Black-Hawk XR5 SLI info: NEWS!

Here is the last email I sent to PC Microworks about SLI issues on D901C, after begin told by the sales team over and over that everything was on track, No delays.....:

"I am really hoping to get more info on this. Maybe the sales team shouldn't be the ones to answer these questions. I have now found out that Nvidia is working on a flex-cable to connect the two cards to function in SLI, but they have not released it, nor completed its testing.

Here is a link to my source for this info.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2738281&postcount=60

I am more concerned with the fact that the company I chose to buy from is not commenting on these recent complications. I would rather hear that, yes we are aware of these complications, and there may be slight delays, than "No complications, everything is on track", when required components are still in testing.

Maybe I am way off target, but it seems like I am more informed than the people selling the product. Not trying to be a pain in the ass, just getting a little worried about my $4.5 thousand dollars........

If you guys are interested in finding out about these issues, here is a link to the best place on the net.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1017

Thanks again.

Simon Ehrlich"

Finally got an informed response!!!! YAY!!!

"Hi Simon:

Sorry for the confusion with this for you and thank you for your concern.

We are aware of the SLI bridge cable – We are planning to ship all SLI XR5 units with both cards and cable initially and then provide the updated driver in January from nVidia. It is also possible that we will ship the connector cable at a later date or both the connector cable and the 2nd card if it is not made available to us before the initial shipment date.

To Summarize:

1) We want our customers to have the systems as quickly as possible so we are planning to ship all orders between mid – late December as initially planned.
2) We will be shipping with both cards and the SLI bridge cable if at all possible and updating the driver in January if necessary.
3) If the bridge cable / and or secondary cards are not immediately available upon release, we will be overnighting these at no additional charge (including international customers) as soon as they are released for the user to install either one or both of these items.

We are going to be doing everything in our power to make your new system experience as easy and smooth as possible – please let us know if we can be of any further assistance to you.

Sincerely,
PC MicroWorks Support Team"

About Damn time

 

Hey Bmonk

As dissapointing as it may be atleast they are informing you. As for them not being upfrontwith you, I do not see it that way.

When you asked the a direct question they gave you a direct answer. Notice they also state they plan to ship everything intact and wait for driver's. We have 25 days for them to meet their shipping deadline. Mid-Late December. Who knows if the bridge cable will be in or not. Why report on an unkown issue and have people worry about something that could not even be a factor.

They told you the main plan and then told your of their back-up plan. Atleast they have one. Sager/Xotic hasn't answer the ship anyways question.

What happens if the cables get in and your lappy arrives with everything but your driver's on time? You will feel sheepish

As they stated they are shipping regardless. Something that is still in question about sager and xoticpc. So, either way they are true to the advertising. Shipping mid-late december. It is only the 6th of december that leaves 25 days to get the bridge cables and ship them. Personally I would rather get the system sooner than later even if i only get to use 1 video card.

Nothing they can do about the drivers if nvidia hasn't written them. Except not even offer an SLI config. =(

I'm in sales myself. I'm used to BMW/MINI changing things and being aware of known issues but letting the sales people live in the dark. It is kind of like plausable deniability. I deal with customers who read things that happened to one customer on the forums and all of a sudden it is an epidemic of biblical proportions. When in fact it can be an isolated issue of 30-40 production cars sent around the world.

 

I think you are taking my email a bit out of context. This was only the LAST email I sent them man. I have been asking them questions for days, only to be told there were no complications.

Also you are assuming I am upset. Quite the opposite. Here is my repsonse to the email they sent me.

"Wonderful! That is all I needed to hear. Thanks very much! Nice to know that you guys are on the ball. Again, thank you very much for taking the time to inform me. You have taken away any doubt I had."

I am very pleased with them overall. I do think they should inform the sales team of these complications. I mean its no big deal for people who live in the states. But I am making a special trip to pick this up. So anything sent after I go back to Mexico will have to either wait for me to go back and pick it up, or come down with a friend. Trust me when I say, Don't send anything expensive, or fragile to mexico. if it gets to you at all, pray it still works.

I mostly was concerned with the fact that I have heard PC Microworks isnt always as informed as they should be. Like one of the owners here posted, he had to help them set up the RAID on his black-hawk.

 

Would you feel the same way... that they are true to their advertising... if they shipped you an SLI laptop, in mid-late december as promised, but with non-functioning SLI?

in other words, without a cable? and without telling you beforehand that this was a requirement? and without telling you that Nvidia does not have drivers yet so you cannot even support SLI? and without telling you that if you do not have these, that they will overnight it to you?

This information should go out to all people who ordered and posted for all people to see before they order.

If it is not shown, the option to buy SLI should not be available.

I have no experience with PC Micro, I do not know them, I am not judging them, I am only reading your post.

I think that BMonk's point is that he had to send numerous emails and has gotten numerous responses that there are no problems, when in fact, there is a problem and according to his posts, that he has had to 'drag' it out of them.

 

I apologize to bmonk for thinking he was upset and sorry I didn't keep things in context.

Aryantes:Look at my sig. I have one on order aswell. I "pre-Ordered" something without all of the info being released. Being a reasonable person I know there might be setbacks and complications as things emerge. It is just part of the Pre-Ordering Process. Your aurgument is void.

Again, I will try to make light of why they did not volunteer the info about the cables. Because it might not even be an issue! WHy make something an issue if it is not yet an issue. Mid-Late december means just that. It will not ship before mid december and has until december 31st to fall in the time-frame. That gives 25 days to get the cables and ship.

Even if the cable is in SLI will not work due to drivers. SLI not working has nothing to do with PCMW. It Has Everything to do with NVIDA/Clevo. Again no reason to get upset becuase SLI notebooks are a very very very small Minority.

Sorry If I'm ranting. This post gave me a flash back of a big problem with a customer I had when he claimed his car was broke because he read that it might be on a car forum. Turns out it was NOT broke. And the issue he read about was not even related to his Production cycle.

 

Thanks for the info BMonk. I live in sweden and prefer to have as few overseas shipments as I can. (customs, VAT, damage etc.)

Also, it would be nice if they tested the thing, with the right config, before it was sent to me..

I don't know anything about PCMW. But I've worked at a big computer company. D*** The sales team were the last ones getting info. They had a more "shoot first, questions later" approach to the customers.

 

You are right, and it may not be an issue. I work in marketing, and the most important thing any buisness can do it keep their clients/customers informed, especially when the buissness is this influenced by word of mouth.

I also build websites and understand the importance of placing what the customer is looking for, right in front. That **** should smack me in the face when I enter the black-hawk page, and my userpanel, and should be sent out to every email they have for pre-orders.

They obviously are preparing for the chance that there will be an issue, thus they should prepare us for this chance as well.

The responce I finally got was perfect I think. But it took me about 15 emails, and 5 days. I had to spell out that I was already aware of the issue from another reseller, when they should have been the ones to inform me. The sales team did mislead me BTW. But I just think they really didn't know.

I am very happy about how they will handle these complications. But they should make this clear to customers. Thats just plain and simple. Trying to argue against that point is absolutely pointless..

 

Hmmm, nothing from Sager or Xoticpc?

Did you miss this post from this morning?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=2738281&postcount=60

It just seems like MCPC is copying Sager's position that was reported earlier.

 

It would say the copying statement (which you have to admit has a negative twist to it) is a bit stretched as they work with clevo directly and they probably have all the same info that all you resellers do as well. So I don't see how they can be copying and none of the resellers aren't. You all have the same info and do what you wish with it.

More the point, he probably did just miss considering its in a lengthy post.

P.S. props to justin though, his efforts on keeping customers informed about sager products is invaluable to the community. That IS something pcmicroworks has yet to do.

 

Well its not like there are many different ways to go about this. They find themselves in the same situation exactly, seems like the solutions should, and would be similar.

Though they are saying what they will be doing, not what they might be doing, which is sagers stance.

PCMW:
1) We want our customers to have the systems as quickly as possible so we are planning to ship all orders between mid – late December as initially planned.
2) We will be shipping with both cards and the SLI bridge cable if at all possible and updating the driver in January if necessary.
3) If the bridge cable / and or secondary cards are not immediately available upon release, we will be overnighting these at no additional charge (including international customers) as soon as they are released for the user to install either one or both of these items.

Sager/Xotic:
Sager is considering the following.

1. If the cable can be finalized in time before the driver release, we would ship the SLi systems, with the users understanding that SLi is not working until driver is released.
2. We may or may not ship SLi pre-orders with a single card installed at first, and once that the Flex Cable / Driver are ready, we will then ship the additional card with the cable to the customers for self install.

And I saw that post first thing today. Haha, maybe you missed my post at the top of THIS page where I linked to the post you just linked to......very nice

 

I didn't intend any negative twist, I just noticed the similarity in their plan that was communicated by them after Justin had stated Sager's position.

Oh, and regardless of what you might be told PCMW does not work "directly" with Clevo. In North America only Sager, Pro-Star and Eurocom do...period.

I for one find Sager's statement more believable. At this point PCMW cannot be "SURE" of what they will be able to do by the end of the month...we will have to wait to see what actually happens.

 

I may have heard incorrectly then, when I spoke with them while ordering I asked about this and asked if they work with Sager and so on and he said "no we work directly with our manufacturer" but this may be a bad assumption on my part. Perhaps there was confusion between us both there.

Eitherway, I think sager and all those involved there are making a good step with their customers and I think PCMicroworks is as well. I find both statements to be equally satisfying if you ask me.

And I don't see the "SURE" difference you are seeing:

2) We will be shipping with both cards and the SLI bridge cable if at all possible and updating the driver in January if necessary.
3) If the bridge cable / and or secondary cards are not immediately available upon release, we will be overnighting these at no additional charge (including international customers) as soon as they are released for the user to install either one or both of these items.

1. If the cable can be finalized in time before the driver release, we would ship the SLi systems, with the users understanding that SLi is not working until driver is released.
2. We may or may not ship SLi pre-orders with a single card installed at first, and once that the Flex Cable / Driver are ready, we will then ship the additional card with the cable to the customers for self install.

It seems they both have that " IF" stance on the topic but that may be just me.

 

Jikeel, I was responding to BMonk's comment: "Though they are saying what they will be doing, not what they might be doing, which is sagers stance." Your point is well taken that neither of them are making positive statements, so I apologize and stand corrected.

Also, when PCMW said the work directly with their manufacturer they did not mean Clevo, they could only have meant Eurocom, Sager or Pro-Star

 

Yea I realize that, thats why it was probably a bad assumption on my part about the manufacturer. My apologies.

I think he got it a bit wrong (in my opinion) too because they are both in the if than what game at this point. But looking at the statements they are both essentially doing the same things just worded differently. I don't think either said it better than the other.

Any hoot. It looks like sager/eurocom/pro-star/xotic/power/pcmws and the list goes on is doing what they can to satisfy their customers. I think they all get a little props considering the nature of this release.

 

Ha ha the "if game." I love when people pull one word out and say, see they are saying the same thing! Sounds like Fox News Propaganda to me.

The "if" is in context to the situation, not intention.

This is really simple guys. There is clear difference in intention with these two statements.

Sager says it will consider the options they listed, while PCMW explains how they will deal with these different situations, that both vendors listed.

Thus far, unless something new has been said, Sagers only "statement" is that they will NOT be shipping the notebooks ordered with SLI until the drivers and bridge cable are released.

They will only consider finding ways to work around this. While PCMW says, whatever happens you will get your notebook, one card and/or cable, shy if need be.

Simple difference. Not complicated whatsoever. Communication is key. One word can change everything.

This is silly......

 

After these messages, we'll be right back!

"Has Bmonk finally explained it in a manner for all to understand?" Find out when we return!

*(Insert Commercial)*

 

ok i think we all have too much time on our hands, or is it, with our hands.

See how that changes it, huh? huh? Ok im really done now.

 

Sorry but I just don't understand this, "Thus far, unless something new has been said, Sagers only "statement" is that they will NOT be shipping the notebooks ordered with SLI until the drivers and bridge cable are released." when they clearly stated this:

1. If the cable can be finalized in time before the driver release, we would ship the SLi systems, with the users understanding that SLi is not working until driver is released.

Considering they will ship without the driver...so I don't really see how they are failing to list their intent. Again they are essentially saying the same thing.

Either way, I see what you are saying, I have my opinions and you have yours, either way, we are going to get some serious laptops with a lot of power!

 

Now that its settled..
What are heat Spreaders? I didnt see this option while configuring?

 

Things that spread the heat. Can I have a cookie?

Usually they are aluminum to help the heat disapate from the chips. I'm not totally sure that you need them to be honest.

With the D901C being locked out of the BIOS for so many options you can't easily overclock your RAM timings. So IMO they aren't necessary.

 

I think they are just one of those things PCMicroworks (not sure if anyone else does this) puts in there to say they do it a bit differently but like Wu said, they aren't really needed for anything on this model.

 

Jikeel

The point is. Sager is saying "if and only if it can be resolved we will ship."

PCMW is saying "we will ship your system regardless of if it is resolved or not. With worst case scenario being you will get 1 8800 gtx until it can be resolved." This means you can enjoy your laptop sooner rather than later

 

Not to drag this on but Sager also said the same thing. I agree this is not a "this is what we are going to do" statement but it is the same solution when they say:

2. We may or may not ship SLi pre-orders with a single card installed at first, and once that the Flex Cable / Driver are ready, we will then ship the additional card with the cable to the customers for self install.

The only reason I think they have not decided just yet is the DIY headaches that could come of this. Not that many people can do installs like this with ease and they are aware of that. Its just a matter making it easier on them or the consumer.

Either way, they are presenting the same solutions.

 

I see your point. Not eveyone is going to want to take it apart and add it themselves.

Where's my excedrine migrain!

 

LOL, sorry if your head is splitting! I'm done and moving on! Good news for us Black-hawkers at any rate

 

yeah this is true for sure. I am very excited now

 

My apologies too! In all the hustle bustle I forget to say thanks for doing the leg work wiht PCMicroworks. It only benefits the community!

 

Well I have gained so much knowledge here, and everyone is so helpful, just trying to put in where I can. This has been the first thing I have put up, that wasn't already posted....

 

Hi Bmonk,

Got to say, well done on getting that answer from PC MicroWorks.

I am in fact going to email them and see what they say.

I would prefer that if they do ship, that they ship with both cards and if need be, the SLI flex cable later, so we can 'DIY' the install. It shouldn't be that hard to install the flex cable from what I have seen from soime underside screenshots of the notebook) with a little phone support (except for us international customers , it could prove very costly indeed!!- phone bill) but that is life.

Lets see howPC MIcroWorks handles this. Their reputation suggests that this is a hurdle they will overcome, I am quietly confident

Thanks again Bmonk for the information in the OP for us eager Blackhawk customers. Nice to now there is support in these forums

Cheers,

-Coors916