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Gigabyte P34W v5 Xotic PC Edition Notebook Review

Fifth time's the charm. The latest 14-inch refresh comes new with Skylake, DDR4, HDMI 2.0, USB Type-C, and a WQHD display option. Are these updates major enough to get users over the fence?

Note: We reviewed a configuration from Xotic PC U.S. There can be differences compared to original manufacturer models in respect of the integrated components (memory, RAM, CPU, GPU, etc.) as well as their configurations. Components may have been overclocked. As a result, there can also be differences in terms of performance, emissions, and battery runtimes. The visual appearance of the devices can differ as well.

Gigabyte has carved itself a small but lucrative niche in the gaming market by offering only super-thin and lightweight gaming notebooks that are half the size of competitors without sacrificing core hardware performance. It's true that these Gigabyte notebooks pack more power than their reserved demeanor would otherwise suggest, albeit naturally at the cost of fan noise and heat.

Now in its fifth generation, the P34W v5 shares the same chassis and features as its third generation SKU with only a few minor external updates. Thus, we recommend checking out our review on the P34W v3 for more pictures and information on chassis quality and input devices. Competition in this space is limited compared to the crowded and more popular 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch categories. Notable alternatives to the P34 series include the Razer Blade 14, Aorus X3, and the recently released MSI GS40.

Has the jump to Skylake improved performance or heat development for this 14-inch gaming station?

Gigabyte P34W v5 (P34 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M - 3 GB VRAM, Core: 924 MHz, Memory: 5010 MHz, 354.35
Memory
15.9 GB 
, 1300 MHz, 15-15-15-36, Dual-Channel
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixel, IPS, Name: LG Philips LP140QH1-SPB1, Model: LGD0419, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe, 512 GB 
, Secondary: 1 TB WDC WD10JPVX-22JC3T0
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD reader, Sensors: 1.5 stereo, Stereo, Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1+LE
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.9 x 340 x 239 ( = 0.82 x 13.39 x 9.41 in)
Battery
61 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 15.2 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD camera
Additional features
Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, User's manual, PowerDVD 12 DVD, Drivers and utilities DVD, SmartManager V3, Intel RST, Dolby Digital Plus, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.81 kg ( = 63.85 oz / 3.99 pounds), Power Supply: 520 g ( = 18.34 oz / 1.15 pounds)
Price
1600 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Gigabyte has skipped out on any major chassis upgrades to its P34 series likely due to its already super-thin profile and the fact that there's really no rush for a big refresh in the limited 14-inch gaming space. Nonetheless, the Razer Blade 14 is still 3 mm thinner and even a couple hundred grams heavier due in part to its glass touchscreen option that the Gigabyte is lacking. The similarly equipped MSI GS40 is just slightly thicker and larger than our Gigabyte while weighing almost exactly the same at 1.8 kg each.

The latest 15.6-inch P35 was embellished with new Orange accents and some slight curves to its lid. Although we weren't expecting a complete hardware redesign, we would have appreciated similar exterior treatments to further separate the P34W v5 from its earlier iterations even if they are only cosmetic. As it stands, the matte black and rounded edges and corners are becoming blander compared to newer 14-inch solutions.

345 mm / 13.6 inch 245 mm / 9.65 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.8 kg4.06 lbs331 mm / 13 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 34 mm / 1.339 inch 1.8 kg3.92 lbs345 mm / 13.6 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 2 kg4.41 lbs340 mm / 13.4 inch 240 mm / 9.45 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.9 kg4.19 lbs340 mm / 13.4 inch 239 mm / 9.41 inch 20.9 mm / 0.823 inch 1.8 kg3.99 lbs334.9 mm / 13.2 inch 229.5 mm / 9.04 inch 18.3 mm / 0.72 inch 1.5 kg3.28 lbs330 mm / 13 inch 263.5 mm / 10.4 inch 22.9 mm / 0.902 inch 1.8 kg3.97 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Available ports remain largely unchanged with just a couple of updates from our last P34W v3 test unit. First, one USB 3.0 Type-A port has been dropped in favor of a USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2 port capable of transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps. Thunderbolt, however, does not appear to be supported. Meanwhile, its HDMI-out port has been upgraded from 1.4 to 2.0 for higher bandwidth and refresh rate support. We especially like the fact that the legacy VGA-out port is still available on a gaming notebook of this size.

When compared to the GS40, the P34 v5 includes VGA and more USB ports, though it lacks mDP as a trade off.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: 2x USB 3.0, SD reader, HDMI 2.0, AC adapter
Right: 2x USB 3.0, SD reader, HDMI 2.0, AC adapter
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: Kensington Lock, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA-out, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen. 2, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: Kensington Lock, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA-out, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen. 2, 3.5 mm combo audio

Communication

WLAN gets an upgrade from an Intel 7260 on our previous P34W v3 to the third generation Intel 8260. The dual-band 2x2 module supports theoretical transfer rates of up to 867 Mbps with integrated Bluetooth 4.2. We experienced no connectivity issues specific to the system. It's worth noting that Gigabyte has moved to the M.2 2230 form factor for the WLAN card from the larger half-mini PCIe slot on the P34W v3. Other features like WWAN or GPS are not supported on this gaming-centric notebook.

Accessories

Included extras beyond the AC adapter are light as users will get a PowerDVD 12 media disc, Drivers and Utilities disc, warranty card, and user's manual.

Maintenance

The panel underneath can be easily removed with a single Philips screwdriver. The small hatch allows for quicker access to the two RAM slots, though we're a bit puzzled as to why there is no convenient hatch for the HDD as well.

Warranty

Gigabyte offers 24-month worldwide warranty for most of its notebooks, which is a full year longer than a handful of manufacturers in North America. Batteries and AC adapters are covered for only the first year while other bundled accessories are not covered at all. Xotic PC is responsible for any custom parts on the notebook.

P34W v5
P34W v5
P34W v3
P34W v3

Input Devices

Keyboard & Touchpad

The input devices on the P34W v5 are identical to our P34W v3 unit. While feedback is satisfactorily firm despite the shallow travel, the backlit keys tend to wobble in place and clatter more as a result when typing. The Space bar is also a bit on the soft side and the lack of any auxiliary or dedicated Macro keys may upset some hardcore gamers.

The touchpad (10 x 5.5 cm) is again textured similarly to the arm rests around it with no issues regarding tracking or reliability. It is indeed easier to use than the glossy touchpads on Aorus notebooks as many have been expecting. The dedicated mouse buttons, however, are still soft in feedback and very shallow in travel. This could certainly use improvement should Gigabyte choose to redesign the notebook in the near future.

No dedicated Macro or auxiliary keys
No dedicated Macro or auxiliary keys
Keys have a louder clatter than most notebooks
Keys have a louder clatter than most notebooks

Display

The P34 v5 series includes options for either a FHD 1080p panel or a WQHD 1440p panel. Our test unit is equipped with the latter and this is certainly a more practical resolution compared to the QHD 1800p display on the Razer Blade 14. The exact LG Philips LP140QH1-SPB1 panel is found on no other notebook in our database and is quite the rare native resolution for a notebook this size offering a PPI of 210.

Subjectively, we can observe no obvious issues as texts and images appear very sharp. There are some slight color grains that may become visible if on the maximum brightness setting while displaying a White background, though this is minor and a common phenomenon on matte displays. Slight to moderate backlight bleeding is visible around the corners that are not noticeable when browsing or word processing. Dim ambient lighting and dark content will accentuate the bleeding.

Compared to the 1080p panel on our older P34W v3, our 1440p panel is slightly dimmer with a narrower color gamut, albeit with higher contrast and more accurate colors out-of-the-box as the trade off.

Light-moderate backlight bleeding around top corners
Light-moderate backlight bleeding around top corners
Subpixel array
Subpixel array
265.7
cd/m²
285.4
cd/m²
272
cd/m²
237.4
cd/m²
277.8
cd/m²
267.5
cd/m²
248.1
cd/m²
287.1
cd/m²
286.7
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 287.1 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 269.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 277.8 cd/m²
Contrast: 731:1 (Black: 0.38 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.71 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 2.11 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
76.9% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
48.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
52.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
76.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
51.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.19
Gigabyte P34W v5
14.00, 2560x1440
Gigabyte P34W V3
14.00, 1920x1080
Razer Blade 14 2015
14.00, 3200x1800
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
14.00, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
14.00, 1920x1080
Lenovo Yoga 700-14ISK 80QD
14.00, 1920x1080
Display
28%
33%
20%
17%
-19%
Display P3 Coverage
51.4
69.4
35%
70.3
37%
66.2
29%
64.8
26%
41.58
-19%
sRGB Coverage
76.6
92.6
21%
97.1
27%
85.7
12%
83.8
9%
61.8
-19%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
52.8
67.4
28%
71.1
35%
62.6
19%
61.2
16%
43.03
-19%
Response Times
17%
-47%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41.2 ?(15.2, 26)
31 ?(12, 19)
25%
52.8 ?(16.4, 36.4)
-28%
Response Time Black / White *
25.4 ?(3.4, 22)
23 ?(5, 18)
9%
42 ?(10, 32)
-65%
PWM Frequency
198 ?(90)
Screen
-11%
-17%
-36%
-5%
-29%
Brightness middle
277.8
305.4
10%
318.4
15%
304
9%
288
4%
224.5
-19%
Brightness
270
277
3%
311
15%
282
4%
281
4%
211
-22%
Brightness Distribution
83
84
1%
78
-6%
88
6%
94
13%
88
6%
Black Level *
0.38
0.72
-89%
0.416
-9%
0.37
3%
0.286
25%
0.229
40%
Contrast
731
424
-42%
765
5%
822
12%
1007
38%
980
34%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.71
2.81
-4%
3.67
-35%
7.47
-176%
4.35
-61%
6.06
-124%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.47
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.11
1.92
9%
5.41
-156%
6.51
-209%
3.7
-75%
5
-137%
Gamma
2.19 100%
2.21 100%
2.26 97%
3.71 59%
2.68 82%
2.25 98%
CCT
6314 103%
6384 102%
7118 91%
7840 83%
6076 107%
7030 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
48.5
60.4
25%
64.64
33%
56
15%
54.7
13%
39
-20%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
76.9
86
12%
61
-21%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
9% / -0%
8% / -4%
0% / -16%
6% / 1%
-32% / -30%

* ... smaller is better

Color coverage is roughly 49 percent and 77 percent of the AdobeRGB and sRGB standards, respectively. While good for a mainstream notebook, this falls short of higher-end notebooks that compete directly against the P34W. The GS40 and original P34W v3, for example, offer wider gamuts whereas to the point where our test model is able to cover just 72 percent and 78 percent of their colors, respectively. We cannot speak for the P34 v5 1080p configuration, but color coverage appears to have suffered with this particular 1440p panel.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. MSI GS40
vs. MSI GS40
vs. Gigabyte P34W v3
vs. Gigabyte P34W v3

Grayscale and colors are very good without any end-user calibration. A quick calibration will marginally improve the display even further. Colors become more inaccurate at higher saturation levels due to imperfect sRGB coverage.

Grayscale pre-calibration
Grayscale pre-calibration
Saturation Sweeps pre-calibration
Saturation Sweeps pre-calibration
ColorChecker pre-calibration
ColorChecker pre-calibration
Grayscale post calibration
Grayscale post calibration
Saturation Sweeps post calibration
Saturation Sweeps post calibration
ColorChecker post calibration
ColorChecker post 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
25.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 3.4 ms rise
↘ 22 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.2 ms rise
↘ 26 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 61 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse 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 usability is slightly worse than the P34W v3 due to the its dimmer backlight brightness. It's still better than average when working under shade, though visibility quickly degrades when under sunlight or an overcast day. The matte panel and wide viewing angles aid greatly in reducing glare both indoors and outdoors.

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

Performance

Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz for single-threaded loads
Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz for single-threaded loads

The P34W v5 comes equipped with the Skylake Core i7-6700HQ CPU and the same GTX 970M GPU as found on the P34W v3. The quad-core CPU can operate at up to 3.1 to 3.5 GHz depending on the load and can run as low as 800 MHz for power conservation. This same CPU is also commonly found on larger gaming notebooks like the MSI GT72 or Asus ROG G752. Optimus is available for switching between the dGPU and the integrated Intel HD 530 for additional power savings.

Aside from the CPU change in the new P34W, RAM has also been upgraded to DDR4 for a higher maximum of 32 GB should users choose to configure or manually upgrade the memory.

Processor

CPU performance is only a few percentage points ahead of the i7-4720HQ in the older P34W v3. This is to be expected as the Skylake generation focuses largely on performance-per-Watt with greater emphasis on integrated GPU performance rather than raw CPU power. Thus, users should expect a notebook that runs cooler at roughly the same performance level. The i7-4940MX and desktop-class Core i7-6700K offer notably faster performances than the i7-6700HQ for power users who don't mind the higher energy demands.

See our dedicated Core i7-6700HQ CPU page for more technical information and comparisons on the processor.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
137 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
177 Points +29%
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
157 Points +15%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
144 Points +5%
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
130 Points -5%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
680 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
878 Points +29%
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
708 Points +4%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
719 Points +6%
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
636 Points -6%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
1.65 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
1.97 Points +19%
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
1.77 Points +7%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1.68 Points +2%
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
1.47 Points -11%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
7.5 Points
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
9.7 Points +29%
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
7.64 Points +2%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
7.96 Points +6%
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
6 Points -20%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
8624 Points
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
7696 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
7318 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
6611 Points
Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit (sort by value)
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
34593 Points
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
26547 Points
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
28180 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
25825 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m (sort by value)
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
178 s *
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
218.6 s *
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
206.3 s *
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
238.4 s *
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - 32M (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
571 s *
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
463.8 s * +19%
Eurocom X8
GeForce GTX 980M SLI, 4940MX, Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB mSATA
491.5 s * +14%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
574 s * -1%
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
564 s * +1%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
9229
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20195
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5460
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.5 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
41.7 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.65 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
137 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
64.7 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
680 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark benchmarks rank our P34W v5 at essentially the same scores across the board as our older P34W v3. Its final PCMark 7 score of 6242 points rivals the larger Gigabyte P37 (i7-4720HQ, GTX 980M), which scores 6302 points in the same benchmark.

Subjectively, we experienced no software or hardware related nuances during our time with the test unit.

PCMark 7
PCMark 7
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
6242 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
6182 Points -1%
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
6008 Points -4%
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
5451 Points -13%
Lenovo Y40-59423035
Radeon R9 M275, 4500U, Liteonit LCS-256M6S
4921 Points -21%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
3706 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
4006 Points +8%
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
3309 Points -11%
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
3776 Points +2%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
4649 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
4443 Points -4%
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
4074 Points -12%
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
4831 Points +4%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
4813 Points
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
4895 Points +2%
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
4606 Points -4%
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
4742 Points -1%
PCMark 7 Score
6242 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3706 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4813 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4649 points
Help

Storage Devices

Another small change from the P34W v3 to the P34W v5 is the removal of the mSATA slot in favor of the much faster NVMe M.2 slot. Sequential read and write rates are in the thousands of MB/s compared to a few hundred on the SATA III interface. A secondary 2.5-inch SATA III bay accepts drives up to 9.5 mm in thickness for additional storage capacity. There are no RAID options likely due to the limited space available.

Performance from our 1 TB WD Blue HDD is average according to HD Tune with an average transfer rate of just over 84 MB/s. In comparison, faster 7200 RPM drives more commonly crack the 90 or 100 MB/s mark. See our growing table of HDD and SSD benchmark results for more data and comparisons.

AS SSD (Primary SSD)
AS SSD (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
 
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
Lenovo Yoga 700-14ISK 80QD
HD Graphics 520, 6200U
AS SSD
-69%
-66%
-1077%
-60%
-62%
Copy Game MB/s
1042
422.2
-59%
263.9
-75%
473.2
-55%
231.6
-78%
179.3
-83%
Copy Program MB/s
469.9
243.7
-48%
242.8
-48%
403.3
-14%
182.5
-61%
139.9
-70%
Copy ISO MB/s
1124
476.5
-58%
456
-59%
1244
11%
297
-74%
249.1
-78%
Score Total
2775
1034
-63%
1049
-62%
1460
-47%
1086
-61%
1073
-61%
Score Write
646
357
-45%
407
-37%
65
-90%
385
-40%
384
-41%
Score Read
1426
446
-69%
421
-70%
967
-32%
464
-67%
456
-68%
Access Time Write *
0.029
0.054
-86%
0.062
-114%
4.234
-14500%
0.04
-38%
0.042
-45%
Access Time Read *
0.032
0.094
-194%
0.07
-119%
0.062
-94%
0.067
-109%
0.063
-97%
4K-64 Write
370.1
256.3
-31%
307
-17%
34.73
-91%
272.3
-26%
273
-26%
4K-64 Read
1166
366.8
-69%
343.4
-71%
738
-37%
380
-67%
374.1
-68%
4K Write
133.4
67.9
-49%
58.2
-56%
102.4
-23%
84.6
-37%
81.8
-39%
4K Read
48.51
30.97
-36%
28.6
-41%
45.54
-6%
33.27
-31%
32.46
-33%
Seq Write
1425
322.9
-77%
419.4
-71%
289.1
-80%
285.2
-80%
287.6
-80%
Seq Read
2114
487
-77%
487.7
-77%
1834
-13%
503
-76%
494.4
-77%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
Transfer Rate Minimum: 1121 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 1168 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 1161 MB/s
Access Time: 0 ms
Burst Rate: 323.7 MB/s
CPU Usage: 3.1 %

GPU Performance

3DMark benchmark results are essentially equal to the similarly equipped Aorus X3 Plus v5. The Acer Predator 15 (GTX 980M) and Asus GX700 (GTX 980) are roughly 30 percent and 70 to 80 percent faster, respectively, than our GTX 970M.

It's worth noting that most notebooks like our P34W v5 carry the 3 GB version of the GTX 970M. The Aorus X3 Plus v5 is one of the select few with the 6 GB version, though 3DMark results show the extra RAM overhead to be of no significant advantage in most cases.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
9389 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
15462 Points +65%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
10977 Points +17%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
9297 Points -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
7939 Points -15%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
5678 Points -40%
1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
9691 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
17864 Points +84%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
12238 Points +26%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
9615 Points -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
8099 Points -16%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
5322 Points -45%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
6582 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
11440 Points +74%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
8306 Points +26%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
6489 Points -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
5243 Points -20%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
4036 Points -39%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
21153 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
30430 Points +44%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
22733 Points +7%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
20458 Points -3%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
18607 Points -12%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
17554 Points -17%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
71444 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
179732 Points +152%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
88214 Points +23%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
52842 Points -26%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
68957 Points -3%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
84067 Points +18%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Graphics (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
1646 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
3172 Points +93%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
2228 Points +35%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
1622 Points -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
806 Points -51%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
995 Points -40%
3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Combined (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
866 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
1605 Points +85%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
1153 Points +33%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
858 Points -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
676 Points -22%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
510 Points -41%
Fire Strike Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
3496 Points
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3460 Points -1%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
2047 Points -41%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
7457 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
13382 Points +79%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
9576 Points +28%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
7335 Points -2%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
5973 Points -20%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
4361 Points -42%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
51225 Points
Asus GX700
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6820HK, 2x Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL (RAID 0)
87753 Points +71%
Acer Predator 15 G9-591-74ZV
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B256
65241 Points +27%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
46213 Points -10%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
38269 Points -25%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 15ISK 80NW
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
30561 Points -40%
3DMark 11 Performance
9389 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
71444 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
21153 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
6582 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
3375 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The GTX 970M is able to play all tested titles on maximum 1080p settings. More demanding titles like Fallout 4 will hover in the 30 to 60 FPS range, so screen tearing will be inevitable on some games if v-sync is disengaged. Unfortunately, the P34W v5 does not support G-Sync even though it would have been a perfect match for the 1440p panel and GTX 970M.

Gaming at the native WQHD resolution with Ultra settings is very possible on the GTX 970M so long as users can accept ~30 FPS on newer titles with the occasional dips. If not, other graphical settings will have to be reduced for smoother gameplay.

Batman Arkham Knight refuses to run on our Ultra settings as of this date of publishing.

See our dedicated GPU page on the GTX 970M for more benchmarks and comparisons.

Fallout 4
1920x1080 High Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
53.6 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
79.5 fps +48%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
52.9 fps -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
41.8 fps -22%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
30.6 fps -43%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
43.3 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
68.1 fps +57%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
42.4 fps -2%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
35 fps -19%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
25 fps -42%
Sleeping Dogs
1366x768 High Preset AA:High (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
128.6 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
146.7 fps +14%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
123.5 fps -4%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
92.7 fps -28%
1920x1080 Extreme Preset AA:Extreme (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
46 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
62.8 fps +37%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
82.5 fps +79%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
45 fps -2%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
24.3 fps -47%
Guild Wars 2
1366x768 Best Appearance Preset AA:FX (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
59.3 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
64.9 fps +9%
1920x1080 All Maximum / On AA:FX (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
49 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
56.4 fps +15%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
72.3 fps +48%
Tomb Raider
1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
183.8 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
264 fps +44%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
185.4 fps +1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
141.8 fps -23%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
114.6 fps -38%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
87.4 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
123.6 fps +41%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
159.3 fps +82%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
86.7 fps -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
67.2 fps -23%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
53.5 fps -39%
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
1366x768 High AA:on (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
159.5 fps
1920x1080 Ultra / Extreme AA:on (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
97.8 fps
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
175.4 fps +79%
BioShock Infinite
1366x768 High Preset (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
150.7 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
175.8 fps +17%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
146.8 fps -3%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
141.4 fps -6%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
121.7 fps -19%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
71.4 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
94.9 fps +33%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
124.4 fps +74%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
71.8 fps +1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
55.3 fps -23%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
45.9 fps -36%
Metro: Last Light
1366x768 High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
95.1 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
123.1 fps +29%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
93.8 fps -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
83.4 fps -12%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
59.4 fps -38%
1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
54 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
74.1 fps +37%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
53.6 fps -1%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
44.3 fps -18%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
31.5 fps -42%
Thief
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
86.5 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
107.6 fps +24%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
73 fps -16%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
72.8 fps -16%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
55.6 fps -36%
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
48.7 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
67.9 fps +39%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
86.5 fps +78%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
46.5 fps -5%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
38.9 fps -20%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
28.1 fps -42%
Batman: Arkham Knight - 1920x1080 High / On (Interactive Smoke & Paper Debris Off) AA:SM AF:8x (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
74 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
80 fps +8%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59 fps -20%
MIFcom EG7
GeForce GTX 965M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
39 fps -47%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
34 fps -54%
Metal Gear Solid V
1920x1080 High / On (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
60 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
60 fps 0%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59.9 fps 0%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
59.3 fps -1%
1920x1080 Extra High / On (sort by value)
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
59.9 fps
Asus G752VY-RH71
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
60 fps 0%
Eurocom Sky DLX7
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700K, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
60 fps 0%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59.1 fps -1%
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
39.2 fps -35%
low med. high ultra
Sleeping Dogs (2012) 128.6 46
Guild Wars 2 (2012) 59.3 49
Tomb Raider (2013) 183.8 87.4
StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm (2013) 159.5 97.8
BioShock Infinite (2013) 150.7 71.4
Metro: Last Light (2013) 95.1 54
Thief (2014) 86.5 48.7
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 74
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 60 59.9
Fallout 4 (2015) 53.6 43.3
Title FPS (2560 x 1440, Ultra Settings)
Sleeping Dogs 25.1
Guild Wars 2 46.1
Tomb Raider 54.8
Starcraft II: HotS 73.7
BioShock Infinite 46.5
Metro: Last Light 35.7
Thief 31.3
Metal Gear Solid 5 37.5
Fallout 4 28.9

Stress Test

Our stress tests on the previous P34W v3 showed notable GPU throttling issues that had an effect on frame rates when gaming. Thus, we were eager to see if the issue remained on the P34W v5.

Fortunately, the Nvidia GPU only throttles when subjected to FurMark stress, which is a normal occurrence. The GTX 970M is able to operate with a permanent GPU Boost at a high (but steady) core temperature when running Unigine Heaven, so there is no need to worry about any throttling issues when gaming under normal conditions. Perhaps more surprisingly, the CPU is able to maintain its maximum quad-core Turbo Boost of 3.1 GHz even when under Prime95 and FurMark stress, although also at very high core temperatures of well over 90 C.

Running on battery power will reduce both GPU and CPU performances. A 3DMark 11 run on battery returns Graphics and Physics scores of 7785 points and 7192 points, respectively, compared to 9691 points and 8870 points when connected to mains.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Maximum stress
Maximum stress
Unigine Heaven stress
Unigine Heaven stress
Stable Clock Rates and Temperatures Under Stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (C) Average GPU Temperature (C)
Prime95 Stress 3.1 -- ~76 --
FurMark Stress -- 810 -- ~80
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 3.1 746 ~93 ~86
Unigine Heaven Stress 3.1+ 1038 64 - 70 ~76
Unigine Heaven Stress (Battery Power) 0.8+ 746 - 987 ~55 - 60 ~65

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise (White: background, Red: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: FurMark+Prime95)
Fan noise (White: background, Red: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: FurMark+Prime95)

Fan behavior is similar to the P34W v3 since they share the same dual heat pipes and 50 mm fans. While the latest revision is measurably quieter when idling, it isn't necessarily any louder or softer than the P34W v3 when gaming. The P34W v5 can be heard pulsating in very low levels during low loads, but is overall quieter than the MSI GS40 under the same conditions

We recorded a steady fan noise of just over 46 dB(A) when running Unigine Heaven. During the start of the benchmark test, the fans can be heard increasing in speed in a stepwise manner before settling at our recorded value. Maximum load with both Prime95 and FurMark will cause fan noise to rise as high as 52 dB(A). This is compared to the low to mid 30 dB(A) range more commonly found on less powerful Ultrabooks with integrated GPUs.

Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
Gigabyte P34W V3
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On LMT-128L9M
Razer Blade 14 2015
GeForce GTX 970M, 4720HQ, Lite-On IT L8T-256L9G
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZFLV128 NVMe
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
Lenovo Yoga 700-14ISK 80QD
HD Graphics 520, 6200U
Noise
-7%
3%
-5%
18%
18%
Idle Minimum *
31.6
34.2
-8%
29.7
6%
33
-4%
29.1
8%
28.8
9%
Idle Average *
31.6
34.3
-9%
29.9
5%
34
-8%
29.1
8%
30.5
3%
Idle Maximum *
32.5
38
-17%
30
8%
38
-17%
29.1
10%
30.6
6%
Load Average *
46.5
43.8
6%
42.1
9%
44
5%
33.1
29%
31
33%
Load Maximum *
52.5
55
-5%
59
-12%
52
1%
34.3
35%
32.8
38%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
31.6 / 31.6 / 32.5 dB(A)
Load
46.5 / 52.5 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)

Temperature

Surface temperatures are largely flat when idling except for the warmer left hand side of the notebook directly underneath the mechanical and M.2 drives. When under maximum load with Prime95 and FurMark, much of the waste heat is concentrated towards the rear where the heat pipes lie. The surface just inside of one of the ventilation grilles can be as warm as 79 C, so it is doubly important to allow sufficient space for the exhaust.

While average surface temperatures are still very warm under high loads, the GS40 is even warmer in comparison. The Blade 14 also runs warmer than our Gigabyte despite its much louder fan noise. Users can still comfortably play on the P34W as the WASD keys and palm rests remain relatively cool compared to the center areas of the notebook. Playing demanding games without a proper desk is not recommended despite the size and portability of the P34W.

Maximum stress (Front)
Maximum stress (Front)
Maximum stress (Back)
Maximum stress (Back)
Max. Load
 41.3 °C
106 F
59.3 °C
139 F
46.8 °C
116 F
 
 30.8 °C
87 F
40.8 °C
105 F
33.1 °C
92 F
 
 23.7 °C
75 F
24.4 °C
76 F
26.8 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 59.3 °C = 139 F
Average: 36.3 °C = 97 F
55.7 °C
132 F
56.5 °C
134 F
53.7 °C
129 F
42.7 °C
109 F
42.4 °C
108 F
25.1 °C
77 F
24.5 °C
76 F
25.6 °C
78 F
23 °C
73 F
Maximum: 56.5 °C = 134 F
Average: 38.8 °C = 102 F
Power Supply (max.)  49.2 °C = 121 F | Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | FLIR One
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.3 °C / 97 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 59.3 °C / 139 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 56.5 °C / 134 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23 °C / 73 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 26.8 °C / 80.2 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (+2.1 °C / 3.8 F).

Speakers

Poor bass reproduction (Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)
Poor bass reproduction (Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)

The P34 series may have the power of some 17-inch notebooks, but its thin profile can only do so much with internal speakers. Sound quality is lacking in bass and feels narrow in range when playing games or listening to music. There are no external audio options except for 3.5 mm earphones whereas larger gaming notebooks can have SPDIF, external 7.1, and Line-in ports.

Battery Life

Runtimes are overall shorter than the P34W v3 and very similar to the Razer Blade 14 even though the latter is equipped with a denser battery pack. The results are strange as we expected the Skylake-equipped P34W v5 to outlast its Haswell predecessor under similar testing conditions. It's possible that the differences in operating systems and potential background activities are working against the P34W v5. The system would sometimes automatically restart in the midst of running our WLAN test (prompting multiple reruns) despite turning off Windows automatic updates. Whether or not this is specific to the Xotic PC edition or the entire P34W v5 line is unknown.

A charge from empty to full will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
WLAN runtime
WLAN runtime
Gigabyte P34W v5
61 Wh
Gigabyte P34W V3
61 Wh
Razer Blade 14 2015
71 Wh
MSI GS40-6QE16H11
61 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
96 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 700-14ISK 80QD
45 Wh
Battery Runtime
54%
11%
12%
335%
92%
Reader / Idle
392
522
33%
380
-3%
313
-20%
1857
374%
748
91%
WiFi v1.3
232
222
-4%
297
28%
648
179%
363
56%
Load
47
82
74%
66
40%
60
28%
259
451%
108
130%
WiFi
284
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
6h 32min
WiFi Websurfing
3h 52min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 47min

Pros

+ very thin and lightweight for the performance
+ no CPU or GPU throttling under gaming loads
+ fast display response times
+ quiet under low loads
+ USB Type-C gen. 2, DDR4, HDMI 2.0, NVMe, VGA-out
+ easily accessible internals

Cons

- system fans are always active
- WQHD panel is dimmer and with a narrower color gamut
- no significant performance boost over previous generation
- no Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort ports
- no RAID or touchscreen options
- no dedicated Macro keys
- no G-Sync option
- loud fan noise and temperatures when gaming
- average internal speakers; only 3.5 mm audio out

Verdict

In review: Gigabyte P34W v5. Test model provided by Xotic PC.
In review: Gigabyte P34W v5. Test model provided by Xotic PC.

In terms of raw performance, the P34W v5 matches many gaming notebooks twice its size. There is otherwise a very marginal performance boost compared to the P34W v3 aside from the throttling hotfix, so users should not be expecting runaway improvements to CPU power by jumping from the Core i7-4720HQ in the P34W v3 to the more power-efficient Core i7-6700HQ in the P34W v5. Instead, users who want the P34W v5 should make full use of its USB Type-C, DDR4, and HDMI 2.0 updates to get the most out of the model.

As for the WQHD configuration, we especially like that it offers very fast response times with higher contrast than the FHD P34W v3, but its gamut is narrower and with a slightly lower backlight brightness as a result of the resolution increase. Users may want to consider the FHD configuration instead especially since G-Sync is not supported on the WQHD version where the Nvidia technology would have been more beneficial. Despite some lingering drawbacks and the expected temperatures and fan noises when under load, the portable P34W v5 is a solid 14-inch gaming solution in a category with few other alternatives.

The latest P34W update uses the full power of its Skylake and Maxwell processors with no throttling when gaming while remaining very thin and lightweight for travel and classwork.

Gigabyte P34W v5 - 02/29/2016 v5(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
82 / 98 → 84%
Keyboard
79%
Pointing Device
82%
Connectivity
49 / 81 → 60%
Weight
65 / 10-66 → 98%
Battery
74%
Display
87%
Games Performance
90%
Application Performance
93%
Temperature
82 / 95 → 86%
Noise
70 / 90 → 78%
Audio
55%
Average
76%
81%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Gigabyte P34W v5 Xotic PC Edition Notebook Review
Allen Ngo, 2016-01-31 (Update: 2020-06- 8)