Greetings. I am interested in going from a DV5T to a Sager 2096. Need Advice

I don't have much experiance with Sager. I do not know much about them. Let me tell you my story.

Basically I had a Alienware for about 4 years. The LCD went out. So I decided I needed a new laptop. I found a 30% off deal from HP and got a DV5T for 900 bucks. It has a 9600m nvidia, 3 gigs of ram, and a P7350 2ghz processor.

However. It shipped to me with a busted fan, that makes a lot of noise. It also has these TERRIBLE touch senstitive buttons, that are the only way to control the volume. They are terrible.

I would like to know would the Sager 2096 be a worthy upgrade to this HD5T for the few hundred more it costs? Is the build quiality better? Is the technical support better? Are Sagers more durable for travel and less prone to breaking then HPs?

Also, if so what is the best place to purchase Sagers from? I'd like delivery quickly as being without a reliable laptop is kicking my butt.

Mostly I want it for web/word processing ect... But I also would like it for WoW, TF2, and Strarcraft 2 eventually.

Would this system be a good fit for me? Where is the best place to buy? What are the downsides to this model, and to sager in general?

Thanks in advance.

 

I suggest you check the stickys first

Clevo Guide by Gophn

Sagers have great gaming systems which are upgradable.

 

Read them. Just trying to get some first hand input. The stickies led me astray on this HP purchase=/

Who is the quickest reseller to buy from that also offers the best price?

Does the 9600m GT in the 2096 come with DDR3 memory? Xoticpc shows it as DDR2 but everyone seems to say it comes with DDR3

 

Just so you know, the sager 2096 is NOT a clevo, so the clevo guide won;t be a huge amount of use for that.

The 2096 is a compal jhl90 chassis

 

I believe the NP2096 is a really good deal. Just check MrPresident's review.

 

Anyone else here got any advice on Sager notebooks or bad experiances with HP?

 

I've heard that the HP dv5t doesn't handle cooling very well as the 9600M GT tends to get pretty hot. This is definitely not an issue with the 2096 - it has exceptional build quality, great cooling, quiet fans, excellent keyboard, and I could go on and on. While I don't have experience with the dv5t, I can vouch for the 2096 and say that I'm very happy with it. And the 2096 comes with the GDDR2 version of the 9600M GT.

As far as purchasing, I'd recommend getting it from powernotebooks.com or xoticpc.com. If you want to get your system faster without upgrading the shipping option, you should pick the reseller that is closest to you. Powernotebooks is in Nevada and XoticPC is in Nebraska. Sager notebooks are built and shipped from California, so if you're nearby then powernotebooks might be the better choice. If you're not particularly close to either of them though, then shipping time won't matter.

 

MrPResident, does the Sager 2096 have a better version of the DV5Ts video card?

They both have Nvidia 9600m's.

Also does the 2096 have analog volume control or the lame touch sensitive buttons like the DV5T that don't function for jack?

 

Actually, the 2096 and the dv5t have the same exact version of the 9600M GT - they're both GDDR2.

There is no external switch or dial for volume control, you'd have to use the Fn + F7/F8 keys for volume control. The 2096 does have 3 touch sensitive buttons at the top of the keyboard but I disabled mine so I'm not exactly sure what they're used for - except the first one which is used to control screen brightness using the WOW utility. I didn't care for the touch sensitive buttons so I didn't set them up after I did a clean install.

 

Would it be worth sending back my current system for a Sager 2096? Are they known to last longer? Will the extra money be well spent? Or not?

Current system : Cost about 900 bucks

- HP Pavilion dv5t Entertainment Notebook
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P7350 (2.0GHz)
- 15.4" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
- Onyx
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
- 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
- Webcam Only
- HP Color Matching Keyboard
- Wireless-G Card
- No Modem
- SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

Sager System I am looking into: 1200$
Sager NP2096 Custom Laptop (Built on the Compal JHL90) Sager NP2096 Custom Laptop (Built on the Compal JHL90)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.26GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt ~
- 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9600M GT DDR2 DX10
- None Standard
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to recognize Full 4GB)
- None Standard
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 200GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- None Standard
- None Standard
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5100 802.11 a/g/n
- None Standard
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- None Standard
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Carying Case Optional (Select if desired)
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- None Standard
- None Standard
- None Standard
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- None Standard
- None Standard
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- None Standard
- None Standard
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Tech Support

 

You know, looking at both of these systems with their full specs gives me some better perspective about your situation. Basically, you're paying $300 more for a slightly faster processor, faster hard drive, an extra GB of RAM, and better build quality/cooling. These are worthy upgrades in my opinion but I don't know if it's worth $300. You won't see a huge performance increase with the 2096 specs, maybe 20% at most, so it's kind of a tough call cuz $300 is a pretty substantial amount of money.

 

To me it is less about the performance boost, it is about reliability.

I keep hearing HP builds trash computers that break often. This scares me. I need reliability.

 

As an owner of a Sager NP2090 (Compal IFL90), the NP2096 (JHL90)'s predecessor, I can tell you reliability is excellent. Sure there are some isolated issues from time to time, but that's the case with any notebook. Mine hasn't shown any problems at all related to hardware. (The only troubles I've had have to do with Windows). As long as you take care of, it'll take care of you.

Is it worth the $300? Hard to say. I'm not familiar with the dv5t, but you do get a modest boost in performance, and from what I've read, some better quality/reliability. If the HP is giving you problems, I say go for it.

 

I also though that the .dv5t would get hot but there's an easy fix for that: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3695508&postcount=244. Personally, I would prefer going with Compal or Clevo for the better quality and service. Its not that HP is that bad, its just that I personally believe that the computers they build is more aimed at general consumers than more experienced users, and so will be the support.

 

This is a tough decision =/ I am not sure what to do.

I don't mind paying better for quality... I really want reliability.

Any other insight would be nice.

 

I am gonna have to say go with the 2096. Yes, it's $300 more but you get a performance increase and great quality. Everything you're paying for is substantiated. I agree with livesoft, Compal and Clevo notebooks have continuously been praised throughout the years whereas HP has been releasing mediocre quality notebooks aimed at the mainstream consumer market.

So far, most (if not all) 2096 owners have had nothing but positive things to say about the system and no major issues have been reported whatsoever. That is a rare thing to accomplish so I'd say that the reliability on this thing would be far greater than the HP, especially given the overall negative sentiments related to HP notebooks in the quality department.

 

Anyone got any other suggestions?

 

MSI have a something with almost the same specs as the Compal JHL90, just with DDR3 memory for the video card. http://www.xoticpc.com/force-3551-built-msi1651-order-p-2462.html

I have an HP desktop...changed the video card, the power supply, made a hole on the side, changed the fans, ripped one part of the chassis, added a hard drive. Their computers arent that bad, its just that you shouldn't expect to do big modifications.

 

Anyone have experience with the DV5T and/or the Sager 2096 that can maybe give me a bit more advice?

 

Here again is my situation

Have a DV5T but thinking of returning it. It was an amazing price but it came with a broken fan and I am concerned about HPs longevity.

This is my current system, but I am thinking of returning it , it cost 869$

- HP Pavilion dv5t Entertainment Notebook
- Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (32-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo Processor P7350 (2.0GHz)
- 15.4" diagonal WSXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
- Onyx
- 3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
- 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
- Webcam Only
- HP Color Matching Keyboard
- Wireless-G Card
- No Modem
- SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

This is the system I am looking at: You list it as about 1230$ with Idaho tax for me.
Sager NP2096 Custom Laptop (Built on the Compal JHL90)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8400 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.26GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt ~
- 512MB PCI-Express nVidia GeForce 9600M GT DDR2 DX10
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to recognize Full 4GB)
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 200GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5100 802.11 a/g/n
- - Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Carying Case Optional (Select if desired)
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- ~Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime Sager Toll Free Tech Support

What is important to me is price, durability, the ability to play World of Warcraft , Starcraft 2 , Diablo 3 ect... I went wit HP because of the amazing price they are offering. I have since heard stories that their build quality is questionable and their customer service is terrible. What would be the advantage of the Sager? Is there any deals you could offer me as a graduate student to make the Sager system more affordable? And how does the durability compare between the two companies? I plan on using this system daily for internet/chat/watching streaming video ect... and ever so often for gaming. I want it to last 2-3 years, not fail in the first couple of months or a year. Waht advantages does the Sager have over the HP for such a higher price? I need reliability in my laptop. The system specs for both systems are very close, which is why I went with HP. But I am worried about the reliability of the DV5T/ Any advice you could offer would be appreciated.

 

Go for lynnbay.com as for same config.(compal jhl90) = 976$