Need Assistance - Almost Ready to Purchase [Sager NP8265-S (Clevo P150SM)]

Okay, it's right around my budget ($2500)...and I've nailed down my choice (so far) to the 8265-S. It's got the specs I want (for gaming), and mobility (15.6") - I travel a lot, mostly by car, but also very often by plane.

The 4700MQ seems powerful enough a processor for gaming and routine use. The only thing else I do is the occasional video editing/rendering - but I usually render while I sleep, so no interruption.

What are my major sticking points right now, are the hard drive, OS, and the accidental damage protection.

1) Hard Drive - I'm going with an SSD for my OS and Gaming, but I've heard multiple opinions on: "Better to have a bigger SSD for both, than split SSDs for OS and a separate one for gaming." Cost wise, the bigger SSD makes more sense. (In general, 1 480GB SSD, or 2 240GB SSD)

2) The accidental damage warranty - this is always a sticking point for people. Murphy's Law says if you don't buy it, you'll need it - when you do buy it, you'll never use it. I couldn't find specific reviews on the warranty via XOTIC PC - so do any of you have thoughts/preferences/suggestions on that? I do travel, a lot - hotels, airports, so that leads me towards things the extra protection is a smart thing.

3) OS - again, some people swear "Only get 7!" some now saw, "8.1 helps!" I've used both - am indifferent. As long as game run, and game run well, that's all I care about - the tertiary items of a computer will run comparably well regardless of the OS. I'm not redesigning Hubble, I'm mostly a gamer who needs mobility, but not necessarily battery life mobility. [of course understanding the Win7 RAM limits]

The single video card isn't a deal-breaker for me. I know people who swear by needing two video cards, but even my M14X doesn't seem to have a lot of issues with the 555M (single); I don't need a new laptop - I mainly want a new one.

Anyways - NBR was a big help for all my laptop dealings for some time, so I wanted to solicit opinions and feedback. I've heard good things about Sager/Clevo and therefor am seeking out those who are much smarter than I am!

 

Hey,
I have the same laptop, 8265-S with the AMD 8970. It's an excellent machine, good choice.

I would say get a nice fast mechanical, use it for the majority of storage. Get a decent sized mSata, and use it for your OS and your most frequently used games/programs.
This is the setup I have and it's great, also saves some $$.

I only got the 1 year warranty on mine... I don't really travel around with it much though. I will say Sager support has been very good the couple times I've utilized them.

As far as OS, go with 8.1. Don't listen to the haters, 8/8.1 is actually a solid OS if your mind can comprehend lack of a start menu. Pretty much anything that can run on 7 can run on 8/8.1. 8.1 is lighter weight and handles resources better than 7. Driver issues are being worked out (as with any new OS) and Sager has all the 8.1 drivers for this model available on their site.
The RAM limit is not inherent to Windows 7, BTW. ANY 32-bit OS can only use at max 4GB of RAM, regardless of how much is actually installed in the machine. So, make sure you use a 64-bit version of whatever OS you decide on


BTW, if you want any tips on settings up your new machine, let me know, I'm happy to help.

 

Basically the same points made as csand.

For clarification on the warranty, that accidental applies solely to the LCD panel and not the machine as a whole. If you've had your current machine this long without incident with breaking the display, you'll probably be in good shape without it. We offer it for those people, myself admittedly included, that just are not careful and break displays more often than we care to admit.

 

Hey SpaceHamster,

1. A single large SSD or SSD + HDD is up to your needs. You usually get more storage space for what you pay out of the SSD + HDD combo, but if you don't think you'll need as much capacity as a mechanical drive provides, get the bigger SSD for all around top notch performance!

2. Purely your call. You nailed it with Murphy's Law, but just remember that IF you ever do need to use it and you have it, it will most likely save you money in the long haul as opposed to paying for shipping and part(s).

3. While I personally prefer 7, 8 has been demonized perhaps more than it deserves. There are some driver hiccups with 8.1 and not everyone is exactly head over heels with the design/UI. Still, it has some performance advantages and is otherwise pretty stable. Go with what you feel comfortable with!

Happy hunting, and don't hesitate to garner all the wisdom you can before dropping all that money on a nice machine.

 

1. If you can afford a big SSD, get that. Most can't, so they get a SSD and a HDD so they have plenty of room.

2. Have you had problems with your other laptops while traveling? I think this one partially depends on how carefull you are with the laptop.

3. If you are indifferent, then get Win 8 or 8.1. These are more secure, faster booting, include directx 11.2, and have some other advancements that Win 7 doesn't have.

 

Thanks for the feedback! Placed my order today...

Ended up with the 4700MQ (the improvement of the 4800 just didn't seem worth it), the 480GB M5 SSD to run my OS/Games, and a 1TB HDD for storage and light software. I am very much looking forward to this.

 

I assume you got the 780M. Looks like you got a great system. You will love that SSD.

 

Yes I did! The 780M was the only option...but it's a damn good one. Far above and beyond my current set-up.

 

I think you will be quite happy. I just ordered the 17" version of what you got, well without the tribal touchpad. I ordered the NP8275-S also with the 780M. Nothing but the best...

 

FAN NOISE/COOLING/TEMPERATURE & KEYBOARD/TOUCHPAD
Hi guys. I am thinking to buy the same model too from xoticpc.com. I wanted to know about:

• the fan noise (I heard sager laptops have very loud fan noise) and
• the temperature (like when doing light work such as browsing the net and some more demanding ones such as watching movies and some even more demanding one like in gaming or encoding movies).
• the keyboard/keys design/feel esp. for someone who does a lot of typing.
  
• And how's the sound quality on this model?

Also, at xoticpc, they list the base model processor as i7 4700MQ @2.4GHZ. But I wonder if it comes with the turbo boost. There's another thing at xotipc in the custimization stage - they say you can add extra the extra cooling upgrade by essentially adding more heatsinks to it. So I was wondering whether is this extra cooling needed as A-MUST or not. Same applies for the IC Diamond thermal compound instead of the Stock OEM compound.

SCREEN
Most people are going for the FHD Matte screen nowadays but we do have a lot even customizing it for the diff. choices being offered by xotic pcs (glossy 90% color gamut and matte 72% color gamut):

• 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Matte Screen (1920x1080) (SKU - X1R553)
• 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen w/ 72% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) (SKU - X1R551) ( + 149 )
• 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen w/ 90% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) (SKU - X1R503) ( + 149 )

this quote been lifted from this thread: Ordering Sager, what is best screen? "Glare Type" or "Matte Type"? where they discuss about the same.

I would appreciate your contributions on those points which I talked about here.

 

I don't think the fan noise at the same temp is bad, say compared to Alienware. It will be low when just surfing the internet, but noisy when gaming. If you want lower noise, you can underclock, and undervolt, and set lower thermal limits, etc. But performance will need a fast fan, so gaming laptops are noisy when gaming. dba noise ratings are in several reviews.

Temp ratings internal and external are in notebookcheck.com reviews. Search for the base clevo model number or simular.

The keyboard is subjective, depends on what you like. I do know they have put a better keyboard in the new line than they did previous years. I am obviously not worried about it.

Laptop speakers are rarely good. So these are OK. Many users use headphones when gaming for better sound and to drown out the fans. Not a lot of bass. But this is also subjective.

All haswell cpus can turbo boost. The higher models can boost more. And it also depends on how many cores are active and the temps.

I don't think the extra heat sinks are worth it. If they did anything, Clevo would have used them. If you want them, just buy ram heat sinks and do it yourself. I would skip it though.

As for the IC Diamond, well, I think swapping the thermal paste has value, I didn't order it on my unit. I am not a fan of IC Diamond because it dries out after six months to a year and you have to apply it again, and it creates tiny scratches. I ordered Artic Silver 5, since it doesn't dry out, nor scratch. It may not cool as well as IC Diamond, but the difference is only about 1C. So I will do my own thermal paste, if I need to. The tube was about five bucks.

As for screens, some say get matte, some glossy. I think they miss the important question, enviroment. If you use it in enviroments with lights behind you, or above and behind, then maybe. The glossy gives the best picture. Try taking a current laptop or monitor into the different places you will use it and see if you see glare. Then decide if could handle more or would like less glare. If there was a best answer for everybody, they would only make one type.

 

I agree on the screen issue, it comes down to your own usage pattern. This is why both are offered when it's possible.

Adding in copper ramsinks would require modifications to the cover in order to direct to and extract air from inside the casing along with a cooling pad below.

 

The xoticpc heatsink upgrade is done by putting ram heat sinks on the current heat sink pipes, as I understand it. The fans aren't designed to blow air in that area, which is what Meaker is describing. I also heard from a person that got it, and said it wasn't worth it.

If you are in the usa, you might check lpc-digital for prices. That is where I just ordered from, and so far the price and service has been great.