NP9262: One or Two 9800m GTX?

I'm considering the purchase of an NP9262. The only thing I can't decide is whether to get 1 GeForce 9800m GTX or 2 of them in SLI. Any recommendations? If I just get one now would I be able to install a second at a later date if I so chose? Would doing so within the one year warranty period void the warranty? Would I get much performance increase on most games with two instead of just one?

Here's the system configuration I'm considering:
-WUXGA Screen
-DUAL nVidia GeForce 9800m GTX in SLI *OR* just 1 GeForce 9800m GTX
-Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 (3.0GHz, 12mb L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB)
-4GB DDR2/800 RAM (2 SODIMMS)
-320GB SATA II 7200RPM hard drive
-320GB SATA II 7200RPM hard drive
-320GB SATA II 7200RPM hard drive
-RAID 0 enabled
-Blu-Ray Read, CD/DVD R-RW

Price with dual 9800m GTXs in SLI = $3576.39
Price with just 1 9800m GTX = $2902.24

PRICE IS NOT MUCH OF A CONCERN, HOWEVER IF I CAN GET A BETTER DEAL INSTALLING THE SECOND GRAPHICS CARD MYSELF I WANT TO DO THAT.

Thanks!

 

It'll more than likely be cheaper to get them both at first purchase. You can install one later, but you would have to get it through your reseller, and it'll probably cost more than upgrade price now. However, installing it would not void the warranty from most resellers.

 

don't be cheap,order 3!

 

If money isn't an object you probably want to just get them now. The only thing I might consider is if you get one now might you want something better down the road anyways? Though the cards for these tend to have a pretty strong resale value.

 

It would not void any warranties if you were to try it out with 1 and if needed you can install a 2nd later on.

 

OK, thanks for the advice.
I have one other question, though it doesn't relate to the graphics. But I don't want to start another thread just for it, so here we go: Does anyone know if there's any way to upgrade the motherboard? I know that that would almost definitely void the warranty and would be a major upgrade. It's just that, for the time being, I'm ok with a Core 2 Quad but in the future I may want to upgrade to something along the lines of an i7 (for which I would need a new motherboard). Is it likely that Clevo would release an i7 compatible motherboard for the D901C that users could buy and install, or would a completely new laptop be required? Does anyone know if Clevo has plans to release a laptop comparable to the D901C that's compatible with i7 in the near future (~6 months)? If so, I'll wait and buy at a different time so I can get an i7...

 

Nobody knows the answer to that at this point. Even under the most optimistic timetable, Clevo is not expected to have an i7-based successor to the D901C ready for retail release until sometime in the Fall, and possibly not until next year. They will be releasing an update to the D901C - that was discussed on another thread in the forum - but it won't be an i7 platform.

In terms of swapping motherboards - it's theoretically possible (i.e., it could be done), but I would not bet a single penny on it being possible.

 

Currently there is no info on whether i7 laptops will be released within in this year. Regarding the mobo upgrade, more than likely Clevo will design a new chassis to house i7 cores by then.

 

You'd probably be better off selling the unit you're planning to buy now whenever you get ready to make that big of an upgrade since they tend to hold good resale values.

 

Ok, thanks for the information.

 

best to get both cards now if you can afford it.

 

Yep, that's what I'm going to do I think. Thanks again for your help.

 

Where can you bouy another video card for the 9262?, I haven't seen it in the sagernotebook page or in xoticpc

 

try rjtech.com. im pretty sure they will sell you a single card if they have them in stock.

 

Just call up xoticpc and they'll be happy to sell you one

 

Get 4!!!!!

SLI4 WOOOOOOOO!!!!!111111one

 

Does anyone know how big of a performance boost I would get in games having Dual 9800m GTXs in SLI versus just one? Does anyone know of any benchmarks comparing the two (SLI vs. single)?

 

with everyone it's different, but bottom line sli is far better than one card. and if a game or two doesn't perform well, then you have the option to run that game in single gpu mode.