CORSAIR Voyager a1600: Helpful tips for users and Feedback for Devs

[Jeffieyboy]

I was having several issues with this product in the beginning. Did a clean reformat and started from scratch. Similar to what others were saying, I held off installing all Corsair's drivers from the Corsair's website until Windows 11 has gone through all of it's updates. Then I installed each driver separately, including the AMD graphics driver. I  changed a registry value to prohibit windows update from updating my graphics card driver automatically. This has helped a ton.

Question: Will there be a time where we can use AMD drivers from their own website or will we have to continually check Corsairs website for that driver?

Lastly, where can I purchase another power supply? I think it's 230 watts but wanted to make sure the plug into the computer is the correct size/fit.

 

Here are a list of bugs / potential issues I've encountered:

- Incredibly long boot times (even with fast bootup)

- Driver conflicts w/ windows update

- Received a system notification about 'laptop is plugged into a low wattage power supply and will adjust performance, etc." - I'm using the power supply that came with the computer.

 

Nice to haves:

- Allow us to turn off boost/turbo mode in bios.

- Larger fans (which will make the laptop a little thicker but it will run a little cooler and quieter)

- A better system management tool application for laptops: Where you can update drivers, firmware, run diagnostics and change system performance settings. This almost needs to be a requirement. The corsair diagnostics really doesn't do much and offers just system shortcuts. Corsair should develop something similar to Asus Armory Crate. You should have Elgato develop this.

 

Things I love:

- The build quality

- The large and responsive mousepad and keyboard

- Very bright and fast screen

- Elgato quick keys

- Great hardware

 

Corsair is new to the laptop market so with everything considered they have build a solid laptop. Hopefully users are aware that this is a new venture for Corsair and to understand that with these types of new products that there will be bugs in the beginning. Just do the work around I've done and the system should be very responsive. Hats off to Corsair, looking forward to  more of their laptop product lines.

Edited December 18, 2022 by Jeffieyboy

[Chris84]

Mind if I pile on too !?

 

Where can i find a BIOS update for this? It seems incredibly buggy.

If i use the laptop on battery.. shut down.. then next day, plug into the charger BEFORE powering it on... it refuses to power-on!!?

The keyboard lights and fan some on.. but screen stays dead.

I have to p[ower off by holding the power button.. and trying again... it can take 10 minutes of plugging  / unplugging power supply.. opening closing lid... holding power button down...

Im not sure what combinations of these things bring it back to life.. but eventually, it does start working again, and gets into BIOS screen.

I have to be very, very careful to not let the battery drain too far.. and to never plug in power while its off.. otherwise booting is a nightmare.

 

Other things, also mentioned above... windows Update Broke the GPU - launching any game freeses the machine... i have to hold power to shut it down..
Work around is to disable hybrid graphics... but that murders battery life..

Ive down-graded GPU drivers to a version quoted as working in a different thread... and ive disabled windows updates..
Ive got the GPU working again... BUT, now sleep doesnt work..   screen turns off... but LCD and fans are still running..
I darent try and update anything, for fear of GPU bug returning.


This is the most expensive, and also, oost buggy laptop ive ever owned.
I didnt return it immediately, Expecting that BIOS and driver updates would be relleased shortly, to fix all the teething troubles...
But its been months.
 

[Corsair Albert]

On 12/18/2022 at 8:13 AM, Jeffieyboy said:

I was having several issues with this product in the beginning. Did a clean reformat and started from scratch. Similar to what others were saying, I held off installing all Corsair's drivers from the Corsair's website until Windows 11 has gone through all of it's updates. Then I installed each driver separately, including the AMD graphics driver. I  changed a registry value to prohibit windows update from updating my graphics card driver automatically. This has helped a ton.

Question: Will there be a time where we can use AMD drivers from their own website or will we have to continually check Corsairs website for that driver?

Lastly, where can I purchase another power supply? I think it's 230 watts but wanted to make sure the plug into the computer is the correct size/fit.

 

Here are a list of bugs / potential issues I've encountered:

- Incredibly long boot times (even with fast bootup)

- Driver conflicts w/ windows update

- Received a system notification about 'laptop is plugged into a low wattage power supply and will adjust performance, etc." - I'm using the power supply that came with the computer.

 

Nice to haves:

- Allow us to turn off boost/turbo mode in bios.

- Larger fans (which will make the laptop a little thicker but it will run a little cooler and quieter)

- A better system management tool application for laptops: Where you can update drivers, firmware, run diagnostics and change system performance settings. This almost needs to be a requirement. The corsair diagnostics really doesn't do much and offers just system shortcuts. Corsair should develop something similar to Asus Armory Crate. You should have Elgato develop this.

 

Things I love:

- The build quality

- The large and responsive mousepad and keyboard

- Very bright and fast screen

- Elgato quick keys

- Great hardware

 

Corsair is new to the laptop market so with everything considered they have build a solid laptop. Hopefully users are aware that this is a new venture for Corsair and to understand that with these types of new products that there will be bugs in the beginning. Just do the work around I've done and the system should be very responsive. Hats off to Corsair, looking forward to  more of their laptop product lines.

A replacement charger will be available via our website. I would imagine within a month. The battery will also be offered as a spare part - but this is only really necessary if your VOYAGER's battery needs to be replaced outside of warranty.

As always, your input is deeply appreciated.

On 1/16/2023 at 9:25 AM, Chris84 said:

Mind if I pile on too !?

 

Where can i find a BIOS update for this? It seems incredibly buggy.

If i use the laptop on battery.. shut down.. then next day, plug into the charger BEFORE powering it on... it refuses to power-on!!?

The keyboard lights and fan some on.. but screen stays dead.

I have to p[ower off by holding the power button.. and trying again... it can take 10 minutes of plugging  / unplugging power supply.. opening closing lid... holding power button down...

Im not sure what combinations of these things bring it back to life.. but eventually, it does start working again, and gets into BIOS screen.

I have to be very, very careful to not let the battery drain too far.. and to never plug in power while its off.. otherwise booting is a nightmare.

 

Other things, also mentioned above... windows Update Broke the GPU - launching any game freeses the machine... i have to hold power to shut it down..
Work around is to disable hybrid graphics... but that murders battery life..

Ive down-graded GPU drivers to a version quoted as working in a different thread... and ive disabled windows updates..
Ive got the GPU working again... BUT, now sleep doesnt work..   screen turns off... but LCD and fans are still running..
I darent try and update anything, for fear of GPU bug returning.


This is the most expensive, and also, oost buggy laptop ive ever owned.
I didnt return it immediately, Expecting that BIOS and driver updates would be relleased shortly, to fix all the teething troubles...
But its been months.
 

The latest BIOS and drivers can be found on the VOYAGER product page, under the "Downloads" tab. The Windows Update issue of tampering with the graphics driver should be resolved now. I suggest downloading and installing the driver from the product page if you haven't already. Whether you want to enable WIndows Update again is up to you, of course, but that issue has been resolved.

Please open a ticket with our support if any issues persist.

[Chris84]

On 1/17/2023 at 9:07 PM, Corsair Albert said:

The latest BIOS and drivers can be found on the VOYAGER product page, under the "Downloads" tab.

Thanks...

Silly question, but which of those is the BIOS? I see lots of drivers.. but no BIOS updates?

Im on bios 1.30 08/02/2022.

 

[Corsair Albert]

On 2/2/2023 at 7:04 AM, Chris84 said:

Thanks...

Silly question, but which of those is the BIOS? I see lots of drivers.. but no BIOS updates?

Im on bios 1.30 08/02/2022.

 

It was removed, unfortunately. Sorry about that! Windows Updates is supposed to have the latest BIOS update available, but I haven't been able to verify this.

Regardless, I've notified the team to republish the BIOS - it should be available again sometime soon. The current version is 1.35.

[Chris84]

On 2/3/2023 at 6:04 PM, Corsair Albert said:

It was removed, unfortunately. Sorry about that! Windows Updates is supposed to have the latest BIOS update available, but I haven't been able to verify this.

Regardless, I've notified the team to republish the BIOS - it should be available again sometime soon. The current version is 1.35.

Its not up yet... And windows update has not updated the BIOS.

Do you know how long it might be? I would like to see if latest BIOS improves the situation much, before i return the laptop.

[klehriker]

Still not up yet. 13 days after republish notification.

will there be any update soon?

 

[klehriker]

On 2/7/2023 at 1:12 PM, Chris84 said:

Its not up yet... And windows update has not updated the BIOS.

Do you know how long it might be? I would like to see if latest BIOS improves the situation much, before i return the laptop.

Finally firmware 1.35 is up in the download section for the a1600.

 

unfortunately without a changelog.

Edited February 25 by klehriker

[rocnado]

i updated my bios and now my monitor driver is missing. the integrated monitor reads as pnp generic and wont detect the proper driver to install.

[Chris84]

Bios 1.35 didnt fix any of the bugs i was experaincing. Infact, it just seemed to make it worse. 

Any links to 1.30 ?

This is the most expensive laptop i have ever purchased,m by a long way.. I usually spend about £1,400 (HALF the price of this one).. and i usually expect everything to work...

Tech support is a joke.. the solution to the thing not booting if power-off with bettery, then power on with AC connected... is to remove the bios battery... which is not easy to get to!

First and last Corsair product i will ever buy.

[Pupilliam]

Been having the same issues with my laptop- the powering on/off. Additionally, after recent BIOS update, my monitor is stuck at 60hz. Even with a complete reinstall of the OS, I'm still stuck at 60hz. When I called Corsair Support, they said there was nothing they could do to help with. They took down my email "just in case someone knew what to do" and it's been a month with no email.

The laptop is good, but these glaring issues really make me wish I had bought a similar-spec'd Alienware for cheaper. I took a chance on Corsair and it certainly will not happen again.

[elytscha]

Hello,

what i can share is, ITS SUMMER, dont forget the temps are 10-20 degrees higher then in winter, laptops got really hit hard by this.

In another thread corsair albert linked a bios v1.38, which fixed alot for me, internal screen is working without problems again, brightness controlable again, better fan management (dont spin up and down that often) 

the fans, its a really open build, the fans suck air from the bottom and blow it out of the back, BUT they airflow also goes through the keyboard and through the perforated metal between touchbar and keyboard, if you open your device anytime and remove the fans, you will see basically every hole which can be blocked by dust will be blocked by dust. So its crucial to open your laptop every 3-4 months, pull out the fans and clean everything, i also opened the fans, so i could clean them inside. AND its also crucial that we can get replacement fans!

also what i did for summer is i teared down the performance in bios via custom mode, where i set 35w for apu and 90w for apu+dgpu (lowest settings i think), i didnt noticed a performance loss but temps where not hitting thermal throttle limit anymore (95c cpu, 105c gpu hotspot went down to 82c cpu and 80c gpu hotspot)

[Pupilliam]

Thankfully I haven't had ANY issues with cooling; fairly impressive! I can run Dolphin at 4k at 165FPS on this thing with no issue and most AAA games with the same settings. Truly amazing for a laptop.

[hotcoffeeamericano]

Is this year 2023 and no fixes? I read good reviews on youtube so I got this. Guess what, I bought this so I could use it for my new aspiring job, a youtuber who reviews tech stuff for youtubing. I will be making my review on this laptop, and it isn't going to be good. My laptop is only 2 months with me. I barely use it, and it's now dead.