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Eurocom Q5 (Clevo P957HR, i7-7700HQ, GTX 1070 Max-Q) Laptop Review

Not yet optimized. The Q5 has more configurations and more connectivity options than your standard Max-Q notebook. Unfortunately, the hardware and software don't quite live up to spec.

The Eurocom Q5 is one of the first Clevo notebooks designed with Max-Q graphics in mind. It, along with the Asus Zephyrus GX501, HP Omen 15, Alienware 15, and MSI GS63VR 7RG, are now all available with Max-Q options ranging from the GTX 1060 Max-Q up to the 1080 Max-Q depending on the model.

The Q5 (and the Clevo P957HR by extension) are currently fixed with the i7-7700HQ CPU and GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU for a starting price of about $1600 USD or 1400 Euros if shipping to Europe. In comparison, the GX501VS and GS63VR 7RG each retail for $2400 USD with the same CPU and GPU. Once configured with 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and a 5 ms/120 Hz 1080p display, the Q5 will still come in noticeably cheaper at around $2000 USD or even less if buyers qualify for Eurocom's 10 percent student discount. We'll analyze our specific 4K UHD configuration provided by the reseller to see how it stacks up against other currently available Max-Q notebooks in the market.

(September 6, 2017 Update: Eurocom will update the firmware for faster GPU performance whilst addressing fan noise concerns in the next few days. The 55 percent fan speed mode is expected to be the new Automatic default fan mode)

Eurocom Q5
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 4 x 2.8 - 3.8 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1101 MHz, Memory: 8008 MHz, GDDR5, 382.05, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, 1300 MHz, 14-14-14-35, Dual Channel
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, ID: LGD04D4, Name: LG Philips LP156UD1-SPB1, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175 (Skylake PCH-H)
Connections
5 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headphones + SPDIF, microphone, Card Reader: SDXC reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2, mini SIM
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.6 x 380 x 249 ( = 0.73 x 14.96 x 9.8 in)
Battery
55 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2 MP
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Control Center, Sound Blaster Connect 2, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.18 kg ( = 76.9 oz / 4.81 pounds), Power Supply: 798 g ( = 28.15 oz / 1.76 pounds)
Price
2100 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Chassis design is sharper and less boxy than what we're used to from Clevo. The smooth metal surfaces are flat from top to bottom with accent marks on the outer lid and front corners thrown in for good measure. The red logo, speakers, and ventilation grilles add flare to an otherwise matte and jet black look. We find the aesthetics to be a good balance between minimalism and eccentricity as some gaming notebooks tend to go overboard with stylized brushed surfaces and LED colors.

Chassis rigidity is overall better than on the GS63VR but worse than a Razer Blade Pro or MacBook Pro 15. While the base is very resistant to side-to-side twisting, its palm rests and center of the keyboard will still exhibit visible depressions when applying pressure. The center of the outer lid will also warp by a fair amount with slight audible creaking. There is definitely room for improvement to create a more inflexible and stronger chassis. Fortunately, the two small hinges are sufficiently rigid at every angle and suffer from no teetering issues.

Construction quality is not perfect due in part to the non-unibody design. Since the skeleton is made up of smaller individual pieces instead of a single unibody frame, there is a higher chance of uneven gaps and crevices between materials. We can observe this on our specific unit as the front corner and rear plastic hinge cover appear slightly uneven and do not sit perfectly against the rest of the chassis. These minor imperfections don't have any bearing on chassis rigidity, but they are still superficial flaws that have no place on a notebook worth over two grand.

The chassis is nearly identical to the GS63VR in size and is subsequently one of the thinnest 15-inch gaming notebooks available with Pascal graphics. Demand for thinner and lighter gaming notebooks has been on the rise according to Eurocom and the Q5 is a direct response to these user requests. In particular, the size differences between the Q5 and other "standard" Clevo systems are night and day. It's still heavier than the GS63VR and Zephyrus, however, and so the Q5 can feel quite dense as a result. Most other gaming notebooks with GTX 1060 graphics or better are still significantly larger and thicker than the Eurocom including the Omen 15, Gigabyte P56XT, and especially the Alienware 15. Certain systems like the XPS 15 and Aero 15 can be noticeably smaller because of their thinner bezel designs.

matte metal surfaces are prone to fingerprints
matte metal surfaces are prone to fingerprints
hinges opened up to ~130 degrees
hinges opened up to ~130 degrees
389 mm / 15.3 inch 276 mm / 10.9 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.6 kg5.78 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.5 kg7.82 lbs383 mm / 15.1 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 2.7 kg5.89 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 249 mm / 9.8 inch 18.6 mm / 0.732 inch 2.2 kg4.81 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 249 mm / 9.8 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.9 kg4.14 lbs379 mm / 14.9 inch 262 mm / 10.3 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 2.3 kg4.96 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 2.1 kg4.7 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Plenty of ports are available as is common for a Clevo notebook. The triple video-out ports (up to 4K60 each) and double USB Type-C ports are more than what the GS63VR or GX501 have to offer and should prove useful for external monitor setups. The overt lack of Thunderbolt 3 is a bummer especially considering the high starting price.

Port positioning favors right-handed users as all the ports on the left edge are tightly packed up front. Expect thicker cables to occupy more desk space not unlike on the MSI GS equivalent since none are located on the rear of the notebook.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, 2x mini DisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen. 1), 2x USB 3.0
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, 2x mini DisplayPort 1.2, 2x USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen. 1), 2x USB 3.0
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm headset, USB 3.0, SDXC card reader, mini SIM, Gigabit RJ-45, Kensington Lock
Right: 3.5 mm microphone, 3.5 mm headset, USB 3.0, SDXC card reader, mini SIM, Gigabit RJ-45, Kensington Lock

SD Card Reader

Performance from the spring-loaded card reader is faster than on most other gaming notebooks. Some competing ultra-slim models like the Zephyrus or 14-inch Razer blade lack card readers completely. We recorded a transfer rate of 212 MB/s with our Toshiba Exceria UHS-II SDXC card to be several times faster than the card readers on the GS63VR or Omen 15. Copying 1 GB worth of photos from card to desktop takes less than 6 seconds.

A fully inserted SD card will protrude by about 1 to 2 mm for safe handling and easy ejection.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Eurocom Q5
 
195.4 MB/s
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
 
77 MB/s -61%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
 
26 MB/s -87%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Eurocom Q5
 
212.3 MB/s
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
 
87 MB/s -59%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
 
28 MB/s -87%

Communication

Empty M.2 2230 slot witrh free antennae for WWAN cards
Empty M.2 2230 slot witrh free antennae for WWAN cards

WLAN and Bluetooth 4.2 are provided by an Intel 8265 M.2 2230 module with an option to upgrade to the Killer 1535. We recorded a real-world transfer rate of 669 Mbps when standing one meter away from our Linksys EA8500 test router with no notable connection issues or drops. The Killer alternative isn't necessarily faster, but its special software carries features that some gamers may find practical.

Unique to the Q5 is its mini SIM slot underneath the SD card reader. While our test configuration lacks the required M.2 WWAN module, the antennae are already in place for end-users to install Qualcomm Gobi cards. If 3G/4G/LTE/HSPA and GPS connectivity are important, then this can be considered a key advantage over most other gaming notebooks.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
560 MBit/s +14%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
491 MBit/s
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
456 MBit/s -7%
iperf3 receive AX12
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
681 MBit/s +2%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
669 MBit/s
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
652 MBit/s -3%

Accessories

There are no included extras outside of the AC adapter. Clevo and Eurocom systems have traditionally shipped with detailed disassembly manuals and extra screws, so it's a bit disappointing to see them missing here for the Q5.

Maintenance

Serviceability is easy and requires only a Philips screwdriver to remove the 11 screws and entire bottom panel. Users have direct access to all core components including the heat sinks, fans, storage bays, M.2 modules, battery, and both SODIMM slots without additional disassembly.

All upgradeable components are neatly arranged with none on the other side of the motherboard
All upgradeable components are neatly arranged with none on the other side of the motherboard

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with two-year and three-year optional extensions. Gigabyte offers two-year global warranty as standard for some of its higher-end gaming notebooks compared to what Eurocom is offering. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Aside from the different font type, the Q5 keyboard (~ 34.0 x 10.5 cm) looks almost identical to the SteelSeries keyboard on the MSI GS series down to the translucent edges and corners of each individual key. Tactile feedback is on the soft side with low-medium clatter. Typing is spacious and comfortable for word processing and emailing, but firmer keys would have been more appropriate for gaming purposes.

The easy-to-use FlexiKey software provides customizable macros, keyboard recording options, and tri-zone RGB backlighting. Competing gaming notebooks in this price range are beginning to incorporate per-key RGB lighting and we're hoping to see the same from Clevo in the future. The lack of any LED indicators for the Caps Lock key is also a bit of an annoyance.

Touchpad

The surface of the trackpad (~10.8 x 6.2 cm) is slightly roughened in texture to distinguish it from the surrounding smooth palm rests. Glide is otherwise even and responsive with no cursor jumping or other notable issues after installing the Synaptics software. Pushing down on the trackpad center will flex its surface only very slightly for a firmer feel than the integrated clickpad on the GS63VR.

The dedicated mouse keys are spongy with narrow travel and weak tactile feedback. They're subsequently very quiet when pressed and certainly less "clicky" than the mouse keys on a MSI GT notebook. We still prefer dedicated keys over integrated clickpads if an external mouse is not available.

Full-size keys and large fonts
Full-size keys and large fonts
Travel and feedback and similar to the SteelSeries keyboard of a GS63VR
Travel and feedback and similar to the SteelSeries keyboard of a GS63VR
Three-zone RGB backlight
Three-zone RGB backlight
No dedicated macro keys, but individual keys can be assigned different functions
No dedicated macro keys, but individual keys can be assigned different functions

Display

Current display options for the Q5 include a 60 Hz 1080p IPS panel, 120 Hz/5 ms 1080p TN panel, and a 60 Hz 4K UHD IPS panel. Eurocom is planning a 4K UHD IGZO panel on future Q5 configurations for an even wider color gamut similar to the XPS 15 series.

Our test unit today is equipped with the matte 4K UHD IPS panel from LG Philips. Note that this exact same LP156UD1-SPB1 panel can also be found on the glossy Asus Zenbook Pro UX501VW and so colors and contrast levels are very similar between these two notebooks. Unfortunately, the RGBW subpixel array naturally lends itself to poorer contrast levels and is not considered "true 4K" when compared to traditional RGB panels. Manufacturers like HP have already begun moving away from 4K RGBW panels as newer 4K RGB panels can offer deeper blacks without sacrificing colors. Competing gaming notebooks like the Zephyrus or Omen 15 offer contrast levels over twice that of our Eurocom.

Subjectively, texts and images still appear crisp with a moderate amount of graininess that is common on matte panels. Onscreen content will be far too small if scaling is disabled and so the practicality of 4K UHD on this screen size should be carefully considered before purchasing. Scaling issues can be especially annoying for games and applications that are not yet optimized for such dense resolutions. Uneven backlight bleeding is present but otherwise kept to a minimum around the edges and corners.

It's worth noting that our data below reflects only the 4K UHD IPS panel. Other panel options for the Q5 will very likely exhibit different characteristics than what we've recorded here.

Minimal backlight bleeding
Minimal backlight bleeding
RGBW subpixel array
RGBW subpixel array
275.6
cd/m²
284.4
cd/m²
300.4
cd/m²
261.5
cd/m²
287.5
cd/m²
275.8
cd/m²
265.8
cd/m²
275.2
cd/m²
285.4
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
ID: LGD04D4, Name: LG Philips LP156UD1-SPB1 tested with X-Rite i1Basic Pro 2
Maximum: 300.4 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 279.1 cd/m² Minimum: 24 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 287.5 cd/m²
Contrast: 442:1 (Black: 0.65 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92.3% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.39
Eurocom Q5
ID: LGD04D4, Name: LG Philips LP156UD1-SPB1, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
ID: AUO42ED, Name: AU Optronics B156HAN04.2, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
AUO42ED, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
Samsung 156HL01-104 (SDC324C) , IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Gigabyte P56XT
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Alienware 15 R3
HPJGK_B156HTN (AUO51ED), TN, 15.60, 1920x1080
Display
-4%
2%
7%
-3%
2%
Display P3 Coverage
63
62.1
-1%
65.8
4%
67.8
8%
64.8
3%
66
5%
sRGB Coverage
92.7
85.6
-8%
90.9
-2%
97.4
5%
84.6
-9%
90.5
-2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64.4
62.4
-3%
66.5
3%
69.7
8%
61.8
-4%
66.2
3%
Response Times
1%
-21%
10%
-1%
41%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
32.4 ?(16, 16.4)
33.2 ?(18.4, 14.8)
-2%
43.2 ?(21.2, 22)
-33%
37.2 ?(18.4, 18.8)
-15%
25 ?(12, 13)
23%
Response Time Black / White *
28.8 ?(18.8, 10)
28 ?(15.6, 12.4)
3%
31.2 ?(16.4, 14.8)
-8%
26 ?(8, 18)
10%
24.8 ?(14, 10.8)
14%
12 ?(4, 8)
58%
PWM Frequency
202 ?(100)
20000 ?(95)
Screen
25%
32%
23%
6%
-11%
Brightness middle
287.5
307.1
7%
304
6%
293
2%
301
5%
386
34%
Brightness
279
309
11%
289
4%
279
0%
280
0%
382
37%
Brightness Distribution
87
86
-1%
86
-1%
84
-3%
87
0%
93
7%
Black Level *
0.65
0.35
46%
0.26
60%
0.33
49%
0.32
51%
0.39
40%
Contrast
442
877
98%
1169
164%
888
101%
941
113%
990
124%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.5
3.4
24%
3.46
23%
3.59
20%
6.21
-38%
10.2
-127%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.9
8.2
8%
7.72
13%
5.79
35%
10.78
-21%
15.81
-78%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.6
1.4
70%
2.46
47%
3.86
16%
6.08
-32%
11.28
-145%
Gamma
2.39 92%
2.19 100%
2.38 92%
2.53 87%
2.31 95%
2.23 99%
CCT
7393 88%
6558 99%
6915 94%
7229 90%
7375 88%
11383 57%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59
55.6
-6%
59
0%
63
7%
55
-7%
59
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92.3
85
-8%
91
-1%
97
5%
84
-9%
90
-2%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
7% / 16%
4% / 19%
13% / 19%
1% / 3%
11% / -2%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 59 percent and 92 percent of the AdobeRGB and sRGB standards, respectively. This is typical of high-end gaming notebooks and Ultrabooks and should prove useful for digital artists. In comparison, the 4K UHD RGBW Samsung panel on the GS63VR covers just 72 percent of sRGB. Notebooks sporting Sharp IGZO panels can cover the entire sRGB spectrum and more of AdobeRGB if color accuracy is of utmost concern. For gaming purposes, however, the color space on our LG Philips panel here is more than sufficient.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. MSI GS63VR 4K UHD
vs. MSI GS63VR 4K UHD

Further measurements with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal average grayscale and colors out of the box and a slightly cool color temperature. Our calibration efforts improve nearly all aspects of the display and is recommended to get the most out of the wide color gamut of the 4K UHD panel. Strangely, Yellow, Green, and Red colors are slightly less accurate at lower saturation levels which is somewhat uncommon on notebook panels and could be due to the RGBW subpixel array.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
28.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.8 ms rise
↘ 10 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 72 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
32.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 16.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Like most gaming notebooks, outdoor visibility is average at best. The wide IPS angles and matte panel help in minimizing glare, but the backlight is not sufficiently bright enough to overcome outdoor ambient lighting. Onscreen content will look washed out as a result even if on the maximum brightness setting. The heavier Alienware 15 carries a much brighter display backlight if outdoor visibility is a priority.

Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Outdoors under direct sunlight
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

Current Q5 configurations are limited to the Core i7-7700HQ CPU and GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU as both are soldered onto the motherboard. Other gaming notebooks may have unlocked HK-class processor options, but the performance gains over the i7-7700HQ are minimal and anything faster would be an even greater strain on the thin Q5 design. Besides, the Q5 chassis has enough trouble as is with the i7-7700HQ as we will show in the following sections.

Optimus is mandatory for additional power-saving features at the cost of G-Sync support.

Processor

CPU performance is where we expect it to be for an i7-7700HQ. CineBench benchmarks are nearly identical to the Zephyrus GX501VS and just a few percentage points faster than the outgoing Skylake i7-6700HQ and Broadwell i7-5700HQ. Users will not see significant performance gains unless if upgrading from the older Haswell i7-4700HQ or slower dual-core i5-7300HQ.

Turbo Boost sustainability is unfortunately poorer than on the equivalent Asus Zephyrus. Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in a good initial score of 738 points, but this immediately drops to around 705 points after the first loop to represent a decrease of about 5 percent. Activating Maximum fan speed mode does not appear to affect CineBench R15 scores, either. In contrast, the Zephyrus is able to maintain a steady score in the 730 to 740 range. Even so, most users are unlikely to notice any significant performance drops on the Q5 when running real-world applications.

See our dedicated page on the Core i7-7700HQ for more technical information and benchmarks.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720730740Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
190 Points +25%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
160 Points +5%
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
152 Points 0%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
152 Points
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
150 Points -1%
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
148 Points -3%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
144 Points -5%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
133 Points -12%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
125 Points -18%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
897 Points +22%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
758 Points +3%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
738 Points
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
734 Points -1%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
721 Points -2%
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
706 Points -4%
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
679 Points -8%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
503 Points -32%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
490 Points -34%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
2.19 Points +27%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.81 Points +5%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.81 Points +5%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.73 Points
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.69 Points -2%
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
1.68 Points -3%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
1.54 Points -11%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1.51 Points -13%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
1.46 Points -16%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
9.78 Points +20%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
8.34 Points +2%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.14 Points
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.06 Points -1%
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
7.75 Points -5%
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.47 Points -8%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
6.89 Points -15%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5.81 Points -29%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
5.29 Points -35%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
28189 Points +29%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
22243 Points +2%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
21824 Points
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
21313 Points -2%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
20801 Points -5%
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20283 Points -7%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
17618 Points -19%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
14329 Points -34%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
7222 Points +23%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5877 Points
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5860 Points 0%
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
5632 Points -4%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
5516 Points -6%
HP Omen 17-w110ng
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5484 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
4999 Points -15%
Acer Aspire V17 Nitro BE VN7-793G-52XN
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4920 Points -16%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
323 s * -43%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
225.6 s *
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Intel Core i7-6820HK
224.7 s * -0%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
211.1 s * +6%
Gigabyte P55 V4
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
205.3 s * +9%
Eurocom Tornado F5
Intel Core i7-7700K
176.3 s * +22%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
11810
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
21824
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5877
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
8.14 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
64.5 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.73 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
152 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
97.6 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
738 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank the Q5 very similarly to the GS63VR with GTX 1060 graphics. The GX501VS is well ahead possibly due to its faster CPU and GPU clock rates and lower resolution panel even though its core processor specifications are similar to our Q5. Subjectively, we experienced no notable slowdowns on our Eurocom unit during testing and regular use.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
5476 Points +43%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
5009 Points +31%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4060 Points +6%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
3829 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
6515 Points +33%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
5358 Points +10%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4891 Points
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
4859 Points -1%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
8593 Points +74%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
7653 Points +55%
MSI GS63VR-6RF16H22 Stealth Pro
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5171 Points +5%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4926 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3829 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4926 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4891 points
PCMark 10 Score
5119 points
Help

Storage Devices

M.2 and 2.5-inch bays sit adjacent to the WLAN and SODIMM modules
M.2 and 2.5-inch bays sit adjacent to the WLAN and SODIMM modules

Two internal storage bays are available in the form of M.2 2280 and 2.5-inch SATA III. The M.2 slot supports NVMe while the 2.5-inch bay will only accept 7 mm thick drives due to space limitations. Our test model is equipped with the same primary 512 GB Samsung SSD 960 Pro as on our previous Eurocom Tornado F5. Sequential read and write rates are incredibly fast at about 2500 MB/s and 2000 MB/s, respectively, compared to 1400 MB/s and 735 MB/s write on the Samsung SM961 and SK Hynix PC300. Eurocom will configure up to 2 TB M.2 drives if desired for even more storage space.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5
CDM 5
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
Eurocom Q5
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
EVGA SC17 GTX 1070
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
Eurocom Tornado F5
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Alienware 17 R4
SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
AS SSD
-5%
-22%
17%
-53%
Copy Game MB/s
682
719
5%
1034
52%
1310
92%
574
-16%
Copy Program MB/s
301.5
383.3
27%
470
56%
635
111%
446.1
48%
Copy ISO MB/s
1967
1795
-9%
1337
-32%
1614
-18%
1227
-38%
Score Total
4001
3995
0%
2328
-42%
3943
-1%
2072
-48%
Score Write
1705
1293
-24%
487
-71%
1689
-1%
858
-50%
Score Read
1529
1818
19%
1238
-19%
1512
-1%
831
-46%
Access Time Write *
0.028
0.032
-14%
0.033
-18%
0.024
14%
0.123
-339%
Access Time Read *
0.036
0.047
-31%
0.049
-36%
0.03
17%
0.042
-17%
4K-64 Write
1366
1035
-24%
260.9
-81%
1334
-2%
671
-51%
4K-64 Read
1231
1527
24%
999
-19%
1179
-4%
620
-50%
4K Write
136.2
117.3
-14%
112.1
-18%
150.5
10%
113.4
-17%
4K Read
49.3
50.2
2%
45.64
-7%
51
3%
35.61
-28%
Seq Write
2029
1409
-31%
1144
-44%
2046
1%
735
-64%
Seq Read
2493
2412
-3%
1934
-22%
2819
13%
1752
-30%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3381 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2075 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 575 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 498.7 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2763 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 2073 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 57.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 202.6 MB/s

GPU Performance

The GTX 1070 Max-Q in our Eurocom is consistently slower than the similarly equipped Zephyrus GX501VS by about 10 percent in all tested 3DMark benchmarks. This is due to a number of factors including the higher native resolution of the Q5, the presence of Optimus, and the fact that the GPU clock rate is slower than on the GX501VS when under similar gaming loads (1291 MHz vs. 1443 MHz). Raw performance is still greater than a desktop GTX 1060 and GTX 1060 Max-Q by about 10 percent and 40 percent, respectively, albeit these margins are narrower than expected. A "proper" GTX 1070 like the one on the Eurocom MX5 will provide a performance benefit of about 25 percent over our Q5.

Note that 3DMark scores do NOT improve on different fan modes. Setting the fan speed to Maximum and Automatic will result in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics scores of 14660 and 14576 points, respectively, compared to 14557 points on our manual 55 percent fan mode setting.

See our overview of Nvidia Max-Q for more technical information on the series.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Ice Storm Unlimited
Ice Storm Unlimited
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
21366 Points +47%
Asus Zephyrus GX501
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
18498 Points +27%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
16165 Points +11%
Eurocom Q5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
14557 Points
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
12984 Points -11%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
10349 Points -29%
Eurocom P5 Pro Extreme
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 4790K
9358 Points -36%
MSI GP62 7REX-1045US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7866 Points -46%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ
5895 Points -60%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Graphics
Asus Zephyrus GX501
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
4137 Points +27%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
3662 Points +12%
Eurocom Q5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
3262 Points
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
2893 Points -11%
MSI GP62 7REX-1045US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
1810 Points -45%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ
1140 Points -65%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
29109 Points +56%
Asus Zephyrus GX501
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
23314 Points +25%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
20240 Points +8%
Eurocom Q5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
18684 Points
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
17401 Points -7%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
13279 Points -29%
Eurocom P5 Pro Extreme
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 4790K
11209 Points -40%
MSI GP62 7REX-1045US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
9394 Points -50%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ
7982 Points -57%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
11160 Points +20%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
9878 Points +6%
Eurocom P5 Pro Extreme
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 4790K
9761 Points +5%
Eurocom Q5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
9319 Points
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
9065 Points -3%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
8762 Points -6%
Asus Zephyrus GX501
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
8652 Points -7%
MSI GP62 7REX-1045US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7163 Points -23%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ
5562 Points -40%
3DMark 11 Performance
14947 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
25659 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
12028 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
6354 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Q5 is again comfortably between a standard GTX 1060 and the GTX 1070 Max-Q in the Zephyrus during real-world gaming loads. If 1080p60 at maximum settings is the goal, then the Q5 will be more than sufficient for nearly all modern titles even if the GPU is running a bit slower than anticipated. If 120 FPS is preferred, then this particular GPU can be considered underpowered for most titles.

Native 4K gaming is possible albeit in the unfavorable 30 to 45 FPS range. Since G-Sync is unavailable, users will have to lock frame rates to 30 FPS or reduce in-game settings for 60 FPS in order to get a more consistent experience.

See our dedicated page on the GTX 1070 Max-Q for more benchmark comparisons.

Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Aorus X7 DT v6
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 6820HK, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
118 fps +48%
Asus Zephyrus GX501
GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD SM961 1TB M.2 MZVKW1T0HMLH
105 fps +32%
MSI Gaming Z GeForce GTX 1070 OC Bios Desktop PC
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
102 (95min - 107max) fps +28%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
100.5 fps +26%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
85.9 fps +8%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
79.7 fps
MSI GS43VR 7RE-069US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SK Hynix HFS128G39MNC-3510A
68.8 fps -14%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
55 fps -31%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
51.1 fps -36%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
42.8 fps -46%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Aorus X7 DT v6
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 6820HK, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
164.7 fps +26%
MSI Gaming Z GeForce GTX 1070 OC Bios Desktop PC
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
157 fps +20%
Aorus X7 v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
145.8 fps +12%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
141 fps +8%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
131.6 fps +1%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
130.5 fps
MSI GS43VR 7RE-069US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SK Hynix HFS128G39MNC-3510A
105.6 fps -19%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
86.4 fps -34%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
69.5 fps -47%
Fallout 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x
Aorus X7 DT v6
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 6820HK, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
124 fps +40%
MSI Gaming Z GeForce GTX 1070 OC Bios Desktop PC
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
113 (92min - 145max) fps +28%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
103.3 fps +17%
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
95.3 fps +8%
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
88.4 fps
MSI GS43VR 7RE-069US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SK Hynix HFS128G39MNC-3510A
71.5 fps -19%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
57.9 fps -35%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
43.5 fps -51%
low med. high ultra4K
Guild Wars 2 (2012) 62.2
BioShock Infinite (2013) 130.5
Metro: Last Light (2013) 96.5
Thief (2014) 95.1
The Witcher 3 (2015) 46
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 73 37
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 60 59
Fallout 4 (2015) 88.4 34.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 79.7 33.6
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 67 65.2
Overwatch (2016) 136.2 70.1
Mafia 3 (2016) 51.6 20.6
Prey (2017) 138.7 48.1
Dirt 4 (2017) 71.8 40.5
F1 2017 (2017) 80 36

Stress Test

We stress the system with Prime95 and FurMark in order to identify for any stability or throttling issues. With only Prime95 active, the CPU can be observed running stably at 300 MHz above its base clock rate and a very warm core temperature of 92 C. In comparison, the Zephyrus will be steady at 3.4 GHz with an average CPU temperature of just 81 C. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously will strip the CPU of any Turbo Boost benefits in order to keep core temperatures below 90 C. CPU clock rate, however, does not appear to ever throttle any slower than its base value. Note that the GPU in the Q5 will also be running significantly warmer than the same GPU in the GX501VS by about 15 C when under load. 

Enabling Maximum fan mode has some interesting effects on the Q5. When running Witcher 3, the CPU becomes locked in the 3.7 to 3.8 GHz range while the GPU will run slightly faster at a steady 1316 MHz. GPU temperature also drops considerably to the 68 C mark compared to 84 C if on the 55 percent fan setting. The performance boost is otherwise imperceptible when gaming as the major benefit of Maximum fan mode is for the cooler GPU temperature.

Running on battery power will impact both CPU and GPU performances. A 3DMark Fire Strike test on batteries returns 5394 and 6764 points for Physics and Graphics, respectively, compared to 10856 and 16165 points when on mains.

Prime95 stress (55 percent fan mode)
Prime95 stress (55 percent fan mode)
FurMark stress (55 percent fan mode)
FurMark stress (55 percent fan mode)
Prime95+FurMark stress (55 percent fan speed)
Prime95+FurMark stress (55 percent fan speed)
Prime95+FurMark stress (Maximum fan mode)
Prime95+FurMark stress (Maximum fan mode)
Witcher 3 stress (55 percent fan speed)
Witcher 3 stress (55 percent fan speed)
Witcher 3 stress (Maximum fan mode)
Witcher 3 stress (Maximum fan mode)
01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.1 -- 92 48
FurMark Stress -- 759 56 84
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 2.8 772 89 86
Prime95 + FurMark Stress (Maximum fan mode) 2.8 861 89 67
Witcher 3 Stress 2.8 1291 74 84
Witcher 3 Stress (Maximum fan mode) 3.7 - 3.8 1316 76 68

Emissions

System Noise

Max-Q targets a fan noise of 40 dB(A) when sitting 25 cm away from the front of the notebook. Both our tested Zephyrus and Omen 15 units have been shown to meet this very specific standard. The Q5, however, can be as loud as 50 dB(A) when running Witcher 3 on the preset Automatic fan mode. In order to benchmark the Q5 more fairly against other Max-Q notebooks, we've dialed back the fan to a manual 55 percent speed setting that we've recorded to be about the same as a Zephyrus when subjected to similar gaming loads. Thus, all our benchmarks and data on this page reflect the 55 percent speed setting unless noted otherwise.

The triple fans of the Q5 are identical in diameter at about 45 cm each as opposed to the the asymmetric fans of the GS63VR. The fans are always active no matter the onscreen load and will be audible in a quiet workspace like a classroom or library at a recorded 33.8 dB(A). Connecting to an external monitor for day-to-day browsing will not alter fan behavior. Fan RPMs fortunately do not pulsate, but a true "silent mode" option for video streaming or very low processing loads would have made the Q5 more appropriate in noise-sensitive environments. Bewilderingly, the fans remain active even if set to the preset Quiet fan mode.

Note that the manual 55 percent fan speed setting will be overridden once core temperature approaches 96 C. Gaming loads will fortunately not reach anywhere above 90 C, so owners can game comfortably in the 55 percent fan speed setting. Benchmark loads like Prime95 will reach 96 C very quickly and therefore automatically initiate faster fan speeds as necessary.

As usual, the GPU requires more attention from the cooling solution than the CPU
As usual, the GPU requires more attention from the cooling solution than the CPU
CPU cooling is not shared with the GPU, which is uncommon on super-thin gaming notebooks
CPU cooling is not shared with the GPU, which is uncommon on super-thin gaming notebooks
Q5 in Automatic fan mode (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Maximum fan mode)
Q5 in Automatic fan mode (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Maximum fan mode)
Q5 in 55 percent fan mode
Q5 in 55 percent fan mode
MSI GS63VR 7RF. Note its higher-pitched noise levels than on the Q5
MSI GS63VR 7RF. Note its higher-pitched noise levels than on the Q5
Manual 55 percent fan speed setting. This was necessary in order to keep fan noise within Max-Q specification. The lowest fan speed setting allowable by the software is 50 percent.
Manual 55 percent fan speed setting. This was necessary in order to keep fan noise within Max-Q specification. The lowest fan speed setting allowable by the software is 50 percent.

Noise Level

Idle
31.5 / 33.8 / 33.8 dB(A)
Load
41.7 / 54.2 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 29 dB(A)
Eurocom Q5
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, LiteOn CX2-8B256
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
EVGA SC15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPU7
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Noise
9%
-4%
-5%
4%
1%
off / environment *
29
28.5
2%
30
-3%
30
-3%
28
3%
30
-3%
Idle Minimum *
31.5
28.5
10%
34
-8%
31
2%
31.9
-1%
30
5%
Idle Average *
33.8
28.5
16%
35
-4%
32
5%
32
5%
33
2%
Idle Maximum *
33.8
30.1
11%
39
-15%
42
-24%
32
5%
37
-9%
Load Average *
41.7
35.2
16%
39
6%
49
-18%
36.5
12%
41
2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
41.7
41.7
-0%
48
-15%
40.3
3%
42
-1%
Load Maximum *
54.2
48.8
10%
49
10%
50
8%
53.4
1%
50
8%

* ... smaller is better

Automatic fan mode dB(A)
3DMark06 45
Witcher 3 50.2
Prime95+FurMark 53

Temperature

Surface temperatures are flat when idling and will grow very warm when under extreme loads. The center of the keyboard can be as warm as 56 C as shown by our temperature maps below or about 51 C when gaming. The left half of the notebook will be warmer than the right half whereas the opposite is true for the GS63VR. This is generally unfavorable for gaming since the WASD keys are used more often than the NumPad keys. Additionally, the average surface temperature of the Eurocom is higher than on the GS63VR 6RF which already runs very warm.

Will running the Eurocom at Maximum fan speed mode bring down surface temperatures? It certainly will, albeit by just a few degrees. The hot spot when running Witcher 3 on 55 percent fan speed, for example, is about 51 C near the top center of the keyboard whereas this same spot will be just over 46 C when on Maximum fan speed mode.

Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (bottom)
Maximum load (bottom)
Max. Load
 48.8 °C
120 F
56.2 °C
133 F
47.2 °C
117 F
 
 48 °C
118 F
48.6 °C
119 F
38.2 °C
101 F
 
 38.6 °C
101 F
37.2 °C
99 F
31.4 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 56.2 °C = 133 F
Average: 43.8 °C = 111 F
57 °C
135 F
61.2 °C
142 F
52.2 °C
126 F
34.6 °C
94 F
53 °C
127 F
48.2 °C
119 F
31 °C
88 F
37.4 °C
99 F
37.8 °C
100 F
Maximum: 61.2 °C = 142 F
Average: 45.8 °C = 114 F
Power Supply (max.)  46.6 °C = 116 F | Room Temperature 22.6 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 43.8 °C / 111 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 56.2 °C / 133 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 61.2 °C / 142 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.1 °C / 81 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 41.9 °C / 107 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 38.6 °C / 101.5 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-9.7 °C / -17.5 F).

Speakers

The integrated stereo speakers have a narrow range of reproducible frequencies. As shown by our pink noise measurements below, bass frequencies are poorly represented when compared to the GS63VR. The much larger Eurocom X7E2 exhibits a broader and more even noise curve for a better sound experience. Maximum volume will not reverberate the chassis or introduce any static to the speakers, but treble frequencies will still be far too strong.

The Sound Blaster Connect 2 software is actually quite versatile with preset audio settings individually optimized for games like Overwatch, DOTA 2, and Battlefield 1. Nonetheless, headphones are still recommended for longer gaming or video playback sessions as software settings can only do so much for small internal speakers. ESS Sabre DAC is not present unlike on certain MSI systems and other notebooks from Eurocom.

Eurocom Q5 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Eurocom Q5 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
MSI GS63VR
MSI GS63VR
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Sound Blaster Connect 2 software
Sound Blaster Connect 2 software
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.838.72534.835.53135.534.44034.135.3503231.36332.135.28030.831.210030.230.812528.730.216029.329.420028.929.825028.330.231527.434.240026.442.150026.145.26302652.580025.655.6100025.360.5125027.361.7160025.160.120002461.5250023.960315023.956.5400023.754.8500023.657630023.655.6800023.654.91000023.655.61250023.652.71600023.647.3SPL3770.2N2.824.1median 25.3median 54.8Delta1.41235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseEurocom Q5Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Eurocom Q5 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (61.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (35.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 99% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 92% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 7% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The Q5 is noticeably more power efficient than its closest competitors when idling on desktop. We recorded a consumption of just 9 W to 13 W compared to 19 W to 22 W on the Zephyrus or 18 W to 30 W on the new HP Omen 15 under similar conditions. Running Witcher 3 will see the Q5 drawing almost exactly the same as the Zephyrus at about 130 W. When compared to the EVGA SC15 and its GTX 1060 GPU, the Eurocom is drawing about 6 percent more power for a rough 10 percent increase in Fire Strike Graphics performance.

Maximum load with both Prime95 and FurMark will demand about 159 W from a medium-sized AC adapter (~17 x 8 x 2.5 cm) rated for up to 180 W. This is a narrow but acceptable overhead of just over 10 percent, though this also suggests that there are likely no short term plans for a Q5 with GTX 1080 Max-Q graphics as a more capable PSU would be required.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.27 / 0.94 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 9 / 13.5 / 13.7 Watt
Load midlight 87.8 / 158.6 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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.
Eurocom Q5
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Asus Zephyrus GX501
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, Samsung SSD SM961 1TB M.2 MZVKW1T0HMLH, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
EVGA SC15
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPU7, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Gigabyte P56XT
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, LiteOn CX2-8B256, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-37%
-54%
-61%
-30%
-43%
Idle Minimum *
9
19.1
-112%
18
-100%
25.8
-187%
13
-44%
18
-100%
Idle Average *
13.5
20.8
-54%
23
-70%
26.6
-97%
17
-26%
23
-70%
Idle Maximum *
13.7
21.8
-59%
31
-126%
26.7
-95%
22
-61%
30
-119%
Load Average *
87.8
73.7
16%
79
10%
80.3
9%
85
3%
85
3%
Witcher 3 ultra *
129
130.2
-1%
148
-15%
121.2
6%
154
-19%
96
26%
Load Maximum *
158.6
173.1
-9%
196
-24%
159.3
-0%
208
-31%
158
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Runtimes are average for a gaming notebook at just over four hours of real-world WLAN use to be nearly two hours longer than on the Zephyrus GX501VS. The advantage can be attributed to the larger battery capacity in the Q5 compared to the Asus (60 Wh vs. 50 Wh) and the inclusion of Optimus. Charging from near empty to full capacity will take just under two hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 46min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 18min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 47min
Eurocom Q5
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 55 Wh
Asus Zephyrus GX501VS
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 50 Wh
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, 70 Wh
Gigabyte P56XT
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 91.2 Wh
EVGA SC15
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 62 Wh
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 99 Wh
Battery Runtime
-30%
1%
75%
-5%
34%
Reader / Idle
466
229
-51%
256
-45%
568
22%
222
-52%
382
-18%
WiFi v1.3
258
147
-43%
198
-23%
384
49%
167
-35%
264
2%
Load
47
49
4%
80
70%
120
155%
81
72%
102
117%

Pros

+ respectable battery life; Optimus included
+ wide variety of ports; optional mini SIM
+ easily accessible internals
+ thin and attractive design
+ lower starting price
+ 2x storage bays
+ optane support

Cons

- slower GTX 1070 Max-Q performance than the Zephyrus; slower GPU clock rates
- unable to maintain maximum CPU Turbo Boost performance
- automatic fan speeds are not optimized for Nvidia Max-Q
- very warm surface temperatures under load
- poorer contrast due to RGBW subpixel array
- forced Optimus; no G-Sync options
- slight creaking around the chassis
- no per-key RGB lighting options
- no Thunderbolt 3

Verdict

In review: Eurocom Q5. Test model provided by Eurocom
In review: Eurocom Q5. Test model provided by Eurocom

At face value, the Q5 is almost everything we'd want out of a Max-Q gaming notebook. Easy serviceability, thin and attractive profile, multiple display options, two internal storage bays, plenty of ports, Optimus, and even SIM support. Dig a bit deeper into the details, however, and the system has a long way to go against competing Max-Q models like the Zephyrus.

For one, the preset Automatic fan mode ought to be changed to meet Max-Q fan noise standards. As of this writing, users will have to set the fan speed manually to 55 percent for a "true" Max-Q experience. Failure to do so will have the Q5 running just as loudly as non Max-Q gaming notebooks that may be equipped with GTX 1070 or better graphics. After all, why purchase a Max-Q notebook if it won't run any quieter than a more powerful ultrathin alternative?

Secondly, core temperatures are warmer than on the Zephyrus when set to the 55 percent fan speed setting. Thus, when subjected to the same gaming loads and at identical fan noise readings, the Asus notebook will still run cooler.

Lastly, the GTX 1070 Max-Q in the Q5 is consistently slower than the same GPU in the Asus alternative. Its slower clock rate in combination with higher core temperatures could be a nail in the coffin to the eyes of hardcore gamers. If you want the best that the GTX 1070 Max-Q has to offer, then the Q5 is not the notebook to get. If the wide auxiliary features and connectivity options are of importance over the barebone Zephyrus, however, then the less expensive Q5 could still be a compelling Max-Q notebook.

It's clear that the Q5 and its cooling solution are not yet fully optimized for Max-Q as clock rates and temperatures are unfavorable against the competition. Future SKUs equipped with the less demanding GTX 1060 Max-Q would theoretically be a better fit for this particular chassis. Beyond that, auxiliary features and configurable options outside of the CPU and GPU are the most plentiful yet for a superthin Max-Q notebook.

Eurocom Q5 - 09/07/2017 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
79 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
67 / 81 → 82%
Weight
62 / 10-66 → 93%
Battery
77%
Display
84%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
93%
Temperature
78 / 95 → 82%
Noise
70 / 90 → 78%
Audio
40%
Camera
50 / 85 → 59%
Average
74%
83%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Eurocom Q5 (Clevo P957HR, i7-7700HQ, GTX 1070 Max-Q) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2017-09- 5 (Update: 2019-04- 5)