NP8150 or NP8170?

I always saw that the GPU upgrade to the 485m on the 8150 was about $130 more than the the GPU upgrade to the 485m on the 8170, so I never considered getting the NP8150. I realized today that the base processor on the NP8150 is the i7-2720QM, while the base processor on the NP8170 is the i7-2630QM. When it comes down to it, the NP8150 is cheaper because of the better base processor as well as the cheaper, yet "better" screen upgrade for the NP8150.

Now the two configurations:

Total Price: $2942

Total: $2891

Differences:

Matte Screen on the 8150, while glossy on the NP8170. I have never owned a laptop, only a Matte Screen iMac 20" (2007). I have heard a lot of bad things about glossy, so I am leaning toward Matte.

The CD drive on the NP8150 will be external, while the CD drive on the NP8170 will be internal.

750gig secondary drive on the NP8150, while 500gig secondary on the NP8170.

Obviously, 1.7" difference in screen size. Also a difference of about two pounds in weight. (6 pounds vs 8 pounds).

About $50 cheaper on the NP8150.

Monitors are becoming so cheap, that I could also always buy a 20" monitor that I could hook the laptop up to. Definitely a possibility in the future in my mind.

The uses of the laptop: I am currently finishing up highschool and my parents are divorced, so I switch in between houses about twice a week. When I go to college, I will be keeping this laptop till at least the start of the junior year, so I will probably be taking it around campus and to class.

Budget: Under or at $3000.

Is the heating any better/worse on either model?

Which model/config should I go with?

Any comments/suggestions on the config?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

8170.

10Char.

Mr. Mysterious

 

I'd say go with the 15". Given the same resolution, you'll be seeing the same amount of stuff. And I can attest to you that college makes carrying around a 17" quite impractical.

 

@ Meyer0095
Couple questions:

- Is there a reason you need the 2720 instead of the 2630?
- Why only look at the S1 models, and not the base?
- What will you be mainly using the laptop for? Eg. Gaming, graphic design, coding, etc.

If you will be taking it with you everywhere on campus, then the 8150 will be the better option imo. It is smaller and lighter, not to mention that, depending on the college you go to, you might not always have large enough desks to put a 17incher on. You don't want to juggle such a large laptop when you're in a lecture hall, squished in between others. Of course, this is all down to personal preference.

Regarding the screen, since it sounds like the laptop will be moving around a lot, with the potential of being used outdoors, then the matte is the better option. If you are just using it indoors, then it also pretty much comes down to personal preference, unless you are using the laptop for purposes that are better suited for a matte screen.

Edit: Regarding cooling, the 8170 should be better due to its larger size. Considering both the 8150 and 8170 share similar components/configurations, the 8170 should have better airflow, and thus better cooling.

Why?

 

My vote is also for the 8150. Went back and forth between my config, and the similar thing in the 8170. Saved a tad bit of money with the 8150. Still waiting on my rig (**cough** eta mythlogic? **cough**), but I chose it because I too am going to be using it at college.

It'll be lighter to carry, and take up less space. Both have phenomenal cooling so that argument is kaput.. Bought my ram and second HD from newegg on sale so you might look at doin that.

Other then the amnt of ram, size of secondary HD, and type of optical, we've got the same rig configured

Good luck

 

3 things,

Your config sounds a bit too expensive to me, so here's some advice. Buy a caddy from them (or even buy it yourself) and convince them not to charge you for the ODD. Buy a secondary HD yourself and an external USB 3.0 DVD yourself. This will come out significantly cheaper. Also those prices look stock, whoever you are looking to buy from you can negotiate with.

Delivery will be pretty quick now, so ask around, see who you like.

hizzah, you changed configs too often probably would have gotten it sooner if you didn't!!! (Also if you got money to them earlier haha)

 

- Might be doing some video rendering with SC2 casting. I also do a lot of photoshop editing/graphic design, which I have heard a fast CPU helps with.
- The base comes at more expensive, due to the upgrade cooling compound not being included. (extra $40) and the Pixel Warranty being $100 instead of $60. I could upgrade the RAM myself which would save me about $40ish. In the end the base comes out more expensive.
- Currently I play SC2 and Rift. I do graphic design as a hobby. And Computer Science is a possibility of a major in college. (Currently undecided between CS, Political Science, or Economics). So funnily enough, possibly all three

 

How exactly do you go about negotiating with a reseller?

I am looking to probably buy from XoticPC.

Should I try calling there sales number or through live chat? What components should I try negotiating price wise?

Any assistance with this is greatly appreciated.

 

I agree. Get a discount it's easy.. I'm getting a very good deal on mine imo. Part of that is due to the fact mythlogic let's you buy your own parts and ship them to them to install for you

And yeah. I changed my order a billion times lol. Pretty sure Myth was going to kill me.. But he was very professional aboutthe whole thing, but also kinda chill which was nice.

On my order page it shows a cancelled order for an 8170 lol. I ordered a 8150, switched to an 8170, then paid, then switched back to the 8150... Not very smart but this was the first time I'd every spend this much money on one thing I had to make sure I was happy with everything. I actually got my original spot in line for the 8150 so I didn't get pushed back which was nice

 

Based on this, your choice of the 2720 should fit you just fine

Also, like hizzaah said, both machines have very good cooling. So, even though the 8170 is definitely better in that department (due to size), the 8150 is no slouch either.

For Xotic, you can do a web chat, email, just PM the reps on here. But, almost everyone here will also encourage you to speak to other resellers as well, just so you can try to get a better deal for yourself.

Some of the other more active resellers include:

- LPC-Digital (User: babyhemi)
- PowerNotebooks (User: Paladin44)
- Mythlogic (User: Mythlogic)
- Malibal (User: Malibal)

Those are all American resellers, but there are also other regional resellers if you are somewhere else. Note that the American resellers also ship abroad.

A few other resellers are:

- Avadirect
- RJTech
- Falcon Northwest

This list definitely not exhaustive

 

From what I have seen, the only deals that have been offered to me is the 3% cash discount. With persistence, has it been possible to get a larger discount?

EDIT: The other issue is that only Mythlogic and Xotic offer the 95% Matte Screen Upgrade. So I really have to go with one of those two :/

 

Yeah, the 3% is just the advertised discount. Spend done time talking with a rep from xotic and myth (since you want the 95% screen). See what deal they'll make for you and decide which one you think will provide better service to you for your investment. They'll both probably price match/ beat each other so it comes down to which you like better not a whole lot of point of askin which one is better though. You'll get people saying both are great, and hardly no one saying they're bad, so it's up to you to do some research for yourself

But yeah. Talk the reps. Both have online chat on their sites (which will probably be the quickest way to reach them). Get their base price, then ask then straight up where they'll come down to get your business. Then tall with the other and see. Then go back to the first and say "the other guys beat your config by $xxx dollars. can you beat them? *insert generic compliment about their company** and I'd really like to order from you if can beat them.." then go back to the second and do the same thing let them compete for your business

Through out your bartering, you may find one reseller is more courteous then the other, or they respond quicker, or whatever. Or you'll like one's warranty better. Or something. Just take everything into consideration when you canopy decide

 

The largest difference between the two at the moment is the following:

For $150:

At mythlogic: 4 years labor/2 years parts
At Xotic: 3 years labor/3 years parts

Xotic's deal I like a lot more.

Do you think 2 years parts should still be fine though? (Planning on keeping for at least 4 years though.)

 

I'm only getting 2 year parts. I thought of it like this:

In two years, new and better parts will be out. Two years of coverage will be plenty to get me through and still have great performance. These rigs are designed to be upgraded. So I figure if a part goes out after 2 years, it'll give me an excuse to upgrade

But if you aren't into upgrading at all, you might go for the longer warranty. (mythlogic doesn't budge on the price of their warranty at all though lol. Trust me, I tried and to extend the warranty after you get your laptop, it's however much it costs to switch to that length origionally +$40 I believe)

 

I went with generic warranty with my credit card company tagging on one more year...

 

That is a good point. After two years, if a part breaks, I could just upgrade.

Well off to negotiating between Xotic and mythlogic

 

plus, i know with mythlogic gives you a discount on parts you buy through them to upgrade your computer later talks about it on their site somewhere

 

I kinda wonder if the 8150 could use the adapter from the 8170... From what people are saying you need more juice for OC in the 485m so if you can plug in the bigger adapter that should solve that problem...

 

Yeah, that's what I had just asked in the OC thread.. If it could fit, I wonder how much trouble/cost it would be to get one shipped with my order..? I'll edit back with what he says

 

Is it just me, or is the Mythlogic configuration a lot more (like 15%) at base?

Their upgrade from 2630 to 2720 is a lot cheaper, but both their 8130 and 8150 start a lot higher when configured the same as Xotic's or Malibal's...

I was hoping to go through them, so I hope it's just some weird thing I'm overlooking...

 

Yeah there base pricing starts out higher, but once you customize it, it should be close, if not the same. Note the base Mythlogic config has Windows included in the base price while Xotic and Malibal do not.

 

I'm aware.

Equally configured 5160's...FHD Glossy screen ($65 option), 8GB RAM, i7-2630, 500GB 7200RPM drive...

XOTICPC: $974.00

MYTHLOGIC: $1,143.13

If you choose the i5-2520 option the difference is far less, under $50.

XOTICPC: $944.00

MYTHLOGIC: $990.18

Either way, I'll probably go with Mythlogic because I can pick it up and avoid duties and shipping, I'm just wondering why there is the difference.

 

part of it i'm sure has to do with the fact that Myth hand builds their products instead of getting them almost completely pre-assembled from Sager.

 

That first difference is quite large. I have been pricing the 8170, see ~$40 difference in equal customization.

 

That's because it seems that Sager has a deal on the 2630 and its the sweetspot for them. Either upgrading or downgrading results in a huge difference from Mythlogic.

 

you can go down to the 2620 and save $14.95, or go up to the 2720 for $25.30.. it's when you go a second step in either direction that there's a large price gap. i wonder how much they charge in total for each proc..?