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In this article, I give you my Computer Upgrade King P955ER review with specs included. You know I have no bones with paying less for more. And that’s what you get here with this Cleveo chassis.

And it’s not just any Cleveo chassis, though you can get a clean watch a seize from a lot of different makers we’ll talk about in a minute. This is Computer Upgrade King’s own P9 55ER house brand gaming laptop.

So they’ve been supplying a lot of the gaming laptops as lenders that we’ve been reviewing Lading lately. Including the MSI gs70 gigabyte arrow 15 X. This competes with that with those as well as with the Razor Blades.

This starts at $15.99, pretty decently configured too. And they also have a P9 50 model which is $14.99. Slight difference in the display. The cheaper one has a TN panel, 120 Hertz, slightly wider color gamut. This one’s an IPS 144 Hertz panel.

So that’s a pretty cutting-edge spec there, but the rest of this is pretty much your standard 2017 gaming laptop. In terms of design, the bezels are not super skinny on this; you don’t have a unibody design as you’d see in something more expensive, which is totally fair, right?

Because you can spend two thousand twenty-five hundred dollars easily on those competitors. Yeah, it’s pretty light, to four point three seven pounds, which is one point nine eight kilograms. It’s less than an inch thick, unless bout it 20 millimeters or so, a little bit less.

Not bad, we’re gonna look at it now. So for those of you who are not gaming laptop geeks and aficionados, Clevo is what we call an ODM original device maker.

So they make these laptop chassis. So boutique brands, small computer shops can sell it on to their own label, and they can put their own branding on it, change the software a little bit, maybe order with different specifications.

The core stuff is always gonna be the same though. Yeah, whether it’s an Origin or a Pro Star or any of the other brands that are selling this. The keyboard, the chassis, the core i7 – 8750 H CPU the nvidia gtx 1070 Max-Q are gonna be the same.

The exact hardware configuration of the Computer Upgrade King P955ER can vary depending on the model purchased. Storage options, SSD capacity, RAM configuration, and hard drive selections may differ, giving buyers flexibility to customize the system to their needs.

Our review unit featured a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, it uses the same LG panel model found in the Razer Blade 15. However, while the panel specifications are similar, image quality doesn’t quite match the Razer’s implementation. It appears that the display calibration and panel quality are not at the same level, resulting in a screen that looks good but not exceptional.

Color reproduction is respectable, with nearly full sRGB coverage. Brightness levels are adequate, and backlight uniformity is reasonable. One weakness is black level performance, as darker scenes appear more dark gray than true black, reducing overall contrast. Despite this limitation, the display remains perfectly suitable for gaming and everyday use.

Hardware and Specifications

Inside, the P955ER is equipped with an Intel 8th Generation Core i7 six-core processor, one of the standard high-performance CPUs found in gaming laptops and mobile workstations of its era.

The system includes:

• Two DDR4 memory slots supporting up to 32GB RAM
• One M.2 SSD slot compatible with NVMe drives
• One 2.5-inch drive bay for additional storage
• Intel Wireless-AC 9560 Wi-Fi
• Realtek Gigabit Ethernet

Computer Upgrade King offers multiple SSD and hard drive configurations, allowing buyers to choose the combination that best suits their storage needs.

Connectivity

Port selection is generous and covers most modern requirements. The laptop includes:

• USB-C Gen 2
• Multiple USB Type-A ports
• HDMI output
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Separate headphone and microphone jacks

While USB-C support is included, Thunderbolt 3 is absent. Given the laptop’s price category, this omission is understandable.

Keyboard and Input Devices

The keyboard features zoned RGB backlighting rather than per-key RGB illumination. Although individual key lighting would be preferable, zoned lighting is common in this price range.

Typing feels comfortable thanks to good key travel and satisfying tactile feedback. The keyboard is suitable for both gaming and productivity tasks.

The touchpad also performs well and includes dedicated physical buttons, a feature that many users continue to appreciate for improved accuracy and responsiveness.

Audio Quality

Audio performance is above average for a gaming laptop. The built-in speakers provide respectable sound quality, while the Sound Blaster Cinema enhancements add extra tuning options for users who connect external speakers or headphones.

The system also supports optical audio output through the combined audio port, making it appealing to users with higher-end audio equipment.

Performance

Performance is exactly what you would expect from a laptop equipped with a GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics card and a six-core Intel Core i7 processor.

Benchmark results align closely with competing gaming laptops in the same category, delivering excellent gaming performance at 1080p resolution. Most modern titles can be played at high settings while maintaining frame rates near or above 100 FPS.

For raw performance, the P955ER significantly outperforms many productivity-focused laptops, including systems equipped with GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q graphics.

Cooling and Thermals

While performance is strong, cooling is one area where the laptop struggles.

During gaming sessions, internal temperatures can become quite high. CPU temperatures frequently approach the 100°C thermal limit under heavy workloads, making this one of the hotter-running systems in its class.

Compared to competitors such as:

• Gigabyte Aero 15X
• MSI GS65 Stealth
• Razer Blade 15

the P955ER generally runs hotter during demanding tasks.

Fortunately, several options can help improve thermal performance:

• Increasing fan speeds manually
• Creating more aggressive fan curves
• Undervolting the CPU using Intel XTU or ThrottleStop
• Replacing the factory thermal paste with a higher-quality alternative

An undervolt of approximately -130mV can often reduce temperatures while maintaining stability.

The laptop’s cooling system is easily accessible, making these modifications relatively straightforward for enthusiasts.

Fan Noise

When configured for maximum cooling performance, fan noise becomes noticeable but remains typical for a gaming laptop.

The fans move a large volume of air without producing annoying high-pitched whines or rattling noises. Users who prioritize cooling performance will likely want to use headphones while gaming, but overall acoustic performance is acceptable.

Build Quality

The chassis design is functional rather than flashy. It lacks the premium unibody aesthetics found on some higher-end competitors, but construction quality is solid.

Aluminum panels are used throughout much of the exterior, including the lid, keyboard deck, and bottom cover. The chassis feels sturdy, with minimal flex and no significant creaking.

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the compromises required to achieve the laptop’s relatively thin profile.

The system contains a 55Wh battery, which is fairly small for a gaming laptop equipped with a six-core processor and GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics.

For everyday productivity tasks, users can expect approximately four hours of battery life. Gaming on battery power reduces runtime further, though the system automatically lowers CPU and GPU performance when unplugged to conserve power.

The included 150W charger feels somewhat undersized for the hardware. Under particularly heavy gaming loads, the system may draw enough power to slowly drain the battery even while plugged in.

Users seeking longer battery life may be better served by alternatives such as the MSI GS series or more productivity-focused laptops.

Upgradeability and Internal Layout

Removing the bottom cover is straightforward, requiring only a standard Phillips screwdriver.

Inside, users have access to:

• 55Wh battery
• M.2 SSD slot
• 2.5-inch drive bay
• Intel AC 9560 Wi-Fi card
• Two DDR4 memory slots
• Three-fan cooling system

The cooling layout partially separates CPU and GPU heat dissipation, helping reduce heat transfer between components.

The internal design also makes future upgrades and maintenance easy. Replacing storage, upgrading RAM, changing the Wi-Fi card, or repasting the cooling system can all be accomplished without significant difficulty.

An unused SIM card slot location is even present on the chassis, though this feature is not enabled on retail configurations.

Final Thoughts

The Computer Upgrade King P955ER delivers outstanding performance and upgradeability for its price. Equipped with a GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU, Intel six-core processor, plentiful storage options, and excellent internal accessibility, it offers tremendous value for users who prioritize gaming power above all else.

Its biggest weakness is thermal performance, as CPU temperatures run noticeably hotter than several competing systems. However, enthusiasts willing to tweak fan settings, undervolt the processor, or replace thermal paste can significantly improve the situation.

For gamers looking for strong 1080p performance, easy upgrades, and excellent hardware value without paying premium ultrabook prices, the P955ER remains a compelling option.