Ionico Update

[Paulbax]

All
Trying to gauge where we are regarding feedback with this one? I pulled together a (non exhaustive) summary. Seem to be some thermal and also control centre issues reported although not 100% clear if hardware or software resolution, hopefully the latter.
However, not many detailed performance reviews or follow ups? Hopefully will change.

RECEIVED:

POSITIVE Feedback:
KSH**** (17/3070/64) – Received - Happy with laptop, will do perfo tests.
Rom******* (17/3070/?) –Received - Excellent perfo, good thermals, very happy.
WJ* (17/3070/32)- Received - Suggests all is ok. Limited feedback
PMAR***** (17/3070/64) – Received - All ok, some excellent perfo feedback, pending VR feedback
Cole***** (17/3070/?) – Received – First Mini-Review (not much perfo detail)
LYN*** (17/3070/64) – Received – No perfo feedback, seemed happy
Cedri**** (17/?/?) – Friend received – Very happy. Some perfo info.
BAL*** (15/3070/?) - No OS. No +/- feedback yet. Looking for drivers and CC.

NEGATIVE Feedback:
MAC**** (17/3070/16) - Received. Sounds like laptop in general is good and good perfo results... But not happy MUX switch is apparently disabled? Read that as + or - as you please.
Ang****** (17/3070/64) – Received - Major issues but may be related to ordering with No OS? RMA monday. Possible software error to be troubleshooted over weekend.
TROSH****** (17/3070/) – Received. Reported thermal issues, currently working on improvements – No further info
HIM*** (17/3070/?) – Friend received – Reported thermal issues – planning to contact PCS – No further info
GEOR**** (?/?/?) – Received – Reported some thermal issues but may have resolved??? – No further info
MIK*** (15/3070/?) – Received, cosmetic feedback good but issues running benchmark software??? – No further info
CMO** (17/3060/32) - No perfo feedback but reported potential screenbleed and audio issues. Very unhappy no Thunderbolt which someone told him it had prior to order?

ON ORDER:

DJ***** (15/3070/?) – Shipped
CENK***** (15/3070/32) – Testing
Mr T**** (17/3070/32) – Testing
Pau**** (15/3070/32) – Testing
NON STOP ****** (?) – Ordered
Nick**** (?) - Ordered

Updated: 13/3 11:13

I'd also like to hope that this thread may help those with issues identify people who may be able to help them.
(Whilst I thought it would be polite to partially hide the usernames, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure them out in threads...)

 

[kshnnnn]

Mine is 64GB RAM. I'll be receiving the laptop tomorrow.

 

[kshina]

This is good stuff

 

[Macco26]

Nice thread.
Mine is arriving today and have to rectify OP: it's a 17/3070/16 (16 GB 2666 Mhz bc the 2933 weren't yet into sale..)

 

[barlew]

Nice thread.
Mine is arriving today and have to rectify OP: it's a 17/3070/16 (16 GB 2666 Mhz bc the 2933 weren't yet into sale..)

I am looking forward to reading your detailed thoughts on it mate.

 

[Macco26]

Just came in, and we have a problem.
As expected from another guy who wrote me these days, it seems PCS recently have updated with a new February BIOS build and the MUX switch has been disabled. You can only go MSHybrid or iGPU. No dGPU only work mode...
Pretty astonished as this is the first time this happens. Even Vyper had the MUX, this machine does have the MUX, I don't know why a BIOS update broke it. Note that @pmarmotte which received same Ionico 17 RTX3070 seems to have it working.
Now I'll try installing Intel and Nvidia drivers plus the Control Center but I have not much faith. The other person lacked that switch in the CC as well.
Unless PCS can provide me the old BIOS files I am debating if it's worth having a machine with a MUX, but firmware disabled.

 

[Mr tushi]

Mines 17/3070/32 and currently in testing, and ordered on 11/2/2021

 

[Cenksenci]

Mine is currently in testing. If everything goes well, they are planning to dispatch my laptop tomorrow, as the guy told me via email. I will let you know when I get the laptop.

 

[barlew]

Just came in, and we have a problem.
As expected from another guy who wrote me these days, it seems PCS recently have updated with a new February BIOS build and the MUX switch has been disabled. You can only go MSHybrid or iGPU. No dGPU only work mode...
Pretty astonished as this is the first time this happens. Even Vyper had the MUX, this machine does have the MUX, I don't know why a BIOS update broke it. Note that @pmarmotte which received same Ionico 17 RTX3070 seems to have it working.
Now I'll try installing Intel and Nvidia drivers plus the Control Center but I have not much faith. The other person lacked that switch in the CC as well.
Unless PCS can provide me the old BIOS files I am debating if it's worth having a machine with a MUX, but firmware disabled.

Thats weird I wonder why it has been disabled?
There is no option to enable Optimus/Discrete graphics in CC?

 

[pmarmotte]

I have the options on the bios to choose hybrid, IGPU ou DGPU

 

[Romain337]

My bios is different, no dGPU only available.

https://imgur.com/a/KJgPdmY

Not a problem for me at least but can be annoying if you wanted it.

 

[Macco26]

Thats weird I wonder why it has been disabled?
There is no option to enable Optimus/Discrete graphics in CC?

No, there would be IF your BIOS allowed. Same CC download, for me lack the final switch 'Display Mode'.
IIRC Vyper had the MUX right? This is a first from PCSpecialist, I mean locking down feature the hardware do have.
And that's a PCS BIOS customization in their 2nd BIOS release, because any other reseller (and first week of Ionicos) did have it.

 

[barlew]

No, there would be IF your BIOS allowed. Same CC download, for me lack the final switch 'Display Mode'.
IIRC Vyper had the MUX right? This is a first from PCSpecialist, I mean locking down feature the hardware do have.
And that's a PCS BIOS customization in their 2nd BIOS release, because any other reseller (and first week of Ionicos) did have it.

Yes mate the Vyper Definitely had MUX in the BIOS.

 

[barlew]

Ive just had a thought. If the MUX is disabled I assume the Ionico doesn't have a G-Sync screen?

 

[Paulbax]

Is the lack of a MUX switch significant if I primarily want to output to Oculus Quest 2?
Similarly I assume g-sync is not critical?

And if using quest, is the GPU outputting to essentially 3 screens or can you avoid a "mirror mode" to maximise GPU performance to Quest?

 

[barlew]

Is the lack of a MUX switch significant if I primarily want to output to Oculus Quest 2?
Similarly I assume g-sync is not critical?

And if using quest, is the GPU outputting to essentially 3 screens or can you avoid a "mirror mode" to maximise GPU performance to Quest?

I haven't got a clue!

G-Sync is irrelevant for VR though it only matters if you want to game using the screen.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Is the lack of a MUX switch significant if I primarily want to output to Oculus Quest 2?
Similarly I assume g-sync is not critical?

And if using quest, is the GPU outputting to essentially 3 screens or can you avoid a "mirror mode" to maximise GPU performance to Quest?

VR is just outputting to 2 screens, one per eye in the headset, it doesn't output to the display.

You'd really want to fully enable the dGPU though, having switchable graphics may cause a problem with the output over display port.

 

[Macco26]

Ive just had a thought. If the MUX is disabled I assume the Ionico doesn't have a G-Sync screen?

There aren't any G-Sync 2160x1440p screens on the market anyway so nobody (Asus, Tongfang, whatever) can offee that. Only Lenovo will offer 16" 16:10 QHD screens G-Sync compatible soon..

However yes, even it they did exist, with no MUX, no G-Sync, nothing. I still am astonished PCS could get rid of a feature the hardware already offer. And mind you same laptop will that option in any new BIOS for all the other resellers (as they did advertise that), so that's totally a PCS fault to get rid of it, not that it's malfunctioning or anything. Tongfang can't stop providing BIOS for it as otherwise any other reseller should be racalled. PCS only had MUX enabled for the first laptops until they could implant their stupid 2nd version BIOS.
I've emailed them thru the PCS italian team I'm considering to return the laptop unless old BIOS or new BIOS with function back is offered within my first 14 days. Let's see how this pans out.

@Paulbax
USB-C Display Port is wired to the dGPU anyway so you shouldn't not encounter problems for that. MUX is crucial to amplify FPS on the internal screen, like even 80-90 FPS more in esport titles..

 

[barlew]

There aren't any G-Sync 2160x1440p screens on the market anyway so nobody (Asus, Tongfang, whatever) can offee that. Only Lenovo will offer 16" 16:10 QHD screens G-Sync compatible soon..

That's interesting I didn't realise that.

I am still mega surprised that its been disabled. Surely its a mistake and they will release a new bios.

 

[SpyderTracks]

That's interesting I didn't realise that.

I am still mega surprised that its been disabled. Surely its a mistake and they will release a new bios.

It does seem odd to me, although PCS have been known to release quite restrictive BIOSes, I don't know why.