Opinions on my Sager NP9880 config please

Hi, I'm a serious gamer and this is what I'm looking for to replace my old Toshiba Satellite 5200. I still got questions about some features, so feel free to give your opinion!


-NP9880

-CPU Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology / 2MB L2 Cache, 3.0GHz (LGA775)
-Video Controller Nvidia GeForce GO 6800 Ultra PCI-Express 16X Graphics with 256MB DDR3 Video Memory
-Memory 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 2 X 1024MB
-Primary Hard Drive 60.0GB (7200rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive
-Floppy Drive External USB 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive
-CD-ROM/DVD-ROM 8X DVD ± R/RW/+DL Combo Drive & Softwares
-Battery 12 Cell Smart Li-ION Battery
-Modular Device Bay 60GB (7200rpm) Secondary Hard Disk Drive for Hardware Raid 0 (Data Strip)
-Modem Integrated 56K V.90 Internal Fax/Modem
-Network Adapter Integrated 1000Mbps Ethernet LAN + Internal 802.11g Wireless LAN
-Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
-Warranty 1-year standard warranty from Sager


-Sager NP9880

I don't care about the weight and the really short autonomy. I'm looking for a nasty piece of hardware capable of chewing any games I throw at it. I've also looked at the Alienware which is very similar, but I heard sad stories about their support and for almost the same config, Sager is less expensive. The LCD screen looks nice and I hope that I won't get dead pixels... Anyone knows their policy about dead pixels? I think they get their screen from Samsung..?


-CPU Pentium® 4 Processor 630 with HT Technology / 2MB L2 Cache, 3.0GHz (LGA775)

Pentium 4 6XX serie looks nice with 2MB L2 Cache, but I don't know if its 64 bits possible compatibility is interesting? As for the speed, for a small improvement, the price is increased significantly.


-Video Controller Nvidia GeForce GO 6800 Ultra PCI-Express 16X Graphics with 256MB DDR3 Video Memory

This is what really matters to me. From what I've read, this baby kicks @ss! I don't suppose that a GeForce GO 7800 will appear soon?


-Memory 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz - 2 X 1024MB

2GB of RAM is probably overkill, but I like to think that I'll be able to play Half-Life 3 in a couple of years?


-Primary Hard Drive 60.0GB (7200rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive

Modular Device Bay 60GB (7200rpm) Secondary Hard Disk Drive for Hardware Raid 0 (Data Strip)
I need help on this one.

First, I can't find the specs of these hard drives (except for the speed and capacity). On the Alienware web site, they give the specs for some of theirs. Since they look the same, I believe that the 7200rpm has 8MB of cache?

Second, I'm really tempted by the Raid 0 config, but I read that this config could generate data storage problems or something similar? On the same subject, would the 7200rpm be better than the SATA 5400rpm with this config?


-Floppy Drive External USB 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive
-Battery 12 Cell Smart Li-ION Battery
-Modem Integrated 56K V.90 Internal Fax/Modem
-Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
-Warranty 1-year standard warranty from Sager

It comes with the notebook. Nothing to say.


-CD-ROM/DVD-ROM 8X DVD ± R/RW/+DL Combo Drive & Softwares

This feature's is not essential, but I'd like to be able to burn some DVDs. Always legally of course.


-Network Adapter Integrated 1000Mbps Ethernet LAN + Internal 802.11g Wireless LAN

Wireless connection isn't essential, but always useful. If I remember correctly, g works with a and b?


Questions, comments or insults/flames?

 

Hi STF,

Well your configuration looks alot like a few of the computers I have put together while shopping recently. I am no expert, but I have been reading through the good advice from people here and its been extremely helpful.

The machine you have designed will completely rock. The only suggestion I might make is that you also look at the AMD chipsets for gaming... the new X2 chipsets are supposed to just be phenominal for gaming. I know VoodooPC is offering the AMD version of that Clevo D900 shell, with their custom paintjob in august, along with 7200rpm/100gig drive among other goodies. But its the same machine as what all the others offer.

I believe that the AMD's run cooler however... someone in the forum can probably clarify... but that is critical to this notebook design, because I read over and over that these are notorious for overheating and shutting off.

If you are at all concerned with Data Loss, stick with the sure thing and don't raid your drives. My thought is it is more trouble than its worth, and the thought of losing data is unbearable... even if it is backed up. It might be cool or a little fastah or whatevah but its not worth it IMHO. Not in something as fragile as a laptop. Standalone server = ok, notebook= not ok.

Honestly I play all the 3d shooters in high resolution from the notebook described in my signature, and it screams... not to mention I do all of my 3d animation and rendering from it as well. I have no problems with any of it, and this unit is a year and a half old now. I always bump up my resolution and turn on the cinematic goodies and its sweet. With any of these high end DR's you aren't going to have any problems with playability or speed... unless you overheat your unit and it shuts down as so many people seem to be doing with that specific Desktop Replacement Design which is the same thing offered by Sager/Alienware/Voodoo/hypersonic/falcon-nw you name it... its all the Clevo D900 shell.

As For the Harddrives... the 60gig/7200 are typically hitachi, which I personally use and have good luck with... the new 100gig/7200 coming soon are Seagates, which are also good drives (as reliability is concerned).

 

As far as heat goes the current generation of P4s run hotter than the Athlon 64's or Turion's from AMD, the Pentium M's still run cooler than either.

 

Thanks for the info guys (or gals, or guy/gal?).

I'll keep your advice in mind and will probably choose a config without Raid0. As for the CPU, the problem is that right now the notebooks which fit my budget and tastes (Sager 9880/Alienware Area-51m 7700/Hypersonic Aviator EX7) all have Pentium 4 as processor type... I'm not buying my new notebook in July, so I'll keep watch on these sites. Right now, I must say that the Sager 9880 seems to be the most interesting model (feedbacks, $ and config). Guess I'll pray for a cold winter?

To be continued..?

 

The Dell Insprion XPS2 runs cheaper than probably anything you're looking at when a good coupon rolls around, and is powered by a Pentium-M processor (don't be fooled by the low clock speeds, the P-M is great for gaming) and the same GeForce Go6800 Ultra as the other models you're looking at. Just remember, as always with Dell, get the minimum amount of RAM from them and throw in 2GB yourself.

 

I've looked at Dell's XPS2, but found it more expensive. I haven't thought about buying the RAM separately...

Thanks for the info, I'll give them another look.

 

To talk about Sagers, you should go to www.notebookforums.com

If you are going to buy it, I would recommend buying it fromPC Torque.

 

PCTorque really seems like a good idea: similar config, less expensive and surprisingly good feedbacks on support!

As for the no dead pixel guaranty, is it worth 200$? Of course, I'd hate to have dead pixels on something that costs more than 3000$, but are the statistics on my side..?

A serious contender.

ps. Coldgate, you might wanna ask a commission if I order there