Sager NP2090 Owners Lounge

could someone guide me how to overclock the sager 2090's video card

 

Should I get this or a Asus C90s I don't know what to do. Does 2090 have a Gddr3 512mb video card?

 

The Sager NP2090/Compal IFL 90 has the 512mb GDDR2 8600m GT. Also, the Asus C90s is designed to be a desktop replacement notebook so it lacks battery life.

I recommend that you fill out the FAQ and post it in "what notebook should i buy" section of the notebooks so that people can better help you decide.

-Kdawgca

 

imo i would take the ifl90 simply due to the lack of battery life from the c90. i had the chance to play with one on battery life and it maybe got 45 min or so.

to me that is unacceptable for battery life with any laptop even a 17" model with high end graphics card...

 

I don't seem to get as good battery life as everyone is saying. With a full charge and power saving settings set at "Laptop / Portable", screen brightness set to minimum, wireless lan off, and nvidia's powermizer functioning properly I ran out of juice in under two and a half hours while writing a paper. Can anyone tell me I'm just doing something wrong? Because this doesn't seem right!

 

^That seems about right. I get about the same. Well, maybe closer to 3 from my estimates, but I haven't tested from a full charge to empty yet.

 

Has anyone used audio drivers other than those that came with the laptop? The issue I'm having is that I'd like to be able to record line-out audio (through programs like Audacity, etc.) but there's no option to do so. I'm pretty sure this is an audio driver issue, but I don't know what drivers could be used to replace the current one.

Any tips? And if this isn't an audio driver issue, any ideas of how to get it to work? I can describe the problem in more detail if it's unclear.

 

Do you undervolt your cpu using RMclock? By undervolting cpu to 1.00v and underclock my video card to core 240 memory 200 I can get a little more than 3 hours surfing internet, listening music with wifi on and brightness set to 2 steps down from max on a full charge battery. But I don't have blue tooth option so maybe it could be 1 more thing that's draining your battery. Btw I have windows XP Pro.

EDIT: I run on Max Power Saving battery mode.

 

I use a Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook card in my Express Card slot. Costs about $60 but it has a feature called "What-U-Hear" when recording. Allows all playback that is coming from the speakers to be recorded.

Another idea might be to plug the headphone jack directly into the microphone jack with a 3 inch 3.5 mm standard speaker cord, and then tone down the output volumes.

The problem with these solutions is that all audio playback can be heard in the recording, including mouse clicks, etc.

 

How is it working out for you? Is the sound quality noticably better?

Sound hasnt been a issue with me until late so have been exploring my options, both headphones and speakers. Just recently started looking at external sound cards as well.

 

The bluetooth feature does suck a good amount of battery life away. I have a bluetooth mouse that I use with my 2090 and when I shut off the blue I get a big increase in battery life. As far as the soundcard I second that question, how does it sound compared to the regular line out??

 

Maybe it's 'cuz I haven't slept in the day, but I'm not really getting what you mean by the headphone jack solution. Could you elaborate a bit?

 

It's a good card, with well engineered drivers. It has lots of configurable audio options and adjustment features. It makes my music sound great. There's only one complaint, and that's that I can't enable X-Fi support in BattleField 2. Could just be doing something wrong. Usually the case.

Overall, the X-Fi card has been great. It's small, and has many features. However, right out of the box there isn't a huge leap in sound quality. The bundled software and sound adapter that the Sager NP2090 comes installed with are very nice and compete well with it. But once the Creative software for the X-Fi is configured, it's definately better than the stock audio.

Regarding the USB sound card option, I'm a long time Creative user (not a fan of thier MP3 players or customer support), and have tried the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 NX external USB sound card, in the hopes it would support OpenAL. Having to plug it into a wall socket was super-mega-lame, and it quickly maximizes the bandwidth on the USB ports (when set to 24 bit) so I had to tone down the quality to 16 bit. If not, it would be automatically disabled to conserve bandwidth (WTF). Some people have posted lengthy workarounds for this involving registry modification, so all is not lost if you wanna go that far.

So OpenAL works on this thing, but if you plan on using it for gaming like I did, the Audigy 2 NX has a noticeable delay when set to its highest settings like when it's supporting realtime OpenAL. This means I would fire a weapon and the sound would play a good half-second later (in wonderful quality!). So it's a good card if you can configure your video to compensate for the lag? I suppose for DVD playback. Not good for real-time video games.

On top of that, the bass / treble sliders within the Creative Console panel were greyed out after I had it installed (seemed odd). I contacted customer support, and after 3 days of phone / e-mail tag involving several copy/pasted e-mails, level 5 admiral technical-assistant mike told me it was supposed to be like that. Frustrating, since those controls I use very frequently on my desktop card (Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum).

So that's the end of that story, I sold it on eBay and used the money on the X-Fi. *ebay tune*

Creative also offeres another, less expensive external USB sound card that does not require a power outlet, has anyone has tried it?

 

The idea was to plug the headphone output, directly into the microphone input. That way you'd be directly recording what you would be hearing. The idea's definately half-witted, and I've never tried it so don't hold me liable!

 

It's wierd because on my NP2090, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are linked to one switch. So during the battery test Bluetooth was off. I don't want to have to underclock my laptop, I suppose I'll just get used to it.

 

Just got my own NP2090 a little while ago and was wondering what people are using for drivers for both Vista 32 and 64 bit OS's. Ive already looked around some but I have not seen anything recent. Mainly looking for what you guys are using for the 64 bit version, but I may end up switching over to the 32 bit for better compatibility.

 

I Have decided on the Sager NP2090 and I am going to buy it from Xotic.
Before I buy I have a few questions:
If I wanted to max it out for gaming performance should I buy:

Xp or Vista (will vista be required to run a lot of future programs)?

The lower resolution glossy or higher matte (I heard that lower native resolution increases performance)?

Can you overclock this video card to compete with the 256mb gddr3 version of this card?

If I go with Vista should I get the 32 or 64bit version?

Will this be able to run HL2 and TF2 on max settings?

I know that that is a lot of questions but your help is apreciated!

 

good luck with your purchase

 

Just ordered a 2090. While I wait for the processing and shipping, I have a question.

Have there been any major problems with the 2090? No overheating problems (like the one that plagued Alienware m5550) or any other problems?

While 1.33k is waiting to be charged to my credit card, I'm left wondering if I should have gotten that open box Asus G1s from best buy for 1136.99...lol

 

I've had my Sager NP2090 for about 3 months now and no problems, and with much surfing it seems other people don't have problems either. I'd have to say there's only one thing that's been annoying about the Sager with all it's millions of features.

When I open the lid, sometimes the screen doesn't come on. I have to close and reopen it to get it to come on, sometimes 2-3 times. Frustrating, but very minimal when I think of all the things I have encountered in my 11 years of working on computers.

You made a good choice. ASUS is a good company, but with the green trim, basically advertising to steal it, the screen that only comes in glossy, and that silly glowing face between the mouse buttons. Yeech.

Sager NP2090 is clean and professional.

I had a chance to demo the ASUS G1S at BestBuy, and I can tell you they are almost identical in terms of graphics processing power.

 

I got it with the WXGA glossy. I've been on my 700m for about two years now, so I'm used to it. I don't mind all the reflections.

Here's the meat of it (anyone in the owners lounge should know the standard specifics):

WXGA Glossy
T7250 (2.0GHz)
2GB RAM
100GB 7200rpm HDD
Vista 64-bit

I had considered getting the open box Asus for $1230 after TX tax and purchasing a Seagate Momentus 120GB 7200.2 3.0GB/s and Vista 32bit separately, but the price would have come out about the same and it would have been more work for me and the battery life wouldn't be as long. That, and I really didn't care for the "steal me now!" look. And I agree, intially the green glowing eye between the touchpad buttons looks cool, but it's silly after a while. Along with the green lights on the side of the LCD. Much, MUCH prefer the clean looks of the 2090.

 

Gah.

My 2090 died on me. =(

Only had it for a few months...so strange.

I went to turn it on the other day, and when it showed the bootup screen with the (motherboard?) logo, it just shut itself off. I tried to turn it on again, but nothing shows up on the screen (not even the backlight comes on), there's no harddrive activity, etc. I tried taking out the battery and replacing it, putting it on AC power, etc, but nothing would work. Sadly I think my only option is to send it in for repair.

Still a great laptop though. I just got unlucky.

 

Let us know how it goes. I'm wondering what could cause the computer to just die like that.

 

I will. I'd like to know myself. I mean, I suppose it's always possible for the motherboard or something to just die randomly, I'd just imagine it would be very very unlikely.

 

NP2090's built-in microphone has issues.

Record your voice using the mic with Sound Recorder.
Then playback, see what happens.

 

Yeah, the built-in mic could be better...still works ok for Skype in my experience though.

 

Same exact thing happened to me, vagabondllama. Black screen, no bios... I just got it back from Sager yesterday and now my battery is reporting a 5% charge. any suggestions?

 

lol, just got it and now you have to send it back again...

 

Just got an email from Xotic today, my NP2090 shipped yesterday. I should have it either today or tomorrow. I'm leaving town for the weekend and really hoping to bring my new laptop with me!

I'm getting pretty excited!

 

Wow, dtd00d, it's good to know that I'm not alone! Haha. Did you find out what exactly the problem was? Or did you just get it back working without any explanation? I guess there wouldn't be any reason for Sager to tell you, but it's be nice to know...kinda weird for it to just die, and not even be able to access BIOS...

Got a couple questions for you then. Or at least one...how long did it take to get yours repaired?

I don't know what the problem with your battery is...I hope you find a solution though =\.

 

I have a problem. When I close the lid to my Sager NP2090, the screen turns off. Then when I re-open the lid. It does not turn back on (mouse clicks and keyboard presses do nothing). I must close and re-open the lid repeatedly for it to eventualy turn back on.

Also, when I allow the laptop to idle, the screen turns off to save power. However, once the screen is off, it does not turn back on. Mouse clicks, keyboard presses, ctr-alt-del do not do not wake up the screen, however I can hear windows audio so I'm pretty sure it's just my screen giving me problems. I must restart the computer to get it working again.

Anyone have any ideas? Other than sending it in for repairs.

 

I have the exact same problem as thecaseface

 

I've been having that weird issue as well, it's kinda annoying.

I find that if the screen is on when you're opening the lid, it will turn off a few seconds later and not turn on again. I have to close the lid and open it again for it to work. The problem is that sometimes (seems like 50/50 chance) that it'll either open with the screen on, which means it'll turn on again or it'll be off, in which case I have to wait a few seconds in order for it to work.

Will a BIOS update fix this? I still have the original BIOS from the IFL-90 when I got it in August.

 

Hmm, that's odd. I got mine in august as well, but I've never had this problem.

 

Sounds like a driver issue. I think I had a similar issue when I tried the laptopvideo2go drivers with the sleep / close lid function, so I just rolled back to the ones that came with the laptop, which work perfectly outside of a couple games. Don't have time yet to fiddle with a fix.

 

This is actually a common problem when dual-core processors, Windows XP, and 2 GB of RAM (I think that's the number, though it could actually be 1) are mixed. Microsoft released a hotfix, but it isn't a publicly available download. The kind gents at laptopvideo2go.com made it available, though, from:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/drivers/ms_kbs/windowsxp-kb917332-x86-enu.exe

And just in case that truncated link doesn't work, try this, too:
Microsoft Hotfix

 

Would you have a working link for that hotfix by any chance? LaptopVideo2Go is down and Microsoft's gonna take a long time to send me the .exe via e-mail.

 

Hmmm...I'm afraid that's the only link I have. If you call Microsoft and sound like you know what you're doing, they will generally give you the link to a given Hotfix without question. Just make a reference to the Hotfix KB number, mention that the KB addresses exactly the issue you are having, and request the hotfix. I've never seen them take more than 10 minutes when I called in. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until LaptopVideo2Go gets back on its feet .

 

I managed to find the hotfix on Filefront.

Thanks for the pointer in the right direction, Eleison, it fixed the problem!

 

If the Hotfix doesn't solve it the other thing you can do is go into the BIOS and see if it works the same way. Close the screen and see if it comes back when you open it. If it doesn't, then you know it is not an OS or software issue but rather it is hardware. Sometimes the hardware switch that turns your screen off either fails, or is slightly out of adjustment. If this proves to be the case, please call for tech support.

 

Woot! Just ordered a 2090 from Justin at Xotic!
See sig for specs. I am very exicted...

P.S. - I ordered it with 1gig of RAM and got a steal for 2x2gigs online @ about $80

 

i ordered mine yesterday through xotic too. today its at phase 2. i hope they dont get mine mixed up with yours haha only thing different is i got bluetooth, 2gbram and 100hd at 7200 and vista home.

 

I'm wrapping up a full review of the Sager NP2090, however being as it's my first review (and I havent fully explored the notebook forums yet), I don't know where to post it.

Anyone with more experience mind lightening my load by directing me?

 

I'm sure the question I am going to ask is everywhere but I can't find any good data on it.....What nvidia driver are ya'll running on your 2090...I would like to know the driver if you are running stock, or the driver and or OC'd clock speeds...thanks for the help!!!

 

http://www.notebookreview.com/writeReview/

Thats if you want to submit it as an official review! If not, you can always post your review in a thread for comments and touch ups and then submit it as an official review if they want one!

Check it out if you get time!

 

I posted a couple pages back about my 2090 dying on me...well, it took about a week, but I got it back repaired. Apparently the mobo died on me. Pretty random.

 

just recieved my 2090 today im already addicted to it. vista isnt that bad as some reviews stated. i think its alright. wireless connection is okay but i kinda want some N cause i have th dir 655.

 

I'm so jealous! I should have mine monday or tuesday based on the UPS info...How do you like the resolution and matte screen???

 

The 2090's matte screen is awesome. That's all I gotta say.

 

you have to see it to believe it. the screen is awesome. makes my LG lcd screen look old. very nice resolution. i dont think youll be disappointed either.