About to Buy a 9750 (Feels like Christmas!)

Thanks first to Albsterama and his excellent review of the Sager 9750, then to Barks and ChazMan421 and others for their very helpful feedback on two or three different threads in these fora (fori? forums?), I am prepared to purchase a 9750. It isn't the high-end configuration that Albsterama reviewed, but it pretty closely matches a moderate level configuration recommended on the Microsoft Technet website for preparing a computer to be Vista ready. It also seems like it has sufficient features for at least intro level gaming, which I would like to get my kids into (this computer might be a hand-me-down to The Boy in a year or so). Since all my previous computer purchases have been done with pre-configured models (this is my first full configuration attempt), any feedback or insight into the promise and problems of this configuration would be greatly appreciated. It's best to dive into the pond knowing what lurks below the surface.

Here's the config:

- 17" WSXGA Screen 1680x1050
- AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual-Core 512K Per Core 2000MHz FSB
- 256MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra w/GDDR3 (User Upgradeable)
- 1024MB Dual Channel PC3200 (2x512)
- 8X DVD +/- R/RW /CDRW Dual Layer Pioneer Combo Drive
- NO BAY 2 DRIVE
- 80GB 5400RPM (Serial-ATA)
- NO Bay 2 Hard Drive
- NO RAID
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/CF/MD/SM)
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- NO TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Integrated System Speakers - Included
- 56K RJ11 Phone Modem
- 10/100/1000 NIC
- Internal 802.11 A/B/G WIFI
- Wireless Router Optional (Select if desired)
- NO Bluetooth
- Windows XP Home SP2 with Drivers and Utilities CD
- No Software Bundle
- No Office Software (Select if desired)
- 1 Year Warranty Lifetime Tech Support (3 Year Labor)

I don't need a TV tuner at this time, nor bluetooth. This will be a true DTR, hardly leaving the desk except perhaps to sit in the den with it. XP Home is useful for the kinds of productivity we'll do on the system. I will download OpenOffice for office utilities, use Firefox for most browser work, Picasa for photo editing, and MusicMatch Jukebox for music downloads and burning/ripping. Multimedia productions (hence the optical set) will develop with a steep learning curve. Gaming will increase over time as we grow that hobby around here, but not to any level that would necessitate having a full-throttle gaming PC before this thing needs a major upgrade or replacement.

The configuration price is under $2800 at the reseller I'm working with. That seems acceptable for the product. Does anyone see any issues here? Any changes that should be made? Is it user upgradeable in the critical features?

Thanks in advance for your good thoughts.

 

You could look at the E1705/XPS M170


M170 has the 7800GTX but not dual core, while the E1705 is dual core with the Go 7800; not GTX.

 

9750 is a great, extremely powerful computer, but it does cost a pretty penny.

I'd recommend the Sager NP-5720 instead - you can get a more powerful video card (Go7800GTX) and more stuff for less. It starts at $1,800 on www.powernotebooks.com.

If you wait until April, the dual-core version of the 5720 will be out.

Chaz

 

The beauty of the 9750 is its capacity for performance and power. If you are not going to utilize that potential... i'd take ChazMan's advise and wait for the dual-core 5720.

Believe me... I know the 9750 is a temptress, luring in any who wander near. However, from what you've said, it would be in your best interest to resist her.

 

Goodness! You guys know a thing or two. Guess that's why I keep coming back here. If I may continue to rely on your experiences, how's this look?

Sager NP5720
17" WSXGA+ "Super Clear Glossy" TFT Active Matrix screen
nVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX with 256MB Embedded GDDR3 memory
2.0GHz "Sonoma" Intel® Pentium® M 760 w/2,048k L2 On-die Cache
2,048MB (2 SODIMMS) DDR2/533 Dual Channel Memory
80GB SATA/150 Hard Drive at 7,200 RPM
Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG 802.11a/b/g LAN
8-Cell Smart Li-ion Battery
Windows XP Home

I don't know enough about processors to know the performance differences in the AMD X2 and the PM, but guess the PM is a standard or two behind the AX2. Wait until April for the 5720 with X2? Uggggg.... the thought! The wait!!

 

That's a very balanced configuration; high end. You are right not going over 2.0GHz on the processor; anyting above is cost-prohibitive.

80GB 7200RPM drive will make your system very responsive, and 2GB is what you'll want for the latest set of games.

Yeah - if you can wait, then do so, but if not, that system won't disappoint.

Cheers

 

This configuration looks awesome, BUT... it doesn't do much for your Vista readiness... lacks the 64-bit CPU & no dual-core. I guess we shouldn't rule out the 9750 just yet...

What do you think, Chaz?

 

Vista is going to run perfectly fine on a 32-bit processor (it is designed for them; the 64-bit versions aren't going to be released for a while after the 32-bit version last I read).

If you want the dual-core, it's a good idea to wait a little bit and pick up the updated 5720 with the Intel Core Duo. Having a dual-core CPU will come in handy in the future.

 

Any idea what the cost range will be on the dual core P? If it's anything like the next level above the 2.0GB on the PM, then it'll be cost prohibitive and there is no reason to wait for it (in my case, that is).

 

I really don't know about price, but if I had to take my best guess, I'd say it would hover around $2k for starting, not too much more than the current NP-5720.

If you can wait, then by all means, do so.

 

@robastewart

Chaz is right, as always!! =)

Hummm... if u can wait, u´ll not regret... i´m in the same boat. just waitingggg!!!... long time...

regards,

fullOut

 

That's exactly the configuration my 5720 had - you will be extremely pleased with the performance. I was amazed at its gaming abilities and how cool it stayed even after hours of play. And the screen is beautiful. It's just a shame I had to send mine back because of keyboard and USB problems. Providing you get one without faults (and everyone else seems to have got theirs without faults, grrrr....) this will be the best laptop you've ever had.

 

tough choice rob. when you wait you will always get newer and better technology...i know...i waited nearly 8 months before my 9750 arrived, otherwise i would have coughed by $3K for a PM2.0 with a 6800Ultra GPU.

However, if you're not in a hurry, i concur with Chaz and wait for the dual core 5720. Infact, thats my wife's machine, if I can convince her she needs that 7900GTX or 7800GTX or the X1800XT card...hee.

Good luck and thanks for the compliments...:cheers:

 

Once again, thanks to each of you who has replied to this thread for your thoughtful and helpful input. There isn't one thing you've suggested that doesn't make sense, but waiting another month or so for the newest technology just seems like an exercise one could undertake ad infinitum. So, I've decided it will be the 9750, after all, configured as follows:

WSXGA LCD
A64 x2 4200 processor
7800GTX PCIe 256 graphics
1GB DDR SDRAM 2x512
80 GB SATA 5400rpm HDD
8x DVD/24x CDRW optical drive
XP Home
1 yr std warrant

Some HDD speed is sacrificed for the graphics card. Later I'll get an external DVD-+RW DL. I know 2GB RAM would be optimal, but 1GB should due for a few months.

The 5720 really looks wonderful, but I have been drawn to the 9750 ever since reading Albsterama's review, and keep coming back to it after considering other models. If the 5720 dual core comes out at a base price similar to the 9750, then I don't think I will have lost much by buying the 9750 now and growing into whatever is bigger and better 2 or 3 years from now. Like Sagebrush said, the 9750 allures. Guess I'm a sucker.

By the way, I got the reseller I'll go with to match the lowest price among four resellers where the same configuration was priced. (I'll write specifically about that after the purchase.) It seems pretty sweet at under $2670; worth the couple hundered more than the 5720 configuration considered earlier, and probably not a lot different from what the 5720 dual core will be (just guessing, of course).

Well, the PayPal button isn't clicked yet. I'll sleep on this (or lose sleep over this), then take the plunge probably tomorrow.

 

Yes, definitely a good idea to get the Go7800GTX - that's a blistering card. You can stick in another hard drive later on too.

As for the optical drive - the 9750 actually has space for two optical drives, so you can just buy another slim drive for around $80 like this one here and put it in.

I would actually upgrade the memory aftermarket, you can get a 1GB module for under $100. That will make the upgrade to 2GB simpler. In the mean time, you can have the standard 256MB (I believe that is what it comes with) + 1GB = 1.25GB. Here are a bunch of 1GB DDR400 chips that will work with the 9750. I recommend Crucial, Corsair, Kingston, OCZ, all are great, reputable brands.

The 9750 is truly a wonderful machine - power galore, and feels very nice to use, type on, whatever. You won't even mind moving it after a few weeksand you'll get used to the weight too. This laptop makes other ones feel like featherweights.

Chaz

EDIT: fixed my links

 

Thanks for more good advice, Chaz. More to sleep on!

 

Yes. One note though, when you do get the 2nd HDD, you need to set the jumper on the second HDD as a "slave" mode. Most of the 2.5" drives don't come with a jumper, i don't believe...

Other than that, the X2 4200+ is a great chip and you can upgrade later as the X2 prices fall.

 

Albsterama-- I have no idea what you just said about the second HDD. But I'll save the text of some of these messages for future reference and figure it out then.

So the processor can be user upgraded?

 

The 2 HDD in the 9750 have to be a master-slave configuration. This is done by using jumpers on the HDD. If you look at the HDD pin out, you'll notice a 4 pin set on either the left or right edge of the pin outs (depending on how you're holding it). You need a jumper across 2 pins in this 4 pin set to configure it as a slave. Its very simple to do...just need to get the jumper for it.

Talk to your reseller to see if the CPU is user upgradeable and impact to the warranty. If you're a rogue, its not hard to do...

:cheers:

 

Well, the order was placed this morning for a new Sager 9750 (key specs in signature block below). Again, many thanks to each of you who responded so promptly and informatively to my several questions and musings. If I didn't take your specific advice, please know that your advice was nonetheless very instrumental in determining the final decision.

Thanks tons to Justin at xoticpc, too. I plan to do a complete write-up, both here and at ResellerReviews, of his excellent service through the closing of the deal and for what I anticipate will be an equally excellent product and after-sale service.

So how fast can next week get here??!!!

 

Hee...congratz ! It will come quickly...get your games and software all lined up if I were you.

 

Not fast enough. Congrats on your purchase, we are glad to have helped you out. Definitely looking forward to your write-up.

Chaz