EVOC P870DM3 Review by Phoenix

First and foremost, what makes this machine the beast it is, is the Prema BIOS! Without it, these are very limited machines that throttle under load or whenever the CPU+GPU are being used (ie. gaming, benchmarking, etc). Without the Prema BIOS, I would not even consider touching a Clevo laptop!

Since HIDevolution (the system builder behind the EVOC brand) is a Prema partner, this machine will get the Prema BIOS and VBIOS as soon as it's finalized and tested.

Spoiler: Benefits of the Prema BIOS/VBIOS

Benefits of Prema BIOS:

• Fixes the biggest issue with these Clevo laptops where they would throttle the CPU as low as 2.5 GHz the moment both the CPU & GPU are under load due to current issues with the Clevo Stock BIOS/EC Firmware.
• The ability to disable other drives connected to your system without physically removing them from your laptop, this comes in handy when installing Windows as you never want to have more than one drive connected at the time you are installing Windows otherwise the Windows setup will place the boot files on the 2nd drive it sees which hurts performance and makes it a headache when creating system images or restoring since the boot files are not on the main drive.
• The ability to overclock, increase Turbo Power Limits and System IA/Core Current Limits
• The ability to enable Intel Speed Shift Technology (it is disabled in the stock BIOS)
• The ability to run RAM with speeds higher than the standard 2133 MHz. I am not talking about overclocking here, I am talking about actual RAM sticks that are rated to run at 2800 MHz for example like the G.Skill 64GB 2800 MHz kit I have. With the stock BIOS, they will not run above 2400 MHz. In the case of the P870DM3, the stock BIOS now supports up to 2666 MHz. I believe but not more, so the Prema BIOS is a must again
• Fixes the instability with the G.Skill 3000 MHz. RAM using XMP Profile 1 with timings of 16-18-18-18 where in the stock BIOS you would have constant crashes or not be able to boot altogether so you’re forced to use XMP Profile 2 which is slower with 18-18-18-18 timings.
• The ability to enable CSM for those who want to install other OSes like Windows 7
• The ability to undervolt the CPU as the stock voltage is way too high which causes the CPU to overheat much quicker and thus throttle under load.
• The ability to enable or disable CPU AES instructions or Virtualization
• The ability to disable hibernation from the BIOS
• Sets the default keyboard lights from blue to white which suits more tastes

Benefits of Prema VBIOS:

• Power throttle disabled
• Over-voltage slider enabled and adjusted (up to a maximum of 1.2v)
• Activated and adjusted thermal slider (to keep it cooler if desired)
• Core overclock slider limit raised
• Power consumption meter activated
• Fixed 3D voltage base-line in order to stabilize OCs and voltage-match both cards in SLI systems (based on average ASIC)
• Thermal protection @ 92c (once*91c are breached the system throttles volts and clocks in order to protect it)
• Protection against Furmark and Kombustor GPU burnout (AVOID those software even with stock vBIOS)!

System Specs:

EVOC P870DM3

CPU: Intel Skylake i7-6700K (Silicon Lottery Delidded) @ 4.6 GHz
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws 64GB DDR4 3000MHz RAM
GPU: 2x GeForce GTX 1080 SLI 8GB GDDR5
Sound: Realtek Audio with Sound Blaster 3D Audio
Storage: 2x Samsung 950 PRO 512GB SSD + 2x Samsung Spinpoint 5400 RPM 2TB HDD (Single Spanned 4TB Partition)
Wireless: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
Screen: AUO B173QTN01.0 17.3" 3K QHD 120Hz 5ms LED Matte Type Display with G-SYNC Technology
Mouse: Logitech G900 Chaos Spectrum Wireless Gaming Mouse
Power: 2x330W AC Power Adapters
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Warranty: 3 Year International Global Warranty which covers shipping costs both ways should anything go wrong with the laptop

Thermal Paste: IC Diamond on the CPU and GPUs using the X Cross method to ensure maximum coverage and the least air bubbles.





Price as configured: $7000 USD












The GPU heatsink now overlaps the CPU







Temps during these benchmarks:


Benchmarks:

nVIDIA GeForce Driver used during these tests: 375.95

3DMark11 - GTX 1080 SLI - CPU 4.6 GHz-GPU Core 170MHz-Mem 300MHz


Fire Strike - GTX 1080 SLI - CPU 4.6 GHz-GPU Core 170MHz-Mem 300MHz



Time Spy - CPU 4.6 GHz-GPU Core 200MHz-Mem 300MHz



CINEBENCH R15



wPrime



AS SSD Benchmark



CrystalDiskMark



AIDA64 Cache & Memory Benchmark




Max Temps while encoding a video @ 4.6 GHz:



Verdict: 7/10

No laptop out there even comes close to this beast which can demolish even high end gaming desktop PCs! But the cramped 15 inch keyboard that they put in this 17 inch laptop is what made its overall score go lower than it could've been.

 

Bro, it is still throttling... from 4,600 Mhz to 4,595.5 Mhz. I would throw that laptop out in the trash (just mention before you do so I could be passing by accidentally at that time)

Is that Prema BIOS and vBIOS an RC version or still an early beta ?

 

Thank you for sharing. For $7000~ it better outperform most desktops.

 

@Phoenix Nice review.

Everything is looking good except your 3DM11 score seems a bit low.

Here's a comparison:

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/3dm11/11768503/3dm11/11776001

Your GPU score seems much lower than it should be. Even though I'm running Windows 7, 10 does not affect the GPU score much only Physics.

Go to the nVidia Control Panel and look for Power Management Mode. Change it to Adaptive if it is set to Optimal Power and rerun 3DM11.

 

that's not throttling, that's fluctuation of the BCLK (Base Clock Overclocking) FSB of the motherboard. happens even on desktop CPUs unless you bump up the FSB to let's say 101 MHz instead of 100 MHz

The throttling was before going down to 2.5 GHz during 80% of the benchmark and making my score garbage.

The Prema BIOS is in Beta but super stable now.

 

my GPU is set to High Performance, texture filtering to high performance, vsync off, gsync off

what else do you recommend?

any comments on this @Mr. Fox

 

oohh snap!! I feel pwnt!

 

I'm not sure what else it could be. Check to make sure Frame Limiting isn't enabled in your overclock tool of choice (MSI Afterburner or EVGA PrecisionX):

This is a bone stock run on my system when I first got it. GPU score is still at least 52k [Win10]

 

ohh wait a second, I overclocked using the built in GPU overclocking tool of the Clevo Control Center

Can I use nVIDIA Inspector? @bloodhawk said you can't anymore. I don't wanna adjust the voltage, just raise the frequencies

 

I overclocked that run I showed you using the Clevo tool as well so that's fine! The only problem with that tool is limited memory overclocking and no voltage. As of right now we cannot control voltage, unless you have a Prema vBIOS already.

 

I don't offcourse

 

Also make sure to disable g-sync for benching...

 

Nvidia Inspector can do simple frequency changes. Anything more and you need to use Afterburner. Im not sure they have added the other tweaking options to Nvidia inspector or not. But i would use anything else over the Clevo apps.

 

I did

 

Look at the results below. Both your two best 3DM11 benchmark tests shows very low results for 3 out of 4 graphics tests. Run a test with stock graphics and then re run overclocked. Turn off Hwinfo64 in the tests. Consider as well reinstall driver. Please also try with XMP2 on your ram sticks. Because something is very wrong here,
http://www.3dmark.com/compare/3dm11...3dm11/11738200/3dm11/11768495/3dm11/11737690#
If you have a Kill-A-Watt. Monitor the max power draw from the wall.


This is most of your 3DM11 benchmark tests. All of them provide lower graphics scores than what is normal http://www.3dmark.com/compare/3dm11.../3dm11/11774287/3dm11/11773980/3dm11/11751171

http://www.notebookcheck.com/Test-Schenker-XMG-U727-Clevo-P870DM3-G-Notebook.173373.0.html

 

Thank you Mr. Sherlock Holmes (detective), I will try more and I will turn off HWiNFO

 

Great Same time re-run Cinebench R15. But without Hwinfo in the background Because 984Cb in CBR15 is far below what is normal for 4.6 GHz.
4.6 GHz = Around 1018 - 1020cb
I have over 1000cb in Cinebench R15 tested with a wimpy 4.5 GHz vs. your stronger 4.6 GHz CB R15 - 984cb

Spoiler: Cinebench R15 - 1001cb with 4.5 GHz

 

@Papusan @Mr. Fox @Prema @Johnksss@iBUYPOWER

Thanks guys for the tip of disabling the hardware monitoring stuff, I just re-ran the benchmarks and the scores have increased a lot! Check the OP

 

Finally listening +rep

 

@Mr. Fox @Johnksss@iBUYPOWER

Is my Physics score low because of the whole SLI CPU down clock issue on the stock Clevo BIOS?

http://www.3dmark.com/compare/3dm11...3dm11/11738200/3dm11/11768495/3dm11/11737690#

Hmm that's what it's looking like:

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/11734446

I should try this on windows 7

Nice!

 

Yes, on the BIOS causing CPU throttling. Once the @Prema Mod is available to Prema Partner customers that will be a thing of the past, at least for those of us that bought from Prema Partner shops. Ordinary Clevo owners can dramatically improve that situation by getting the correct EC version from the vendor they purchased from.

Also, yes on Windows 7 if you want the best 3DMark 11 scores. Windows 10 really sucks for 3DMark Physics tests. It is not only 3DMark 11, as Fire Strike Physics scores are lower as well, but you don't get penalized for it as harshly. You can improve the Physics and Combined scores by killing as many background tasks and services as possible and leaving only the bare minimum of what Windows 10 needs to run left running.

 

And not all background tasks and services is needed for all Windows users. @ssj92 More Details: http://www.blackviper.com/service-co...onfigurations/

 

I tested before the latest Prema BIOS with the new EC Firmware Fix then after, and the difference is huge. I got a 25% - 30% increase in all my scores due to the CPU not downclocking to 2.5 GHz and staying stable @ 4.6GHz

 

Out of the box from HID my machine is scoring 25618. It is throttling down to 3.5 from 4.4 during the run. Can't wait for @Prema to give us his magic. Temp on CPU max's out at 71. Forgot to check GPU temps, at work now. I'll make another pass when I get home to check all temps again. This is hooked to my external 1440p running at 144hz.

 

stock BIOS/EC is a mess, this will be solved soon when you get your Prema BIOS as soon as it's finalized.

On a side note, I am uploading the video review as we speak

 

video review added to the OP, make sure to change the quality to 1080P

 

I approve this message. Glad I took your advice and went with this model @Phoenix and @Donald@HIDevolution for making this possible

 

site not working for me can you please double check.....thanks

 

Same, can't wait for Prema

 

It is down for the moment. Try later or use Easy Service Optimizer v1.2 http://www.sordum.org/8637/easy-service-optimizer-v1-2/

 

Thanks for the video review Phoenix. Even when seen through the video the screen looks amazing. I can't wait to get mine.

Where did you get your screensaver?

 

The screen saver that NEVER gets boring, been using it for years:

Matrix Screensaver v1.2

PS: Mind you, the review was done using a phone camera so it's not the best quality. Comments in the video are disabled to keep the trolls away

 

Excellent - that is now my new screensaver. ;-)

The quality of the video is neither here nor there - very happy to get a glimpse of my beasts body double. ;-) Thanks for the effort.

 

lemme know when you get your taptop chief

 

I absolutely will do. Mine is still in production stage awaiting parts. I'm anxiously hoping I will get it before the 16th which is when I need to leave the country. Donald has been very reassuring that the laptop will make it on time. I'm really looking forward to it and will appreciate your advice and help to tune her up.

 

@Phoenix Congratulation got your Monster.

See the benchmark of your 512G 950pro, is really nice. But for me, the bechmark of AS SSD and Samsung Magician is different on Seq Read as below, is missing something for me?

 

Which NVMe Driver are you using?

I am using this: Samsung 950/960 Pro/960 EVO NVMe Driver v2.0

Also, what is your Overprovisioning level? I have a 20% OP

 

@Phoenix, I use the old driver before, but updated to v2.0, syill have the same problem

 

any background service might be causing activity on the SSD? Make sure Steam/Origin are closed when your are benchmarking

Also, please show me your latest AS SSD Benchmark, also disable your AV when benchmarking

 

Cool,great review mate

 

Is the bios and vbios available for the p870dm3?

 

Hi all, I will recive mine on monday. And I didnt know about the prema partnership so I bough it from sager. Now how can I get the prema bios (is it even available yet) and beside that and your display calibration whatelse shoild I do?

 

It does not exist yet in final form, you can get a lot out of the stock BIOS anyway so I would only worry about it if you start reaching the limits there.

 

Not yet

 

no way you can get it without buying the laptop from a Prema Partner as far as I know.

 

Must be heavy duty testing going on. Haven't seen much postings from @Prema or @Mr. Fox

 

@Prema is doing all of the work. I know he is going as fast as he can, but there is lots to be done. While it looks about the same on the outside, at the firmware level the DM3 is not the same as the DM1 in so many ways. A whole new horde of demons needs to be exorcised in this wave. More than simply un-hiding menus and hoping things work, adding features and support where there are none takes time as well. It may be safe to say that some things are hidden in the firmware by OEMs only so they don't have to go to the trouble or be bothered by making all things function correctly... out of sight, out of mind, LOL.

Getting closer by the day, but can't give an ETA at this time.

Remember, the Sky X9 BIOS mods took a while as well. When it's ready it will be awesome.

 

No doubt and as it appears on the outside I was assuming that there was much more involved. i am greateful for @Prema ability and devotion to the community he provides. I am patiently awaiting as my machine is running "ok" right now, HID did a great job @Donald@HIDevolution . Soon as it released and I recover from my crazy Christmas spendings I am going to give him a nice donation.

 

Then again it can be easy to go into something with a particular mind set and make it more to your liking, however having to consider a wider audience would make it a more difficult task.