Recommended Drivers for Sager NP8662 Windows 7 64-bit?

My NP8662 is supposed to arrive Friday (technically today - after 12 midnight). I'll be waiting with baited breath for the UPS guy to show up!

Anyhow, I ordered it without an OS because I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit RTM through TechNet that I plan on using.

Can someone point me to all the recommended drivers for Windows 7 64-bit? I'm assuming Vista drivers would work, but would prefer 7 drivers if they exist and are better than the Vista ones.

I am having a hard time finding exactly what audio and network chips they use.

Here's what I found so far:

PM45 Express Chipset + ICH9M:
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/inf/sb/CS-009270.htm

Intel 5300 AGN Wifi:
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...4-bit+version*&lang=eng&strOSs=160&submit=Go!

nVidia GTX 260M:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/notebook_winvista_win7_x64_186.81_whql.html

Network Adapter:
???

Audio:
???

Bluetooth:
???

Any additional recommendations would be appreciated.

I am sure the supplied drivers from Sager will work, but I like to check the latest versions to see if there's an added benefit. Also, hopefully Windows 7 will have the latest drivers integrated (at least latest as of RTM release).

Thanks.

 

probably want to consider 186.82 instead of 186.81

you can grab 186.82 from www.laptopvideo2go.com

 

Pretty sure the first thing you wanna install is the Intel Matrix Storage Manager drivers..

Atleast according to countless posts in here

 

If you're using RTM, Windows Update apparently now pulls the newest (186.86) driver for you. And yep, chipset should be installed first.
there's more info and links to updated drivers in my sig

 

This is definitely one of the second things you want to do. Before that you should make sure your Bios is set to Vista and not XP as the OS.

All of your other drivers should be installed automatically if you have a network connection during install.

 

Awesome write up @nthony! +1 I'll be sure to reference your driver links. Great stuff!

Strange thing is that you have the Intel Matrix drivers referenced as last install, but so far most people are saying its the first thing you should do. Does it really matter? I've always done chipset north & south, drive controller(s), onboard network and audio, then any add-on cards like video.

 

Are the automatically installed drivers the best recommended ones including Intel Matrix?

 

Intel Matrix won't be automatically installed and I advise you download audio and video drivers to install. Everything else should auto install fine. Having said that, I thought I heard Windows 7 auto update will download up-to-date Nvidia GPU drivers.

 

If you don't have the correct bios settings for your HDD mode / OS and you attempt to install your Matrix drivers last you will have more work to do to install them because they will refuse to install.

The reason why I would suggest you install them first is mostly to avoid having to do registry edits and other ''unnecessary'' methods to enable your system to install this driver. Also, you will get a BSOD if you simply change your OS / HDD mode to the correct one later on.

The lower HDD temperatures and more efficient HDD operations you will get are also a good reason to install them first.

 

Great, thanks for the tips. What BIOS settings are critical then? I just got the laptop, but am having it charge up now and won't be able to turn it on until my kids go to bed. Otherwise they'll be all over it.

This other post has links to the chipset and matrix drivers:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5278621&postcount=25

I'll do that first and foremost!

 

(F2 to at startup) When you are in the Bios, go to Advanced and where it says ''Installed OS'', make sure that it says Vista. Underneath that, where it says ''Sata Mode selection'' it should be set to ''AHCI''. Be sure to save your settings.

You might also want to check your boot order to make sure it is not checking for unnecessary devices to boot from.

 

On my desktop where I use "AHCI" I had issues booting from my DVD drive. Is this an issue with this laptop? I'm assuming it isn't, probably just a quirk on my desktop motherboard, but had to eventually switch it to IDE to get functionality back.

Anyhow, thanks.

 

umm... Theres no hotkey drivers for 7 and the vista ones refuse to work :-(

so basicaly all you need are the GPU, HDD, Chipset and Cardreader/expresscard drivers and you are ready to go...

 

All of my hotkeys work fine in Windows 7, why would you try to install the Vista ones? Am I missing something.

 

umm... could you link me the drivers please...?
and probably i'm getting it wrong, but hotkeys are those buttons right next to the power button?

 

Ok, so far so good. Although I still don't understand why you have to reboot after installing something like the touchpad driver, but whatever. It went pretty smooth.

As far as the hardware is concerned, I love the brushed aluminum. The screen is simply fantastic, zero backlight bleed with no dead or stuck pixels. It feels solid with tight fit and finish between the panels. I also like the large rubber feet that feel so much more robust than other laptops with cheap small bumpers, and lifts it off the surface with lots of room for breathing.

Now it's time for bed, but will probably start some benchmarking tomorrow night. I have to think about what to do first. Probably just the generic 3DMark06 and 3DMark Vantage just for a baseline. I'm excited!

 

Congratulations on recieving the machine mate, you just gave me flashbacks to acouple months ago when i recieved mine....i remember the was now power and it was dark i was unpacking it using a flashlight u still loved it.....but not fully until the next morning when i could see the thing in light

 

I didn't download any drivers. During my Windows 7 install I just made sure that I was connected to my wifi internet and any needed drivers were automatically downloaded and installed. All hotkeys work perfectly.

If you didn't connect to wifi during install, maybe a Windows update would download them.

 

I haven't had any issues like that with this laptop. However, you can change from AHCI to XP/ IDE mode with out any problems but if you try to change from XP to AHCI / Vista you will get a BSOD. Another reason why it is a good idea to select AHCI before you install the OS unless you are installing XP.

I purchased my laptop with XP installed and installed Windows 7 later on without changing to Vista so I had to do registry edits and different workarounds to get to AHCI mode.

After I did this, I noticed a 10C reduction in idle HDD temperature and a 5C reduction on load.

 

@hwingnutyeah, it is a solid laptop. Well with my P8700 I got (10001-10040) in 3dmark 06. So I'm guessing you'd go much farther. Oh yes, the aluminium (-ium vs -um, just read an article on that, )finish is just great. So, where did you get it from? (XoticPC I guess, like me).
Oh and could you just note down the benchmark temps and post it too?

@LaptopNut: Oh yeah, I realized... the first 2 buttons launch MS Outlook and Firefox for me.

But the 3rd button seems to do nothing.

 

The 3RD button should place your laptop into silent mode with the fans spinning down to a very low rate. The fan sound should go almost silent. If your other buttons are working then that must be working too.

 

Oh yeah, I just checked it now... There used to be so much ambient noise I did not notice before.
MAN, the laptop is like totally silent.
Umm... arent there any drivers/software for Win7 x64 to reconfigure these buttons to do something else?
(Frankly I dont even use the Browser button :-(, WinKey+2 = Firefox anyways...) Still thought it would be kinda cool though to assign them to a game or such.

 

htwingnut congratulations for your new laptop! , I will decide about which CPU choose based in your benchmarks compared with the ones made with the Q9000. In this thread:---> Multicore optimization more common; an arguement for the Q9000 and future mobile i7 CPU's <--- there are many post regarding the performance of Q9000 with different simulators/games will be nice to compare this two beasts. .
from what reseller is your laptop? , I´m planing to buy it from xoticpc, but I don´t have any experience with this reseller. How much time from payment to open the box in your house?. I´m at Europe now and planing to come to the States late september, so my plan is to buy it from here, and have it in my house when I arrive,so the timing is important. ANxious to get mine!!!

 

I used XoticPC. I was very pleased with the timing, although I hear it can vary depending on your configuration. I submitted my order August 25 with Paypal eCheck that cleared on August 28, laptop shipped Tuesday Sept 1, and received the laptop Sept 4. I did not add an OS to my system, so not sure if that had anything to do with it.

I hear you should allow for a week or so for order configuration and burn-in prior to shipment, then however long shipping takes. If you're close to California, then it should only take a couple days if you use UPS ground. Otherwise expect 3-4 days East of the Mississippi. I am running benches right now, will post as soon as done with first batch.

First up will be:

3DMark Vantage
3DMark06
World in Conflict Demo Benchmark
Crysis GPU/CPU Benchmark
Flight Simulator X

 

You simply press the 3rd key that is closest to your Power button to enable silent mode. I didn't install any hotkey drivers though.

The first thing I did when I got my new laptop was to run HWMonitor to make sure all temps were in order.

As much as I love this laptop, the W860CU has my interest a lot more. Redstone, it might be worth waiting for that one with the i7 (quad) and other improvements.

I waited over 3 months for the NP8662 when I canceled my original NP8660 order and it was well worth it.

 

redstone: I used XoticPC to order my laptop. It took exactly 10 business days i.e. I ordered it on a Monday and it reaches me next week friday evening around 5.45(I live in NC). From my personal experience I would recommend XoticPC. I know I sound like a fanboy, but well the buying process was pretty smooth and it never felt like they were taking my money and running away. Not only did I get the process stage emails, but also received prompt responses for my other mails. I really don't know, I never received such service in my home country... *shrug* I wonder if all services are like this...I'll soon start liking the USA

 

Totally impressed by this new laptop (W860CU), thanks for advise me Laptopnut. I had no idea of its existence, when one think that have almost made the final decision , something new and better appears hehehe . Well this new laptop seems like have the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, is QUAD core and can OVERCLOCK itself so if you need extra GHZ when using one or two cores it automaticly gives you that extra performance in ghz that have the high clocked Dual cores, very clever way to stop the critics to the quad cores against higher ghz dual cores. I found this link, of an european reseller, could be useful to see the different options and price: ---> http://www.mycizmo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=207 <---

 

Thanks htwingnut and ski_power for the information about xoticpc, is very valuable for me. I´m trying to make a decisison to buy now a NP8662, and what cpu version, or wait until W860CU is avail to buy, so interesting times to benchmark and learn as much as I can about the different systems . And htwingnut looking forward to see your results of your powerful new laptop!

 

You will definitely want to keep a close eye on this thread here

nVidia GTX 260m put to the test with Sager NP8662 - comparision Core 2 Duo vs Quad

We have benched Crysis, World In Conflict, Far Cry 2, Company Of Heroes and many other titles on the 2.85 Ghz Core2Duo Vs the 2.0 Ghz Q9000. My results will be edited in once they have been put in an easy to view order.

There are some very interesting results in that thread.

 

Fine! , I`m Cheking now. Thanks

 

I did not install any chipset drivers..... did Windows update install them automatically? becuase I seem to be fine ....

Just installed win 7 prof. x64.

Also I did not do the AHCI thing before install, so I guess I need to do some reg. edits to enable it, then install the matrix storage drivers... do you have a procedure you can share?
Thanks.

 

You'd be fine without them, but I doubt if Windows update installed it for you. Just follow the links in this thread to get the latest chipset drivers.

The BIOS should already have AHCI enabled, so it's probably in the proper state; but if it wasn't, you'll encounter problems when installing the matrix drivers. If that's the case, you'd need to re-install the OS (with AHCI enabled in BIOS). (edit: just saw your other topic)

 

You wouldn't need to reinstall the OS, there are workarounds.