NP8662 & PowerNoteBook

hi guys i've finally decided on the sager 8662

specs:wuxga
gtx 260m
t9800
4 gigs ddr 3 ram
320gb 7200rphm hd
turbo memory 4 gb

i have a few questions:

1) does the turbo memory have a significant improvement and is it worth the price? ( i seriously hate slow start ups )

2) Is there anything i forgot that can improve the performance of the lappy?

3) ( i know i kind of asked this already but ) Is there anyway to overclock or improve the t9800 (2.93ghz)(RmClock? explain)

4) Is PowerNoteBooks reliable vendor? How are their CS? I notice that the config with 260m does not ship by sager till "early April", does this mean that i should expect a significant delay from PowerNotebook as they have to get the machine from sager and then config it for me and ship?

5) what kind of games and spec can i expect out of this machine, what are some games that'll seriously challenge this machine?

*edit: I like to order from PowerNotebooks rather than from sager directly because PowerNotebooks is about $200 cheaper than sager for this config, but i'll seriously have to consider sager if there will be a delay as i like to get my hands on this beast asap.

thanks

 

not really, its useful for small programs to be pre-cached into the Turbo Mem for fast loading, but does not really affect anything else

specs look top of the line for a 15.4"

Although, I would strongly recommend to look towards a quad-core CPU... at least a Q9100 with that budget.

Games are coming out and being developed for multi-thread support. Games like GTAIV and other Unreal Engine 3 games even recommending quad-core CPUs. A 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo will be killed by the cheapest 2.0GHz Core 2 Quad in a multi-threaded environment.... proven.

They are one of the best and most legendary vendors around... for their service/support.

pretty much every game, but like I said above, a quad-core will make this system not bottleneck when new games come out requiring/recommending quad-core CPUs for best performance.

 

the problem with the quad core for me is that the 8662 doesn't really offer a powerful enough quad that i feel as if i'm going to have to sacrifice gaming ability NOW for later.

i did see that the ava was offering a 2.5 ghz quad extreme on their config but i'm afraid of the heating problem, not to mention it is wayyyyyyy too overpriced.

 

there was a member of NBR that already is running a QX9200 (not a typo) in his M860TU... looks like a good medium for budget and performance.

you can contact any vendor for questions for customizations that do not show up on the websites... like the CPUs.

 

PNB is a reliable vendor and there will be no delay if you order through them.

PNB do not actually build or ship your system, they simply take your order and send it to sager. PNB will then deal with any support you need with the notebook (both xoticpc and PNB are said to have superior after sales support than sager itself)

 

I have heard from users of the Q9000 2.0 Ghz Quad Core who were using it paired with a slightly lower spec GPU to the GTX 260M which was the 9800M GTX and they said that their gaming performance was very good.

Consider that most games are very GPU dependent so the 2.0 Ghz Quad will be fine for dual core optimised applications and games as well as offering better performance in Quad optimised games.

The fast disappearing Advent 6555 also used a Q9000 2.0 Ghz and I asked owners about that too and they all said gaming was fine.

I will soon see for real though since I have gone with a similar spec to you on my NP8662 apart from I will be using a Q9000 with 3GB RAM (XP SP3) as opposed to a T9800 and 4GB RAM.

 

I went with PNB and the sales support was very good. All questions were answered quickly and the delivery a bit quicker than estimated (though I hear these same good things about both PNB and xoticpc).

One thing that I'll be curious to watch is how both companies handle upgrade support as NP8660 owners look to make GPU changes.

 

how about PCtorque.com? atm they seem to have the lowest price of all resellers.

 

they have accident plans....oooo i like!

now the question is, if I get an accident plan I don't need a warranty right?

woah and they have the NP8662 available...and noone else does

 

I doubt that one vendor (talking about Sager resellers) will have the NP8662 before another since they ALL get their system from ONE source... Sager.

When Sager gets it, then every Sager reseller has it.

 

well I'm just saying because it doesn't say preorder anywhere.

 

the pre-order is already under way since this is not a new system... its just an updated revision.

So essentially, when you order now, its the pre-order.