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The Gigabyte Saber 17 gaming laptop has got a very powerful six-core processor and a GTX 1060 graphics card. Can this combination make a full replacement for a gaming desktop computer?
In the review I will try to find the answer to this question.
Features of Gigabyte Saber 17
This time I got a model Saber 17 withbrand new Intel Core i7-8750H processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics. For clarity, compare it with Asus Strix GL703GM-DS74 and Asus TUF FX705GM, which run on the same processor. Additionally, I will compare this Gigabyte with MSI GP72VR 7RFX and Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220, in which the same graphic card is installed.
Well, let's reveal all the strengths and weaknesses of the model in order to understand why it is better suited - for office applications, video editing or for games.
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H (Intel Core i7).
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Laptop) at 6144 MB, Geforce 398.82, UHD Graphics 630.
- Memory: 16,384 MB, PC4-19200 DDR4, 1 slot.
- Display: 17.3-inch with an aspect ratio of 16: 9, 1920 × 1080 pixels 127 PPI, Chi Mei CMN1747, TN, 120 Hz.
- Motherboard: Intel Cannon Lake HM370.
- Internal memory: Toshiba NVMe THNSN5256GPU7, 256 GB, 1 TB HDD HGST HTS721010A9E630 7200 RPM.
- Weight: 2,929 kg.
Body and design
Gigabyte chose a rather angular design forSaber. The case is almost entirely made of matte black plastic, on which fingerprints remain quickly. Under pressure, the surface of the case bends, but nothing creaks or cracks. I did not notice any large gaps between the parts. In general, the build quality of the Saber 17 is good, but there is one weak point - the center of the keyboard, which flexes even with simple typing.
The bottom of the body of the Gigabyte Saber 17 - durable,slightly convex, with air vents. Air is drawn in from the lower right side, and hot air is blown out from the left rear. To make the design more symmetrical, there are decorative elements under the ventilation holes on the back right side. I note a big plus of this design - the battery can be removed without having to disassemble the laptop.
The top of the Saber 17 laptop with display alsoassembled with high quality, it withstands the test of twisting and pressure. The cover is decorated with silver Gigabyte logo. By the way, the frame around the screen could be already. The camera and microphone are mounted on the top of this frame, and on the bottom there is another silver brand logo.
Compared to the competition, the new Saber 17turned out to be more cumbersome. Alas, the laptop can be called an alternative to a desktop computer, and not a mobile device. On the other hand, the model weighs almost as much as the competitors.
Connections and connectivity
As for connectivity,Gigabyte Saber 17 is equipped as it should. You can connect several displays simultaneously to this laptop - in addition to the standard HDMI port, there is an additional 2 × Mini DisplayPorts. As a result, you can connect up to 3 monitors simultaneously.
In addition, the laptop has 4 USB connectors, oneof which standard USB type-c. The important point is that at once 2-ports support the standard USB 3.1 Gen2. In my opinion, the presence of USB 2.0 looks like an atavism here and it was possible to install another USB 3.x or even Thunderbolt instead. Headphone and microphone have separate connectors.
Among the many connections to the Saber 17 there areThe SD card reader and the LAN port, however, are rather strange that they are located right next to each other. This may be uncomfortable at a certain point. I note that it is strange to place the connectors on the right side of the case - the cables and the connected devices will interfere when you use the mouse.
After all the tests, I can say that Saber 17 does notThe fastest Wi-Fi connection. On average, Gigabyte Saber results are 40% worse than class performance. This average user will not notice, however, since theoretically the possibility of working with a gigabit connection is spelled out here, it should be.
Keyboard and trackpad
The Gigabyte Saber 17 keyboard has an intuitiveclear and neat layout, there is a full-size digital block on the right side. The keyboard is slightly recessed into the case, the marking is easy to read, and the built-in light becomes another significant advantage, and it can be configured for each of the three zones separately. For fans of manual settings, it is possible to turn on random color mixing, create your own macro, set the desired level of brightness.
The power button is separated from the Saber 17 keyboard,to avoid accidental clicks. The keys themselves are large, have a relatively long stroke. Subjectively, pressing them is not too soft, but it is convenient for quick typing. The sound is hardly noticeable.
The size of the touch panel is about 11 × 6.3 cm. This is enough for comfortable work and the use of gestures. Two separate keys are under the touchpad, the sound when you press them soft. Fingers slide well on a glossy surface, gestures are recognized without errors.
Full HD display
Gigabyte Saber got a 17.3-inch TN panel withFull HD-resolution production of Chi Mei. Let me remind you that the minus of TN technology is a noticeable distortion of images at an angle. The colors of this screen are less saturated than those of IPS-panels, however, Gigabyte proudly declares that the response time of the Saber 17 display is only 3 ms, and the refresh rate is 120 Hz. For a gaming laptop, these are good options. But, as tests have shown, in fact, the reaction time of the display when switching from black to white is 8 ms.
The average brightness of the screen Gigabyte Saber 17is about 309 cd / m². Among the compared models, only the Razer Blade Pro displays are brighter. However, the distribution of the backlight on the screen is only 82%. In the center, the brightness reaches 326 cd / m², and at the edges drops to 277 cd / m².
Despite the fact that this is a TN-panel, Saber pleasedthe black depth, the contrast here is also more than satisfactory - 1207: 1. As you would expect, the color reproduction of this screen is mediocre - the worst indicators among the compared models, the problem is only partially solved by manual calibration. Saber 17 goes to the leaders only when measuring the color gamut - 100% sRGB and 76% AdobeRGB, and flickering becomes noticeable at a brightness level of less than 20%. I do not think that someone will see.
Subjectively, the display in Gigabyte is of high quality, withnot the brightest colors, but with high clarity and response, even in fast action games. A matt panel is installed here, which is why the maximum brightness is 309 cd / m². In general, the laptop outdoors can be used without problems, minus - the distortion of the image at an angle.
CPU performance
Intel Core i7-8750H, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 and 16GB of RAM - all this is enough for the excellent performance of Gigabyte Saber 17. Theoretically, there is enough performance for any task. It has an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, which was released earlier this year. It has 6 cores with a frequency of 2.2 to 4.1 / 3.9 GHz. Naturally, this chip supports Coffee Lake's hyper-threading and can handle up to 12 threads simultaneously. The maximum power at the same time reaches 45 watts.
In the Cinebench R15 test, our laptop is at the firstthe run showed very good results, although in the next three cycles I noticed a sharp drop in indicators. Further, after 4–10 cycles, the results leveled off, and the loss of productivity compared to the initial result was 14%. By the way, competitors showed themselves similarly or even worse.
But, the tests were conducted while connected to the network. If, however, hold it when running on battery power, then performance drops noticeably. Initially, the result was about 12,000 points, now Saber is gaining only 670 points. As you can see, the figure fell by almost half. The most serious competitor here was Asus TUF. In the single-core Cinebench, he bypassed the Gigabyte laptop, but in the multi-core Saber 17, he started playing with muscles and doing all the competitors. All my expectations are met.
Unfortunately, Saber's advantage is lost in PCMark. At least 4-7% of this laptop is worse than similar models from Asus. Although behind him were notebooks Razer Blade Pro and MSI. With everyday use, you just will not notice the difference, all programs work without failures and lags.
Storage and data storage
Gigabyte Saber 17 received a Toshiba SSD drive with a capacity of 256 GB - used by the operating system. For data storage there is a second drive - a regular hard disk with a capacity of 1 TB.
Judging by the rating, the installed SSD speedIt takes 57th place, which is not bad. However, in the CrystalDiskMark 5 test, the results were below average. However, all the other checks only confirmed that the Gigabyte Saber received a very good SSD-drive, which in everyday use will effectively cope with the tasks.
Graphics tests
The Gigabyte Saber 17 is installed discrete NvidiaGTX 1060 and integrated UHD Graphics 630. When tested in 3DMark 11, the sample showed the second result among competitors' laptops with the same video card. Ahead was only MSI. In 3DMark Fire Strike, the result was the same. But in the Cloud Gate, I was surprised - Saber was behind Razer and Asus Strix.
When working on battery, the results are similar, the performance drop was about 30%.
Gaming performance
For games, this is definitely a good laptop, whichIt will be good even in heavy titles with Full HD resolution. If you set ultra-high graphics options, Saber 17 will start stuttering. For example, my Witcher 3 “flew” in Full HD with high details. If you try to squeeze more out of the laptop, then the frame rate immediately drops. For clarity, I also ran the Rise of the Tomb Raider - with maximum detail in Full HD with a frame rate of about 60. In Doom, everything is fine - 66 fps in Full HD at maximum detail.
Nevertheless, in comparison with competitors, gamingThe performance of this gigabyte saber is average. In any of the above games, the laptop lagged behind, at least 12 fps. Because of what I can safely say, Saber 17 is disappointing and cannot reveal its graphic potential of power.
Autonomy gigabyte saber 17
With the minimum brightness set, the communication modules disconnected and in the energy saving mode, the Saber lasted 6 hours and 50 minutes.
In a test with imitation of everyday use -And this is web surfing with constantly opened pages, with the power saving mode on, screen brightness at 150 cd / m² and active Wi-Fi, the results were 5 hours 21 minutes. At maximum load and brightness, in the Saber 17 power limit mode from Gigabyte lasted 84 minutes.
In general, Saber 17 from Gigabyte is very good and autonomous, it will outlast most of its competitors.
Total
Powerful gigabyte saber 17 can be called goodreplacing a desktop computer, it can handle almost any task. The statement is true in all cases, except for one - in games the laptop noticeably lags behind competitors. Although the display is suitable for gaming, and it has a fast response, the colors are not as saturated as those of competitors.
But, even under heavy load, this Gigabytequiet and remains cold. Additional points laptop is gaining and at the expense of energy efficiency, as well as battery life. A nice bonus will be the ability to connect up to 3 monitors at the same time by default. Therefore, criticism is relevant only when discussing Saber 17's gaming performance, not the fastest drives and quiet speakers.
Gaming laptop Gigabyte Saber 17/15 - video
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