The Razer Blade 15 GTX 1060 runs cooler, quieter, and longer than its GTX 1070 version

Razer's latest gaming laptop is currently shipping in two Max-Q configurations: one with the GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q and the other with the GTX 1070 Max-Q. Both SKUs are otherwise equipped with the same vapor chamber cooling apparatus and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) insulation to improve surface temperatures and help direct heat through the rear of the system.

Users who opt for the less expensive Blade 15 GTX 1060 SKU will have roughly 30 percent slower graphics performance when compared to the GTX 1070 SKU. The less demanding GTX 1060, however, brings benefits in other areas not advertised by the manufacturer. Our tests on both configurations show that the GTX 1060 SKU is quieter when gaming (45 dB(A) vs. 49 dB(A)) and longer-lasting during WLAN loads (~6.5 hrs vs. ~5 hours). When fully stressed, the GTX 1060 SKU will draw around 133 W compared to almost 180 W on the faster SKU for overall cooler surfaces and core temperatures.

The takeaway message from our findings is that there are more reasons to prefer the GTX 1060 SKU than one may expect. Users who want the pricier GTX 1070 SKU will still have the far superior gaming performance, but casual-mainstream gamers and students may want the more balanced GTX 1060 SKU instead as an all-rounder notebook for gaming, word processing, and editing needs.

We recommend checking out both our reviews on the Blade 15 GTX 1060 Max-Q and Blade 15 GTX 1070 Max-Q for more details on these super-thin systems.

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