[Review] EVOC PA71HS-G

I started searching for “gaming” laptop in July. And after sale in July, where I suggested my friend to get Asus GL502VS with GTX 1060, I was almost set on GL702VS with GTX 1070. But after some interactions on forums, 1stwith LTT and then on NBR, after reading through Glam’s guide and so many posts I decided to get Clevo from HIDEvolution. I was set on P670 with GTX 1070, with PA7xxx rumors at that time.

By the time I was set to confirm order, they had stopped selling those and it was replaced by PA71HS-G. I wasn’t sure initially, with this being newer model and Asus also showing off GL703 with Ryzen. But later decided to go for this, as Ryzen offerings were with RX 580 at that time, so no signs of pairing Ryzen with more powerful GPU in near future.

This is my 1st review, so apologies in advance.
Thanks to Donald as well as Ted, for all the help provided before purchase, during ordering and follow ups after deilvery.

Specifications

Model – PA71HS-G
Screen – 17.3” 1080p IPS 75Hz Gsync (optional upgrade 4K UHD)
CPU – i7 7700HQ (no option of 7820HK, I believe Sager offers that?)
RAM – 2*8 GB 2400MHz DDR4 Samsung
Graphics Card – Nvidia GTX 1070 8 GB
Audio – Sound BlasterX Pro-Gaming 720, Built-in two 2W speakers with a 4W subwoofer
SSD – Samsung 850 EVO.2
HDD – Hitachi HGST 1 TB 7200 RPM
WiFi – Intel Wireless-AC 8265
Keyboard – RGB keyboard with 3-zoned backlit customization and macro capability
Battery – 4 cells 66WH

Ports

Front – 8 LED indicators towards left.
Right – 3 audio ports, 1 DSD/MMC Card reader, 2 USB 3 ports, Ethernet port, Kensington lock
Left – 2 USB 3 ports, 1 Thunderbolt port, 2 mini Display ports, 1 HDMI port, power in
Back – Air intake on right, exhaust accents on both sides

Dimensions and Weight

16.48”(W)*11.3”(D)*0.98”(H) / 418mm(W)*287mm(D)*25mm(H)
6.61lbs / 3 KG

Appearance

PA71HS has slight “gaming laptop” look without being too flashy. There are 2 LED’s on side of power button which are lit when system is on, kind of gives them look of eyes. Cuts on top side as well as on side of the keyboard adds to that. But all this is too subtle. It seems to be good balance of some non-business design and not being too flashy.

Top https://imgur.com/tLGaFwl
Bottom https://imgur.com/dZTuDKA
Size comparison with 14” laptop https://imgur.com/Mfo42Oq
In 17” Sleeve https://imgur.com/YfXZh03

Screen

Having used 14” laptop for work this screen size is certainly welcome. 1080P resolution seems fine at this size (especially considering price of 4K screen upgrade). I haven’t seen 120Hz or 1440P options so far.

Aida64 reports panel as LG173WF4-SPF5.

I don’t have good screen to do comparisons. But compared to a budget work laptop, image quality is easily noticeable.

Here is comparison between those 2 laptops.
Windows wallpaper https://imgur.com/ZbsIX7b
Youtube homepage https://imgur.com/fV9g8WF

Sound

Comes with Sound Blaster Connect 2 software per-installed which has bunch of profiles even based on different games. I haven’t played around with it yet. But so far paired with HD 598SR, audio has been great in Game of Thrones Season 7, Witcher 3, Battlefield 3, Witcher 2.

CPU & GPU Benchmarks

3D Mark benchmarks

TIME SPY 1.0 - 3791
https://www.3dmark.com/3dm/21986920

SKY DIVER 1.0 - 25882
https://www.3dmark.com/sd/4798856

Fire Strike Ultra 1.1 - 3845
https://www.3dmark.com/fs/13517517

Fire Strike Extreme 1.1 - 7231
https://www.3dmark.com/fs/13517502

Fire Strike 1.1 - 13534
https://www.3dmark.com/fs/13517480

Cloud Gate 1.1 - 23741
https://www.3dmark.com/cg/4099533

Ice Storm Extreme 1.2 - 97192
https://www.3dmark.com/is/4223187

Ice Storm Unlimited 1.2 - 142353
https://www.3dmark.com/is/4223188

Rise of the Tomb Raider Benchmark
Mountain Peak: 135, Syria: 101, Geothermal Valley: 100, Overall: 113
Max CPU temp: 70, Max GPU temp: 71

GTA V Gameplay
Avg FPS: 78
Max CPU temp: 72, Max GPU temp: 68

Batman Arkham Origins Benchmarks
Avg FPS: 90

DiRT 3 Complete Edition Benchmark
Avg FPS: 188

GRID 2 Benchmark
Avg FPS: 156

Fans & Temperature

During individual furmark and Aida64 stress test no thermal throttling or overheating was observed, with gpu and cpu maxing out around 84c and 76c respectively. 7700 HQ was able to boost to 3.4 GHz on all 4 cores.
Running furmark and Aida64 stress test together though leads to thermal throttling with temps reaching 95c on CPU, which leads to clock speed lowering under 3 GHz. GPU temperature didn’t exceed 85c though.
Room temperature 25c

Witcher 3 is probably most demanding game in my library and after half hour of gameplay in different areas of the game got below temperatures.
CPU max temp 77c, GPU max temp 79c, room temp 21c

Fans do get loud when system is under load, but that is expected. While gaming wearing headphones I didn’t notice them, even with open headphones. In silent environment you will hear them though.
When system is not under load, I didn’t notice them either. Also I believe this can be configured as well.

I haven’t tried undervolting or setting up fan profile, everything so far is result of stock settings.

Surface Temperature

Area near left side exhaust gets too warm, so WSAD keys and area around that also gets warm, and little uncomfortable. This happens only while gaming, when system is under load. I guess this is due to overall design. I don’t really notice it as far as my hands are only on keys. I would suggest get input from other users of this laptop if you are extremely serious about comfort.

Keyboard & Touchpad

Keyboard seems pretty good to me. I wrote this complete review on it and I don’t feel I am missing anything.
Keyboard supports 3 zoned LED backlit with full set of RGB options with some effects.
There are posts about light fading out from top to bottom of the keys, but I don’t really notice it in my keyboard even if I try to look for it.
Touchpad has nice feel to it. Good enough I guess. I am mostly desktop user, and prefer mouse over touchpad even for just browsing and regular use.
Fingerprint scanner is also present on touchpad itself.

Conclusion

I would have preferred some things to be different, Ryzen or Coffee lake cpu, 1440P screen option, lower surface temps near exhaust towards WSAD. But those CPU’s aren’t available anywhere right now, 1080P resolution is fine at this screen size, and temps around WSAD keys area is something that I can get used to.
If I have to choose again right now, I would end buying this same laptop with same specs.

Let me know if you have any questions, I will try to answer if possible.

 

I'm sure @Donald@HIDevolution didn advice you to run Furmark. A very good advice... Stay away from this Virus, if you hope for longest possible lifespan for your graphics!!

 

Advice for not running this didn't came into discussion as far as I remember, but he did provide me list of benchmarks they use for testing, which didn't include Furmark.

I wasn't aware of this bad reputation, now that you have mentioned it found some threads and info about it

I have no intention to run this again, apart from testing it initially for thermals.
But now I will stop using it.

 

I expected so.
If you haven’t seen it... @Phoenix Software Updates thread

 

I have seen Phoenix's thread, switched to GeekUninstaller only after reading about it there
Now I know why Furmark is missing there

 

Some very decent numbers there, thanks for sharing

 

I'm happy to see a review of this notebook, I was waiting for it!

Thank you for your work mayuk!

I have a couple of question:

1) is it a fingerprints magnet? I'm always disappointed with black notebook due to this u_u...

2) this is a curiosity: can you make a couple of Tomb raider benchmark in a row and tell me if the temperatures become hotter?
I've got an Asus GL702VM (with a 1060) and if I do a test with the "cold" laptop it reach 85°C on CPU and 78°C on GPU. If I do another one CPU reach 91°C and GPU 84°C (yeah, not the best cooling system for sure). This without making downvolt or removing turbo on CPU.
I was wondering if your laptop become much hotter too or the cooling system correctly hand it.
(I know that this is not a correct comparison, but I have only this one to compare!)

Thank you!

 

1) It's not a fingerprint magnet, I can tell it's "touched" if I look for it, but it is for from being a fingerprint magnet
2) Are you referring to Tomb Raider (2013) or Rise of the Tomb Raider?
Results I have posted above are from Rise of the Tomb Raider. I will do some runs and will post results tonight.
I have Tomb Raider (2013) as well in my library, but I will have to download it again if you want results for that. Let me know if that is what specifically you are looking for.

I am also trying Overwatch this weekend. Will post results for that as well.
Does it have some in-game benchmark tool or anything? Or is it just gameplay benchmarks?

 

Thank for your answers!
I'm happy about fingerprints!
I was referring to the rise of the tomb rider benchmark, that you already did !

 

It's certainly like some piano black finishes which need a cloth everytime your eyes focus anywhere near it