Sager 5720 REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!

At long last, I’m here to post my review of the amazing new Sager NP5720 notebook. I haven’t been able to spend nearly as much time with my 5720 as I hoped because of work and family considerations. Nevertheless, I’ve learned a lot about what this beauty can do so I figured I’d write a solid, but concise review. I’m certain others will be posting 5720 reviews that will add breadth to what I report. So, let’s get to it!

I purchased my 5720 from DiscountLaptops.com and recommend them very highly to anyone in the market for a notebook. They carry everything from 12" ultralights up to those massive 14-pound Clevo (Sager) desktop replacement behemoths. DL has superior pricing and customer service. I bought a Sager 3790 from them, last year, so I knew I was in good hands by returning there for my 5720.

My 5720 is equipped as follows:

Pentium M 750 1.86GHz
17” WSXGA+ (1680x1050) High-Gloss LCD
Nvidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256MB
80GB 7200RPM
2GB Kingston PC4200
8X DVD R/RW Dual-layer Lightscribe
Intel Pro 2915 A/B/G wireless

I added a Lite-On 16X DVD R/RW DL LS + 48X CDRW external drive that I picked up for only $79.95 shipped from NewEgg. They had a one-day special that was too good to resist.

I also tried one of the new NotePal cooling stands (pictured below), but am going to return it. The 5720's build is such that most of the weight is concentrated towards the back due to the location of the 7800 GTX video card and its fans. This imbalance made the 5720 very unstable while it rested on the NotePal; it was extremely easy to tip the notebook backward off the stand. Plus, the volume of air generated by the NotePal’s fans was barely noticeable, so I found no real value in using it. Besides, the notebook runs very cool on its own even after a few long gaming sessions.

BUILD

The 5720 has a solid, firm feel to it. It doesn’t at all feel like plastic. I really like the black lid. It contrasts nicely with the silver base. What was most surprising to me was the weight. I had serious misgivings about the weight of a 17" DTR notebook. I’ve used the Inspiron 9300 and Sager 4750 (discontinued), both 17"ers, and the Inspiron 9100. All were thick and heavy. When I pulled my 5720 out of its box, I couldn’t believe it was so "light", relatively speaking. It weighs just over 8 pounds compared to the 10+ pounds of Dell’s XPS2 and M170, not to mention the Sager 9860/9890/9750 beasts that tip the scales at 14 pounds. To be fair, the 5720 is NOT a thin & light machine. But, for the "desktop replacement" class of notebooks, it'll be awfully difficult to beat the 5720 in terms of bulk and weight.

The only "fault" I can find with the 5720 is its trackpad. Now, understand that my last notebook was an Asus Z70va. Its aluminum trackpad was easily the best I've ever seen. Still, the 5720's trackpad is very nice. It's smoothly integrated into the keyboard and performs well. For hi-end applications (Maya 7) and gaming, I use an external Razr mouse, anyway.

SCREEN

For years, I've been against the glossy LCDs that are becoming the standard in notebook design. I didn't like the "mirror" effect and preferred the matte black screens. However, my opinion has done a 180-degree turnaround after seeing/using my 5720's LCD. This screen is gorgeous! Colors explode off the panel. Everything is brighter, more vibrant and vivid, and I'm now a glossy screen devotee. I even prefer my 5720's LCD to my Dell 2405FPW 24" desktop LCD.

Oh yeah… NO DEAD PIXELS, NO DEAD PIXELS!!!

PERFORMANCE

In a single word: AWESOME!!!

My desktop PC is a one and a half year old Hornet Pro SFF with the Athlon 64 3200+, ATI X800XT, 160GB 7200RPM, 1GB PC3200, etc. My 5720 blows it away!!! I was stunned at the performance differences. Take a look at the two 3DMark2005 scores to get an idea of what I mean. I'm not an overclocker, so both machines were tested with the latest drivers at stock settings.

I can crank up my games to their highest graphics settings and play them without the slightest lag or dip in performance. Quake 4 runs perfectly at even Ultra settings, as do Half-Life 2 and Doom 3. I haven't loaded F.E.A.R., probably THE most graphically-intense game ever, but will try it soon.

Thanks to the 5720's DVI port, I can connect the notebook to my Dell 2405 monitor and my 40" LCD HDTV. I'm going to try it on the TV over the weekend and will add pics to this review. I can't wait to see how Quake 4 looks at 40 inches of HDTV glory!!

MISCELLANEOUS

Intel 2915 A/B/G wireless card: Absolutely fantastic! I'm picking up networks from all over my loft building that I didn't know existed. My Asus Z70va had the Intel 2200BG which detected 8 wireless networks. The 2915 has found 14 B&G networks along with 3 A networks.

DVD R/RW drive: I've burned 15 CDs and DVDs perfectly. No coasters. I'm using the external DVD R/RW for games since it's the faster drive.

AC power supply: Some owners have complained that the power cord detaches too easily from the back of the 5720. Not so for mine!!

CONCLUSION

So, what do you expect me to say?? I love this 5720!!!!!!!! It's the ultimate mobile desktop computer for gaming and workstation apps. I've shown my baby to a couple of database developers and an architect. All three have placed orders for a 5720.

If you're in the market for a DTR notebook, you're gonna have a hard time resisting the Sager 5720. If you're not looking for a new computer, stay far, far away from the 5720! If you ARE looking, but think the 5720 is out of your price range, then definitely stay away. After just a few minutes with this notebook, you'll be ready to sell the wife to gypsies and your kids for medical experiments to take home this notebook!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

 

Great review, hope you like it. I may be ordering one in a week or two, but with the higher resolution, 2.13ghz and no bluetooth.

If you turn every single setting on the highest for doom 3, like AA and AF or whatever, just turn EVERYTHING up to highest, what fps would you get on average. I wanna see how good this laptop really is. But I know that'll be the first thing I do when i get it.

 

Nice Jack! And Happy Thanksgiving to you too

Good, short review, that's a great notebook. 7800GTX kicks serious..you know what.

Thanks for the review.

 

I think they did that before and got around a 34... So there's NOTHING bad about it?

 

Thanks for the review, Jack! Hope you get some more time with the 5720 once the holiday winds down...

 

Great review Jack! I have the same rig, except I went for the 1920x1200 screen, and you're right, it's gorgeous. No dead pixels either. As far as the weight goes, I've been carrying mine approximately 7-10 blocks in downtown Seattle everyday from the bus to work, and it's not an issue.

I think my only issue is the laptop bag that Sager sends is BARELY big enough for the laptop. It's been replaced.

 

Thanks for all the kind words about my review!!!

 

holy hell that GPU is crazy. My X600 only manages a 1660 without overclocking

 

hey Jack, just wanted to chime in and say thanks for the review, glad the 5720 is working out for you!

 

Glad you liked it. I be luvin' this notebook!!!

 

good choice i love mine! Personally, i don't like the look of the front of it, but i love the lid...

 

Hey, Jack. Noticed in your sig that you'll be selling this soon. Why is that?

 

Slappy: First off, I absolutely LOVE those lightsaber dueling squirrels!!!

I'm startiing a new job that'll have me travelling A LOT, including some international travel. I love my 5720, but it's just not practical for extended travel. I also have lost interest in serious gaming, so my reasons for buying my 5720 have basically evaporated.

I've got a nice HP nc8230 from work, but would love to find a 15.4" Turion/WSXGA+/ATI X1600 notebook to use for the new job. If my gaming fever returned, I'd get something like an SFF PC with a top graphics card. I priced a few AMD dual-core/ATI X1900 XT SFFs at less than $1800.

I'm waiting to see if the upcoming MSI-1039 will offer a WSXGA+ before I sell my 5720. We should know in a couple of weeks.

 

Want to trade Jack?

Yeah, that MSI-1039 is going to be a beast. Also, be sure to look at the 14" Asus W3J.

 

Sure, Chaz...

How about my 5720 for 1900 of your $1.00 bills??

 

This is my first post, been reading these forums for a good 4 mos. trying to decide what laptop to get, i definitely need a gamer, My mouth is definitely watering at the prospect of purchasing the 5720, it is definitely one of the pretty'est and most powerful laptops i have considered buying, i have read all 5 reviews and have found them all helpful, i wanted to know if any of you 5720 owners out there could relate some specific experience about the batteyr life in this bad boy(dvd/music cd playing while lid is closed, and other activities while unplugged

Thank you

definitely the most informative Notebook website on the net,
props to notebookreview.

 

Good review JackBauer!! Only thing I can say that Geforce 7800 is a awesome graphics card You should put more pics of your Sager 5720!Looking forward for your review for your new ASUS V1J's review!!
If I will get my V1J, I'll do a review, too.