Clevo M570U Review (aka XtremeCTX/Sager 5720 Dual Core)

Just saw this review post about the upcoming Clevo M570U!
The reviewer used the Rockdirect.com XtremeCTX which is just the rebranded name for the Clevo M570U.
Some may know this notebook as the 32bit Dual Core version of the Sager 5720

You can view the review here:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/04/14/rock_xtreme_ctx_notebook/1.html

I so can't wait for this baby to get released so I can finally buy my very 1st laptop

 

Great link Kilim, thanks for sharing.

The M570U looks to be a very powerful computer indeed, and it still keeps the wonderful case design of the M570A which we all know as the Sager 5720 and Xtreme CT.

Chaz

 

I have spent alot fo time trying to find the "one" as my very 1st laptop and Chazman here is the one that helped me decide on waiting for the M570U

Now I spend everyday trying to find info about it and when it will be available to US Resellers.

Waiting sucks

I have a feeling I will buy the M570U from whoever sells it 1st here.
Choice of resellers at this time for me are:
PCTorque.com, Discountlaptops.com, Powernotebooks.com or ISTNC.com

I almost bought the Rockdirect version so I can say I ordered it even though Rockdirect has their shipment date of end of April.
But having a US reseller would be best for a US resident like me for faster support in case I need it.

PS:
I also found an article from theenquirer.net about a possible price drop of Core Duo chips by June!
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=30881

I wonder if this will affect the price of the M570U and how soon it will affact it.
Common sense dictates I should wait until June to order the M570U.
But the impulsive gamer factor wants the M570U ASAP

 

does Rockdirect.com ship to the United States? What online store would be the best to buy the Sager 5720 Dual Core? Thanks alot

 

thanks for the link. x1800 shows pretty good performance in games, but i wander why in fear it didnt do so good comparing to gtx. cant wait to have it anyways.

 

Just like I stated above

Choice of resellers at this time for me are:
(If you live in the US)

PCTorque.com, Discountlaptops.com, Powernotebooks.com or ISTNC.com​

The resellers I noted above has stated a time frame of May-June.
I talked to a sales rep at Sager and he told me to expect a May release for Sager.
I am praying that they start showing prices and configuration before the end of April

And at this time, You can order them at Rockdirect.com BUT expect to wait around May to receive them after you make an order.
And yes they do ship to the US, but do not know how much more.
Contact Rockdirect if you REALLY MUST order now.
They have a great forum community so far and they can also be easily contacted via emails.
Please note that Rockdirect has an ETA of April 28 for their 1st shipment of M570U and that they ONLY accept UK Pounds.

 

thanks alot Kilim. i am getting the Sager 5720 dual core for my high school graduation present. pretty excitied. How long you willing to wait to buy ot inside the US? When you mean they will only take UK pounds, does that mean you cannot use a credit card? haha sorry for such a stupid question.... thanks

 

Considering I am dying to get my very 1st laptop ASAP.
I am more than likely going to wait about 2.5 seconds after I see them advertised in the resellers websites I have linked above

As for Rockdirect, I dunno.
Probably ask your bank/credit card provider about that.

I am waiting for the above resellrs to have them so support will be closer just in case

 

dell has new xps available on their web. its core duo and has geforce 7900gtx 512mb vram as an option /faster than ati x1800xt i believe/. if you cant wait for sager duos you can consider this one. should be a real beast. its pretty expensive though.

 

i kinda wish i had 5 g's lying around my house, but i dont, so no chance of a new XPS.

 

I would think that the main difference between the M1710 and the M570U is the graphics card.
I think I can deal with that.
Who knows, maybe later on the M570U will have an upgrade solution

I prefer the solid build of Sager anyways from the reviews I have read.
I also want a full size keyboard as well.
Also, with teh money I would be saving from buying the M570U instead of the M1710, I can buy ALL the accesorries I wwant and then some

PS:
There is also a rumor of a price drop by June on teh Core Duo chips!
So I am hoping to upgrade the Yonah chip to a Merom chip later down the line.
From what I have read, Merom is pin-to-pin compatible with yonah and at most it should only need a BIOS update.
Of course we never know for sure until the time comes but it is good wishful thinking for me

 

Well, you also have a bunch of other differences to take into account besides the graphics card. The overall designs are different, the M570U has a numpad and integrated camera, LCD display on the front, etc.

The M570U should also come with other options for graphics cards, maybe not at release, but sometime along the line. It is way lower priced versus the M1710; the one Andrew and I reviewed was $4,215 for a top-end configuration.

About the CPU upgrade from Yonah to Merom - I wouldn't count on being able to upgrade your CPU - buy it with the one you want and intend on keeping. Not saying it isn't possible.

Chaz

 

Price Comparison:
(as close specs as possible except Dell's 7900GTX)

XtremeCTX = £1774.00/$3,178.22 (USD conversion as of 4/19/06)
XPS M1710 = $4,198.00​

Xtreme CTX:

Xtreme CTX Core Duo T2600 (2.16GHz)
RAM - 2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
HDD - 100GB (7200rpm) SATA HDD
OS - Windows XP Pro
WARRANTY - 3 Years Collect & Return
CASE - Standard Case
OPTICAL DRIVE - 8 x DVD Dual Layer (-/+) Writer
ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE - None
WIRELESS - Intel Pro Wireless A/B/G
OPTION - Graphics Card - ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 XT 256MB
OPTION - TV Tuner - No TV Tuner
TFT SCREEN - 17" WUXGA X-Glass TFT Screen (1920 x 1200 Res)
STANDARD SOFTWARE - Roxio, Works v8, BullGuard & Office Trial
LOGOS - Rock Etched Logo on Lid
OPTION - 2nd HDD - No 2nd HDD
3G DATA CARD - Free Vodafone Mobile Connect)​

TOTAL = £1774.00/$3,178.22 (USD conversion as of 4/19/06)​

Dell XPS M1710:

XPS M1710 Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2600 (2MB Cache/2.16GHz/667MHz FSB)
Operating System (Office software not included) Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
LCD Panel 17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™
Memory 2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHZ, 2 DIMM
Video Card 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7900 GTX
Hard Drive 100GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
Network Card and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
Combo/DVD+RW Drives Featured Upgd-8XCD/DVD Burner(DVD+/-RW)w/dble-layer DVD+R write capability
Sound Card Integrated Audio
Wireless Networking Cards Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Office Software (not included in Windows XP) No Productivity Software
Anti-Virus/Security Suite (Pre-installed) PC-cillin Internet Security: AntiVirus, Firewall, Spyware removal 15-months
Primary Battery 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Hardware Warranty 3Yr Ltd Warr,At-Home Service,and HW Warr Support plus Nights and Weekends
XPS Specialized Support Inspiron XPS, Specialized Support
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested
Wireless Personal Networking Card Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Miscellaneous Award Winning Service, Support
Mobile Broadband No Broadband Expresscard technology is available in the market now
Dell Digital Entertainment No preinstalled software​

TOTAL = $4,198.00​

 

Here is the latest news from Rockdirect.
Seems that there may be some changes possible

http://www.rockforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4436&start=870

Oh and I saw this lil tid nit also:

 

I'm at once jubilent over the changes, yet also peaved that I cant make use of any of it since I dont live in the UK!

-_-

 

Well, if you really want to, Rockdirect does take International orders.
(I personally contacted them myself via email the second I heard about the M570U)
Just have to check with your Bank/Credit Card company about the change to GBP.

I have heard nothing but good things about Rockdirect.com so far.
But it just makes more sense to just wait it out for the US Resellers to get the stocks and buy it here.

 

Excellent information, thanks for taking the time to post and share all of it.

Very nice that they're going to offer the Go7900GTX, I assume that all the US-based companies such as Sager will too. Hopefully, Nvidia won't run into any supply problems with the chips as they have with their desktop versions. Looks like ATI is once again losing the high-end market. . .

Thanks again,
Chaz

 

Ya thats what I tought also.
Evn though Rockdirect is a UK based company I see no reason for the US Resellers to not do what they are doing.
Considering Rock is trying their best to beat the competition while making their customers happy.

Heck, if the US Resellers do not do the same deals or similar as Rock, I may just bite the bullet and order from them even though I live in NY.
Would just mean a possibility of longer support turnover and maybe even shipping issues
But I have heard their services are excellent!
They will even let you upgrade your laptops as well! (for a fee of course & if it is possible)

An thanks Chaz
I wouldn't have found out about the M570U if not for the community here and your personal help
This website is actually 1 of the sites I visit daily
(Well, ok, usually 2+ times a day )
Just anticipating the time I will get my own 570U as my very 1`st laptop

<Now back to finding more info about the M570U ... >

 

This would be my first too!

So if they're going to reduce the price of the WUXGA screen, and throw in a stronger video card...

Does that mean that going WUXGA is more of an option, or should I stick with getting the WSXGA like I plan? (Considering that the better Nvidia graphics chip will be able to more comfortably play games at that resolution)

 

from what I have read ... the lower WSXGA reso "may" be better for gaming as it will get less of a performance hit.
I have an online buddy that just got his XPS M170 that is WUXGA and he is telling me that for gaming soemtiems he wishes its WSXGA instead.

Best bet I gues would be to go look at a 17" with either reso and see which you like best.
I myself couldnt find a laptop w/ WSXGA or WUXGA in any of the stores near me
So I am just going with the input that lower reso = less performance hit.
So I am going for the WSXGA.

Also, at this time I was told by Rock that if I order, I should still make the 1st batch of shipment that is due to be released around 2nd-3rd week of May.

I am still thinking I should wait for the US release and try to be patient
Rock has no accidental warranty and I really want 1 due to em having a 3 yr old at home.
I also am leaning to buy a M570U from PCTorque.com or Discountlaptops.co, whichever of the 2 gets it 1st.

Somehow I have a weird feeling that I may not be able to have this laptop in my presence until around June as the US resellers I talked to expect to ahve their version of the M570U around May-June and they have not released any info yet about them unlike Rockdirect or Eurocom.

But waiting maybe a mixed blessing as Core Duo Chips are rumored to drop around June as well ...

 

So I was debating on getting the XtremeCTX from Rockdirect.
I contacted Rock on what they can give me an then contacted Sager, PCTorque and Discountlaptops.
At this time, there is no definite ETA from teh US Resellers
Rockdirect has stated a 1st batch release of around 2nd or 3rd week of May and that a custom paintjob should not void the warranty

Considering I am planning for a custom paintjob for my very 1st laptop, this sounded VERY good.
This is my planned setup if I go Rock:

XtremeCTX (aka Clevo M570U)

RAM - Corsair 2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
HDD - Hitachi 100GB (7200rpm) SATA HDD
OS - Windows XP Home
WARRANTY - 3 Years Collect & Return
CASE - Standard Case
OPTICAL DRIVE - Sony 8 x DVD Dual Layer (-/+) Writer
ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE - None
WIRELESS - Intel Pro Wireless A/B/G
OPTION - Graphics Card - ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 XT 256MB*
* 2nd Battery free with this graphics option
OPTION - TV Tuner - No TV Tuner
TFT SCREEN - 17" WSXGA+ X-Glass TFT Screen (1680 x 1050 Res)
STANDARD SOFTWARE - No software
LOGOS - Rock Etched Logo on Lid
OPTION - 2nd HDD - No 2nd HDD
3G DATA CARD - Free Vodafone Mobile Connect
OPTION - Pixel Check Guarantee

Price = £1,549.00 GBP/ $2,760.91
Shipping = £95-150 GBP / $169.327-267.358
TOTAL = £1644-1699 /$2,930-3,027.61
​

So after I did that config, I contacted PCTorque again to check on their policy on custom paintjob and warranties.
PCT rep has stated that Sager is currently talking on a deal w/ SmoothCreations!!!
PCT Rep stated that the deal should be set for Sager-SmoothCreations working together in around a coupel of weeks, so around May

Considering I was planning to send my baby to SmoothCreations anyways, it sounds liek I should just wait for a US Release of the M570 via Sager instead of going to get it from teh rock.

But ****, this waiting sucks
I guess I should just be realistic and expect to not have the M570U in my presence until around Late May - June.

 

...
*Twiddles his thumbs.*

 

Wanna play thumb wars while we wait?

Oh BTW.
I am kinda torn between the ATI X1800XT 256mb or the Nvidia 7900GTX 256mb as teh vid card of choice.

 

The Go7900GTX is considerably faster than the X1800XT, even though both are at the high-end. The X1800XT actually compared with the Go7800GTX, which it more or less equaled in terms of performance.

 

please finaly release it

 

/signed! Agreed!

 

Someone just tipped me off that ISTNC "should" be getting some M570U models in 3 weeks
<EDIT:> Pro-star.com just notified me that they expect the M570U on the 3rd week of May as well!

I am in the mailing list for its release from ISTNC.com, Powernotebooks.com, Discountlaptops.com, and PCTorque.com so I will post ehre any info I get ASAP.


On a different topic, I just received my ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
1st ever LCD I ever owned
After getting it, I now know I can be happy and would prefer a WSXGA instead of the WUXGA Resolution for when the M570U is released.

 

Throw up a review of that monitor if you get a chance... I've got one of them sitting in my newegg wish list...

 

If you want a review, just read up on the review in NewEgg
It pretty much states it there the pros & Cons.

Pros:
BRIGHT, Super bright
No Dead Pixel!
Great buy for the buck
Great response time

Cons:
Can be too bright may have to adjust brightness
black is not truely black, slightly in the higher contrast margin
Blue info box can be annoying
Backplate is useless w/ cables that it came with
Speakers are as expected, not that great

Thats about it.
May need a better mouse to travel around the newer and bigger screen
Got used to a 1024x768 reso for years and I think I will need to buy a better and more responsive mouse just to click aroudn the huge screen space lol
Its a great buy.

PS:
At 1st I tought there was some sort of bleeding/white glow on the top and bottom of the screen.
but it went away after a few hours of being on and my 3 yr old breaking it in with some game he found online lol

If you have a circuitcity near you, try to check if they have 1 there.
Tahst how I found this one and then bought it at Newegg.

 

Any word from the other dealers as to whether they will offer the extra battery with the x1800, the 7900GTX upgrade or the discount for the display upgrade yet?

 

NEWS:

Just checked Eurocom config page for their M570U:
http://www.eurocom.ca/newsroom/press/show_press.cfm?id=152)

There is an option to have 4GB RAM ...
I will try to contact them tomorrow when I get to work to confirm if this is a mistake or not.

 

I don't think it is a mistake - the 945 chipset supports up to 4GB. You'll notice that a lot of the new Centrino Duo notebooks have support for 4GB of RAM, such as the Dell Precision M90:
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/precn_m90?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
And all of HP's new Duo models:
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF04a/321957-64295-89315-321838-f1.html

4GB of RAM is hideously expensive right now though, 2GB should handle anything out there.

Chaz

 

EXCELLENT!
At least it is a viable option for the future.
To be honest, why would you need over 2GB RAM at this time?
I am a gamer, I tought at this current time 2GB is more than enough?

On my current PC Setup, I hav 1.7GB of RAM and it seems to be doing fine.
All I realy need is a btter CPU lol

 

Is it worth waiting for the dual core to be released (in the US) in the 5720? The reason that I ask is that right now some of the vendors are offering $300 off the existing 5720. This looks like a good deal. I plan to keep the laptop for at least 2 or 3 years. My use will be some gaming, video & photo editing, and net surfing.

I really need to keep with hardware. I feel so out of the loop.

 

I think it is best to go with a dual-core processor right now. The benefits with a Duo are immediate, and will speed up any program that is multi-threaded, along with multitasking. Photoshop on a Core Duo is twice as fast as it is on a single-core Pentium M. You can also cut rendering and encoding times in half with most programs.

If you are only doing some gaming, then I think the M570U is overkill. You might wait until Sager has another dual-core model, or perhaps try a Dell E1705. The Go7800 is more than powerful enough for any game out there.

Chaz

 

I am seriously looking at the Eurocom 570U. Currently I have a Prostar D87P/8794 (Pentium 4, Radeon 9700 w/256 MB video RAM) and it runs very, VERY loud (sounds like an airplane taking off if running at full speed). How loud is the 5720?

I am hoping that the Centrino platform's lower power requirements will keep it quieter, but it still has a high end GPU and poor fans could still make it loud.

 

I would highly suggest buying from ISTNC.com, PCTorque, Powernotebooks or Discountlaptops for the M570U, unless you live in Canada and cannot find ANY other reseller.
Eurocom is just a bit overpriced is all and the other resellers we have noted are the best for the buck and the quality of servuice from them are great as stated by the consumers that have posted here and variosu review sites.

 

Really? I haven't been able to locate any 570Us from any other retailers yet. I looked at Powernotebooks and Xtremenotebooks without any luck. Also Eurocom is offering a 20% discount for my old laptop.

The only system similar to the 570U I could find was the Dell M1170 XPS, and that is WAY more expensive.

 

It's tough to find Clevo notebooks in Canada. Eurocom is really overpriced on their upgrades, but for the standard machine, it's not that bad. Considerably more expensive than a machine purchased in the US . . not much you can do about that when you only have one reseller though.

20% for your old notebook . . depends on how much your new one will be, but it could be worth it. That would make the price pretty reasonable.

 

I actually live in the US, so I don't mind retailers here. Found the same system at ISTNC.com (didn't know of them before), and it is a little more expensive *counting* the trade-in discount, which leaves me with a tough choice.

Edit : Actually, I take that back. I had the Eurocom model configured with 1x 2 GB SIMM, and the ISTNC model with 1x 1 GB. With the same configurations there is only about $50 difference (ISTNC cheaper) and the trade-in makes it more than worth it. I might have gone with Eurocom for the single 2GB SIMM option alone. Not sure if I will ever need 4GB in a laptop, but it is nice to not have to waste the 2x1GB SIMMs if I do.

 

I think it's a safe bet to go with Eurocom if it's cheaper for you. Then again, if you go with ISTNC, you get to keep your old machine for not much more.

Chaz

 

ISTNC buys from Eurocom in Canada (they are not direct with Clevo as some have represented) so just be aware of that, and consider what might be involved with any warranty repairs that might be necessary.

 

Hmm thats interesting.
Only reason I stated such a thing was due to what the sales rep on the phone told me.
Learn soemthign new everyday

 

Hey about Eurocom. I also found they were a lot overpriced. What I did was assemble a config from Hypersonic and Eurocom. Eurocom, including all currency conversion and taxes was still like 900$ more (I'm in Montreal, Canada)

I wrote them a nice email asking what was the problem about option princing (345$ for a hd upgrade, 360$ for a 1gb sodimm ???). Their answer? A nice 800$ discount. Right, 800$. What will make me go with Eurocom is that they can provide a canadian french kb layout...

Did I say it? Instant 800$ discount over email. Not even ready to buy ...

 

So basically.. they're saying, "Yeah, our prices are rediculous, but for you, we'll charge you a realistic price!"
doesn't sound that great a deal to me...

 

Yeah look like this. The morale? Always ask for a lower price

 

Anyway for those interested in Eurocom, look at my little bargainning exercise here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=58168&page=3