Avoid getting a Sager NP5793 if you value money

This is about what kind of laptop not to buy. So I purchased a Sager NP5793 from xotic pc back in the last quarter of 2008. It worked like a charm until January of 2010. No complaints until then really. My screen started artifacting so I sent it into Sager since all attempts to fix it on my own failed. Sager identified the problem as a damaged video card. I learned that Nvidia has made rather horrible soldering on their video cards so it seems I was stuck with one of their models that fails after a short life. When I went to pick up my laptop from Sager I received it covered in sawdust and particles. I wasn't pleased at all by this. Since then though I baked the video card and fixed it. Needless to say, I'm not going to be purchasing an Nvidia product or a Sager product again. I'd recommend anyone interested in a Sager rethink and go for another option. Save yourself the headache and stress. I know a Sager dealer has a bit of influence on these forums so I wouldn't be too surprised if this thread disappeared.

 

Sorry about the trouble you experiance!
Thanks for informing us though!

 

Well, it's the infamous Nvidia problem that no manufacturer using those cards could get away from.

 

Did Sager ever offer to repair the known defective cards out of the warranty period free of charge?

 

O lord yea. I kind of feel the same with my ASUS C90S and its retarded 8600M GT. Fortunately I was able to replace it with a HD 3650. Best of luck to you. I hate NV now and just shy away from ASUS.

 

Don't blame Sager for a problem Nvidia created. All brands were affected by this. I just recently got everything sorted out with my Dell XPS M1530 that had an 8600m GT.

 

No they just wanted to charge me $800 for putting in a new card. They wouldn't even let me bring them a card I wanted to put in.

 

I don't blame Sager for the faulty video card. I blame them for not inspecting the components they put into the laptops they sell to consumers like me. I also blame them for apparently putting my laptop under a carpenter's cutting board, or thinking it would be good customer service to cover my laptop in some sawdust. My next laptop or desktop will not be a Sager, Clevo, Asus or whatever relabeled brand they think up next. Nor will it have an Nvidia card inside. I regret not making this review sooner in case I could have prevented someone from making the same mistake I did.

 

and that's why xoticpc are still in business.
They offered you a 3 year services, and they are famous for their services, so why didn't you talk with Justin from xoticpc before you talked with Sager?

 

Wow, unlike some laptop vendors, Sager didn't have an extended or free fix for the known defect? Ah well.

 

That's why never buy from Sager directly, get from resellers instead, the resellers will deal with Sager better than any customer will.

 

This just shows that even reliable brands still have their problems, but I wouldn't say to never use XoticPC or Sager. But I do hate all the NVIDIA fanboys who think that driver issues is the only thing that can go wrong with a GPU.

 

Which of the Sager vendors addressed or are addressing the faulty Nvidia (G84 and G86 at least) cards floating around out there?

I know HP, Dell, Sony and Apple stepped up. Apple even went so far as to in addition to fixing faulty GPUs refunding consumers who had previously paid for out of warranty repairs relating to the GPU failures. Sony not only offered repairs but extended the warranty on the system's GPU for 4 years from the date of purchase.

I know the NP5793 had a 8600M GT version of the Nvidia failcard.

 

Anyone who has owned an 8600M GT knows that ain't so.

Bronsky

 

Sager is known for horrible customer service if you deal with them directly. Though somehow, when a reseller is dealing with them for you, their service suddenly becomes fantastic.

 

I didn't deal with Justin from xoticpc, but my entire customer service experience with Sager was dealt with through xoticpc. They acted as the middle man the whole time the laptop was in Sager's workshop getting examined. It was like xoticpc was the customer service branch of Sager. They gave prompt responses sure, but I don't care how prompt a response is when I pick up my laptop and it looks like someone poured dust on top of it and on the screen. Very unprofessional.

 

I didn't. I purchased mine from xoticpc after getting reviews and advice to do so from these forums. I regret not getting a major brand. I won't make the same mistake twice.

 

I hope Justin comes and tries to resolve this

 

Did you talk to XoticPC?

 

I know I will probably not be buying my next laptop with a nvidia GPU from any company.

 

Yup!! I used to trust nvidia and was a nvidia guy!

now its gonna be ATi all the way!

 

No ..............HP did NOT step up in all cases, mine being one of them . HP DV9035 w 7600go, 3 months out of warranty. Wanted close to $500 bucks to replace it.....................with the same defective card.

My current notebook.........5793, had to be sent back after 2 weeks..........bad gpu. If my current nvidia card fails before 3 years, I will never buy another pc with nvidia anything in it, the same I do with any HP products !

 

My experience with "major brands" is horrible, just like your experience with Sager. Sager is known to not have great costumer service... for that, you must deal with the resellers like XoticPC and PowerNotebooks. I suggest getting a barebone laptop and installing the parts yourself, it helps a lot, I think.

 

The 7600 was never on the list of faulty GPUs that is why.

 

Ok.........so why was HP fixing the same model notebook with the same gpu, except they had an AMD cpu !

Believe me..................I went through the ringer trying to resolve this issue !

Check this site out !

HP Lies: The nVidia Defect

 

Again, your model wasn't on the list of officially recalled/addressed models.

Did you buy the extended warranty?

You can get mad all you want, but it was out of warranty and wasn't on the list. GPUs can and do die along with other hot and heavy parts.

 

My 5793 with 8800M GTX has been performing flawlessly since I got it. Knock on plastic.

 

Well, I've had my notebook since feb '08, and haven't had one single problem with it. The fact that high end notebooks have such powerful components the percentage of failure is bound to be more common mainly due to the high TDP (thermal design power), and depending on how you use it, will greatly impact the longevity of the system. So blaming manufacturers, although justified in some cases i.e the Nvidia G84 and G86s failures, in the majority of cases it's due to users actions. Just my two cents.

 

"Other affected chips appear to be in the GeForce Go 7000 and 6000 lines, as well as the Quadro NVS 135M and the Quadro FX 360M, but that's just looking at model numbers, and we can't be exactly sure. "

Figuring out which NVIDIA GPUs are defective -- it's a lot -- Engadget

Anything else ?

 

Yes I did. They were the intermediary between me and Sager since Sager didn't want to communicate with me for some reason. Xoticpc was very prompt with their responses but that still doesn't excuse the faulty vidcard or the condition I received my laptop in. Xoticpc should definitely examine Sager repair facilities since this reflects on them also for conducting business in such a manner with vidcards that apparently aren't up to standards and the handling/cleaning of customer notebooks at the repairshop which also aren't up to standards. My next laptop will have an ATI and be sent to a company I trust won't return it coated in dust.

 

I don't really see what there is to resolve. Even retailers and resellers should stand by their products. If it's not up to standards then it shouldn't be sold to customers. At the very least Xoticpc was very fast at sending replies, at least in my instance. Xoticpc should examine Sager's repair facility to make sure no more laptops are covered in dust before being sent back out to customers. It leaves a bad taste in the mouths of customers.

 

So your next laptop is going to be a... what, exactly?

Ironically, you named two of the very few laptop brands who actually sell directly to consumers and aren't re-brands. You can buy Clevo direct through RJTech, or you can pick your re-brander (Sager ain't the only ones - there's Malibal, iBuyPower, KobaltComputers, DevilTech, etc.), and Asus makes their own laptops, mobos, and GPUs.

You said yourself you don't blame Sager for the breakdown, so why blame Clevo? You can buy them with ATI cards now, you know...

 

All companies (I'm going to restrict reference to notebook manufacturers and vendors since this website is mostly about notebook computer) have their own level of suckiness one way or another. Dell sucks, HP sucks, Toshiba sucks, and yes Sager sucks, and so on.

Heck, ATI is legendary for not releasing (or not prioritizing) drivers for their mobile cards.

I'm truly sorry for your experience. This is why it's hard for me to invest anything over $2000 for a notebook. If something goes wrong, and the vendor fails to come through, it's me who's up the creek.

On the other hand, since I do love to play games, and I like my notebooks accessible internally, so I accept the fact that the notebook I purchase (regardless who or where I buy it from) may fail at some point. I don't like buying extended warranties myself, since I don't keep my gaming laptop for more than one year.

Sorry for you experience, though.

 

It's my belief that all pc components,especially higher end, if taken care of properly, should last a minimum of 3 years..........................period !

Again on the HP/nvidia issue.............if my card, 7600go, was not one of the defective gpus, why did HP issue a Bios update that made the fan run on high..........all the time !

Unless you were personally involved in one of theses Nvidia fiascos, please don't act like you have all the answers !

 

^^^

EDIT: Oops. Please put an @somebody to avoid confusion. Sorry for butting in.

 

appears and, we can't be exactly sure. are the key words. As in not a fact.

Again, your system was not in the official recall list.

When vendors weren't sure which cards were affected or systems run hotter than normal even now to this day, they can and will issue updates to increase fan activity (usually at the dismay of users who want fan noise kept to a minimum for noise reasons)

And I ask again, did you buy an extended warranty?

It sucks when an item fails and you have to come out of pocket to repair it. We've all been there with an item breaking down and having to choose between paying for repairs or scrapping it and moving on. I just went through it with a $3000 Sony 60" TV which broke down 4-5 times. I was there with a NP5793 with an 8600M GT which failed out of warranty and I just ate it and moved on. It happens.

 

"Official HP Affected Notebooks"

The difference between my HP notebook and the RG564AV, below, is an AMD processor ! Also , you never answered why HP issued a BIOS update , that made the fan run on high, 24-7...............hmmmm, must of been a heat issue !

Just one more thing.............you keep saying "Official Recall List", but never provide a link ?

Besides having a personal experience with HP, Links for my information are provided below:

Figuring out which NVIDIA GPUs are defective -- it's a lot -- Engadget

HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement (Product Numbers Included) HP Pavilion dv9000 CTO Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

HP Lies: The nVidia Defect







HP Pavilion dv90xx
NOTE: Each of the product numbers listed in the table may be followed by the letter R on certain notebook PCs. If your notebook product number is listed in the table and followed by the letter R then your notebook is included in the HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Program.

EW635AV EZ453UA EZ459UA EZ468UA RG564AV
EW680AV EZ456UA EZ460UA EZ470UA RG931AS
EX988AV EZ457UA EZ461UA EZ471UA
EZ452UA EZ458UA EZ462UA RG139AS

If your notebook product number is listed in the table then go back to the HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement page and continue to Step 2. If your notebook product number is not listed in the table then your notebook PC is not included in the HP Limited Warranty Service Enhancement Program.

 

Same company prior to resale. So no reason just to buy the same product with a different brand sticker on top. I'm not sure on what I'll get. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. Hopefully it won't be anytime soon. *knock on wood*

 

Your logical fallacies make my brain hurt.

1) It isn't Clevo's fault (you said so yourself, implicitly).

2) W870CU (e.g.) is a different laptop from the M570RU. It has different components, including a different GPU (the part that failed, in case you have forgotten), made by a different company (that brand which isn't the Nvidia you won't ever buy again).

 

So I take it, no, you didn't buy an extended warranty.

And again, to confirm, is your GPU chip a G84 or G86?

Did its production date fall within the window of faulty chips produced by Nvidia? (acknowledged and addressed via the charge they took to cover repairs) and was it in one of the
units HP acknowledged? (AMD based ones for one).

If you had bought an extended warranty, you would have had it repaired even if it didn't qualify for the faulty GPU repairs.

If you're saying your notebook product code is listed in that table of official units HP recalled under the GPU defect issue and they still refused to fix it, that is a whole different scenario. Does your unit fall under the list of those product codes?

It's over dude. You can keep spitting hate and bitter all you want, but for an expensive laptop, an extended warranty usually pays for itself. Anything expensive with a chance of failure, I usually pony up the $$ (which is usually 10-15% of the purchase cost) for ease of mind. It also helps if you decide to resell your item.

 

No , did not buy extended warranty..............should not have to!
HP repaired certain models that were " OUT" of warranty.............think AMD ! Mine was 3 months out of warranty.

So I take it , you can't provide links to backup your statements and that everything you say ahould be taken as gospel !

 

my laptop is still working fine. *touch wood* Couldn't be better.

 

Then that's on you man.

Extended warranty = non-issue here. Expensive piece of machinery means not being cheap and coughing up the extra $$$ just in case something goes awry in a system you depend upon for 2-3 yrs. It's your fault.

You said the key words, "3 months out of warranty."

Yes, HP repaired systems that were out of warranty because they were on the list. Your system was not on their authorized list. It is what it is and HP told ya so as evidenced by your laptop not working. Surfing the web for anecdotal evidence and nothing really concrete to somehow go on a crusade isn't getting your laptop fixed, now is it?

Either pay and get it fixed or salvage parts to resell.

Time to let the bitter go....

Moving along.

 

I don't think you should falt Sager/Clevo etc. for this, as they make really great products. Blame Nvidia perhaps...but ATI I think also has their faulty vid cards as well.

 

And still " No Official Links", provided by you to back up your statements...............I rest my case !

 

Have you, in fact, talked to Justin@Xoticpc directly since you got the notebook back?