Mythlogic Callisto 1512 (Clevo W550EU) Ultrabook Review
by Dustin Sklavos on May 24, 2013 12:01 AM ESTApplication and Futuremark Performance
The overwhelming majority of notebooks we've tested with Ivy Bridge have been either based on ULV parts or 45W quad core parts, leaving us with a gap in our information. Thankfully, the Mythlogic Callisto 1512 shipped to us with a 35W dual core chip that starts at a higher nominal clock speed than the ULV kit but also is able to turbo up to higher speeds on the integrated graphics. This should result in a modest performance increase for the HD 4000 and a much more noticeable one on any tasks that are CPU bound.
The Futuremark results bear this out. The extra thermal headroom allows the HD 4000 in the standard voltage i5 to run at higher speeds and for longer, giving us a roughly 10%-15% improvement in performance. PCMark 7 benefits from both the stunningly fast Samsung 840 Pro SSD and the increased CPU speed.
Bounce over to our CPU-limited tests, and the only one that doesn't show a healthy improvement is the first pass of our x264 test. That first pass generally doesn't put the squeeze on the CPU quite as aggressively as the second one does, giving the ULV chips a little more thermal headroom. Once the second pass starts, the standard voltage i5 breaks away.
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hfm - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
At least we have you patrolling... good work.kallogan - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
This laptop misses its point since it consumes too much at idle, more than discrete gpu based laptop. While i love Clevo cause it allows easy upgrade of all components including cpusetc...they can do a lot better power consumption wise. It's they're first ultrabook like lap so they should improve on the next Haswell series.CadentOrange - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Can you investigate into why it's consuming so much power? Is the CPU not throttling down when idle? Is the IPS display at fault? The normalized results show that it's consuming nearly twice the power of the other ultrabooks.It is truly baffling that a laptop with standard components and an integrated graphics chip will consume so much power!
Flunk - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Clearly you've never used the current model XPS 15. It's the worst notebook I've ever owned, ask Jarred Walton for details.Wilko1337 - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
PCSpecialist also sells custom laptops with the Clevo W550EU frame (marketed as the 15.6" UltraNote).Quite a few users have had problems with the display's backlight bleed show here: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.p...
Regard this and the review FWIW
Death666Angel - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
That's 3 users. And the bleed in the pictures he provides doesn't seem very substantial. If you watch a lot of dark movies, it may be a problem, but that kind of bleed will usually not be noticed in every day windows work and game.CadentOrange - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
That bleed looks bad, and if it's "within parameters" and not getting fixed then I think it's something that should be flagged up for prospective buyers.Conficio - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
SPAM!pastydave - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
When I first saw this, I said cool - an ultrabook with a discrete GPU. But alas, no discrete GPU and it weighs freaking 5 pounds. This sir or madam is not an ultrabook.bitterman0 - Friday, May 24, 2013 - link
Exactly. Ultrabooks are 3lbs, maybe 3.5lbs on the outside. For crying out loud, my 2006 ThinkPad T41 is 5lbs!