Clevo P170EM/Sager NP9170 Configuration

Hello everyone. I have been lurking about on the forums for awhile now and this is my first post. I find everyone's advice and feedback very helpful, so I have decided that my purchase decision could benefit as well.

The laptop that I am looking for is the Clevo P170EM (Sager NP9170). I NEED this computer for school, however I also WANT it for gaming. The school I will be attending is very friendly to students utilizing mobile computing solutions so battery life isn't really a problem. However a performance and price compromise is what I want to see. I have configured the same model on numerous re-sellers websites and have found some more favorable than others. Almost all re-sellers offer the same price but have their own special discounts that go along with the purchase. The re-sellers I am considering the most are: Pro-Star (for the free shipping to Canada they offer, which is important for me), Reflex (They are Canadian and have good shipping inside Canada as well), and Malibal (I hear they have great customer service and a nice shiny logo not sure about their shipping though) This is the configuration I am looking to purchase, feel free to criticize and comment on it.

Clevo P170EM/Sager NP9170

CPU: Intel i7 3610QM

GPU: Nvidia GTX 670M OR AMD Radeon 7970M

RAM: 8gb 1333mhz UP TO 16gb 1333mhz

Hard Drive: 500gb HDD (a downgrade to 250gb or none if possible) AND a SSD OS boot drive that I will likely buy myself. No mSATA.

Wireless adapter: Not so sure here so I need your help. My router is a D-Link DIR-601 so would I see benefit from an upgraded adapter?

Screen: I will most likely go wit the stock 17.3" glossy screen.

ODD: Stock ODD only for installing drivers and such.

Cooling: OEM thermal paste. If I want to get an upgrade I will just get a tube of IC diamond off eBay.

The two largest factors I am on the fence about are the GPU and the RAM I know the new AMD chip has a much greater performance the the GTX 670M however I don't know if I will require that much out of it. I want to be able to game on it for a while to come before upgrading. RAM is different, I want to be able to run a small Minecraft server (5 or 7), while playing, and recording (not with Fraps though because it is a memory hog) so would the 8gb suffice or would a larger amount be beneficial to my needs. I also want to render video and use engineering software on a basic level.

Like I said I am in Canada so shipping and brokerage fees are something that I am looking to avoid or at least keep small. I would also be looking at Fortnax but they do not have any of the new models in stock yet and I don't know when they will.

So that's pretty much it. If there is anything I missed just say and I will try and clear it up.

Thanks in Advance.

 

I've written my comments in red. I am also headed to college next fall, but I plan to pick up the P150EM because 1) I'd like to save a little space where I can 2) the 1.6lb weight difference, and 3) the screen upgrade to a fantastic matte screen is a lot cheaper for 15" laptops.

Cheers

 

If I don't want to see myself from the screen, is it necessary to upgrade to the matte screen? Thanks!

 

Thanks for your quick and detailed response. I don't intend on going with the stock wireless but I would prefer to not game on wireless at all.
I decided to go with the P170EM for a little extra screen and storage space. I also like the brushed aluminum finish. Weight isn't really that important to me and the 17.3" makes the chassis about 1" larger. Neither is the glossy screen so I was attracted to the P170EM

Well you will see yourself when it's turned off but you will have to focus on it while it's turned on to notice any details. The biggest advantage is that you get much, much less screen glare with a matte screen than a glossy, meaning that If you want to work outside in the sun or near windows and bright lights. People say glossy screens also have better and brighter color displays. A glossy will probably be fine for you if you are using your laptop inside though.

 

You are correct about the size difference really being minimal, and that was drawing me to the P170EM as well. I'm not as close to ordering as you seem to be, so it could still potentially go either way.

Gaming on wireless isn't as bad as it sounds, but if you don't want to then I'd definitely get the Intel 6300. From the resellers I've looked at it ranges from a $20-$40 upgrade, and it's always less than the Bigfoot Killer. Long range is nice when you're trying to be mobile.

As far as the screen, yeah I have a stock glossy screen on my current laptop (3 year old really crapped out HP) and have never had glare issues. I don't think most people really ever game outside (too hot, glare, plus - power?) so I don't understand why that always seems to be brought up. However, in normal light conditions in a room I've never had glare problems. Plus, the Clevos all come with a lot nicer screens than I've got, so expect the color and viewing angles to be pretty good.

 

I also noticed in your original post that you said you would order an IC Diamond thermal paste upgrade from a re-seller. Even if you choose this upgrade you will likely have to apply it yourself. Unless some re-sellers have started applying it for you rather then just sending a tube of it to you. I just wanted to warn you in advance because you may still have to crack open your new computer.

 

Haha wait, lots make you pay $35 to have them send you a tube? I could buy it myself for $5-10. I'll have to email them about it I suppose. Thanks for the heads up.

 

All the resellers apply it for you, don't worry.

 

I don't know where you got that information. When we offer the IC Diamond upgrade, we apply it ourselves. The cost for the upgrade goes toward the labor of doing it along with the paste.
I'm certain our competitors do the same thing we do, it wouldn't make sense to charge that just to send the tube.

Some dealers will apply it, then place the remainder of the 7ct paste in the box.

 

For the WiFi card, get the Intel 6300 if you dont need bluetooth, or the Intel 6235 if you want Bluetooth. The 6235 includes BT also, but you can always add USB BT if you have a 6300.

 

Oh, sorry then. I thought I had heard that somewhere on the forums, I didn't know that re-sellers would do it for you like that. In fact I was deterred from upgrading my thermal compound because I didn't want to pay a marked up price for the same thing I could do myself. Thanks for clearing that up for the both of us. Never the less I will keep the standard thermal paste because of the great stock cooling that the P170EM has.

 

I haven't heard of any re-sellers that do that.

 

I went with the 675m because I didn't want to wait for the 7970, and I've always preferred nVidia. I'll upgrade later if I really want to and sell the 675m, but I doubt I'll need to. Good luck OP, mine should be here in a week or so.

 

Congratulations on your purchase and I wish you good luck with your new machine.

 

I am bumping this thread to get a little more information.

Alright I have looked around and come up with the configuration I want so here it is:

Clevo P170EM / Sager NP9170 / Satori P170EM (If I go with Malibal)

CPU: Intel i7 3610QM

GPU: AMD Radeon HD 7970M

RAM: 8GB 1600MHz (the stock minimum)

Storage: My own choice of drives from newegg.ca, Mushkin Enhanced Chronos 2.5" 120GB SATA III Internal SSD and Seagate Momentus XT 7200RPM 500GB Hybrid Drive
Newegg.ca - Mushkin Enhanced Chronos MKNSSDCR120GB 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Newegg.ca - Seagate Momentus XT ST95005620AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ Solid State Hybrid Drive -Bare Drive

EDIT: decide to go with LPC-Digital. They offer the Crucial M4 128GB and the Seagate Momentus XT 500GB directly.

Wireless Adapter: Intel 6300 Ultimate

Screen: Stock glossy (I am used to matte so I am not sure. Not a big deal for a $30 upgrade.)

Cooling: Stock OEM thermal compound

Extra: Windows 7 Home Premium, 1 year warranty and 2-way return policy

So that is the configuration I am going with. The last decision is on a re-seller
which is a toss up between LPC-Digital and Malibal. It will come down too who has the cheaper price, better customer support, and shipping policies. However I was wondering if anyone has any opinions or recounts of experiences with these twor e-sellers.

I was also wondering if LPC-Digital would offer NBR discounts or if Malibal only offered discount to members on their forums?

Anyway, that's what I've come up with so far through my research.

Tachyonic.

 

If the 675M wasn't a rebadge and instead a kepler 28nm, then it would be tempting. I see no point in getting a 40nm old tech from 2009 in a high end laptop in 2012. Face it, the Nvidia tech didn't change from the GF100 to the GF114, just die shrink and some rearrangement, but it's still just FERMI.

That's why I would go with the 7970M, the 28nm GCN. It's been proven that the GCN uses less power than the 675M and yet it's much more powerful. The 680M is way beyond my price range.

 

The build looks great, but I would recommend the IC Diamond, unless you plan to apply it yourself. It certainly makes a difference in temps.

 

I hear the vents, fans, and heat sinks are very effective at cooling the system, and that the IC Diamond only lowers the temperature by a few degrees. Does anyone know the quality of the OEM paste? Is it applied well or are their inconsistencies in the paste. I will most likely not upgrade the thermal paste unless it's discounted or free.

I decided to go with LPC-Digital by the way. I am just waiting for them to get back to me on my quote.

 

You may consider 670M or 675M cause it comes with Optimus Technology switch from integraded to dedicated graphic. I would recommend adding the IC Diamond Thermal Paste, if you can do it yourself, even better. Sager NP9170 cooling system is very good. I read somewhere in the forum that ppl having issue with AMD Radeon HD 7970M power saving technology. LPC Digital offer the best pricing, I order 2 laptop, waiting to be build soon.

 

Well I was looking at the GTX 67*M line but after looking at benchmarks I found that even the GTX 675M was not reaching max settings on current games (BF3 etc.) I know that the performance is still good, but I want this computer to run high detail games for a while to come.

Tachyonic