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Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 (i7-7820HK, FHD, Clevo P650HS-G) Laptop Review

Balanced gaming. The MX5 R3 is one of the very few gaming notebooks with both FHD/UHD display options and a SIM slot for WWAN connectivity.

Eurocom is a popular builder and reseller of Clevo barebones for both North American and European customers. Similar to the XMG series from Schenker Technologies, these enthusiast systems are some of the fastest gaming notebooks money can buy including the Tornado F5 Killer Edition and Sky X7E2 that come equipped with desktop CPUs. This latest Sky MX5 R3 utilizes more down-to-Earth mobile components like the HQ and HK class of Intel CPUs and a GTX 1070 GPU. Changes are largely internal from the outgoing Skylake-based Sky MX5 R2 and so users can expect the same chassis design from the previous generation.

The MX5 R3 is significantly smaller than the Tornado series or the MSI GT series since its processors are soldered for a more compact design. This makes the MX5 R3 a more solid competitor to medium-sized enthusiast gaming systems like the EVGA SC15 or Asus ROG GL502VS. We recommend checking out our existing Eurocom pages below for a more complete view of what the reseller has to offer.

Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 (Sky Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7820HK 4 x 2.9 - 3.9 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1480 MHz, Memory: 8008 MHz, GDDR5, 382.05
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2666, PC4-21300, 1333,3 MHz, 15-17-17-35, Dual-Channel, 4x SODIMM
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, ID: AUO52ED, Name: AU Optronics B156HTN05.2, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
5 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3,5 mm S/PDIF Digital Out, Kopfhörer, Mikrofon, Card Reader: MMC/RSMMC; SD/mini SD/SDHC/SDXC Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 28.8 x 385 x 271 ( = 1.13 x 15.16 x 10.67 in)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 1080p
Primary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: 2 W stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.88 kg ( = 101.59 oz / 6.35 pounds), Power Supply: 970 g ( = 34.22 oz / 2.14 pounds)
Price
1900 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Gap between the screen and inner bezel where the surface is supposed to be flat
Gap between the screen and inner bezel where the surface is supposed to be flat

Clevo designs are typically characterized by the jet black color scheme, ABS plastic, sharp and boxy edges and corners, flat top, and a generally understated appearance compared to the gaudy Asus ROG or Alienware designs. The Sky MX5 R3 doesn't stray too far away from this philosophy with only a few added embellishments such as the brushed aluminum palm rests and chrome-lined ventilation grilles along the rear.

Case rigidity is excellent for the base with just minimal warping when applying pressure on the keyboard or palm rests or when attempting to twist the sides of the unit. There is some slight creaking when applying moderate force, but it's nowhere near significant enough to be of any concern during day-to-day use. Instead, it's the lid that could use the most improvement as it's more susceptible to warping and twisting than the displays of the Alienware 15 or XPS 15. More specifically, the edge of the lid in between the two small hinges is quite flexible in contrast to the unyielding base. The hinges themselves are otherwise firm with minimal teetering up to the maximum angle of 140 degrees.

Construction quality is excellent with no unintended gaps or jutting corners between the different parts of the chassis. While not uncommon to hear for unibody designs, this is a noteworthy achievement for the Sky MX5 R3 as its chassis is made of up smaller parts and is more modular as a result. Unfortunately, the system is not perfect as we can observe gaps between the edges of the screen and the inner bezel where the surface should be flat. MSI systems will occasionally exhibit this same flaw as well.

The Sky MX5 R3 is over 10 mm thinner and 200 g lighter than the more capable Eurocom Tornado F5. Perhaps more notably, the system weighs about the same as the GT62VR that comes in significantly thicker than our Eurocom in review. Thid is a very dense system that sits comfortably between thicker alternatives like the Predator 15 and super-thin solutions like the GS63VR or Gigabyte P55W. Redesigns with narrower bezels could potentially be in the works to better compete against the increasingly popular Dell XPS 15 and Gigabyte Aero 15.

391 mm / 15.4 inch 300 mm / 11.8 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 3.7 kg8.16 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 40 mm / 1.575 inch 2.9 kg6.39 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 39.8 mm / 1.567 inch 3.1 kg6.72 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.5 kg7.82 lbs385 mm / 15.2 inch 271 mm / 10.7 inch 28.8 mm / 1.134 inch 2.9 kg6.35 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 267 mm / 10.5 inch 26 mm / 1.024 inch 2.5 kg5.56 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

A varied selection of ports is available including multiple USB Type-C ports, multiple video-out ports, multiple audio ports, and multiple USB Type-A ports. The mini-SIM slot is particularly interesting since it is quite rare on notebooks let alone a dedicated gaming system. The dual USB Type-C Gen. 2 ports are unfortunately not compatible with Thunderbolt 3. All ports are easy to reach, but the audio ports are too close to the front edge and can take up valuable desk space for right-handed mouse users. The Alienware 15, for example, has its audio ports further back where cables are less likely to be a nuisance.

HDMI 2.0 comes standard for outputting at 4K60 whereas some gaming notebooks like the MSI GT73VR are still shipping with HDMI 1.4.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: 3.5 mm earphone/SPDIF, Mic-in, Line-out, mini-SIM slot, SD reader, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Kensington Lock
Right: 3.5 mm earphone/SPDIF, Mic-in, Line-out, mini-SIM slot, SD reader, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Kensington Lock
Rear: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, mDP 1.3
Rear: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, mDP 1.3
Left: mDP, 2x USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2, 2x USB 3.0
Left: mDP, 2x USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2, 2x USB 3.0

SD Card Reader

The spring-loaded integrated card reader is nowhere near as fast as the one on the larger Sky X7E2. The average transfer rate sits at just under 90 MB/s with our Toshbia Exceria UHS-II test card and moving 1 GB of files from the card to desktop takes about 13 seconds. The card reader on the MSI GT62VR can accomplish this same file transfer in just half the time.

Fully inserted SD cards do not sit flush against the edge and will protrude by about 1 to 2 mm.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Eurocom Sky X7E2
 
175.6 MB/s +118%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
 
153 MB/s +90%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
 
80.6 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 15
 
78 MB/s -3%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Eurocom Sky X7E2
 
256.9 MB/s +186%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
 
209 MB/s +133%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
 
89.8 MB/s
Gigabyte Aero 15
 
89 MB/s -1%

Communication

M.2 2242 WWAN slot sits between the M.2 2230 and M.2 2280 slots
M.2 2242 WWAN slot sits between the M.2 2230 and M.2 2280 slots

Configurable M.2 2230 WLAN options include the Killer 1535, Intel 8260/8265/7260/7265, and Realtek RTL8723BE with 802.11n/ac and Bluetooth 4.0/4.1/4.2 depending on the selection. Our test unit uses the Killer solution and we are able to record a real-world average transfer rate of 675 Mbps against its theoretical maximum of 867 Mbps. We experienced no connectivity issues during our time with the unit. See our dedicated review on the Killer 1535 for more details on its gamer-centric features and software.

Unique to the Sky MX5 series is its WWAN support via an M.2 2242 slot. The system is "LTE ready" in that the antennae are pre-installed on every configuration. It will be up to the end-user to install Gobi or other broadband cards suitable to the local wireless carrier.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
631 MBit/s
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
346 MBit/s -45%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
282 MBit/s -55%
iperf3 receive AX12
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
678 MBit/s 0%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
675 MBit/s
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
307 MBit/s -55%

Software

FlexiKey, Control Center, and CPU/GPU/RAM overclocking utilities are all pre-loaded for keyboard lighting and macro control, fan speed control, and system performance control, respectively. We find the UI easy to use especially in regards to the overclocking utility when compared to the overly clustered Aorus solution. The Control Center, however, conflicts with the Windows Power Profile settings and so it is possible to have the Control Center at "Performance" while the Windows Power Profile is at "Power Saver". It's a small but annoying detail that we hope will be addressed in a future update. A performance overlay showing core temperatures and clock rates when gaming in fullscreen would have been very helpful for gaming enthusiasts.

Users can still overclock the CPU the traditional way through BIOS, but Clevo offers no fancy BIOS UI that is becoming more common on gaming systems.

CPU and RAM overclock
CPU and RAM overclock
GPU overclock
GPU overclock
FlexiKey backlighting
FlexiKey backlighting
Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5
Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5
Clevo Control Center
Clevo Control Center
Custom fan speed settings
Custom fan speed settings

Accessories

Eurocom has always been quite generous with included extras. The retail box ships with a disassembly guide, Quick Start guide, small screen wipe, USB stick with drivers (instead of DVDs), and two pieces of thermal padding for internal drives. End-user servicing is obviously encouraged based on what is included at no extra cost.

Maintenance

Easy serviceability has always been a hallmark of the Clevo chassis. The bottom panel is secured by 13 screws and a Philips screwdriver is all that is needed for it to pop right off. Users have direct access to most major components including the cooling system, all storage bays, two SODIMM slots, internal battery, and both WLAN and WAN M.2 slots. Additional disassembly is required to access the other two SODIMM slots on the other side of the motherboard. 

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with options to extend up to three years. Some competitors like Gigabyte and Aorus offer two-year limited warranty as a baseline and we're hoping to see this become the norm from more manufacturers. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The full-size keyboard (34.5 x 10.5 cm) is softer in feedback than initially expected and exhibits low clatter as a result. It's not necessarily poor especially if users prefer a quieter typing experience, but individual keys feel spongier than on the XPS 15 and could have been firmer.

Full RGB backlighting is available and is split into three separate zones. We hope to see individually-lit RGB keys from more Clevo barebone systems as this is becoming common amongst enthusiast gaming notebooks.

Touchpad

The adequately-sized (11.0 x 6.5 cm) trackpad is larger than on the Alienware 15 R3 and has a smooth glide with a firm surface that barely yields to applied pressure. Its onscreen cursor is responsive with no jittering and can recognize up to four-finger gestures. We especially appreciate that the trackpad has defined edges and corners unlike on the completely flushed trackpad of the GT72 series. Overall, the trackpad works as one would expect with no notable issues. Some lighting options around the perimeter would have been a neat aesthetic addition.

The dedicated mouse keys are deeper in travel than on most gaming notebooks with softer and quieter feedback when pressed. The plastic keys feel slightly spongy as a result, but we still prefer this over systems with integrated clickpads.

Three-zone backlit keys
Three-zone backlit keys
Standard Clevo/SteelSeries layout
Standard Clevo/SteelSeries layout

Display

Display options are usually diverse on Eurocom systems and the Sky MX5 R3 is no exception. Users have the option between matte 1080p 60 Hz IPS, matte 1080p 120 Hz TN, matte 4K UHD 60 Hz IPS, glossy 4K UHD 60 Hz IPS, and semi-glossy 4K UHD 60 Hz IPS with varying levels of color coverage, response times, contrast ratios, and backlight brightness. Combinations such as matte 1080p 120 Hz IPS or matte 4K UHD 120 Hz IPS are still out of reach for gaming notebooks since such panels are not yet available in mass quantities for manufacturers to implement as of early 2017.

Our test model comes equipped with the matte 1080p 120 Hz TN option that we believe is the better panel for a gaming notebook considering the i7-7820HK CPU and GTX 1070 GPU. While IPS and 4K may have clearer images and wider viewing angles than our TN SKU, they often suffer from more ghosting and lower frame rates, respectively. Our measurements and analyses below reflect only the matte 1080p 120 Hz TN configuration.

The highlights of the display are its very fast black-white and gray-gray response times and high refresh rate for a silky smooth gaming experience akin to a dedicated gaming monitor. The backlight is surprisingly bright as well and is one of the brighter panels we've tested on a gaming machine. The low contrast ratio of under 500:1 is the main disadvantage compared to the other display options and so darker scenes in movies and games will appear muddier with less fidelity.

Uneven backlight bleeding is not an issue, but expect contrast and colors to degrade if viewing too far off from the sides. We can observe only a tiny bit of graininess on the screen if viewing up close and on maximum brightness. It's less noticeable here than on most other matte panels and is not significant enough to be distracting when gaming or browsing. Note that AU Optronics provides panels similar to the AUO52ED on some other 15-inch gaming notebooks including the Alienware 15 R3 and Schenker XMG U507.

Typical TN backlight
Typical TN backlight
Subpixel array (141 PPI)
Subpixel array (141 PPI)
418.5
cd/m²
417.3
cd/m²
412.4
cd/m²
411.7
cd/m²
416.2
cd/m²
406.3
cd/m²
395.3
cd/m²
401.4
cd/m²
399.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
ID: AUO52ED, Name: AU Optronics B156HTN05.2 tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 418.5 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 408.8 cd/m² Minimum: 12.74 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 416.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 484:1 (Black: 0.86 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
87.3% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
57.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
87.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
ID: AUO52ED, Name: AU Optronics B156HTN05.2, , 15.60, 1920x1080
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPP1 (LGD04D5), IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
LP156WF6-SPK3, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Gigabyte Aero 15
N156HCA-EA1 (CMN15D7), IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Alienware 15 R3
HPJGK_B156HTN (AUO51ED), TN, 15.60, 1920x1080
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Display
-2%
3%
2%
-4%
Display P3 Coverage
65.9
65.4
-1%
65.2
-1%
66
0%
63.9
-3%
sRGB Coverage
87.8
85.5
-3%
92.5
5%
90.5
3%
83.1
-5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64.2
62.5
-3%
66.5
4%
66.2
3%
60.8
-5%
Response Times
-137%
-246%
-185%
-28%
-131%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
20.8 ?(11.6, 9.2)
36 ?(18, 18)
-73%
58.8 ?(33.6, 25.2)
-183%
42.8 ?(23.6, 19.2)
-106%
25 ?(12, 13)
-20%
37 ?(16, 21)
-78%
Response Time Black / White *
8.8 ?(6.8, 2)
26.4 ?(15.2, 11.2)
-200%
36 ?(23.6, 12.4)
-309%
32 ?(18.8, 13.2)
-264%
12 ?(4, 8)
-36%
25 ?(4, 21)
-184%
PWM Frequency
20830 ?(90)
21550 ?(99)
26000 ?(20)
Screen
22%
-6%
23%
13%
25%
Brightness middle
416.2
295
-29%
239
-43%
320
-23%
386
-7%
310
-26%
Brightness
409
274
-33%
244
-40%
316
-23%
382
-7%
311
-24%
Brightness Distribution
94
88
-6%
88
-6%
90
-4%
93
-1%
85
-10%
Black Level *
0.86
0.32
63%
0.35
59%
0.36
58%
0.39
55%
0.3
65%
Contrast
484
922
90%
683
41%
889
84%
990
105%
1033
113%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.4
4.59
45%
7.3
13%
4.62
45%
10.2
-21%
4.82
43%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
15.4
11
29%
24.7
-60%
9.75
37%
15.81
-3%
10.14
34%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.2
4.03
64%
4.9
56%
6
46%
11.28
-1%
3.94
65%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.3 96%
2.19 100%
2.46 89%
2.23 99%
2.45 90%
CCT
10036 65%
7229 90%
7332 89%
6761 96%
11383 57%
6877 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
57.2
56
-2%
35
-39%
60
5%
59
3%
54
-6%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
87.3
85
-3%
55
-37%
92
5%
90
3%
83
-5%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-39% / -4%
-126% / -46%
-53% / -9%
-4% / 5%
-37% / -2%

* ... smaller is better

Color coverage is approximately 87 percent and 57 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively. This is very similar to the LG Philips panel on the Predator 15 and is indicative of a high-end TN panel. While relatively unimportant for gaming, certain manufacturers like Gigabyte and Razer offer wider color gamuts for deeper and potentially more accurate colors. 

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. Gigabyte Aero 15
vs. Gigabyte Aero 15

Further measurements with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal very inaccurate grayscale and colors prior to any calibration efforts. Color temperature is much too cool against the sRGB standard and all colors are negatively impacted. The display improves dramatically after calibration with a low DeltaE average as shown by our CalMan measurements below. Blue and orange colors are represented slightly less accurately than others.

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

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
8.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6.8 ms rise
↘ 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. » 19 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
20.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11.6 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 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 27 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than 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.

Outdoor visibility is acceptable when under shade due to the matte panel and brighter-than-expected backlight. The narrow TN viewing angles and 140-degree hinges are not as impactful to the experience since glare is not a huge issue. This all changes if using the notebook under direct sunlight as colors and glare become more washed out and apparent, respectively, even when the display is to maximum brightness. Still, we can't imagine anyone using the Sky MX5 R3 under sunlight for too long as it was not built to be an outdoors machine.

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

Performance

While the larger Eurocom Sky X7E2 model may have multiple CPU and GPU options, the Sky MX5 R3 is more streamlined since it lacks both the LGA 1151 and MXM 3.0 sockets. Only two processors are available (i7-7700HQ and i7-7820HK) with the fixed GTX 1070 GPU and so users are mostly limited to the various display, RAM, and storage selections.

Users can configure with or without G-Sync support. Optimus will be disabled if G-Sync is enabled since both cannot be active simultaneously.

Processor

CPU performance is underwhelming as scores for the i7-7820HK in the Eurocom are lower than other systems sporting the same processor even after repeat runs. For example, the similarly equipped Alienware 17 R4 handily outperforms our SKy MX5 R3 SKU by about 10 percent in both single-thread and multi-thread CineBench workloads. The reason for the below average scores is the processor's inability to maintain very high Turbo Boost speeds as detailed in our Stress Test section below. Running CineBench Multi-Thread in a loop will result in steadily falling scores for the first couple of runs before plateauing in the 740 range. In comparison, the Alienware 17 R4 CPU is able to maintain maximum speeds under similar testing conditions.

Overall performance is subsequently not unlike the much cheaper i7-7700HQ and so users who have no intention of overclocking the i7-7820HK will be better off saving themselves a couple hundred Dollars. Meanwhile, enthusiasts who want even more performance can consider the Sky X7E2 and its desktop i7-7700K for a 20 percent increase in raw CPU power.

See our dedicated CPU page on the Core i7-7820HK 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
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720730740750760770780Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG U507 2017
Intel Core i7-7700K
192 Points +23%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
171 Points +10%
MSI GT83VR-6RE32SR451
Intel Core i7-6820HK
168 Points +8%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
160 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
159.9 Points +3%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
156 Points 0%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
156 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
144 Points -8%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
125 Points -20%
CPU Multi 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG U507 2017
Intel Core i7-7700K
919 Points +19%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
874 Points +13%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
867 Points +12%
MSI GT83VR-6RE32SR451
Intel Core i7-6820HK
842 Points +9%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
772 Points
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
732 (729min - 733max) Points -5%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
727 (704.77min - 731.97max) Points -6%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
719 Points -7%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
490 Points -37%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG U507 2017
Intel Core i7-7700K
2.18 Points +18%
MSI GT83VR-6RE32SR451
Intel Core i7-6820HK
1.91 Points +4%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.84 Points
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
1.72 Points -7%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.69 Points -8%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
1.68 Points -9%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
1.46 Points -21%
CPU Multi 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG U507 2017
Intel Core i7-7700K
10.14 Points +20%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
9.53 Points +13%
MSI GT83VR-6RE32SR451
Intel Core i7-6820HK
9.3 Points +10%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
8.55 Points +1%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
8.44 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
7.96 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
5.29 Points -37%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
26081 Points +13%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
23815 Points +3%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
23041 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
21681 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
14329 Points -38%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
6566 Points +6%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
6434 Points +4%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
6182 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
5567 Points -10%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
4999 Points -19%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
323 s * -52%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2017 (2.8 GHz, 555)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
225 s * -6%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Intel Core i7-7820HK
213.2 s *
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
Intel Core i7-5700HQ
206.3 s * +3%
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Intel Core i7-6700K
205.9 s * +3%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
179.4 s * +16%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
12148
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
23041
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
6182
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
76.8 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
8.44 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.84 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
120.7 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
772 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
156 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark 8 scores are essentially identical to the Acer Predator 15. We've also provided PCMark 10 scores below without any comparisons as the benchmark is only a few weeks old. Our Eurocom test unit ran without any notable software or hardware glitches when gaming or web browsing.

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 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Extended
PCMark 10 Extended
PCMark 10 Express
PCMark 10 Express
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5169 Points +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5065 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
4248 Points -16%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5426 Points +5%
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
5290 Points +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5192 Points
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
8233 Points
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
8034 Points -2%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5065 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
8233 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5192 points
Help

Storage Devices

The two 2.5-inch SATA III bays are stacked vertically
The two 2.5-inch SATA III bays are stacked vertically

Clevo systems tend to have plenty of internal storage options and the Sky MX5 R3 continues this tradition with its four bays (2x M.2 2280 + 2x 2.5-inch SATA III). NVMe and RAID 0/1 are both supported, but this particular Intel chipset will not support RAID between multiple NVMe SSDs. Eurocom offers a very wide range of SSDs and HDDs from a 500 GB Seagate HDD to a 4 TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD. The first 2.5-inch bay can accept both 7 mm and 9.5 mm drives while it is recommended to use 7 mm drives for the second bay.

Our test configuration is equipped with a primary 500 GB Samsung 960 M.2 NVMe SSD that excels in sequential write rates when compared to the Samsung SM951 and PM961 NVMe SSDs. Slower drives including the Micron M600 or Samsung 950 Pro are also available at lower prices. See our growing table of SSDs and HDDs for more benchmark comparisons.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5.0
CDM 5.0
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Aorus X5 v6
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
AS SSD
-22%
-14%
-69%
-94%
Copy Game MB/s
1191
1091
-8%
1115
-6%
377.8
-68%
1073
-10%
Copy Program MB/s
441.8
488.6
11%
502
14%
199
-55%
351.5
-20%
Copy ISO MB/s
1375
1575
15%
1912
39%
354.7
-74%
351.1
-74%
Score Total
3987
2574
-35%
2617
-34%
1019
-74%
1630
-59%
Score Write
1670
570
-66%
807
-52%
304
-82%
514
-69%
Score Read
1550
1350
-13%
1232
-21%
472
-70%
756
-51%
Access Time Write *
0.029
0.032
-10%
0.027
7%
0.037
-28%
0.025
14%
Access Time Read *
0.038
0.059
-55%
0.065
-71%
0.1
-163%
0.367
-866%
4K-64 Write
1375
346
-75%
529
-62%
171.6
-88%
272.5
-80%
4K-64 Read
1280
1109
-13%
919
-28%
383.4
-70%
521
-59%
4K Write
129.1
117.3
-9%
139.4
8%
104
-19%
131.3
2%
4K Read
44.54
46.35
4%
48.57
9%
37.2
-16%
44.6
0%
Seq Write
1660
1067
-36%
1392
-16%
288.2
-83%
1099
-34%
Seq Read
2257
1941
-14%
2649
17%
510
-77%
1904
-16%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Sequential Read: 1219 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1521 MB/s
512K Read: 840 MB/s
512K Write: 1132 MB/s
4K Read: 58.8 MB/s
4K Write: 152.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 524 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 511 MB/s

GPU Performance

3DMark benchmarks show the mobile GTX 1070 performing nearly the same as our reference GTX 1070 desktop build. Thus, we can confirm no hidden under-clocking or power impediment that manufacturers like Razer may employ in order to fit GPUs onto thinner designs. Users moving up from the Maxwell GTX 980 can expect a raw performance boost of 40 percent while going one step higher to the GTX 1080 will bring a 20 percent performance boost over the GTX 1070.

See our dedicated review on the GTX 1070 for more technical details and comparisons.

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
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
28366 Points +54%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
21846 Points +19%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
18373 Points
Asus G752VS-BA338T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
18346 Points 0%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
16685 Points -9%
Asus G701VO-CS74K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK
13018 Points -29%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK
12298 Points -33%
Fire Strike Extreme Graphics
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10344 Points +20%
Asus G752VS-BA338T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
8770 Points +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
8626 Points
Asus G701VO-CS74K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK
6123 Points -29%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK
5862 Points -32%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Graphics
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
6722 Points +60%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
5101 Points +21%
Asus G752VS-BA338T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
4274 Points +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
4206 Points
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
4126 Points -2%
Asus G701VO-CS74K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK
3009 Points -28%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
38959 Points +68%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
26438 Points +14%
Asus G752VS-BA338T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
24349 Points +5%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
23990 Points +4%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
23170 Points
Asus G701VO-CS74K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK
16946 Points -27%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop), 4790K
11584 Points +15%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K
11482 Points +14%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10349 Points +3%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10081 Points
Asus G701VO-CS74K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK
9017 Points -11%
Asus G752VS-BA338T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
8985 Points -11%
3DMark 11 Performance
17505 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
156072 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
28943 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
14447 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
7854 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The GTX 1070 performs where we expect it to be alongside other systems equipped with the same Nvidia GPU. Frame rates remain well above 100 FPS on maximum 1080p settings for the majority of titles and this pairs up excellently with the 120 Hz/5 ms FHD display. Ghosting is significantly less of an issue and response times are much faster as well especially when compared to older Aorus notebooks where ghosting can be abhorrent.

Gamers who prefer visual fidelity over response times and frame rates may want to configure the system with the 4K UHD 60 Hz option. See our dedicated GTX 1070 page for more gaming benchmarks.

Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
161 (148min - 173max) fps +60%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
118.3 fps +18%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
100.5 fps
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
98 fps -2%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
94 (85min - 104max) fps -6%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
74.1 fps -26%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
65 fps -35%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
215 fps +52%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
162.9 fps +16%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
152 fps +8%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
149.6 fps +6%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
141 fps
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
119.2 fps -15%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
109 fps -23%
Metro: Last Light - 1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
149 (38min - 254max) fps +30%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
132.2 fps +15%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
120 fps +4%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
117.6 fps +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
115 fps
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
86.4 fps -25%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
82 fps -29%
Batman: Arkham Knight - 1920x1080 High / On AA:SM AF:16x
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
93 fps +9%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
87 fps +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
85 fps
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
63 fps -26%
Fallout 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
149 (121min - 211max) fps +44%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
120.7 fps +17%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
109 fps +6%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
107.6 fps +4%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
103.3 fps
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
78.8 fps -24%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
77 fps -25%
Ashes of the Singularity - 1920x1080 high
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
87.5 fps +15%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
78.2 fps +2%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
77.6 fps +2%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
76.4 fps
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
66.5 fps -13%
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
50 fps -35%
Doom - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:SM
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
200 fps +58%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
162 fps +28%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
140.1 fps +11%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
136.5 fps +8%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
134 (111min - 173max) fps +6%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
126.7 fps
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
97 fps -23%
Overwatch - 1920x1080 Epic (Render Scale 100 %) AA:SM AF:16x
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
263 (210min - 302max) fps +64%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
188 fps +17%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop), 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
161 (135min - 187max) fps 0%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
160.6 fps
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
160.5 fps 0%
Zotac ZBOX Magnus EN980-U
GeForce GTX 980, 6400, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
116 fps -28%
Mafia 3 - 1920x1080 High Preset
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
91 (73min - 112max) fps +39%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
72.5 fps +10%
Eurocom Tornado F5
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700K, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
66 fps 0%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
65.7 fps
Aorus x3 Plus v7
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
45 fps -32%
Prey - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:2TX SM AF:16x
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, 4790K, Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB MZ7PD256HAFV-0Z000
139 (129min - 145max) fps 0%
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
138.5 fps
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 141
Metro: Last Light (2013) 115
The Witcher 3 (2015) 66.3
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 85
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 60
Fallout 4 (2015) 103.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 100.5
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 76.4
Doom (2016) 126.7
Overwatch (2016) 160.6
Mafia 3 (2016) 65.7
Prey (2017) 138.5

Stress Test

We stress the notebook in High Performance mode in order to identify for any potential throttling or stability issues. When under Prime95 load to stress the processor, clock rates will sustain a maximum of 3.5 GHz only for the first minute or so before falling to a steady 3.1 GHz. This observation is in line with our steadily decreasing CineBench loop scores from above and is very disappointing to see in a gaming notebook. The i7-7820HK CPU itself is rated for a base clock rate of 2.9 GHz and a multi-thread Turbo Boost of up to 3.5 GHz, so a steady clock rate of only 200 MHz above the base is definitely not impressive. Processor temperature remains relatively low for a gaming notebook in the 73 C range.

Running FurMark to stress the GTX 1070 will bring GPU temperature to a steady 77 C. Perhaps more interestingly, running both Prime95 and FurMark will inexplicably lift the CPU clock rate to its maximum 3.5 GHz. Perhaps the notebook automatically switches to a "Turbo Mode" once heavy GPU activity is detected as we were able to repeat this phenomenon with the same results. Note, however, that CPU temperature will scale up to 96 C to be dangerously close to the ~100 C safe operating limit of the Kaby Lake processor. Thus, users who choose to overclock the CPU may not have much headroom given the record temperatures.

Witcher 3 is more representative of gaming loads and core temperatures can be observed stabilizing in the mid-to-high 70 C range. The CPU will only boost when needed while the GPU maintains a clock rate of 1670 MHz compared to its base of 1480 MHz.

Running on batteries will severely limit both CPU and GPU performances. A 3DMark Fire Strike test on battery power returns Physics and Graphics scores of 5407 and 11567 points, respectively, compared to 11201 and 18373 points when on mains.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
The Witcher 3
 ResolutionSettingsValue
 1920x1080Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)66.3 fps
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.1 -- 73 44
FurMark Stress -- 1392 85 77
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 3.5 1392 96 78
Witcher 3 Stress 2.6 - 3.7 1670 74 78

Emissions

System Noise

The cooling solution consists of triple 50 mm fans and six heat pipes between them. As usual, the GPU and its surrounding GDDR5 VRAM modules take up the bulk of the cooling.

Fan noise is a mixed bag due largely to the fact that the fans are very sensitive to onscreen loads. If idling on desktop on Power Saver, the fans are barely audible over ambient noise. Light loads like browsing or video playback will ramp fans up to 35 dB(A) regardless of the power profile. The fans become even more sensitive if on the High Performance profile and so we highly recommend setting Windows to Power Saver and the GPU to "Optimal power" if word processing, checking email, or streaming movies. Otherwise, the pulsing fans will be bothersome during day-to-day use and the fans themselves will take longer than usual to fall back down to quieter RPMs.

Gaming loads as represented by 3DMark06 and Witcher 3 show a steady fan noise of 47 dB(A) to be significantly louder than many competing notebooks like the Predator 15 and GT62VR. While the low 40 dB(A) range is somewhat more tolerable, the higher 40 dB(A) range can be very distracting especially when playing quieter titles. Headphones are definitely recommended for a better gaming experience.

The less expensive i7-7700HQ configuration is not overclockable and has a chance to run cooler and quieter than our i7-7820HK SKU.

A very small hint of electronic noise can be heard if placing an ear directly next to the keyboard. Otherwise, it is essentially unnoticeable during regular use.

This fan will idle during very low processing loads but will pick up quite quickly
This fan will idle during very low processing loads but will pick up quite quickly
Fan noise is louder than usual even for a gaming notebook
Fan noise is louder than usual even for a gaming notebook
Sky MX5 R3 (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Sky MX5 R3 (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Alienware 17 R4
Alienware 17 R4
Asus GL753VE
Asus GL753VE

Noise Level

Idle
28.5 / 29.2 / 35.5 dB(A)
Load
47 / 51 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: 28 dB(A)
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Noise
-8%
6%
-2%
-8%
-4%
off / environment *
28
32
-14%
27.7
1%
31
-11%
30
-7%
30
-7%
Idle Minimum *
28.5
34
-19%
30.5
-7%
32
-12%
31
-9%
34
-19%
Idle Average *
29.2
36
-23%
30.5
-4%
33
-13%
32
-10%
35
-20%
Idle Maximum *
35.5
38
-7%
30.6
14%
34
4%
42
-18%
36
-1%
Load Average *
47
41
13%
40
15%
39
17%
49
-4%
40
15%
Load Maximum *
51
50
2%
42.6
16%
50
2%
50
2%
46
10%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42
40
43

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Surface temperatures when idling are noticeably warmer around the keyboard keys than the frontal palm rests and trackpad by about a few degrees C. If running very high loads, the palm rests remain cool while the rear quadrants above the top of row keyboard keys can reach 50 C. Users are less likely to touch these hot spots and we don't find the hot surfaces to be of any concern when gaming. Due to the placement of the CPU directly underneath the WASD keys, however, the left side of the keyboard will be significantly warmer then the NumPad and this is generally unfavorable when playing games. Excess heat exhausts through two sets of ventilation grilles on the left and rear edges of the notebook. Temperature development on the Eurocom is not as symmetrical as on the Alienware 15 or MSI GT62VR, but it is at least cooler on average than the super-thin and less powerful MSI GS63VR.

Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (bottom)
Maximum load (bottom)
Rear exhaust
Rear exhaust
Max. Load
 50 °C
122 F
47.6 °C
118 F
48.2 °C
119 F
 
 42.2 °C
108 F
42.2 °C
108 F
29.6 °C
85 F
 
 25.2 °C
77 F
23.4 °C
74 F
24.8 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 50 °C = 122 F
Average: 37 °C = 99 F
44.4 °C
112 F
50.2 °C
122 F
45.4 °C
114 F
32.2 °C
90 F
52.2 °C
126 F
44.6 °C
112 F
26.2 °C
79 F
33 °C
91 F
27.8 °C
82 F
Maximum: 52.2 °C = 126 F
Average: 39.6 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  52.6 °C = 127 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37 °C / 99 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 50 °C / 122 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 52.2 °C / 126 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36.7 °C / 98 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.2 °C / 82.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+0.7 °C / 1.2 F).

Speakers

The 2 W stereo speakers are disappointing in both sound quality and maximum volume. Bass is underrepresented as shown by our microphone measurements below likely due to the lack of a dedicated subwoofer. The SKy X7E2, for example, exhibits a wider and more stable pink noise graph than the less balanced MX5 R3. Fortunately, higher volume settings will not introduce any static or reverberate the palm rests since the speakers are located towards the rear of the notebook instead of the front edge.

The same ESS Sabre HiFi DAC as found on the MSI GS and GT series is also here on the Eurocom to support professional-grade headphones. Mainstream users will likely not take notice, but streamers and audiophiles will appreciate the wider impedance range and higher SNR.

Sky MX5 R3 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Sky MX5 R3 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Eurocom Sky X7E2
Asus GL753VE
Asus GL753VE
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs204337.3253737.73135.335.34035.634.45035.134.26332.834.28031.231.710031.232.312530.83116029.636.620029.240.625027.943.731527.440.840027.348.950027.352.263026.753.48002551.6100024.552.912502455.7160023.753.720002352.7250023.153.3315022.650.1400022.650.8500022.549.6630022.448.4800022.548.61000022.643.51250022.440.41600022.439.7SPL36.163.9N2.717.9median 24median 48.9Delta2.56.235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseEurocom Sky MX5 R3Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (55.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 93% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 5% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 83% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 14% 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 Eurocom is slightly more demanding than competing 15.6-inch gaming notebooks with GTX 1070 GPUs due in part to its HK-class CPU. Running 3DMark06 will draw about 97 W while Witcher 3 will demand as much as 177 W. Maximum load with both Prime95 and FurMark will draw 214 W from a medium-sized AC adapter rated for up to 230 W. Though sufficient as is, we would have preferred a more capable PSU in the 250 W range or higher for the extra headroom.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.93 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 22 / 24.5 / 25.2 Watt
Load midlight 97.2 / 213.8 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 Sky MX5 R3
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Gigabyte Aero 15
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, , TN, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
3%
49%
31%
6%
4%
Idle Minimum *
22
18
18%
8.5
61%
12
45%
19
14%
20
9%
Idle Average *
24.5
23
6%
9.1
63%
15
39%
23
6%
24
2%
Idle Maximum *
25.2
30
-19%
9.7
62%
20
21%
29
-15%
29
-15%
Load Average *
97.2
89
8%
79.9
18%
82
16%
85
13%
82
16%
Witcher 3 ultra *
177.5
168
5%
97.7
45%
111
37%
Load Maximum *
213.8
213
-0%
121.5
43%
161
25%
192
10%
193
10%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Unsurprisingly, runtimes are very short at just under 3 hours of real-world WLAN use. Long battery life is never an expectation from powerful gaming systems like what we have here, but it doesn't excuse the fact that competing gaming systems can still last for much longer when under similar loads by an hour or more. Part of this is due to the smaller 60 Wh battery of the Sky MX5 R3 when compared to the 90 Wh or higher capacities of the Predator 15, Aero 15, and Alienware 15 R3.

Charging from near empty to full capacity will take less than 1.5 hours compared to 2 hours on most other notebooks.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
3h 24min
WiFi Websurfing
2h 54min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 50min
Eurocom Sky MX5 R3
i7-7820HK, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile,  Wh
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 90 Wh
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 45 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 15
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 94.24 Wh
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 99 Wh
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 75 Wh
Battery Runtime
81%
43%
119%
44%
38%
Reader / Idle
204
502
146%
509
150%
638
213%
382
87%
377
85%
WiFi v1.3
174
332
91%
240
38%
422
143%
264
52%
246
41%
Load
110
117
6%
46
-58%
112
2%
102
-7%
98
-11%

Pros

+ 4x storage bays, 4x SODIMM slots
+ WWAN compatibility; mini-SIM slot
+ wide storage and display options
+ no GPU throttling when gaming
+ easy-to-use overclocking utility
+ very bright display backlight
+ quiet fan noise when idling
+ G-Sync or Optimus
+ easy serviceability
+ solid base

Cons

- stock CPU clock speeds are slower than expected; steadily decreasing CPU performance
- sensitive system fans; loud fan noise when gaming
- no LGA 1151 or MXM 3.0 slots; soldered processors
- short battery life; smaller internal battery capacity
- unimpressive integrated stereo speakers
- no Thunderbolt 3 or external GPU port
- SD card reader could be faster
- lid could have been more rigid
- no individually-lit RGB keys

Verdict

In review: Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 (Clevo P650HS-G). Test model provided by Eurocom
In review: Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 (Clevo P650HS-G). Test model provided by Eurocom

The Sky MX5 R3 has almost everything a core mobile gamer will need including easy serviceability, a healthy number of display options and ports, and an excellent balance of components that complement each other well. The GTX 1070 pairs perfectly with both the 1080p 120 Hz or 4K UHD 60 Hz screens while the i7-7820HK or i7-7700HQ CPU will be more than enough for most titles. Users will find the notebook especially alluring if its 4G/WWAN capabilities will be utilized and if GPU upgrades are not to be considered.

Key drawbacks include the absence of Thunderbolt 3, average contrast ratio, and a loud fan noise even for a gaming notebook. The middling performance of the i7-7820HK at stock speeds and its alarmingly high CPU temperature when running at maximum Turbo Boost are asterisks on an otherwise versatile system. It's in this vital area where the MSI GT62VR can still be the better buy for its quieter fan noise. Still, the Eurocom outperforms the MSI on other aspects including its brighter backlight, lower average surface temperatures, thinner build, and wider port selection.

Build quality is better than on the Asus GL702VS while having a wider variety of configurable options than the MSI GT62VR. Fan noise is disappointing and we recommend configuring with the lower-end i7-7700HQ as gains from the pricier i7-7820HK are essentially imperceptible.

Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 - 06/23/2017 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
80 / 98 → 82%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
71 / 81 → 88%
Weight
57 / 10-66 → 84%
Battery
68%
Display
80%
Games Performance
96%
Application Performance
97%
Temperature
85 / 95 → 89%
Noise
72 / 90 → 80%
Audio
70%
Camera
45 / 85 → 53%
Average
76%
85%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Eurocom Sky MX5 R3 (i7-7820HK, FHD, Clevo P650HS-G) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2017-06-23 (Update: 2019-04- 5)