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Schenker XMG A707 (Clevo N871EK1) Laptop Review

A good compromise. The Schenker XMG A707 is designed to attract both gamers and multimedia lovers. To this end, the manufacturer has equipped the more expensive version of the laptop with a Core i7-8750H and a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. Does the 17-inch device stand a chance against competition from Acer and Asus?
Schenker XMG A707

One of the Schenker laptop's strengths is the fact that its configuration can be freely customized. On the mysn.de homepage, the customization options available for the XMG A707 are quite comprehensive. Starting with the display, the user can choose between IPS technology (60 Hz) or TN technology (120 Hz). Both screens have a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Two options are listed for both the CPU and the GPU. Schenker Technologies gives the buyer a choice between the quad-core Core i5-8300H and the hexa-core Core i7-8750H—the latter of which is almost too powerful for either integrated graphics chip. Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti Pascal models are (upper) mid-range GPUs.

A considerably wider range of options is available in terms of RAM and storage solution. Up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, an M.2 SSD (PCIe or SATA III) and a 2.5-inch hard drive are tucked under the hood of the XMG A707. Schenker has also tailored the wireless module, keyboard language and operating system according to the customer's preference.

SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Processor
Intel Core i7-8750H 6 x 2.2 - 4.1 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1493 MHz, Memory: 3500 MHz, GDDR5, ForceWare 397.93, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2666, dual-channel, all slots occupied, max. 32 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), IPS, Full HD, 60 Hz, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB, 250 GB 
, NVMe + Seagate BarraCuda ST1000LM048, 1 TB HDD, 5400 rpm. Slots: 1x M.2 Type 2280 & 1x 2.5 inches
Soundcard
Realtek ALC269 @ Intel Cannon Lake PCH
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1x headphone, 1x microphone, Card Reader: 6-in-1, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless-AC 9260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 27 x 419 x 289 ( = 1.06 x 16.5 x 11.38 in)
Battery
62 Wh, 5300 mAh Lithium-Ion, removeable, 332 g
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: Full HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, Keyboard: chiclet RGB, Keyboard Light: yes, 150-watt power supply, key ring, cleaning cloth, sticker, recovery DVD, driver DVD, warranty card, quick start guide, USB stick with software, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.886 kg ( = 101.8 oz / 6.36 pounds), Power Supply: 484 g ( = 17.07 oz / 1.07 pounds)
Price
1449 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

The device's pricing starts at 999 Euros (~$1175). Our configuration with a Core i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, SSD-HDD combo (256 GB + 1 TB) and Windows 10 Home 64 Bit currently costs over 1400 Euros (~$1640). Some quite similar configurations are available at lower prices in popular online stores (see our price comparison at the end of this review).

Schenker XMG A707
Schenker XMG A707
Schenker XMG A707
Schenker XMG A707

The XMG A707's competition consists of other 17-inch gaming laptops with Coffee Lake CPUs and Pascal GPUs that cost less than 1500 Euros (~$1750), including the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the Asus ROG Strix GL703GE.

The Clevo N871EK1 Barebone houses the Schenker laptop's components. With the exception of the modernized USB ports (now 2x 3.1 Gen2), this case is identical to its predecessor model, the N870HK1, which we reviewed in 2017. As a result, we will not cover the case, connectivity or input devices at length in this article. Please see our review of the Nexoc G739 for more information on these subjects.

Size Comparison

432 mm / 17 inch 290 mm / 11.4 inch 29 mm / 1.142 inch 2.9 kg6.42 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 289 mm / 11.4 inch 27 mm / 1.063 inch 2.9 kg6.36 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 289 mm / 11.4 inch 27 mm / 1.063 inch 2.9 kg6.32 lbs415 mm / 16.3 inch 280 mm / 11 inch 23.9 mm / 0.941 inch 2.7 kg6 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Gaming
  (19 - 202, n=104, last 2 years)
98.2 MB/s +29%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
80.1 MB/s +5%
Nexoc G739
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
78 MB/s +3%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76 MB/s 0%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Gaming
  (26 - 269, n=95, last 2 years)
122.3 MB/s +46%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.3 MB/s +4%
Nexoc G739
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87 MB/s +4%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
86 MB/s +2%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
84 MB/s
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (450 - 1412, n=14, last 2 years)
1006 MBit/s +50%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
670 MBit/s
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
640 MBit/s -4%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S CNVi: WiFi
614 MBit/s -8%
Nexoc G739
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
388 MBit/s -42%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (423 - 1700, n=14, last 2 years)
1203 MBit/s +74%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
693 MBit/s
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
692 MBit/s 0%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S CNVi: WiFi
670 MBit/s -3%
Nexoc G739
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
443 MBit/s -36%

Display - Bright and high-contrast

Those who want to be able to view the screen from any angle should select the 60 Hz panel. Thanks to its IPS technology, the image remains stable even at relatively oblique angles. The 120 Hz TN display lacks this viewing angle stability. A disadvantage of the IPS screen is its mediocre reaction time. While Schenker advertises the 120 Hz option as having a reaction time of 3 ms, we measured the 60 Hz display's reaction time at 23 ms (black to white) and 39 ms (gray to gray). Fortunately, we did not see any striation (streaking).

359
cd/m²
359
cd/m²
344
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
362
cd/m²
348
cd/m²
334
cd/m²
350
cd/m²
331
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 362 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 349.8 cd/m² Minimum: 21 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 362 cd/m²
Contrast: 1248:1 (Black: 0.29 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.06 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.13
ΔE Greyscale 7.22 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
84% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
55% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
84.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.1% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.51
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), IPS, 1920x1080
Nexoc G739
CMN1738, IPS, 1920x1080
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), IPS, 1920x1080
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Chi Mei CMN1747, TN, 1920x1080
Display
6%
2%
30%
Display P3 Coverage
66.1
66.7
1%
67.1
2%
90.1
36%
sRGB Coverage
84.4
91
8%
86.1
2%
99.8
18%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
61.7
66.4
8%
63
2%
83.1
35%
Response Times
-45%
5%
18%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39.2 ?(20.4, 18.8)
45 ?(20, 25)
-15%
36 ?(18.8, 17.2)
8%
11.6 ?(6, 5.6)
70%
Response Time Black / White *
23.2 ?(10.8, 12.4)
28 ?(7, 21)
-21%
22 ?(10.4, 11.6)
5%
8.8 ?(6, 2.8)
62%
PWM Frequency
119000 ?(90)
450 ?(90)
-100%
122000 ?(95)
3%
26040 ?(25)
-78%
Screen
12%
-3%
15%
Brightness middle
362
312
-14%
365
1%
331.1
-9%
Brightness
350
304
-13%
341
-3%
312
-11%
Brightness Distribution
91
85
-7%
89
-2%
86
-5%
Black Level *
0.29
0.23
21%
0.32
-10%
0.31
-7%
Contrast
1248
1357
9%
1141
-9%
1068
-14%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.06
4.19
31%
6.51
-7%
2.86
53%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
11.6
8.7
25%
12.32
-6%
6.35
45%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.13
2.9
7%
2.66
15%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
7.22
3.72
48%
7.65
-6%
4.3
40%
Gamma
2.51 88%
2.29 96%
2.64 83%
2.268 97%
CCT
7659 85%
7104 91%
8066 81%
7034 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
55
59
7%
56
2%
75
36%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
84
91
8%
86
2%
100
19%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-9% / -0%
1% / -1%
21% / 18%

* ... smaller is better

For the most part, the rest of the IPS panel's results were good to very good. Both the brightness (~350 cd/m²) and the contrast (~1250:1) are attractive features. The color space coverage is also reasonably good for a multimedia/gaming laptop. 84% sRGB and 55% Adobe RGB is more or less on par with the Acer Predator Helios 300's results - understandably, given that it has the same monitor (LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF5). Professionals are better off with the Asus GL703GE, which covers 100% of the sRGB color space.

CalMAN: grayscale
CalMAN: grayscale
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: color saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)

In terms of color accuracy, the panel has room for improvement. In factory default, the display image has a faint blue cast - though it can be eliminated by calibration (see the link to our ICC file above).

Schenker XMG A707 vs. sRGB (84%)
Schenker XMG A707 vs. sRGB (84%)
subpixels
subpixels
Schenker XMG A707 vs. AdobeRGB (5%)
Schenker XMG A707 vs. AdobeRGB (5%)

The panel's brightness distribution proves to be another minor drawback. Like many other laptops, our test device exhibits halation along the edges of the screen. Fortunately, here the halation is contained to a very narrow area and the effect is fairly subtle.

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
23.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 10.8 ms rise
↘ 12.4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
39.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20.4 ms rise
↘ 18.8 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. » 54 % 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 detected 119000 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 119000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 119000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

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 - Entry-level gaming

After the Coffee Lake upgrade, the Barebone manufacturer Clevo has made some changes to the Control Center, i.e. the laptop's central security and tuning software. The center controls the keyboard backlighting, among other things. Importantly, the fan control can be set manually. We used the Auto fan setting in our tests.

Unfortunately, the new Control Center currently has a serious bug that is affecting not only the XMG A707, but also the XMG A517, the Key 15, and all the other Clevo Barebones with this software. If the user does not kill the program via the task manager, the GPU throttles when running some 3D applications and games (“The Witcher 3” is a prominent case). According to Schenker, the problem should be solved soon through a BIOS update. We will probably re-test when possible. Until that point, each device affected loses 1% in our ratings.

Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
Control Center
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
HWiNFO
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
latencies
 

Processor

Although the Core i7-8750H often achieves significantly higher scores than the Core i5-8300H in our benchmark tests (+38% @Cinebench R15), considering the laptop's limited graphics performance, we would more likely recommend the less expensive Coffee Lake model.

single-core rendering
single-core rendering
multi-core rendering
multi-core rendering
GPU load
GPU load

At this point, gaming performance hardly benefits from more than four cores and is almost always limited by the GPU. As a result, the Core i7-8750H will only be worth the investment for a small number of buyers - especially given that the XMG A707's cooling system is pushed to its limits by the hexa-core processor.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=247, last 2 years)
265 Points +52%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Core i5-8300H
173 Points -1%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Core i7-8750H
163 Points -6%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points -7%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=248, last 2 years)
2986 Points +169%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Core i7-8750H
1112 Points
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Core i7-8750H
1020 Points -8%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Core i5-8300H
807 Points -27%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
743 Points -33%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (2.62 - 3.73, n=23, last 2 years)
3.21 Points +61%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Core i7-8750H
1.99 Points
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Core i5-8300H
1.96 Points -2%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Core i7-8750H
1.92 Points -4%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points -9%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (19.7 - 64.3, n=24, last 2 years)
35.7 Points +193%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Intel Core i7-8750H
12.2 Points
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Intel Core i7-8750H
11.15 Points -9%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Intel Core i5-8300H
8.79 Points -28%
Nexoc G739
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.15 Points -33%

The latter was very clearly visible in our Cinebench loop test. Starting with the second cycle, the performance fell by around 10%. This is because the CPU cannot maintain its theoretical maximum multi-core turbo speed of 3.9 GHz. To be fair, we have observed a similar phenomenon in our tests of numerous Coffee Lake devices.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.99 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
12.2 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
174 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1112 Points
Help

System Performance

With its SSD, the XMG A707's system performance can be described as excellent. In both PCMark 8 and PCMark 10, the 17-inch laptop performs in no way inferior to the competition—quite the opposite, in fact. Without its solid state drive, the Windows OS would run significantly slower when launching or installing programs, loading content or booting. As a result, we strongly recommend upgrading from the base configuration here.

PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=208, last 2 years)
7531 Points +59%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB
4734 Points
Asus GL703GE-ES73
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
4532 Points -4%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (3570 - 6657, n=37, last 2 years)
5218 Points +24%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4270 Points +2%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H, Hynix HFS128G39TND
4253 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB
4196 Points
Asus GL703GE-ES73
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
4148 Points -1%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=36, last 2 years)
6071 Points +13%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB
5389 Points
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H, Hynix HFS128G39TND
5347 Points -1%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
5288 Points -2%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5243 Points -3%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4196 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5389 points
PCMark 10 Score
4734 points
Help

Storage Solution

Schenker has equipped our test device with a 256 GB SSD and 1 TB HDD combo. While the solid-state disk is manufactured by Samsung (970 EVO), the hard drive is a Seagate product (ST1000LM048).

SSD
SSD
SSD
SSD
HDD
HDD
HDD
HDD

The former truly impressed us with its excellent read and write speeds. No wonder, given that the 970 EVO is one of the newest and most powerful PCIe/NVMe models in M.2 format. The relatively small 128 GB SSDs at work in the Acer Predator Helios 300 (Hynix) and the Asus ROG Strix GL703GE (Kingston) cannot hold a candle to our test device's SSD, even if we put the difference in capacity aside. The HDD's performance is unspectacular and typical of a 2.5-inch 5400 RPM drive.

SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB
Nexoc G739
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Hynix HFS128G39TND
Asus GL703GE-ES73
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3128GJ
AS SSD
-3%
-70%
-71%
Seq Read
2589
2628
2%
513
-80%
993
-62%
Seq Write
1449
1164
-20%
128.2
-91%
212.8
-85%
4K Read
52.8
47.68
-10%
26.5
-50%
18.93
-64%
4K Write
112.3
148.5
32%
62.7
-44%
59.1
-47%
Score Read
1153
1619
40%
414
-64%
311
-73%
Score Write
1592
651
-59%
196
-88%
196
-88%
Score Total
3291
3031
-8%
811
-75%
634
-81%
Samsung SSD 970 EVO 250GB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3554 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1533 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 353.6 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 269.6 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1307 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1420 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 41.04 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 100.7 MB/s

Graphics Card

As mentioned at the outset, buyers have to choose between a GeForce GTX 1050 and a GTX 1050 Ti. Unlike the hexa-core CPU, which will only be advantageous to a small number of users in specific circumstances, the GPU upgrade is certainly worth considering. Despite the fact that the amount of VRAM is identical (4 GB GDDR5), the GTX 1050 Ti is noticeably faster in almost every game and 3D application.

3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=250, last 2 years)
28955 Points +276%
Nexoc G739
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
8027 Points +4%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
7953 Points +3%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
7695 Points
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
7610 Points -1%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=246, last 2 years)
39499 Points +323%
Nexoc G739
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
10008 Points +7%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
9332 Points
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
9147 Points -2%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
9128 Points -2%

Need an example? In the 3DMark 13 Fire Strike Test, the stronger GPU came in 30% ahead (+25% @3DMark 11).

3DMark 11 Performance
9585 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
27238 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
6956 points
Help

To determine whether the XMG A707 can maintain its performance over a longer period, as usual, we ran the RPG game “The Witcher 3” (FHD/Ultra) for around 60 minutes. The result: The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti achieves very consistent frame rates. Like the Intel CPU, the Nvidia GPU overclocks automatically. In 3D-mode, the chip surpasses its base clock speed by a substantial margin. Instead of 1493 MHz, in “The Witcher 3” we recorded a speed of 1700 MHz.

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The Witcher 3 ultra

Gaming Performance

The GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is usually fast enough to play current games in the laptop's native Full HD resolution at high settings; occasionally it is even possible to play at maximum details. Only games with extremely high performance demands, ex. “The Division” or “Watch Dogs 2”, come to an average frame rate of under 40 FPS.

The Witcher 3
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=245, last 2 years)
114 fps +362%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
27.6 fps +12%
Asus GL703GE-ES73
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H
26 fps +5%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H
26 fps +5%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H
24.7 fps
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Average of class Gaming
  (17.5 - 449, n=177, last 2 years)
213 fps +378%
Nexoc G739
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
50.4 fps +13%
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-8300H
46.7 fps +5%
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-8750H
44.6 fps

With a GTX 1050, users would have to make many more sacrifices in terms of resolution and/or quality settings. Those who would identify themselves as passionate gamers, on the other hand, will not be happy with either of the available GPUs. Core gaming starts with the GeForce GTX 1060 (Max-Q). Anything less does not have enough performance power to handle future generations of games and higher resolutions.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 44.6 24.7
The Division (2016) 43.7 33.5
Mirror's Edge Catalyst (2016) 49.3 44.9
Dishonored 2 (2016) 47 41.2
Watch Dogs 2 (2016) 40.1 27.9
FIFA 18 (2017) 205 194
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017) 54.4
Need for Speed Payback (2017) 56.1 51.2
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) 50.3 40.8
The Crew 2 (2018) 46.7 42.2

Emissions - A sound to forget

When it comes to fan control, most Clevo Barebones do not perform particularly well. The N871EK1 case is no exception. In idle mode and when the computer is running lightweight applications (office, video, web), the fan seems to always run in one of two ways. Either the laptop is almost entirely inaudible (GPU fan inactive, CPU fan noise unobtrusive), or it hums at an unmistakably noticeable volume. The increases in fan speed occur without any traceable cause and thus appear to be random. Fortunately, optimizing the energy-saving settings can moderate the erratic changes in fan speed. In battery mode, the problem generally arises less often.

sound pressure level idle
sound pressure level idle
sound pressure level load
sound pressure level load
sound pressure level speakers
sound pressure level speakers

Under load, the XMG A707 performs reasonably well: 42-46 dB(A) is neither quiet nor especially loud. The other competitors equipped with a GTX 1050 Ti - the Acer Helios 300 and the Asus GL703GE - are often louder in 3D-mode.

Noise Level

Idle
31 / 32 / 44 dB(A)
HDD
32 dB(A)
Load
44 / 46 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 XMG A707 Coffee Lake
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Asus GL703GE-ES73
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Noise
0%
2%
6%
11%
off / environment *
29
30
-3%
29
-0%
28.2
3%
24.1 ?(19.5 - 29.9, n=194, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Minimum *
31
31
-0%
29
6%
28.2
9%
25.6 ?(21.9 - 41.6, n=195, last 2 years)
17%
Idle Average *
32
32
-0%
31
3%
30
6%
27.4 ?(21.9 - 42.1, n=195, last 2 years)
14%
Idle Maximum *
44
38
14%
33
25%
32
27%
30.7 ?(21.9 - 47, n=195, last 2 years)
30%
Load Average *
44
44
-0%
45
-2%
36
18%
43.2 ?(25.2 - 62.9, n=195, last 2 years)
2%
Witcher 3 ultra *
42
45
-7%
48.8
-16%
Load Maximum *
46
50
-9%
51
-11%
48.8
-6%
53.2 ?(42.1 - 68.2, n=195, last 2 years)
-16%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Like the background noise, the laptop's temperatures also prove to remain moderate. Truth be told, in extreme situations the case does exceed 50°C (122°F) in one spot, but the WASD keys and the palm rest do not heat up immoderately. In idle mode, most of the case remains pleasantly cool; only a few spots warm up past 30°C (86°F).

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
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)

As usual, the components get substantially hotter. After 60 minutes in the stress test with FurMark and Prime95, the mildly throttling GeForce GTX 1050 Ti heats to 88°C (190.4°F) – rather a high temperature. The Core i7-8750H, which throttles to around 1.6 GHz, reaches an average temperature of just 70°C (158°F).

Max. Load
 46 °C
115 F
48 °C
118 F
55 °C
131 F
 
 45 °C
113 F
48 °C
118 F
51 °C
124 F
 
 38 °C
100 F
39 °C
102 F
32 °C
90 F
 
Maximum: 55 °C = 131 F
Average: 44.7 °C = 112 F
48 °C
118 F
44 °C
111 F
48 °C
118 F
49 °C
120 F
45 °C
113 F
40 °C
104 F
33 °C
91 F
33 °C
91 F
36 °C
97 F
Maximum: 49 °C = 120 F
Average: 41.8 °C = 107 F
Power Supply (max.)  42 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 44.7 °C / 112 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 55 °C / 131 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 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 42.1 °C / 108 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 °C / 102.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-10.1 °C / -18.2 F).
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Asus GL703GE-ES73
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Heat
9%
3%
-12%
5%
Maximum Upper Side *
55
50.6
8%
50
9%
58.6
-7%
46.3 ?(28.2 - 61, n=194, last 2 years)
16%
Maximum Bottom *
49
50.8
-4%
52
-6%
59.4
-21%
49.7 ?(30 - 66.3, n=194, last 2 years)
-1%
Idle Upper Side *
32
28.7
10%
33
-3%
35
-9%
31.5 ?(21.2 - 43, n=194, last 2 years)
2%
Idle Bottom *
34
27.1
20%
30
12%
37
-9%
32.7 ?(22.6 - 45, n=194, last 2 years)
4%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.544.32533.336.53129.428.84029.739.55026.229.96324.327.48026.529.810028.428.512524.823.316022.222.720022.625.625024.535.131519.844.940018.152.550017.954.163017.654.880017.559.8100018.267.1125017.867160016.969.7200017.265.5250017.363.9315017.367.8400017.168.3500017.162.9630017.358.6800017.356.41000017.251.21250017.156.1160001759.3SPL29.877.3N1.335.7median 17.5median 56.4Delta1.812.541.64337.239.72830.335.335.728.128.926.129.926.83525.547.422.346.822.143.922.353.322.164.119.768.71970.218.472.217.37717.878.11775.216.968.117.166.31763.71761.71755.917.257.81760.21757.417.156.917.159.116.966.816.860.229.581.91.348.5median 17.1median 61.716.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee LakeAcer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (77 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.9% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.4% 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
(-) | overall sound is not linear (31.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 96% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 2% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 88% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 10% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.8% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 9.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 55% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 36% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 35% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management - More stamina thanks to Optimus

Because the XMG A707 supports Nvidia's Optimus graphics switching, the 17-inch laptop needs very little power in idle mode. 11-20 watts places our test device right in between the Helios 300 (6-13 watts) and the Asus GL703GE (13-25 watts). A maximum of 136 watts under load indicates that laptop's 150-watt power supply provides enough energy in any circumstance (120 watts @GTX1050).

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.4 / 0.9 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 11 / 14 / 20 Watt
Load midlight 96 / 136 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 XMG A707 Coffee Lake
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Asus GL703GE-ES73
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile
Average of class Gaming
 
Power Consumption
3%
19%
-14%
-38%
Idle Minimum *
11
7
36%
6
45%
12.8
-16%
13.7 ?(2 - 64, n=191, last 2 years)
-25%
Idle Average *
14
14
-0%
9
36%
18.1
-29%
18.9 ?(6.5 - 67, n=191, last 2 years)
-35%
Idle Maximum *
20
23
-15%
13
35%
24.7
-24%
26.5 ?(9 - 101.1, n=191, last 2 years)
-33%
Load Average *
96
82
15%
95
1%
98.4
-3%
111.7 ?(32.1 - 202, n=191, last 2 years)
-16%
Witcher 3 ultra *
97
102
-5%
122.5
-26%
Load Maximum *
136
163
-20%
134
1%
114.6
16%
249 ?(64.5 - 418, n=190, last 2 years)
-83%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Although the battery only provides 62 Wh, the system scores points for its surprisingly long battery life. Over 2 hours in 3D-mode (Battery Eater Classic Test at maximum brightness) is just as respectable as around 12 hours in idle mode (Battery Eater Reader's Test at minimum brightness). If the user sets the brightness to around 150 cd/m² and surfs the internet via WLAN, one charge provides 6-6.5 hours of battery life. Compared to the competition, only the Acer Helios 300 can keep up with this run time. The Helios 300's weaker battery (48 Wh) is counterbalanced by its more feeble CPU.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
11h 44min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 18min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
0h 00min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 21min
SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 62 Wh
Nexoc G739
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 62 Wh
Acer Predator Helios 300 PH317-52-51M6
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 48 Wh
Asus GL703GE-ES73
i7-8750H, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 64 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
-15%
-11%
-47%
-21%
Reader / Idle
704
613
-13%
710
1%
347
-51%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
-22%
WiFi v1.3
378
288
-24%
354
-6%
286
-24%
366 ?(57 - 745, n=191, last 2 years)
-3%
Load
141
128
-9%
100
-29%
47
-67%
86 ?(36 - 173, n=155, last 2 years)
-39%
H.264
322
392 ?(56 - 747, n=99, last 2 years)

Pros

+ individual configuration
+ moderate emissions
+ RGB backlighting
+ long battery life
+ no bloatware
+ good IPS panel
+ NVMe SSD

Cons

- some GPU throttling when Control Center is active (software bug)
- mediocre fan control
- no Thunderbolt 3
- unsatisfactory sound

Verdict - Garden-variety 17-inch laptop

XMG A707, Test device courtesy of Schenker Technologies.
XMG A707, Test device courtesy of Schenker Technologies.

All things considered, the Schenker XMG A707 is a well-designed budget gaming laptop that is more or less on par with the Acer Predator Helios 300.

Advantages include not only the high-contrast Full HD panel, but also the comparatively good battery life. The laptop can hold its own in terms of performance as well. Within the device's price bracket (less than 1500 Euros/~$1750), the Core i7-8750H and GeForce GTX 1050 Ti represent one of the most potent teams on the market.

The input devices, case, and wide array of connections are satisfactory as well, although they are more or less average compared to the competition. Clevo, the Barebone manufacturer, could substantially improve the laptop's sound. The sound generated by the speakers is a dead loss.

Those who simply plug in a headset or external speakers will end up with a good overall package.

 

 

 

SCHENKER XMG A707 Coffee Lake - 07/07/2018 v6(old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
75%
Connectivity
66 / 81 → 81%
Weight
57 / 10-66 → 84%
Battery
88%
Display
85%
Games Performance
90%
Application Performance
96%
Temperature
82 / 95 → 86%
Noise
70 / 90 → 78%
Audio
45%
Average
76%
82%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Schenker XMG A707 (Clevo N871EK1) Laptop Review
Florian Glaser, 2018-07- 2 (Update: 2018-07- 2)