Buying a Sager NP8170. Have a few questions first.

Newbie here. After lurking this forum for a while, I keep reading about how great the Sager notebooks are and after some thought, I am finally getting one . After researching on other threads about this model, I have a few questions.

1.- Are the notebooks tested thorougly by the resellers? I am from Ecuador, and a relative who lives in the US can bring me this notebook. So basically, I would test it when I get it here and by then I won't be able to return it for repairs.

2.- When you buy one of these from any of the resellers, does it come pre installed with the OS (when you buy it from them) and drivers? Do they install bloatware like other mainstream brands? I am very inclined in buying it from XOTIC (depends of who has more flexibility in shipping to an alternate address). So any experiences with it are welcome.

3.- To use a second monitor, you just use a DVI-I to VGA converter?

4.- I kept hearing about how upgradeable this notebook is. In some sites I read that the nvidia's 485m and 580m are "user upgradeable", what about the 560m?

5.- I really like how everyone praises the NP8170 cooling design. Is an external notebook fan recommendable or even necessary at all? I already have a Zalman NC 2000, but might get a better one down the road.

6.- Do you recommend buying an SSD from the reseller or from an external site and install it yourself? I see in some sites you can save some $$$ if you buy it from them.

7.- Just to double check, it supports SATA-III (6 Gb/s)?

8.- How good is the sound coming from the S/PDIF (Digital Audio) Output? I want to use it with a Logitech Z 5500 to enjoy surround sound while gaming.

That's all the questions I have for now, thanks in advance and looking forward to be another proud Sager owner.

 

1.) They are tested by Sager. The only reseller that actually tests it themselves is Mythlogic

2.) If you buy an OS, they will pre-install it and the drivers. There is no bloatware on the machine.

3.) Depends on what your monitor can support.

4.) All of the graphics cards are user upgradeable, it's just expensive to do so (and, if you were buying an NP8130, you would have to upgrade the power brick before upgrading to a higher-wattage graphics card, but I don't believe the 8170 has that problem)

5.) You shouldn't need a notebook fan. The Zalman may be nice for propping it up, though.

6.) Install it yourself, but then the OS being pre-installed will be useless and you'll have to do it yourself on the new drive (as, the HDD should always be the secondary drive)

7.) Yep

8.) Never used it.

 

Good answers. Correct, no bloatware. Correct, depends on the monitor. Agreed on the graphics card upgrades. And agreed on not needing a cooler.

 

ElBlufer, I tried to give you a rep, but it said - I can't until I spread some reputation around to other members! Anyway, you do a nice job helping out.

I just wanted to add that the P170HM / 8170 comes with a DVI to VGA adapter in case you need one for a particular monitor.

In regards to the shipping address - if you pay with a bank wire - then every reseller, including ourselves - will let you ship to any address.

I don't believe any resellers accept credit cards issued outside of the US and Canada, so a bank wire (or other form of cash) will be your only payment option, unless your relative has a US credit card or Paypal account that they can use. In which case, there are ways to ship to an address other than the billing address.

To answer the question about testing, you will have to ask each individual reseller. We oversee all testing on our notebooks and provide a 100% Quality Assurance Guarantee that every customer receives a perfect notebook, or we will replace it with a Brand New notebook at no cost to the customer.

 

I do believe Malibal is a Clevo reseller, not a Sager one, and as such test their machines in-house as well. They don't use Sager's name branding.

EDIT: Malibal beat me to this response by something like 30 seconds. Wow.

 

Thanks guys for the feedback! Very informational.

Regarding to the external monitor, how can I tell if my monitor can support it? I have a Samsung Syncmaster B1930 which only has a VGA input. I was planning on getting this adapter to make it work. (Seeing Malibal response, seems I don't need one). Now I feel clueless, can't live without dual monitors.

Well, if I get the SSD from somewhere else, those this model comes with the caddy for the second hard drive? Or where can I purchase it?

Malibal - Thanks for the clarification, a bank wire seems more convenient. I will look into that.

 

Yep, that is provided.

And, you can purchase the caddy from any reseller. It replaces the optical drive.

@Malibal, thanks! Sorry that I didn't give you a fair shot at the testing question, now I know for the future.

 

Well for your monitor, basically- you don't need to do anything. The adapter will let you hook it up without anything else. You can have either the laptop + your display, or you can hook up two external displays and choose to skip the built in LCD on the monitor.

And yep, you can always add your own SSD- you'll just have to buy the caddy. Pretty much any 12.7mm SATA to SATA caddy will work for you. Non Clevo models may have some mismatched bezel connections and LED, otherwise it's the same functionally.

 

Doesn't Sager include the hardware for installing HDD/SSD? I'm installing an SSD in my NP8170 after it arrives and I was told that the mounting hardware (caddy) comes with it.

 

Yeah, the 8170 can hold 2 HDDs, not counting a HDD in the ODD bay. That said, you can move the HDD over to the backup slot, and the SSD to the primary slot, when you get it. You don't need anything but the SSD. The caddy should be in there. All you have to do is put the OS on the SSD and take it off the old HDD.

 

I purchased a NP8170 from Malibal, and intend to install my own SSD in the primary HD spot and move the one that comes with the laptop to the secondary. Do I need to purchase something to use the SSD? I didnt think so but after reading your previous post I would like to make sure.

 

Nope. If you just want to use two drives, the two HDD drive bays have everything you need. You can just put the SSD in the primary bay and the HDD in the secondary. Only if you added a third drive would you need a caddy to put a drive into the optical bay.

 

WOW thanks for the fast response!!! Definitely have no regrets buying from Malibal!!! You guys are on the ball!

 

We're here whenever you need us!