Need help customizing my Sager NP8150!

Hi everybody,

I'm going to buy a Sager NP8150 from XoticPc soon, I just have couple of questions about the options that I have, I really appreciate it if you help me out.
My main use of this notebook (or laptop, whatever...) is, gaming (mostly Bad Company 2 and some other games...) and some everyday use of internet and Movies ( I'm big fan! )


These are the specs of my choice:

- 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare Type Screen, Standard Dead Pixel Policy

- 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM, 2.0-2.8GHz, (32nm, 6MB L3 cache)

- IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU

- nVidia GeForce GTX 460M 1,536MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11

- ~ 4,096MB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS)

- Custom Fitted Laptop Back LCD Skin

- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Software

- ~ 500GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)

- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)

- Intel® Ultimate-N 6300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module

- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera

- No TV Tuner

- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)

- Integrated Fingerprint Reader


So now, I was thinking that is it worth it to upgrade the cpu from i7 2630QM to 2720QM? The difference is 160$. (they both are Quad cores, right?)
I think 4gb of ram is enough for me, if it was necessary I can always upgrade it later.
Can I have a faster Dvd drive? 8x?? isn't a little slow?!
And I don't need bluetooth so I chose the 6300 instead.
What components of this notebook is upgradable?

The notebook will be 1448$ with 2630QM, and 1603$ with the 2720QM.
My budget is about 1500$, so I don't know what to do??
What do you think of this laptop in general? Is there anything that I should know?

Btw, is the HM65 chipset flaw fixed in this notebook?


Wow, I asked a LOT of questions... I appreciate that you've read all of it, and answered my questions, thank you!

 

If you are gaming, imo pass on the extra stuff you don't really need right now, IE the custom skin, Diamond compound (do it yourself for 5 bucks), processor upgrade etc. and get the 6970 video card. Of anything you could possibly upgrade, this will by far be the best bang for the buck from a gamers point of view. For gaming, the 2630 is more than capable of playing anything you can throw at it.

 

Yes, what Pimsley said is true. Go for the 6970M, but don't throw things at your new computer, obviously.

 

Do not spend $160 on the 2720QM. If you're willing to spend that, spend that $160 + the $40 from the IC, and put it towards the 6970M.

If you must, put your entire upgrade budget towards the 6970M. It'll make the biggest difference, where as small things like the Intel 6300 will probably never show you any kind of tangible advantage.

It's threatening to be 2x the speed of the GTX 460M, and games like BF:BC2 will see huge improvements.

 

Keep the CPU at the default quad core choice, invest into the AMD Radeon HD 6970m and also repaste if you dont want to do it yourself.

I would also upgrade the Wi-Fi card to at least one of the Intel offers.
Dont trust Atheros card or whatever they use as standard.

Only reason why i got the i7 2720QM is because it was the default choice.

 

^^This.

@OP - Don't even bother with the skin. Also, it doesn't sound like you have gotten quotes yet, since you aren't set on the configuration. I would suggest speaking to different resellers. Just putting it out there.

 

Thank you everybody!
Since everybody said the same thing, I'm gonna listen and go with ATI, and 2630QM, No skin, No IC, and the Intel 6230 wireless.
I'm ready to submit the order! just two other questions...
Can I get a faster dvd drive? Isn't 8x a little slow??
and about the HM65 Chipset flaw... The sandy bridge thing that made SATA ports slower over long period of time... These notebooks are completely fixed, right?

 

Congrats on being ready to pull the trigger. You are going to be getting a great machine. As for your DVD question, the one that is coming with it is definitely more than sufficient and no real need to change it unless you desire blu-ray. As for the sandy bridge issue, that is in the rear view mirror and anything you order now should be 100% fine. Go place that order and let us know how it goes!

 

You won't regret choosing the 6970M. It's power blows me away.

 

The Atheros wireless card is fine...

*hugs Atheros stock...*

If you're more into saving money than having the best, forget the 6970M and get yourself a Sager 8130. It's less than 1200 from Malibal...

 

This makes no sense. The 6970 is the best, so how would forgetting it be the best? lol