3D screens?

Hey folks,

I'm planning to purchase a laptop in the near future (P170HM), I see an offer for a 3D screen with nVidia glasses in the reseller sites. Does this mean the computer will be 3D capable for videos/games? Or it only applies to external TVs?

Also is the P170Hm the same as NP8170? They seem awfully similar to me.

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes the laptop screen itself will display 3D with the glasses. The Sager NP8170 is the P170HM built by the worlds largest Clevo dealer
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Yes. The laptop is 3d capable for both games and movies both with the laptop screen itself as well as an external display. However if you want to get decent performance for 3d games then you should get at least a 485m because 3d is a frame killer. Also, 3d gaming will only work with certain approved displays. Here is a list: "http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-system-requirements.html" Notice that the p170hm3 (the 3d model) display is listed there.

Yes, the p170hm is the same as the np8170. p170hm is the model name that clevo, the original builder of the laptops. Clevo is based in Taiwan, I believe and sells their barebones laptops to companies around the world. Sager is the largest reseller of Clevo laptops and named the 17 inch variant the np8150. In short, they're not just awfully similar, but exactly the same.

 

Thanks for the replies guys!

I'm undecided if I should jump on the 3D bandwagon just yet or wait a few years until the technology improves/prices drop a little... unless I hear from users who own these nVidia kits.

 

I don't have the Nvidia kit on my laptop, but I do have it for my desktop at home. I find that the 3D quality is superb on first person shooters and RPG's, but it's a little hit and miss on strategy and other top down style stuff.

If you've never used 3D, it doesn't actually make things "pop". It seems to be more of a "depth" type experience, where you get a new level of perspective.

Nvidia used to have 3D Vision Discover, which let you use it with red/blue anaglyph glasses (without purchasing any new hardware), but I think they've since removed it.

 

Interesting.. have you had any chance to try with movies that are advertised as 3D? (bluray?)

 

Not yet. I have the Blu-ray player, but haven't had a chance to try out a 3D movie with it yet.

I have tried out the 3D demo videos posted on the Nvidia site, and they are quite good. If the Blu-ray is anything like that, I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

There is always redbox

Let me know if you do try it sometime.

I have another question.. it's about choosing 580M or 6990M for the P170HM.

To be honest I want this next machine to last me at least a good 4-5 years (quite a stretch with major brands) and I'm sure it can be accomplished easily if Clevo/Sager machines are as solid as everyone says. I would like to get the best out there at the moment of purchase (within the P170 limit that is).

If I choose the AMD chip then I get 2GB dedicated for about $200 less than the 580M, but would it affect the configuration if I choose a "3D ready" screen? I understand that 6990M = no 3D kit as that is just an nVidia thing for the moment and I'm not sure if this tech is going to be a success or bust.


Suggestions/comments are appreciated!

 

Reviews for 3d vision on Newegg and Amazon have shown very positive reviews for 3D. Take a look there and you can check out what customers think, but the majority says it's a go.

I am actually going to take the plunge for an external 3d monitor, but am waiting for more 27" monitors (specifically the Asus one) to come out.

 

Yep, they are going to be all over us. With some versions you have to wear funny glasses all the time but they will soon die out, of course. Within 5 years 3D displays will be main stream, like color tv's 40 years ago...

 

To be honest, just the 120Hz of the screen and great horizontal viewing angles make the upgrade worth it, so the 3D is just a perk on top of that. 3D is indeed great for supported games.

I have watched a few movies on BluRay 3D on the laptop, and it all comes down to the movie. Lion King 3d, Green Hornet, and Avatar looked great. Tron Legacy looked flatter than I would have hoped and Thor looked like a pop-up book (as in, 2D characters moving around a 3D landscape).

 

Have a whole bunch of 3D BluRay movies here. Those that where originaly shot in 3D look amazing. F.e. Tron and Green Lantern are converts. Shot in 2D and then converted to 3D.
Converts look generally only good for Animation movies...
The NVIDIA technology still has some ghosting here and there, but overall it is totally worth it.

 

I was hoping the AMD card would support 3D but it seems gaming is not supported as of this moment for HD6990 and I'm not really sure if it will apply to the mobile chip/screen.

I was at Disneyland for new years and they were showing a sample of that movie in 3D and it was decent. Michael Jackson's Captain Eo had more 3D and it was from the 80s lol.

 

Since the card is fairly new, they may not have the proper drivers for a 3D setup. I would be very surprised if their flagship mobile GPU does not do 3D. You may be able to do 3D with the 6990m now (maybe someone can confirm this), but AMD just hasn't officially named it as a card that is 3D-gaming capable.

When the 580m came out, it was in a similar situation where it did not have correct 3D drivers (or even normal drivers) at the time of release too.

 

AMD does have 3D but seems very limited for notebooks. Here is a list of their 3d capable products.
Supported Hardware

On another note the only laptop, even though there are others listed on the website is the hp envy. According to the chart the 6990 does not support 3d for gaming for some odd reason, old cards do.

 

At this moment, there is no word on when Clevo-Sager will use the AMD 6990M with a 3D screen.

Of course they may not do so at all with this generation of notebooks.
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I think I might go for the 560m and the 3D kit, and perhaps eventually upgrade chips if the computer setup supports it (cooling and what not).

Thanks for the input guys!

 

Is there a point of getting 3D screens if you want to get the 6990m for your laptop?

 

It's moot at this point because you can't order a 120hz 3D screen with the 6990. It's limited to Nvidia cards only. However, a 120hz screen is a great upgrade if it were available. The higher refresh rate and better viewing angles are worth it, apart from the whole 3D bit.

 

I'm anxious to write a review for my new Clevo P17HM/3D laptop, but I want to give a it a good week or so to really sink in, and find the pro's and cons (of which I already have some of both). But I will say, there is no way that I can think of which leads me to believe the 120hz Panel was a bad investment.. In fact.. knowing that I can watch things in 3D if so desired(of which I have already watched Hubble 3D, and Sport Illustrated Swimsuit 3D *score) ,, especially games, is icing on the cake which you continually get to eat. I got it from Malibal, and so far ..excellent. (Full review coming in near future.)

 

Would it be possible to do the upgrade yourself to a 120hz with a 6990m? I remember someone saying maybe a 40-50 pin problem?

 

The problem is they use different motherboards for Nvidia and ATI cards, the board used for ATI will not support the 3D screens

 

You cant.. the 3d screens cant be used in the p170hm models,

They can just be used in the p170hm3, which cant be ordered with the 6990m.

 

ok that would explain why once you go with a 6990m you couldn't swap to a 580m later.

Now, the real question is there going to be a 120hz matte screen available that would work with the 6990m boards. I've been debating on switching mine to the Au optronics B173HW01 but would maybe hold out for a 120hz model with higher than 72% ntsc.

 

question: Is there such a screen that is higher than 72% ntsc 120 hz. I read somewhere there is one for 95%, but not sure..

 

If there is a higher color gamut 120Hz screen, it is either very rare or isn't in mass production just yet. I haven't personally heard of one yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have plans to roll them out in the future.

 

The 120Hz screens have a different connector, a 50 pin instead of a 40 pin. This would limit the upgrading to this later on.
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is 3D an option in the screen? I cannot seem to find it.

 

It is only in the ..

17.3" 120Hz 3D 72% NTSC Color Gamut in Matte (1920 x 1080)

Not any of the 15' screens. Sorry.
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At the end I changed my mind and opted out of 3d altogether, I'm taking a glossy screen and the 6990M.

To me it seems this tech is still too expensive, give it a few years and it will become standard in most high end setups (both screen and support from the gpu manufacturers).

 

But then we'll have 4D! Just kidding.

Good call, though. I'd personally wait till 3D becomes a little more mainstream. Plus I think you'll enjoy the price for performance of the 6990M.

 

I just learned that the 3D screens are out of stock....

Darn...

 

3D is cool I actually own a 27" acer 3D capable monitor and couple 3D HDtv's but to be honest I am not always in the move to wear glasses and that stuff gets old but it will be totally different if the screen is glasses free something already implemented on the nintendo 3DS , there are rumors that 3D glasses free monitors and tv's are going to start appearing next year and if you can wait 3 or 4 months that would be a better move

 

^^^^ Thanks for the info Speedy

I hope to learn more on this at CES here in Las Vegas in January.
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