Decided to buy a 9262, but still have questions!!

Hello, a little while ago I joined your forums hoping to get some insight on finding a laptop for my 3D animation (and concept art) needs, many of you were helpful, also most of you directed me to the Sager NP9262, which is why after research, deciding to get, but before that I got some questions for you 9262 users, cause really, I want to be care, seeing as this is a big investment for me needs (Using it for Maya and ZBrush and lots of painting programs) and for my entertainment (YAY FOR TEAM FORTRESS 2 AND FEAR 2)

1) Is parts upgradatable with the 9262? I heard a lot about that, since most laptops are hard to upgrade :X

2) Will the 9262 last? Seeing it's a big laptop..of course, I'm gonna do the best to take care of it :X Just wanted to know, how long have you had your 9262..........

3) I know this a general computer question, but it goes with this seeing that I want to get three hard drives for the computer XD But is Raid 0 necerassy for the computer? I heard some great pros about it, but very bad cons with it......

4) I know I'm getting the Quadro 3700M but is there a better benefit for gettign the dual 9800M GTX, or the 3700M is good enough? XD

I think that's about it, oh and please tell em your stories for the 9262, XD Any good or bad ones, seeing as it well help me choose what to do :X I know it's noobish question, but I really need to know a lot before diving in XD Thanks!

 

you can upgrade: CPU, RAM, HDD and GTX i have had mine for around 6months but am looking to sell it as i have OCD and want something new (OCZ or maybe w90 or the new clevo who knows )

cant help you with question 3 as i dont use RAID, i have 2 x 320GB and 1 x 120GB hard drives in my laptop but dont use RAID i wouldnt know about question 4 either but i would say that dual 9800m GTX would be better.

well i got my 9262 from a fellow NBR member and since getting i have upgraded to Q6600 and added the 2 x 320gb hard drives and no problems with it so far, great machine

 

Ah Well I heard about the new Clevo, but really, I would like the 9262 it's already powerful enough XD And I heard lots of things about RAID, one of them, is having all three hard drivs in one for improve performance........but I rather do like the idea of having three seperate hard drives.....I don't know XD And thanks for your feedback :U I hope when I get my 9262, it shall be a great machine for me XD (Gonna buy it from xotic.pc............ since I can also skin the computer too with custom graphics XD )

 

yeah i use one HD for the OS and the apps, one for the games and general crap that i cant be messed to sort out and one as a spare though as i dont have any backup method i might use that to back up everything just in case

good luck, i was considering them but as i live in UK at the time it was just too expensive but then got one from a fellow member from the US on a great deal

 

1) I think the parts are easily upgradeable
2) It works fine for me! Had for about 6 months
3) If you will backup data, Raid 0 will greatly increase your HDD speeds. Be sure to backup though.
4) For your 3d animation work, the 3700M would probably be better. For the games, get 9800M GTX in SLI. First, check if your applications support quad gpus to take full advantage. Also, the drivers for SLI have a lot of glitches. I can run Crysis and Crysis Warhead fine with just 1 9800M GTX

 

Unless you've got something less than two nVidia GeForce 9800M GTXs in SLi, the GPUs are not upgradeable on the D900/901C, merely "user replaceable."

 

That's not 100% certain yet. They could still release some gpus that use MxM IV,but it's unlikely.

 

No, right now there are no better GPUs that can be used in the D900/901C series - thus, by definition it is absolutely true right now. Will it change in the future? Unless you have one of these:


the better assumption is that it will remain that way, first because that would be fully consistent with Clevo's past design practices, and second because anything else would tend to reduce the sales on their upcoming systems, which is something I very much doubt they intend to do.

 

i WOulld agree with shyster... but he knows i've been lurking quite some time now always popping in to ask if this thing can upgrade...

i obviously have GREAT FAITH (i.e. belief in what is NOT known) that this can be upgradeable. My only basis for this is that the new D900F (its sumtin with an F, i forgot) is the D901c chassis, which leaves a good deal of hope for doing a motherboard replacement to handle the new GT cards and processors.... so... i actually believe that answer of upgradeable is 50/50, whereas everyone else is saying 90/10 it cant. [keep in mind, when i talk about upgrading the videocard, i'm including the fact that the motherboard would have to be changed] so the REAL question is, will you be able to swap mobo's in this thing...

 

I could very possibly be wrong, but don't the new Geforce 200 series use MXM IV? Anyway, I think you best option is to either go with the quad GPU or go for SLI, for the current moment.

As a side note, Doodles, are you using verizon FIOS? That is amazing!!!! I wanted to get it, but it isn't available in Chicago. I envy you.

 

1) Everything worth upgrading is upgradable. You just have to be a little careful when you pick a new GPU, as it has to be MXM IV.

2) I've only just received mine, and it feels rock solid. honestly I've never felt a laptop so solidly built, it makes other units feel like they're held together with spit and Kleenex. some surface catch a lot of fingerprints. and take special care of the screen.

3) I'd go for it. the Raid 0 drawbacks are often exaggerated. Make sure all three drives are the same, and preferably 7200rpm

4) Most people will say the Quadro is better for a professional use. I on the other hand opted for the dual 9800mgtx, for better all-purpose use.

Where are you planning on getting it from?

 

I didn't know that Raid 0 can be used on 3 drives. However, I would only use Raid 0 on all my drives if I used an external hard drive for backup. Thanks for the info theriko.

 

No probs, and I agree about not using raid-0 an all your drives without a backup solution.

 

Since we are talking about backups, is there a better/faster backup solution than the one built into windows? It is incredibly slow!!!

 

acronis true image

 

acronis true image FTW