Notebookcheck Logo

Schenker XMG Ultra 17 (Clevo P775TM1-G) Laptop Review

With the power of six cores. After years of quad-core processors being the standard in powerful notebooks and desktop computers, 2018 is the starting point for Hex- and Octa-Core chipsets on a large scale, thanks to Intel’s Coffee-Lake and AMD’s Ryzen architecture. The Schenker XMG Ultra 17 has to prove itself, being one of the first notebooks with a six-core processor.

The Ultimate series marks Schenker Technologies’ most expensive and powerful high-end laptops. While the XMG U727 and XMG Zenith 17 are available with the option of two Nvidia Pascal based GPUs, the XMG Ultra 15 and Ultra 17 are solely available with one. The 17-inch model presented in this test is powered by a choice of a GeForce GTX 1060, a GTX 1070 or the current top of its class, the GTX 1080. Befitting a high-end gaming notebook, it also can be specified with up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory (4 slots) and up to four storage devices (2x M.2-2280 & 2x 2.5-inch).

The basic configuration comes with a Core i5-8400 (2.8-4.0 GHz, 9 MB Cache) processor, which can be upgraded to a Core i5-8600K (3.6-4.3 GHz, 9 MB Cache), a Core i7-8700 (3.2-4.6 GHz, 12 MB Cache), or a Core i7-8700K (3.7-4.7 GHz, 12 MB Cache) respectively. The latter two offer Hyper-threading and are if desired, available in delidded form. This package is made complete with a choice of a Full HD display (1920x1080, 60 Hz, IPS), a WQHD monitor (2560x1440, 120 Hz, TN) or a UHD panel (3840x2160, 60 Hz, IPS).

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 (XMG Ultra Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8700 6 x 3.2 - 4.6 GHz, Coffee Lake-S, Socket 1151
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1657 MHz, Memory: 2500 MHz, GDDR5X, MXM, ForceWare 390.77
Memory
32 GB 
, 2x 16 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-2400, Dual-Channel, 2 of 4 Slots occupied, max. 64 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 3840 x 2160 pixel 255 PPI, AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B), IPS, UHD, AHVA, 60 Hz, G-Sync, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Z370 (Kaby Lake)
Storage
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe, 500 GB 
, + Seagate Barracuda ST2000LM015, 2 TB HDD, 5400 rpm. Slots: 2x M2-2280 & 2x 2.5-inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC899 @ Intel Union Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 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,SDXC,SDHC,Mini SD,MMC,RSMMC, 1 Fingerprint Reader
Networking
Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 41 x 418 x 295 ( = 1.61 x 16.46 x 11.61 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: 2.1, Keyboard: three zone RGB lighting, Keyboard Light: yes, 330 W power supply, manual, driver DVD, recovery DVD, usb drive with tools, 2.5-inch accessories, Control Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
4.368 kg ( = 154.08 oz / 9.63 pounds), Power Supply: 1.274 kg ( = 44.94 oz / 2.81 pounds)
Price
3500 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

The most basic version of the Ultra 17 is currently priced at 1699 Euros (~$2090). However, at this price customers are left with only a 500 GB HDD, 8 GB of RAM, and no included operating system. You will have to spend far more if you want our configuration, the L17-hwc, which is available at multiple online shops. With a price tag of 3500 Euros (~$4310), our configuration comes with a Core i7-8700, a GeForce GTX 1080, a UHD panel, 32 GB of RAM and a combination of a 500 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD.

The chassis of the Ultra 17 is the P775TM1-G Barebone manufactured by Clevo, which is very similar to the already tested P775DM3-G used for the Guru Mars K. Thus, we will not go too deep into specifics such as the chassis, input devices and connectivity. That information can be found by following this link.

Size Comparison

428 mm / 16.9 inch 314 mm / 12.4 inch 58 mm / 2.28 inch 4.6 kg10.1 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 322 mm / 12.7 inch 45 mm / 1.772 inch 4.3 kg9.58 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 295 mm / 11.6 inch 41 mm / 1.614 inch 4.4 kg9.63 lbs418 mm / 16.5 inch 295 mm / 11.6 inch 41 mm / 1.614 inch 4.2 kg9.3 lbs424 mm / 16.7 inch 332 mm / 13.1 inch 29.9 mm / 1.177 inch 4.4 kg9.74 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)
Guru Mars K
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
194 MB/s +4%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
187 MB/s
Average of class Gaming
  (19 - 202, n=104, last 2 years)
98.2 MB/s -47%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
83 MB/s -56%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
79 MB/s -58%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
208 MB/s
Guru Mars K
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
205 MB/s -1%
Average of class Gaming
  (26 - 269, n=95, last 2 years)
122.3 MB/s -41%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
89 MB/s -57%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
88 MB/s -58%
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (865 - 1412, n=12, last 2 years)
1078 MBit/s +81%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
628 MBit/s +5%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
596 MBit/s
Alienware 17 R4
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
589 MBit/s -1%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
558 MBit/s -6%
Guru Mars K
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
406 MBit/s -32%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Gaming
  (708 - 1700, n=12, last 2 years)
1310 MBit/s +90%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
700 MBit/s +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
689 MBit/s
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
681 MBit/s -1%
Alienware 17 R4
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
606 MBit/s -12%
Guru Mars K
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
389 MBit/s -44%

Display

Subpixel
Subpixel

The UHD display found in our test device is already familiar to us. The AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0 is an exquisite IPS panel, which has found its way into the Schenker XMG U727 and XMG Pro 17. The 4K model shows its strength in color representation: 100% sRGB and 88% AdobeRGB are excellent results, only to be rivaled by a handful of other comparable notebooks (e. g. the MSI GT75VR offering 77% AdobeRGB).

301
cd/m²
318
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
323
cd/m²
332
cd/m²
327
cd/m²
306
cd/m²
293
cd/m²
311
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 332 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 312.9 cd/m² Minimum: 16 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 332 cd/m²
Contrast: 1186:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.86 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.33 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
100% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
99.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
100% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.41
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
AU Optronics B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B), IPS, 3840x2160
Guru Mars K
LGD046E, IPS, 1920x1080
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
LP173WF4-SPF5 (LGD056D), IPS, 1920x1080
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
CMN N173HHE-G32 (CMN1747), TN LED, 1920x1080
Alienware 17 R4
TN LED, 2560x1440
Display
-25%
-26%
-2%
-28%
Display P3 Coverage
86.4
67.3
-22%
66
-24%
90.3
5%
61.2
-29%
sRGB Coverage
100
85.1
-15%
83.7
-16%
99.6
0%
82.9
-17%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
99.1
62.3
-37%
61.2
-38%
86.8
-12%
60.5
-39%
Response Times
5%
-8%
74%
40%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
44 ?(22.8, 21.2)
37.6 ?(18.8, 18.8)
15%
45 ?(18, 27)
-2%
11.6 ?(6.4, 5.2)
74%
30 ?(18.8, 11.2)
32%
Response Time Black / White *
24.8 ?(11.6, 13.2)
26.4 ?(14, 12.4)
-6%
28 ?(6, 22)
-13%
6.8 ?(4.8, 2)
73%
12.8 ?(10.8, 2)
48%
PWM Frequency
133.3 ?(95)
25000 ?(15)
Screen
-7%
-10%
13%
-31%
Brightness middle
332
343
3%
380
14%
274
-17%
402.3
21%
Brightness
313
330
5%
362
16%
262
-16%
372
19%
Brightness Distribution
88
91
3%
91
3%
87
-1%
86
-2%
Black Level *
0.28
0.32
-14%
0.37
-32%
0.26
7%
0.62
-121%
Contrast
1186
1072
-10%
1027
-13%
1054
-11%
649
-45%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.86
3.61
6%
4.12
-7%
1.36
65%
5.6
-45%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.88
8.16
-39%
8.19
-39%
4.1
30%
9.8
-67%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.33
3.03
30%
3.95
9%
0.64
85%
4.7
-9%
Gamma
2.41 91%
2.41 91%
2.47 89%
2.19 100%
2.14 103%
CCT
6595 99%
6568 99%
6539 99%
6551 99%
7519 86%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
88
56
-36%
55
-37%
77
-12%
53.7
-39%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
100
85
-15%
84
-16%
100
0%
82.2
-18%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-9% / -9%
-15% / -13%
28% / 18%
-6% / -21%

* ... smaller is better

Another strength of the 4K display is its strong contrast of 1200:1. The black (0.28 cd/m²) and brightness (~313 cd/m²) levels deserve equal respect. Thanks to the consistent illumination, there were no inconsistencies in lighting. Furthermore, the viewing angles are great compared to TN panels.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation
Saturation
Saturation after calibration
Saturation after calibration
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
Schenker XMG Ultra 17 vs. sRGB (100%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 17 vs. sRGB (100%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 17 vs. AdobeRGB (88%)
Schenker XMG Ultra 17 vs. AdobeRGB (88%)

Overall, the panel is of high quality, though it should be noted that a resolution as high as UHD requires a potent GPU to match, which is why we recommend to at least go for a GTX 1070 in this case. The only weak point of the IPS based display is the high response time, which with 44 ms gray-to-gray is just average.

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
24.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 11.6 ms rise
↘ 13.2 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. » 52 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
44 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22.8 ms rise
↘ 21.2 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. » 69 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Performance

Considering its depth of over four centimeters (~1.57 in) and a weight of around 4.4 kilograms (~9.7 lb), the XMG Ultra 17 is one of the thickest and heaviest gaming notebooks currently on the market. This should not come as a surprise, since the 17 incher has been designed as a pure desktop replacement aimed at a stationary use case by providing ample power, ports and great upgrade options.

Processor

Unlike most laptops, the XMG Ultra 17 does not come with a mobile processor, but a full-fledged desktop CPU. This becomes apparent the moment you look at the TDP. While notebook favorites such as the Core i7-7700HQ and Core i7-7820HK are satisfied with a TDP of 45 W, their desktop brethren have a TDP between 65 W and 95 W. With the current Coffee-Lake generation, Intel has focused on increasing the number of cores. Six cores are now standard in the consumer sector, which seems necessary, considering the fact that AMD is offering six and eight core processors with the Ryzen series.

Singlecore Rendering
Singlecore Rendering
Multicore Rendering
Multicore Rendering
GPU load
GPU load

Our test configuration contains a Core i7-8700, which, while not offering a free multiplicator for overclocking, does support Hyper-threading with up to 12 threads in parallel. A 12 MB L3-Cache (6 MB @Core i7-7700HQ) is also quite impressive. Thanks to turbo boost, the frequency the processor operates at is increased during load as well.

Unfortunately, the Core i7-8700 cannot utilize its full turbo potential in the XMG Ultra 17, despite its massive cooling. In single-core applications, only 4.3 GHz instead of the theoretically possible 4.6 GHz is reached. The result is even worse when all cores are stressed: Instead of boosting to a constant 4.3 GHz, the frequency varies during Cinebench testing between 4.3 GHz and 3.2 GHz (= deactivated turbo), ending in inconsistent results.

01020304050607080901001101201301401501601701801902002102202302402502602702802903003103203303403503603703803904004104204304404504604704804905005105205305405505605705805906006106206306406506606706806907007107207307407507607707807908008108208308408508608708808909009109209309409509609709809901000101010201030104010501060107010801090110011101120113011401150116011701180Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
34532
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
7171
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
2.18 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
12.9 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
190 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1167 Points
Help

If you use the results from a cold start as a basis, the Core i7-8700 passes the Core i7-7820HK found in the MSI GT75VR by about 54% in Cinebench R15 19. The gap to the Acer Predator 17 X overclocked to 4.3 GHz still ends up between 3% and 34%. Equally interesting is a comparison with its desktop predecessor, the Core i7-7700 (3.6-4.2 GHz, 8 MB Cache). In this scenario, the Core i7-8700 wins by between 7% and 36%. The fact that it cannot get a bigger lead in multi-core scenarios is, as hinted, connected to the limited turbo. The 1.5 times higher core count should actually lead to an increase in performance by around 50%.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (79.2 - 318, n=245, last 2 years)
265 Points +39%
Average Intel Core i7-8700
  (190 - 197, n=3)
193 Points +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Intel Core i7-8700
190 Points
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Intel Core i7-7820HK
184 Points -3%
Guru Mars K
Intel Core i7-7700
178 Points -6%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
171 Points -10%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
160 Points -16%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (400 - 5663, n=246, last 2 years)
2988 Points +156%
Average Intel Core i7-8700
  (1167 - 1215, n=3)
1194 Points +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Intel Core i7-8700
1167 Points
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Intel Core i7-7820HK
874 Points -25%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
867 Points -26%
Guru Mars K
Intel Core i7-7700
857 Points -27%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
758 Points -35%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (2.62 - 3.73, n=23, last 2 years)
3.21 Points +47%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Intel Core i7-8700
2.18 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8700
  (2.16 - 2.18, n=2)
2.17 Points 0%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Intel Core i7-7820HK
2.08 Points -5%
Guru Mars K
Intel Core i7-7700
2.02 Points -7%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.81 Points -17%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
1.69 Points -22%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Gaming
  (19.7 - 64.3, n=24, last 2 years)
35.7 Points +177%
Average Intel Core i7-8700
  (12.9 - 13, n=2)
13 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Intel Core i7-8700
12.9 Points
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Intel Core i7-7820HK
9.55 Points -26%
Alienware 17 R4
Intel Core i7-7820HK
9.53 Points -26%
Guru Mars K
Intel Core i7-7700
9.52 Points -26%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
Intel Core i7-7820HK
8.34 Points -35%

System performance

Not surprisingly, the XMG Ultra 17 has excellent system performance. This leads to 5,976 points in PCMark 10 during our testing. Neither the Guru Mars K (5,856 points) nor the MSI GT75VR (5,211 points) can beat that. Thanks to the solid-state driver, Windows boots quickly and responds fast during usage. However, Schenker could improve the latency, which in our test device, as with other Clevo Barebones, is not perfect (this is possibly connected to drivers).

PCMark 10 - Score
Average of class Gaming
  (4477 - 9852, n=206, last 2 years)
7540 Points +26%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5976 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8700, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
 
5976 Points 0%
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5856 Points -2%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL NVMe (RAID 0)
5211 Points -13%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
5975 Points +23%
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5847 Points +20%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL NVMe (RAID 0)
5237 Points +8%
Average of class Gaming
  (3570 - 6657, n=37, last 2 years)
5218 Points +7%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
5064 Points +4%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
4865 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8700, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
 
4865 Points 0%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
6123 Points +26%
Average of class Gaming
  (4622 - 7085, n=36, last 2 years)
6071 Points +25%
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
6015 Points +24%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 2x Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL NVMe (RAID 0)
5444 Points +12%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
5088 Points +5%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
4849 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8700, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
 
4849 Points 0%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4865 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4849 points
PCMark 10 Score
5976 points
Help

Storage

It should take users some time to fill up the provided storage space in our configuration. While larger file formats (e. g. movie collections) can be migrated to the large 2 TB HDD, the SSD provides a space for more frequently used applications and games.

SSD
SSD
SSD
SSD
HDD
HDD
HDD
HDD

The 960 Evo from Samsung in particular provides great value for money. The reviewed 500 GB model offers both great sequential results and a high speed when dealing with small files. The 500 GB drives found in the Acer Predator 17 X (Toshiba) and Alienware 17 R4 (SK Hynix) are on average 20% behind. And that, despite the fact that the latter is also based on NVMe technology. Users who would like to fully utilize the storage potential that the Ultra 17 offers have access to one empty M.2-2280 slot and an empty 2.5-inch bay.

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Guru Mars K
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
Toshiba NVMe THNSN5512GPU7
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
2x Samsung SM961 MZVPW256HEGL NVMe (RAID 0)
Alienware 17 R4
SK Hynix PC300 NVMe 512 GB
Average Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
 
AS SSD
-23%
1%
-39%
-3%
Seq Read
2533
2261
-11%
3137
24%
1752
-31%
2433 ?(1479 - 2758, n=9)
-4%
Seq Write
1771
1338
-24%
2352
33%
735
-58%
1647 ?(1277 - 1836, n=9)
-7%
4K Read
43.65
39.52
-9%
50.1
15%
35.61
-18%
45.5 ?(41.5 - 49.2, n=9)
4%
4K Write
139.5
133.8
-4%
128.8
-8%
113.4
-19%
142.4 ?(113.4 - 180.9, n=9)
2%
Score Read
1716
1118
-35%
1412
-18%
831
-52%
1645 ?(1493 - 1857, n=9)
-4%
Score Write
1615
930
-42%
1289
-20%
858
-47%
1518 ?(1231 - 1670, n=9)
-6%
Score Total
4173
2581
-38%
3392
-19%
2072
-50%
3968 ?(3629 - 4173, n=9)
-5%
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3308 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1839 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 392.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 340 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1750 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1725 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 44.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 153.5 MB/s

GPU

Core gamers, whose focus is on great graphical fidelity will require a GeForce GTX 1080 to fully benefit from the UHD resolution. Nvidia’s Pascal flagship contains 2,560 shader units and 8 GB of GDDR5X RAM, connected via a 256-Bit interface. While the CPU of the XMG Ultra 17 suffers from unstable turbo frequencies, the GPU can fully utilize its boost. 1,770 MHz during the Unigine Heaven 4.0 benchmark show good clock speeds under load, which, according to GPU-Z may reach from 1,657 MHz to 1,847 MHz.

3DMark
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (224 - 22547, n=246, last 2 years)
11809 Points +69%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
7166 Points +3%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
7140 Points +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
6977 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
  (6380 - 7166, n=8)
6867 Points -2%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Gaming
  (781 - 53059, n=248, last 2 years)
29013 Points +37%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
22566 Points +7%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
21846 Points +4%
Guru Mars K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
21778 Points +3%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
21366 Points +1%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
  (18879 - 23091, n=24)
21306 Points +1%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
21104 Points
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Gaming
  (1029 - 72070, n=244, last 2 years)
39642 Points +39%
Guru Mars K
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
29615 Points +3%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
29109 Points +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
28621 Points
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
28595 Points 0%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
  (24868 - 31412, n=26)
28106 Points -2%
Alienware 17 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
26438 Points -8%

Our benchmark course shows that the GeForce GTX 1080 has, as is to be expected, good performance, though the desktop processor is not noticeable during GPU testing. Conventional notebooks with a mobile CPU can achieve similar results. An Advantage of the Ultra 17 though is its upgradability. Both CPU and GPU are not soldered down.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
30222 points
3DMark 11 Performance
22034 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
37952 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
17997 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
6942 points
Help

To see whether prolonged gaming sessions would cause problems for this 17-incher, we tested it with 60 minutes of “The Witcher 3” gameplay. The results leave us with mixed feelings. While the GeForce GTX 1080 does boost to a massive 1,720 MHz, it reaches a temperature of 90 °C (194 °F). Interestingly, the Core i7-8700 shows the opposite picture: Despite staying at acceptable temperatures, the turbo boost gets completely disabled.

012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra

Gaming Performance

The fact that 3,840x2,160 can strain and even overwhelm high-end chips is noticeable when looking at newer games. Demanding games such as “Final Fantasy XV” or “Kingdom Come Deliverance” on higher settings are able to bring even a GeForce GTX 1080 to its limit.

The Witcher 3
3840x2160 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Average of class Gaming
  (50.6 - 167.6, n=48, last 2 years)
105.3 fps +105%
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700
52.6 fps +3%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
52.2 fps +2%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700
51.3 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
  (44.4 - 55.8, n=11)
50.4 fps -2%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
46.8 fps -9%
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Average of class Gaming
  (8.61 - 216, n=243, last 2 years)
114.3 fps +51%
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
78.1 fps +3%
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
75.9 fps 0%
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700
75.9 fps 0%
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700
75.6 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile
  (61.7 - 78.1, n=23)
72.5 fps -4%
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
68.5 fps -9%

Aside from that, high to maximum settings are usually playable, though often only 40-60 FPS are attainable on UHD. For the GTX 1070 we recommend the WQHD panel, and if you want to get the GTX 1060, you should consider going with the Full HD display.

low med. high ultra4K
The Witcher 3 (2015) 142 75.6 51.3
FIFA 18 (2017) 289 286 249
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (2017) 136 127 52.1
Assassin´s Creed Origins (2017) 86 76 39
Call of Duty WWII (2017) 160 131 63.2
Need for Speed Payback (2017) 137 131 48.9
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) 137 115 39.6
Fortnite (2018) 194 141 41.4
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 74.4 31.8
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 104 76.8 25.8

Emissions

System noise

From their slim 14-inch to their massive 17-inch offerings: Clevo Barebones usually are hampered by their awful fan controller. Sadly, the cooling system found in the P775TM1-G chassis is also plagued by these issues. The system gets rather loud, even when considering the desktop-grade processor inside. While the XMG Ultra 17 stays at “only” 45 dB(A) during 3DMark 06, the 52 dB(A) in “The Witcher 3” or even up to 60 dB(A) under full load are very high and force gamers to use a headset.

Idle
Idle
Load
Load
Speaker
Speaker

Even during light tasks or while opening programs, we have to criticize the system in this respect. The cooling has a tendency to randomly spin up, something a lot of users are going to find annoying. Updates and the booting process also tend to get the fans up to 40 dB(A). However, those inclined to optimize will be able to make manual adjustments via the preinstalled control center.

Noise Level

Idle
34 / 35 / 40 dB(A)
Load
45 / 60 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 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Noise
0%
6%
0%
2%
off / environment *
30
29
3%
30
-0%
30
-0%
28.2
6%
Idle Minimum *
34
36
-6%
33
3%
33
3%
35.6
-5%
Idle Average *
35
37
-6%
35
-0%
34
3%
35.6
-2%
Idle Maximum *
40
40
-0%
37
7%
38
5%
35.7
11%
Load Average *
45
45
-0%
40
11%
44
2%
50.2
-12%
Witcher 3 ultra *
52
50
4%
56
-8%
50.2
3%
Load Maximum *
60
55
8%
50
17%
62
-3%
50.2
16%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The temperatures are good. With the exception of the GPU, which can get fairly hot under load, all other components stay relatively cool. The (limited to 2.7 GHz) Core i7-8700 did not exceed 71 °C (~160 °F) when using tools such as FurMark or Prime95.

Load
Load
Load top (Optris PI 640)
Load top (Optris PI 640)
Load bottom (Optris PI 640)
Load bottom (Optris PI 640)

The chassis also stays fairly cool on the outside. A maximum of 41 °C (~106 °F) on the top and 51 °C (~124 °F) on the bottom after 60 minutes of “The Witcher 3” are good results. Furthermore, the hand rest stays cool under all circumstances and the device does not heat up that much while idling.

Max. Load
 39 °C
102 F
40 °C
104 F
37 °C
99 F
 
 40 °C
104 F
41 °C
106 F
36 °C
97 F
 
 27 °C
81 F
29 °C
84 F
25 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 41 °C = 106 F
Average: 34.9 °C = 95 F
48 °C
118 F
48 °C
118 F
33 °C
91 F
43 °C
109 F
43 °C
109 F
29 °C
84 F
23 °C
73 F
27 °C
81 F
27 °C
81 F
Maximum: 48 °C = 118 F
Average: 35.7 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  50 °C = 122 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.9 °C / 95 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 41 °C / 106 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 48 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.8 °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 35.2 °C / 95 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30 °C / 86 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-1.1 °C / -2 F).
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Heat
-1%
0%
-11%
-5%
Maximum Upper Side *
41
46
-12%
44.2
-8%
46
-12%
49.6
-21%
Maximum Bottom *
48
46
4%
43
10%
57
-19%
56
-17%
Idle Upper Side *
30
32
-7%
32.4
-8%
34
-13%
29.6
1%
Idle Bottom *
35
31
11%
32.8
6%
35
-0%
29.2
17%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.843.72537.141.43130.837.14032.433.45026.128.663263180244610024.661.312522.656.216022.156.62002361.725024.663.731520.469.640018.476.450018.57563017.571.480017.771100017.264.6125016.864.7160016.962.3200017.165250017.265.8315017.664.5400017.564.7500017.663.2630017.562800017.462.41000018.361.11250018.259.71600017.450.9SPL29.879.2N1.348.3median 17.6median 63.7Delta1.62.841.346.639.24230.133.337.639.831.735.83138.931.446.129.849.723.753.922.262.520.773.221.174.320.876.119.577.319.276.118.77318.972.119.277.818.975.819.472.818.168.917.474.117.578.517.57217.571.717.571.317.666.217.662.817.661.117.552.730.586.11.473median 18.9median 72.81.55.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseSCHENKER XMG Ultra 17Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 4.1% away from median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 4% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 9.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 7% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 4% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 94% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Comparison (Use checkboxes above!)

Energy management

Energy consumption

The combination of a desktop CPU, high-end GPU, a UHD display and no GPU switching results in a rather high energy consumption. 32-45 W while idling is something that only a few other gaming notebooks reach. The same goes for the 237 W in “The Witcher 3” and the 331 W under full load. Not surprisingly, the GTX 1080 variant comes packed with a massive 330 W power supply. 

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.4 / 1.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 32 / 38 / 45 Watt
Load midlight 96 / 331 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 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
Power Consumption
-3%
12%
-7%
2%
Idle Minimum *
32
31
3%
27
16%
34
-6%
37.5
-17%
Idle Average *
38
37
3%
32
16%
41
-8%
37.6
1%
Idle Maximum *
45
44
2%
41
9%
50
-11%
37.6
16%
Load Average *
96
116
-21%
102
-6%
106
-10%
122.4
-28%
Witcher 3 ultra *
237
259
-9%
257
-8%
180.3
24%
Load Maximum *
331
312
6%
248
25%
320
3%
277.4
16%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

Despite its massive capacity (82 Wh), the swappable Li-Ion battery is not suitable for mobile use. Even on the lowest brightness with only one open text file on display, the notebook reaches 0% after less than 3 hours. 2:22 hours of internet surfing via WLAN and 2:28 hours of HD video playback on medium brightness are not ideal either. The 3D performance also suffers by one third during battery operation (tested with “The Witcher 3”).

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
2h 44min
WiFi Websurfing
2h 22min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
2h 28min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 10min
SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-8700, 82 Wh
Guru Mars K
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7700, 82 Wh
Acer Predator 17 X GX-792-76DL
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 88.8 Wh
MSI GT75VR 7RF-012 Titan Pro
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 75 Wh
Alienware 17 R4
GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK, 99 Wh
Average of class Gaming
 
Battery Runtime
26%
59%
1%
31%
145%
Reader / Idle
164
200
22%
313
91%
182
11%
276
68%
548 ?(57 - 1290, n=90, last 2 years)
234%
H.264
148
153
3%
204
38%
148
0%
392 ?(56 - 747, n=97, last 2 years)
165%
WiFi v1.3
142
251
77%
144
1%
181
27%
365 ?(57 - 745, n=190, last 2 years)
157%
Load
70
107
53%
90
29%
65
-7%
69
-1%
85.5 ?(36 - 173, n=153, last 2 years)
22%

Verdict

Pros

+ UHD display with great color representation
+ great upgradability
+ individual configuration
+ great performance
+ modern hardware
+ RGB lighting
+ no bloatware
+ Thunderbolt 3
+ good sound

Cons

- thick and heavy chassis
- annoying fan controller
- GPU can get very hot
- limited CPU turbo
- high energy consumption
- short battery life
XMG Ultra 17, provided by Schenker Technologies.
XMG Ultra 17, provided by Schenker Technologies.

The XMG Ultra 17 is designed for demanding gamers who do not want a tower PC (anymore), but like the upgradability and connectivity of a classic desktop. This is the type of buyer Schenker Technologies is trying to attract with this 17-inch monster.

On the plus side, there are the great input devices and the exceptional UHD display with G-Sync support, whose color representation is best in class. The performance is also excellent: Intel’s Coffee Lake-CPU and Nvidia's Pascal GPU guarantee high performance, though today's games will rarely benefit from six cores as long as the processor supports SMT.

Improvements could be made in terms of the fan controller, which, typical for Barebone manufacturer Clevo, is far from perfect. Decent battery life should not be expected either.

SCHENKER XMG Ultra 17 - 02/23/2018 v6(old)
Florian Glaser

Chassis
79 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
78%
Connectivity
75 / 81 → 93%
Weight
45 / 10-66 → 63%
Battery
65%
Display
90%
Games Performance
100%
Application Performance
98%
Temperature
82 / 95 → 87%
Noise
54 / 90 → 60%
Audio
85%
Average
78%
88%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 7 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Schenker XMG Ultra 17 (Clevo P775TM1-G) Laptop Review
Florian Glaser, 2018-03-12 (Update: 2020-05-19)