2096 vs. 8660

Sager has two 15.4" gaming laptops.
On the one hand we have the very cost effective 2096 with the 9600GT
On the other hand we have the 8660 with 9800GT but with a starting value of $1600. I want to hear peoples views on which they prefer.
Is it the 8660's performance and looks or is it the 2096 for its price tag and overall bang for buck?
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the 8660 hands down if you have the money but if you don't even have 1600 dollars the sager 2096 is the way to go

 

I don't know, I've been having trouble with this as well even though I pre-ordered the NP8660. I think unless you will be doing heavy gaming, you really don't need the NP8660. Like I know I'll play PC games once in a while but for the most part I'll stick with my 360/PS3 so I think spending so much on the NP8660 is kind of silly in my situation. I think the 9600m GT is plenty for those who won't be gaming that much, plus look at all the power you're getting in the 2096 for a lot less than the NP8660.

 

is the 9800m GT justifiable enough to spend an extra 600+ on, for you? the NP8660 is a bit better looking with its brushed aluminum. if it was between these two and i was chosing, i'd go with a NP2096. i can add a reasonable amount of upgrades not to mention a 3 year warranty and not even reach the starting price of the NP8660.

 

battery life must be worse on the 8660...
2096 is my choise

 

I want the power of the NP8660 but I don't know if I'll be able to live with it's weight and size. The price, size and weight of the NP2096 are very attractive. If it still has the USB-charging function that would be awesome as well.

Don't forget to throw in the MSI-based Force 3551/PowerPro 13:15, which falls just inbetween the NP8660 and 2096 with a 9600M GT equipped with GDDR3, or the upcoming Asus G50 with a GDDR3 9700M GT.

Choices, choices, choices.

 

it's the asus g50

 

Yeah I'm considering the G50 as well...you get a LOT for $1589 in that G50v-A1.

 

Do you intend to game on the notebook? The two laptops are pretty far apart GPU-wise, so your needs should line up pretty clearly with one or the other. The 8660 is for serious, high performance gaming.

You should also consider how long you intend to keep the laptop. If you want a long term 3+ year investment, I'd go with the 8660.

 

I was tempted by the G50 but I finally ended up ordering the 8660.

Lol, my local Bestbuy has the lower end G50 in stock but not on display and when I asked the kid why not he didn't know anything about it.

 

this is where you pay for premium. I also trust clevo more than asus, but asus would follow right behind them.

 

The problem with making a gaming laptop a long term investment is that at some point in its lifetime, it stops being a gaming laptop and just becomes.. a laptop.

I found this out with my four year old 15.4" gaming laptop. Now that it hardly games, I'd like to use it as a regular (i.e. portable) notebook, which I can't because the bloody thing is so heavy. And to think the NP8660 will be heavier, and thicker... Well it's hard for me to imagine it having much of a purpose after it's gaming days are over.

The NP8660 will probably last longer as a gaming laptop compared to the others, yes. But something a pound lighter and half an inch thinner would last much longer for general usage.

 

it will last 3 years easily for its purpose. its not just a gaming notebook, its a high end gaming notebook. that means it will be a gaming notebook before its just a laptop.

 

I am looking at the 2096 more because the only games that I'll probably be playing will be starcraft 2 and d3, with some turn based stuff that do not require a lot of gfx power. The only concern for me is the power consumption/heat, but I figure it shouldn't be that bad.

 

im not really a gamer but when i got my m15x i got hooked on the orange box and miss playing the games. now im looking for a replacement im thinking of the 8660 or should i say as a uk customer kobalt nexus or rock extreme 620

i will be doing quite a bit of digital video editing and using photoshop cs3 and then general surfing.
any ideas as the weight compared to the m15x

 

Yeh im not too sure about gaming mad on it. I'd love to have the option to be able to stick on COD4 on max though or maybe some other games soon to come out.
I also want it to last me the next 4-5 years. Ambitious much?
I think i will go with the 8660 but the 2096's price tag just cant be argued with. Like one of you guys said. You could have a seriously nice config on teh 2096 b4 you even reach the 8660's starting price.
It just one of those things i guess. Really when you think about it they aren't too far off performance wise because of the 2096's 800FSB. Okay fair enuf, it has DDR2 RAM and GPU but a 9600GT could still play cutting edge games (just not on high settings)

 

Depp down though we all have to admit it... The 8660 is HOT!!!
The 2096 looks like one of the computers on Star Trek or something.