Sager 8150/8130 vs MSI GT680

Just wondering if anyone is considering the MSI GT680 also compared to the 8130 and 8150? I still don't see many Sandy Bridge notebook options other than Sager, MSI, Asus and Toshiba so far.

The MSI forum is quiet so reading about MSI, I've read the build quality maybe a little bit below Sager. In it's favor, the sound with the default speakers is better and it comes able to support 2 drives right out of the box. It also comes with a 2 year parts/labor warranty. The gaming LEDs are hit or miss depending on the user and can be disabled. It only comes with the GTX 460. Not sure if it can take the 485 or the 6970 eventually...Pricing is $1624 w/ base config (4x2GB ram, 2x500GB HD) and 6x blu-ray as the only additional option (also comes with Win 7 64 bit home).

The 8150 would be $1429 w/ blu-ray and base config (4gb ram, 320gb HD, no O/S, 3 year labor, 1 year parts).

The 8150 would be $1629 w/ blu-ray, 8gb ram upgrade, 1x500gb HD upgrade, windows 7 home premium...

Anyone know if the GT680 can eventually take the 6970 or a GTX485?
I guess the GX680 is the model with the ATi/AMD cards...

I would need to buy the O/S so I won't be able to save the $90 or so...

Thoughts?

 

GX/GT680 uses a single fan for cooling both the GPU and CPU so it'll unlikely be able to handle an HD6970M or GTX 485M.

The MSI's benefits are the second HDD bay, the Dynaudio speakers, and the numpad , but personally I think they're outweighed by the Sager's better GPU, it's smaller chassis (GT680 is really a 16" chassis), better screen upgrade option, cleaner looks, and better build quality.

 

Phinagle, what do you mean the MSI's benefit includes the numpad? Both the NP8150 and NP8130 have numpad's don't they?

 

Yeah they do.

 

I don't like Clevo's numpad.

 

Ahh, it does have a 4 column numpad which is nicer...Are there any other laptops that I could consider? I was leaning towards the 8170, but decided I didn't like how the keyboard was the same as the 8150 (cramped even though it has more space) and have been using an external lcd anyways lately. Considering 24" displays now as well with possibly the 8150. Would also need it to support GTX 485M or HD6970M.

The 8150 is a lb lighter as well compared with the MSI...No one seems to have a back lit keyboard yet in the 15"?

 

In 17.3" there's the Alienware M17x r3 which will get an HD6970M and rumors of a GTX 485M. If you're willing to go for a larger size I'd suggest the AW over the 8170 because of the HDMI-in, the BIOS overclocking, the great warranty, and switchable graphics. The 8170 does seem more solid on build quality though.

The larger MSI GT780, despite it's great looks, is a let-down as far as specs go. From what I've seen it also looks like it's using single fan cooling and won't handle a GPU faster than a re-branded GTX 460M.

 

The AW will really have switchable graphics? Even on the highest-end GPUs? And the OCing is only for the extreme CPUs, right?

And HDMI in??? What would you use that for?

 

Linked is an article from AnandTech talking about the Sandy Bridge wait and specifically releasing details from their postponed review of the MSI GT680R. I saw a cache of 10 or more of these machines posted on eBay today for list price, here is the link to that as well (edit: this is actually a pre-order sale it seems).

MSI GT680R-008US 15.6" Core i7-2630QM/6GB/1TB LAPTOP - eBay (item 160528589196 end time Mar-08-11 01:41:05 PST)

Mobility Sector Updates: Waiting for Sandy Bridge and Market Analysis - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

 

AW stated that they will have optimus with the 460m, but I think it is said that it is not currently working right now.

Also, OCing is only for the extreme CPUs, though TS might come up with some brilliance to OC the other CPUs as well.

HDMI-in is good because you can hook up external consoles or DSLRs to view photos or play games on the m17x's 3D monitor. It's not the most used feature, but it will come in handy at times.

 

The AW has Optimus with the GTX 460M, unless you choose the 120Hz screen option, and uses PowerXpress switching with the AMD cards.

There are BIOS OC options currently unlocked on any Sandy Bridge CPU installed not just the Extreme.

HDMI-In allows you to connect cameras, blu-ray players, game consoles, etc. directly to your laptop's screen.

 

BIOS configurations...Jeez, if AW will do it, why not Sager? We should have the option to OC our machines.

For that matter, why do BIOS's seem to be unhackable? There's a lot of user-created hacks out there for various computer purposes, but why does it seem that no one has the know-how or ability to write their own system BIOS?

 

Yes, this BIOS is very, very limited..

I can't do anything inside the BIOS.

Can't believe the only "Advanced Chipset Control" we have is the bluetooth power setting..

 

Yeah thats the only downside it seems, lack of options in the BIOS

 

I know, it would be great if we had some sort of unlocked BIOS like the alienware m17x R3 does.. They can OC 2720QMs and 2820QMs as well.

 

How often does sager update their bios? Any chance of it improving in the near future?

 

To be honest, I don't know..

It would be a great gesture on their part, and definitely I think it would promote sales.

But I doubt they will let QM users OC, when they also have XM processors..

Allowing OC in BIOS will counteract their sales of XMs... I guess they have to find a middle point to maximize sales.

 

Actually they shouldn't care because they don't sell CPUs. Never did, never will. The CPUs are sold by the resellers and if sales for the 2920XM go down, then they will just order less of these CPUs.

 

This discussion just makes me want to know even more why people don't just write their own BIOS. I would think someone with a machine with a sub-par BIOS and the knowledge of coding would write a new BIOS to suit their needs. Are system BIOS just more complicated than I realize?

 

Not many people know how to program in such low level languages any more...