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    A story of Frugality w/ my 2nd Clevo P870TM1 & saved about $4,000 (US)

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by supernovastar, Mar 20, 2019.

  1. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I bought a used CLEVO/EVOC HIDEvolution P870TM1 with Nvidia 1080 SLI from Commandor last year in December and I like the P870TM1 so much that I decided to get a 2nd P870TM1.

    However, this time I bought the Clevo P870TM1 upgrade kit with the unlocked BIOS from EUROCOM on eBay which is essentially a barebones new Sky X9C and paid about $1,140 out the door.

    My completed Clevo Sky X9C / P870TM1 upgrade kit is running beautifully!


    To complete my build, I bought the following:

    1) New LCD Panel 17.3" 3K QHD (2560x1440) AUO 120Hz - 5ms - LED Matte Type Display (B173QTN01. 2) - BTW, the B173QTN01. 2 model is better than the B173QTN01.1 and the B173QTN01.0

    $125.00 with shipping included & no tax

    2) New 64GB Ram with 2 sticks of Samsung 1x 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM (M471A4G43MB1-CTD)
    Price: $288.00 x 2 = $576.00 plus shipping & tax = $626.95

    3) New 2 x Samsung 1TB 970 Pro NVMe M.2 Internal SSD
    $350.00 x 2 with free shipping & no tax = $700.00

    4) New Samsung 860 EVO 2TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD
    $327.99 with free shipping & no tax

    5) New Intel Wireless-Ac 9260, 2230, 2X2 Ac+Bt, Gigabit, No Vpro
    $15.99 with free shipping & no tax

    6) New Clevo P870XX US Keyboard Backlit
    $72.00 with free shipping & no tax

    7) New 89Wh P870BAT-8 battery for CLEVO P870XX
    $67.00 with free shipping & no tax

    8) Used Front LCD Plastic Cover
    $35.00

    9) New EUROCOM 780 Watt AC Adapter for Clevo P870XX
    $369.00 plus $29.99 shipping & no tax = $398.99

    10) New Intel i9-9900k Processor
    $520.00 out the door

    11) $100 in incidentals

    12) 1 Used Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU taken from my used CLEVO/EVOC HIDEvolution P870TM1 with 1080 SLI
    Estimate Used Value: $450

    Grand Total: $4,578.92

    Brand new EUROCOM Sky X9C with comparable parts: $7,898 plus shipping

    That's my story of Frugality in getting my 2nd Clevo P870TM1.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2019
    supernovastar, Mar 20, 2019
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  2. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    Great efforts, I was planning to do the same, If you don't mind sharing the links for each part.
    Enjoy using your laptops.
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 20, 2019
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  3. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    That's an interesting way to go about it but you get around 700-800 bucks for the GPUs.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 20, 2019
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  4. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi AHMED KARAM,

    Yes, you should definitely build your Clevo P870TM1 using the kit. The experience will give you a better understanding of the laptop and save some money in the process.

    Clevo P870TM1 upgrade kit with the unlocked BIOS from EUROCOM on eBay (barebones new Sky X9C) was about $1,140 out the door when I bought mine in Janauary and looks like they increased the price recently.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Clevo-P870...rade-Kit-to-convert-your-P870DM/113431435313?

    I have most of the important links.

    1) New LCD Panel 17.3" 3K QHD (2560x1440) AUO 120Hz - 5ms - LED Matte Type Display (B173QTN01.2)

    $125.00 with shipping included & no tax

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/120Hz-17-3...E2-B173QTN01-0-H-W-1A-2560X1440/163134337605?

    2) New 64GB Ram with 2 sticks of Samsung 1x 32GB DDR4-2666 SODIMM (M471A4G43MB1-CTD)

    Price: $288.00 x 2 = $576.00 plus shipping & tax = $626.95

    https://memory.net/product/m471a4g4...2666-sodimm-pc4-21300v-s-dual-rank-x8-module/


    3) New 2 x Samsung 1TB 970 Pro NVMe M.2 Internal SSD (I actually got the Pro version, so it was a mistake listing the EVO).

    $350.00 x 2 with free shipping & no tax = $700.00

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1398244-REG/samsung_mz_v7p1t0bw_2tb_970_pro_nvme.html


    4) New Samsung 860 EVO 2TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD

    $327.99 with free shipping & no tax

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1382500-REG/samsung_mz_76e2t0b_am_860_evo_2tb_internal.html


    5) New Intel Wireless-Ac 9260, 2230, 2X2 Ac+Bt, Gigabit, No Vpro

    $15.99 with free shipping & no tax

    6) New Clevo P870XX US Keyboard Backlit

    $72.00 with free shipping & no tax

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Clevo-...M3-G-US-backlit-keybord-V149550/332514653177?

    7) New 89Wh P870BAT-8 battery for CLEVO P870XX

    $67.00 with free shipping & no tax

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-89...P870DM2-P8700S-Sager-NP9870-GX9/153051335727?


    8) Used Front LCD Plastic Cover

    $35.00

    9) New EUROCOM 780 Watt AC Adapter for Clevo P870XX

    $369.00 plus $29.99 shipping & no tax = $398.99

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/780-Watt-A...-TM1-P775DM3-TM1-P570WM-P370EM3/132624813469?

    10) New Intel i9-9900k Processor
    $520.00 out the door
     
    supernovastar, Mar 20, 2019
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  5. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi Meaker@Sager,

    You're right, I did underestimate the value of my used Clevo Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU and I proabably did it semi-conciously...probably for effect....to support my overestimated savings. ;)
     
    supernovastar, Mar 20, 2019
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  6. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    Thank you for the guide, really useful.
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 20, 2019
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  7. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    i was actually thinking going that same route. although in my opinion, those barebone prices from eurocom are waaaaaaay too high....especially considering they dont even include display, keyboard, battery, psu.... :rolleyes:
     
    jaybee83, Mar 20, 2019
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  8. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    They started the price with ~$900, then rise it to $1295, way high.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2019
    Dr. AMK, Mar 20, 2019
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  9. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    lol, ridiculous. but thats eurocom for ya :p id rather stick to rjtech instead :)
     
    jaybee83, Mar 20, 2019
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  10. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Yes, a bit of confirmation bias going on there but regardless, enjoy the machine.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 21, 2019
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  11. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    I've seen some of the TM Model Barebones eurocom is selling on eBay get accepted for offers much less than what they are asking I think I've seen offers as low as 1200 USD Get accepted.

    Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2019
    TheDantee, Mar 21, 2019
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  12. bennyg

    bennyg Notebook Virtuoso

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    The other way is to get incredibly lucky and buy used on ebay ~8 months old (with the balance of a transferable 3yr warranty) for a touch less than half price. Original invoice incl tax was maxed out overkill spec about $8200 AUD, I bought for $3800 then sold off 32Gb of the RAM and both 1Tb SSDs recouping over $1k. One of the few benefits of a small market here in Oz - sometimes there's no competition and you're the only demand.
     
    bennyg, Mar 21, 2019
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  13. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    Just Picked up a P870KM Locally Specs are 7700k, 1080 SLI with the vapor chamber 64GB Ram at 2400MHz 2x 1TB 850 Pro with the 1440p 120hz display for Roughly 2250 USD

    Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
     
    TheDantee, Mar 22, 2019
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  14. jaybee83

    jaybee83 Biotech-Doc

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    wow quite the bargain! u can part out half the storage and ram and easily get 1k+ back :)

    Sent from my Xiaomi Mi Max 2 (Oxygen) using Tapatalk
     
    jaybee83, Mar 23, 2019
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  15. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    Gonna Keep it and Populate the M.2 Slots with 970 EVOs or something later on down the road... slight upgrade from my old 1TB 850 EVOs
     
    Last edited: Mar 23, 2019
    TheDantee, Mar 23, 2019
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  16. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Very competent machine still, nice pickup.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 23, 2019
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  17. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi TheDantee,

    You got a unbeatable steal of a deal!!! I wouldn't be able to get such a price unless I used a 5 finger discount to get anything close or cheaper than $2250! Just the 7700k and your GTX 1080 SLI with vapor chamber alone are about $2250 (USD)!!! Nice!

    What naive elderly woman (or desperate for money Clevo enthusiast) did you steal that sweet P870KM from? :)
     
    supernovastar, Mar 25, 2019
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  18. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi Bennyg,

    I hope the seller of your P870TM isn't reading this because you got a huge bargain as result of the small market in Oz. Well, it's a win - win transaction, you got a bargain and she/he got their probably much needed cash. Not to many people that can pay $3,800 for a used laptop.

    Congratulations!
     
    supernovastar, Mar 25, 2019
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  19. supernovastar

    supernovastar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi Meaker@Sager,

    Thanks. And I like your straightforward candor conveyed in a very polished diplomatic manner. That type of skill usually can only be gained by an analytical person with years of experience dealing with various personalities.

    Cheers! :)
     
    supernovastar, Mar 25, 2019
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  20. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    I live in Canada near the Toronto area lots of good tech deals come up around here I got 64GB of Ram at 2666MHz a few years back for 330$ Canadian also a good deal at the time. The guy I bought I off said he was getting out of gaming and had a few laptops for sale and didn't really know what the clevo was worth.

    Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2019
    TheDantee, Mar 25, 2019
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  21. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    This is great, hope that you can share some of those deals with me in the future :)
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 25, 2019
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  22. Arrrrbol

    Arrrrbol Notebook Deity

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    I did something similar when I bought my P870DM-G. I got the machine as a barebones from tanzmeister for around £700 (came with a 980M), I bought a used 6700K for £180, 16GB of RAM for £50 and the storage totalled about £250. Just under £1200 before factoring in shipping costs.
     
    Arrrrbol, Mar 26, 2019
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  23. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    That was also a good deal on the bare bone.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 26, 2019
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    Dr. AMK, Mar 26, 2019
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  25. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    There's a Eurocom F5 up right now for 970 USD GTX 1070, 16GB Ram 6700k and a 512GB ADATA SSD with the 4K Display... Like I said lots of great prices around me, never have had an issue getting good computer parts.

    Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
     
    TheDantee, Mar 26, 2019
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  26. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    Can you link me with the owner? I need this system as a barebone, maybe he can sell without CPU, GPU, RAM, SDD, HDD. Please link me with owner anyway.
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 26, 2019
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  27. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    TheDantee, Mar 26, 2019
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  28. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    Dr. AMK, Mar 26, 2019
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  29. TheDantee

    TheDantee Notebook Evangelist

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    TheDantee, Mar 26, 2019
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  30. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Meaker@Sager, Mar 26, 2019
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  31. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    I'm an Egyptian living in Saudi Arabia :)
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 26, 2019
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  32. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    The shipping and taxes are always something to consider, good luck with your search.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Mar 27, 2019
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  33. Dr. AMK

    Dr. AMK Living with Hope

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    Yes, I already received some parts from you before, shipping has no issues except the cost which can be minimised with USPS services.
     
    Dr. AMK, Mar 27, 2019
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