Decision Day Approaches: P150EM or P170EM

Ok guys, the day is getting nearer to order and I can't decide which of these two models is really better:

P150EM

Code:

15.6” Full HD 16:9 LED-Backlit MATTE 95% NTSC Color Gamut Ultra Bright
AMD® Radeon™ HD 7970M 2GB GDDR5 (ETA June 12th)
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz)
IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
Drivers & Utility Software Only - No OS
->16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 4 X 4GB
->128GB Crucial M4 SSD SATA 6Gb/s
Remove DVDRW Drive and Install Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy Only
->1TB Western Digital HDD at 5400 RPM with 16MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s
Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
8 cells smart Lithium-Ion battery pack 76.96Wh
Integrated Fingerprint Reader
LIFETIME Limited Labor and 1 Year Premium** Parts Warranty
FREE UPS Ground
->LITE-ON USB 2.0 External 24X DVD Writer

TOTAL: 2108

P170EM:

Code:

17.3" Full HD 1080P LED-Backlit with Super Clear (1920 x 1080) Display
AMD® Radeon™ HD 7970M 2GB GDDR5 (ETA June 12th)
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3720QM Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz)
IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
Drivers & Utility Software Only - No OS
->16GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 4 X 4GB
->128GB Crucial M4 SSD SATA 6Gb/s
->1TB Western Digital HDD at 5400 RPM with 16MB Cache SATA 3Gb/s
8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
8 cells smart Lithium-Ion battery pack 76.96Wh
LIFETIME Limited Labor and 1 Year Premium** Parts Warranty
FREE UPS Ground

TOTAL: 1995

Basically, is the screen upgrade worth $110? I know the 15" has a better screen, but that's about it. Every other component is the same, except the optical drive, which doesn't affect performance really at all. I don't plan to utilize the P170EM's RAID capabilities since I'll probably keep the SSD+HDD combo going for quite a while. Size is not an issue. I have a bag that could carry either machine, and the 17" is actually only about 0.5" wider anyways. Weight, really 1.6 lb is not much when it's in a backpack, so that shouldn't play a huge role. I'm trying to determine if the screen alone is worth that kind of price... Help me out NBR?

 

You're going to be using the screen every day, every hour that you use your laptop. Every time you turn it on, that's what you're looking at.

Get the screen upgrade

Mr. Mysterious

 

I know that, but is it $110 better?

EDIT: Oh also, would using f.lux mess these fancier screens up?

 

Upgrade? I consider the 95% matte screen to be better than the stock glossy one on the P170EM.

 

Yes yes yes. Guys, I know that the screen is better. I'm trying to figure out from people (preferably those that have seen both or either) if it's worth the price difference. If you'd prefer, I can phrase the question like this: Is the 95% Matte screen on the P150EM worth paying $110 more than an identical configuration in a P170EM shell with the stock screen?

 

good screen is definitely worth it, having been spoiled by RGBLEDand B+RGLED screens I cannot stand using lower gamut displays. Everything from games to webpages looks nicer. The only reason I would go for P170EM is bios XTU support if you have an XM CPU.

 

If you aren't doing any photo editing or graphics imaging you don't need it. Also, if you have never had the full gamut screen before then you honestly won't even know the the difference, the stock screen is great.

On a side note games actually tend to be a bit over saturated with the 95%, so the $110 is better saved other upgrades or even better and external monitor!........but that's just my personal opinion

 

1. yes the upgrade is definitively worth it!!

2. f.lux will calibrate it down ... so I don't know, you can test if it works for you should be a warmer colour if you get the Gamut and f.lux on at the same time

3. I would recommend the 15" as it has a better screen and since you won't really take advantage of the 17" there's no need to buy it (hence the price )

4. just noticed you specced the 15" to be more expensive than the 17".. considering that the 15" is slightly more compact I would still go for it haha, I don't see a need for 17" unless you ABSOLUTELY need more space and a bigger screen

enjoy

 

I would say the 17" with an upgrade matte screen. As I can see you want space in the secondary drive...1TB. You could upgrade to another 1TB just to be a little obscene. Some people prefer the 750GB drives because they can do 7200rpm though also...
Just saying it really isn't the same unless you spec both of them with matte screen.

 

Are the P150EM and P170EM stock glossy displays significantly different aside from their sizes?

 

No, they should be virtually identical aside from the size.

 

1) If you say so (and a lot of people seem to). 2) I really hope that f.lux doesn't mess up the gamut display. I wouldn't be getting that Spyder screen calibration or anything, I'd just want the nicer screen. 3) Actually the 17" costs less, because I'm not buying the ODD caddy and external DVD writer. 4) Yes, the 15" model is more expensive for the reason I gave at point 3. More compact could be useful I guess, as space isn't exactly limitless in a college dorm room.

The reseller I'm looking to buy from doesn't offer the 72% Matte on the 17". They only offer an $185 upgrade to 95% gamut glossy. As far as space goes, I'd rather have 1TB @ 5400 RPM than 750GB @ 7200 RPM (even with 8GB NAND too). The extra 250GB will be used. Also to your last point: The purpose of this thread is to see what people have to say about the value of the upgraded Matte. So in fact, that should be the only component that's different between the two machines.

This would actually be nice to know if anyone has the information.

 

If you plan to move around, buy the 15inch laptop. I prefer 17inch for gaming and at home use only.

 

F.lux wont mess with your display just make it "warmer" as night approaches it should look beautiful with a Gamut screen, especially when calibrated, but I'm not sure as it might turn out a little to bright.. that's what I mean.

Also not to confuse you, but given that you will be living in a college dorm room the 15" is kind of a no brainer if you ask me.

and btw, Heichai_1337 answered the last quote (that hdlsa asked).

good luck !

 

Ok guys thanks for all your input, it looks like I'll be going with the P150EM.

 

mission accomplished

- you won't regret it a beautiful machine (taking the internal in consideration..) and somewhat on the outside too

 

What a lot of people don't realize is that platter density is just as good a way to increase performance as increasing RPM.
Actually its a slightly better way because the slower RPM drives use less power.

It turns out that the 1TB drives (2 platter standard height 2.5") have roughly the same ratio improvement in platter density over some 750gb drives as is the difference between 7200 vs 5400rpm. Which oddly enough makes the 1tb 5400rpm drives perform roughly as well as older 750gb 7200rpm drives.

You can see test result here:
http://hard-drive.ezinemark.com/sam...storage-in-a-slim-size-drive-18dc379afd6.html

I personally would never get a glossy screen again as long as i live, but that's just me and my situation.

 

Do the HDD caddy and external DVD drive really add $110?

The 95% screen is rather pointless without calibration.

y I no see this before? So by the same principle, would the 750GB@7200RPM drives beat the 500GB ones? And if so, how badly? I may have a sig update to do...

 

is there a guide with pics on the differences of glossy vs matte and the gamut %s and all that? need to further some research

 

The 95% screen + HDD Caddy + external DVD writer - price difference between stock 15" and 17" = $110. Yup.

And does everyone else agree that there's no reason to get a nicer screen without calibration? I'm pretty sure F.lux messes with that, right? I'll need to use F.lux so if calibration and that program aren't compatible then is it just not worth the upgraded screen at all?

 

Is this what you're looking for? Visual Differences Between Different Screen Options. Photos?

 

that works. thanks!

 

Don't buy into the 95% gamut hype. Most content created for on-display use are created for and by 72% gamut display (sRGB). Many good desktop monitors intentionally use 72% gamut panel.

 

There is no 72% gamut option. I've stated this before. Most resellers offer stock and 95% gamut screens. Only Malibal offers a 72% screen, and it's the Matte for the P170EM.

 

72% gamut is the stock screen.........

 

Are you sure? I've never heard that mentioned before.... I know I'm correct about the Malibal thing, and I think they offer a cheaper (like $30 as opposed to $150) Matte on the 17" or the 72%. He was talking about desktop monitors...

Uhm, anyone else? Perhaps a reseller? I've never heard about the % Gamut of the stock screens other than that they're not bad.

 

Mythlogic has the 72% gamut matte panel for p170em. It's the same panel as the stock one, only with different coating (matte vs glossy).

 

I though stock was 60% gamut?
RE calibration - you do not necessarily require it, I've always used someone else's calibration profiles from the internet with the same panel. Keep in mind some people's profiles make things look worse, so you may need to search around to find the right one.. or I can upload you the one I have for my 95% gamut matte which looks very good.

 

Yes, both stock screens (P150EM and P170EM) are 60% gamut. And it doesn't require recalibration, it just needs to be calibrated in the first place.

 

Calibration is loaded within windows, if you reinstall windows or bought an uncalibrated panel you can download .icc profile and set it up yourself.

 

Perhaps it was a different version but I recall Mythologic doing a monitor comparison and the stock screen after calibration reflected ~70% gamut, I could be wrong but the thread is on here somewhere.

 

You are right. The stock screen uses the same panel as the 72% matte, only with different coating.

 

I actually like that idea. Makes a whole lot of sense.

 

That would be very helpful, uploading your profile. I'll PM now.

As for the rest of this discussion... I didn't know Mythlogic did that test, but I was also under the impression that stock screens were ~60% Gamut.

 

I've decided on the p150em as well. I have a 17inch notebook now if I need that size and can play current games still.

But I'm hoping 15 be more portable and better on battery. Will go with the 95 gamut matte, I really don't like glossy having my reflection stare back. The 750 hybrid sata 3 reviews say in real time use about same as ssd, gets crushed in synthetic benchmarks, food enough for me. With discounts will be 1650. Awesome. Of course with the 7970m.

Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

 

You order from LPC-Digital? I plan to on Wednesday-Friday. They're the only ones I've seen with those kinds of discounts.

 

I plan on putting in an order in the next few days, yes. Don't mind waiting for the 7970M, as said, the 5870M in my current laptop can handle all the games I have currently at 1080 with smooth frames. But I really look forward to having a more compact laptop, with the new 28nm and 22nm architecture and the matte 95% screen. It would be between LPC or XoticPC for me.

Love the clean simple look of the Clevo and convinced it won't sound like a jet engine this round with the 7970M. And of course the backlit keyboard is an improvement as well. The G55/G75 is tempting still. On the Asus forum, I've ragged on the Clevo/Sager for a while, but Asus and MSI are just really disappoiting me with their high prices, MSI continuing their lame designs and Asus really slacking on the GPU. And I'm still pissed they never fixed the vBios for 5870M users. AW is way out of my price range, so Clevo/Sager is getting my money this time around.

 

With the dGPU disabled I can't imagine any laptop is too loud, and when gaming I'd have headphones anyways, so sound was never a huge issue to me. LPC-Digital has the best discounts, but the fewest options. Luckily for me, I'm super cheap and actually ordering my laptop without RAM or HDD to save a few more bucks. I can install them myself for cheaper, plus get the exact ones I want.

 

95% gamut matte profiles attached.