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    15.6" FHD laptop with switchable graphics at the $1100-$1300 range: Sager NP6165/Clevo W150ER or ASUS N53SM-ES72?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by cengique, May 5, 2012.

  1. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm about to purchase the below Sager NP6165/Clevo W150ER configuration from XoticPC for $1288. But I'm still having second thoughts about the ASUS N53SM-ES72 that comes down to about $1110 with a similar 3-year warranty and a 9-cell extra battery pack.

    The specs of the Sager is much better, but so is its price. But I can probably live with the lower-end ASUS because it has nice sound and an ergonomic keyboard. I'm really annoyed that NP6165's speakers are at the bottom. Isn't that stupid?

    What do you guys think? Do you have any suggestions to make my decision easier? Going nuts between these two choices here :)

    Here's my Sager quote:

    Sager NP6165 / Clevo W150ER
    - 15.6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) (SKU – S1R205)
    - Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU - S2N224)
    - IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU (Cools better than all Compounds)
    - nVidia GT 650M 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 with Optimus™ Technology (SKU – S3R520)
    - 8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4R378)
    - 750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (SKU - S5R306)
    - Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti DVDRW/CDRW Drive w/ Software (When selecting a Hard Drive in the Optical Bay, No Optical Drive is Included) (SKU - S7R455)
    - Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)
    - Sager - Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card + Bluetooth (SKU - S8R110)
    - Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
    - Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
    - Spare 6 Cell Battery (62.16WH)
    - Integrated Fingerprint Reader
    - Sager 3 Year Parts & LIFETIME Ltd Labor Warranty w/ Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Toll Free Customer Support - Special! (SKU - S9P211)

    Which one would you choose? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. sk3tch

    sk3tch Notebook Deity

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    The specs on the Amazon link are Sandy Bridge CPU? Definitely the Sager, then. You can always game with headphones. No point in using the speakers, anyway.
     
  3. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    Right, the ASUS has the i7-2670QM, which is a Sandy Bridge. Is the Ivy Bridge i7-3610QM better than this? They both have 6MB cache. I read on Anadtech that the main improvement in Ivy Bridge is in things like QuickSync and HD graphics, for which the ASUS has the Nvidia 630M graphics. But the Sager still has the better Nvidia 650M. I heard the Ivy Bridge is a bit better in power usage, too.

    I think you're right. The speakers are not a deal killer. I would probably use headphones a lot anyway.
     
  4. Blacky

    Blacky Notebook Prophet

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    The Clevo all the way, no doubt about it.
     
  5. GTRagnarok

    GTRagnarok Notebook Evangelist

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    Get the Sager. My brother has the N53 and the size of it is closer to a 17.3" than a 15.6" - it's as wide as the 17" MSI he replaced. The screen bezel is huge.
     
  6. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks all for replying. It seems no ASUS fans here in the Sager forum. :)

    But I did follow the advice and just ordered the Sager! Will let you know how it goes. ;)
     
  7. JXulo

    JXulo Notebook Consultant

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    Of course sager is better, it's not even a fair comparison, you should compare w150er with asus N56VZ, not with asus N53 :S
     
  8. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    I see. But the price goes up, too. The N56VZ is about $1200 and it doesn't have the matte screen like the N53. When I add the warranty and extra battery, it becomes about $100 expensive then the Sager. :-/ Oh, and it's not available yet!

    Coming to think of it, $100 is about how much I save by not ordering Win7 on the Sager. So then maybe the prices of Sager NP6165 and ASUS N56VZ are pretty similar. The ASUS is also superior because it has 2GB of DDR5 on the Nvidia, compared with the 1GB on the Sager.

    Edit: According to this, the NV56VZ has GDDR3 on the Nvidia 650M and doesn't have the Optimus switchable graphics. Also somehow they've put a 5400 rpm drive in it. Doh! I think the Sager is still far superior in providing more flexibility in installing a 2nd drive, etc.

    Oh well, I already ordered the Sager. Let's see how that goes.
     
  9. JXulo

    JXulo Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, clevo has 1gb 650m gddr5 and asus 2gb 650m ddr3.They both have optimus and they both support a 2nd drive (if you remove dvd drive!)!!!!. I don't know the prices in us, but in my country asus n56vz with 7200rpm, and fullhd matte cost 1000 euros and clevo cost 990 euros(without SO and with glossy display!). So if i put SO and matte clevo cost like 1250 euros. So Asus is always a better choise(at least in my country). Ah, i almost forgot, asus is much more beautifull too, has best sound and iluminated backlit keyboard!!!
    But as i said, i don't know the prices in your country....
     
  10. ruly

    ruly Notebook Consultant

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    Sager of course
     
  11. Bofonic

    Bofonic Notebook Consultant

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    Sager, especially with some companies where you can customize EVERYTHING right down to the wireless card.
     
  12. goldenboyuk

    goldenboyuk Notebook Enthusiast

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    iv researtched a lot, futureproof is sager all day
     
  13. JXulo

    JXulo Notebook Consultant

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    Do you realize that this clevo is serie w, not p, so you cannot do upgrades to this laptop. This clevo is like any other laptop... so futureproof why?
     
  14. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    According to the ASUS forum, people say it may not have the Optimus. Although some places say it does. As for the 2nd drive, I had the impression that the clevo has space for 2nd drive without sacrificing the dvd drive. Am I wrong? I'll ask them today.

    What's SO? You're definitely right about the backlit keyboard and the sound :-/ I'm in the US, and the ASUS is not even released yet. I'm not sure about buying a laptop nobody has seen yet. The quote I get from XoticPC is for $1431, which includes an extra battery and 3-year warranty. I also took out the bluray player. I don't think I'll use the bluray much unless if games are coming out in blurays. Nowadays I'm mostly downloading them.

    So the total is about $150 more than my Clevo W150ER configuration... I guess I'm paying the M$ tax.
     
  15. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    Actually, Xotic PC is now pre-ordering the ASUS N56VZ, so you can also customize everything on it, too. But, as I said in my previous post, it comes to +$150 for me and it is not out yet (and I don't see a date??).
     
  16. JXulo

    JXulo Notebook Consultant

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    SO=OS(Operative System(windows)). I wrote in my language, in english is OS sorry lol. If in US costs 150 more maybe clevo is better because have a slightly better grafic card (ddr3 on asus vs Gddr5 on clevo) and is cheaper...

    P.S. I think that in this clevo model you need to sacrifice the dvd drive in order to have a 2nd bay but it's better asking them directly.
    In my country asus n56vz will be avaliable in 21 may.
    I'm not asus fan or clevo fan, i like both, i'm only trying to help you ;)
     
  17. cengique

    cengique Notebook Enthusiast

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    Aaah, SO=OS, I got it ;) I am ordering the Clevo w/o OS, because I can buy it for $15 from my university. Still, it comes cheaper than the ASUS. There is also the gddr3 vs gddr5 as you mentioned. But I do like the keyboard and sound on the ASUS. Hmmm...

    Ok, I checked the Xotic PC customization screens, and it seems on Clevo you can have a 2nd drive and optical drive together. But not on the ASUS. But, I will double check this with the tech on the phone.

    I definitely appreciate the discussion! Thanks for the helping me decide!
     
  18. Bofonic

    Bofonic Notebook Consultant

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    I PMed Mythlogic regarding my laptop I will be ordering

    SSD + HDD + CD Drive is possible.