Opinions on this order? (Sager np8298/Clevo p177sm-a)

I've decided on the np8298 over the MSI gt70 dominator because of quality control/build quality issues. How's this config look?

 

I would add a mSATA drive as the OS drive to get the faster boot up times and read/write times. Looks like the bottom part is missing, did you add Windows?

 

I was mulling over the idea but this is already more than I wanted to pay. I added win 8.1, it just got cut off in the screenshot

 

That drive is ok for storage but running sata 2 will definitely slow the computer down. Id start saving for an msata as well for os and use that drive for data storage.

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Getting SSD technology is the number one upgrade you can do to see a noticeable increase in performance. Once you get one as a boot drive you'll never go back to HDD. If its not in your budget now, it should be the first thing you upgrade down the road.

 

Is it possible to transfer the os from the HDD to an SSD if I buy one in a few months?

 

You wont want to clone but can do a clean install. Since you're ordering Windows with your build a Windows disc and drivers disc will be included.

 

I think I'm just gonna raise my budget a bit and add a 120gb msata boot drive. I need this computer to last so I'm okay with spending a little more if the performance increase is really worth it

 

Nice, you wont regret it.

 

What about the NP8278-S / P170SM-AS version? That will have the SSD, 870m,i7 4810, and 16gb ram, bluray player, for a little less than your config. Unless you just really like the LED touchpad...

 

the glossy/aluminum finish deters me, that's how my current HP is and I don't like it too much. I just wish I could get my hands on the two to see how they feel.

 

It's not really a glossy finish to the aluminium, it's dark and sheens but does not mirror.

 

I mean the glossy plastic around the aluminum, it seems like it would feel cheap

 

Sorry for hijacking, but this is something I really need some clarification on. I've heard and been told this many times, yet nobody is able to give me a concrete reason why cloning is bad. I know partition alignment might be off, but that's something that can be fixed. You could also configure Windows after the fact to make it realize it's running on an SSD and HDD so it doesn't try to do stupid stuff. So assuming alignment is not an issue, what is so detrimental about cloning HDD to SSD that everybody recommends against it?

 

SSD and HDD write to sectors differently. So when you clone how the HDD sectors are written to a SSD you're introducing the possibility of errors and the beloved BSOD.
It may go just fine, I've seen plenty of posts here from people having issues with doing this and asking for help. In the end they just end up doing a clean install anyway.
Its kinda the same lines why you never want to defrag a SSD.

 

Yes you can with windows 7 backup. Cant say anything about 8 though. But if you make a system restore disc and do a backup with a system image in windows 7 you can reload that on a new hard drive or ssd. Its what I did when I went from a 320GB hard drive to a 120GB msata then to a 240GB. Same format spanned 3 drives and over 2 years with no problems (proper maintenance and responsible computing of course). But definitely think you made the right choice in getting a 120GB msata you wont regret it at all! It really is the most noticeable performance upgrade you can do.

 

I've successfully cloned all four of my home machines from hard drives to ssd with no problems on any of them. Two of them were desktops and 2 sager laptops. It was across all different brands of ssds. Two were intel 520s, one OCZ vertex 3 (I cloned my 10,000 rpm raptor raid 0 to it)and a samsung 840 pro. I used Acronis software for the clones. After you clone just make sure to run the windows experience index. (it actually will set the operating system to take into account the sdd being installed (disables defraging, page file etc). If the drive you bought it equipped with it's own software it'll do a better job configuring windows (Samsung magician....etc). I was surprised to learn that people recommending fresh installs. One thing is for sure, once you go ssd for a system drive. There is no going back to mechanical except for large data storage. Every time I have to fix a computer with a virus or trojan and have to scan a mechanical drive I just want to put my head down and cry.

 

Yeah it's true, once you go SSD you just can't go back. Although I will say that the Travelstar 7K1000 is one fine 7200rpm HDD. My old Toshiba with a 740QM now boots in under a minute with this HDD,

 

I ended up ordering it with a 120gb mSATA SSD boot drive, I've never owned a computer with an SSD before so I'm interested to see how much better it performs

 

You're officially ruined for hard drives

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Yes, going back will actually be physically painful.

 

Lol. You're gonna wish you got a 240 or bigger.

Sent from my SM-N9005

 

I'll probably end up buying a 240 sometime in the near future, thank god for that second msata slot

 

Yup! One of the reasons I went with a Clevo. I started with the 120gb included in the P170SM-AS model just to see how much of a difference it makes. Now I'm already planning on picking up another one in the future.

I'm putting all my games on the 1TB HDD, it doesn't seem to make a terribly huge difference for those. Once they are loaded, they are good to go. However, large picture folders are so much faster to browse, view thumbnails, etc! Anyone who is in to photography should get an SSD. My wife does a lot of photography, so I'm getting her a nice one pretty soon.

The biggest benefit is obviously the OS, zippy load times and program operation.

 

Depends on the game, it really helps games that stream data as you travel around.

 

Or impossible. I wont own a machine unless it has an ssd.

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Yup, once you go SSD you can't go back. I just ordered a Samsung 250G EVO mSATA for my laptop i will be ordering next week, going with the NP8278!