XoticPC selling OCZ Whitebook (Arima W840 DI) - nice!

OCZ says all three in one and can be changed to each color...........

 

I believe it was previously stated by KN that all 3 colors are available, but changing them requires you to go through BIOS.

 

I can answer that:

Whitebook is thicker by roughly .17 inches than generation 1
Heat dissipators are thicker and more prominent than in generation 1
Generation 2 adds HDMI + SATA at the expense of 1 USB port (so G2 has 3 usb ports, G1 has 4)
G2 has a 2.0 megapixel camera, G1 has 1.3 mp
G2 has fingerprint reader, G1 doesn't
G2 requires more power
G2 utilizes a SATA interface for optical drive, G1 uses PATA
...and that's about it.

One thing I might do once I get mine is to see if the Radeon card will work in a Gen 1 chassis (M9750 in my case).

 

Wow, thank you for the info. Considering this, the G2 chassis really shoudn't have any prbs. with overheating.

 

Would the Radeon work in the Clevo chassis?

 

Which Clevo Chassis? D901c or m570ru?

 

I doubt it (for the time being).. since Arima has previous had a "Special" MXM (not standard)... in their previous sytems.

 

yeh, for those with money to spend, K|N should be the top choice.

And don't forget about RKC and DarkSmiley Comps, Theyre prices are pretty good too.

Hey RobM, what happened to the Custom A panels? They used to b

 

ah, stupid ipodtouch, cut message off.

Cont.: They used to be a link to the photos but now there gone. Wat happened?

 

Yea, Dark Smiley seems to have the lowest price overall.. Compared to Xotic \ RKC.

K|N lures me by the heatsink mod.

 

K-TRON--I cant wait until you all get them, and a better one comes out a month later

Considering how long it takes for tier one manufactures and the channel to put out new hardware it could be until Nov. 2009 until there is anything better. Apparently Sager and others have a lot of dated hardware to sell at high margins before they will release anything new.

 

At the expense of analog surround sound ports for the on board audio (the OCZ only seems to have stereo and mic ports), and at the expense of DVI output as well.

It still looks like a nice notebook though. I'm looking forward to seeing some real benchmarks. I want someone to compare Call of Duty 4 on the dual 3870 config to a single 9800M. It should yield more interesting results. People are far too invested in 3D Marks. Lets see some real world performance.

The desktop version of the 3870 had some questionable crossfire results.

 

hehe, forgot the DVI. thanks for the catch.

 

Theoretically it should since it uses a slightly modified MXM-IV/HE frame, which is backwards compatible with MXM-1, 2 and 3 (the Radeon is MXM-3). But due to the proprietary nature of the current GPUs in the Clevos, the Radeons would have to be reflashed to a VBIOS that is compatible with the Clevos. Unfortunately, that doesn't exist yet.

However, there is some good news regarding OCZ's intent regarding MXM Graphics, pulled it from an excerpt from Reselleradvocate.com:

“Our 17" model will be an MXM solution that can enable dual graphics,” says OCZ chief marketing officer Alex Mei. “You’ll have the option to pick either an AMD or NVIDIA solution. The other notebook guys haven’t even wanted to touch that. A Tier One doesn’t want you to have the ability to change out that MXM card. They want the card to be sold with the notebook. The card may even be proprietary to that notebook. We’re trying to work with partners to build general spec MXM cards, and if they’re not able to do it, we’ll do it ourselves and come up with an MXM card so that people can customize, configure, and change out the unit as necessary. We’re trying to create a new niche here.”

http://reselleradvocate.com/public/ram/issues/ram81/ram81_coverstory02.html

So it seems that they want to standardize MXM.

 

Clevo uses a proprietary GPU? Does anyone know why?

 

That's the case with a lot of manufacturers, especially Quanta who manufacturers notebooks for HP and Dell (with some of the HP notebooks they made using an MXM interface as well). It's usually to protect their products than anything else. mxm-upgrade.com has more info on this issue.

 

Thanks ichime. The mxm.upgrade.com was helpful. I thought they were more like desktop graphics cards for some reason.

 

http://www.xoticpc.com/contact_us.php

That is strange, because the number you called isn't on XoticPC's contact list. I'm gonna have to call this one a smear, but I'll assume you just got the wrong phone number instead.

UPDATE: Looks like you had an old number...

 

Clevo like all notebook manufacturers have this practice to control the market. One of the things that makes this OCZ notebook different is that it allows switching between a single or dual card ATi or a single Nvidia card. That in itself is revolutionary and makes this notebook more like a desktop in its ability to swap/upgrade its GPU.

 

I keep reading these post and everytime. I think I missed something.

That number does go directly to Xotic's website. Just use a cached search through google. Yet soemone mentions it and the post gets edited?

I can agree to not let someone smear a companies name, but when its an honest concern why is it that post get edited and deleted?

I am kinda at a lost hear as it "SEEMS" certain vendors get favortism on this forum.

I am just wondering as everyone makes a part of this community.

"That was a temp # set up when there were some toll free phone problems that is no longer used (early '08). Thanks for pointing it out mark..."

I havent ordered anything from Mark yet, but I see someone pointing directly at him and that is a personal attack unless someone can post some proof that the screen name is directly related to him.

So its ok for one to accuse but not the other? I mean cmon guys this is childish.

Im not blaming or pointing the finger at anyone I am just a concerned citizen of this community and hope you can show the respect not to edit this post so we can "clear the air" here as to what is going on.

 

I wonder how upgradeable it wil be for ethe future. What expansions are the motherboard capable of in the future if any?

I know K|N already offer 6 or 8Gig of DDR3 for it which is awesome as far as multitasking. But what about the future of the graphic cards?

 

I'm hoping that the HDMI port serves the same purpose with an adapter. I assume that you can set the resolution, refresh, etc. from HDMI the same as you would via DVI.. but no one has really been able to provide me with a solid answer to that question yet.

I'm just dying to see some direct comparisons between the 3870 and 9800M in some real world scenarios. 3D Mark is fine and all, but it doesn't really provide the complete picture.

 

Im no expert but I believe is pretty such the exact same thing just cutting down on the number of cords. I remember reading that somehwere just cant recall the quote.

 

I agree with you Gophn, backlit keyboards are mostly for show. I can see how they can be useful for some people, in certain situations. As for me, bah - www.daskeyboard.com. Get one.
People have lived without backlit keyboards for decades, it's only since the MBP came out that regular consumers had access to them. There's an old saying - people only want what they know.

I have been following this notebook around for a while and it looks real good on paper. I am interested to see how dual ATI HD 3870s compare to SLI 9800M-GT/X in the Clevo D901C.

 

I like the backlit keyboard for when Im next to my girl and shes sleeping so lights arent an option helps a little bit. I would agree also though 98% of the time it just looks nice.

I cant wait for the 3870's against the Sli 9800's either!

 

Are there any pictures of this notebook?

 

HDMI works the same way as DVI in terms of video. HDMI just adds audio capability, so HDMI can carry both Audio and Video. Very convenient as it eliminates the need of two or more wires to connect both audio and video.

 

I think SLI 9800M's (of any flavor) are going to smash the 3870 Crossfire. The 3870 Crossfire should outperform single 9800M GT's and GTX's in.. 3D Mark. I'm not sure how they'll hold up in the real world though. I want to see some benchmarks before I make up my mind. I imagine it will be quite a while until the HD 4800 is available in mobile form :/

Oh if that's the case then I don't mind that they dropped the DVI port. HDMI to DVI cables are relatively cheap. It would be nice if they included an adapter with the notebook.

 

Dual 9800 GTX's $$$ - Dual 3870's ¢¢¢

You can just about get a bare OCZ at RK Computers with dual cards for the cost of two 9800 GTX's!

 

Of any flavor includes 9800GT's. NP9262 + 9800M GT's would be a pretty compeditively priced platform. Granted, it's a monster. It's unfortunate that it's the only good 9800M GT SLI solution that I've seen. Dell is still stuck on 8800M GTX's (last I checked), and while that should perform equally as well as 9800M GT's, their prices are outrageous. But then again if you're already paying $3500 for a notebook I'm pretty sure you could get any video solution out there in that budget if you're willing to sacrifice a few frills in other areas.

I'm mostly concerned about gaming performance. How many 3D Marks you get is just really irrelevant in the real world. The desktop version of the 3870 Crossfire solution makes me concerned. There's plenty of benches on Tom's charts that show it being outperformed by single 8800GT's and.. 2900XT Crossfire. That aint good!

But I'm not condemning it based on tomshardware's benchmarks on the desktop version of the card. I'm just not convinced yet, I want to see some real benchmarks of this thing before I fall in love with ATI again.

..well.. on a laptop. I'm already in love with the HD 4800.

 

You can get closer in price, maybe even get a better price. I read in this thread (D901C) E8600/Q9650/XEON X3360 that an actual distributor of the Clevo chassis would price match or beat reseller pricing!

Maybe the Clevo distributors aren't too happy about their resellers offering this OCZ model. It is no secret that OCZ is marketing this system as direct competition to Clevo. In any case the end user can get the same system for cheaper going straight to the source.

 

i totally agree with Chaz!also,Daskeyboard is awesome!a little OT tho

 

Well then hopefully all Clevo resellers/builders will drop their prices soon, eh?

 

Now if it only didn't weigh as much as my desktop (note: gross exaggeration).

 

Question: How can a reseller drop their price to compete with the company that is supplying them???

BUSINESS 101: You can't. They are sending a not too subtle message.

 

Clevo is actually using standard MXM Type IV cards.

Since their M570RU and D901C systems, Clevo has made a switch to standard MXM.

Before then, Clevo used proprietary modules... I know, I own a previous Clevo that used one of those proprietary modules.

I wished they would have switched over to MXM when I built my notebook back in March 2006.

 

So could the 9800 cards from Clevo work with this chassis Gophn?

 

Right now OCZ is not offering this as a DIY kit to consumers. They are kinda vague about any plans in this regard. If you can get it directly from flextronics let me know...

 

Yes Clevo uses the MXM interface, but the VBIOS/Firmware for their graphics cards is proprietary, so it won't work with any other system that utilizes the MXM interface (So you can't take a 9800M GTX from a D901 of an M570TU and put it in a M15x/M17x, although the systems mentioned have MXM-HE/IV connectors).

edit: According to MXM-upgrade.com though, they have had a few success stores with MXM card with different VBIOSes from the OEM/ODM after a VBIOS reflash.

 

the VBIOS is actually standard in the MXM Type IV cards that Clevo uses.

The Alienware MXM modules seem to be proprietary, probably set by Quanta (their ODM).

 

So are you saying the Clevo cards may work in this chassis Gophn?

 

hmm....I don't know. There seems to be more evidence to the contrary. I was able to find pictures of the 8800M GTX card from a Clevo M570TU:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=221393&page=6

and

http://www.xoticpc.com/8800m-installation-guide-sager-notebook-np579x-8800m-a-41.html

Now, according to techpowerup.com, there are two VBIOSes out there for the "standard" MXM with the corresponding BIOS versions:

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/6371/NVIDIA.8800MGTX.512.071107.html

and

http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/4968/NVIDIA.8800MGTX.512.071203.html

The BIOS version for the M570TU is labeled as a sticker on the card in both links, and they don't match up. This was the case when a couple of people at MXM-upgrade.com tried to swap a 8600M from an Asus C90 with an Acer notebook. BIOS versions for both cards were different and the swap didn't work (ASUS GPU in Acer notebook), until the ASUS card was flashed with the VBIOS from the Acer). So the BIOS version is important in this case.

Secondly, the Sager NP9260/9261 also used an MXM-IV interface with the 7950 GTX (which was MXM-IV; see link: http://www.xoticpc.com/reviews/9260/9260gpu1.jpg ). If that card's VBIOS were truly standard and the VBIOSes in the 8800Ms from Clevo were also standard, then there wouldn't be issues installing an 8800M GTX in the NP9260/NP9261. It would be like replacing a desktop 7950 gtx with a 8800 gtx.

 

They will not work in other laptops, mxm is a pipe dream as long as only clevo uses the mxm standard you might as well call it proprietary because no one else is using it.

 

All of this dispute about Gaming benchies should be solved when Mark finallly gets his laptop. Hope noone stole it

(goes of to GoG)

 

I meant that it would be nice if the Clevo distributors/builder (i.e. Sager) would drop their prices to compete with the whitebook. Sorry for the confusion.

 

Maybe they plan to drop their prices the old fashion way. Getting rid of a level of middle management is what usually happens in hard times. In this case, eliminate their resellers.

They can save the money that goes out the door to them right now without losing anything from their own bottom line. I would think the decision easy when the guys on the chopping block are selling competitors products…

 

Could be a marketing gimmick. It doesn't matter to me. I will get it from them no matter what.

How could they possibly get the only system in the United States before anyone else?

 

Well it wasnt any marketing gimmick. Pictures are up and benchmarks to come!

Pictures can be found at http://www.guruofgaming.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2202&start=270

 

All I'm waiting on are the benchmarks to pull the trigger! Or in my case, swing the samurai sword on the K|N Nagamaki.

Daggum, I'm so giddy about this notebook.

Dual 320GB HDD's
Crossfire 3870
QX9300 Mobile Quad Core
4GB RAM
BluRay Writer
Vista Ultimate 64bits
Fingerprint Biometrics
2.0MP webcam
HDMI
eSATA
Back lit keys
1.7" thickness
9 lbs.
No dead pixel warranty

ALL FOR UNDER $4k!!!!!

No compromise between power, mobility and price, indeed! SwEEt--ness!!!! Thanks K|N, all I need now are the benchies to say "FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!"

 

K|N's skills are obviously restricted to building notebooks--cause those are some horrible masks!

It looks good. I wish it weren't all done over in a high gloss finish.. but you can't have everything, right?

I hope he runs some COD4 benchmarks, along with UE3 and some other popular games. What are the chances we can get direct gaming comparisons to other GPU's across the same processor? 3D Marks don't mean jack.