I am having second thoughts about this. M860TU

I have already ordered one, although they (retailer) have yet to receive Clevos. I don't blame the retailer for this at all and it doesn't have much to do with me having second thoughts. In fact they were from day 1 excellent with me.

I will do the thinking in euros when it has to do with money cause it is easier to me.

With all expenses (shipping etc), I have ordered a M860TU that has a 2.4 Ghz P8600, Geforce 9800GT, 320GB HDD, 4GB ram, Vista Premium 64 plus all the other smaller things that you all know.
Total cost is about 1850 euros. (don't forget everything here is more expensive so don't just compare it to US dollars and suffer a shock )

I am going to need a notebook for the next couple of years, one year at the university and one year during my (I hope) first job related to it. After that hopefuly I will have the money for anything else.

I already have a desktop PC with a E6600, 8800GTS, 2GB, 1.5TB and 24" monitor. A fine system that I will NOT be able to use it for a variety of reasons not related to this.

I play all kind of games, but mostly strategy, wargames and rpg. The most modern FPS game (I mention FPS games since they are usualy the most demanding) that I play and have an interest in is Rainbow Six Vegas.

I have an Xbox 360 that I plan on taking with me anyway, together with my monitor. (I love it, LG245Wpm) Games that interest me a lot are already out on it or will, for example Mass Effect, Fallout 3.
Other types of games that I play a lot are either turn based strategy and wargames, or older RTS and RPGs (Oblivion, Two Worlds).

I could buy a notebook, for half the price of this stunning Clevo that should be able to run all of them, some with reduced details. (for example a notebook with a 2.26 C2D and 3650 or 3470 radeon in it)
This notebook should be enough (performance) for everything else school and work related for the next 2 years.

So, do I cancel my order and buy a much cheaper, but far less powerful notebook, or not?

The M860TU is a wonderful machine, but am I being too selfish?

What do you think? I ask this here because you guys already have or going to have this or similarly powerful units. So, I trust you more for this.

 

If you only plan on keeping the notebook for two years, ya I suggest you cancel.

 

My Clevo D900K is going towards 3 years... because I do not have a high-end desktop.

Its up to you, a high-end gaming notebook can last pretty long if you take care of it.

 

For me it is a dream come true to have a really good graphic card on laptop, I would never give that dream away...

 

Blue mask if you are able to hold out a little longer, I'm sure there is a revision already on its way for the M860tu. The HDD temps are definitely outside of the recommended specs and they will fix it.

 

If this is confirmed, that would be great news.

 

Thank you for your replies.
I sent an email and I will let you know how this goes.

 

Blah! Hope that means something for those who already bought it.

Blue, its up to you. Get the laptop if you NEED it and WANT it. Otherwise, you'll be disgruntled and take it out on the subsitute laptop you buy. And we don't want that, laptop abuse is a very serious and worldwide problem.

 

Since it's most likely the north bridge is the culprit for the high temps and since the ram and other components are also fairly close to it, it will probably be a mod to the back panel similar to what they did with the 5793. This would allow additional room for air and the possibility for larger heat sinks. I was actually pretty surprised they didn't implement it to start with.

 

Yes yes... a revision will probably happen at some point. But, how long did it take for a revision of the M570RU to happen? I honestly don't know the answer to that question. However, I suspect it will take Clevo at least a few months to finalize and begin to manufacture a revision (if one is already in the works, longer if not).

If you want a 15.4" notebook of this caliber before the end of the year, it's either this version of the M860TU, the (dreaded) _m15x, or (possibly) VooDoo's rumored 15.4" powerhouse that is supposed to debut at the end of the month (and probably not ship until October or November).

I really hope these HDD issues are still just flukes or can be alleviated by modulating the fan speed stacked with an apt notebook cooler.

 

Guys the so called heat issues did not have anything to do with my decision. I don't even consider heat an issue with the M860TU.

 

Has anyone seen an "official review" from any of the resellers yet?

Just curious...i figured after a week one would be out...

Does it take much longer?

 

Good reviews take time. Wouldn't you want the author to be somewhat familiar with the computer and it's performance?

 

get a 15 in for half the price and game on the desktop, and buy some killer RAM with the savings.

its the sensible thing to do

 

If you have a gaming desktop and dnt need a laptop for gaming,save the cash.

 

Get which ever will lead to buyers remorse.
Someone posted that you would take "it" out on the lesser notebook...now while that was said in jest, the truth is that you may regret that purchase while gaming, this may lead to less gaming, a tragedy for sure.

For me, I was torn between the M570TU and the 901C but I never gave
any thought to anything else and there were options, like Gateway's $1600 P-7811FX notebook or Toshiba's ugly as hell X305-Q701

 

dude Diablo3 starcraft2 Wow2 halflife3(+its hundreds of mods and games)...

fact is this laptop will last you AGES as a lanparty laptop... prob 5years+


if your a true hardcore gamer u will see how important it is to have a powerful gaming laptop in the future.

do u go to/plan2 lanpartys alot/game at friends places.... do you have a partner in a different house if not i don't see the point of a gaming laptop.

if you aint got da RL playerazZ why have the portability crank that u see what im saying.

 

Its normal to have second thoughts. With delayed shipping, new technology continually being unveiled there is a lot out there to make you second guess your decision.

The M860TU as you configured will definately last you the 2 years you have planned out.

If you're not going to be using the desktop while at school then it is irrelevant to the discussion, and shouldn't be factored in.

Since you mentioned Fallout and Oblivion up comming games that may attract your attention include Diablo III and Witcher II. System specs haven't been released, but the M860 should run them nicely while a lesser system might have trouble with dynamic objects and cloth simulations in games like Diablo III. While you could shut off features, and run others on medium/low on a weaker system you'll loose out on experiencing the game the way it was ment to be played.


What type of classes will you be enrolled in, and what type of job do you envision yourself doing? If you're taking 3D animation, game design, or graphic design courses then the M860 would probably be the better option, but if all you plan to do is type and take notes in your classes (which is counter productive if you write faster than you type) then you don't need an M860. For most students the current $300-$400 notebooks out are all thats needed during schooling. As far as your job: if it requires you to use a computer they should have one on site for you to use.

Many students think they need to carry around a notebook pc/mac at school, but many quickly learn its not as important, useful, or practical as they thought before school started.

What do you mean by selfish? Who (if anyone) is going to be negatively effected if you get a M860? Who is going to be paying for the system? If your parents are paying for it, or you're spliting the cost then I'd say take advantage of it while you're able.

If you're serious about playing games on it on a regular basis (3 or more times a week for 2+ hours a day) then stick with the M860 (and what would likely be a higher quality screen then what you'd get in a cheaper notebook).

 

If you aren't going to or can't use the desktop why don't you consider selling it? Then you will have extra cash towards the M860TU which would make a fine productivitiy computer in addition to gaming, and the rest of your gaming needs can be fulfilled by the 360.

 

I have my doubts that even the M860TU will be good enough for new games 5 years from now...
I don't know what you mean by hardcore gamer, but I do game a lot when I have the time. I don't go to lanparties or game at other people's places.
WoW2 leaves me as empty as WoW1. Half Life 3 will probably run well on a lower spec machine, not that I am that crazy for Half Life.

 

Any future Fallout (including 3) and Oblivion game will probably be released for the 360 too. Diablo 3, I don't care at all for, but from the videos I have watched so far, it looks like a top of the line graphical game, at least for 2001.

Even if I would get the M860TU it wouldn't be powerful enough for the heavy video editing I will have to do, besides as you mentioned, machines for this kind of work will be provided by the university and job. So I doubt I will end up doing anything demanding on the notebook, job/school wise.

No matter what notebook I will end up with, there is no way I am going to take it to classes. Just not worth it and while I type very fast, the extra noise and weight, and perhaps even speed some times, makes it not so useful for classes.

I am paying for the notebook, well, not my own credit card, but I am going to give the actual money, so yes, I don't rely on anyone else paying the notebook for me. When I said selfish I mean that I find it that to pay double the price than I would for a lower specced machine so that I get higher fps on the few games that will need this speed, is just too much. I could use the extra 1000 euros for other things.

If after 2 years I don't have the money and place to live to buy either a high spec notebook or a high spec desktop PC, then I am afraid that playing the new FPS games will be the smallest of my problems.

I am a gamer, I do play more than 3 hours a day when I have the time, but considering the games I play most are either strategy and wargames or C&C Renegade (yes), it just doesn't make much sense to me now to spend all that extra money for a very good notebook like the M860TU.

If I were rich, yes I guess I wouldn't mind, but I am definitely not.

 

Because if I were to sell it (without the monitor), I wouldn't get much money out of it, even if I could find someone here to buy it. And even if I do sell it and get a couple hundrend euros, the rest of the reasons that changed my decision, don't change.

 

Excuse me, BlueMak but that's a silly arguement. Even a desktop bought today won't be able to handle new games 5 years from now. Do you think a desktop of 5 years ago could handle Crysis?

 

My comment for the 5 years was about the following.

 

I received a couple of emails from Kobalt Computers. The cancellation went without a problem, as I expected. From day one they (Andrew) were great and top notch CS.
If you are in the UK or EU you might want to have a look at their offers.

Thank you all for replying.