RTX 5060 Laptop: 60% Quieter in Entertainment Mode, 12% Loss

Key Takeaways

1. The Apex 17 is the top-performing RTX 5060 laptop in 3D benchmarks and gaming, thanks to its strong AMD processor.
2. The laptop’s cooling system is effective but leads to higher noise levels, especially in Performance mode.
3. Different modes (Performance, Entertainment, Silent) affect performance; Entertainment mode reduces CPU performance by about 15% but remains competitive.
4. Despite a performance drop in Entertainment mode, the Apex 17 still outperforms many competitors in various tests.
5. Switching to Entertainment mode significantly reduces fan noise by approximately 60%, while maintaining a good balance between performance and sound levels.

In synthetic 3D performance, the Apex 17 (our review) leads among all RTX 5060 laptops we’ve tested, based on our 3DMark benchmarks. Its superiority is even more evident in actual gaming, where the advanced CPU significantly influences results. With a strong AMD processor, the Apex 17 stands unrivaled in CPU performance within its category.

Cooling System Challenges

To achieve such high performance, a robust cooling system is essential. However, powerful cooling often leads to increased noise levels. While the laptop remains cool during intense tasks, it also ranks among the loudest RTX-5060 laptops when set to Performance mode.

Testing Different Modes

Besides Performance mode, the Apex 17 has two other preset options: Entertainment and Silent. We examined these modes to see how much performance might be sacrificed for quieter operation—specifically, how much speed you give up for a more serene experience.

Using Cinebench R15 Multi Core, Fire Strike Graphics, and Cyberpunk 2077, we assessed the various profiles. In Cinebench, the CPU performance dropped about 15 percent in Entertainment mode. Nevertheless, the score of 4,921 points (down from 5,739) still equates to the Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX found in devices like the Lenovo Legion 7 16 and other Intel processors.

Performance Comparison

In the Fire Strike Graphics test, we noticed a decline of roughly 10 percent in Entertainment mode. Despite this drop, the Apex 17 outperformed competitors such as the Tulpar T6, the Alienware 16 Aurora, and the MSI Cyborg 17. However, models like Omen 16 and Legion 7 had a slight edge in this quieter setting.

When it comes to gaming, the results follow a similar trend. In Cyberpunk 2077, the average frame rates decreased from 84.4 FPS to 74.4 FPS, marking a drop of around 12 percent. This benchmark was never the Apex 17’s strongest suit, and it already lagged behind the Legion 7 in Performance mode. Yet, in Entertainment mode, it still outpaced the MSI Cyborg 17, even if other rivals surpassed it slightly.

Noise Levels

Despite the moderate drop in performance, the reduction in noise is significant. Fan noise decreases from about 55 dB to just 40.5–43.5 dB, making it approximately two and a half times quieter. In other titles—especially those heavy on CPU—the laptop remains quiet while still benefiting from the powerful Ryzen 9 processor, which aids in keeping performance high.

The Apex 17 is among the most potent RTX-5060 gaming laptops on the market, though it can be quite noisy in Performance mode. Switching to Entertainment mode makes it around 60 percent quieter, with 3D and gaming performance only dipping by 10 to 12 percent. Even in this quieter profile, the Apex 17 stays very competitive, providing a great balance between performance and sound levels.