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Razer Blade (2016) FHD Notebook Review

Successful. Razer's thin 14-inch is packed with powerful hardware that can handle all modern games on the matte Full HD display. You also get good input devices and Thunderbolt 3. The stamina of the small system is not bad, either.

For the original German review, see here.

Having already reviewed the QHD+ model of the Blade a few weeks ago, we now have a look at the Full HD model. The QHD+ panel is a touchscreen with a glossy surface, while the FHD display of our current test model has a matte surface without touch functionality. The list of rivals includes systems like the Schenker XMG P406MSI GS43VR, and Asus Strix GL502VM.

Both systems share the same construction, so we will not cover the sections Case, Connectivity, Input Devices and Speakers in this article. The corresponding information is available in the review of the QHD+ model.

Note: Our current model was immediately updated to EC version 4.0, so there is no CPU throttling in normal 3D workloads. The system noise is higher in return, so the measurements of the two reviews cannot really be compared.

Razer Blade (2016) FHD (Blade Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1405 MHz, Memory: 4000 MHz, GDDR5, 192-Bit-Anbindung, ForceWare 376.33, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2133, Dual-Channel, soldered, no slots
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, LG Philips LP140WF3-SPD1 (LGD046D), IPS, Full HD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Soundcard
Realtek ALC298 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combined, TPM 2.0
Networking
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): 18 x 345 x 235 ( = 0.71 x 13.58 x 9.25 in)
Battery
70 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2 MP
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Power adapter: 165 Watts, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.88 kg ( = 66.32 oz / 4.14 pounds), Power Supply: 418 g ( = 14.74 oz / 0.92 pounds)
Price
2700 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Razer Blade (2016)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
591 MBit/s +5%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
561 MBit/s
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
507 MBit/s -10%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
677 MBit/s +32%
Razer Blade (2016)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
646 MBit/s +26%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
513 MBit/s

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array

The matte Full HD screen has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Luminance (277 nits) and contrast (1046:1) are generally lower compared to the optional QHD+ display. We would have expected more, especially when you consider the hefty price of 2,700 Euros (~$2825). One positive aspect compared to the QHD+ screen is the lack of PWM flickering.

296
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
296
cd/m²
278
cd/m²
272
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
276
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LP140WF3-SPD1 (LGD046D) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 296 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 277.1 cd/m² Minimum: 30 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 272 cd/m²
Contrast: 1046:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.59 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.28 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
83% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
83.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
65.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
LG Philips LP140WF3-SPD1 (LGD046D), 1920x1080
Razer Blade (2016)
Sharp LQ140Z1JW01 (SHP1401), 3200x1800
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Name: LG Philips LP140WF3-SPD1, ID: LGD046D, 1920x1080
Gigabyte P34W v5
2560x1440
SCHENKER XMG P406
LG Philips 140WF1 (LGD040A), 1920x1080
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPB6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080
Display
10%
3%
-14%
0%
-0%
Display P3 Coverage
65.2
66.9
3%
65.5
0%
51.4
-21%
66.2
2%
64.5
-1%
sRGB Coverage
83.4
96.8
16%
86.4
4%
76.6
-8%
82.8
-1%
83.4
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
60.9
68.2
12%
63.1
4%
52.8
-13%
60.5
-1%
60.9
0%
Response Times
-15%
20%
7%
-17%
10%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
47 ?(14, 33)
41 ?(15, 26)
13%
31.6 ?(10.4, 21.2)
33%
41.2 ?(15.2, 26)
12%
56 ?(22, 34)
-19%
40 ?(15, 25)
15%
Response Time Black / White *
26 ?(6, 20)
37 ?(9, 28)
-42%
24.4 ?(5.2, 19.2)
6%
25.4 ?(3.4, 22)
2%
30 ?(8, 22)
-15%
25 ?(5, 20)
4%
PWM Frequency
200 ?(90)
Screen
29%
9%
3%
1%
1%
Brightness middle
272
328
21%
288.4
6%
277.8
2%
282
4%
321
18%
Brightness
277
328
18%
282
2%
270
-3%
266
-4%
296
7%
Brightness Distribution
84
69
-18%
83
-1%
83
-1%
81
-4%
88
5%
Black Level *
0.26
0.22
15%
0.35
-35%
0.38
-46%
0.22
15%
0.33
-27%
Contrast
1046
1491
43%
824
-21%
731
-30%
1282
23%
973
-7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.59
1.91
58%
2.61
43%
2.71
41%
4.98
-8%
4.42
4%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
8.49
3.23
62%
7.34
14%
5.47
36%
10.2
-20%
9.78
-15%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.28
1.69
61%
1.18
72%
2.11
51%
4.08
5%
3.34
22%
Gamma
2.23 99%
2.3 96%
2.24 98%
2.19 100%
2.51 88%
2.4 92%
CCT
6848 95%
6418 101%
6506 100%
6314 103%
5877 111%
6213 105%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
55
63
15%
56.4
3%
48.5
-12%
54
-2%
55
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
83
97
17%
86.4
4%
76.9
-7%
83
0%
83
0%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
8% / 20%
11% / 9%
-1% / 0%
-5% / -2%
4% / 2%

* ... smaller is better

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.

The color accuracy is actually not bad ex-works. We can measure a DeltaE-2000 deviation of 4.59, while the target value would be smaller than 3. The display does not suffer from a blue cast, either. It is possible to improve the performance with a calibration. The color deviation drops to 3.23 and the grayscale performance is much more balanced. The panel does not cover the reference color spaces AdobeRGB and sRGB; we can only determine 55% (AdobeRGB) and 83% (sRGB), respectively.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Razer Blade vs. sRGB (83 %)
Razer Blade vs. sRGB (83 %)
Razer Blade vs. AdobeRGB (55 %)
Razer Blade vs. AdobeRGB (55 %)

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
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6 ms rise
↘ 20 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. » 57 % 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
47 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 33 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. » 78 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Razer equips the Blade with an IPS panel, which provides wide viewing angles. This means you can see the display content from every position. It is actually possible to use the system outdoors, but the sun should not be too bright.

The Blade outdoors
The Blade outdoors
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance

The Blade is a 14-inch gaming notebook. The performance of the hardware is also sufficient for any applications beyond gaming. Our test model retails for about 2,700 Euros (~$2825). Razer offers a total of six SKUs, but the differences are limited to the display and the storage capacity of the SSD. The least expensive model is available for about 2,000 Euros (~$2093).

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo
LatencyMon

Processor

Similar to the previously reviewed QHD+ model of the Blade, the current test model is also powered by the Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) quad-core processor. It is a high-end CPU and we can find it in many gaming notebooks. It is not a frugal ULV processor (TDP 15 watts) with a TDP of 45 watts. The nominal clock is 2.6 GHz, which can be raised to 3.1 GHz (four cores), 3.3 GHz (two cores) and 3.5 GHz (one core). There are no problems with the performance since the processor can utilize its full Turbo both on mains and on battery power. Our comparison table below shows that the Blade is on par with the competition in the CPU tests.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
CPU & GPU load
CPU & GPU load
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6777
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20639
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5550
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
62.9 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.49 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.68 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
93.6 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
678 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
149 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
149 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
148 Points -1%
Razer Blade (2016)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
146 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P406
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
141 Points -5%
Gigabyte P34W v5
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
137 Points -8%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
130 Points -13%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Gigabyte P34W v5
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
680 Points 0%
SCHENKER XMG P406
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
680 Points 0%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
680 Points 0%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
678 Points
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
675 Points 0%
Razer Blade (2016)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
671 Points -1%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20639 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20528 Points -1%
SCHENKER XMG P406
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20394 Points -1%
Gigabyte P34W v5
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20195 Points -2%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
20111 Points -3%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5550 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5463 Points -2%
Gigabyte P34W v5
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5460 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P406
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
5348 Points -4%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4937 Points -11%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
3542 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
3459 Points -2%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
12873 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
12818 Points 0%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4326 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
4286 Points -1%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
13058 Points
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
12974 Points -1%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
250.1 Points +1%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
247.3 Points
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
236.4 Points -4%

System Performance

A blazing-fast Solid State Drive and a powerful processor ensure a smooth system, and we did not encounter any problems. The synthetic PCMarks determine a very high system performance, so the notebook leaves a good impression outside the gaming arena as well. It is not possible to increase the system performance even further; Razer already maxed it out.

PCMark 7 Score
5874 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4010 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4942 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4920 points
Help
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
4741 Points +18%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
4016 Points 0%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
4010 Points
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
3706 Points -8%
Razer Blade (2016)
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
3417 Points -15%
SCHENKER XMG P406
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZHPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
3371 Points -16%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
5109 Points +4%
SCHENKER XMG P406
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZHPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5023 Points +2%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
4920 Points
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
4796 Points -3%
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
4649 Points -6%
Razer Blade (2016)
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ, Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
4214 Points -14%

Storage Devices

Razer equips our system with a very fast Solid State Drive from Samsung with a capacity of 1 TB. It is an NVMe model with excellent transfer rates. Sequential results of 2000-2500 MB/s ensures short loading times in games.

Sequential Read: 1977 MB/s
Sequential Write: 1668 MB/s
512K Read: 800 MB/s
512K Write: 1030 MB/s
4K Read: 58.1 MB/s
4K Write: 145.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 592 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 508 MB/s
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
 
Razer Blade (2016)
Samsung PM951 NVMe MZVLV512
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122
Gigabyte P34W v5
Samsung SSD 950 Pro 512GB m.2 NVMe
SCHENKER XMG P406
Samsung SM951 MZHPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-25%
-73%
8%
-14%
-58%
Read Seq
1977
1296
-34%
335.3
-83%
2269
15%
1634
-17%
462.5
-77%
Write Seq
1668
603
-64%
299
-82%
1524
-9%
1290
-23%
462.7
-72%
Read 512
800
655
-18%
223
-72%
937
17%
1149
44%
335
-58%
Write 512
1030
604
-41%
246.7
-76%
1483
44%
1285
25%
407.1
-60%
Read 4k
58.1
42.22
-27%
17.68
-70%
53.8
-7%
43.82
-25%
25.61
-56%
Write 4k
145.6
139.6
-4%
35.31
-76%
167.3
15%
110.3
-24%
86.3
-41%
Read 4k QD32
592
573
-3%
247.4
-58%
622
5%
320.5
-46%
246.7
-58%
Write 4k QD32
508
480
-6%
156.3
-69%
418.9
-18%
287.3
-43%
301.5
-41%

GPU Performance

Razer not only found room for a quad-core processor inside the thin case, but also for Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1060. The GPU is based on the current Pascal architecture and is Nvidia's entry-level high-end chip. It supports DirectX 12 and has 6144 MB GDDR5 video memory. The maximum core clock of the GTX 1060 is 1671 MHz according to the specs. We were able to determine an average clock of about 1550 MHz during our 3D tests.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
25367 points
3DMark 11 Performance
11616 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
78946 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
21402 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
9117 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
4873 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
3443 points
Help
3DMark
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
3576 Points +5%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
3396 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11776 Points +9%
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11622 Points +8%
Razer Blade (2016)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
10890 Points +1%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
10791 Points
Gigabyte P34W v5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
7457 Points -31%
SCHENKER XMG P406
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
7436 Points -31%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
15387 Points +14%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14977 Points +11%
Razer Blade (2016)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
13891 Points +3%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
13534 Points
Gigabyte P34W v5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
9691 Points -28%
SCHENKER XMG P406
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
9649 Points -29%

Gaming Performance

The hardware of the 14-inch laptop can handle most games smoothly in Full HD with high up to maximum details. From all the games we have ever tested with the GTX 1060, only X-Plane required lower settings/resolutions. All in all, the frame rates of the Blade fall a bit short of comparable rivals. Because of the thin chassis and therefore limited cooling capabilities, the Blade is a bit slower than similarly equipped competitors.

BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
102.3 fps +9%
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
102.1 fps +9%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
94 fps
Gigabyte P34W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ
71.4 fps -24%
Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
99.8 fps +6%
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
94 fps
SCHENKER XMG P406
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ
58.1 fps -38%
low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 347.4 312.1 261.9 131.7
BioShock Infinite (2013) 184.5 164.6 148.3 94
Battlefield 4 (2013) 168.1 167.8 154.1 94
Anno 2205 (2015) 110.4 103.3 79.2 28.6
XCOM 2 (2016) 85.5 62.8 52.8 27.8
The Division (2016) 184.6 120.7 61.2 48.2
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 67.9 54.8 49.4
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 114.4 93.8 52.4 28.1

Emissions

System Noise

Users of a small laptop will have to live with permanently spinning fans. We can measure idle values between 35-37 dB(A) caused by a steady fan murmur, which is quite tolerable. Our measurement device shows up to 57 dB(A) during the stress test. This is a situation where you definitely want to use headphones. The gaming noise is lower at 43 dB(A) on average (38 up to 50 dB(A)). You can also hear an electronic humming from time to time.

System noise idle
System noise idle
System noise load
System noise load
Speaker measurements
Speaker measurements

Noise Level

Idle
35 / 36 / 37 dB(A)
Load
43 / 57 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 31 dB(A)
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Razer Blade (2016)
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Gigabyte P34W v5
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
SCHENKER XMG P406
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Noise
8%
5%
7%
4%
5%
off / environment *
31
30
3%
29.1
6%
31
-0%
Idle Minimum *
35
31
11%
32
9%
31.6
10%
30
14%
32
9%
Idle Average *
36
33
8%
32
11%
31.6
12%
32
11%
33
8%
Idle Maximum *
37
35
5%
33.5
9%
32.5
12%
40
-8%
34
8%
Load Average *
43
39
9%
50
-16%
46.5
-8%
47
-9%
44
-2%
Load Maximum *
57
51
11%
51.5
10%
52.5
8%
51
11%
53
7%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark) shows some differences between mains and battery power for the Blade. The processor usually runs with clocks between 2.6 and 3.1 GHz on mains with occasional drops to 800 MHz, while the GPU fluctuates between 1100-1200 MHz. It is similar on battery power, but the CPU drops to 800 MHz are more common, while the GPU levels off at around 1000 MHz. The small Blade got really warm during the stress test, and we were able to measure around 50 °C (122 °F) at multiple spots. The temperatures will not be that high during gaming, but you should still avoid playing games while the system is sitting on your lap.

Stress test
Stress test
Maximum load top (Optris PI 640)
Maximum load top (Optris PI 640)
Maximum load bottom (Optris PI 640)
Maximum load bottom (Optris PI 640)
Max. Load
 53.9 °C
129 F
49.2 °C
121 F
54 °C
129 F
 
 44.3 °C
112 F
49.5 °C
121 F
47.5 °C
118 F
 
 39.2 °C
103 F
39.9 °C
104 F
38.1 °C
101 F
 
Maximum: 54 °C = 129 F
Average: 46.2 °C = 115 F
48.5 °C
119 F
49.4 °C
121 F
45.3 °C
114 F
46.2 °C
115 F
47 °C
117 F
40.5 °C
105 F
39.8 °C
104 F
40.2 °C
104 F
37.5 °C
100 F
Maximum: 49.4 °C = 121 F
Average: 43.8 °C = 111 F
Power Supply (max.)  49.6 °C = 121 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 46.2 °C / 115 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 54 °C / 129 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 49.4 °C / 121 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.3 °C / 79 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 39.9 °C / 103.8 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-11 °C / -19.8 F).
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Razer Blade (2016)
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Gigabyte P34W v5
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
SCHENKER XMG P406
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Heat
-2%
-22%
-11%
-27%
-24%
Maximum Upper Side *
54
52.7
2%
55.6
-3%
59.3
-10%
55
-2%
65.3
-21%
Maximum Bottom *
49.4
48.4
2%
62.4
-26%
56.5
-14%
58.7
-19%
64.4
-30%
Idle Upper Side *
28
29.3
-5%
33.2
-19%
27.8
1%
36.9
-32%
35.4
-26%
Idle Bottom *
26.8
28.4
-6%
37.2
-39%
31.8
-19%
41.7
-56%
31.6
-18%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2029.834.22534.541.33130.937.3402833.95025.431.16325.927.78023.831.810023.740.71252347.616023.253.620022.355.625020.954.431519.762.140019.16250019.362.963019.664.180020.370.4100019.370.1125019.269.516002067.420001969.7250018.968.7315018.964400018.764.3500018.763.3630018.864.3800018.956.71000019551250018.950.71600018.743.4SPL31.378.8N1.543.8median 19.2median 62.9Delta1.16.536.433.736.43537.133.834.834.134.634.132.532.632.433.13231.230.63129.137.428.745.928.750.527.353.426.955.226.165.425.167.927.265.825.262.724.958.124.459.423.85923.557.523.360.923.564.323.369.523.166.823.169.123.367.123.252.523.437.236.676.72.838.9median 24.9median 591.89.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseRazer Blade (2016) FHDMSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
Razer Blade (2016) FHD audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 44% of all tested devices in this class were better, 12% similar, 45% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 27% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 65% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (28.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 94% 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
» 84% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 13% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkboxes select/deselectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Razer ships the Blade with a 165-watt power adapter, which is sufficient for the power consumption. We can measure up to 146 watts during the stress test. The battery is still slightly drained under maximum load. The average should be around 70 watts (65-78 watts) during gaming. Overall, the Blade does not show any unusual results and is on par with its rivals.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.8 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 14 / 18 / 21 Watt
Load midlight 70 / 146 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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.
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Razer Blade (2016)
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG P406
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Power Consumption
13%
-9%
-5%
-7%
Idle Minimum *
14
9
36%
12.1
14%
12
14%
16
-14%
Idle Average *
18
14
22%
19
-6%
16
11%
19
-6%
Idle Maximum *
21
22
-5%
19.5
7%
22
-5%
23
-10%
Load Average *
70
72
-3%
106.7
-52%
90
-29%
68
3%
Load Maximum *
146
124
15%
159
-9%
170
-16%
157
-8%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

The 14-inch system turned out to be quite enduring. Our practical WLAN test determines a runtime of 7:07 hours–the QHD+ model had to be recharged after 4:03 hours. We use a script to simulate web browsing while the Windows power plan is set to Balanced and the brightness is adjusted to around 150 nits. A video does not run quite as long, our test resulting in 5:12 hours. We use a loop of the short movie Big Buck Bunny (H.264, 1920x1080 pixels). The wireless modules are turned off, the energy-saving features are active, and the display brightness is once again adjusted to around 150 nits.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
12h 40min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 38)
7h 07min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 12min
Load (maximum brightness)
0h 59min
Razer Blade (2016) FHD
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 70 Wh
Razer Blade (2016)
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 70 Wh
MSI GS43VR 6RE-006US
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 61 Wh
Gigabyte P34W v5
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M, 61 Wh
SCHENKER XMG P406
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M, 45 Wh
Asus Strix GL502VM-FY039T
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 64 Wh
Battery Runtime
-43%
-10%
-38%
-32%
-21%
Reader / Idle
760
577
-24%
392
-48%
275
-64%
315
-59%
H.264
312
235
-25%
WiFi v1.3
427
243
-43%
261
-39%
232
-46%
197
-54%
220
-48%
Load
59
78
32%
47
-20%
72
22%
87
47%

Pros

+ sturdy aluminum case
+ thin and nice
+ matte IPS screen
+ Full HD resolution
+ fast SSD
+ HDMI 2.0
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ very good battery runtimes
+ no PWM flickering

Cons

- fans run all the time
- keyboard lettering could be improved
- no Ethernet

Verdict

In review: Razer Blade (2016) FHD. Test model courtesy of Razer Germany.
In review: Razer Blade (2016) FHD. Test model courtesy of Razer Germany.

Razer puts a lot of performance into a thin and very appealing chassis. The system can handle all modern games, but the frame rates are a bit lower compared to larger rivals. The cooling performance is limited because of the small chassis volume, so the GPU clock suffers a bit as a result. It is never a very quiet notebook – but we did not expect that. You can still live with the idle noise though. A blazing-fast SSD ensures a responsive system. It is no problem to remove the bottom panel, and the laptop is pretty future-proof with its ports. Only a Gigabit-Ethernet port is missing, which has to realized via a USB adapter if necessary.

The Full HD Blade is the better overall package.

The biggest difference to the previously reviewed model of the Blade is the display. The wide viewing angle IPS Full HD screen manages decent luminance results and a good contrast ratio. Positive: Compared to the QHD+ display of the sibling, we cannot determine any PWM flickering on the Full HD display. The latter is also more efficient compared to the QHD+ touchscreen and manages much longer battery runtimes as a result.

Razer Blade (2016) FHD - 12/25/2016 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
93 / 98 → 95%
Keyboard
76%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
61 / 81 → 75%
Weight
64 / 10-66 → 97%
Battery
85%
Display
87%
Games Performance
91%
Application Performance
92%
Temperature
82 / 95 → 86%
Noise
58 / 90 → 64%
Audio
66%
Camera
71 / 85 → 84%
Average
78%
84%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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Sascha Mölck, 2016-12-28 (Update: 2018-05-15)