My laptop odyssey ..... comments welcome

Somehow I first found this forum last summer. I read posts about the 20" Dell and HP laptops (there's an oxymoron) because I hated to give up the 24" monitor I use with my Dell desktop. My XPS Gen4 is nearing 4 years old, and the end of the 4 year warranty. It has run well, but I need the portability of a laptop, and I can give the desktop to my mother.

Well both Dell and HP discontinued their 20" behemoths, so I started looking at the 17" Dell and 18" HP's. I read all the threads on NotebookReview for these two manufacturers. I was settling on another Dell when read about Alienware laptops. Well these seemed better for me, so I was ready to go that way. Then, I don't know where I saw Sager, but somehow I came to this forum. Well I've decided that I have now found Nirvana!

I've read through many of the threads here and found them to be a wealth of information. I have my choices narrowed down to two, the NP9262 and the NP5797. The configurations are identical except that the processors are Q9550 for the NP9262 vs. QX9300 for the NP5797, and the 4GB memory is DDR2 for the NP9262 vs. DDR3 for the NP5797. The price difference is about $500. The price is no object, but I'm just wondering what the real difference is between the two models.

Any comments, suggestions or other information is welcome!

 

Two GPUs (in SLi), up to three hard drives, and a desktop (as opposed to a mobile) chipset on the 9262.

 

The Sager np5797 uses newer technology than the Sager np9262. Keep in mind the Sager np9262 is the "big dog" and is still the highest performance Sager notebook on the market.

Sager np9262
Pros: uses desktop processors, supports up to three hard drives, supports an SLI setup.

Cons: not as portable as the 5797, still uses DDR2 memory, no HDMI or e-Sata

Sager np5797 - The "mini me" more portable version of the Sager 9262.
Pros: This computer uses the mobile processors, has ddr3 memory, support one hard drive and video card, has HDMI and e-Sata ports.

Cons: not as expandable as the Sager 9262, has slightly louder fan noise in comparison to the Sager 9262

 

Shyster1 and Justin, you both commented that the 9262 uses a desktop processor rather than a mobile processor. I noticed this when I checked processor speeds on notebookcheck.net.

However, I have no idea is that good or bad, or what are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

Having a high performance CPU is never a bad thing! Users always want the best possible performance with their electronics. Desktop processors used to always be faster than mobile processors, but nowadays the mobile processors are catching up and the performance gap isn't as large. I can't pinpoint any specific disadvantages to having a desktop CPU in a notebook.

 

You can get markedly better performance out of a desktop processor. Power and heat considerations require that certain corners be cut when designing a mobile processor. Plus, the processor in the 9262 is easily upgradeable, similar to a desktop PC, though it is possible to upgrade the 5797 as well, I believe.

For all intents and purposes, the first question I would ask you is how do you feel about your laptop being one of the heaviest laptops around? eSATA capability can be added with and ExpressCard adapter, but I don't know that there are any options for adding HDMI. If you don't intend to be lugging this thing to/from work, coffee shops, etc., then the 9262, as others have mentioned, is quite the performance beast and may suit you well. It's just big and heavy for a laptop is all.

One last point, the size of the 9262 is actually a good thing where heat dissipation is concerned. As I understand it, the heat management of the 9262 is extremely effective, especially for running desktop parts in a notebook chassis.

Hope that helps.

 

you can just get an inexpensive DVI-HDMI adapter.

 

I don't know much about HDMI, but I would guess you lose some sort of functionality when connecting an HDMI cable to a non-HDMI port. Is that correct?

 

nope... you will not lose any quality loss.

DVI and HDMI are using the same digital video output signals.

HDMI just has audio streaming support... as compared DVI

 

Pardon me for being dense, but that means you need separate audio cables if you connect HDMI to a DVI port, whereas you don't if it's all HDMI then, right? That's also the sort of thing I was thinking as loss of functionality.

 

Good info guys, keep it coming!

I would like to keep my 24" monitor and use it with my Sager, either as two screens or keeping the Sager closed and using just the monitor.

Rich, I won't be lugging this laptop very often. It will stay on my desk about 48 weeks out of the year (that's why the 20" Dell and HP laptops were a possibility when they were being produced).

 

There's an excellent chart here that has a benchmark comparison of today's leading desktop and laptop processors. Justin W is correct, the performance gap isn't nearly as large as you would think, and there are several instances where desktop processors get beaten by their laptop equivalents clock-for-clock.

Generally I would argue that the 9262 would be more upgradable, but I'd imagine we won't see much more in the way of LGA 775 development now that i7 has been released.

 

i guess you can say that DVI-HDMI is just video output only.

while HDMI does audio and video.

not sure to say that its a loss of functionality since the DVI does not even output audio in the first place.

 

I meant a loss from what you would have if you selected a notebook with HDMI. Basically, if you settle for a model with only DVI and need to connect it to an HDMI device, you sacrifice the ability to send video and audio along a single cable. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

 

I dont see that as a problem.... since when I connect to a Full HD (1080p) display that's 46-inch+ .... I do not want cheap 2 channel audio anyways.

Those high-end displays are usually connected to a receiver with 6-8 channel audio... so I connect my system to their receiver with the notebook's SPDIF coaxial.

now thats how to roll.

 

KTron is building a 24inch laptop

 

If your machine will remain on your desk for what you say to be 48 weeks of the year, then I see no real problem with getting the NP9262. It is heavy though. I think it's 13 pounds with the power adapter included in the weight tally.

 

K-TRON is planing to conquer and rule the Earth with it

 

Ahh. I didn't realize that the audio over HDMI was only 2-channel. Thanks for the education.

 

it actually does up to 8 channel audio.... but the HDMI 1.3 is where its at now since it will give higher video resolution (up to WQXGA 2560x1600) and Dolby TrueHD audio.

I just dont like using software audio when connecting it to a receiver.... I usually have an external soundcard with SPDIF for that.

 

I love it when you talk dirty Gophn!

 

ok........

 

That's an old joke used by folks whenever someone starts to talk the least bit technical about something.

 

I know.... just wanted to make it seem more awkward than it really is.

 

Oh good, I was afraid my attempt at humor offended you.

And since I've learned so much from reading many of your posts, that's the last thing I wanted to do!

 

Of course you realize I have a "Rep Power" of 1, so I am not one to be scoffed at.

 

If money is not an option, the 9262 is the most powerful laptop on the planet right now.
Get it rigged up and fire it up...