Eurocom Panther 5D (Clevo P570WM) Notebook Review Update
For the original German review, see here.
Quite some time ago, we tested a close relative to the Panther 5D, Schenker's Xirios W712 Workstation which shipped with an Intel Xeon Desktop CPU and an Nvidia K5000M GPU (pretty much the most powerful components available at the time of that review) and the same barebone as the Panther 5D.
One year has passed and a new configuration - making use of the same Clevo P570WM barebone - has arrived, being equipped with a 12-core (!) Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 desktop CPU and an Nvidia Quadro K5100M, making this (on paper) the perfect machine for professional users who require absurd performance levels while also being able to pay for it.
The following review is focused on the performance of the new configuration. Details concerning the case, the input devices or the display can be found in our existing review of the Schenker Xirios W712 which uses the same barebone.
Performance
Let's start with the specs of our test device: An Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2 CPU with 12 cores (clocked at 2.7-3.5 GHz), an Nvidia Quadro K5100M GPU, 32 GB of RAM, a 120 GB system SSD and two 1.5 TB HDDs for data storage purposes. Configuring this exact variant in Eurocom's shop leads to an impressive price point of 6300 Euros (~$8572) - most of which should be due to the CPU ($2600 according to Intel's list) and the GPU ($2000 according to Nvidia). Tons of different options for configuring the - sufficiently bulky - device are available on Eurocom's site (the other manufacturers using the same barebone handle things similarly), reaching from alternative CPUs and GPUs to up to four HDDs (including a number of RAID variants) and up to 32 GB (4x8 GB).
Processor
Even though the P570WM calls itself a laptop due to its form factor, it doesn't have too much in common with usual mobile computing devices. The processor is a prime example of this, being a desktop variant instead (or, even more precisely, an Intel Server CPU). Our test device comes with the most powerful CPU available (at least judging by the number of cores and the price point), the Intel Xeon E5-2697 v2.
The chip sports 12 native cores, yielding up to 24 parallel threads while most laptop CPUs are of the dual-core variety, allowing for up to 4 parallel threads. The maximal TDP of 130 watts is almost 10 times as much as the current dual-core ULV CPUs.
Looking at the CPU-heavy benchmark tests, the P570WM proves to be a true multi-threading monster, outclassing even high-end laptop CPUs such as the i7-4800MQ by approx. +130%, and even beating the Intel Xeon E5-2680 CPU from last year's Xirios W712 (using the same barebone) by a mighty 50%.
The results turn out differently once only the single-threading results are of interest, yielding performance levels on par with an Intel i5-4200U or a 4500U CPU due to the maximum clock speed of the desktop CPU of "just" 3.5 GHz.
System Performance
All the components mentioned so far might make one believe that even in terms of system performance, there is no competition to the P570WM. Still, the PCMark benchmarks paint a more nuanced picture, yielding good, but not terrifyingly great scores with some weaker-CPU or weaker-GPU systems taking the lead. This is due to the mass storage used by Eurocom: Although an SSD has been chosen as the system drive, its benchmark results aren't that convincing. Of course, thanks to the myriad of configuration options, this quickly becomes a non-issue once another drive is installed instead.
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
SCHENKER XIRIOS W712 | |
Asus G750JS-T4064H | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Lenovo ThinkPad W540 20BG001BGE | |
HP ZBook 17 E9X11AA-ABA | |
Dell Precision M6800 |
PCMark 8 | |
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
Asus G750JS-T4064H | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
Asus G750JS-T4064H | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
Asus G750JS-T4064H | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B |
PCMark 7 Score | 5065 points | |
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3816 points | |
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 3983 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4529 points | |
Help |
Storage Devices
As mentioned before, the Crucial M500 120GB SSD being used in our test device doesn't stand a chance against e.g. the commonly used Samsung SSD 840. Depending on the parameter being tested, Samsung's drive can be up to 3 times faster. Thus, it might make sense to choose another, higher-end SSD matching the otherwise high-end specs of the machine, especially since the extra costs are tiny compared to the overall price point of the system.
Graphics Card
Like with the rest of the components, the GPU can be swapped as well, even allowing SLI solutions to fit into the chassis. Our test device ships with a Quadro K5100M GPU made by Nvidia, which is based on the same GK104 chip (Kepler) as the GTX 780M used by high-end gaming laptops. The GPU comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 RAM and a 256-bit memory bandwidth.
Taking a look at the SPEC Viewperf 12 benchmark results (in comparison to other high-end workstation solutions), the Quadro beats the next-smaller CAD solution made by Nvidia, the Quadro K4100M, by up to 53%, depending on the test. The difference is smaller when looking at the Viewperf 11 test where the driver and the other components have a stronger impact. When compared to its predecessor, the K5000, the K5100 usually takes the lead (by up to 37%) while at the same time also falling behind in a small number of tests.
SPECviewperf 12 | |
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 | |
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04) (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Dell Precision M2800 | |
HP ZBook 14 |
3DMark 06 Standard Score | 24627 points | |
3DMark 11 Performance | 7210 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 119722 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 21992 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 4473 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 2170 points | |
Help |
Gaming Performance
Since the Quadro K5100M is based on the same chip as the Nvidia GTX 780M, the gaming performance is more or less the same, pretty much comparable to that of the Alienware 17 (i7-4800MQ CPU and Nvidia GTX 780M GPU) during the Company of Heroes 2 benchmark, with the GTX 880M taking the lead by approx. 17 to 25%.
Company of Heroes 2 | |
1366x768 High AA:Medium (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Lenovo ThinkPad W540 20BG001BGE | |
Dell Precision M3800 QHD+ Display | |
Asus G750JZ-T4023H | |
Alienware 17 (Haswell) | |
1920x1080 Maximum / Higher / High AA:High (sort by value) | |
Eurocom Panther 5D | |
MSI GT70-20Li716121B | |
Lenovo ThinkPad W540 20BG001BGE | |
Dell Precision M3800 QHD+ Display | |
Asus G750JZ-T4023H | |
Alienware 17 (Haswell) |
low | med. | high | ultra | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Company of Heroes 2 (2013) | 61.8 | 58 | 39.81 | 19.47 |
F1 2013 (2013) | 118 | 119 | 119 | 107 |
Battlefield 4 (2013) | 169.6 | 122.6 | 89.5 | 36.5 |
Thief (2014) | 57.4 | 50.7 | 49.6 | 45.4 |
Emissions
System Noise
Due to the high-end main components with a TDP of much more than 200 watts it shouldn't come as a surprise that the P570WM can always be heard, and noticeably so. While this is very well tolerable while idle, noise levels do increase considerably once desktop-like performance is provided by the CPU and the GPU.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 39.7 / 39.7 / 39.7 dB(A) |
Load |
| 45.8 / 52.2 dB(A) |
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30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
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Temperature
Although the Panther is quite bulky (6 centimeters thick!) and comes with two mighty, always-active fans, it does get noticeably hot under continuous loads. Luckily, the palm rests don't heat up quite as much, so it should never be an issue using the device. During our stress test, the CPU remains at a constant 3.0 GHz all the time (still a Turbo boost clock speed!) with a core temperature of 80 to 90 °C at all times. Similarly, the core clock speed of the GPU remains at 770 MHz with a decent temperature of approx. 80 °C.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47.1 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 51.3 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 39.2 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.7 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 31.3 °C / 88 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.1 °C / 100.6 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-9.3 °C / -16.8 F).
Energy Management
Power Consumption
In terms of power consumption, the P570WM draws a lot of juice even when put into standby mode or turned off. While idle, between 65 and 82 watts are required, with 165 to almost 330 watts (depending on the scenario) necessary when put under full load - quite a lot more than its predecessor, the Xirios W712 (185 to 266 watts).
Again, as with the predecessor, battery life is unlikely to impress (0.5 to 1.25 hours?). Unfortunately, we weren't able to measure its exact runtime due to a battery malfunction. Thus, we haven't yet rated the device.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Key:
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Verdict
Our verdict concerning the Eurocom Panther 5D sounds pretty much like that of the Schenker Xirios W712, a laptop using the same barebone (Clevo P570WM) which we tested a year ago. Major advantages of this ultra-powerful notebook are its large variety of customization options (especially concerning high-performance components), its accessibility (there is a large maintenance hatch at the bottom allowing access to all important components even for the end customer) and the almost competition-crushing performance levels (at least for a laptop) of its Intel Xeon CPU - especially with regards to multicore-optimized applications.
But while this device may be a lot more mobile than typical desktop systems, a weight of 6 kilograms (plus 1.5 kilograms for the power brick) and battery runtimes on the order of one hour reduce the temptation to take this thing anywhere. Conventional 17-inch workstation notebooks such as the Dell M6800 or the HP ZBook 17 are noticeably easier to use on the road.