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Schenker XMG P705 (Clevo P670SA) Notebook Review

High-end class. Nvidia launches its new gaming model right at the beginning of the New Year. We already had the chance to check the performance of the GeForce GTX 965M. Is this the end of the GeForce GTX 860M?

For the original German review, see here.

We already reviewed the 15-inch sibling XMG P505 twice (see here and here), now we have a closer look at the XMG P705. The general construction of the 17-inch notebook is very similar, which is also apparent when you look at the available components in the configurator.

Inside the chassis are four DDR3 memory slots (up to 32 GB), three M.2 slots (1x WLAN, 2x Solid State Drive) as well as a hard drive cage for HDDs, SSDs and SSHDs. Furthermore, there is a quad-core processor from Intel. Except for the slightly higher clock, the integrated Core i7-4720HQ is completely identical to the very popular Core i7-4710HQ. The display is a matte 17.3-inch panel with 1920x1080 pixels. You can choose between the graphics cards GeForce GTX 980MGTX 970M and – when available – GTX 965M. The wireless module, the keyboard and the operating system can be customized as well.

The cheapest configuration of the XMG P705 is available for 1,399 Euros (~$1584) and our review unit (compare specs on the right side) would currently cost around 1,630 Euros (~$1846). Read on to see how the gaming device holds up in practice.

BIOS Main
BIOS Main
BIOS Advanced
BIOS Advanced
BIOS Security
BIOS Security
BIOS Boot
BIOS Boot

Case

Cover with XMG logo
Cover with XMG logo

The design of the XMG P705 is clearly based on the 15-inch version, even though the latter appears more modern, despite the similar shapes. Compared to the predecessor barebone P177SM-A, the new Clevo P670SA is much more restrained and not as bulky, which is not surprising when you consider the compact construction. With a height of 30 millimeters, the XMG P705 is between the MSI GS70 (2.2 centimeters) and the MSI GT72 (4.8 centimeters) or Asus G751 (5.3 centimeters), respectively. A weight of 3.3 kilograms is not too much for a 17-inch high-end notebook, either (P177SM-A: ~4.0 kg).

The materials leave a good impression. The case is primarily made of aluminum (cover, palm rest, bottom) and the manufacturer only uses plastic for a few elements (display frame, keyboard area). The build quality is pretty good at first as well, but you can see smaller issues when you look more carefully. For example, the maintenance cover that does not always fit perfectly (problem with the gaps) and you can see the display illumination from some angles. However, those issues are not really annoying.

We have to praise the case manufacturer for the stability; even a lot of pressure is no problem for the base unit. The cover and the hinges are not quite as good, similar to the majority of notebooks they lack stability and torsion resistance. Combine all aspects and you get a rating in the upper 70-range for the chassis (= grade 2).

428 mm / 16.9 inch 294 mm / 11.6 inch 48 mm / 1.89 inch 3.8 kg8.42 lbs416 mm / 16.4 inch 318 mm / 12.5 inch 53 mm / 2.09 inch 4.2 kg9.17 lbs417 mm / 16.4 inch 287 mm / 11.3 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 3.3 kg7.33 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 287 mm / 11.3 inch 22 mm / 0.866 inch 2.7 kg5.95 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Ports

The connectivity is pretty good in general, but some users are going to miss an optical drive. Contrary to the Asus G751 and MSI GT72, the XMG P705 does have an eSATA port, but there are no differences to the rivals otherwise. Four USB 3.0 ports are standard for gaming notebooks, just as three stereo jacks are. A Kensington lock, a card reader (support for 6 standards) and an Ethernet port are obviously available as well. External displays can either be attached via HDMI or the two DisplayPorts.

We think the port layout of the XMG P705 is not as good as the MSI GT72, but slightly better than the Asus G751, where the majority of ports were located on the right side. Some ports of the P670SA barebone are at the back. Still, right-handers won’t be completely happy with the layout when they use an external mouse: Some ports are very far at the front, so there can be collisions with the mouse in the worst cases.

Wireless Communication

Depending on the configuration you can use the Internet with an adaptor from Intel or Qualcomm Atheros. The standard module Wireless-AC 3160 is definitely not a bad choice. Thanks to the ac support it is future-proof and the designation already indicates that the dual-band product supports 2.4 and 5.0 GHz networks. The maximum transfer rate is 433 Mbps according to the manufacturer (867 Mbps @Wireless-AC 7265). WLAN 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0 are supported as well. We would call the signal quality of the wireless module decent and we still had a connection with a distance of 10-15 meters from the router and through several walls (~ 3 bars).

Left side: HDMI, USB 3.0, 2x DisplayPort
Left side: HDMI, USB 3.0, 2x DisplayPort
Rear: AC power, eSATA/USB 3.0
Rear: AC power, eSATA/USB 3.0
Right side: 3x sound, 2x USB 3.0, card reader, RJ45, Kensington lock
Right side: 3x sound, 2x USB 3.0, card reader, RJ45, Kensington lock

Maintenance

If you don’t mind loosening 20 screws, you can remove the whole bottom cover. The good maintainability reminds us of the MSI GT72, even though it is unfortunate that you cannot remove the GPU of the XMG P705. The screwed battery, however, is easier to access in return. It is also no problem to reach the memory (2 of 4 slots underneath the keyboard), the storage solution, the wireless module and the cooling solution, so you can clean or upgrade the device. Asus is not as customer friendly with its G751.

Preloaded software
Preloaded software

Software

It is rare that you can find such a clean Windows installation without any bloatware. Schenker focuses on the essentials and does not fill the storage drive with useless tools. The central access point is the Control Center, where you cannot only find several modes (Silent, Energy-Saving, Performance, etc.), but also several special and comfort features (fan control, macros for the keyboard, etc.). All our tests were performed with the standard setting "Entertainment."

Accessories

Except for a genuine Windows DVD, the list of accessories is pretty limited. A driver DVD, a cleaning cloth and screws for 2.5-inch hard drives: We couldn’t find anything else in the box. The power adaptor for the GTX 965M version has 150 Watts with the dimensions 16.5 x 8.0 x 2.5 centimeters and a weight of 610 grams.

Warranty

The 24-month standard warranty with a pickup & return service can be extended to three years (Premium @150 Euros, ~$169) or four years (Platinum @300 Euros, ~$339). An instant repair is included for a certain period in each case.

Control Center - System application
Control Center - System application
Control Center - Device
Control Center - Device
Control Center - Gaming
Control Center - Gaming
Combo Keyboard
Combo Keyboard

Input Devices

Keyboard

The chiclet keyboard was just copied from the P651 barebone, which means the XMG P705 inherits the same advantages and issues. While the typing noise is a bit loud, there is hardly any criticism for the typing experience. Thanks to the sturdy foundation and the well-defined mechanics, inputs feel very precise and firm. The good layout also ensures a short learning period. The package is rounded off with a full numeric keypad and decently sized arrow keys.

Speaking of size: The majority of keys are 14.5 x 14.5 millimeters. As usual, you can execute several special functions via the F-row. Besides a brightness and volume control, you also get keys for the (de)activation of the display, the touchpad, the camera and the WLAN. We think that the illumination is the biggest highlight. There aren’t multiple zones that we know from rivals like MSI (GS70 & GT72), but you can adjust the white illumination in two steps.

Without illumination
Without illumination
With illumination
With illumination

Touchpad

Despite good approaches, the quality of the touchpad is "just" slightly above average. One reason for that is the average precision. Other touchpads execute inputs more precisely, and not every user will be happy with the slightly structured surface, either. At least the feedback is convincing. The size of 107 x 62 millimeters is good for a 17-inch notebook (10.8 x 6.1 centimeters @MSI GT72).

As expected, the mouse replacement supports inputs with multiple fingers. The multi-touch gestures (zoom, scroll etc.) usually work without problems. Great: There is an option for one-finger scrolling at the side of the touchpad. Contrary to MSI, the barebone experts from Clevo integrate two dedicated mouse buttons. They react reliably but sound a bit cheap for our taste. The touchpad starts right underneath the space bar, so you should deactivate it during gaming.

Display

There is currently just one display option: A Full HD version with the designation Chi Mei N173HGE (or CMO1720), which is used for a lot of 17-inch notebooks. The advantages, among others, include the pretty low black value of 0.31 cd/m², so dark gaming or video passages don’t suffer from a gray hue. In combination with the high brightness (~318 cd/m²) you get a very good contrast ratio. Even though the MSI notebooks GS70 and GT72 are equipped with the similar CMN N173HGE-E11 (CMN1735), they cannot quite keep up with the results of the Schenker XMG P705 (1,074 vs. 896-910:1). Subjectively, however, you can hardly see the difference.

276
cd/m²
309
cd/m²
335
cd/m²
281
cd/m²
333
cd/m²
302
cd/m²
331
cd/m²
352
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N173HGE (CMO1720) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 352 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 318.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 78 %
Center on Battery: 333 cd/m²
Contrast: 1074:1 (Black: 0.31 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.13 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.3 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
54% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.7
SCHENKER XMG P705
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Display
0%
-1%
3%
Display P3 Coverage
60.7
61.1
1%
60.3
-1%
66.4
9%
sRGB Coverage
85
85
0%
84
-1%
85.3
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
61.9
62.1
0%
61.4
-1%
62.1
0%
Screen
2%
-6%
9%
Brightness middle
333
251
-25%
273
-18%
329
-1%
Brightness
318
249
-22%
259
-19%
326
3%
Brightness Distribution
78
84
8%
85
9%
93
19%
Black Level *
0.31
0.28
10%
0.3
3%
0.47
-52%
Contrast
1074
896
-17%
910
-15%
700
-35%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
11.13
11.19
-1%
11.63
-4%
3.95
65%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.3
4.57
60%
11.9
-5%
3.36
70%
Gamma
2.7 81%
2.38 92%
2.56 86%
2.46 89%
CCT
14167 46%
14550 45%
15491 42%
5961 109%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
54
55
2%
54
0%
56
4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / 1%
-4% / -5%
6% / 7%

* ... smaller is better

The biggest problem of the Chi Mei N173HGE is the low color accuracy. The panel has a strong blue cast, which is noticeable with skin tones in particular. Grayscale, gamma value and color saturation are not really good, either. Fortunately, you can correct the majority of problems with a calibration. Our screenshots show that the Chi Mei N173HGE is actually much better than the factory settings would suggest.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Schenker XMG P705 vs. sRGB (Grid)
Schenker XMG P705 vs. sRGB (Grid)
Schenker XMG P705 vs. AdobeRGB (Grid)
Schenker XMG P705 vs. AdobeRGB (Grid)

You should absolutely download and use the linked ICC file if you want to edit pictures or videos. It would obviously be better if Clevo would ship the notebook with its own color profile right away. Other manufacturers already did this in the past (see Asus G750JM, for example). Ambitious users are better off with the IPS panel of the Asus G751. The LG Philips LP173WF4-SPD1 (LGD046C) does have a higher black value and a lower contrast but convinces with a more natural picture.

Outdoor use Schenker XMG P705
Outdoor use Schenker XMG P705
Outdoor use Schenker XMG P705

The Schenker XMG P705 cannot compete with the rival from Asus in terms of viewing angles. While the stability is pretty comparable with horizontal shifts, we can quickly see picture deviations from an angle below. The grainy picture impression of the Chi Mei N173HGE can be a problem for some users as well. By the way, we could not see any annoying screen bleeding, despite the mediocre brightness distribution (78%) of our review unit.

Viewing angles Schenker XMG P705
Viewing angles Schenker XMG P705

Performance

Haswell
Haswell

Processor

We can cover the processor section pretty quickly. With a clock of 2.6-3.6 GHz, it is exactly 100 MHz faster compared to its quad-core sibling Core i7-4710HQ. 6 MB L3 cache is just as future-proof as the execution of eight parallel threads (Hyper-Threading). Otherwise, the 22 nm chip has 1.4 billion transistors, which is quite a lot as well.

However, the power consumption in combination with the integrated graphics solution (HD Graphics 4600), which can be used via Optimus technology, is pretty high. A TDP of 47 Watts requires a powerful cooling solution, but the Core i7-4720HQ is perfect for a gaming notebook like the Schenker XMG P705.

System info CPUZ CPU
System info CPUZ Cache
System info CPUZ Motherboard
System info CPUZ Memory
System info CPUZ SPD
System info HWiNFO
System info GPUZ (HD 4600)
System info GPUZ (GTX 965M)
System info CrystalDiskMark (SSD)
System info CrystalDiskMark (HDD)
System info HDTune (HDD)
System info Latency
System information Schenker XMG P705

Turbo Boost

The actual utilization of the CPU Turbo with 3.3-3.5 GHz in single-core scenarios and 3.4 GHz in multi-core scenarios is very good and indicates a real high-end product. Other gaming devices often suffer from bigger Turbo fluctuations (Gigabyte P35X v3).

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
CPU & GPU load
CPU & GPU load

CPU Performance

Just as inconspicuous as the clock are the benchmark results, where the Core i7-4720HQ is exactly on the expected level. With 673 points, it has an advantage of 2% over the Core i7-4710HQ (661 points @Asus G751, 657 points @MSI GT72) in the Cinebench R15 multi-core test. The advantage is around 4% in the single-core test (140 vs. 135-136 points). Processors from the Haswell generation are sufficient for powerful GPUs as long as you don’t use a dual-core chip (see Alienware 13).

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
Core i7-4720HQ
140 Points
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
Core i7-4720HQ
140 Points 0%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Core i7-4710HQ
135 Points -4%
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Core i7-4710HQ
136 Points -3%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
Core i7-4720HQ
673 Points
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
Core i7-4720HQ
639 Points -5%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Core i7-4710HQ
657 Points -2%
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Core i7-4710HQ
661 Points -2%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
Core i7-4720HQ
1.61 Points
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
Core i7-4720HQ
1.57 Points -2%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Core i7-4710HQ
1.52 Points -6%
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Core i7-4710HQ
1.52 Points -6%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
Core i7-4720HQ
7.26 Points
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
Core i7-4720HQ
6.99 Points -4%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Core i7-4710HQ
7.15 Points -2%
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Core i7-4710HQ
7.22 Points -1%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5238
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
19897
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.61 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.26 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
60.1 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
140 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
673 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
103 fps
Help

Graphics

Maxwell
Maxwell

Nvidia uses the GeForce GTX 965M to close the performance gap between the highly popular GTX 860M and the top versions GTX 980M and GTX 970M. While the latter have 1,536 and 1,280 CUDA cores, respectively, the GTX 965M "only" has 1,024 shaders. Still, this number is 60% higher compared to the Maxwell version of the GTX 860M (640 shaders, 1,152 @Kepler).

The new chip also has lower memory equipment compared to its bigger siblings. Instead of 4-8 GB (GTX 980M) and 3-6 GB (GTX 970M), respectively, the XMG P705 only has 2 GB GDDR5 video memory, but we strongly suspect that some notebooks will use a version with 4 GB. Some games already benefit from more than 2 GB VRAM. Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein The New Order require at least 3 GB for the ultra-preset, and Shadow of Mordor needs even 6 GB.

However, the main problem of the GTX 965M is not the memory but the small interface; 128-bit can become the bottleneck in some scenarios. The same applies for the GeForce GTX 860M, which means there is currently no alternative for the GTX 970M (192-bit interface) or the GTX 980M (256-bit) if you don’t want to make any compromises.

The GeForce GTX 965M is probably designed as a replacement for the GTX 870M. The high-end model from the 800 generation is superior in terms of specs (1,344 CUDA cores, 3-6 GB VRAM @192-bit), but the Kepler architecture cannot keep up with the Maxwell successor. According to the tool GPU-Z, the GeForce GTX 965M runs with 924-950 MHz under load.

GPU Performance

That the new 28 nm chip is pretty powerful is apparent when you look at the Unigine Heaven 3.0 benchmark. The result was 66.3 fps with 1920x1080 pixels, high details and normal Tessellation, which means the GTX 965M is around 7% faster than its main rival from AMD, the Radeon R9 M290X (62.0 fps @One K56-4N), and 34% faster than the GeForce GTX 860M (49.4 fps @Gigabyte P27G v2). The GeForce GTX 970M and GTX 980M, however, are 40-80% faster (see table).

The differences are similar in the 3DMark 13 Fire Strike test. A GPU score of 5,394 points for the XMG P705 is almost right between the GTX 860M (3,928 points) and the GTX 970M (7,268 points). The fastest chip is still the GTX 980M with almost 10,000 points.

All in all, the performance of the GTX 965M is pretty similar to the Radeon R9 M290X, however, the counterpart from AMD consumes much more power and gets much warmer, so it basically only pays off when you use CAD software, where the rival often beats the Nvidia GPU.

Unigine Heaven 3.0 - 1920x1080 DX 11, Normal Tessellation, High Shaders AA:Off AF:Off (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
66.3 fps
Gigabyte P27G v2
GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)
49.4 fps -25%
One K56-4N
Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)
62 fps -6%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
93 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
119 fps +79%
3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
5394 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2
GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)
3928 Points -27%
One K56-4N
Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)
5294 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
7268 Points +35%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
9809 Points +82%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
7136 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2
GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)
4969 Points -30%
One K56-4N
Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)
6817 Points -4%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
9907 Points +39%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
12781 Points +79%
3DMark Vantage - 1280x1024 P GPU no PhysX (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
22456 Points
Gigabyte P27G v2
GeForce GTX 860M (332.60)
18446 Points -18%
One K56-4N
Radeon R9 M290X (13.151.0.0)
24205 Points +8%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
30252 Points +35%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
35904 Points +60%
SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
30.1 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
35.27 fps +17%
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
3.15 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
4.2 fps +33%
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
25.65 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
34.62 fps +35%
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
14.11 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
21.86 fps +55%
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
40.6 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
52.8 fps +30%
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
0.71 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
1.04 fps +46%
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
18.63 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
22.94 fps +23%
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
22.91 fps
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
30.84 fps +35%
3DMark Vantage P Result
23018 points
3DMark 11 Performance
7249 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
117286 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
18232 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
4810 points
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD Benchmark
AS SSD Benchmark

To limit the price of our review configuration, the notebook is only equipped with a small 120 GB SSD in combination with a 1,000 GB HDD.

First, we evaluate the Solid State Drive: The Kingston SM2280S3120G is – as the designation already suggests – an M.2 drive from the 2280-series (= long version). The benchmark results are respectable, despite the small storage capacity: Almost 500 MB/s for sequential reads and 330 MB/s for sequential writes are definitely good results and the same applies for the access times of 0.080 ms (read) and 0.041 ms (write), which are typical for a Solid State Drive. AS SSD determined an overall score of 729 points, which indicates a mainstream drive.

The results for the TB hard drive Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024 were inconspicuous as well. Sequential transfer rates (read & write) of 95 MB/s (CrystalDiskMark) are more than okay for a drive with 5,400 rpm, even though some drives manage more than 100 MB/s. Similar to the XMG P505 you can configure the notebook with an SSD that uses a PCIe-x4 interface. Contrary to SATA-3, PCIe-x4 does not restrict the performance above 500 MB/s.

Kingston SM2280S3120G
Sequential Read: 505 MB/s
Sequential Write: 347.3 MB/s
512K Read: 340.2 MB/s
512K Write: 345.1 MB/s
4K Read: 32.35 MB/s
4K Write: 94.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 178.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 240.6 MB/s

System Performance

The system performance with the SSD is on a level with other high-end systems like the One K73-3N (4800MQ, GTX 770M), Alienware 17 (4800MQ, GTX 780M) or Aorus X7 Pro (4870HQ, GTX 970M SLI). All four laptops manage more than 6,000 points in PCMark 7.

PCMark 7 Score
6075 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3885 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4715 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4446 points
Help

Gaming Performance

You should be able to play the majority of titles smoothly with (very) high details and 1920x1080 pixels as long as you don’t use the highest anti-aliasing settings. It does not matter if you play Battlefield 4Metro Last LightFar Cry 4 or Call of Duty Advanced Warfare: The GeForce GTX 965M can even handle complex shooters in the ultra-preset without bigger problems (>30 fps). Only a few very demanding titles (Hitman AbsolutionCrysis 3Dragon Age Inquisition) cannot be played with the maximum settings.

The ultra results of Watch Dogs, Shadow of Mordor and Assassin's Creed Unity actually show that 2 GB VRAM is not perfect anymore. Even though the GTX 860M in the table is not based on the Maxwell technology, it is hardly slower and sometimes even faster – thanks to 4 GB VRAM.

Still, you get a big advantage for the GTX 965M if you calculate the average result from all tested games: +35% compared to the Kepler GTX 860M (~25-30% vs. Maxwell GTX 860M). However, the new chip cannot keep up with the GTX 970M and GTX 980M. The luxury duo is 45-80% faster, but we would still call the GTX 965M a good entry into the high-end segment. Notebooks with the old Kepler GPUs (GTX 870M & GTX 880M) don’t make much sense for gamers anymore; Nvidia covers the gaming segment with the GeForce 900 generation very well.

The Crew - 1920x1080 Ultra Video Preset (modified) AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
34.2 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
25 (19min) fps -27%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
36.3 (31min) fps +6%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
48.6 (40min) fps +42%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 970M (344.75)
47 (39min) fps +37%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 980M (344.75)
59.7 (54min) fps +75%
Dragon Age: Inquisition - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:2x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
27.1 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
18.3 (14min) fps -32%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
25.3 (20min) fps -7%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
31 (24min) fps +14%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
48.9 fps +80%
Far Cry 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
32.4 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
23 (20min) fps -29%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
32.9 (28min) fps +2%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
40.3 (34min) fps +24%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
59.4 fps +83%
Assassin's Creed Unity - 1920x1080 Ultra High Graphics Quality AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
13.7 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
13.1 (11min) fps -4%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
18.8 (16min) fps +37%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
23.9 (21min) fps +74%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
33.3 fps +143%
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - 1920x1080 Extra / On (Cache Shadow Maps Off), 2x Supersampling AA:2x SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
35.8 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
24.4 (20min) fps -32%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
33.8 (29min) fps -6%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
39.8 (32min) fps +11%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
57.9 fps +62%
Civilization: Beyond Earth - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
49.9 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
34.2 (15min) fps -31%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
45.1 (19min) fps -10%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
53.6 (24min) fps +7%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
80.4 fps +61%
F1 2014 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
99 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
83 (69min) fps -16%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
98 (75min) fps -1%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
102 (74min) fps +3%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
109 fps +10%
The Evil Within - 1920x1080 High / Enabled AA:SM (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
51 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
29 (23min) fps -43%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
38.2 (31min) fps -25%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
46.4 (37min) fps -9%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
82.8 fps +62%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
63 fps +24%
Ryse: Son of Rome - 1920x1080 Very High Texture Res. + High Graphics Quality (Motion Blur & Temporal AA On, Rest Off/Disabled) AF:8x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
33.4 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
21.4 (16min) fps -36%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
30.1 (23min) fps -10%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
37.4 (29min) fps +12%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
41.3 (33min) fps +24%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
54.7 fps +64%
Alien: Isolation - 1920x1080 Ultra, On, Shadow Map 2048, HDAO AA:2x SM AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
54.8 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
39.8 fps -27%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
55.9 fps +2%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
68.9 fps +26%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
75.7 fps +38%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
96.1 fps +75%
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (HD Package) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
28.8 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
26.4 (12min) fps -8%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
38.9 (26min) fps +35%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
48.3 (30min) fps +68%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
51.2 fps +78%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
67.6 fps +135%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
65 fps +126%
Fifa 15 - 1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
155.2 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
119.5 (47min) fps -23%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
157.4 (68min) fps +1%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
189.3 (163min) fps +22%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
217.8 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
240.4 fps +55%
Sims 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
70 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
54.9 (38min) fps -22%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
65.8 (43min) fps -6%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
73.5 (55min) fps +5%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
93.8 fps +34%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
97 fps +39%
GRID: Autosport - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
58.2 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
42.6 (35min) fps -27%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
62.3 (53min) fps +7%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
76.8 (64min) fps +32%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
82.3 fps +41%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
107.1 fps +84%
Watch Dogs - 1920x1080 Ultra Overall Quality, Ultra Textures AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
17.7 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (mixed)
18.9 (14min) fps +7%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 870M (mixed)
26.8 (22min) fps +51%
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 880M (mixed)
32.9 (28min) fps +86%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
34.4 fps +94%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
45.9 fps +159%
Thief - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
34.2 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
22.6 fps -34%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
47.9 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
62.1 fps +82%
Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
39.1 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
26.2 fps -33%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
54.8 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
72.9 fps +86%
Saints Row IV - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:8x MS AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
40.7 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
31.1 fps -24%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
58.8 fps +44%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
72.5 fps +78%
Dota 2 - 1920x1080 High / On, Render Quality: 100 % (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
97.7 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
58.3 fps -40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
113.4 fps +16%
Metro: Last Light - 1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
38.7 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
23.7 fps -39%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
53.3 fps +38%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
66.8 fps +73%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
53.3 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
35.9 fps -33%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
72.5 fps +36%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
91.2 fps +71%
Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
57.3 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
43 fps -25%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
80.3 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
104.5 fps +82%
Crysis 3 - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:2xSM AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
23.9 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
18.4 fps -23%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
33.4 fps +40%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
43.3 fps +81%
Hitman: Absolution - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4xMS AF:16x (sort by value)
SCHENKER XMG P705
GeForce GTX 965M (344.54)
28.1 fps
Schenker W504
GeForce GTX 860M Kepler (332.35)
19.6 fps -30%
SCHENKER XMG P505
GeForce GTX 970M (344.00)
41.2 fps +47%
SCHENKER XMG P505 PRO
GeForce GTX 980M (344.48)
54.6 fps +94%
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
GeForce GTX 980M (344.00)
54 fps +92%

Some titles suffered from graphics issues or crashes (Assassin’s Creed Unity @low-high) or had problems with the full-screen mode (GRID Autosport, Dragon Age Inquisition), so you should update the GPU driver if possible. The preloaded version 344.54 was replaced by the ForceWare 347.07 at the time of writing.

Small note: Similar to the XMG P505, some games just refused to work. We suspected the GPU driver at the time, but some research showed that the problem is a missing DirectX file (xinput1_3.dll). You can just download it from the Internet or transfer it from another system. The target folders are Windows\System32 and Windows\SysWOW64 (attention: the two versions are not identical).

low med. high ultra
Hitman: Absolution (2012) 90.1 84.8 63.3 28.1
Crysis 3 (2013) 130.7 88.4 61.3 23.9
Tomb Raider (2013) 389.6 214.3 130.9 57.3
BioShock Infinite (2013) 197.2 153 134.4 53.3
Metro: Last Light (2013) 122.4 114.1 74.4 38.7
Dota 2 (2013) 119.8 113.1 97.7
Saints Row IV (2013) 94.5 83.6 64 40.7
Battlefield 4 (2013) 153.7 126.6 95.1 39.1
Thief (2014) 90.9 76.8 65.2 34.2
Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) 60 60 59
Watch Dogs (2014) 84.8 73.9 36.9 17.7
GRID: Autosport (2014) 225.8 121.4 99.9 58.2
Sims 4 (2014) 182.3 118.8 82.4 70
Fifa 15 (2014) 255.4 221.4 155.2
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) 129.4 91.2 48.1 28.8
Alien: Isolation (2014) 202 149.7 76.2 54.8
Ryse: Son of Rome (2014) 85.3 70.2 36 33.4
The Evil Within (2014) 120.2 84.6 51
F1 2014 (2014) 118 118 113 99
Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014) 121.8 88.2 61.1 49.9
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) 128.5 84.9 59.6 35.8
Assassin's Creed Unity (2014) 13.7
Far Cry 4 (2014) 103.4 85.1 42.9 32.4
Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) 84.4 71.7 39.2 27.1
The Crew (2014) 60 60 59.2 34.2

Emissions

System Noise

The XMG P705 is neither very loud nor especially warm for a gaming notebook. It is conveniently restrained while idling. The fans are always active, but the slight murmur of the GPU cooling shouldn’t be annoying for any user (~30 dB(A)). We can measure around 32 dB(A) when the conventional hard drive is running.

The manufacturer should improve the fan control. Even though the P670SA is not quite as jumpy compared to other Clevo barebones, the cooling is often unnecessary loud even with light workloads (~37 dB(A)). There is hardly any criticism for the system under load. 43-46 dB(A) is not really quiet, but many rivals are even louder (47-56 dB(A) @MSI GS70).

The system noise once again reminds us of the MSI GT72, which reaches between 40 and 49 dB(A). We would recommend the Asus G751 for more sensitive users. Even the GTX 980M version only reached 37-44 dB(A) in the 3D tests. Great: The fan speed of the XMG P705 is quickly decreased after a longer period of load. Another advantage of the notebook is the constant rpm level during gaming (no annoying pulsating).

SCHENKER XMG P705
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Noise
-9%
-3%
1%
Idle Minimum *
29.9
29.6
1%
34
-14%
33.6
-12%
Idle Average *
32
34.4
-8%
34.5
-8%
34.8
-9%
Idle Maximum *
36.7
39.4
-7%
34.7
5%
35.2
4%
Load Average *
42.8
47.2
-10%
40.3
6%
36.8
14%
Load Maximum *
46.4
55.8
-20%
49.4
-6%
43.8
6%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
29.9 / 32 / 36.7 dB(A)
HDD
32.3 dB(A)
Load
42.8 / 46.4 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

Because of the higher chassis and the weaker GPU, the P670SA barebone is noticeably cooler than the MSI GS70. While the GTX 970M notebook warmed up to around 48 °C (top) and 56 °C (bottom) after one hour maximum load with the tools FurMark and Prime, we could only measure 38 and 37 °C, respectively, for the Schenker XMG P705. Our measuring device showed a maximum value of 48 instead of 69 °C. The results of the thicker 17-inch notebooks Asus G751 and MSI GT72 are slightly better at many spots. The palm rest only warms up to 27 °C even under maximum load, so it is no problem to play with the XMG P705 for a couple of hours. The whole chassis leaves a good impression while idling. 27 °C on average is clearly surpassed by the MSI GS70 (~34 °C); the Asus G751 and MSI GT72 are once again slightly cooler.

The temperatures of the components are not critical, either: 60 minutes maximum load resulted in a GPU temperature of 69 °C and a CPU temperature of around 80 °C (according to HW Monitor), but these values are a result of throttling. Simultaneous load with FurMark and Prime resulted in a clock of 1.0-2.5 GHz for the Core i7-4720HQ. Our benchmarks, however, don’t show any throttling.

SCHENKER XMG P705
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Heat
-33%
4%
4%
Maximum Upper Side *
47.3
56.3
-19%
40.1
15%
43.3
8%
Maximum Bottom *
47.9
68.6
-43%
52.1
-9%
48
-0%
Idle Upper Side *
29.7
37.9
-28%
28
6%
27.7
7%
Idle Bottom *
28.1
39.8
-42%
27.5
2%
27.9
1%

* ... smaller is better

Max. Load
 45 °C
113 F
47.3 °C
117 F
46.1 °C
115 F
 
 44.9 °C
113 F
45.3 °C
114 F
33.6 °C
92 F
 
 26.9 °C
80 F
27.4 °C
81 F
26.9 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 47.3 °C = 117 F
Average: 38.2 °C = 101 F
43.9 °C
111 F
47.9 °C
118 F
46.3 °C
115 F
29.6 °C
85 F
36.2 °C
97 F
35.4 °C
96 F
28.1 °C
83 F
30 °C
86 F
30.8 °C
87 F
Maximum: 47.9 °C = 118 F
Average: 36.5 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  58.6 °C = 137 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47.3 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.9 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.4 °C / 81.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+1.5 °C / 2.7 F).

Speakers

Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3
Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3

The sound quality was one of the biggest weaknesses of Clevo barebones in the past. The majority of notebooks could not convince with good speakers, despite the bulky construction. However, this changes with the P670SA. Similar to the P651, the 17-inch XMG P705 produces a decent sound, which is a result of the subwoofer and the audio software from Creative.

X-Fi MB3 includes multiple presets, sound improvements and other features. Games, movies and music sound pretty balanced and rich with the activated SBX Pro Studio technology and it is no comparison to the "sound quality" of other high-end laptops (Aorus X7). Furthermore, you get a great maximum volume that is sufficient for medium-sized rooms. At least in theory since the sound is a bit distorted when you reach a certain volume. This means the 2.1 system is not in the top position; both the Asus G751 and the MSI GT72 get even higher ratings.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

It is not really surprising that the GTX 965M version does not consume as much power as a notebook with a GTX 980M or a GTX 970M. We could only measure 13-29 Watts while idling and 91-158 Watts during 3D operation for the P670SA barebone. This is an advantage of 9% compared to the MSI GS70 2QE and 31% compared to the Asus G751JY.

SCHENKER XMG P705
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Power Consumption
-9%
-37%
-31%
Idle Minimum *
12.8
15.7
-23%
23.9
-87%
22
-72%
Idle Average *
20.4
21.7
-6%
29
-42%
27
-32%
Idle Maximum *
28.7
26.3
8%
33.6
-17%
32.6
-14%
Load Average *
91.2
108.7
-19%
97.2
-7%
93.3
-2%
Load Maximum *
157.5
166.9
-6%
210.1
-33%
212.8
-35%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.8 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 12.8 / 20.4 / 28.7 Watt
Load midlight 91.2 / 157.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Reader's Test
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
Classic Test

The 4-cell battery (60 Wh) does not manage very long runtimes for the XMG P705. An idle runtime of four hours with a minimum brightness and 1.5 hours under 3D load with the highest luminance are beaten by the Asus G751 (8-cells @88 Wh) and the MSI GT72 (9-cells @87 Wh) – even though neither notebook has Optimus support. "Thanks" to the missing optical drive we have to use an HD video file for our video test. 176 minutes with an average brightness is beaten by the MSI GS70, which managed almost four hours. The situation is similar for the WLAN test (182 vs. 211 minutes).

The performance on battery power is reduced by 15-20% (3DMark 11 score: 6,023 instead of 7,249 points).

SCHENKER XMG P705
MSI GS70-2QE16SR51
MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW
Asus G751JY-T7009H
Battery Runtime
13%
24%
12%
Reader / Idle
236
308
31%
397
68%
272
15%
H.264
176
234
33%
WiFi
182
211
16%
184
1%
220
21%
Load
84
61
-27%
87
4%
85
1%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
3h 56min
WiFi Surfing
3h 02min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
2h 56min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 24min

Verdict

Schenker XMG P705
Schenker XMG P705

Except for the size and the weight, it actually makes no difference if you get the XMG P505 or the XMG P705. Yes, the IPS panel of the 15-inch sibling has a better color accuracy and better vertical viewing angles, but black value, contrast and color space (74% sRGB, 54% AdobeRGB) are pretty similar.

The case convinces with a solid build quality and the illuminated keyboard, but the highlight is the brushed metal surfaces. The sound system, the touchpad and the connectivity are usable as well, but they can still be improved. The upgradeability and the cleaning of the components are actually good if you ignore the complicated access.

The most important aspect of our review was the performance of the GeForce GTX 965M. The new Maxwell chip is the entry-level solution for the high-end segment and often beats the GTX 860M with a pretty big advantage. "Real" gamers, however, should still get the GTX 970M or GTX 980M, but the new DirectX 11 chip is a good alternative for price-conscious users.

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In review: Schenker XMG P705. Test model courtesy of Schenker Technologies.
In review: Schenker XMG P705. Test model courtesy of Schenker Technologies.

Specifications

SCHENKER XMG P705
Processor
Intel Core i7-4720HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 924 MHz, Memory: 2500 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 344.54, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, 2x 4 GB SO-DIMM DDR3-RAM PC3-12800 (1600 MHz), 2 of 4 Slots occupied, up to 32 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, Chi Mei N173HGE (CMO1720), TN LED, Full HD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM87 (Lynx Point)
Storage
Kingston SM2280S3120G, 120 GB 
, M.2 SSD + Seagate Momentus ST1000LM024, 1000 GB HDD @ 5400 rpm. Slots: 2x M.2 (Typ 2280) & 2x 2.5-inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC892 @ Intel Lynx Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 eSata, Audio Connections: headphones, Microphone, S/PDIF, Card Reader: MMC,RSMMC,SD,Mini SD,SDHC,SDXC
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 30 x 417 x 287 ( = 1.18 x 16.42 x 11.3 in)
Battery
60 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2.0 Megapixels
Additional features
Speakers: 2.1 Onkyo (Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3), Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Power adaptor: 150 Watts (180 Watts @ GTX 970M/980M), Driver DVD, Storage screws, Cleaning cloth, Control Center, Microsoft Office 365 Trial, 24-48 Months Warranty
Weight
3.326 kg ( = 117.32 oz / 7.33 pounds), Power Supply: 610 g ( = 21.52 oz / 1.34 pounds)

 

The bigger brother of the XMG P505 weighs 3.3 kilograms with HDD...
The bigger brother of the XMG P505 weighs 3.3 kilograms with HDD...
...and uses a 17-inch display.
...and uses a 17-inch display.
The chassis is almost three centimeters high.
The chassis is almost three centimeters high.
The maximum opening angle should be sufficient for most users (~130 degrees).
The maximum opening angle should be sufficient for most users (~130 degrees).
The case is made of plastic and metal.
The case is made of plastic and metal.
It requires some patience to remove the bottom.
It requires some patience to remove the bottom.
The keyboard is completely identical to the 15-inch model.
The keyboard is completely identical to the 15-inch model.
Some elements tend to attract fingerprints.
Some elements tend to attract fingerprints.
Processor and graphics card are soldered.
Processor and graphics card are soldered.
Not every user will like the screwed battery.
Not every user will like the screwed battery.
The M.2 slots are close to the hard drive cage.
The M.2 slots are close to the hard drive cage.
Two memory slots of our review unit were empty.
Two memory slots of our review unit were empty.
A part of the memory is located underneath the keyboard.
A part of the memory is located underneath the keyboard.
The latter is pretty easy to remove.
The latter is pretty easy to remove.
Two fans for the GPU? Respect.
Two fans for the GPU? Respect.
A subwoofer improves the sound quality.
A subwoofer improves the sound quality.
The Full HD webcam is surrounded by two microphones.
The Full HD webcam is surrounded by two microphones.
The speakers are provided by Onkyo.
The speakers are provided by Onkyo.
X-Fi MB3 supports the 2.1 system.
X-Fi MB3 supports the 2.1 system.
The keyboard is secured by two screws.You can see the hole to lift it on the right.
The keyboard is secured by two screws.You can see the hole to lift it on the right.
The WASD area is marked in red.
The WASD area is marked in red.
No surprise: The notebook has a numpad.
No surprise: The notebook has a numpad.
The touchpad is pretty convenient.
The touchpad is pretty convenient.
The port layout on the right side is not perfect.
The port layout on the right side is not perfect.
We would have liked to see more ports at the rear area.
We would have liked to see more ports at the rear area.
The GPU fans are at the rear.
The GPU fans are at the rear.
The rear only accommodates two ports.
The rear only accommodates two ports.
The CPU fan is oriented to the left.
The CPU fan is oriented to the left.
External displays can be attached to the notebook via HDMI or DisplayPort.
External displays can be attached to the notebook via HDMI or DisplayPort.
The 150-Watt power adaptor is pretty thin.
The 150-Watt power adaptor is pretty thin.

Similar Laptops

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

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Devices with the same GPU

HP Omen 15 (2016) Notebook Review
GeForce GTX 965M, Core i7 6700HQ, 15.60", 2.244 kg
Gigabyte P55K v5 Notebook Review
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Schenker XMG A516 (Clevo N150RF) Notebook Review
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Schenker XMG C405 Notebook Review
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MSI GE62 Notebook Review
GeForce GTX 965M, Core i7 4720HQ, 15.60", 2.4 kg

Links

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Pros

+High-contrast and bright Full HD display
+All components accessible
+Up to four storage drives
+Brushed aluminum
+Moderate emissions
+Illuminated keyboard
+Configurable
+No bloat ware
+Good performance
 

Cons

-Small build quality issues
-TN panel with a blue cast
-CPU and GPU soldered
-Screwed battery
-Mediocre battery runtimes

Shortcut

What we like

The device has no serious drawbacks.

What we'd like to see

Mainly a bigger battery and a color profile for the display. 

What surprises us

How much video memory some PC games expect.

The competition

17-inch high-end notebooks with a GeForce 900 GPU like the Aorus X7 Pro, Asus G751, MSI GS70 or MSI GT72.

Rating

SCHENKER XMG P705 - 01/14/2015 v4(old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
77%
Connectivity
72 / 81 → 89%
Weight
54 / 10-66 → 79%
Battery
76%
Display
82%
Games Performance
97%
Application Performance
96%
Temperature
82 / 95 → 86%
Noise
72 / 90 → 80%
Audio
75%
Average
78%
85%
Gaming - Weighted Average
Florian Glaser, 2015-01-12 (Update: 2018-05-15)