GoBOXX? 2300

I've been looking into getting a high end laptop for a couple weeks now, My only requirement is a nice video card, geforce go 6800 ultra or Quadro FX Go1400 and at least 1gb of ram. The GoBoxx 2300 System looks very nice, and the price(if not cheaper) is about the same as the Dell Gen 2. The Dell is hidiously ugly in my opinion, i don't want all those **** lights.

Back to the point of my post tho, has anyone purchased a Boxx system? Better yet the GoBoxx 2300?

I will mostly be using it for Photoshop, Flash and some Maya. But I'm also a gamer so I'm sure i'll throw a couple on there.

 

Ever heard of Dell coupons? The price will blow any gaming rig out of the water, no kidding at all. With the 35%/40% coupons, you can get the XPS 2 for under $2000. Some have even picked up models for $1600 under these promotions. Try and find that anywhere else. Or if you want to wait a week or two more, there's the 7800 GTX which blows the 6800 Ultra out of the water.

 

yea...lol..that's a BIG difference if you use the dell coupons available compared to that goboxx...haha

 

I am not sure, I have never heard of GoBOXX before, but that laptop looks a lot like a clevo rebranded one, like sagers. I think the sager 9880s which would be similar get good reviews.

 

If i could find coupons that haven't expired then I would go for the Dell in a second. Where are you getting these 30 and 40% off coupons?

 

The GoBOXX 2300 is the Clevo D900T, rebranded by Boxx. Boxx only builds workstation computers and does so quite well. This particular unit is their only offering in notebooks.

If the D900K dual core doesn't arrive on the scene shortly, I will purchase the D900T unit from either Boxx or Hypersonic. It is probably an overkill if you don't need a workstation for graphics, 3D rendering, etc. A similar model (9880) from Sager would do you just as well.

 

I will be using it for 3d animation, I use Maya on a regular basis, as well as flash, and photoshop.

I saw on discountlaptop the sager can be purchased pretty cheap. Looks like basically the same computer. I've just heard alot of good things about Boxx.

 

It is the same basic Clevo unit that Sager and many others distribute. However, not just anyone can configure the proper components that make a workstation work better as a whole. The Sager will be cheaper, but will not be optomized for workstation use.

Also, for Maya and the other software you will be using, DO NOT order any notebook without an OpenGL card. Preferably, the Nvidia Quadro 1400.

 

Yeah, there's the rub, optimization. I've been using gaming video cards with Maya for a couple years now and haven't had much of an issue, is the quadro a drastic improvement(main reason i hadn't switched was price difference)?

 

Here is a very good explanation of the differences between the Quadro and GeForce Nvidia cards and why you should opt for the Quadro. Read the article and you will understand that is foolish to spend several thousand dollars on a powerful computer for workstation use and not go an additional couple of hundred for the better card. NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE PERFORMANCE.

http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/support/faq.asp?faqlineid=44

 

the dell coupon codes dont work on the xps.. ive tried

 

maybe they are already used up to their limit...??

 

Hey, I own a goboxx 2300 and Iove it. The goboxx 2300 is the only true mobile workstation that ive seen so far. It is the most flexible laptop that ive worked on. It can run all the applications from Photoshop to Maya. There are a few drawbacks though. The goboxx package fully loaded for the average Graphic artist is around 25 pounds. So if your looking to work on maya while at school or in a cafe. Your better off looking at the smaller, less powerful mobile workstations. The Goboxx is really a BOXX workstation that you can use in your hotel room before an event or before a meeting. The Goboxx also looks Sharp.(its also one of the most professional looking laptops that ive used)

I recommend a GoBOXX 2300 over the others if:
1. Your looking to work in different locations like home and office and your friends house, and your school lab . But not looking to work while on the move
2. Your looking for a Laptop that can do everything. Video editing, Rendering, Compositing, Dual moniters, the works. But dont mind the weight.
3. Looking for laptop that has such a sharp screen, your work looks 10 times better. but dont mind the 1 hour battery life.
4. Looking for something that has all the modern connection types to give presentations from 1 on 1 to projector rooms.
5. Looking for a nice looking laptop to bring to the office that doesnt look lame like an alienware or a dell XPS
6. Looking for a Desktop Replacement that is easy to move around.

I recommend BOXX's competitors if:
1. Your looking for a computer that you can work on while in a car or in a location without a power outlet.
2. Cant afford the BOXX pricetag.
3. Dont want a warm laptop, by that I mean that Geforce/Quadro card and a pentium 4 CPU let off some heat
4. Have a weak back, The average goboxx on the go is around 20-25 pounds.
5. Don't want your laptop to be called the monster or the beast. or the brick

But really man I like my GoBOXX, just like I would like my Dell Precision M70. But I really wouldnt buy a GoBOXX if your looking for a MOBILE workstation. If our looking to workon the move I would go with a Dell Precision M70. It has a longer battery life but it also has a weaker CPU. So if your looking for a computer that is a super mobile desktop, but requires a power outlet to run. Go with the GOBOX. I bring my GOBOXX to a hotel room and i can make that hotel room a studio. The goboxx just has all around more power with the 3.8 ghz CPU so it can do more serious work. If your looking for a computer in general and dont plan to be moving around alot just spend that money on a desktop system and build a super Desktop. All the money you can spend on a mobile workstation still will give you nothing close to what you can do with a desktop.

I hope this helps you pick out your computer.

 

Fighter05:

My office is closed on Friday, so I have made arrangements with Boxx and FedEx to pick up my new GoBoxx 2300 at the local FedEx terminal this Friday AM. Your comments are much appreciated. How long have you had your GoBoxx 2300 and how do you rate the service and tech support from Boxx? I have had only Dell computers in the past and, contrary to what you read in the forums, find Dell's support and service without equal. If my experience with Boxx is 25% as good as my experience with Dell, I will be totally pleased. It was as difficult for me to break from Dell as it was to decide to order this unit and wait no longer for the dual cores to be released. Also, I was somewhat dissapointed in not ordering XP64 and 4GB RAM, but Boxx strongly argued against both. They feel XP64 has too little support to be workstation capable and their tests show that the mobile workstations actually perform less with 4GB RAM vs 3GB. If I don't have confidence that they know what they are doing, I suppose I shouldn't let my income depend on them. It would have been easy to give me everything I wanted and just take my money. At any rate, I've made my decision and I'm exicted and anxious to start loading 'her' up.

Configuration
Pentium® 4 Model 670 with EM64T and HT Technology (3.8GHz)
3GB DDRII 533 (4 DIMMS)
NVIDIA PCI Express based graphics
NVIDIA Quadro FX Go1400 256MB
17" WUXGA 1920 x 1200 Active Matrix Display
RAID 0 − 200GB 7200rpm (2 x 100GB IDE)
8X Double−Layer DVD±R/RW Burner (with NERO and WinDVD 5 software)
8X Double−Layer DVD±R/RW Burner
TV Tuner card
Bluetooth + Wireless 802.11b/g option
56K modem and Gigabit Ethernet
Soundblaster Virtual 8−channel Audio
Built−In Microphone and camera
Full Size Keyboard with Numpad
7−In−1 Media Card Reader
Enhanced 4 Speakers + Subwoofer
(4) USB 2.0 ports
(2) IEEE 1394a mini ports
(1) PS2 port
(1) LPT port
(1) DVI connection (for dual simultaneous display)
(1) COM port
(1) Type II PCMCIA Slot / Infrared port
(1) S/PDIF output
(1) Microphone jack
(1) Speaker−out jack
(1) Line−in jack
External Floppy Drive
(2) Additional AC Adapter for 2302 GoBOXX
Additional battery
Windows XP Professional with SP2
Adobe Video Collection Pro − Supports HDV (AE Pro,Premiere Pro,Photoshop CS)

 

HOLY CRAP 25llbs and people are crying about 7-8llb notebooks.

 

The laptop weight is 11.3 pounds, however, with extra battery, AC adapter, misc. items and the bag, your travel weight will probably be in the neighborhood of 20 - 25 pounds.

Mobile? Yes, but with effort. I don't mind so much the daily routine of taking it home each evening or on business trips where I drive and stay in a hotel. But airports are a killer, even with my current Dell Inspiron 15.4".

Unless it is a small ultrathin and light notebook with few accessories necessary for travel, I don't think there is much difference between 7 pounds and 11 pounds.

 

Alrigh then, its deffinetly not 25lbs then ha!

 

rookwood,

what kinds of optimization does BOXX have on this notebook?
thanks.

 

A few quotes from their website, just to give you some idea of the levels of experience they have with catering to the audio and visual professional community.

BOXX Workstations are used extensively by creative pros for 3DFX, audio production, graphic design and video editing/finishing in Post Production. They build over 35 different Workstation configurations optimized for specific application needs.

They know Premiere, Maya, 3ds max, Softimage, LightWave, Photoshop, Painter, ProEngineer, AutoCAD, ProTools, Cakewalk and many more applications. As such they can help you custom-configure a Workstation designed to specifically optimize your application requirements.

Their systems are optimized for specific tasks such as animation, graphics, video, rendering, audio and CAD.

When I first contacted them about 4 - 6 weeks ago, they wouldn't configure any system with Windows XP64 because the OS had not yet been certified for workstations. In talking to other resellers of the Clevo D900T, they seemed almost clueless about workstations, agreeing to sell me anything I wanted. There was a very informative review on several workstations in CADALYST magazine a few months back. One very important point they brought out was the fact that there are few companies that know what components work best together and just throwing the most expensive parts into the box almost guarantees sub-par performance.

I've beat this horse to death over the past several months, anguishing over making any decision. As mentioned in an earlier post, I just could not hold out any longer for the dual core D900K. After exhaustive researching, I descided on Boxx soley from the level of confidence I got by talking to theirs sales. I'm a small fish to them, but the responses I received on daily inquiries made me feel comfortable with them.

If you want and/or need a mobile workstation with the best performance, you are looking at a system with the P4 processor. On two separate occasions, Intel told me to opt for the P4 in lieu of the P M if I needed rendering performance. P4 units are difficult to find and Clevo has a pretty strong hold on this market. Boxx seemed to have their act together more so than Sager, Voodoo, Alienware, Hypersonic, Eurocom. If I were interested in a gaming machine, the decision would have been totally different. Other than Eurocom (since they are Canadian, I assume it's the devalued dollar), Boxx was the most expensive. But my living depends on this units performance and stability, so the $$$ was never an issue.

I pick up the 2300 on Friday, so if anyone is interested I can post my experiences...the good and the bad!

 

Im getting one of these too, the ship date was the 28th nov, but I think its now a bit later due to thanksgiving, but it should get here within a week or two. I made my decision based on other users feedback, and the screen resolution of the 2300. MY config is the same as rookwoods but with a 3.6 Ghz Processor. Im going to be using a lot of 3ds Max, Photoshop, Autocad, and dabbling in Premiere & Flash . I think it should run all this well - Now i know why 4GB wasnt an option on the config - Does anyone know why 4GB RAM would have worse performance than 3GB?

I will post an update too on how it all is once ive got it and have started rndering/multitasking etc..

Baz

 

I can't answer why the 3GB RAM performs better than the 4GB. It is what the sales rep told me they find while testing the machines. Windows doesn't recognize 4GB but will recognize the 3GB as 2.87 +/-. (I believe I have the story straight). At any rate, I have a tendancy to believe someone when they could have made more money just selling me what I wanted. And at the cost of these machines from BOXX, an additional GB of RAM is insignificent.

They missed their original initial target ship date by only a few days, so you should be getting yours early next week.

BTW: I'm sort of new to benchmarking. Does anyone have any ideas to share on how to go about performing benchmarks? What type? Where do you get the software? Better to benchmark 'out of the box', or after it's fully loaded?

thanx...

 

If you look at Andrew's guidelines for writing a review, there are some links to a few benchmarks. Futuremark (futuremark.com, I think) makes the standard PCMark, for example.

Benchmarks are weird, in my opinion. What exactly do they measure? What is the difference that I will notice between one machine that has ten 3DMarks more than another? In my mind, they only give me a rough idea of what the machine is capable of.

If you're benchmarking for bragging rights, don't bench right out of the box. Optimize your system first by cleaning up the registry and un-installing any resident programs that you don't want.

If you're benching to get a good idea of how your computer performs when you're actually using it, I would say set it up how you intend to have it every day and then run the benches. That's how I did mine for my review, but since I'm not an expert at reading benchmarks I have no idea what they say.

 

Follow the "How to optimize a Computer" guide in the Guides section of NotebookReview - very helpful, I did it, and got a 15-20% performance increase out of it.

It's better to tune it up/update it before you benchmark. I agree with Slappy.

 

Ive had the 'top for about 3 weeks and Im just Loving it - Its a really awesome piece of kit, It looks fantastic, and has a very solid build quality feel to it. The screen is amazing, I didnt realise how good the 17" WUXGA panel is - if you think about it, its an Apple 23" display - themselves amazing, squeezed into 17" the result is a screen that looks like print, with excellent brightness & contrast - The Graphics card gets hot, and chucks out a fair amount of hot air, after a few days I ordered the rain design iLap, which acts as an ergonomic help, but more crucially works to keep the computer cool, Very importnt If the processor is going to be working at 100% for hrs on end doing renders..
Really REALLY happy with my buy..

 

ive heard these powerful p4 laptops overheat after a few hours even if your pluged in. have you had that happen to you yet.hope you havent. ive been looking at the boxx. for just auto cad. but eventually some animation,hopefully.for fun. but i will need a laptop that can last all day.in the office connected to an lcd. right now its between the boxx2300,or- a clevo, thru pc torque, or the new dell. dual cpu model (mobile chip). or go with an amd clevo for a fullsize amd proccessor. also thru pc torque. last i looked boxx didnt offer one.going to contact them today to ask why.

 

In reponse to the question regarding 3gb vs 4gb on the Clevo D900t based laptops, I have a Savrow Katana K90 (D900t based) with 4gb of ram.

Turns out the chipset (Intel 915P) only supports 2.75gb RAM so please dont bother ordering with 4gb even if it's offered cause you can only use 2.75gb max.

This is regardless of what OS you install. I'm running Windows server 2003 x64 which supports 32GB ram but I can still only see 2.75gb.

Glad my company paid for it though otherwise i'd be really annoyed.