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Schenker Technologies Key 15 (Clevo P955HP6) Laptop Review

Sexy Beast. A lot of performance in a stylish and compact case: Schenker Technologies aims to achieve all that with the brand new Key 15. Find out in our test, how the 15-incher fares against its main competitor from Gigabyte, the Aero 15.

Even though with the GeForce GTX 1060 or GTX 1070 Max-Q, the Key 15 is equipped with a high-end graphics card, Schenker Technologies does not consider its 15-inch product primarily a gaming notebook, but an all-rounder laptop instead. In this price range, the competition is quite large, as our Top 10 Multimedia Laptops list shows. There is a variety of interesting 15-inchers, such as the Dell XPS 15 9560 with a GeForce GTX 1050 or the Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE with a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti whose design is similarly slim.

However, we should mention the Acer Aspire VN7-593G and Gigabyte Aero 15 GTX-1060 models as its strongest competitors. While the latter impressed us with a great overall performance in the test, since it is unavailable at times (keyword Aero 15X), many users are desperately looking for a comparable notebook. During the course of this article, we are evaluating whether the Key 15 is a real alternative.

One of the greatest highlights already shows during the ordering process. As you are familiar with from Schenker Technologies, the system can be configured extensively in the in-house configurator. While you can get a Full HD and a UHD panel as the display, there are dozens of possible combinations of SSDs and HDDs. In addition, the Key 15 has two DDR4-RAM slots, which can house up to 32 GB of working memory. The customer can also choose the wireless module, the operating system, and the keyboard language. In all cases, a Core i7-7700HQ from Intel's Kaby Lake generation serves as the processor.

Anyone who is content with the basic configuration (FHD display, GTX 1060, 8 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, no OS) can purchase the Key 15 for 1499 Euros (~$1874). Our test unit, which is equipped with a 4K panel, 2x 8 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and Windows 10 Home 64 Bit costs about 2200 Euros (~$2750), which if you take away the sharper display panel, is a similar price-performance ratio as the Gigabyte Aero 15 (currently starting from 1900 Euros, ~$2375).

SCHENKER Key 15
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 4 x 2.8 - 3.8 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1405 MHz, Memory: 8000 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 390.77, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400, 2 of 2 slots occupied, 32 GB max.
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 282 PPI, AUO22EB, IPS, UHD, 60 Hz, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175
Storage
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2, 512 GB 
, NVMe, slots: 1x M.2 Type 2280 & 1x 2.5 in
Soundcard
Realtek ALC1220 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphones, microphone, Card Reader: 6-in-1, 1 Fingerprint Reader, SIM card slot
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.6 x 380 x 255 ( = 0.73 x 14.96 x 10.04 in)
Battery
55 Wh, 3500 mAh Lithium-Ion, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: FHD
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, Keyboard: Chiclet RGB, Keyboard Light: yes, 150 W power supply, cleaning cloth, driver DVD, recovery DVD, USB stick with tools, handbook, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.18 kg ( = 76.9 oz / 4.81 pounds), Power Supply: 494 g ( = 17.43 oz / 1.09 pounds)
Price
2223 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Blemishes in the workmanship of the test unit (display frame is bulging)
Blemishes in the workmanship of the test unit (display frame is bulging)

For the case, Schenker Technologies uses a Barebone from Clevo. In contrast to the other cases of the Taiwanese hardware expert, the used P955HP6 Barebone is not a simple plastic brick, but is compelling with its stylish design and materials that appear high-quality, similar to the Gigabyte Aero 15. With the exception of a slightly wobbly lid, the stability is also convincing. Even using stronger force, the base unit hardly shows any give.

In terms of the workmanship, unfortunately our test unit had a larger blemish. As you can see in the picture on the right, the display frame was visibly bulging in one place, despite some manual attempts by the author to latch it in place. Such construction faults should not occur in such an expensive device and caused our impression of the quality to fall behind that of the Gigabyte Aero 15, which showed clean workmanship in our test. However in terms of their surfaces, both devices were affected in quickly becoming dirty and being blemished by fingerprints, due to their dark metal finish.

As for the hinges, which could have been slightly tighter for our tastes, while it is very nice that the notebook can be opened easily with one hand, the lid tends to wobble more when it is jarred, than in other notebooks.

The low weight earns it some positive points. About 2.2 kg (~4.85 lb) are very little for a gaming-capable 15-inch case and warrant easy transport. At 2.5 kg (~5.5 lb), the Acer V15 Nitro BE weighs more than 10% more. The case also earns some respect for its slim build. At 18.6 mm (~0.73 in, according to the handbook), it is even slightly slimmer than the Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE and the Gigabyte Aero 15. However, due to their slim bezel, those appear more delicate and modern. The same goes for the Dell XPS 15 with its Infinity-Edge design. However, anyone who does not mind the wide bezel will get one of the finest all-rounder notebooks on the market.

Size Comparison

391 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 22.5 mm / 0.886 inch 2.5 kg5.55 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 255 mm / 10 inch 18.6 mm / 0.732 inch 2.2 kg4.81 lbs365 mm / 14.4 inch 251 mm / 9.88 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.9 kg4.09 lbs356 mm / 14 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 2.1 kg4.7 lbs357 mm / 14.1 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 17 mm / 0.669 inch 2.1 kg4.56 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Features

Connections

The connection equipment definitely does not need to hide behind the competition. While the Key 15 has a RJ45 port, a 6-in-1 card reader, two audio ports (line-in, line-out), and one USB-3.0 port on the right side, there are two more USB-3.0 ports of Type A and two USB Type-C ports on the left side, which support 3.1-Gen2 speed, but unfortunately not Thunderbolt 3, in contrast to the Aero 15.

The package is completed by three digital display ports. External (4K) displays can either be connected via the HDMI-2.0 port or the two Mini-DisplayPorts at 60 Hz or more. Of course there is also an opening for a Kensington Lock. Note that in order to use the integrated SIM-card slot, you have to select the corresponding UMTS/LTE module during the configuration.

We would call the positioning of the connections less than perfect. Since there are many connections in the front half of the notebook, depending on the peripheral, there can be collisions when using a mouse, and the movement space can become limited in general (this affects left-handed people in particular).

Left side: Kensington Lock, DC-in, HDMI 2.0, 2x Mini-DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-C 3.1 Gen2, 2x USB-A 3.0
Left side: Kensington Lock, DC-in, HDMI 2.0, 2x Mini-DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-C 3.1 Gen2, 2x USB-A 3.0
Right side: microphone, headphones, USB-A 3.0, card reader, RJ45
Right side: microphone, headphones, USB-A 3.0, card reader, RJ45

SD Card Reader

The card reader, which handles the SD, SDHC, SDXC, Mini SD, MMC, and RSMMC formats, offers a first-class performance. Only the Dell XPS 15 9560 can beat 210 MB/s during sequential reads of our reference card. When sending photos, the Key 15 achieves first place with its 178 MB/s. The Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE and the Gigabyte Aero 15 remain below the 100-MB mark. The Acer V15 Nitro, whose card reader creeps along at USB-2.0 level speed, comes in last.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
SCHENKER Key 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
178 MB/s
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
120.5 MB/s -32%
Average of class Multimedia
  (17.6 - 205, n=61, last 2 years)
93 MB/s -48%
Gigabyte Aero 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
78 MB/s -56%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
75.2 MB/s -58%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
 
22.7 MB/s -87%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
252.6 MB/s +20%
SCHENKER Key 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
210 MB/s
Average of class Multimedia
  (16.8 - 266, n=57, last 2 years)
122.4 MB/s -42%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
94 MB/s -55%
Gigabyte Aero 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
89 MB/s -58%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
 
27.2 MB/s -87%

Communication

While a Realtek controller is responsible for the communication via RJ45-Gigabit LAN, the wireless connection is handled by a module from Intel or Rivet Networks. With the Wireless-AC 8265, our test unit has received a very popular notebook adapter, which achieves a good to very good performance. Our WiFi test, which is performed at a distance of one meter from the router, attested the Key 15 with 507 MB/s on average during sending and 677 MB/s while receiving. With this, the 15-incher remains inconspicuous among the rest of the competition. 

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Multimedia
  (285 - 1094, n=5, last 2 years)
789 MBit/s +56%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
618 MBit/s +22%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
529 MBit/s +4%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
507 MBit/s
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
453 MBit/s -11%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
346 MBit/s -32%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Multimedia
  (625 - 1675, n=5, last 2 years)
1127 MBit/s +66%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
678 MBit/s 0%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
677 MBit/s
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
648 MBit/s -4%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
630 MBit/s -7%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
541 MBit/s -20%

Software

While other manufacturers like to drown their notebooks in superfluous software, Schenker Technologies limits itself to the bare necessities. In addition to several driver programs, you only see two extra tools on the right side of the task bar. One is the Control Center, which shines with four performance modes and various detail adjustments including fan control, and the other is Flexikey, which allows you to create macros and modify the keyboard illumination.

Accessories

The manufacturer also earns some praise for the accessories which are quite abundant. At this point, a handbook, a driver DVD, and a recovery DVD cannot be taken for granted anymore. Since the Key 15 has to make do without an optical drive, Schenker also adds a USB stick as a small goody into the box. In the GTX-1060 model, a 150-Watt power supply, which weighs 0.49 kg (~1 lb) and measures about 16 x 7.5 x 2.5 cm (~6.3 x 3 x 1 in), is responsible for supplying the power.

Maintenance

The maintenance of the P955HP6 Barebone is more complex than necessary in our opinion. In order to remove the bottom plate, unfortunately it is not enough to remove the 11 screws on the bottom. In addition, you also have to remove the keyboard, which hides 5 additional screws that hold the base unit (see picture). You only get access to the hardware after completing this step. 

The inner workings remind strongly of the P950HP6 Barebone brother, which we tested in form of the Guru Fire KS. The cooling system consists of two fans for the GPU and one fan for the CPU. Furthermore, there are two RAM slots, one M.2 slot with NVMe/PCIe support, and one 2.5-inch slot which can only fit HDDs with a maximum thickness of 7 mm (~0.28 in)! As customary nowadays, the battery is screwed into the case.

Warranty

The warranty lasts 24 or 36 months (pick-up-&-return service including one check-up). If you like, you can also extend the quick-repair from half the duration of the warranty to cover the whole duration.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The input devices should satisfy most of the demands. As the keyboard, a chiclet model with a dedicated number block is used. At 15 x 15 mm (~0.59 x 0.59 in), the letter and number keys are sufficiently large (distance between keys: about 3 mm, ~0.12 in). Whether you like the comfortably large arrow keys, which are set between the main and the number block, depends on your personal preferences. Otherwise the layout conforms to a large extent to the German standard, so there are no experiences like in the MSI (single row Enter key, etc.).

Apropos MSI: while the multiple step RGB illumination, which can be separated into up to three zones, scores with a good brightness and an even illumination that facilitates evening gaming sessions, the color accuracy could be better at the bottom edge. With the white illumination, which is activated by default, some areas turn into the blue range. We often notice similar phenomena with MSI notebooks.

The typing experience itself offers hardly any reason for complaint. Even if the key strokes could be more exact and especially less noisy (the stroke is slightly undefined in our opinion), the keyboard offers a quite good typing experience. 

Single color ...
Single color ...
... or three zones
... or three zones

Touchpad

In terms of the mouse alternative, the Clevo Barebone developer decided against the current trend and built in a classical touchpad with dedicated keys. While they clattered a bit, they worked reliably. The word "reliable" is also suitable for the multi-touch support. Zooming and scrolling via two-finger gestures worked flawlessly.

The manufacturer could make some improvements in the touchpad surface. Due to the finish which appears slightly roughened, the sliding characteristics are not quite as good as in other notebooks. On the other hand, the touchpad offers a fingerprint scanner in its left top corner. The size of the touchpad is 10.8 x 6.2 cm (~4.25 x 2.44 in), which is a decent value.

Display

Whether it is the Full HD or the UHD version, the display of the Key 15 is based on the IPS technology which, although having stable viewing angles, does not react as fast as the TN models. The 30 ms black-to-white and 48 ms grey-to-grey that are achieved by our tested 4K model are very poor on paper, even though subjectively, we did not notice any streaks.

294
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
298
cd/m²
285
cd/m²
291
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
261
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO22EB tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 310 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 293.2 cd/m² Minimum: 24 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 285 cd/m²
Contrast: 1018:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.09 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.39 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
67.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.7% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.32
SCHENKER Key 15
AUO22EB, IPS, 3840x2160
Gigabyte Aero 15
N156HCA-EA1 (CMN15D7), IPS, 1920x1080
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
LG Display LP156WF6-SPP1, AH-IPS, Normally Black, Transmissive, 1920x1080
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
N156HCE-EN1 (CMN15E8), IPS, 1920x1080
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
IGZO IPS, 3840x2160
Display
-1%
-6%
-3%
30%
Display P3 Coverage
66.7
65.2
-2%
65.8
-1%
64.3
-4%
89.7
34%
sRGB Coverage
92.4
92.5
0%
85.1
-8%
90.4
-2%
100
8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
67.6
66.5
-2%
62.2
-8%
65.3
-3%
100
48%
Response Times
2%
1%
1%
-25%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
48 ?(23.6, 24.4)
42.8 ?(23.6, 19.2)
11%
41 ?(21, 20)
15%
43.2 ?(20.4, 22.8)
10%
57.2 ?(27.2, 30)
-19%
Response Time Black / White *
30 ?(16, 14)
32 ?(18.8, 13.2)
-7%
34 ?(21, 13)
-13%
32.8 ?(18, 14.8)
-9%
39.2 ?(23.6, 15.6)
-31%
PWM Frequency
26000 ?(20)
25510 ?(29)
962
Screen
-9%
-5%
-19%
2%
Brightness middle
285
320
12%
322
13%
288.2
1%
370.1
30%
Brightness
293
316
8%
297
1%
266
-9%
356
22%
Brightness Distribution
84
90
7%
86
2%
75
-11%
87
4%
Black Level *
0.28
0.36
-29%
0.31
-11%
0.3
-7%
0.37
-32%
Contrast
1018
889
-13%
1039
2%
961
-6%
1000
-2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.09
4.62
-13%
4.73
-16%
5.5
-34%
5.3
-30%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.94
9.75
-23%
12.37
-56%
11.3
-42%
9.9
-25%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.39
6
-37%
2.99
32%
7.9
-80%
4.6
-5%
Gamma
2.32 95%
2.46 89%
2.32 95%
2.09 105%
2.31 95%
CCT
6706 97%
6761 96%
6905 94%
6559 99%
6284 103%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
60
60
0%
56
-7%
58.5
-2%
88.3
47%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
92
92
0%
85
-8%
90
-2%
100
9%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-3% / -6%
-3% / -4%
-7% / -13%
2% / 4%

* ... smaller is better

More annoying to us seemed the slight to medium-strong light halos on the edge, which are often seen in the notebook segment but only become conspicuous in specific conditions (very even or dark image).

In the remaining categories, the UHD monitor strikes a great figure. An average brightness of 293 cd/m² as well as a contrast of around 1000:1 (black value: 0.28 cd/m²) should be sufficient for most buyers. 

CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Schenker Key 15 vs. sRGB (92%)
Schenker Key 15 vs. sRGB (92%)
Schenker Key 15 vs. AdobeRGB (60%)
Schenker Key 15 vs. AdobeRGB (60%)

While the color accuracy is not unusual either, we recommend calibration to professional users. We were able to lower the existing deviations to a Delta-E value of 1 (Grayscales) and 3 (ColorChecker) using our equipment (the ICC file is linked above).

The 4K panel is able to cover a good 92% of the sRGB color space and still 60% of AdobeRGB. While this is clearly less than in the UHD model of the XMG Pro 17 (87% AdobeRGB), everyday life applications such as videos or games are displayed adequately.

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Outdoor use (cloudy sky)
Outdoor use (cloudy sky)
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

We should rather talk about the resolution. Due to the high computing requirements, 3840x2160 pixels are the limits for a GeForce GTX 1060 or GTX 1070 Max-Q, as we will also see later in the gaming benchmarks. It is therefore too bad that there is currently no WQHD option in the configurator, since 2560x1440 pixels would be the perfect solution in between.

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
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 77 % 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
48 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 23.6 ms rise
↘ 24.4 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 80 % 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.

Performance

Regardless of the selected graphics card, we would count the Key 15 into the high-end range. Thus you could not only call it a multimedia, but also a gaming notebook, despite the lacking G-Sync support. Thanks to the Kaby Lake CPU and the Pascal GPU, it offers an appealing performance in both usage areas. Correspondingly, you should configure the Key 15 with at least 16 GB of RAM and a Solid State Drive for the operating system.

 

Processor

Even if the Key 15 would already run well and be an attractive all around package with an energy efficient CPU (such as the Core i7-8550U), the manufacturer wanted to make sure and equipped the 15-incher with a "full" notebook chip with 45 instead of 15 watts TDP. The Core i7-7700HQ is one of the most successful 14 nm models from Intel, which runs at up to 3.8 GHz under load.

Singlecore rendering
Singlecore rendering
Multicore rendering
Multicore rendering
GPU load
GPU load

We tested with Cinebench R15, whether the automatic Turbo can really take effect fully. While the first result was still at the expected level, the performance drops slightly starting with the second run. Instead of 3.4 GHz, which is what Intel specifies for the full load of all the cores, the Key 15 then only reaches 3.2 GHz. At an average of 3.6 GHz in the single-core load, the Kaby Lake CPU does not quite achieve its Turbo maximum either.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540550560570580590600610620630640650660670680690700710720730740Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.8 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
8.18 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
157 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
734 Points
Help

However, since we only speak about a 200 MHz difference to other 7700HQ notebooks, the difference is only minimally - if at all - noticeable in practice.  In the benchmarks the Key 15 ran through without any prior load, the speed was similar to that of the competitors.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (142.6 - 308, n=95, last 2 years)
249 Points +59%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +3%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
157 Points 0%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
157 Points
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  (120 - 162, n=110)
155.4 Points -1%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
153 Points -3%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
152 Points -3%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (580 - 4703, n=102, last 2 years)
2279 Points +210%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
742 Points +1%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
736 Points 0%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
735 Points 0%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
734 Points
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  (603 - 747, n=111)
727 Points -1%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
673 (660min - 673max) Points -8%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (2.6 - 3.21, n=3, last 2 years)
2.85 Points +58%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.84 Points +2%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.83 Points +2%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.8 Points
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.78 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  (1.36 - 1.84, n=80)
1.766 Points -2%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (19 - 31.6, n=3, last 2 years)
24 Points +193%
Gigabyte Aero 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.23 Points +1%
SCHENKER Key 15
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.18 Points
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.14 Points 0%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.1 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ
  (6.67 - 8.23, n=81)
8 Points -2%

System Performance

When using an SSD, the system performance is up to the current standards. Windows boots up very fast, and programs most often react extremely fast (except for certain latency problems, which the XMG Pro 17 also had). Despite having a stronger GPU, our tested configuration comes in just behind the Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE in PCMark 10. However, we should take the PCMark scores with some grain of salt, since they are not always comprehensible in our experience (especially in PCMark 8).

PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4039 - 8670, n=81, last 2 years)
6551 Points +46%
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (3904 - 5134, n=14)
4639 Points +3%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4552 Points +1%
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4493 Points
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Multimedia
  (4484 - 5525, n=9, last 2 years)
5075 Points +45%
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
4248 Points +21%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4184 Points +20%
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (3038 - 5085, n=29)
4138 Points +18%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
3588 Points +3%
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
3499 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
5290 Points +22%
Average of class Multimedia
  (3115 - 6078, n=9, last 2 years)
5278 Points +22%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
5141 Points +19%
Average Intel Core i7-7700HQ, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (2722 - 5447, n=27)
4877 Points +13%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
4422 Points +2%
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
4328 Points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3499 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4328 points
PCMark 10 Score
4493 points
Help

Storage Solution

Schenker does not make any compromises in the storage solution. Our test unit is driven by one of the fastest PCIe models that is currently available. The 512 GB version of the Samsung 960 Pro wipes the floor with almost all the competitors. To give an an example, in the AS-SSD benchmark, the LiteON drive of the Dell XPS 15 9560 is almost 30% behind. Even the in-house Samsung PM961 has difficulties in the direct comparison. Of course, anyone who would like to save a little money can also equip the M.2 slot with a more affordable SATA-III SSD, which is sufficient for most purposes. For large amounts of data, an additional HDD for the 2.5-inch slot also makes sense.

SCHENKER Key 15
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
Gigabyte Aero 15
Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LM035
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
Average Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
 
AS SSD
-12%
-28%
-5%
Seq Read
2315
2208
-5%
2026
-12%
2551 ?(2154 - 2956, n=10)
10%
Seq Write
1847
1475
-20%
1207
-35%
1918 ?(1823 - 2046, n=10)
4%
4K Read
53.3
51
-4%
41.34
-22%
45.1 ?(26.1 - 53.3, n=10)
-15%
4K Write
175.8
112.8
-36%
112.2
-36%
136.4 ?(43.1 - 182, n=10)
-22%
Score Read
1508
1541
2%
1206
-20%
1460 ?(1066 - 1533, n=10)
-3%
Score Write
1687
1421
-16%
1022
-39%
1639 ?(1267 - 1705, n=10)
-3%
Score Total
3952
3721
-6%
2810
-29%
3820 ?(3241 - 4001, n=10)
-3%
Samsung SSD 960 Pro 512 GB m.2
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3447 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 2015 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 571 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 476.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2726 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1967 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 57.2 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 200.2 MB/s

Graphics Card

Besides the display, the graphics card also has a strong influence on the overall experience which should not be underestimated (power consumption, emissions, battery life, etc.). Even though the GeForce GTX 1060 offers less performance, the Key 15 should not only be cooler, but also quieter with the GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, since the Max-Q models were trimmed for efficiency. However, the premium of more than 300 Euros (~$375) is hard to swallow, in particular since the GTX 1070 Max-Q is not always a match to its standard version.

3DMark
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (622 - 17620, n=86, last 2 years)
5146 Points +39%
SCHENKER Key 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
3695 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (3396 - 3790, n=20)
3601 Points -3%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
3584 Points -3%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
2207 Points -40%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (1835 - 46022, n=86, last 2 years)
13601 Points +19%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (10708 - 12298, n=77)
11547 Points +1%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11494 Points +1%
SCHENKER Key 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11433 Points
Gigabyte Aero 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
11173 Points -2%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
7457 Points -35%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
6074 Points -47%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Multimedia
  (3408 - 60250, n=86, last 2 years)
18365 Points +25%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14942 Points +1%
SCHENKER Key 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14750 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (12620 - 15607, n=77)
14692 Points 0%
Gigabyte Aero 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
14265 Points -3%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
9240 Points -37%

Our test unit is "only" equipped with the GTX 1060. This DirectX-12 model from Nvidia's Pascal series has 6 GB of GDDR5-VRAM and is able to dynamically over-clock comparable to the Intel CPUs. The range is between the standard of 1405 MHz up to 1900 MHz. In the test with the Unigine-Heaven-4.0 benchmark, the core ran at about 1600 MHz, which is a typical value for the GTX 1060.

In the GPU benchmarks, the Key 15 showed the weaker multimedia companions how it can be done. For example, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti of the Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE is surpassed by more than 50%, and the advantage to the GTX 1050 of the Dell XPS 15 9560 is even almost 90%.

3DMark 11 Performance
12633 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
25268 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
9744 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
3748 points
Help

Unfortunately, the Key 15 is confronted with another problem during higher 3D loads. Our Witcher-3 test (60 minutes @ FHD/Ultra) lead to the CPU Turbo being completely deactivated. Even though 2.8 GHz are sufficient for continuing smooth game play, due to the lacking Turbo, the frame rates drop slightly in games that are demanding on the CPU such as "Final Fantasy XV." The situation was even worse in the P950HP6 Barebone brother, whose CPU tended to throttle to 1.6 GHz under load. Clevo should make some improvements here.

01234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra

Gaming Performance

If you are able to make do with 1920x1080 pixels, the GeForce GTX 1060 most often has enough reserves for high to maximum settings. For example, "Wolfenstein II" and "Fortnite" even still run smoothly in the Extreme or Epic preset. Things only become tighter in extremely demanding games.

The Witcher 3
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Multimedia
  (8 - 143.2, n=94, last 2 years)
50 fps +24%
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
40.2 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (24 - 42.3, n=60)
38.6 fps -4%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
38.3 fps -5%
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
37.7 fps -6%
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
24 fps -40%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
19.8 fps -51%
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Average of class Multimedia
  (11.2 - 290, n=89, last 2 years)
90.1 fps +22%
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
73.9 fps
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
68.2 fps -8%
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
68 fps -8%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
  (52.6 - 80.6, n=49)
68 fps -8%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
38.2 fps -48%

The GTX 1060 is hardly suited for the 4K realm. At 3840x2160 pixels, all the tested games stuttered strongly. Even a reduction to medium details did not always ensure a decent frame rate. Correspondingly, the user often has no choice but to make do with a lower resolution.

Passionate gamers need at least a GTX 1080 (Max-Q) for UHD displays. Since besides the performance, the power consumption and battery life also suffer from the high amount of pixels, gaming fans are better served with the Full HD version of the Key 15.

low med. high ultra4K
The Witcher 3 (2015) 73.9 40.2 26.1
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017) 78 72.2 27.1
Fortnite (2018) 99.6 77.5 22.7
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 37.2 16.4
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 60.3 43.9 13.9

Emissions

Noise Emmissions

To say it gently, the Clevo Barebones often show a curious fan behavior. The P955HP6 is no exception here. Although the tested configuration is either completely silent or very quiet at 31–32 dB in idle mode (with many notebooks having a more pleasant frequency though), smaller tasks such as Windows Updates, the opening of the web browser or playing of videos quickly tempt the CPU fan to rev up by an unnecessary amount. We recently complained about the same thing in the XMG Pro 17. Since the system revs up towards a very loud 40 dB even during the booting process from time to time, the 15-incher is not well-suited for quieter surroundings (libraries, etc.).

Noise level, idle
Noise level, idle
Noise level, load
Noise level, load
Sound level, speaker
Sound level, speaker

While the two GPU fans tend to only become noticeable during load, they then run with a very noticeable and at times even annoyingly loud level of 47 dB (3DMark 06) to 54 dB (stress test). An average of 49 dB during actual gaming sessions are also no piece of pie. So noise sensitive users should grab a headset or rather even look for an alternative. Other GTX-1060 notebooks such as the Gigabyte Aero 15 and the Acer V15 Nitro are considerably quieter in 3D mode. Overall, the fan settings need more than a small improvement. If Clevo does not correct this with a BIOS update, the buyers may have to manually adjust this (Control Center).

Noise Level

Idle
31 / 32 / 39 dB(A)
Load
47 / 54 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: 29 dB(A)
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Noise
5%
8%
8%
6%
off / environment *
29
31
-7%
30.4
-5%
28.3
2%
28.4
2%
Idle Minimum *
31
32
-3%
30.9
-0%
30.4
2%
29
6%
Idle Average *
32
33
-3%
30.9
3%
31
3%
29
9%
Idle Maximum *
39
34
13%
31.5
19%
31.2
20%
32.2
17%
Load Average *
47
39
17%
40.7
13%
43.3
8%
47.1
-0%
Witcher 3 ultra *
49
43
12%
45.5
7%
46.2
6%
52
-6%
Load Maximum *
54
50
7%
43.9
19%
46.2
14%
47.1
13%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

In contrast to the noise development, the case temperatures are not above average. After two hours of idling, we only measured 21 - 24 °C (70 - 75 °F) on the top and bottom of the Key 15. Those values are pleasantly low. In the gaming test with "The Witcher 3," the surfaces did not become too hot either at 25 - 45 °C (75 - 113 °F). They only become hot in the full-load scenarios that lack practical relevance. Here the back third of the case heats up to 55 °C (131 °F) on top and 56 °C (133 °F) on the bottom. The palm rest always remains within a comfortably cool range.

Stress test
Stress test
Full load, top (Optris PI 640)
Full load, top (Optris PI 640)
Full load, bottom (Optris PI 640)
Full load, bottom (Optris PI 640)

Under the hood, the situation is less rosy. While the GeForce GTX 1060 reaches only 75 °C (176 °F) in the stress test with the Furmark and Prime95 tools (throttling to about 1230 MHz), the CPU scrapes at the temperature limit of 100 °C (212 °F) despite the Turbo being deactivated. It looks as if the cooling system is a bit too weak for the Core i7-7700HQ.

Max. Load
 55 °C
131 F
46 °C
115 F
43 °C
109 F
 
 50 °C
122 F
45 °C
113 F
38 °C
100 F
 
 35 °C
95 F
35 °C
95 F
28 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 55 °C = 131 F
Average: 41.7 °C = 107 F
47 °C
117 F
48 °C
118 F
56 °C
133 F
36 °C
97 F
46 °C
115 F
54 °C
129 F
32 °C
90 F
40 °C
104 F
40 °C
104 F
Maximum: 56 °C = 133 F
Average: 44.3 °C = 112 F
Power Supply (max.)  51 °C = 124 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 41.7 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 55 °C / 131 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 56 °C / 133 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22 °C / 72 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (35 °C / 95 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-6.2 °C / -11.2 F).
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Heat
-5%
-10%
4%
4%
Maximum Upper Side *
55
56
-2%
51.9
6%
43.2
21%
48.8
11%
Maximum Bottom *
56
61
-9%
54.6
2%
49.8
11%
42.6
24%
Idle Upper Side *
23
25
-9%
29.1
-27%
24.8
-8%
26
-13%
Idle Bottom *
24
24
-0%
29.3
-22%
26
-8%
25.4
-6%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The speakers did not knock our socks off either. Even with the Sound-Blaster technology turned on, the audio contents sound relatively bland, unbalanced, and tinny. In addition, the maximum volume is low, and there is hardly any bass. Although the Aero 15 has no sub-woofer either, movies, games, and music sounds much better in parts on the device from Gigabyte. If possible, you should therefore listen to the Key 15 with headphones or external speakers. A manual sound tuning might possibly also be worthwhile. The various menus of the audio software are depicted below.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.939.72537.637.43129.229.34033.935.95036.332.46328.127.78027.430.310028.429.312524.72816024.228.120024.532.5250253631520.540.740018.946.850018.150.263018.955.280017.160.3100016.865.3125016.462.9160016.961.220001761.9250017.559.5315017.656.3400017.454.3500017.551.5630017.553.7800017.453.21000018.151.71250018.348.11600017.344.7SPL29.971.3N1.425.2median 17.6median 51.7Delta1.710.540.245.238.242.533.735.740.640.8314232.939.729.931.826.935.825.332.423.935.423.544.525.149.925.354.821.558.820.361.620.165.918.865.518.865.418.667.518.566.318.56618.467.918.570.418.465.818.264.418.36418.268.618.769.718.671.417.964.331.379.11.644.5median 18.7median 65.41.77.5hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSCHENKER Key 15Gigabyte Aero 15
SCHENKER Key 15 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (29.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 94% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 3% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 86% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Gigabyte Aero 15 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 49% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 34% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 58% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (checkboxes selectable!)

Power Management

Power Consumption

Thanks to the Optimus technology, the Key 15 is able to switch between the Nvidia GPU and the graphics chip of the processor at a whim, which minimizes the power needs. 7 - 18 watts during idle mode are very little for a gaming-capable multimedia notebook, although the consumption jumps higher at times without a discernible reason. Nonetheless, the Gigabyte Aero 15 uses more power during idle, even if it only has a Full HD instead of a 4K panel. There is hardly any difference between the two GTX-1060 laptops under load. 82 - 154 watts (111 watts during "The Witcher 3") are okay for the offered frame rates, even though the 150 W power supply reaches its limits here.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.2 / 0.8 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7 / 10 / 18 Watt
Load midlight 82 / 154 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.
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Power Consumption
-23%
-2%
22%
-21%
Idle Minimum *
7
12
-71%
7.2
-3%
6.3
10%
11.9
-70%
Idle Average *
10
15
-50%
10.5
-5%
7.9
21%
17.1
-71%
Idle Maximum *
18
20
-11%
16
11%
8.1
55%
17.3
4%
Load Average *
82
82
-0%
82
-0%
84.9
-4%
94.7
-15%
Witcher 3 ultra *
111
111
-0%
124
-12%
96.3
13%
104.8
6%
Load Maximum *
154
161
-5%
155
-1%
102.4
34%
122
21%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Since with its low weight and compact measurements, the Key 15 screams mobility, we had hoped for a good battery life beforehand. Unfortunately, our test configuration with the GTX 1060 and 4K panel can only rarely deliver this. Even though the 15-incher manages up to 8 hours in the Readers test of Battery Eater (minimal brightness), barely 3.5 hours of playing video and 4 hours of surfing the Internet via WLAN in medium brightness are poor in view of the graphics switching. The reason for this poor outcome is quickly found. While the competitors are trying to capture customers with 69 - 97 Wh batteries, Clevo only uses a 55 Wh model in the P955HP6 case, which is too little for the price and the "all-rounder" concept.

Gaming without a power supply also brings only limited joy. On one hand, it is finished after 75 minutes at most in 3D operation (maximum brightness), and on the other hand there are fluctuations in the CPU and GPU clock speed, as in many notebooks. For example, in "The Witcher 3" (1920x1080, Ultra), the frame rate dropped from about 40 FPS to 15–30 FPS.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
8h 01min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 00min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
3h 36min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 15min
SCHENKER Key 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 55 Wh
Gigabyte Aero 15
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 94.24 Wh
Acer Aspire VN7-593G-73HP V15 Nitro BE
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 69 Wh
Asus Zenbook Pro UX550VE-DB71T
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 73 Wh
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 97 Wh
Average of class Multimedia
 
Battery Runtime
68%
48%
76%
64%
118%
Reader / Idle
481
638
33%
501
4%
1023
113%
831
73%
933 ?(506 - 1571, n=25, last 2 years)
94%
H.264
216
464
115%
680 ?(319 - 1481, n=49, last 2 years)
215%
WiFi v1.3
240
422
76%
357
49%
532
122%
434
81%
560 ?(262 - 1204, n=92, last 2 years)
133%
Load
75
112
49%
144
92%
70
-7%
103
37%
96.9 ?(39 - 215, n=73, last 2 years)
29%

Verdict

Pros

+ comfortably cool palm rest
+ individual configurations
+ high-contrast 4K panel
+ slim metal case
+ RGB illumination
+ low weight
+ no bloatware

Cons

- mediocre fan control (revving up during idle, high volume during load)
- CPU Turbo deactivates itself during demanding 3D applications
- battery could be more powerful
- disappointing sound
- imperfections in the workmanship
- no Thunderbolt 3
Schenker Key 15, test unit provided by Schenker Technologies
Schenker Key 15, test unit provided by Schenker Technologies

Multimedia notebooks are a dime a dozen. However, if it should be a stylish and slim metal case with a decent performance, countless products drop out. The Key 15 by Schenker Technologies, on the other hand, fulfills all the criteria and advances to be a successful all-rounder.

On the positive side, there is mainly the low weight, which makes transport very comfortable. Just from looking at the 15-incher, you would hardly expect the powerful hardware. But the system could also go as a high-end notebook. You can rarely find so much performance in so little space. Most of the buyers should be pleased with the connections, input devices, and display. 

However, the Key 15 has a hard time to keep up against the multimedia elite. In particular the Aero 15, which is also available with the GTX 1060 and GTX 1070 Max-Q, runs ahead of the Schenker Notebook on several occasions. Not only is the Gigabyte competitor quieter, but it also scores with a better sound, a more stable CPU speed, and - by leaving out the 2.5-inch slot - with a significantly larger battery. For some users, the Thunderbolt-3 port might also be an argument for the Aero 15.

SCHENKER Key 15 - 06/14/2018 v6(old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
67 / 81 → 83%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 89%
Battery
73%
Display
87%
Games Performance
93 / 85 → 100%
Application Performance
88 / 92 → 96%
Temperature
84%
Noise
66 / 95 → 69%
Audio
50%
Average
76%
83%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Schenker Technologies Key 15 (Clevo P955HP6) Laptop Review
Florian Glaser, 2018-02-17 (Update: 2019-03-25)