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Eurocom Q8 (i9-8950HK, GTX 1070, QHD) Laptop Review

Core i9 gamer. Eurocom is skipping the i7-8750H and going straight for the jugular with the more powerful i9-8950HK. Performance is indubitably faster than the last generation Core i7-7700HQ, but some repeatable throttling behavior is holding back the system.
Gaming Geforce Laptop

Based on the Clevo PA71 barebones chassis, the Q8 is Eurocom's 17.3-inch super-thin gaming notebook to complement its thicker enthusiast Sky series. It competes directly with other thin 17.3-inch systems including the MSI GS73VR, Razer Blade Pro, Aorus X7, Asus ROG GL703, and the EVGA SC17.

We recommend checking out our existing reviews on the Schenker XMG Pro 17 and PC Specialist Defiance IV since these systems utilize a very similar Clevo chassis design as our Eurocom Q8 albeit with less powerful CPUs or GPUs. Our overview of the case, ports, keyboard, and general feel of these systems also apply to the Q8. Thus, this page will focus more on performance and how well the system can cope with temperatures and noise when under stress. Does the newer Eurocom configuration bring enough power to the table to fend off the more popular alternatives?

See more from Eurocom and the Q series here:

Eurocom Q8
Processor
Intel Core i9-8950HK 6 x 2.9 - 4.8 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile - 16 GB VRAM, Core: 1480 MHz, Memory: 8008 MHz, GDDR5, 389.27, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-21300, 1333.3 MHz, 15-17-17-35, Dual-Channel
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixel 170 PPI, AU Optronics B173QTN01.0, Dell P/N WJGD4, TN LED, AUO1096, 120 Hz
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2, 512 GB 
Soundcard
NVIDIA GP104 - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
5 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1 headphone, 1 microphone, 1 SPDIF, Card Reader: SD, SDHC, SDXC, Mini-SD, MMC, RSMMC, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless-AC 9560 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 24.9 x 418 x 287 ( = 0.98 x 16.46 x 11.3 in)
Battery
66 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2.0 MP FHD
Additional features
Speakers: 2.1, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Control Center 2.0, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.99 kg ( = 105.47 oz / 6.59 pounds), Power Supply: 897 g ( = 31.64 oz / 1.98 pounds)
Price
3000 USD
Links
Eurocom homepage
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

❌
424 mm / 16.7 inch 332 mm / 13.1 inch 29.9 mm / 1.177 inch 4.4 kg9.74 lbs428 mm / 16.9 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.4 kg7.5 lbs424 mm / 16.7 inch 281 mm / 11.1 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 3.1 kg6.9 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 287 mm / 11.3 inch 24.9 mm / 0.98 inch 3 kg6.59 lbs415 mm / 16.3 inch 280 mm / 11 inch 23.9 mm / 0.941 inch 2.7 kg6 lbs411.8 mm / 16.2 inch 284.9 mm / 11.2 inch 19.6 mm / 0.772 inch 2.4 kg5.36 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Right: 3.5 mm earphone, microphone, SPIDIF, SDXC reader, 2x USB 3.1, RJ-45
Right: 3.5 mm earphone, microphone, SPIDIF, SDXC reader, 2x USB 3.1, RJ-45
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, 2x mini DisplayPort 1.3, Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB 3.1
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, 2x mini DisplayPort 1.3, Thunderbolt 3, 2x USB 3.1
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Aorus X7 v7
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
196 MB/s ∼100% +7%
Eurocom Q8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
183 MB/s ∼93%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
182.9 MB/s ∼93% 0%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
80.1 MB/s ∼41% -56%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Aorus X7 v7
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
247 MB/s ∼100% +18%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
212.2 MB/s ∼86% +2%
Eurocom Q8
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
209 MB/s ∼85%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.3 MB/s ∼35% -58%

Communication

Our Q8 is equipped with an Intel 9560 module capable of transfer rates of up to 1.73 Gbps. Our current Linksys EA8500 setup can only test a maximum of 1 Gbps due to router and server limitations. Thus, wireless performance on the Q8 can be much faster than what we've recorded below should users have compatible networks.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Eurocom Q8
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
682 MBit/s ∼100%
Asus Zephyrus M GM501
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
585 MBit/s ∼86% -14%
Aorus X7 v7
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
498 MBit/s ∼73% -27%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
486 MBit/s ∼71% -29%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus Zephyrus M GM501
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
683 MBit/s ∼100% +5%
Eurocom Q8
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
648 MBit/s ∼95%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
605 MBit/s ∼89% -7%
Aorus X7 v7
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
485 MBit/s ∼71% -25%

Maintenance

(Source: Eurocom)
(Source: Eurocom)

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with optiosn to extend up to three years.

Display

Subpixel array (170 PPI)
Subpixel array (170 PPI)

Eurocom offers a wider variety of display options for a single model compared to more popular alternatives. Users can choose from IPS 1080p 60 Hz, IPS 1080p 120 Hz, IPS 1080p 144 Hz, TN 1440p 120 Hz, and IPS 2160p 60 Hz with different color gamuts, response times, and brightness and contrast levels between them. Thus, the measurements and comments on this page reflect only the 1440p 120 Hz panel on our particular test unit. Very similar 1440p AU Optronics panels can also be found on the Alienware 17 R4 and older Aorus X7 v7.

Average brightness and contrast levels are similar to the Alienware and Aorus systems mentioned above. While the contrast ratio is good, it pales in comparison to many IPS panels where 1000:1 or greater is common. The matte panel is just slightly grainy and doesn't quite match the sharpness of a glossy panel.

332.7
cd/m²		369.9
cd/m²		353.3
cd/m²
340.9
cd/m²		367.9
cd/m²		372.3
cd/m²
320.1
cd/m²		314
cd/m²		342.9
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173QTN01.0, Dell P/N WJGD4
X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 372.3 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 346 cd/m² Minimum: 36.54 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 367.9 cd/m²
Contrast: 669:1 (Black: 0.55 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 9.86 | 0.55-29.43 Ø5.1, calibrated: 4.43
ΔE Greyscale 12.4 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
80.5% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
52.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
58.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
81% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.09
Eurocom Q8
AU Optronics B173QTN01.0, Dell P/N WJGD4, TN LED, 17.30, 2560x1440		MSI GS73VR 7RG
ID: CMN1747, Name: Chi Mei N173HHE-G32, TN LED, 17.30, 1920x1080		Asus GL703GE-ES73
Chi Mei CMN1747, TN, 17.30, 1920x1080		Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
ID: AUO169D, Name: AU Optronics B173HAN01.6, IPS, 17.30, 1920x1080		Alienware 17 R4
TN LED, 17.30, 2560x1440		Aorus X7 v7
AU Optronics B173QTN01.4 (AUO1496), TN LED, 17.30, 2560x1440
Display
41%
39%
10%
3%
8%
Display P3 Coverage
58.7
89.6
53%
90.1
53%
64
9%
61.2
4%
63
7%
sRGB Coverage
81
100
23%
99.8
23%
89.7
11%
82.9
2%
87.1
8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
58.9
86.9
48%
83.1
41%
64.9
10%
60.5
3%
63.7
8%
Response Times
-1%
24%
-192%
-41%
11%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
21.6 ?(12.4, 9.2)
23.6 ?(13.6, 10)
-9%
11.6 ?(6, 5.6)
46%
36.8 ?(19.6, 17.2)
-70%
30 ?(18.8, 11.2)
-39%
24 ?(14, 10)
-11%
Response Time Black / White *
9 ?(6.8, 2.2)
8.4 ?(6, 2.4)
7%
8.8 ?(6, 2.8)
2%
37.2 ?(21.6, 15.6)
-313%
12.8 ?(10.8, 2)
-42%
6 ?(4, 2)
33%
PWM Frequency
26040 ?(10)
26040 ?(25)
Screen
20%
36%
32%
16%
15%
Brightness middle
367.9
350.9
-5%
331.1
-10%
367.4
0%
402.3
9%
375
2%
Brightness
346
311
-10%
312
-10%
363
5%
372
8%
353
2%
Brightness Distribution
84
79
-6%
86
2%
86
2%
86
2%
85
1%
Black Level *
0.55
0.33
40%
0.31
44%
0.32
42%
0.62
-13%
0.58
-5%
Contrast
669
1063
59%
1068
60%
1148
72%
649
-3%
647
-3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
9.86
7.7
22%
2.86
71%
3.8
61%
5.6
43%
6.06
39%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
17.56
14.4
18%
6.35
64%
10.4
41%
9.8
44%
10.54
40%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.43
2.66
40%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
12.4
11.1
10%
4.3
65%
3.5
72%
4.7
62%
5.68
54%
Gamma
2.09 105%
2.11 104%
2.268 97%
2.18 101%
2.14 103%
2.3 96%
CCT
11064 59%
11813 55%
7034 92%
6467 101%
7519 86%
7998 81%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
52.5
77.74
48%
75
43%
58.1
11%
53.7
2%
57
9%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
80.5
100
24%
100
24%
89.3
11%
82.2
2%
87
8%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
20% / 21%
33% / 35%
-50% / -2%
-7% / 6%
11% / 13%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 81 percent and 53 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively. Results are again not all that different from the QHD panels of the Alienware 17 R4 or Aorus X7 v7. Artists may want to consider the 4K UHD option for the Q8 since it offers full AdobeRGB coverage.

vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB

Spectrophotometer measurements reveal an overly cool color temperature with inaccurate grayscale and colors out of the box. A calibration addresses the issue and we highly recommend it for the best possible results. Colors are less accurate at higher saturation levels since sRGB coverage is incomplete.

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 after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

ℹ
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
9 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6.8 ms rise
↘ 2.2 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 18 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.9 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
21.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 9.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.25 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 26 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (34.5 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
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: 54 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18941 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is average when under shade since glare is not a huge issue with the matte panel. Direct sunlight or overcast will still overwhelm the display and wash out colors.

Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
TN viewing angles
TN viewing angles

Performance

As of this writing, the Q8 is only shipping with the Core i9-8950HK CPU and GTX 1070 GPU in contrast to the typically wide selection of processors on most larger Eurocom models. RAM, display, and storage remain highly configurable.

 

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

CPU performance is about 30 to 50 percent faster than the i7-7700HQ in the Q5 depending on the number of threads. Unfortunately, the i9-8950HK in the Q8 is performing slower than the average i9-8950HK in our database. This same CPU in the MSI GT75, for example, scores about 25 percent higher than the Q8 in CineBench R15 Multi-Thread (1378 vs. 1099 points).

Results become even worse when testing the performance sustainability of the CPU in the Q8. Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop leads to a rough 15 percent drop in score from the initial 1099 points as shown below. Thus, not only is the CPU already slower than the same processor in other high-end notebooks, but it is unable to maintain Turbo Boost for extended periods.

More technical information and benchmarks on the Core i9-8950HK can be found here.

010203040506070809010011012013014015016017018019020021022023024025026027028029030031032033034035036037038039040041042043044045046047048049050051052053054055056057058059060061062063064065066067068069070071072073074075076077078079080081082083084085086087088089090091092093094095096097098099010001010102010301040105010601070108010901100Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Eurocom Q8
Intel Core i9-8950HK
202 Points ∼62%
Average Intel Core i9-8950HK
  (185 - 206, n=14)
195.9 Points ∼60% -3%
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
192 Points ∼59% -5%
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Core i7-8809G
178 Points ∼54% -12%
Eurocom Q6
Intel Core i7-8750H
170 Points ∼52% -16%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
160 Points ∼49% -21%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
156 Points ∼48% -23%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
152 Points ∼46% -25%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
144 Points ∼44% -29%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
141 Points ∼43% -30%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1408 Points ∼15% +28%
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
1359 Points ∼14% +24%
Average Intel Core i9-8950HK
  (1051 - 1391, n=14)
1220 Points ∼13% +11%
Eurocom Q8
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1099 Points ∼11%
Eurocom Q6
Intel Core i7-8750H
1070 Points ∼11% -3%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
874 Points ∼9% -20%
Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK
Intel Core i7-8809G
864 Points ∼9% -21%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
772 Points ∼8% -30%
Eurocom Q5
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
738 Points ∼8% -33%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
666 Points ∼7% -39%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
202 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1099 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
159.3 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark scores are higher than many of its competitors due in part to the higher number of physical cores for the i9-8950HK when compared to the previous generation of Intel CPUs. Results are impressively very close to the Eurocom Sky X4C equipped with the i7-8700K.

Our test unit exhibits no hardware or software issues. Nonetheless, wake-from-Sleep is unusually slow. It can sometimes take upwards of 6 to 10 seconds before the lock screen will appear after lifting the lid from a Sleep state.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 10 | PCMark 8
PCMark 10 - Score
Eurocom Sky X4C
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 1TB m.2 NVMe
6620 Points ∼63% +5%
Eurocom Q8
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
6331 Points ∼60%
Aorus X7 v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
5689 Points ∼54% -10%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5290 Points ∼50% -16%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HMJP
4891 Points ∼46% -23%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP
4752 Points ∼45% -25%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.9 GHz, 560)
Radeon Pro 560, i7-7820HQ
4345 (4330min - 4370max) Points ∼41% -31%
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Sky X4C
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 1TB m.2 NVMe
5225 Points ∼78% +2%
HP Omen X 17-ap0xx
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5221 Points ∼78% +2%
Eurocom Q8
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
5111 Points ∼77%
Aorus X7 v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
5101 Points ∼77% 0%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
5064 Points ∼76% -1%
MSI GS73VR 7RG
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HMJP
4394 Points ∼66% -14%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP
4207 Points ∼63% -18%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.9 GHz, 560)
Radeon Pro 560, i7-7820HQ
3819 (3816min - 3827max) Points ∼57% -25%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5111 points
PCMark 10 Score
6331 points
Help

Storage Devices

AS SSD
AS SSD

Three internal storage bays (1x 2.5-inch SATA III, 2x PCIe x4 M.2 2280) are available with RAID 0/1 options. In comparison, other super-thin competitors like the Razer Blade Pro or MSI GS73VR have just 2x internal storage bays each. Note that an installed 2.5-inch drive should be limited to 7 mm in thickness as 9.5 mm drives may not fit.

The 512 GB Samsung SSD 960 Pro in our test unit returns excellent transfer rates. Sequential write performance in particular is noticeably faster than the SK Hynix and Toshiba NVMe SSDs found in the Alienware 17 and Dell XPS 15 9570, respectively.

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

Eurocom Q8
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2		MSI GS73VR 7RG
Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HMJP		Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP		Alienware 17 R4
SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB		Aorus X7 v7
Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL
AS SSD
-52%
-36%
-44%
-7%
Copy Game MB/s
958
381.5
-60%
724
-24%
574
-40%
758
-21%
Copy Program MB/s
406.7
229.8
-43%
228.3
-44%
446.1
10%
327.2
-20%
Copy ISO MB/s
1596
423.5
-73%
1193
-25%
1227
-23%
1504
-6%
Score Total
3840
1064
-72%
1951
-49%
2072
-46%
3668
-4%
Score Write
1579
417
-74%
406
-74%
858
-46%
1021
-35%
Score Read
1515
421
-72%
1056
-30%
831
-45%
1803
19%
Access Time Write *
0.035
0.032
9%
0.034
3%
0.123
-251%
0.031
11%
Access Time Read *
0.043
0.051
-19%
0.06
-40%
0.042
2%
0.059
-37%
4K-64 Write
1285
273.6
-79%
267.2
-79%
671
-48%
791
-38%
4K-64 Read
1232
337.7
-73%
871
-29%
620
-50%
1485
21%
4K Write
107.9
96.8
-10%
109.9
2%
113.4
5%
123.3
14%
4K Read
35.57
33.69
-5%
38.31
8%
35.61
0%
48.35
36%
Seq Write
1869
465.1
-75%
291.8
-84%
735
-61%
1067
-43%
Seq Read
2481
497.9
-80%
1464
-41%
1752
-29%
2690
8%

* ... smaller is better

AS SSD
hddimg
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Sequential Read: 2481MB/s
Sequential Write: 1869MB/s
4K Read: 35.57MB/s
4K Write: 107.9MB/s
4K-64 Read: 1232MB/s
4K-64 Write: 1285MB/s
Access Time Read: 0.043ms
Access Time Write: 0.035ms
Copy ISO: 1596MB/s
Copy Program: 406.7MB/s
Copy Game: 958MB/s
Score Read: 1515Points
Score Write: 1579Points
Score Total: 3840Points

GPU Performance

3DMark 11
3DMark 11

The full-fledged GeForce GTX 1070 GPU in the Q8 offers a 15 to 20 percent performance boost over the GTX 1070 Max-Q in the Eurocom Q6. The desktop GTX 1070 is still about 15 percent faster. Gamers should aim for 1440p and a steady 120 FPS to make the most of this particular display. This is achievable on mainstream competitive titles like DOTA 2, CS:GO, and Overwatch, but settings will have to be reduced for more demanding titles.

See our dedicated page on the GeForce GTX 1070 for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11 | 3DMark
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Eurocom Sky X4C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K
26912 Points ∼23% +26%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
23990 Points ∼21% +13%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (13760 - 25604, n=58)
22405 Points ∼19% +5%
Eurocom Q8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
21286 Points ∼18%
Eurocom Q6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
18363 Points ∼16% -14%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
15101 Points ∼13% -29%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
12472 Points ∼11% -41%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7790 Points ∼7% -63%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Eurocom Sky X4C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K
13928 Points ∼42% +14%
Eurocom Q8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
12215 Points ∼37%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
11482 Points ∼35% -6%
Eurocom Q6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
10351 Points ∼32% -15%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (7137 - 12565, n=58)
9708 Points ∼30% -21%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
8343 Points ∼25% -32%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
8215 Points ∼25% -33%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7607 Points ∼23% -38%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Eurocom Sky X4C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K
124077 Points ∼33%
Eurocom Q6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
105079 Points ∼28%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
104764 Points ∼28%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (64973 - 125922, n=51)
99208 Points ∼26%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
82006 Points ∼22%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
64343 Points ∼17%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
39896 Points ∼10%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Eurocom Sky X4C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K
20909 Points ∼24%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (15718 - 19059, n=56)
17228 Points ∼19%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
16685 Points ∼19%
Eurocom Q6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-8750H
14694 Points ∼17%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
11968 Points ∼14%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
9608 Points ∼11%
Dell XPS 15 2018 i5 FHD 97Wh
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6216 Points ∼7%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Eurocom Sky X4C
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K
390417 Points ∼53%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (116033 - 368933, n=24)
225792 Points ∼31%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
172623 Points ∼24%
3DMark 11 Performance
18243 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 384.1 316.2 291.1 154.2
The Witcher 3 (2015) 48.2

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with demanding benchmarks to identify for any throttling or stability issues. When subjected to Prime95 load, the CPU can be observed running as high as 4.1 GHz for just the first few seconds before reaching 95 C and stabilizing at 2.8 GHz and a core temperature 72 C. The behavior matches with our power consumption readings where consumption is highest during the first few seconds of stress testing before leveling off. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously will throttle the CPU and GPU even further for steady temperatures of 69 C and 60 C, respectively.

Running Witcher 3 to represent real-world gaming load returns abnormal results. As shown by our HWiNFO screenshots below, CPU and GPU clock rates alternate between 1.8 GHz and 4.4 MHz and 1025 MHz and 1785 MHz, respectively. The inexplicably large fluctuations mean very unsteady frame rates. Witcher 3 jumps between 43 FPS and 62 FPS just from idling on the world map. Note that the system was set to High Performance mode on both Windows and the Control Center utility prior to the test. Results are very odd because 3DMark 11 and Bioshock Infinite scores appear to be normal, and so the fluctuating behavior may be dependent on the CPU and/or GPU demands of the application.

Running on battery power will limit both CPU and GPU performance. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of 6792 and 12876 points, respectively, compared to 13167 and 21286 points when on mains.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.8 -- 72 --
FurMark Stress -- 1025 - 1443 -- 63
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.8 1025 69 60
Witcher 3 Stress 1.8 - 4.4 1025 - 1785 60 - 70 59

Emissions

System Noise

System fans are sensitive to onscreen load when on the High Performance profile. We recommend running on Power Saver when browsing, streaming, or word processing to avoid pulsing fans of up to 36 dB(A).

The Q8 will run more loudly than the larger Sky X4C during medium loads. Running just the first benchmark scene of 3DMark 06, for example, results in a fan noise of almost 47 dB(A) compared to 42 dB(A) on both the Sky X4C and GS73VR. Headphones are the best option when playing games if fan noise could be a concern.

We can otherwise notice no electronic noise or unsteady fan behavior from our unit.

Noise Level

Idle
28.2 / 31.8 / 36.3 dB(A)
Load
46.7 / 49.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
  
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28 dB(A)
Eurocom Q8
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2		Eurocom Sky X4C
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 1TB m.2 NVMe		Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP		Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB		Aorus X7 v7
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL		MSI GS73VR 7RG
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HMJP
Noise
2%
7%
-7%
-6%
4%
off / environment *
28
28.6
-2%
28.1
-0%
28.2
-1%
30
-7%
28
-0%
Idle Minimum *
28.2
28.6
-1%
29.5
-5%
35.6
-26%
33
-17%
29.4
-4%
Idle Average *
31.8
28.6
10%
29.6
7%
35.6
-12%
36
-13%
30.7
3%
Idle Maximum *
36.3
31.1
14%
29.6
18%
35.7
2%
41
-13%
34
6%
Load Average *
46.7
42.2
10%
31.6
32%
50.2
-7%
41
12%
42
10%
Witcher 3 ultra *
46.9
53.8
-15%
46
2%
50.2
-7%
45
4%
45.8
2%
Load Maximum *
49.7
50
-1%
51.8
-4%
50.2
-1%
52
-5%
45.8
8%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Exhaust vents on rear and left edges
Exhaust vents on rear and left edges

Surface temperatures when under load are cooler than on the Schenker XMG Pro 17 and PC Specialist Defiance IV even though they all share very similar Clevo designs. Hot spots on the Schenker, for example, can reach up to 56 C compared to just 44 C on our Q8 when under similar gaming loads.

The temperature discrepancy can be partly explained by the cooler core temperatures of the Q8. Since the Eurocom tends to throttle more heavily with unusual GPU performance in some cases, surface temperatures are cooler as a result.

Generally, users can expect the left side of the notebook to be warmer than the right when gaming because of the asymmetric cooling solution. The WASD keys and center of the keyboard can as warm as 41 C.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (top)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Witcher 3 stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Max. Load
 40 °C
104 F		38.2 °C
101 F		33 °C
91 F		 
 41.2 °C
106 F		43.4 °C
110 F		32.6 °C
91 F		 
 30.8 °C
87 F		26.8 °C
80 F		26.4 °C
80 F		 
Maximum: 43.4 °C = 110 F
Average: 34.7 °C = 94 F
34.4 °C
94 F		41.4 °C
107 F		44 °C
111 F
30.4 °C
87 F		40 °C
104 F		42.6 °C
109 F
28.6 °C
83 F		41.4 °C
107 F		33.6 °C
92 F
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 37.4 °C = 99 F
Power Supply (max.)  43 °C = 109 F | Room Temperature 23 °C = 73 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.7 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.4 °C / 110 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 44 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 34.7 °C / 94 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31 °C / 87.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 29 °C / 84.2 F (-2 °C / -3.6 F).
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.841.62538.337.13132.934.44034.635.35033.533.96332.435.38032.633.310031.23212529.832.616030.241.520028.846.525027.749.731527.451.740027.355.750026.758.363026.366.680026.462.8100026.160125026.862.9160028.263.1200027.759.6250027.759315026.156.3400024.461.7500023.759.6630023.552.9800023.350.81000023.347.11250023.145.9160002342.8SPL38.372.4N3.129.5median 26.7median 55.7Delta2.2735.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseEurocom Q8Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Eurocom Q8 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (11.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (30.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 95% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 19%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 86% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 26%, 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
» 4% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 20%, 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 26%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The system will draw anywhere from 26 W to 32 W when idling on desktop depending on the power profile and brightness level. Running Witcher 3 demands about 192 W to be very similar to the Aorus X7 v7 with the same GPU. Power consumption during maximum load (Prime95+FurMark) is lower than Witcher 3 load because of the throttling that occurs as shown by the chart below.

The medium-sized AC adapter (~16.7 x 8.3 x 3.5 cm) is rated for a maximum of 230 W. We are able to measure consumption of up to 243 W but only for very short periods.

Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption jumps to about 140 W only for the first few seconds before falling to a steady 83 W
Prime95 initiated at 20s mark. Consumption jumps to about 140 W only for the first few seconds before falling to a steady 83 W
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption becomes unsteady especially during the first minute or so
Prime95+FurMark initiated at 20s mark. Consumption becomes unsteady especially during the first minute or so
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.38 / 1.05 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 26.3 / 29 / 32.3 Watt
Load midlight 82.4 / 170.2 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 Q8
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2, TN LED, 2560x1440, 17.30		Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30		Alienware 17 R4
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB, TN LED, 2560x1440, 17.30		Aorus X7 v7
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL, TN LED, 2560x1440, 17.30		Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, TN LED, 1920x1080, 17.30
Power Consumption
35%
-33%
-20%
8%
Idle Minimum *
26.3
10.6
60%
37.5
-43%
27
-3%
18.88
28%
Idle Average *
29
16
45%
37.6
-30%
33
-14%
24.36
16%
Idle Maximum *
32.3
16.4
49%
37.6
-16%
40
-24%
32.27
-0%
Load Average *
82.4
75.9
8%
122.4
-49%
107
-30%
107.74
-31%
Witcher 3 ultra *
192
111.2
42%
180.3
6%
190
1%
142
26%
Load Maximum *
170.2
163.8
4%
277.4
-63%
259
-52%
160.28
6%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Runtimes from the internal 66 Wh battery are short at just about 2.5 hours of real-world WLAN use. This test was performed on the Balanced power profile with the integrated UHD Graphics 630 GPU active and a display brightness setting of 150 nits. Most competing systems last longer but not by very much such as the MSI GS73VR and Aorus X7 v7 at about 3 hours each when under similar WLAN conditions.

Charging from near empty to full capacity takes around 1.5 hours.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
2h 33min
Eurocom Q8
i9-8950HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 66 Wh		MSI GS73VR 7RG
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 51 Wh		Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 70 Wh		Alienware 17 R4
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, 99 Wh		Aorus X7 v7
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 94 Wh		Asus Zephyrus M GM501
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 55 Wh
Battery Runtime
25%
174%
18%
18%
7%
WiFi v1.3
153
191
25%
419
174%
181
18%
180
18%
164
7%
Reader / Idle
349
721
276
221
237
Load
57
72
69
81
70

Pros

+ relatively cool core temperatures
+ per-key RGB keyboard lighting
+ Optimus graphics switching
+ thin design; strong base
+ multiple display options
+ clean OS; no bloatware
+ aluminum alloy chassis
+ easy serviceability
+ 3x storage bays
+ Thunderbolt 3

Cons

- throttling behavior; CPU performance could be better
- below average lid rigidity down its center
- relatively loud when gaming
- unimpressive battery life
- no G-Sync

Verdict

In review: Eurocom Q8. Test model provided by Eurocom
In review: Eurocom Q8. Test model provided by Eurocom

(July 3, 2018 update: We've since discovered that the abnormal throttling is due to a bug in the installed version of the Control Center system utility tool. The bug causes the GPU to throttle in some 3D applications including Witcher 3. Clevo is currently working on a fix with no ETA as of this writing. Until then, killing the Control Center application through Task Manager will prevent the GPU throttling described in this review. Our original text remains.)

The Eurocom Q8 starts at $2300 USD for both the i9-8950HK and GTX 1070 GPU. For gaming purposes, Intel's 8th gen Coffee Lake-H offers only marginal boosts in frame rates over 7th gen Kaby Lake options. Users can potentially save money by considering older notebooks with the Core i7-7700HQ and GTX 1070 and still get very nearly the same performance as the Eurocom Q8 when gaming.

The strange throttling behavior of the Q8 when gaming makes the system a difficult recommendation for the time being. It's possible that this affects only our particular test unit. Even so, the Core i9 is not running at its fullest potential here and even if it could, its minor gaming advantages over the less expensive i7-8750H or even i7-7700HQ don't reflect the much higher asking price.

The Eurocom Q8 leaves a good first impression as far as serviceability and connectivity are concerned. Performance is shaky and with lower performance-per-Dollar than a traditional Core i7 offering.

Eurocom Q8 - 07/03/2018 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
79 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
83 / 10-66 → 100%
Connectivity
68%
Weight
57%
Battery
66%
Display
81 / 95 → 85%
Games Performance
93 / 90 → 100%
Application Performance
99%
Temperature
88%
Noise
72%
Audio
78%
Camera
45%
Add Points
-1%
Average
71%
84%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > Reviews > Eurocom Q8 (i9-8950HK, GTX 1070, QHD) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2018-07- 2 (Update: 2018-08- 7)