The Puget D570 is a high-end, 15-inch mobile workstation featuring Intel's 6th generation of Core i5 and i7 desktop processors. These Skylake CPUs provide higher clock speeds than notebook-class CPUs, but at the cost of added heat and power consumption.
For graphics, a powerful dedicated cards in NVIDIA's GeForce line are available to suit high performance needs. Although the CPUs technically have Intel graphics built in as well, that is *not* usable on this laptop: it uses the dedicated video card alone. That helps avoid conflicts that can come up with software not properly using the dedicated card, as well as difficulty that some operating systems have with switching graphics adapters on the fly. The dedicated NVIDIA graphics card drives a 15.6-inch 4K screen. That translates to 3840x2160 native resolution, for a dense 282 pixels per inch.
In addition to the built-in screen, HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs are present to hook up external monitors. The connectivity on this laptop includes three USB 3.0 ports, one eSATA (shared with a USB), one Thunderbolt 3 Type C connector, and a memory card reader. The keyboard is back-lit, and accompanied by a touchpad that supports multi-gesture and scrolling. For storage it accommodates two 2.5-inch SATA drives and two M.2 drives, but no optical drive; if you need one of those an external USB model is available.
For graphics, a powerful dedicated cards in NVIDIA's GeForce line are available to suit high performance needs. Although the CPUs technically have Intel graphics built in as well, that is *not* usable on this laptop: it uses the dedicated video card alone. That helps avoid conflicts that can come up with software not properly using the dedicated card, as well as difficulty that some operating systems have with switching graphics adapters on the fly. The dedicated NVIDIA graphics card drives a 15.6-inch 4K screen. That translates to 3840x2160 native resolution, for a dense 282 pixels per inch.
In addition to the built-in screen, HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs are present to hook up external monitors. The connectivity on this laptop includes three USB 3.0 ports, one eSATA (shared with a USB), one Thunderbolt 3 Type C connector, and a memory card reader. The keyboard is back-lit, and accompanied by a touchpad that supports multi-gesture and scrolling. For storage it accommodates two 2.5-inch SATA drives and two M.2 drives, but no optical drive; if you need one of those an external USB model is available.
Matt Bach (Labs Supervisor & PugetBench PM) Says:
I've taken this unit with me to a few tradeshows so I wanted to share some of my first-hand experiences with this mobile workstation.
First, note that I call it a mobile workstation - not a laptop. Compared to what most people are used to in a laptop, this unit is big, heavy, has a massive power brick, and doesn't have anywhere near the battery life you would get with a lower power, thinner laptop. The fact that you can have very near desktop performance in a mobile platform is absolutely amazing, but the relatively short battery life (anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on what you are doing) and overall weight was definitely noticeable. With everything I had in the laptop bag (including the laptop, power brick, a mouse, pens, paper, snacks, and other miscellaneous items), I was carrying right around 14 pounds. So if you are traveling with this unit, be prepared to lug around that much weight.
Second, the amount of heat that can be generated by this unit is relatively high. If you are doing light tasks such as email, word processing, or even watching a movie you can have it resting on your lap without your legs getting more than a little warm. If you start to do something more intense, however, you really need to have it sitting on a table or other surface. Not only does it get too hot to be comfortable, but having it on your lap blocks the fan vents on the bottom of the unit which really need to be clear to allow the laptop cooling to function effectively.
For the screen, I found it to be bright and crisp and overall I liked the 4k resolution. However, I did have a few applications where the developer clearly didn't think about how things would look on a 15inch 4K screen. Mostly little huhthings such as a checkbox being small enough that it was tough to click on, but it was a bit annoying at times. The good news is that 4K is becoming more and more popular on laptops and mobile workstations so I expect these minor issues to be resolved over time. The nice thing is that 4K is actually an even ratio to standard 1080p so if you do have an application that doesn't work well with 4K you can reduce the screen resolution to 1080p without any weird stretching or blurring.
One little surprise for me was that I actually found myself liking the keyboard. It's not up to the quality of a nice desktop keyboard, but given the size constraints it is relatively decent. I did find that I needed to adjust the PalmCheck sensitivity (which helps prevent the touchpad from moving or clicking while I was typing), but once I did that I had no issues typing out long documents. Of course, what makes a keyboard comfortable to use varies widely by user (what I like about it, you may hate), but I personally found the key spacing and overall feel to be much better than most other laptops I have used. In addition, the backlit keyboard was extremely useful in dim environments like on an airplane when the lights are off. I actually had it turned down to the minimum brightness level and I could clearly see all the keys without it blinding the person next to me. One tip I have is to change the color of the backlight from blue to white (which can be done through the FlexiKey software in the notification bar) which I found to be easier on my eyes and in general nicer to use.
One last note I would make is that if you will be flying with this mobile workstation, you may not be able to charge the laptop through the power outlets on the seats. I've only tried with Alaska Airlines, but for me the power brick was pulling too much amperage so the outlet just shut off. I couldn't find any clear information on how much power those outlets are supposed to power, but from what I could find this is a relatively common problem with more powerful laptops. So if you are going to use this unit on a plane, you might consider getting a second battery.
Overall, I would say that this laptop is definitely not for everyone. The downsides (primarily the weight, battery life, and thermal output) can be a major turn-off for many users and whether you like the keyboard and touchpad is going to be determined by your own personal preferences. If you can handle those downsides, however, the amount of power packed into this unit is really impressive.
I've taken this unit with me to a few tradeshows so I wanted to share some of my first-hand experiences with this mobile workstation.
First, note that I call it a mobile workstation - not a laptop. Compared to what most people are used to in a laptop, this unit is big, heavy, has a massive power brick, and doesn't have anywhere near the battery life you would get with a lower power, thinner laptop. The fact that you can have very near desktop performance in a mobile platform is absolutely amazing, but the relatively short battery life (anywhere from 1-3 hours depending on what you are doing) and overall weight was definitely noticeable. With everything I had in the laptop bag (including the laptop, power brick, a mouse, pens, paper, snacks, and other miscellaneous items), I was carrying right around 14 pounds. So if you are traveling with this unit, be prepared to lug around that much weight.
Second, the amount of heat that can be generated by this unit is relatively high. If you are doing light tasks such as email, word processing, or even watching a movie you can have it resting on your lap without your legs getting more than a little warm. If you start to do something more intense, however, you really need to have it sitting on a table or other surface. Not only does it get too hot to be comfortable, but having it on your lap blocks the fan vents on the bottom of the unit which really need to be clear to allow the laptop cooling to function effectively.
For the screen, I found it to be bright and crisp and overall I liked the 4k resolution. However, I did have a few applications where the developer clearly didn't think about how things would look on a 15inch 4K screen. Mostly little huhthings such as a checkbox being small enough that it was tough to click on, but it was a bit annoying at times. The good news is that 4K is becoming more and more popular on laptops and mobile workstations so I expect these minor issues to be resolved over time. The nice thing is that 4K is actually an even ratio to standard 1080p so if you do have an application that doesn't work well with 4K you can reduce the screen resolution to 1080p without any weird stretching or blurring.
One little surprise for me was that I actually found myself liking the keyboard. It's not up to the quality of a nice desktop keyboard, but given the size constraints it is relatively decent. I did find that I needed to adjust the PalmCheck sensitivity (which helps prevent the touchpad from moving or clicking while I was typing), but once I did that I had no issues typing out long documents. Of course, what makes a keyboard comfortable to use varies widely by user (what I like about it, you may hate), but I personally found the key spacing and overall feel to be much better than most other laptops I have used. In addition, the backlit keyboard was extremely useful in dim environments like on an airplane when the lights are off. I actually had it turned down to the minimum brightness level and I could clearly see all the keys without it blinding the person next to me. One tip I have is to change the color of the backlight from blue to white (which can be done through the FlexiKey software in the notification bar) which I found to be easier on my eyes and in general nicer to use.
One last note I would make is that if you will be flying with this mobile workstation, you may not be able to charge the laptop through the power outlets on the seats. I've only tried with Alaska Airlines, but for me the power brick was pulling too much amperage so the outlet just shut off. I couldn't find any clear information on how much power those outlets are supposed to power, but from what I could find this is a relatively common problem with more powerful laptops. So if you are going to use this unit on a plane, you might consider getting a second battery.
Overall, I would say that this laptop is definitely not for everyone. The downsides (primarily the weight, battery life, and thermal output) can be a major turn-off for many users and whether you like the keyboard and touchpad is going to be determined by your own personal preferences. If you can handle those downsides, however, the amount of power packed into this unit is really impressive.
William George (Marketing Project Manager) Says:
There are a few things worth noting about this notebook:
- Even though it is a large laptop, intended as a desktop replacement, there is no optical drive bay.
- The Thunderbolt 3 port is one of the new "Type C" connectors, and can also function as a USB 3.1 port.
- One of the USB 3.0 ports is also an eSATA port.
There are a few things worth noting about this notebook:
- Even though it is a large laptop, intended as a desktop replacement, there is no optical drive bay.
- The Thunderbolt 3 port is one of the new "Type C" connectors, and can also function as a USB 3.1 port.
- One of the USB 3.0 ports is also an eSATA port.
Jeff Stubbers (Tier 3 Consulting Lead) Says:
It's worth noting the weight of the power brick that comes with this unit.
The 330W Power brick that fits the D570i weighs roughly ~ 2.80 Lbs*
* Power brick manufacturers can change at any time. This may cause variations by as much as .15 Lbs so please be aware of this.
It's worth noting the weight of the power brick that comes with this unit.
The 330W Power brick that fits the D570i weighs roughly ~ 2.80 Lbs*
* Power brick manufacturers can change at any time. This may cause variations by as much as .15 Lbs so please be aware of this.
Note: Includes TPM module, supporting disk encryption via BitLocker in Windows 10 Professional.
Model: Clevo P750DM 4K Matte
Specifications
| Socket | 1151 |
| CPU Compatibility | Intel 6th Generation Processors |
| Form Factor | Notebook |
| Chipset Manufacturer | Intel |
| Chipset | Z170 |
| Network Connectivity | Gigabit Networking |
| Network Controller | Killer E2400 |
| Cooling System | Heatsink and Fan |
| Number of Fans | 2 |
| Color | Black |
Notebook-Display | |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inch |
| Widescreen | Yes |
| Native Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) |
| Surface | Matte Finish |
Memory Support | |
| Type | DDR4 SODIMM |
| Maximum Speed | 2133 MHz |
| Number of Slots | 4 |
| Maximum Size per Slot | 16 GB |
| Maximum Amount Supported | 64 GB |
Onboard Video | |
| HDMI | 1 |
| HDMI Version | 2.0 |
| DisplayPort | 2 |
| DisplayPort Version | 1.2 |
External Connections | |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) | 3 |
| Audio Out | Surround Sound (7.1) |
| Audio In | Line-In/Microphone |
| S/PDIF | Optical |
| External SATA | 1 |
| LAN (RJ45) | 1 |
| Memory Card Reader | MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini-SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Fingerprint Reader | Yes |
| Thunderbolt Ports | 1 |
| Thunderbolt Version | 3 |
Internal Connections | |
| SATA III 6.0Gbps | 2 |
| M.2 Connector | 2 |
| M.2 Support | 2x M.2 2280 SATA / PCIe Gen3x4 interface |
SATA Controllers | |
| SATA III 6.0Gbps Controller 1 | Intel Z170 |
Additional Information | |
| SLI Compatible | No |
| Crossfire Compatible | No |
| RAID Support | 0,1 |
| Built-in Webcam | 2.0Mpx |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
BIOS Features | |
| UEFI BIOS | No |
| EZ Flash | No |
| OC Profiles | No |
Puget Measured Battery Life | |
| Idle (Screen On) | 190 Minutes |
| Movie Playback | 140 Minutes |
| 3D Graphics | 70 Minutes |
| Heavy Load | 60 Minutes |
Dimensions | |
| Height | 35.8 mm (1.4 in) |
| Width | 386 mm (15.2 in) |
| Depth | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Net Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lbs) |
Power Supply | |
| Input Voltage | 100-240 Vac |
| Wattage at 120V | 50-60 W |
AC Adapter Output | |
| DC Voltage | 19.5 V |
| Amperage | 11.8 A |
Due to this laptop using a desktop-class CPU this unit requires more power and outputs more heat than a standard laptop. We highly recommend using this laptop only on a flat, solid surface with the exhaust vents clear of obstructions (especially when under heavy load). Even on a flat surface, be aware that sustained, heavy load may result in slightly lower performance compared to a standard desktop system with the same CPU.
Screen information: 15.6" 4K QFHD 3840 x 2160; IPS Matte; 1000:1; NTSC 72%, SRGB 100%; EDP; SHARP IGZO
Battery life testing performed with:
- Windows 10 Pro
- Intel Core i7 6700K
- 4x Kingston SODIMM DDR4-2133 8GB
- Samsung 850 Pro 512GB
- NVIDIA GTX 980M 8GB
- Intel WiFi/Bluetooth 7265.NGW
- Balanced power setting
- 80% screen brightness
- 3D Graphics test using Unigine Heaven 4.0 Pro at 3840x2160, Low settings, 0x AA
- Heavy Load test using Prime95 plus Furmark
