Few questions before purchasing a Sager 8150/P150HM etc..

This computer will be for gaming, movie watching, internet, and random microsoft apps (word, excel etc...). I'm willing to spend the money on what I need but if it's really not necessary than I would rather forgo it.

1. Is the 2670QM worth $50 more than the 2630QM?

2. I plan to hook this up to an external (TV) device (most of the time), is the screen upgrade (95% gamut) worth the $100 more?

3. Pixel warranty and Color calibration, thoughts and is it really needed?

4. Intel 6230 vs. 6300, I like the bluetooth but want good range as well, thoughts?

5. Thermal compound, stock or upgrade. I do think this is something I could do after watching a youtube video though I have never done it before; thoughts?

Thank you for all the help. I started with researching Sagers...than to MSI...and now back to Sager (over 4 months). I'm ready to buy. Thanks again!

 

1 if you have an extra $50, then yes. you get about 10 - 15% improvement

2 no, buy an 1080led monitor for the money!

3 u dont need it , since you are hooking it up (i got it since it was free)

4 people suggest 6300 since its 3 antennas and works better, i have the stock, if u have cash buy the bigfoot

5 what graphics card? if 6990M then yes. its worth it , it gets a lil hot

sager is much better than msi, build and cost to performance ratio. look out for deals starting next weekend, esp malibal.com

+1 rep?

 

Hi

- No, unless you jump to an higher CPU like 2760/2720qm. If you plan to game on it I will spend some cash on a better CPU since both CPUs you listed are entry levels quad cores and they may be a bottleneck in the future.
Also both entry level CPUs miss some features like AES and VTd-x, have lower link speed and does not support PnP 1866 ram.

- No

- No. I'm using the 6230 with BT and so far both range and BT capabilities are great for normal usage in house.

- No unless you aim to an high end CPU such hd6990m or gtx580m. Basically the same applies as the CPU. As an example if you go for a gtx560m or hd6970m then stock compound will do, and both cards are suitable for the entry 2630qm/2670qm. High end gpus need a medium/high end CPU to feed them.

Hope it helps however this is my opinion based on previous hardwares I had (2630qm and gtx460m, trust me the jump from 2630 to 2760 is quite noticeable).

 

1. For everyday things and gaming, you really will not notice the difference unless you sit there with a stopwatch. The only jump worthwhile is to the 27xx processors, but that's pricy. Therefore, it's not good value if you don't do anything really intense. Gaming is usually bottle-necked by the graphics card long before the CPU becomes the problem. It's much better put towards a Momentus XT hybrid or SSD. You'll REALLY notice a night and day difference there.

2. It's up to you. I have an external hookup to a TV as well, but I still got the 95% gamut glossy screen. I know the glossy one has a terrific reputation. I believe it is also the same B+RGLED available for the XPS 15.

3. With the stock screen and considering your external display, no. I will add that if you get the 95% gamut screens, I think it's a crime not to finish the leap and get it calibrated.

4. I think the 6230 is plenty enough unless you're always around top-caliber networks or if your own network doesn't have its own bottle-necks. This is straight from Malibal's mouth too:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/624253-sager-wireless-card-any-good.html#post8068232

5. With the top graphics cards options, I think it's a necessity (especially with the Radeons). If you aren't afraid to do it yourself, then that is the better option though. These machines are notoriously easy to open up and the repasting is straight-forward enough with tons of tutorials available.

As with anything, you can bleed money out of every orifice in your body to upgrade things you won't use, so I think its wise to stay with the 2630QM and 6230 Advanced-N wireless card give your usage. If you do the pasting yourself, that's saving another ~$30 or so. The screen is up to you though. The combined $100-110 you'll save there will be MUCH more wisely spent put towards a SSD or Momentus XT hybrid.

 

10-15% improvement is def worth $50 to me and I appreciate the input on the screen. I think the warranties and the screen upgrades are my biggest concerns. I'm sure the 95% gamut screen is awesome but at the same time when I see standard laptops at a store, most stock screens seem nice; so why wouldn't a Sagers. On the warranties, I assume I can google or search this thread to find a good calibration set up but the pixel warranty on the other hand does not have a fix.

Do any of the bigfoots come with bluetooth?

And yes I'm looking at the 6990m...is applying the paste myself something that is easy and a lot cheaper to do?

I do have my eye on malibal and have been in contact with a few companies. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I really appreciate all of the info and help guys!

 

It's not the 10-15% improvement that matters, it's how you use it. Unless you're doing things that are computationally intensive and take more than marginal amounts of time, you won't notice it. Watching a movie and doing word processing will result in negligible difference to the user. As for most games, your graphics card will strain way earlier than the CPU.

The one really experience-blowing upgrade you will need is for your hard drive to a Momentus XT hybrid or a SSD. I'm sure acroedd agrees on this as well.

Well, its not "difficult". All you really need are a screwdriver, a microfiber cloth or a coffee filter, and some isopropyl alcohol. A small tube of good paste only costs around $10 too.

 

1.) If you plan to upgrade to Ivy bridge, then get 2630 and save the 50$. If you dont plan on upgrading, then get a 2760qm, 3.5ghz turbo ftw. I have it and when playing starcraft 2 it sits at 3.3 and 3.4ghz all the time. As a result - flawless FPS all the time.

2.) Not worth it if you have an external. Save some $.

3.) No idea about that, except if you got some extra $.

4.) Simple. If you make photos with your phone, then you need bluetooth to transfer them on the road. Or you can use the phone as remote control while watching movies. Plus having bluetooth on your laptop is cool. Get the 6230 like me. The wifi reception is perfect. You decide if you need 3-band to justify the 6300.

5.) Get a thermal compound like all the gamers do. Better let the reseller put it on if you are unsure how its done. Remember - all gamers have put good thermal compouds on their machines. Its not about "do i need it", cause you definetely do. Its about "do i get the paste now when i order the laptop or i will apply it myself later on?".

Please rep me if I helped as a "thank you"

 

Sadly, this is confirmed to not be the case by Mythlogic. So no upgrading to Ivy Bridge from Sandy Bridge.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/629860-ivy-bridge-pushed-back-3.html#post8136988

 

Thanks for all the input, It seems like the best set up for me (most cost optimizing) would be the 2630QM, stock screen, no warranties/calibration, 6230 wifi, 6990m, and upgrade thermal paste.

I will put in around 8-12 GB of ram myself and now I'm considering 2 HDD set up (1 7200RPM + 1 SSD) vs. 1 HDD w/ blu-ray optical.

 

I'm using 6230 and I get my ISP advertised max speed over Wireless N.
The router is WNDR3300 and is room away (2 walls).

 

6230 is the best wifi card i ever had. Realtek or Atheros dont even come close.

 

Oh awesome, I have the WNR3500L which is right below yours. My max I believe is 300, so the 6230 is def the choice.

 

I can vounch for the Bigfoot Killer N 1103 card being LEAPS AND BOUNDS better than the stock card. Intel 6300 is ok, but the Bigfoot is just awesome (the software side of things kills it... sorry for the pun)

See my upgrade here - http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...memory-upgrade-guide-sager-np8130-np8150.html The upgrade process is super easy.

 

From what other people have told me the stock screen is still pretty good compared to other screens. Granted, the 95% AUO screen is amazing from what I've seen, but if your primary display isn't the laptops, the stock screen will probably be more than enough.

 

Trust me. Coming from an Acer 5742G to my Clevo P150HM, the screen is superb. No need for the extra cash on the 95% gamut. BTW, im using the MATTE screen

p.S. I want +rep :S I love being repped

 

Thanks again for everyone's input. The final setup will be:
2630QM
6990M
8GB RAM
500GB w/4GB SS Hybrid
6X Bluray reader
Intel 6230 w/bt
Stock Screen
No warranties
Upgrade thermal compound
Windows 7 HM Premium

Price is good right now but will hold off for a week to see if any other deals come along.

 

^^^^ That looks like a great lower cost solution to a great gaming machine!
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