[Harky Review] My Sager NP8662

This is my first ever gaming laptop I own => Sager NP8662. The reason I choose this is because I had doing a lot of research on brand like MSI, Asus... those are good but coming to spec Sager win... haha so I go for it.

I bought this from sgcubehubs.com. Ya it abit risky as sgcubehubs.com is a small company.
At first I was abit worry as alot of ppl say they are not the reseller but still decide to go for it. First sgcubehubs.com sale manager contract me and collected the payment from me at my home. I was worry as you need to pay full amount to them first rather than deposit... but the sale manager told me not to worry as they are doing business at the same time I saw some other customer also did place order from them. At the same time Sager USA email and tell them ya sgcubehubs.com it their local Reseller.

It take me 5days waiting for the laptop to arrival.
As I order without OS, so first I will have to format and MS Vista Ultimate 64 bit, slowly by drivers, and update the OS. Don’t forget abit antivirus scan. This laptop was pretty good. When I first play the song I was shock! It was a surround! (SRS Wow) it was so loud when turn to MAX! NICE
it had a bright screen. Everything is Gd to me as it my first gaming laptop. The only thing is the Harddisk was abit hot. Not sure why. Still finding solving. n Still alot for me to explore THIS LAPTOP...........

You can download latest drivers from here (will try to update)
Graphic Card Driver
Dead pixel tester
Intel Storage Matrix

Bought it from sgcubehubs.com

Here is the spec (NP8662)

Display: 15.4" WSXGA LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1680X1050#
Processor: 45nm Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor P8700 / 3MB L2 Cache 2.53GHz 1066MHz FSB
Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 Video Memory
Operating System: None - Select From The Options Below
Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 2 X 2048MB (add 68)
Primary Hard Disk Drive: Seagate 320GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive (add 48)
Optical Drive: 8X DVD R/RW/4X DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
Wireless Network Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR Module
Intel Robson Technology: None - Select From The Options Below
Primary Battery: Smart Li-ION Battery Pack (8 Cells)
TV-Tuner: None - Select From The Options Below
MCE Remote Control: None - Select From The Options Below
Integrated Security Device: Fingerprint Reader
Free Carrying Case: NP8660 Carrying Bag
Software: Microsoft Office Ready with Free 60-Day Trial <-------- I never see this
Dead Pixel Insurance: Free 6 Months No Dead Pixel Insurance
Warranty & Services: 3 Yrs Local Labour & 2 Yrs Part + 1 Yr US Limited Warranty

Sub Total S$ 2,609.00
C2008D03 3.0% Coupon S$ -78.27
Total S$ 2,530.73

My laptop reach liao!


Free gift laptop bag


When it taken out from box


After remove protection


Front view

 

Cover View




Side View




Keyboard View

 

maybe some1 can help on why my Harddisk was abit hot?

 

I have heard stories where users changed there HD for diffrent ones and the heat issues were fixed. Not sure the truth to this though..

 

oh..... if it true i had to wait for my hd to passaway na

 

Is that the idle temperature (computer on, not doing/done anything)? If it is, it is hot. It only gets hotter when you start using it, ex. downloading, installing, etc. Contact your vendor for the issue.

You have the exact same spec as mine. My HDD gets ~60 during max performance, when downloading, installing, and playing at the same time. My idle temp is around 54, which is OK. I turned the comp on today and saw my HDD was 32 degrees at the startup... lol.

Also, don't forget to mention that this notebook is a FINGERPRINT MAGNET.

 

The np8662 has a few HDD heat issues im afraid but only occasionally, 61 IS TOO HOT, is that idle??

Nice review though Good clean pictures also.

 

can say half idle. as i did surf some net, play song... the temp already quite high dont say abt playing game... oh btw it without fan~
will contact vendor solve the problem as i think he also dunno le... as everything seen ok only the hdd lol

 

Only surfing the net should not give you that temperature. That's near idle.

What about the fan?

 

without fan~

 

nice review, the HDD is a bit hot though... Turn the fan on and/or up to fix that a bit. NICE PICTURES too!

write more and show benchmarks and gaming!

Jason

 

its me...remember?

 

look familiar

 

good review so far, would be nice to see some benchmarks, i wont add onto what others have said about the temps of the hdd

 

To anyone with the heat issue on the hard drive: Mine was getting near the 60s on my NP8662, but then I downloaded the latest update from the intel matrix storage manager and my temps decreased pretty rapidly. I'm defragmenting my hard drive right now, which is pretty intensive, and i've maxed out at 53 C. Thats what it used to idle at.

 

Nice pictures and review. Good luck with the new machine.

 

the HDD is an issue for those that are usually using Vista, and have not updated the SATA drivers... as well as not disabling the numerous services/apps that are constantly accessing the HDD.

also the type of HDD can have a difference in the generating of heat

you can do what a number of M860TU/ETU owners are doing...
- buy an extra bottom panel to mod... so that more airflow would cool the HDD

a notebook cooler is a good idea as well:
- Zalman ZM-NC1000/1500/200
- NZXT Cryo LX

 

oh cool thanks! i have already update the intel matrix storage but dont seen very useful to me. Will get update SATA drivers tonight and see if there is any more improve~

BTW this is my add on i got a cooler but it dont really improve on the HDD so vista is a problem OS huH!


ADD ON

I bought myself a Cooler Master Notepal Infinite at S$55 from donrizzou.com
Ya the temperature level did went down



Temperature

Normal surfing + muisc player on

 

actually those temps are perfectly fine.

anything under 60C is perfect.

 

Well... it's a problem if those are idle temperatures.

When doing an installation, downloading, copy/paste, wouldn't the temperatures go up above 60?

 

true, if those are idle temps they are a bit warmer than preferred.

 

sad to say ya it will over 60C
i havent yet try gaming but most likely will over 60c omg!!

 

disable Drive Indexing and other services that constantly access the HDD.
- like I said here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=292702

and since you have the Cooler Master, you can mod the bottom panel, like here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=375196

 

Thanks bro!
I will slowly take a look @ the link you post..
i also did disable Drive Indexing (searching) before that but no changing on the temp itself.
Shall try to disable more.

Sigh if possible i would like not to touch the bottom panel for mod :/

 

Hi your language sibei singlish leh.

 

LOL i just type and never look again before posting.. i found quite number of error after that LOL! change liao

 

Nah, just wanted to say 'fellow Singaporean here'.

 

To be honest, I find that non of the tweak make any changes to my HDD idle temperature. Its still around ~55c and goes up to ~60c while gaming. There's on time that it shoot all the way up to 73c when I left it transferring file from external HDD, of course I immediately shut it down to let it chill .

 

omg!!!
btw i cant find any update drivers for this seagate HDD @ seagate website

 

hard drives do not have drivers

the hard drive controllers do .... ie.) the Intel Matrix Storage drivers

 

It might be the fact that his drivers are not installed properly and reverted back to the Microsoft drivers.

Either that or he might require the floppy drivers to overwrite his SATA drivers in Vista.

We're currently on Pricewar Insurance/Warranty match mode with the other Sager Singapore reseller.

 

according to the Intel Matrix Storage my was installed with the latest version...

 

hi Gophn
can i ask u something may i know how do HDD hot air flow out of the laptop? from where?

As i notice the Vent air is much hotter than the cooler... in the cooler i dont feel any hot air flow out..

ADD
can some1 teach me how to update my SATA drivers?

 

This "Review" thread has gone to another "HDD fix problem" thread...

 

the best way is to give it direct airflow.

a few have bought an extra bottom panel from their vendors so that they can mod it (with a hole) in the area of the HDD.

then they use the modded panel with a notebook cooler to give the HDD direct airflow.

 

i see................ sigh on modded the panel..
btw can some1 teach me how to update my SATA drivers?

 

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2101

Pick your flavor and run the exe.

 

oh Intel® Matrix Storage Manager i had already installed but HDD heat is still there.

 

uninstall the crappy McAfee ....its one of the most useless and wasteful for security suites.

free ones do the same job, and does not require all of the resources.

 

Lol! but it was a bit silly like tht~ install app is the way hdd was build...if becos is heat had to uninstall alot of thing it was quite a sad thing

 

a lot of these programs coming out that are supposed to help the computer (named "System Works" "Tune Up whatever" etc..)....

but in reality, most of them are just causing harm to the HDD when they are constantly [and needlessly] accessing it... also doing automated scans, defragments, etc..

thats just a lot of things that will make the HDD's lifespan shorter.

All of my utilities (less my free Avast! AV and Comodo Firewall) are set to manual use... nothing is allowed to run automated without me wanting to be on.

And Vista's background crap does not help either...

Read these for more details:
Ways to Solve Hard Disk LED (Activity) Non Stop Blinking Issues
Stopping Vista From Thrashing Hard Disks to Death
Vista's Constant HD Activity Craziness

My Vista is stripped down [using vLite] to under 700MB (fits on a CD) with no bells and whistles.... the way I likes it.

 

HEre is my 3dmark score... isit gd?

3DMark Score 9948
SM 2.0 Score 4710
SM 3.0 Score 4540
CPU Score 2221
Result name Untitled
Date Jun 29, 2009 11:49
Pro user No
OS Microsoft Windows Vista
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8700
CPU Speed 2527
GPU NVIDIA GeForce GTX 170M <--- funny my system show NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260m

 

those scores are perfectly in range.

 

If your telling him not to install things on his laptop, what's the point in even having it?

Clearly, there is a problem with the design of the laptop.. Anyone know how to counter this without having to cut a hole in my laptop or purchase a cooler and carry it everywhere? Must be a way..

 

No no, Gophn has a very good point. McAfee is a crappy antivirus software. So is Norton Antivirus (I had foolishly used for years). They provide an average or less than average protection while consuming a ridiculous amount of resources. There are other antivirus programs (namely Kaspersky or Avast) that provide a much better protection at a much lower resource consumption.

 

Bold words for someone who needs to understand that not every user is as disciplined in running virus scans and updates on their own. I have Mcafee for a year now and I think it has been protecting my m860tu very well. I have purchased Norton 360 for some of my clients and they no longer have virus/spyware/slowdown issues.

Yet, when I put in the free stuff like Avast/AVG/and the other stuff, every week there was a problem, why? Because no one bothered to update or run virus scans.

I say stop being cheap, pay the darn money (it isn't much) and get some proper automated protection. For goodness sake, Norton even has a 'game edition' of its virus software so it doesn't take away those precious 1-2 FPS that you'd want and I'd still probably kick your butt in the game anyway.

 

7 years of performance slowdowns with Norton was just about enough for me. They claim they have resolved the issue with the latest 3.0 release (of Norton 360), but that's not true! I bought the software, installed it, used it for 10 days and finally returned it within the 14-day "no questions asked" return policy. It remains a performance killer with a firewall that's dependable as a cardboard roof in the rain and blind as a bat. I never used McAfee, but the user reviews must be the worst ones for any of the major antivirus brands. It has really scared me off. Such haterd towards any product is rare and the only comparison that comes to my mind is Windows Vista. I am using now Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 (that's no freebie), and while the program is far from ideal, it's miles and miles ahead of Norton 360.

You'd definitely kick my butt now. My Devil 9000 DTX hasn't arrived yet and my old VAIO can play ... maybe ... tetris (on a good day). Once I get my Devil, it might be a different story though.

 

Tried Eset? Does the trick for me, best I've come across, and only takes about 45mb

 

Comodo - You can set how the software reacts to situations etc (on acess scanning and so on) its a very good firewall/aw free package for what you get.

Shame about the hard drive though, needs adressing really.

 

last time used Norton 360 before but it seen to be very lagging in loading so not going to install tht anymore...

My bro is using Kaspersky but need alot of config as it over protected hahah! so tht y i decide to try Mcafee