Just bought a Sager laptop...did I screw up?

First time poster here, hi everyone!

I just made my very first self-purchased laptop (just graduated last year), but after looking around the Internet I think I made a wrong decision

See, I bought a Sager NP9873-S from our local reseller. Here are the specs:

6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0 GHz processor
17.3″ 4K QFHD Matte Display with G-SYNC Technology (3840 x 2160) display
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU with 8GB GDDR5X
Killer Dual Band Wireless-AC N1535 M.2 AC + BT Combo Card
32GB DDR4 2400 (2x16GB) memory
SanDisk X400 M.2 1TB for slot 1
Another SanDisk X400 M.2 1TB for slot 2
1TB (7200rpm) SATA II hard drive

You see, I didn't really know what I was getting into when I clicked on the 4K display when making my choices. Graphics aren't everything to me, I prefer performance a lot more. After thorough reading of articles and forum posts, however, I'm thinking the 4K display above, coupled with the single non-SLI 1080 GPU was a very bad decision on my part. Am I screwed?

I'll be using the machine primarily for video games, with a little bit of surfing here and there. For context, my current "gaming" machine (as in, my current machine I play stuttering, laggy, overheat-prone games on) was an 8GB RAM, 2GB Integrated graphics card HP laptop, bought for school purposes. It can barely run Oblivion in medium settings, it BSODs after about an hour of Low-Settings non-remastered Skyrim, among other things. Now, I have already purchased the above Sager machine, and I cannot change/revise my order. I also cannot just upgrade to an SLI setup in the near future - this is a huge purchase for me financially, with my first job and all, so I can't really purchase an upgrade soon. Will I encounter lots of problems in the future? It's my very first major self-purchase, my gift to myself just in time for the holidays too so I reeeeaaally hope I can still play Ultra-settings games (think fairly recent games like Witcher 3, etc.) (for the first time ever) with the machine

Thank you in advance for those willing to give their 2 cents

 

Why would you be screwed? That's an amazing laptop you got there. What kind of problems do you think you would be encountering? It depends on the games but you should be able to get 60 fps ultra settings on most games even at 4K with those specs. A lot of games scale poorly with SLI, don't work with SLI or have problems with SLI.

 

Agreed! You will get a great Laptop with awesome POWAH! And if desired you always can upgrade to SLI with the appropriate Upgrade-Kit!

All Games will run smoothly (enough). But you should consider a repaste, if temps will be bad. Most factory pasting jobs are crap.

 

I've been reading things about how 4k games need lots of graphical power to back it up, hence the SLI, and that some games cannot run properly on 4k resolution.

Based on posts from other forums and such (granted, some were posted in 2014) the ideal setup would be to either opt for the 3k 1440p display and the single 1080 graphics, or go 4k with the SLI. I'm really hoping I'm wrong

@i_pk_pjers_i - mostly graphics/performance problems, also how older games without 4k support will run

@CaerCadarn - here's hoping the temps show good results - I live in a tropical, most of the time hot country

 

In the worst case you could still return it and go for a 3k or FHD option.

 

The problem is, I can't change my order - I already asked. Basically they are the only resellers here, and when an order comes up, Sager's overseas branch assembles the machine and ships it to their office here, where I'll claim mine in December. It's a lengthy process, that might be why they're not entertaining order change requests.

 

Cancel it, ask for a refund back to your card, you don't need to give a reason.

Then after you have a better sense of what you want, exactly, by doing some more research and checking competing brands and options, make an informed choice - one you don't need to second guess.

Like you said, it's a lot of money, your choice needs to be a good decision that will last you for years.

Don't let them scare you, it's your money until they deliver - and even then you have a 7-30 day acceptance return period (verify with the seller how long you have).

 

Yeah, hopefully it runs my games well. I'll definitely return it if I'm not satisfied. Thing is, I'm already dead set for a Clevo/Sager. I just got confused with the graphical options for the beast

Well, here's hoping it can be at least 30 FPS in games I'm planning to marathon for years to come

Any experience in 4k and SLI in general? Is my assumption correct? Again, I can't take others' word for it since those are from 2015 and older. None are really Clevo/Sager specific answers too. Honestly I'd be fine if a simple switching of resolution can make me play them flawlessly, but if it's something worse...

 

Agreed..

@mamoru127, ask them to change the order to the 3K or 1080p 120Hz display.. if they refuse, cancel the order.. Since you have just placed it, its a bit absurd for them to say that it can't be changed..

I personally wouldn't get the 4K display, its horrible for gaming with 35ms response time.. Its got great colours but the 3K display or 1080p 120Hz display is much better.. GPU power wise, your fine.. You can always SLI later if needed..

 

I sent a message to them about it. The only remaining display they have is the 3k 2560 X 1440 one. Is that good? Fingers crossed

 

That is fine...
It's not perfect either, it has some pixelation issue but you will be in a better place gaming wise compared to the 4K display...

The pixelation issue is nothing serious btw... Most people don't even notice it until they come within few cms of the screen...

 

Isn't 2560 x 1440 = 1440p, not 3K?

 

3K = QHD = 2560x1440 = 1440p

On a side note:

• 1280×720 (HD, 720p)
• 1920×1080 (FHD, Full HD, 2K 1080p)
• 2560×1440 (QHD, WQHD, Quad HD, 1440p)
• 3840×2160 (UHD, Ultra HD, 4K, 2160p)
• 7680×4320 (FUHD, Full Ultra HD, 8K, 4320p)

Reference: https://www.monitornerds.com/screen-resolutions-720p-vs-1080p-vs-1440p-vs-4k-vs-8k/

 

Too many resolutions... I was thinking 2880 x 1620 - 3072 x 1728 was considered 3K.

 

I know man, too confusing, 1440P, QHD, then 2560x1440

It's best if we stick to the basics as I mentioned above and be done with it. Not worth any of your precious calories to burn over it

 

As many of you may of guessed all of these resolutions are standards. However the standard applies differently for the film industry as it does for the monitor industry which we are discussing here.

So 3K may reference a differing value for film as it does for monitors here.

 

Do you ever plan on mating your machine with a 4K display? i.e. a 4k tv or external monitor? I would keep the 4k screen then because you will deal with odd scaling issues if you have different display types. However, if you choose to game on the machine exclusively I would get the 3k screen.

 

I had a 1440p and a 1080 P display running along side the internal 4k display. No Scaling issues.

 

If you had anything less than the 1080 I'd say maybe. However, you have the 1080 so I'm jealous. You bought a great laptop from Sager. Have fun with it.

 

Thank you for the replies everyone!

Basically, they replied, saying it's possible but would take a 2-3 week delay. I also paid for rush processing in my original order where it significantly shortens the time (can't wait haha), but since the delay's caused on my end they cannot refund the fee. That's okay too, at least they considered it this time. Maybe the person who denied my request yesterday's different from whoever's on now? I dunno.

It'll be awesome when the order arrives. I only owned 3 computers ever - a Pentium 4 desktop, of course already dead; the HP Pavilion laptop I got for school purposes; and this one. I'm a big gamer - in the past I've finished games despite lag, horrible performance, frequent crashes, BSODs and screen flickers so imagine what I'd feel when I can run games on this thing. It's like winning something lol.

 

You made the change, and took the "small" delay with a $ hit on rush delivery ?

 

@hmscott - I just replied I'm open to that, since it's a small price to pay for a product I'm wholly satisfied with, rather than take the 4k display. Actually, the first arrival estimate was December 9/10, but on their reply just now they said the order was already shipped to arrive.

More details: on the list of things I picked, the display was backordered for an 11/09 date and the 1080 GPU for an 11/18 date, so I'm quite surprised the unit's already finished and is being shipped right now, so even if I take the 2-3 week delay, it will still arrive either on the first or second week of December, still earlier (or on schedule) than the estimate I think.

I'm also assuming, since the 3k's less than the 4k, it would be smoother and I'm not much of a graphics guy, I love performance more

Anyway, still waiting on their reply to my answer.

 

Cool

It's a tough call, especially without being able to see the quality of the display's - one or the other will please your eye more than the other.

And, the performance will be different - the higher the resolution the more load will be placed on the GPU. The CPU gets a break the lower the frame rate - which will be less given the same GPU 4k vs 3k vs 1k.

You'll be happy with either one I'd bet, but on the 4k when you run into a lower frame rate, you'll wonder if the 3k or 1k would have been a better choice - and for that game it might be

I've heard other P870 4k owners lowering the res to 1440p from 2160p for game play. So at least you know that is an option too.

Funny how it magically already shipped when you pressed for a change or cancellation

Did they give you a tracking number for the shipment?

 

No they didn't, actually the process would be them receiving the product from Sager, then me going to their office branch to receive the product and pay for it. They would also be installing the OS - I picked Windows 7 since I also have older games and read that they have issues on Windows 10. They mentioned that they'll be installing the OS here in their branch though, since it's not even in the offered list of OS in their website

Anyway for the display, I've watched some videos and the apparent thing for me so far is that the lower resolution displays have slightly better performance as expected. Since I asked for the 3k the "what-ifs" will be more about what they would look on the 4k but honestly I like smoothness more

I've also read about how scaling down to lower resolutions from 4k seem to have some issues as well from graphics to screen size.

 

You can still ask for the tracking number, that way you'll know when it arrives.

Windows 7 is a good choice, but consider Windows 8.1 + ClassicShell or another Start manager. It's got 3 more years of MS support, whatever that's worth

If you are that close to the vendor I would ask if you can test it while you are there - find any obvious problems before you drive off - to verify everything is working.

It's worth the time to make sure all the elements are working as expected - you can ask them to fix problems that you can show them on site, maybe while you wait.

That avoids the whole DOA and some of the infant mortality failure issues.

Bring a USB thumb drive with benchmark, monitoring, and stress tools to install while on site. You can ask for an internet connection and download some steam games to run for performance benchmark testing.

If the 4k screen does't strike you positively from the start, I would ask if they would swap the 4k screen for the 3k screen.

You can leave it there for them to do the screen swap, or take it with you and bring it back when the replacement screen arrives. Work out the deal before you go.

All sorts of fun options are available when the vendor is local

 

Okay, they replied, and they'll keep me posted. They're still gonna ask Sager if it can be done.

Again, fingers crossed

 

So what display are you getting in the end? The 3K or 4K one? I'll tell you this, the 1080 is more than capable for 1440p gaming

 

You can always replace / upgrade your screen to QHD 120Hz at later time. We offer upgrade kits.

 

I picked the 3k 1440p one. They're just waiting for confirmation from Sager, then it'll be replaced.

 

You sure? Bring a screen from one of the displays to the other display you will see the scaling issues?

How do I know this? Because before I got my 4k laptop I was displaying from a 1080p laptop screen to 4k displays running at 4k. Scaling was crazy whenever you wanted to move windows around, between screens.

 

Well when I bring over a window , it just scales it to the respective resolution.
I did it multiple times. Even now on my desktop.one monitor is 1440p with 125% Scaling and one is 1080p, no issues with moving windows around. And I do that a lot.
Heck I have different parts of the same software on 2 different monitors. Everything scales perfectly.

 

When I would move windows around it would maximize then minimize then finally revert to what it should look like and it was beyond annoying.

 

I think that happened to me once. But I had to a system restart because of something and after that never had that issue .

 

This did fix the issue but the problem still would creep up ... Now, having the same resolution has made that problem non existent.

 

Their reply:

I was able to arrange for the return of the unit to Sager, once returned they will try to get your unit changed with 3K. I will update you once that is done.

Cool news! Can't wait for December