The Clevo PA71 is a gaming laptop that was released in 2019 and become very popular in the start. It is one of the company’s higher-end models, and it features a 17.3-inch display, an Intel Core i7-9750H processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q GPU that works smoothly even you play a high graphic game. It also includes 8GB of eMMC storage for additional expansion. Its price starts at $1,999 and goes up to $2,999 (in India). This article will show you how its performance compares with other gaming laptops, such as MSI, ASUS, and more.
How does the Clevo perform?
The Clevo PA71 has an FHD 144Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling smooth and responsive. It is powered by two AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processors (with 24 threads) and four Nvidia GeForce MX250 graphics cards. These configurations ensure a stable game performance. However, there are some notable issues with Windows 11 on this model. For example, certain applications cannot fully switch between multi-tasking or single-app windows. In addition, several games support dual monitor functions but fail to do so when using a PC with multiple displays. So, if you’re looking for high-end devices, look elsewhere.
Regarding build quality, most people don’t notice any noticeable problems during gaming or everyday use. Since I haven’t tried out many of these machines over long periods of time, I won’t provide specific benchmarks. If this is your first laptop, it’s best to start off with smaller components until you get used to them. For instance, we recommend starting with a budget machine like Acer Aspire V4/V5 for basic tasks. Or try something lightweight like Asus Chromebook Flexible 7 for light office work.
What about specs?
The Clevo PA71 comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD WUXGA QHD OLED touchscreen, 3.10mm combo audio jack, USB 3.1 gen 1 Type A port, Wi-Fi 6 AX200 dual-band wireless, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet 1040 mb/s, GPS, USB Type-C charging port, and HDMI output. There’s no fingerprint reader, but both sides can be configured with face recognition. Overall, you can expect a compact device with modern looks, including a full-size keyboard, touchpad, backlit keys, dedicated numeric keypad, and optional pen support. You can connect 2.5” SSD drives and expand its internal memory via another PCIe card.
There is also a built-in SD card slot to accommodate external flash files for storing games downloaded from Google Play Store. Users can install apps from their own phones on mobile devices via AirPlay 2 and a headphone adapter. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.2 A, B, X, L2, UART 2.0, USB-A 3.0 Gen 1 type A port, MicroSD card slot, Gigabit Ethernet (10Gbps), and WiFi 6 AX200 dual-band wireless, Bluetooth v5.1, 3x USB 3.2 gen 2 Type-A ports, plus three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type B outlets.
The power button includes LED indicators for volume control, power, brightness, network status, battery life, and BIOS support. The sound system includes stereo speakers, a rear microphone, a front speaker, and Headphone Jack. Finally, there are three USB 3.1 ports, each supporting data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps.
How loud is it?: Our review unit can sit in my room without too much strain. That said, it doesn’t feel quite right to have loud sound coming from all angles due to the placement of the speakers near me. Sound levels would be fairly normal on a home theater TV, however. Also, I wouldn’t expect things like surround sound or Dolby Atmos to come equipped with headphones. With these limitations aside, it should still provide enough bass and clarity for users who want sound effects.
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What about gameplay?
The base configuration of the Clevo PA71 gets you six hours of streaming content on Netflix, 30 minutes per day on YouTube, and 25 minutes per week playing Fortnite, Apex Legends, Call Of Duty, PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, Destiny 2 & Three Kingdoms respectively. Games supported by Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate support 1080p Blu-ray players. We tested games across different genres and settings with various resolutions and frame rates for 60 FPS. The results were rather average considering the fact that we played mostly casual titles. Still, nothing worth mentioning.
Our testing found that the Clevo PA71 performed well in terms of overall stability, responsiveness, heat dissipation, and battery life when compared to similar models. Furthermore, after performing benchmark tests, Geekbench 3 results revealed scores comparable to those of competitive devices. Additionally, our Mark 2+ test proved our point with scores roughly equivalent to the latest mainstream gaming laptops and expensive gaming PCs.
We had to remove some parts for testing, though I managed to find everything in place. Some major aspects we considered while choosing benchmarks were size, resolution, speed, and cost. The main takeaway is that performance isn’t just limited to top-notch hardware. Both low-cost machines and premium gaming laptops feature plenty of powerful CPUs and GPUs that deliver excellent CPU and GPU efficiency for intensive workloads. But, since these machines rarely have an operating system, they often lack graphical driver support and require extra software packages to run smoothly.
Therefore, I would advise checking if you’ve upgraded your software package (for better performance) and installing the drivers of your choice.
Drawbacks of Clevo Pa71
With that being said, let’s talk about potential drawbacks. Firstly, the screen’s sharpness could become a problem. Due to the large OLED panel, the eye can quickly go blind if the screen’s brightness is excessively high, making it more important for gamers. Secondly, although it might appear cheap in general, if you prefer your gaming machines with regular components, the Clevo PA71 might not suit your needs. Last but definitely not least, the battery’s longevity could be a concern.
While the PA71 may last for extended hours when turned on, it takes around 90 minutes to charge completely for maximum uptime. Although we never ran into any serious issues, we had to turn it off before it died altogether due to excessive heat.
Overall, the Clevo PA71 performs well for the average gamer who’s looking for a simple laptop for daily use. But, professionals working on complex projects on computers, opt for something cheaper as soon as possible. On the bright side, if you’re planning on building or customizing a computer, keep this gem your second priority due to its relatively affordable price point.
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