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Schenker XMG Ultra 15 (Clevo P751TM1-G) Laptop Review

Desktop CPU in a notebook’s outfit. While most notebooks come with soldered-in processors and graphics cards, the XMG Ultra 15 from Schenker Technologies offers a lot of replaceable components. Whether it is enough to beat the competition, we aim to clarify in this review.
Schenker XMG Ultra 15

Not long after we reviewed the XMG Ultra 17 with a Core i7-8700, a GeForce GTX 1080 and a 4K display, we took a look at its more compact 15-inch sibling that is about 0.8 kg (1.76 lbs) lighter. Just like its brethren, the XMG Ultra 15 can be customized to fit your personal needs on Schenker’s website. This starts with the graphics card, which is based on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture and features either 6 GB (GeForce GTX 1060) or 8 GB (GeForce GTX 1070) of VRAM.

There is even more choice when it comes to the CPU. As opposed to 95% of all high-end notebooks, the XMG does not come with a mobile processor; instead it has a genuine desktop CPU from Intel’s Coffee Lake series. Besides the hexa-core models that do not support Hyper-Threading and come with 9 MB of L3 cache (Core i5-8400 and Core i5-8600K), there are also two more expensive hexa-core chips that come with 12 MB of cache and support Hyper-Threading (Core i7-8700 and Core i7-8700K) in Schenker’s online configurator. Exciting: For a premium, you can get “cut-down” versions of the latter chips. The TDP of the CPUs on offer ranges from 65 to 95 watts (notebook standard: 45 watts).

Choosing the RAM and the storage device will not be easy, either. The Clevo P751TM1-G boasts four DDR4 RAM slots (64 GB max.), two PCIe/NVMe M.2 slots and two 2.5-inch drive bays. The Wi-Fi module (UMTS/LTE modem is optional) and the keyboard language can also be customized during the ordering process. Buyers have no choice when it comes to the display, though. In keeping with Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, the Full HD panel supports 120 Hz. According to Schenker Technologies, a 144 Hz variant – something that the Asus G703 enjoys – is coming soon. 

Prices for the XMG Ultra 15 start at 1699 Euros (~$2096). However, for this price you will only get 8 GB of RAM, a 500 GB HDD and no OS. Our review device, which comes with a Core i5-8600K, a GeForce GTX 1070, 16 GB of RAM (two 8 GB DIMMs) and a 500 GB SSD, costs roughly 2500 Euros (~$3092).

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Processor
Intel Core i5-8600K 6 x 3.6 - 4.3 GHz, Coffee Lake-S, Socket 1151
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1518 MHz, Memory: 8000 MHz, GDDR5, MXM, ForceWare 391.01
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400, dual-channel, 2 out of 4 slots occupied, max. 64 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, AU Optronics B156HTN05.2 (AUO52ED), TN, Full HD, 120 Hz, G-Sync, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Z370 (Kaby Lake)
Storage
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe, 500 GB 
, Slots: 2x M.202280 & 2x 2.5-inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC899 @ Intel Union Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 3 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphone, microphone, line-in, line-out, Card Reader: SD,SDHC,SDXC,Mini SD,MMC,RSMMC, 1 Fingerprint Reader, SIM-card slot
Networking
Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet 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): 38 x 386 x 262 ( = 1.5 x 15.2 x 10.31 in)
Battery
82 Wh, 5400 mAh Lithium-Ion, removeable, 8 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: FHD
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, Keyboard: RGB; 3 zones, Keyboard Light: yes, 330-watt AC adapter, manual, sticker, USB driver with a toolkit, recovery DVD, DVD with drivers, supplies for a 2.5-inch drive, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
3.5 kg ( = 123.46 oz / 7.72 pounds), Power Supply: 1.287 kg ( = 45.4 oz / 2.84 pounds)
Price
2569 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

The competitors of the XMG Ultra 15 include other 15-inch notebooks with a GeForce GTX 1070 such as: The Acer Predator 15, the MSI GT62VR 7RE, the Gigabyte P56XT and the Alienware 15 R3. We included the above-mentioned devices in this review for comparison purposes.

Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15
Schenker XMG Ultra 15

Because the XMG Ultra 15 did not change at all in terms of its case when compared to its (in)direct predecessor XMG U507, we shall skip the sections that deal with the case, the ports and the input devices in this review. You can find all the relevant information here

Size Comparison

391 mm / 15.4 inch 300 mm / 11.8 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 3.7 kg8.16 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 40 mm / 1.575 inch 2.9 kg6.39 lbs386 mm / 15.2 inch 262 mm / 10.3 inch 38 mm / 1.496 inch 3.5 kg7.72 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.5 kg7.82 lbs383 mm / 15.1 inch 270 mm / 10.6 inch 30 mm / 1.181 inch 2.7 kg5.89 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)
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
185 MB/s
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
153 MB/s -17%
Average of class Gaming
  (19 - 202, n=104, last 2 years)
98.2 MB/s -47%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
80 MB/s -57%
Gigabyte P56XT
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76 MB/s -59%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
209 MB/s +1%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
207 MB/s
Average of class Gaming
  (26 - 269, n=95, last 2 years)
122.3 MB/s -41%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
89 MB/s -57%
Gigabyte P56XT
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
89 MB/s -57%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (450 - 1412, n=14, last 2 years)
1006 MBit/s +57%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
641 MBit/s
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
623 MBit/s -3%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
579 MBit/s -10%
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
560 MBit/s -13%
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
343 MBit/s -46%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (423 - 1700, n=14, last 2 years)
1203 MBit/s +75%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
692 MBit/s +1%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Wireless-AC 9260
686 MBit/s
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
681 MBit/s -1%
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
677 MBit/s -1%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
669 MBit/s -2%

Display

Displays with refresh rates above 60 to 75 Hz are becoming more and more popular among gamers. Almost all manufacturers of high-end notebooks are paying attention to this trend. Schenker Technologies is no exception. It puts high-refresh-rate panels in many of its products.

419
cd/m²
367
cd/m²
373
cd/m²
407
cd/m²
363
cd/m²
346
cd/m²
381
cd/m²
318
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B156HTN05.2 (AUO52ED) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 419 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 364.9 cd/m² Minimum: 17 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 74 %
Center on Battery: 363 cd/m²
Contrast: 626:1 (Black: 0.58 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 8.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.36
ΔE Greyscale 9.26 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
91% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
90.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.16
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
AU Optronics B156HTN05.2 (AUO52ED), TN, 1920x1080
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPP1 (LGD04D5), IPS, 1920x1080
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, 1920x1080
Gigabyte P56XT
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, 1920x1080
Alienware 15 R3
HPJGK_B156HTN (AUO51ED), TN, 1920x1080
Display
-5%
-7%
-6%
-0%
Display P3 Coverage
66.8
65.4
-2%
63.9
-4%
64.8
-3%
66
-1%
sRGB Coverage
90.7
85.5
-6%
83.1
-8%
84.6
-7%
90.5
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.3
62.5
-6%
60.8
-8%
61.8
-7%
66.2
0%
Response Times
-140%
-133%
-132%
-27%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
24.2 ?(13.4, 10.8)
36 ?(18, 18)
-49%
37 ?(16, 21)
-53%
37.2 ?(18.4, 18.8)
-54%
25 ?(12, 13)
-3%
Response Time Black / White *
8 ?(5.6, 2.4)
26.4 ?(15.2, 11.2)
-230%
25 ?(4, 21)
-213%
24.8 ?(14, 10.8)
-210%
12 ?(4, 8)
-50%
PWM Frequency
20830 ?(90)
20000 ?(95)
Screen
17%
20%
14%
7%
Brightness middle
363
295
-19%
310
-15%
301
-17%
386
6%
Brightness
365
274
-25%
311
-15%
280
-23%
382
5%
Brightness Distribution
74
88
19%
85
15%
87
18%
93
26%
Black Level *
0.58
0.32
45%
0.3
48%
0.32
45%
0.39
33%
Contrast
626
922
47%
1033
65%
941
50%
990
58%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
8.7
4.59
47%
4.82
45%
6.21
29%
10.2
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
12.91
11
15%
10.14
21%
10.78
16%
15.81
-22%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.36
Greyscale dE 2000 *
9.26
4.03
56%
3.94
57%
6.08
34%
11.28
-22%
Gamma
2.16 102%
2.3 96%
2.45 90%
2.31 95%
2.23 99%
CCT
9390 69%
7229 90%
6877 95%
7375 88%
11383 57%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59
56
-5%
54
-8%
55
-7%
59
0%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91
85
-7%
83
-9%
84
-8%
90
-1%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-43% / -8%
-40% / -5%
-41% / -10%
-7% / 1%

* ... smaller is better

The XMG Ultra 15 comes with a 120 Hz panel with the designation “AU Optronics B156HTN05.2”, which struggles to impress us because it is a TN-based panel. Besides the poor viewing angles (as opposed to IPS displays), there is also the poor color-space coverage to be mentioned. Straight out of the box, the panel suffers from a noticeable bluish cast, which can fortunately be removed by means of calibration (our ICC-profile is linked above). 

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
Schenker XMG Ultra 15 vs. sRGB (91%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 15 vs. sRGB (91%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 15 vs. AdobeRGB (59%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 15 vs. AdobeRGB (59%)

The rest of the display measurements are more or less black and white. While the average brightness of around 365 cd/m² is quite good, the contrast ratio of 626:1 can only be described as mediocre. In the comparison chart above, all competitors manage to achieve a contrast ratio of over 900:1. The main reason for the mediocre contrast ratio is the really high black value. The black value of 0.58 cd/m² is going to make dark tones appear grayish.

Pixel arrangement
Pixel arrangement
Screen bleeding
Screen bleeding
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

The 15-incher also receives criticism for its brightness distribution. 74% is not what high-quality displays tend to offer (most devices achieve at least 80%). The clouding makes itself noticeable only in certain situations (for instance: during unicolored scenes in dimly-lit rooms). The panel deserves respect for its low response times. 8 ms for black-to-white and 24 ms for gray-to-gray shows IPS-based displays who’s the boss. Among the competitors, only the Alienware 15 R3 can keep up with these results.

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
8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 5.6 ms rise
↘ 2.4 ms fall
The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 16 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
24.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13.4 ms rise
↘ 10.8 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 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 29 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better 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

When it comes to upgradability and maintenance options, the XMG Ultra 15 can give any desktop PC a run for its money. With a replaceable CPU and GPU, up to four RAM slots and a maximum of four storage devices, it represents a true replacement for a traditional desktop.

CPU Z
CPU Z
CPU Z
CPU Z
CPU Z
GPU Z
HWiNFO
CrystalDiskMark
AS SSD Benchmark
Latenzen

Processor

As was mentioned previously, the XMG Ultra 15 is powered not by a mobile CPU but by a veritable desktop processor. The Core i5-8600K in our review device can process up to six threads at the same time and is very easy to overclock due to an unlocked multiplier. Thanks to Intel’s Turbo Boost Technology, the processor can be overclocked above its standard clock rate automatically. Here, the boost clock amounts to 3.6 GHz. 

Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
Cinebench R15 (Single-Core)
Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
Cinebench R15 (Multi-Core)
GPU load
GPU load

Under load, the i5-8600K manages to achieve 4.1 to 4.3 GHz. Here, the king of mobile processors itself - the Core i7-7820HK - can only hit 3900 MHz. This is why the XMG Ultra 15 takes first place in the comparison chart below. The gap between the XMG Ultra 15 and the competing devices, which come equipped with a Core i7-7700HQ, is, at the very least, 12% in the single-core benchmarks and 32% in the multi-core benchmarks.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=247, last 2 years)
265 Points +46%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Core i5-8600K
181 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K
  (181 - 181, n=2)
181 Points 0%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points -12%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points -12%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points -12%
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points -12%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=248, last 2 years)
2986 Points +201%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Core i5-8600K
991 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K
  (988 - 991, n=2)
990 Points 0%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
740 Points -25%
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
739 Points -25%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
737 Points -26%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
731 Points -26%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (2.62 - 3.73, n=23, last 2 years)
3.21 Points +55%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Core i5-8600K
2.07 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K
 
2.07 Points 0%
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.84 Points -11%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points -12%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points -12%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.81 Points -13%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (19.7 - 64.3, n=24, last 2 years)
35.7 Points +232%
Average Intel Core i5-8600K
 
10.8 Points 0%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Intel Core i5-8600K
10.76 Points
Gigabyte P56XT
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.17 Points -24%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.16 Points -24%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.15 Points -24%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.13 Points -24%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
6875
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
32863
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
2.07 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
10.76 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
181 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
991 Points
Help

We check whether or not the Turbo boost can be used over prolonged periods of time by running the Cinebench R15 multi-core benchmark in a continuous loop for 30 minutes. As you can see in the chart below, the performance remains constant over time.

01020304050607080901001101201301401501601701801902002102202302402502602702802903003103203303403503603703803904004104204304404504604704804905005105205305405505605705805906006106206306406506606706806907007107207307407507607707807908008108208308408508608708808909009109209309409509609709809901000Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

System Performance

There are no bad surprises in terms of system performance. It does not matter whether it is PCMark 8 or PCMark 10 involved: The review device always takes first place. In practice, the XMG Ultra 15 also turns out to be very responsive and fast, featuring very short boot-up and loading times. However, according to the LatencyMon utility, the latency could have been somewhat lower.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5512 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
 
5512 Points 0%
Average of class Gaming
  (3570 - 6657, n=37, last 2 years)
5218 Points -5%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5169 Points -6%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
5011 Points -9%
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
4966 Points -10%
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, LiteOn CX2-8B256
4239 Points -23%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=36, last 2 years)
6071 Points +8%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5618 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
 
5618 Points 0%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
5426 Points -3%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
5406 Points -4%
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
5299 Points -6%
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, LiteOn CX2-8B256
5261 Points -6%
PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=208, last 2 years)
7531 Points +30%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5779 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8600K, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
 
5779 Points 0%
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, LiteOn CX2-8B256
5021 Points -13%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5512 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5618 points
PCMark 10 Score
5779 points
Help

Storage Devices

The built-in SSD makes the Windows 10 OS feel very smooth and responsive. Although most buyers are still quite happy with a simple SATA-III SSD, the PCIe/NVMe drives have lately become the standard. No wonder: Such SSDs offer excellent sequential read and write speeds. Whereas SATA-III models are limited to about 500 to 550 MB/s (see the MSI GT62VR 7RE in the chart below), modern solid state drives can easily go above 1000 or even 2000 MB/s. The latter figure applies to the Samsung 960 EVO in our review device. Its 500 GB version manages to beat most other competitors. 

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
Samsung SM951 MZVPV256HDGL m.2 PCI-e
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Gigabyte P56XT
LiteOn CX2-8B256
Alienware 15 R3
 
Average Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
 
AS SSD
-27%
-62%
-1%
Seq Read
2758
1941
-30%
510
-82%
2433 ?(1479 - 2758, n=9)
-12%
Seq Write
1836
1067
-42%
288.2
-84%
1647 ?(1277 - 1836, n=9)
-10%
4K Read
44.75
46.35
4%
37.2
-17%
45.5 ?(41.5 - 49.2, n=9)
2%
4K Write
137.1
117.3
-14%
104
-24%
142.4 ?(113.4 - 180.9, n=9)
4%
Score Read
1513
1350
-11%
472
-69%
1645 ?(1493 - 1857, n=9)
9%
Score Write
1614
570
-65%
304
-81%
1518 ?(1231 - 1670, n=9)
-6%
Score Total
3859
2574
-33%
1019
-74%
3968 ?(3629 - 4173, n=9)
3%
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3344 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1847 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 369.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 325.9 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1830 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1641 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 44.02 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 147.7 MB/s

Graphics Card

People who want to make the most of the 120 Hz panel cannot go wrong with the GeForce GTX 1070. Analogous to the GTX 1060, the 1070 is a high-end DirectX 12-capable graphics card based on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture that can run all the latest titles at 1080p smoothly. Thanks to a desktop-grade CPU, the XMG Ultra 15 can often overtake other competing devices that have a GTX 1070. While the XMG Ultra 15 enjoys a performance advantage of less than 10% in the synthetic benchmarks, in actual games it often does 10 to 20% better than the competing devices, at least in Full HD resolution (when gaming in 4K with the XMG Ultra 17, the differences in performance are much smaller).

3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=250, last 2 years)
28955 Points +53%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
18935 Points
Alienware 15 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17675 Points -7%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17477 Points -8%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (15718 - 19059, n=56)
17228 Points -9%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17106 Points -10%
Gigabyte P56XT
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
16410 Points -13%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=246, last 2 years)
39499 Points +59%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
24873 Points
Alienware 15 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22810 Points -8%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22704 Points -9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (13760 - 25604, n=58)
22405 Points -10%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
21955 Points -12%
Gigabyte P56XT
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
20576 Points -17%

The XMG Ultra 15 achieves better performance thanks to its higher GPU clocks. According to the GPU-Z utility, the Turbo boost has a wiggle room of 1518 to 1733 MHz. However, Nvidia’s Pascal chips are designed in such a way that they will clock higher and higher automatically until they reach the thermal limit. After 60 minutes in our The Witcher 3 stress test (1920x1080, ultra settings), the GTX 1070 still ran above 1800 MHz. 

3DMark 06 Standard Score
32601 points
3DMark 11 Performance
18972 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
30865 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
15777 points
Help

The 15-incher loses brownie points due to the strange behavior of its CPU. Even though the Core i5-8600K reached only 60 to 65 °C (140 to 149 °F) in our The Witcher 3 stress test, the Turbo Boost function had been disabled completely. Because this phenomenon seems to affect only demanding 3D applications and not pure CPU loads, the manufacturer must have had a hand in this. The XMG Ultra 17 suffered from the same problem.

012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra

Gaming Performance

As long as you do not connect the XMG Ultra 15 to an external 4K monitor, the GeForce GTX 1070 should be able to run even extremely demanding titles on the high to maximum graphics settings without any problems.

The Witcher 3
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=245, last 2 years)
114 fps +75%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K
65.3 fps
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
59.6 fps -9%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (48.2 - 68.4, n=41)
59.1 fps -9%
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
50.2 fps -23%
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Average of class Gaming
  (17.5 - 449, n=177, last 2 years)
213 fps +73%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K
123 fps
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
110.1 fps -10%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
  (83 - 123, n=30)
105.3 fps -14%
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
90.8 fps -26%

Out of 14 games we benchmarked, every single one of them could achieve at least 60 FPS at 1080p. Seven titles actually managed to hit over 100 FPS, which means that the 120 Hz panel can be properly utilized in these games.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 123 65.3
F1 2017 (2017) 137 102
FIFA 18 (2017) 349 345
Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) 108 84
The Evil Within 2 (2017) 67.5 65.4
ELEX (2017) 113 89.1
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017) 125 117
Assassin´s Creed Origins (2017) 87 72
Call of Duty WWII (2017) 146 122
Need for Speed Payback (2017) 129 122
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) 135 104
Fortnite (2018) 181 131
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 65
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 87.4 66.5

Emissions

System Noise

Barebones laptops from Clevo tend to exhibit an above-average noise level. When it comes to our review device, which is based on Clevo’s P751TM1-G chassis, the fan noise could also have been lower. A maximum CPU temperature of 75 °C (167 °F) during the stress test cannot justify the maximum noise level of 62 dB(A) under extreme load. Roughly 54 dB(A) in our The Witcher 3 stress test is also very loud. This sort of noise level can hardly be tolerated without a headset. In general, noise-sensitive users should look for a quieter alternative. For comparison: The Acer Predator 15 produces only 42 dB(A) under gaming load.

System noise at idle
System noise at idle
System noise under load
System noise under load
Speakers
Speakers

The XMG Ultra 15 is significantly quieter when it is idle. The noise level of 32 to 35 dB(A) is comparable to other high-end laptops. That being said, the 15-incher tends to produce a lot more noise when launching or installing programs. But this kind of behavior is not uncommon among Clevo’s barebones notebooks, which are especially badly affected by this problem.

Noise Level

Idle
32 / 33 / 35 dB(A)
Load
46 / 62 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: 30 dB(A)
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Noise
3%
4%
3%
-0%
off / environment *
30
32
-7%
30
-0%
30
-0%
30
-0%
Idle Minimum *
32
34
-6%
34
-6%
34
-6%
31
3%
Idle Average *
33
36
-9%
35
-6%
35
-6%
32
3%
Idle Maximum *
35
38
-9%
36
-3%
39
-11%
42
-20%
Load Average *
46
41
11%
40
13%
39
15%
49
-7%
Witcher 3 ultra *
54
42
22%
48
11%
Load Maximum *
62
50
19%
46
26%
49
21%
50
19%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

We are quite pleased with the moderate temperatures of the XMG Ultra 15. While the cases of some gaming notebooks can exceed 60 or even 70 °C (140 to 158 °F)  (see the Gigabyte P56XT, which is also thinner), the XMG Ultra 15 manages to keep its case temperatures below 50 °C (122 °F) at all times. Because the wrist-rest and the WASD-keys area reach only a maximum temperature of 32 and 41 °C (89.6 to 105.8 °F) respectively, long gaming sessions should not present any problems. When idle, the case temperatures remain comfortably cool at 23 to 29 °C (73.4 to 84.2 °F).

Stress test
Stress test
Upper side under full load (Optris PI 640)
Upper side under full load (Optris PI 640)
Underside under full load (Optris PI 640)
Underside under full load (Optris PI 640)

Under the hood, only the GeForce GTX 1070 reaches its thermal limit. However, 84 °C (183.2 °F) is not a critical temperature. During the stress test, the Core i5-8600K operates at around 70 °C (158 °F). Nevertheless, it still throttles down to 2.7 GHz.

Max. Load
 40 °C
104 F
42 °C
108 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 41 °C
106 F
41 °C
106 F
39 °C
102 F
 
 30 °C
86 F
32 °C
90 F
28 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 36.9 °C = 98 F
50 °C
122 F
44 °C
111 F
42 °C
108 F
43 °C
109 F
39 °C
102 F
33 °C
91 F
27 °C
81 F
29 °C
84 F
27 °C
81 F
Maximum: 50 °C = 122 F
Average: 37.1 °C = 99 F
Power Supply (max.)  48 °C = 118 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.9 °C / 98 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 42 °C / 108 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 50 °C / 122 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.6 °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 35.4 °C / 96 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32 °C / 89.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-3.1 °C / -5.6 F).
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Heat
8%
6%
-30%
-18%
Maximum Upper Side *
42
42.3
-1%
40.6
3%
65
-55%
46
-10%
Maximum Bottom *
50
40.9
18%
48.4
3%
71
-42%
51.8
-4%
Idle Upper Side *
29
28.4
2%
26.8
8%
35
-21%
36.5
-26%
Idle Bottom *
29
25.2
13%
26.4
9%
30
-3%
38.2
-32%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

According to our measurements, the sound quality of the XMG Ultra 15 is identical to that of the XMG U507.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs203839.72534.236.73129.430.74034.833.45027.427.26325.128.28026.83110026.936.212526.638.316024.151.6200276025027.663.131522.762.840020.163.350018.860.863018.560.780017.961.5100018.463.2125017.362.2160017.263.7200017.167250017.766.4315017.565.9400017.363.6500017.363.4630017.464.3800017.462.21000017.559.21250017.453.51600017.351.5SPL30.476N1.539.4median 17.7median 62.2Delta2.74.638.237.336.131.329.430.237.236.932.732.527.83828.746.328.252.225.748.224.960.32368.12572.122.271.521.269.220.371.420.276.819.479.119.478.819.480.52076.720.173.120.180.720.680.621.179.221.679.722.380.622.776.123.670.624.266.624.859.533.390.51.991.5median 21.6median 76.11.96.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSCHENKER XMG Ultra 15Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (13.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 17% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 78% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 10% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 87% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 14.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 22% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 13% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked!)

Energy Management

Energy Consumption

The XMG Ultra 15 had to pass on Nvidia’s Optimus technology (this technology enables automatic switching between a dedicated and an integrated graphics adapter), because it already uses Nvidia’s G-Sync technology. Notebooks with Nvidia’s Optimus technology and/or a mobile CPU would draw significantly less than 30 watts when idle, as you can see from the competing devices. Under load, the XMG Ultra 15 also draws more power than most high-end notebooks. A maximum power draw of 309 watts during the stress test resembles more a desktop PC tower than a notebook. In order to reliably supply the device with enough power, the XGM Ultra 15 includes a huge 330-watt AC adapter.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 1.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 28 / 31 / 38 Watt
Load midlight 100 / 309 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 Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
Power Consumption
24%
26%
36%
27%
Idle Minimum *
28
18
36%
20
29%
13
54%
19
32%
Idle Average *
31
23
26%
24
23%
17
45%
23
26%
Idle Maximum *
38
30
21%
29
24%
22
42%
29
24%
Load Average *
100
89
11%
82
18%
85
15%
85
15%
Witcher 3 ultra *
206
168
18%
154
25%
Load Maximum *
309
213
31%
193
38%
208
33%
192
38%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

You should not expect a good battery life from the XMG Ultra 15. With the brightness set to minimum, the notebook dies after 3 hours 40 minutes. In our Wi-Fi and video tests, which are conducted with the brightness level set to around 50%, the laptop can last only for 3 hours and 14 minutes and 3 hours and 6 minutes, respectively. If you stress the system by setting the brightness to maximum and running demanding 3D applications, the 82-Wh battery will die after about 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
3h 40min
WiFi Websurfing
3h 14min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
3h 06min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 59min
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i5-8600K, 82 Wh
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-751X
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 90 Wh
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 75 Wh
Gigabyte P56XT
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 91.2 Wh
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, 99 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
64%
29%
89%
35%
80%
Reader / Idle
220
502
128%
377
71%
568
158%
382
74%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
149%
H.264
186
295
59%
252
35%
370
99%
266
43%
392 ?(56 - 747, n=99, last 2 years)
111%
WiFi v1.3
194
332
71%
246
27%
384
98%
264
36%
366 ?(57 - 745, n=191, last 2 years)
89%
Load
119
117
-2%
98
-18%
120
1%
102
-14%
86 ?(36 - 173, n=155, last 2 years)
-28%

Verdict

Pros

+ a lot of upgrade options
+ easy to maintain
+ individually configurable
+ moderate temperatures
+ first-class performance
+ RGB keyboard backlight
+ no bloatware
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ great sound
+ G-Sync

Cons

- CPU Turbo is disabled in demanding 3D applications
- really thick and heavy case
- power-hungry
- TN panel with flaws
- mediocre fan control
- poor battery life
The XMG Ultra 15, provided courtesy of: Schenker Technologies
The XMG Ultra 15, provided courtesy of: Schenker Technologies

The Schenker XMG Ultra 15 inherits the strengths and the weaknesses of its 17-inch sibling, the XMG Ultra 17. In our opinion, the easy-to-service case deserves a lot of credit (both the CPU and the GPU can theoretically be replaced!). It can be extensively customized in Schenker’s online configuration tool. The input devices, the audio quality and the ports (Thunderbolt 3) all live up to the XMG’s price tag. 

However, the 120-Hz G-Sync-capable display leaves a rather mixed impression. The good brightness and the low response times can hardly wash away the feeling of disappointment left by the poor color accuracy, the mediocre brightness uniformity, poor viewing angles and the somewhat high black value. 

The biggest point of criticism we have concerns the fan noise. Despite the thick case, the 15-incher produces a lot of noise during gaming sessions. It also tends to produce a whole lot of unnecessary noise when working on small tasks. Because the processor and the graphics card never reach critical temperatures, there is some wiggle room for a quieter cooling solution. To that end, you can always adjust the fan speed manually via the Control Center utility. The modest battery life is another reason why the XMG Ultra 15 does not get an “A” from us.

However, when you take every aspect into consideration, you will see that the XMG Ultra 15 stacks up quite well against competitors like the Acer Predator 15, MSI GT62VR 7RE and the Alienware 15 R3.

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 15 - 03/05/2018 v6(old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
75 / 98 → 77%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
76 / 81 → 94%
Weight
53 / 10-66 → 77%
Battery
69%
Display
80%
Games Performance
98%
Application Performance
99%
Temperature
87 / 95 → 92%
Noise
62 / 90 → 69%
Audio
80%
Average
79%
86%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Schenker XMG Ultra 15 (Clevo P751TM1-G) Laptop Review
Florian Glaser, 2018-03-21 (Update: 2020-05-19)