*** Official Clevo P640RE/Sager NP8640 Owner's Lounge ***

Aftershock PC says this on their S-14 Tech Specs page:

Upon further searching, UMA mode is simply just Optimus with just the iGPU. So the power consumption is so low that the battery appears to have as much capacity as a 60 W hr battery. Or at least, this is my interpretation.

 

Sorry, I will like to repeat my question:

 

No; the GPU shouldn't be throttled just because the notebook doesn't support G-Sync. G-Sync is a display overclocking feature anyway; it has no effect on the clock rate of the GPU. The only factor affecting throttling is the cooling set-up. I just hope the fans are powerful enough and the heat pipes and heatsinks are well-designed enough to conduct away all the heat - I'd like some decent over-clocking head-room as well; I'm used to my GPUs running at sub-70 degrees C temperature (GTX 860M and 960M are two of the coolest notebook GPUs ever. The thermal energy generated vis-a-vis performance is unbeatable.

 

Thanks! I see, hmm... Now I wonder if these laptops support external G-Sync screens...

 

they should

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I hope so. The other interpretation is that 60wh gives you 3 hours, the supplied 40wh gives you less- In which case it's the GS40 for me.

We need reviews to settle this!

 

External g-sync depends on the wiring of the display outputs. If they are all through the IGP then no.

 

Looks like these small laptop threads become inactive very quickly... The P870DM thread is almost always at the top, followed by the P6XX and P7XX threads. Give small, portable laptops some love!

 

Well, it's not exactly anything really new or exciting. It's basically just Clevo's version of the P34W.

 

Actual product not in the hands of consumers yet lol, things may change once people start reviewing them

 

Yes it helps when the machine is out

 

BUT WHEN IS IT OUT?! I bet everyone wants to know that haha.

Sent from my potato running on Android 5.0.1

 

End of December.. Emailed RJTECH coincidentally about release..

 

wow thats pretty late. i guess clevo is gonna miss out on the holiday sales with this one then...

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I was expecting around mid December for Christmas, oh well... Clevo rules...

Sent from my potato running on Android 5.0.1

 

Mythlogic may or may not be adding a certain model to their website soon.

 

7

Lol, really? But your right about it being a version of P34W... A superior version

Agreed, guys be a bit patient!

 

We have exactly no idea what you are talking about. But we did just add a new model to the site, tracking for around mid-December right now

 

lol, u guys... heading to mythlogics website now

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Very nice. Now, all Clevo has to do is actually officially announce the P640RE on their website.

 

They already have. As well as the P775DM.
http://www.clevo.com.tw/clevo_prodetail.asp?id=895&lang=en

 

I think the real dilemma is waiting for the pascal refresh or not....

 

I thought Prema stated that this model didn't have the required hardware mux for the below functionality?

"You can select between Switchable graphics and dGPU all the time"

 

Looks like an amazing notebook.
I wonder if there is any difference between the 640 and the 641 other than the visual look/design of the chassis?

Definitely itching to upgrade from my trusty (yet getting old) P150HM.

 

No. That is what the XX0/XX1 distinction is for (applies to P65/P67 as well) - it's just a visual difference. Personally, I prefer the plain look of the P641.

 

It's just to give the option for personal taste as most people either want business acceptable or a subtle high end look.

 

The different chassis versions are offered by Clevo specifically to cater for different market regions. As a wider example, there are some versions of what we would class as mid-range models which have an alternative chassis colour/finish specifically for the Russian market. The 0 or 1 version just gives each Clevo customer the chance to choose what they want.

 

Indeed... That's why I said ' personally'... Everyone has their preferences, don't they?

I'll ask Aftershock if they offer the P641 version. If not, they usually might ship it over...

 

Yes of course Meaker and I were agreeing with you and expanding on the point!

 

Ok, just came back from the IT show here. My friend and I are quite pleased with the weight and size of the Aftershock S-14 but when we asked the staff, they said that there is no way to use only the discrete graphics; has to be always both onboard and discrete graphics. But I thought this to be strange since I heard from here that there is a mux function in the BIOS that can alter such behavior. Am I misunderstanding something?

 

No, the guys at Aftershock are correct. This was discussed a while ago here in this thread. There is a MUX switch in the BIOS of the P640RE, but it only switches between iGPU only and MSHYBRID, which is basically just Optimus. This notebook doesn't have G-Sync, so there's no need to have a dGPU-only mode.

According to @XMG and @Prema, however, there is apparently a video-out port that's connected directly to the dGPU, bypassing the Intel iGPU altogether. So you can have the best of both worlds.

 

Downsampling, LCD overclocking, etc are reasons to have a dGPU only mode.

 

This can be done by software, can it not? Such as 'Ubersampling' in Witcher 2.

That's basically what G-Sync is, isn't it?

 

Wot? Display overclocking is increasing the maximum refresh rate of the display by raising it above the rated spec. It has nothing to do with G-Sync.

 

Ah ok, that clears things up a bit! Thanks!

Sidenote: My friend wanted pure dGPU more for compatibility and performance.

 

It's nice to have to connect up some of the tastier displays.

 

Looks like one of the usage patterns for this laptop would be using MSHYBRID with laptop screen outside for maximum battery life, and then at home use the dGPU-exclusive DisplayPort with a GSync monitor (and good USB keyboard and mouse e.t.c.)?

 

Does anyone know how the laptop works with linux? Arch, Ubuntu, debian or other distros?

 

Exactly, you are usually plugged in when using the external outputs too.

 

Yeah a little back and forth on this model We finally got the final diagram on it:

1 x Mini-DP Hooked right to the 970
1 x Internal LCD hooked to Intel GPU (No Mux)
1 x HDMI hooked to Intel GPU (No Mux)
1 x Mini-DP hooked to Intel GPU (No Mux)

Doesn't help that their early BIOS had the wrong options

 

It may have been the development boards had slightly different layouts. For a static setup (no MUX) it's a pretty flexible setup.

 

so it looks like only the 15 and 17 incher P6 skylake series have internal mux switches, whereas the 14 incher doesnt.

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That's correct, but you can still get dedicated external output.

 

Hmm... Am I right to summarise the three laptops into this list?

14: Get if really need small size and weight but don't mind the lack of MUX (i.e. no dGPU for portable usage)
15: Get if want MUX (i.e. dGPU for portable usage), slightly higher battery life and thermal performance, but don't mind slightly bigger size and weight
17: Get if want MUX (i.e. dGPU for portable usage) and biggest portable screen, but don't mind the bigger size and weight

 

The GPU is still accessible, it's just done through optimus.

 

Hmm... So it's more like a software-only switch in the 14 inch v.s. software or hardware switch in the 15/17 inch? (Yes, the word switch is not the best to use here but I am not sure what else can I call it :X)

 

In optimus nothing ever switches, it's just if the IGP is sending the rendering off to the dedicated GPU or not. The dedicated GPU is more of a co-processor.

 

I see, I was trying to say earlier that the 14 inch has no pure dGPU (i.e. no IGP) option while the others do have.

 

I have been following this thread from the very beginning, but this is my first post. I highly value the competence of posters and therefore would like to ask for your advice on the following:

1) Is there any chance that P640RE would be available with a touchscreen option?
2) Is any 14"-15" Clevo equipped with a touchscreen?
3) What other highly portable (<=2kg) would you recommend with discrete graphics and touchscreen (preferably, hybrid/convertible) for around 1200USD? Some possibilities: Yoga 460 (weak 940M), Surface Book (too expensive), MSI GS40 (build quality, heat, touchscreen?), Dell XPS 15 Touch (very expensive), Gigabyte P34W v5 (build quality, touchscreen?), Samsung Ativ Book 9 Spin (expensive), what else?

All in all, I need a portable machine (less or around 2kg) with dedicated graphics (ideally, 960M or better), touchscreen (ideally, convertible/hybrid), as many replaceaple/upgradeable parts as possible, price below 1500USD. To be used mostly for business (non-graphics intensive tasks) and occasional gaming. And ideally it would be reasonably future-proof (3+ years).

Many thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to NotebookReview.

No, not with stock options, at least. It is possible, in theory, to purchase an aftermarket screen with touch capability and replace the stock screen, but it's a tall order. Not recommended.

Possibly. You could visit the Clevo website to find out more.

You ask for much. There is, literally, no laptop on the market now that can satisfy all your demands, for the very reason that many of what you ask are mutually exclusive - if you choose one, you cannot have the other - no ifs or buts.

To elaborate, here is what you want:

1. Mass - 2 kg or less
2. GPU - GTX 960M or better
3. Touchscreen
4. Convertible
5. Highly modular; parts easily replaced
6. Low price: US$ 1500 or less

1) and 5) are immediately exclusive - most "modular" laptops have at least some heft to them; in the most extreme of cases, the P7XX and P8XX series are literally portable desktops where nearly everything can be replaced. It's a simple fact: the thinner and lighter the laptop, the less modular and more locked-down it is.

1) and 2) are also exclusive. If you want decent specs, you ought to expect a decent amount of mass, at least for the cooling set-up. The 960M runs fairly cool, so it would survive in a relatively thin laptop; anything better requires at least an inch of thickness and a fair amount of copper. This is simple physics at work - you can't get around it. If not, you have a thin laptop with very powerful specs, and you end up having components that overheat and throttle even at light loads, like the Gigabyte P34W, MSi GS40, Aorus, and Razer Blade (more on the Blade below).

4) and 5) are also mutually exclusive; perhaps to the largest extent. I have never seen a modular, convertible laptop yet. A convertible laptop requires very intricate internal electrical design, much more so than an ordinary one (open up a Yoga Pro 2 or a Surface Book, and you'll understand what I mean), and companies can't have their customers fiddling with the internals and mucking up their computers and then asking for free repair service. Companies have it bad enough with ordinary laptops that can be opened, let alone convertibles.

Finally, 2), 3), 4) and 6) are mutually exclusive. If you want any two of the first three, be prepared to forgo 6). Powerful laptops are not cheap (except perhaps Clevo, but they're still expensive compared to desktops); we can leave powerful, convertible and touchscreen laptops out of the question altogether. Touch screens are also expensive. Drop your phone and shatter the screen; you'll end up coughing up $200 for the screen repair alone. Screens are easily one of the most expensive components (if not the most) in a touch-based set-up.

Nevertheless, you have missed out the 14" Razer Blade with touchscreen in your list, which I already mentioned earlier as prone to overheating. This laptop satisfies only 1), 2) and 3) as it's thin, has a GTX 970M and has a touchscreen, but it is nowhere close to convertible nor modular; it's also very expensive. You see what I mean when they're mutually exclusive?