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Hello LTT forum! Hope y'all are well. Imma just cut to the chase: Is there a way to tell if my nvme SSD on surface book is on its way out? My surface book 2 (out of warranty, a second hand refurbished unit, first bought in ) is behaving weird lately. It randomly goes into "Automatic Repair" and "Fails to repair device" no matter what. This happens about once a week, sometimes after a bluescreen of "memory management" or "storage exception", sometimes just upon normal restart. The only way to get out of the automatic repair so far, is to recover from a usb drive (I don't have a system backup locally.) Any idea if this could be a SSD issue? Here's some data about my SSD. Would love expert advice! Welcome questions~ Thank you!

Hi! Not certain this was the correct place to post but here goes. I've had my laptop, Surface Book 2 13" I7 8gb for a few years. Once every now and then I experience severe wifi connectivity/speed issues, especially much lately. I get speeds of a few mbps or sub 1 mbps at 30 ms ping (normally sub 15), resulting in being unable stream 720p youtube. Loading a news-website may take minutes even. I see sometimes its running at the wifi 4 n band for some weird reason. The wifi routers I have is Asus Zenwifi XT8, two of them, connected by cable. All other devices get stable, lag free, high speed connection up to 250 mbps (what I'm supposed to get). My troubleshooting so far: - Restarting laptop: No improvement. - Removing all 2,4 ghz senders/recievers - actually did improve somewhat, but not to an acceptable level. - Checking wifi drivers: They are ok at least accodring to windows. - Ran Windows network troubleshooter: Couldn't find any problems. - I followed these steps from a guide: "Reset the TCP/IP stack The TCP/IP stack is a set of protocols that helps connect your Surface Book 2 to the internet. Resetting these protocols will help solve any connectivity problems that you are experiencing. Type Command Prompt on the search bar then right click on the command prompt app that appears then choose Run as Administrator. Enter the following lines and press Enter after each one Type netsh winsock reset and select Enter. Type netsh int ip reset and select Enter. Type ipconfig /release and select Enter. Type ipconfig /renew and select Enter. Type ipconfig /flushdns and select Enter. Close the Command Prompt windows." Guide from here: https://www.easypcmod.com/how-to-fix-surface-book-2-slow-wi-fi-issue-the-quick-and-easy-way-11274 After doing the last steps from the command prompt, the wifi became even slower. Command prompt was ran by administrator and laptop restarted afterwards. My temporary solution is now using my phone (Samsung Galaxy Note8) sharing the same wifi trough the phone (hotspot), which works a lot better. It's very inconvenient and not how it's supposed to be lol, but I am able to stream and websites load within seconds and not minutes. Any ideas of why I am having this trouble and how to fix it? I can add that the router is running one network (smart network or w/e it's called) distributing either 2,4 ghz or 5 ghz depending on demand. I can also add that this is a recent problem and it's been seemless before. I am running a separate screen, keyboard and mouse from the laptop now, that's the only change I can think of.

Dear LTT community, I have a trouble with my Surface Book 2 since some of the recent updates (not sure if it was caused by Windows update or by Surface Firmware update). System info: Surface Book 2 13,5", i7 8650U, 8GB, 250SSD, GTX 1050, OS: Windows 10 Pro 1909, OS Build: 18363.836. All the latest OS and Firmware updates are installed. For detailed info please see the .nfo file in the attachments. The problem is, my Nvidia GTX 1050 which is integrated into the base of the laptop is not detected in the Device Manager. There it's shown as a 3D Video Controller under 'Other Devices' category. While trying to update the driver in the automatic mode Windows seems to recognize the GPU as Nvidia GTX 1050 and downloads the driver but fails to install it and reports the error: 'The required line was not found in the INF' (see attached screenshot). When I'm trying to update the driver manually from the Nvidia directory on Disc C the error pops up: 'Windows could not find drivers for your device' (see screenshot) I have tried contacting both Microsoft and Nvidia online support for help, but neither of them have come up with a solution that worked for me. Things that I have already tried: 1. Uninstalling the 3D Video Controller and scanning for hardware changes w. the following driver update. 2. Detatching the screen, uninstalling the 3D Video Controller, connecting the screen to the base again and scanning for hardware changes w. the following driver update. 3. Detatching the screen, uninstalling the 3D Video Controller, rebooting, connecting the screen to the base again and scanning for hardware changes w. the following driver update. 4. Downloading and installing the official Surface Book 2 Firmware Update package from the MS website, which should include all the needed drivers (*suggested by MS support) 5. Updating the driver manually from the directory C:\NVIDIA\DisplayDriver\416.34\Win10_64 (*suggested by Nvidia support) As suggested by Nvidia support, it won't make sense for me to download a generic display driver from their website since the system doesn't recognize the GPU in the Device Manager and thus it will lead to error upon installation. Thus I haven't tried it. After scrolling through many different forums on the internet I couldn't find any solution for this particular error yet. From what I've read, people who have tried installing the generic driver through GeForce Experience (not sure if they had the same problem as me), report unstable functionality and BSODs. In MS Support forums their employees highly suggest installing the drivers shipped with their official firmware updates only, but it doesn't seem to work anyways. General remarks on the problem: It seems to be a common issue for many Surface Book 2 users that happens after MS releases new Windows builds. Out of the box with Win 10 Build 18xx everything seemed to work alright, after they rolled out 1903 update the same abovementioned problem happened as well as Nvidia Control Panel disappeared. They seemed to fix this in the later updates for a brief period and then they released a new build again where the problem returned. So technically I haven't been able to use my Nvidia GPU since ~ November 2019... Oh, and after the last build was released, I couldn't roll back to the previous build somehow (there was no such option available). If anyone has some information on how to solve this problem, please reply! So far the only working option that I can think of is to factory reset the SB2 to its initial 18xx build, where everything worked and to lock the updates... sysinfo_report.nfo

There are very few rumors on Microsoft upcoming surface book 2. I am interested in hearing everyone's opinions on what is possible in the next surface book. nVidia 10 series graphics quad core cpu bigger screen different design more affordable The reason I am interested in Microsoft's next surface book is because I am looking for a professional laptop with good battery life that can also play casual games. Although these features are easier to find now, 2 in 1 ability is also important for me for taking notes in math or physics where text is insufficient for note taking Let me know what you think.

I am going to purchase a surface book 2, a $2900 computer, which is really expensive for me. One problem with it is microsoft decided to be like apple and not include the surface pen with the laptop. I dont really want to spend $99 on a surface pen, so I am interested if anyone has an alternative to the surface pen that is compatible with windows ink and preferibly can magnetically attach to the side of the laptop. I dont care about pressure levels to much, I mainly want to use the pen to take notes.

i have a surface book 2 (https://www.harveynorman.com.au/microsoft-surface-book-2-13-5-inch-8th-gen-i5-8gb-256gb.html) and am wondering how i can connect a external gpu to it as i want to play games on it. it has a usb c port but it isn't thunderbolt 3 what could i do to fix this

Hello, I found a Surface Book 2 13.5' for 1250 US$. Specs: Gtx 1050 (2GB), i7-8650U, 8 GB of Ram and 250 GB of NVMe SSD. Should I go for it ? I intend to use it primarily for writing (I want a well build machine with a good battery life, that's why I am considering this) and minor light gaming on games such as Civ V. Thnx in advance to anyone who might give his/her opinion.

I bought a surface book 2 just recently and fully charging it shows a higher charge capacity than the designed capacity. Is this because the battery isn't calibrated yet or am I just lucky?

Hi everyone! I am looking for laptop choice advice! I saw this Q&A type post earlier and find it clear to read so I made one similar : CONTEXT: I am an Engineering student in my last year of school and would like to buy a work/gaming laptop that will last me at least 5 years. As I am willing to put a lot of money in it I really want to choose it carefully! Thanks for your help! • Total budget ? ~3000€ / ~3500$ max budget (France or USA) • General Specs / Do you prefer a 2 in 1 form factor, good battery life or best specifications? - 2 in 1 would be awesome - 7-9 hours battery ideally - i7 8th gen or better - 16 Gb ram or more (I assume 2 x 8Gb is also better but please correct me if not) - 512Go SSD minimum - 2To SSD maximum - Windows 10 • How important is weight and thinness to you? Thin and light is better but most importantly: I don't want a laptop looking too much like a gaming laptop (as I need to use it for work it is better if the design is sober) Performance is still my priority. • Do you have a preferred screen? 15" FHD or 4K Good screen temperature and colors as I wish to use Adobe Creative Suite 60Hz+ refresh rate as I wish to play also • Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing? List which programs/games you desire to run. - Adobe Creative Suite (mostly Photoshop & Premiere Pro) - Solidworks / Fusion 360 (small/medium designs) • If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want? I would like to play in ultra settings around 45-70 fps depending on the game (The Witcher 3 / FarCry 5 / RDR2 / TES6 hopefully haha / etc..) • Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)? I would like the laptop to last so a solid structure would be great (metal). A good keyboard is also nice. Touch-screen is a good feature but not mandatory. I know this is a lot of requirements and there might not be THE perfect laptop but still if you have any advice and devices to suggest I would be glad to hear it ! For now I've been looking at : - HP Spectre x360 15-df0900nz - Dell XPS 15 2 in 1 - Microsoft Surface Book 2 but I'm not convinced PS: English is not my native language, sorry for the mistakes

Any help appreciated! I have a 15 inch Surface Book 2 i7 w/ GTX 1060, 16Gb Ram, and 500Gb SSD. Recently I updated windows (to what I thought was 1809 -- can they roll back?) and noticed some severe battery drain and heat issues. I just checked the Windows version and its running 1803 #17134. I'm not sure exactly what update caused this issue and im having a hard time finding info on it given the sea of complaints out there surrounding this machine. Previously I could go days without plugging in to the charger and now im struggling to get hours out of the battery... Battery life was one of the primary reasons why i got this machine, this bug is a real bummer. Anyone have a similar issue? I suspect its not limited to the SB2. Is there a Fix? Thanks for any help/info.

Hey Linus Crew, I have floated around these forums for some time but have never had a reason to chime up or contribute, so hello and hear goes. As a background, I have been a conservative overclocker who likes to see custom build CPU's sit at 80 degrees or below. I value the balance between longevity and performance. I'm not an expert at all which is why I have come here for some guidance and advice. Please do highlight & critique my understanding of how this actually might work. Ye Wot is it mate? Recently I purchased a Microsoft Surface Book 2 - as an architect photographer and gamer this laptop's features are actually a dream come true for CAD / Photoshop / Rendering / Portability. When I received it, I immediately was triggered by the CPU's performance characteristics. Microsoft and the 8560U Microsoft exceeds the recommended Intel specifications for the 8560U significantly - the TDP can push up to 40 Watts (25 is the up-rated wattage listed by intel). Temps were reaching 100 degrees and instigating thermal throttling, before then lowering the TDP to around 10-20W at a steady 2.8ghz clock speed(within the recommended range after 1 minute of 98-100c turbo, but still sitting around 90 degrees!). Voltages would go as high as 1.38V during these boost intervals. Pretty garbage off the shelf performance if you ask me. First you make it then you bake it 90-100C under-load is un-acceptably high for the longevity of an expensive ($4000AUD) boutique product - it's like Microsoft wants this laptop to cook itself within two years to ensure product obsolescence (they aren't the only manufacturer to adopt this method). Speculatively for Microsoft - these clocks ensure that reviewers give it a thumbs up for performance, but most reviewers seem to ignore the long term effects (unless we look at Consumer Reports, where the evidence suggests failure of surface products around the two year mark is high). While 100c is within spec of intel, it's generally understood to be unhealthy and this seems to show in terms of long term reliability - but no-one seems to be looking at these issues and surrounding them with constructive discourse. Most Surface Book 2 owners don't report behavior like this though - the average heat is more 80-90 tops (still up to1.38V / 30-40W TDP though.. that IS normal apparently) .. I was about to return the product but I thought I might try undervolting first to see how far the CPU could push down and if this would balance the issue.. Enter Throttlestop Using Throttlestop I undervolted the CPU and achieved a stable -90MV reduction to CPU and CPU Cache. I undervolted Intel CPU to -50MV. This is apparently a huge undervolt for the 8650U? Lucky I didn't return this one then? Temps dropped to a top of 60 degrees! But this was also because by default Throttlestop reverts to the baseline TDP of the i7 8650U - 15W. I wanted it to push a bit harder than 60 degrees Celsius.. so I upped the TDP to 25W with a clamp at 23W. This has resulted in the 8650U running at average 70-85 degrees (absolute peak, 70 being normal) under load @ around 3.9-4.2 Ghz stable. Voltage never goes above 1.2V. All throttling is TDP related. Side note: The SB2 draining battery issue For those of you that have followed the SB2 reviews and media coverage (if not don't bother reading). This battery drain-while-plugged-in issue is completely gone if you keep the CPU under 20W - so if I'm planning on having a big gaming session I just have a profile set to clamp the CPU at 20W.. this results in my CPU running at about 1.15v - 3.8Ghz @ 75c peak load. It's worth noting that with this I can play Witcher 3 @ 1080p on ultra settings. Not sure about FPS but it's playable coming from my GTX1080 setup on my big rig so I would estimate approx. 60Fps. This is indefinitely, without any battery drain. My Actual Question (TLDR) Is it safe to run a CPU (8650U) rated at a 2.1-4.2ghz @ 15W(standard)-25W(boost) TDP consistently at 15-25W, 1.2V @ 3.0-4.1 Ghz all of the time if it never exceeds 85 degrees at peak load? Voltages step so I have shown some ranges that they typically are seen at. This to me atleast seems far more sustainable for longevity than Microsofts default SB2 boost clock of up to 45W @ 1.38V around 100c for short intervals before dropping back to 15-20W @ 1.2V sitting around 2.8ghz. Would much rather stable warm high performance rather than hot blazing performance followed by average performance especially in Photoshop / CAD / Rendering. TLDR Note: My SB2 copy runs hotter than normal SB2's in default settings but undervolted superbly for my own settings. Just checking that I understand this mobile CPU properly - coming from overclocking desktop CPU's this seems logical, but I'm just not sure if these laptop CPU's are designed to sit at 20-25W consistently - is turbo boost intended to only be used for short periods of time? Or is it purely a temperature control mechanism? Should I be adding a boost time limit to the CPU so that it drops back to max 15W after a few minutes for some other reason than temperature? Thanks in advance for any thoughts! I can provide some screenshots when I get home from work if this is not clear enough and am sure to be appreciative for any comments. Happy Eastings.

Hi! I recently bought a Surface Book 2, the 15" model with a GTX 1060. It's an amazing laptop. I can play Fallout 4 in 1920x1200 on the Ultra preset with 60 FPS (vsync) all the time. Or Space Engineers with the High preset in 1920x1200 with 60 FPS (vsync) as well. BUT playing GTA 5 in those resolutions with high settings yields 30-40 FPS. I doubt GTA is so much more demanding then Fallout 4. Is there something I can do about this? I tried updating the GeForce drivers but they are apparently handled by Windows Update on the Surface so it won't let me install drivers manually. I checked thermals with GPU-Z when playing GTA and the GPU was at 67°C all the time. What I found interesting was that the GPU usage in task manaher would go no further then ~70% in GTA, but in Fallout 4 it sits at 90% and when something intensive happens it goes to 100% If you need more information let me know. I'd really like to play GTA 5 in 60 FPS. PC Info: Intel i7 8650U (1,9 GHz, Boost 4,2 GHz) GTX 1060 (Default 1405 MHz, Boost 1569 MHz) 16 GB LPDDR3 (1866 MHz) 1 TB Samsung M.2 SSD

Can the Surface Book 2 possibly be good enough to justify it's price tag? Buy the Surface Book 2: Amazon: http://geni.us/2DD2Y Newegg: http://geni.us/ea46

Hi, I recently made a post taking some suggestions in terms of laptop for a college student. However, today, after many days of contemplating, I was fortunate enough to be able to just go out and buy one of the most expensive laptops out in the market, Surface Book 2. I bought the 13 inch model with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage option along with, of course, i7-8650U and GTX 1050. As I've said in the previous post, I'm an computer engineering student and have a part time job at a local STEM educational business. I've used LG Gram with 7th gen intel cpu, Surface Pro 3, XPS 13(this was returned in less than 2 weeks because of its trivial performance), and lastly MacBook Pro 15 with the notorious touch bar. So, in this post, as I start using SB2 as my main daily driver, I'm going to compare and contrast between MBP 15 and SB2. I decided to post my personal experience with these two laptops as they are nowhere near the affordable laptop category, therefore, less accessible to majority of the crowd. Hopefully, my smackdown between these two rather masterpieces of current technology can lead you to a smarter decision when it comes down to your own purchase of either. So, buckle up, folks. This ride will be a long but interesting one.

Hello all, I just got my Surface Book 2 15 inch with i7-8650U, 16gb Ram, and 1 tb ssd. To see how things are working I tried running Cinebench and Aida64 and was shocked at how bad the thermals on this unit are. At just about 1 minute into stability tests with Aida64 FPU test only (or CPU only test), it is thermal throttling to up to 50%. Temps on the CPU are between 96C and 100C on the individual cores and on the package. It is just doing horrible and it doesn't seem like the fans spin up until it has been that way for a while and even when they are running, it is doing basically nothing to help with those temperatures. I was wondering if anyone else got one of these and have seen the same behavior and if there is anyway to fix that or if there is just a problem with the unit that I got. This is with it just running windows update and not even a benchmark at this point. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.