We grew up as members of Generation Gaming (Gen G) and while some still rock PC gaming rigs, others among us have adopted the mobility and space saving efficiency of gaming laptops. Consequently, we took some notes on our experience using the Razer Blade 15 Base Model (2020).
Here it is, in our patently terse bullet-pointed presentation, noting that the “good” for us is obvious (it’s a great gaming rig that we shelled out for) but the niggling bits are as follows.
Aesthetics / Design
- Fingerprint magnet (requires light buffing with cloth to remove)
- Power plug can cover USB port depending on positioning
- No clear marking of Thunderbolt port (on right side of laptop); easily confused with USB-C port on left-hand side
- Cooling – both air inflow and outflow located on the bottom of the laptop (additional vents on rear of laptop). Placement of fans (outer edges / sides) limits cooling pad / laptop stand selection.
Performance / Usability
- Fans run loud under load (can be whiny – pitch is audible from 5m away). Fans are on 95% of the time when plugged in (even when under zero load: CPU 0-2%; GPU1 1% 39-40C).
- Laptop is quiet on battery, but performance heavily throttled to conserve power (CSGO: 300 FPS plugged in; 60 FPS on battery)
- Keyboard keys have unusually low travel distance (takes getting used to)
- Keyboard can get warm under load (key region; palm-rest remains cool)
- Cannot be charged through Thunderbolt connection – cannot be turned on and off via dock (needs to be turned on by its own power button)
- Camera / webcam is ordinary
- Razer Synapse 3 can be flaky
- System performance profiles may not always activate. Software fan control sometimes disconnected from actual fan control (can reduce fan noise by momentarily switching fan profiles from ‘gaming’ / ‘creator’ to ‘balanced)
As proud, yet demanding owners, we’ve noted that we can eek out a little more performance with the following tweaks. We’ll probably update this as we go.
Performance / Tweaks:
- Depending on the game played, may need to try different video drivers to achieve steady graphics. E.g. Ghost Recon Wildlands experienced periodic random frame freezes on 451.77 driver, but completely smooth on older 446.14 driver (no issues with latest 452.06 driver)
- Nvidia Control Panel (balanced graphics and performance) –
- 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings
- Preferred graphics processor: High – performance NVIDIA processor
- Ambient Occlusion: Off
- Antialiasing – Mode: Application-controlled (Off for higher FPS)
- Low Latency Mode: Off (On for twitch shooters)
- Max Frame Rate: Off
- OpenGL rendering GPU: GeForce RTX 2060
- Power management: Optimal power (some websites suggest ‘Maximum Performance’, no noticeable difference other than fans running louder)
- Texture filtering – Quality: Quality (can switch to ‘High Performance’; only incremental FPS increase based on testing)
- Vertical sync – Off
- All other settings: Nvidia default
- Configure Surround, PhysX
- Processor: GeForce RTX 2060
- 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings
- Synapse 3
- Link demanding games to the ‘gaming’ profile for better graphics processing power. Fans run louder
- Remove unused modules to reduce CPU load / fan noise (e.g. Chroma Connect constantly used 1-2% CPU)
- To remove: Synapse tab > modules
- Windows 10
- Disable all unused apps from Start-Up
- To remove: Task Manager > Start-Up
- Disable: Cortana; Intel Graphics Command Center Startup Task; Realtek HD Audio Universal Service; Windows Security notification icon; Xbox App Services
- Disable all unused apps from Start-Up
- Cooling
- Given the cooling airflow has both inlet and outlet on the bottom of the laptop, it’s best to have a stand that has a divide separating cool air in from hot air expelled (e.g. the Razor laptop stand).
- We make do by angling the laptop so the hot air blows away (off the edge of our table), and doesn’t get sucked back in.
- Ensure fans are dust free.