white spots on screen. The return came back with the screen flawless but the system would shut off randomly after 5 mins or so of gaming. They exchanged yet again for a new unit, with, guess what? White spot on the screen. My next, and for sure, last replacement is coming in tomorrow. They claimed to have manually inspected this system for marks on the screen and stress tested the system. We'll see if their expectations match mine.

Sent from my OnePlus One using Tapatalk

 

Tough luck guys. I hope you finally get the perfect one.
Fortunately, the guys at Microsoft Store are very nice, so I don't have too much trouble returning mine.
But I am kind of surprised/disappointed that Razer don't improve their quality check on their machines when quality is their selling point. I mean, the price difference between the 1080p version vs the qhd version is $400 ! That's a huge mark up for just a screen change and +8gb of ram. Yet they can't spend a little extra time to check their machines before shipping them.

 

The base price may be high but the markup certainly is not. AW charges $350 extra for the 4K on the AW15 and the clevos also have a $300 for the 4K sharp and that one is non touch. It's standard with the rest of the industry.