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MagyarSchenker XMG U716 (Clevo P775DM1) Notebook Review
For the original German review, see here.
The German notebook seller Schenker Technologies certainly does not miss out on anything in the high-end sector. Following the XMG U706 and XMG U726, the now third 17-inch model with a desktop CPU appears. While the Core i5 models do not feature Hyperthreading, the i7 chips are sometimes considerably faster than their laptop siblings.
The rest of the configuration is impressive throughout. A maximum of 64 GB DDR4 RAM is just as lush as up to four storage devices. Besides two 2.5-inch slots, the XMG U716 sports two M.2 slots that both support PCIe. Either an FHD panel with G-Sync support or a 4K screen with high color space coverage can be added.
However, the biggest highlight is the GPU. Instead of the GTX 970M or GTX 980M that are found in most gaming laptops, Schenker installs the wickedly expensive luxury model GTX 980. In contrast to the XMG U726 with the 200-watt model, its counterpart with a TDP of 185 watts is installed. We will determine if the downsizing of the PSU from 200 W to 185 W will impact performance.
An optical drive is not installed, as is now the case in many high-end laptops. The desktop replacement starts at 2699 Euros (~$2960). Our test system would cost almost 3700 Euros (~$4058).
Case
Clevo's P775DM1 barebone serves as the casing. In contrast to other models from the Taiwanese manufacturer, the chassis makes a relatively modern and stylish impression. Diverse shapes and striking vents remind us of Asus' G700 line. We liked the materials despite the lack of aluminum. Unlike the P771DM barebone (XMG U706), the surfaces are not rubber-coated, which leads to a lower smudging sensitivity. The build is also decent although some transitions are somewhat hard for design-related reasons.
Clevo makes some mistakes regarding stiffness. In addition to the rear-sided vents, the lid can be dented and warped to quite some degree. Otherwise, the laptop feels very rigid (base unit, keyboard, etc.).
Overall, we would call the chassis good. Its rating of 82% places it on the same level as the 17-inch P870DM (XMG U726), which is a bit heavier and taller (5.0 kg, 4.5 cm/ ~11 lb, ~1.8 in). The XMG U716 "only" reaches 4.2 kilograms and 4.1 centimeters (~9.3 lb, ~1.6 in) . Users who want something smaller will find that in the XMG P706 that is based on the stylish and yet basic P671G barebone (3.3 kg, 3.0 cm/ ~7.3 lb, ~1.2 in).
Connectivity
Interfaces
Like virtually every Clevo barebone, the P775DM1 offers generous connectivity. While the right provides four audio jacks, a USB 3.0 port and a Kensington lock slot, the power-in, HDMI 2.0 out and two DisplayPorts are found on the rear. The manufacturer installs an RJ45 port, three 3.0 ports (1 as an eSATA combo) and a card reader on the left. Special mention is due for the USB 3.1 port that supports Thunderbolt 3. The clever positioning should satisfy both right-handed and left-handed user alike.
Card Reader
The card reader's performance is more than decent. Although the XMG U716 does not fully utilize the theoretical power of our test card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II), 204 MB/s in sequential write and 156 MB/s in transferring photos earn kudos. Some laptops do not even surpass 100 MB.
Communication
Intel's Wireless-AC 8260 takes care of wireless communication for just 10 Euros (~$11) extra. As expected from a cutting-edge wireless module, the M.2 chip can deal with Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth (version 4.2). Intel states a maximum speed of 867 MBit/s. The XMG U716 fared quite well in real world use. A signal strength of almost 1 - 3 bars was still displayed at a distance of 10-15 meters (~33 to 49 ft) from the router and through several walls.
The manufacturer does not make any compromises with the network chip, either. Although the utility and futility of the Killer e2400 is controversial, the extensive software helps in optimizing and monitoring.
Software
Talking about software: A look at the uninstall routine of Windows reveals that Schenker is agreeably restrained. The central headquarters of the XMG U716 is the so-called Control Center that unites various convenience functions and features. As can be seen clearly based on the screenshots below, most menus are very clearly arranged and understandable even for non-savvy users.
Great: In addition to a CPU and GPU overclocking feature that could have an impact on warranty, manual fan control and a tool for configuring the keyboard (macros, backlight, etc.) are found. Our tests were all performed in delivery state, i.e. without overclocking. We also left the fans' speed on "Automatic".
Maintenance
One of the biggest upsides of the P775DM1 is its easy maintenance. After releasing a few screws, the base hatches can simply be pushed out of their fixture. The customer then has full access on the storage device, working memory, Wi-Fi module, and cooling system. Clevo opts for a dual-fan design for discharging the CPU's and GPU's waste heat out of the casing.
One of the biggest upsides of the P775DM1 is its easy maintenance. After releasing a few screws, the base hatches can simply be pushed out of their fixture. The customer then has full access to the storage device, working memory, Wi-Fi module, and cooling system. Clevo opts for a dual-fan design for discharging the CPU's and GPU's waste heat out of the casing.
The desktop socket 1151 and MXM 3.0 slot allow replacing both the processor and graphics card, which is very unusual in laptops. However, the entire heat sink has to be removed since two of the seven heat pipes are wound over both components. On the other hand, we like the fact that the battery is not connected to the motherboard but can be inserted and removed from the outside.
Accessories
Some accessories were not included due to the PR sample status. A recovery medium, in the form of either DVD or a flash drive, was not in the review sample's box. Nor did we find a manual. The other accessories should correspond to the serial product. Schenker ships the U716 with a polishing cloth, an XMG sticker, a key chain, and a USB flash drive with drivers and tools. Screws and a hatch for the empty 2.5-inch slot complete the package.
Warranty
Schenker has revised the warranty upgrades slightly. The 24-month standard service (pick-up & return) can be extended to 36 months for an extra charge that includes a device check-up. A quick repair that is normally valid for 6 months is also offered for 40 or 60 Euros (~$44 or $66), which covers half to the entire warranty period.
Input Devices
Keyboard
The keyboard is the same as in other models from the U-lineup. In contrast to the XMG P706, the keys are not separated by a gap, but are "stuck" together. It strongly depends on the user which design is preferred. The keyboards are on par in terms of quality. Although the chiclet model produces a somewhat louder clacking noise, the pressure point, stroke and feedback are identically good.
The German layout does not give much reason for complaint. Clevo does not make too many experiments and relies on the classic arrangement with a two-row enter key. Some buyers will have to get used to the half-sized zero in the number pad, which is a result of the full-sized arrow keys. Great: Longer typing sessions remain pleasant thanks to the wrist rest's height of almost eleven centimeters. Nighttime gaming sessions will not be a problem with the 3-zone backlight.
Touchpad
The mouse replacement is just as decent as the keyboard. Besides its size (10.8 x 6.2 cm/ ~4.25 x ~2.44 in), its function diversity is also compelling. Notable would be the multi-touch support that allows gesture control using two fingers (zoom, scroll, rotate, etc.), and second, the scroll areas at the touchpad's edge that are enabled in delivery state. Mouse replacement control is also quite accurate.
The manufacturer could improve the gliding properties a bit, though. Although the surface is relatively sleek, some rivals have a softer feel. The positioning is also not ideal. It should be disabled in gaming sessions because it is very far left. A positioning a bit further right would not have been a problem for prolific writers. Plus points are rewarded for the dedicated mouse keys with a fingerprint reader in their middle.
Display
As said in the intro, the XMG U716 is sold with two different screens. Our review sample was furnished with the Ultra HD model for almost 200 Euros (~$220) extra. The determined rates strongly resemble those of the XMG U726. No wonder seeing that both laptops rely on the same 4K panel.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 374 cd/m²
Contrast: 935:1 (Black: 0.4 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.23 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5.1
ΔE Greyscale 5.48 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
99% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.35
| SCHENKER XMG U716 AU B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B) | SCHENKER XMG U726 AU B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B) | SCHENKER XMG U706 LG LP173WF4-SPD1 | MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW LG Philips LP173WF4-SPF1 (LGD0469) | Asus G752VT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 0% | -25% | -25% | -25% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 86.5 | 87 1% | 66.6 -23% | 66.6 -23% | 66.3 -23% |
| sRGB Coverage | 100 | 100 0% | 84.7 -15% | 85.2 -15% | 84.5 -15% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 99 | 98.9 0% | 61.9 -37% | 62.3 -37% | 61.8 -38% |
| Response Times | 18% | ||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 45 ? | 30.4 ? 32% | |||
| Response Time Black / White * | 28 ? | 27.2 ? 3% | |||
| PWM Frequency | |||||
| Screen | 6% | -2% | 2% | 1% | |
| Brightness middle | 374 | 330 -12% | 298 -20% | 322 -14% | 357.2 -4% |
| Brightness | 356 | 327 -8% | 287 -19% | 315 -12% | 339 -5% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 86 -2% | 91 3% | 90 2% | 89 1% |
| Black Level * | 0.4 | 0.38 5% | 0.305 24% | 0.3 25% | 0.366 8% |
| Contrast | 935 | 868 -7% | 977 4% | 1073 15% | 976 4% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.23 | 3 29% | 4.16 2% | 3.78 11% | 3.69 13% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.7 | 5.3 21% | 7.75 -16% | ||
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 5.48 | 3.81 30% | 3.13 43% | 2.43 56% | 3.05 44% |
| Gamma | 2.35 94% | 2.52 87% | 2.26 97% | 2.54 87% | 2.21 100% |
| CCT | 6686 97% | 6306 103% | 6213 105% | 6706 97% | 6164 105% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 88 | 88 0% | 55.5 -37% | 56 -36% | 55 -37% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 100 | 100 0% | 84.5 -15% | 85 -15% | 84 -16% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 3% /
4% | -14% /
-8% | -12% /
-5% | -2% /
-2% |
* ... smaller is better
Not only does the AU B173ZAN01.0 have a high average brightness of 356 cd/m², but also a very differentiated and strong image. The latter impression is also owed to its tremendous color space. While most IPS screens accomplish an sRGB coverage of 70-90%, the 4K screen does not even falter in AdobeRGB (88%).
However, that also involves some drawbacks: Standard programs look over-saturated at first glance. We got used to the strong colors after a while. The same is true for the backlight bleeding at the screen's lower edge, which increases when twisting the lid. That is only annoying on dark or very homogeneous backgrounds, though. Tip: A lower scaling (e.g. 200 instead of 250%) prevents oversized windows, fonts and icons in routine Windows interfaces.
The 4K screen's color accuracy is satisfactory to good. Although the grayscale levels and color balance could be somewhat better (see CalMAN screenshots), the screen at latest presents an excellent performance after calibration. Unfortunately, the black value is not quite as superb. Good panels undercut 0.4 cd/m².
A decisive advantage of IPS technology is the viewing angle stability. Compared with a TN screen, much lower distortions occur vertically (especially from lower side views). The XMG U716 is also suitable for outdoor use thanks to the extreme brightness and matte surface. While the response times are relatively poor on paper, we did not observe blurring during the gaming benchmarks.
Note: The FHD panel is listed as LG LP173WF4-SPD1 on Schenker's homepage. The corresponding rates can be found in the reviews of the XMG U706 and XMG P706.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 28 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 22 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 66 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.8 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 45 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 17 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 28 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. » 73 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (34.3 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| 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 18694 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance
The XMG U716 does not completely fulfill the high-end claim in its base configuration. Buyers should definitely upgrade the storage device to be prepared ideally for the future. Schenker only installs a 500 GB HDD as standard. 16 rather than 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and a Hyperthreading capable processor (Core i7 line) would not hurt, either.
Processor
Due to poor availability of the Core i7-6700K, our review sample was only furnished with the second-best model of the Skylake generation. The Core i7-6700 clocks at 3.4 - 4.0 GHz under load, which is still on a higher level than the Core i7-6820HK (2.7 - 3.6 GHz) and Core i7-6700HQ (2.6 - 3.5 GHz) models.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Skylake chip looks very good in the benchmarks. With 791 points in Cinebench R15 multi-CPU test and 171 points in the single-CPU test, the quad-core outruns the i7-6700HQ (Schenker XMG P706) by 12 - 13% and the i7-6700HQ (Asus G752VT) by 16 - 27%. The difference of 10% to the i7-6700K desktop leader is within limits especially since the GPU is usually the limiting factor in 3D applications.
Only the limited Turbo has to be criticized. Although the 14 nm model achieves 3.7 - 4.0 GHz (multi and single-core limit) in crunch times, the clock drops to 3.4 - 3.6 GHz after a while so that the Turbo - if at all - operates at a minimum. The CPU in the XMG U726 always fully utilized overclocking.
System Performance
Despite the not quite ideal Turbo utilization, the XMG U716 claims the gold medal in PCMark 7. 7159 points is the to-date best total score that we have ever measured in a laptop. Only our desktop PC with a Core i7-6700K, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM and GeForce 980 runs a bit faster in view of 7311 points. The XMG U726 achieved similarly high 7093 points.
| PCMark 7 Score | 7159 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 4466 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 7295 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4681 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Device
The superb outcomes in the system benchmarks are also owed to the storage device. Schenker treats our review sample to a PCIe x4 SSD from Samsung (SM951) that outclasses the SATA III rivals. An average of 1941 MB/s in sequential read and 1515 MB/s in sequential write (AS SSD benchmark) is 3 - 4 times higher than from a standard model. SSDs based on SATA III technology stop at approximately 500 - 550 MB/s. Every buyer will have to decide whether the high surcharge is justified. The differences are considerably less significant in smaller files that are common in routine Windows work.
Users who need particularly high capacity for data (videos, games, etc.) and cannot afford a mega SSD should add an HDD to the configuration. Even if 7200-rpm drives do not even come close to the performance of SSDs, 2.5-inch models will do a good job. A Samsung Spinpoint M9T with a capacity of 1.75 TB operates in our system. Up to 117 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark is impressive for a 5400 rpm HDD.
Graphics Card
To make the most important thing clear: No, the TDP figure of the GTX 980 does not have a massive impact on performance. Although the 200-watt model is a few percent faster than the 185-watt version, we would speak of equal power. Firstly, the XMG U726 and the XMG U716 are on par in gaming tests. Secondly, the difference in the synthetic test is more likely due to the CPU, or more precisely its Turbo behavior. The Unigine Heaven benchmark backs this presumption. No matter whether 185 or 200 watts: The core settles to 1215-1228 MHz in both cases, which corresponds to the Turbo level of our reference desktop GTX 980.
| 3DMark 06 Standard Score | 32943 points | |
| 3DMark Vantage P Result | 39219 points | |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 14477 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 154356 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 26118 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 10734 points | |
Help | ||
The less expensive laptop chips do not stand a chance against the new top model. With a Fire Strike score of 10,734 points, it is beyond competing with either a GTX 970M (6598 points @ Asus G752VT) or a GTX 980M (8414 points @ MSI GT72S 6QE). More information concerning the GTX 980 can be found in this special report.
| 3DMark | |
| 1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Notebookcheck Desktop PC | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U706 | |
| MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW | |
| Asus G752VT | |
| 3840x2160 Fire Strike Ultra Score (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Notebookcheck Desktop PC | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW | |
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Notebookcheck Desktop PC | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U706 | |
| MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW | |
| Asus G752VT | |
| Unigine Heaven 4.0 - Extreme Preset DX11 (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Notebookcheck Desktop PC | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U706 | |
| MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW | |
Gaming Performance
Apart from "Assassin's Creed Syndicate", all games with a 4K setting were reproduced at over 30 FPS. Even graphic smashers like "GTA V" or "Star Wars Battlefront" could be played using 3840x2160 pixels and "high". Laptops based on GTX 980M or GTX 970M tend to stutter here. A combination of maximum details, x4 anti-aliasing and 1920x1080 pixels normally will not be a problem for the GTX 980.
| Battlefield 4 | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Assassin's Creed Syndicate | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra High Preset AA:4x MSAA + FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Star Wars Battlefront | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Fallout 4 | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 | |
| 3840x2160 High / On AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Extra / On AA:T2x SM (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High / On AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Anno 2205 | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AA:4x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra High Preset AA:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| FIFA 16 | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Mad Max | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset AF:6x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Very High Preset AF:12x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset AF:6x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Metal Gear Solid V | |
| 3840x2160 High / On (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Extra High / On (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High / On (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | |
| 3840x2160 High / On (Interactive Smoke & Paper Debris Off) AA:SM AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High / On AA:SM AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High / On (Interactive Smoke & Paper Debris Off) AA:SM AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| The Witcher 3 | |
| 3840x2160 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Dirt Rally | |
| 3840x2160 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| GTA V | |
| 3840x2160 High/On (Advanced Graphics Off) AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High/On (Advanced Graphics Off) AA:2xMSAA + FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Battlefield Hardline | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality (DX11) AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Evolve | |
| 1920x1080 Very High Graphics Quality AA:1TX SM (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Schenker W504 | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Far Cry 4 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality AA:SM (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality AA:SM (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Assassin's Creed Unity | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra High Graphics Quality AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | |
| 1920x1080 Extra / On (Cache Shadow Maps Off), 2x Supersampling AA:2x SM (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 High / On (Cache Shadow Maps Off) AA:FX (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Alien: Isolation | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra, On, Shadow Map 2048, HDAO AA:2x SM AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| 1920x1080 High, On, Shadow Map 1536, Standard SSAO AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (HD Package) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Sims 4 | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| GRID: Autosport | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Watch Dogs | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Overall Quality, Ultra Textures AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| 1920x1080 High Overall Quality, High Textures AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Thief - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Metro: Last Light - 1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
| Crysis 3 - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:2xSM AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 | |
| Desktop-PC | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| MSI GT72-2QE32SR311BW | |
| SCHENKER XMG P505 | |
Thanks to the relatively new driver (ForceWare 359.00 vs. 355.98), the XMG U716 could even outperform the XMG U726 slightly in some games. However, the high price will deter many gamers, and they will have to turn to the GTX 980M or GTX 970M. The latter also offer enough power providing that the user is prepared to make compromises in image quality.
| low | med. | high | ultra | 4K | |
| Crysis 3 (2013) | 153.9 | 140.4 | 109.4 | 60.7 | |
| Tomb Raider (2013) | 508 | 471.4 | 338.1 | 159 | |
| BioShock Infinite (2013) | 269.8 | 244.3 | 226.7 | 121.4 | |
| Metro: Last Light (2013) | 158.2 | 156.1 | 143.7 | 92.3 | |
| Battlefield 4 (2013) | 200 | 200 | 200 | 99.6 | 52.5 |
| Thief (2014) | 125.2 | 120.4 | 116.8 | 84.8 | |
| Watch Dogs (2014) | 117.5 | 102.7 | 80.8 | 59.4 | |
| GRID: Autosport (2014) | 327.1 | 180.4 | 157.8 | 128.1 | |
| Sims 4 (2014) | 178 | 141.6 | 127.4 | 117.2 | |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) | 233.3 | 201.6 | 120.9 | 91.4 | |
| Alien: Isolation (2014) | 273.9 | 250.4 | 187.1 | 134.4 | |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) | 249.9 | 193.9 | 117 | 71.8 | |
| Assassin's Creed Unity (2014) | 142 | 116.2 | 79 | 42.9 | |
| Far Cry 4 (2014) | 122.4 | 122 | 98.5 | 82.6 | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition (2014) | 193.4 | 177.3 | 97.3 | 65.4 | |
| Evolve (2015) | 247.4 | 199 | 114.7 | 101.5 | |
| Battlefield Hardline (2015) | 182.7 | 178.7 | 154.9 | 99 | |
| GTA V (2015) | 168.7 | 160.5 | 117.8 | 51 | 59.8 |
| Dirt Rally (2015) | 375.6 | 156.9 | 123.7 | 97 | 84.2 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 222.6 | 148.3 | 84 | 44.3 | 30.1 |
| Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) | 151 | 145 | 101 | 67 | 34 |
| Metal Gear Solid V (2015) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 50.8 |
| Mad Max (2015) | 265 | 146.2 | 136.6 | 48.1 | |
| FIFA 16 (2015) | 351.9 | 321 | 287.1 | 124.4 | |
| Anno 2205 (2015) | 147.7 | 134.4 | 86.1 | 30.7 | 34.1 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015) | 151.7 | 148.8 | 98.7 | 88.3 | 34.2 |
| Fallout 4 (2015) | 175.2 | 168.8 | 96.6 | 78 | 33.7 |
| Star Wars Battlefront (2015) | 200 | 199.4 | 118.6 | 102.1 | 39.6 |
| Assassin's Creed Syndicate (2015) | 96.1 | 95.4 | 78.4 | 32.3 | 28.2 |
Emissions
System Noise
Although the noise level is normal for a gaming laptop, the fan management did not quite convince us. Reason 1: The XMG U716 tends to speed up in idle mode (~38 dB(A)). Reason 2: One of the two fans sounds fairly high-pitched during load, which our measurements only illustrate conditionally. With approximately 45 dB(A) in 3DMark 06 and up to 48 dB(A) in the stress test, the U716 is a bit louder than the XMG U726 that reached 42 and 46 dB(A) in these scenarios. Other high-end laptops, such as MSI's GT72S 6QE (35/46 dB(A)) and Asus' G752VT (36/46 dB(A)), are even quieter.
The same is seen while idling. While the aforesaid rivals reach an average of 31 and 33 dB(A), the XMG U716 reaches almost 35 dB(A) alongside a slightly erratic characteristic. However, the noise level is only really annoying during full load. A stress-free gaming session is quite possible with headphones or turned up speakers. The XMG U726 remained a bit quieter throughout all tests, which is unsurprising in view of the thicker design.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 33 / 35 / 38 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 45 / 48 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1 (15 cm distance) | ||
| SCHENKER XMG U716 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U726 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U706 GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K | MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK | Asus G752VT GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 4% | 12% | 2% | 9% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 33 | 33 -0% | 29 12% | 30.6 7% | 32.9 -0% |
| Idle Average * | 35 | 34 3% | 30.8 12% | 31 11% | 33 6% |
| Idle Maximum * | 38 | 35 8% | 30.8 19% | 50.4 -33% | 33.1 13% |
| Load Average * | 45 | 42 7% | 42.1 6% | 35 22% | 36.2 20% |
| Load Maximum * | 48 | 46 4% | 43.5 9% | 46 4% | 45.8 5% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
Despite the fans' high activity, the chassis can get quite hot in 3D operations. We measured up to 48 °C (118.4 °F upper side) and 54 °C (129.2 °F underside) on the laptop's rear third after an hour of our stress test. Consequently, gaming sessions on the lap are not very recommendable. The situation is a bit more relaxed on the desk. Since the wrist rest heats up to a maximum of 37 °C (98.6 °F), elongated 3D operations do not get unpleasant. The barebone does a good job in the comparison when considering the GPU's performance.
The components get much warmer under load. A mix of FurMark and Prime95 forces the processor to over 90 °C (194 °F). The GTX 980 also gets quite hot with a maximum of 88 °C (190.4 °F), and the core clock drops to approximately 820 MHz (CPU: 3.0 - 3.4 GHz). However, throttling will not be an issue in games. The temperatures are commonly lower since the load is not as high.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.8 °C / 120 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 55.8 °C / 132 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.7 °C / 91 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.6 °C / 97.9 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-7.7 °C / -13.9 F).
| SCHENKER XMG U716 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U726 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U706 GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K | MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK | Asus G752VT GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -3% | 5% | 9% | 22% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 48.8 | 46.9 4% | 45.6 7% | 45.2 7% | 37.6 23% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 55.8 | 61 -9% | 52.4 6% | 56.9 -2% | 38 32% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 36.7 | 36.3 1% | 34.9 5% | 30.7 16% | 31.6 14% |
| Idle Bottom * | 37.3 | 40.8 -9% | 36.3 3% | 31.8 15% | 30.6 18% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
Clevo treats its P775DM1 to a 2.1 system that is supported by special software. The Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5 technology scores with many options (profiles, equalizer, etc.), and gives the otherwise stifled sound considerably more power, richness and volume. The high volume (79 dB(A) @ pink noise, 75 dB(A) @ white noise) also makes filling larger rooms with sound possible. However, the sound tends to fray depending on the volume. All in all, the 2.1 system is decent but does not reach the quality of an MSI GT72. The sound of the XMG U726 also seems better to us.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
Since the XMG U716 does not feature graphics switching, the idle power consumption is already high. 35-51 watts point to a full-blown desktop PC. Laptops with Optimus technology often consume less than 20 watts, for example the XMG P706. The difference diminishes in 3D mode. The XMG U716 "only" requires 36% more power than the homegrown rival with 98 to 134 watts. The full load rates cannot be compared 1:1 due to varying Turbo and throttling levels. Our maximum recorded power was 298 W from our 1.2 kg 330 W PSU.
| Off / Standby | 0.4 / 1.2 Watt |
| Idle | 35 / 44 / 51 Watt |
| Load |
134 / 298 Watt |
   
| |
| SCHENKER XMG U716 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U726 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U706 GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K | MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK | Asus G752VT GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -3% | 26% | 31% | ||
| Idle Minimum * | 35 | 36 -3% | 22 37% | 21.3 39% | |
| Idle Average * | 44 | 45 -2% | 28.9 34% | 26.3 40% | |
| Idle Maximum * | 51 | 53 -4% | 29.8 42% | 32.9 35% | |
| Load Average * | 134 | 139 -4% | 126.8 5% | 110.2 18% | |
| Load Maximum * | 298 | 306 -3% | 261.6 12% | 230.8 23% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
Users who often use their laptop on the go will not be happy with the XMG U716. The 8-cell battery is depleted after 2.5 hours at most due to the lack of graphics switching (Battery Eater Reader's test). Not quite 1.5 hours at full load is not awe-inspiring, either. However, some rivals are drained faster.
The performance drops by approximately 50% in battery mode (3DMark 11 score: 6674 vs. 14,477).
| SCHENKER XMG U716 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U726 GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop), 6700 | SCHENKER XMG U706 GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K | MSI GT72S-6QEG16SR421BW GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK | Asus G752VT GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | -1% | 17% | 23% | 14% | |
| Reader / Idle | 158 | 170 8% | 245 55% | 261 65% | 230 46% |
| Gaming | 80 | 66 -17% | |||
| Load | 88 | 94 7% | 69 -22% | 71 -19% | 72 -18% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
After adding up all aspects, the XMG U716 presents the same advantages and disadvantages as the XMG U726. Although not utilizing Optimus is quite understandable from a Core gamer's point of view, we do not comprehend the wobbly lid and fan management. The fans sometimes increase their speed when idle without reason.
The high noise development during high load and short battery life also reduce the rating. The manufacturer could also improve the sound quality. Furthermore, the chassis is extremely big and heavy, although that drawback is not quite as relevant when staying at the desk.
Good or very good ratings round out the other categories. Besides the input devices, the interfaces and image quality are compelling. The 4K screen strikes with its first rate brightness and excellent color space. The user-friendly maintenance options are another unique selling point. Hardly another laptop can be disassembled, cleaned and upgraded as conveniently. Not to mention the brute power. Nvidia's GeForce GTX 980 is in no way inferior to its desktop sibling. The Maxwell chip is the only single-GPU that can power even demanding games decently in 3840x2160 pixels. Still, the price is high. A sensible configuration of the XMG U716 quickly surpasses 3000 Euros (~$3300). Gaming laptops with a GTX 970M are found at half the price.
The manual upgrade results from the fact that a GTX 980M already has scratched at the top-gaming rate of 100%.
SCHENKER XMG U716
-
02/24/2016 v5(old)
Florian Glaser
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