Sager NP5797 (M570ETU) with GTX 280M - User Review

Something to do with motherboard / chipset limitations in laptop mobo's keeps you from being able to utilize RAM beyond 6.7 or 6.8

 

I'd like to update that my main complaint, which was the native screen resolution (1680x1050 - everything else is pretty blurry) was resolved by adjusting the Windows font size and also the screen DPI. Makes it a lot easier to use on someone who's used to 1280x800.

Otherwise need to ask a question. Does anyone have a link to or otherwise know the name of a utility that examines unknown devices in the Device Manager so you can figure out what driver they need?

I've got one thing, which only says it's location is on Intel ICH9M LPC Interface Controller - 2919 as it's only clue.

Having some social problems today, but I'm going to try and get her running with the software and do some real world benchmarks once it's loaded up. Doing benches on a factory fresh setup isn't going to really give you real world results I do believe.

 

One good utility that I know of is AIDA32. It will scan your hardware and give you links to drivers on the manufacturer's website.

You can find it at http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=181 . Also, it is a decent benchmarking program.

 

There's no need to rush it.

 

Well so far I tried Unknown Device Identifier, of which there's actually a knock off version which didn't even load on the computer. Tried the real one from http://www.halfdone.org/SOTW/UnknownDevicesRip/ and it did fire up. However it couldn't find anything besides the device id, which led me to a thread here saying it was the IR transceiver.

Got the driver from Sager's site...it still shows up as Unknown.

Two other things I find odd, is that there's a Serial legacy non plug and play hidden driver which is Unknown... and I can't see where there's any listing at all, much less a program, for Bluetooth. There's no drivers for anything Bluetooth at Sager's site either..

 

Did you not read my post?

AIDA32 is a really good program to use. The link is in the last post I made.

 

I did and am running it now... it doesn't even show there's a unrecognized device at all... but the memory write bench says 2131 MB/s and the read is 6466 MB/s which is about double or quadruple the next best score.

Also.. wasn't there a utility that could find out your lcd model number from within the laptop? I'd like to find out what it is because I'm really not finding the fabled "dim screen" problems with this unit at all. It can go from "egads that's a bit bright" to "pretty dim, but visible" and I'm in sunlight.


Edit -

Nevermind on the Bluetooth, it was disabled with Func+F12. Got it running but the software that usually goes with it is of course missing. Oddly, Sager doesn't have xp drivers for the 96 or 97, but they do for the 93. So ten to one it's the same adapter so I'll install that and see what goes.

 

To find your LCD manufacturer:

Right-click Computer -> Properties -> Device Manager -> Display - Details -> Hardware ID

 

Tried that... Google yields no results. It's a APP9C72. 1 plug and play monitor and three generic default monitors in the list. Don't bother pulling up the service manual parts list, it's not in there.

BTW running HD Tune on the Hitachi HTS723232L9A
Transfer rate
Min 6.3 MB/sec
Max 80.5 MB/sec
Average 60.9 MB/sec

Access Time 16.1 ms
Burst rate: 134 MB/sec
Cpu usage: 2.0%

Running 48 to 50 degree Celsius right now.

 

I'm kind of surprised that Sager wouldn't have the Xp drivers along with the Vista drivers on their website, especially if they are selling laptops with the option of Windows Xp Pro. Hopefully the one I got has WinXp 64-bit so that I can utilize all 4GB of RAM. Would be disappointing if I had to end up finding a 64-bit version of Vista just to utilize the full capabilities of the laptop. Definitely not a preferred system.

 

Check again.

 

well the bluetooth drivers on sager's site.... are actually not the already paid for version you should be getting. They are essentially limited freeware. They've got a 5mb cap on transfers.

I'll check my drivers cd again later or copy the bluetooth from the 9262 system later this week.

 

I wasn't talking about overall, just the certain few drivers. Like stated by JGZinv.


I should be finding out this weekend.

 

From the way you phrased it, I was getting the implication that you meant overall.

 

No, not at all. I've seen the site...

 

JGZinv, when you take off your GPU heatsink, could you let us know the last two numbers or letters printed on the memory chips? Blacky would be the most interested amongst us. ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=369470).

 

the area around the keyboard, what is made out of? aluminum? plastic? etc.?

 

Soviet - I really would rather not mess with the gpu+heatsink.
It's a matter of it works now, and I don't have any arctic silver or anything else, much less it'd be my first time doing said procedure.

terminus - the checkerboard stuff? it's textured plastic. It's one part from the smooth main housing plastic to the checkerboard around the keys and pad.

Plastic wise, I feel it's sturdy enough. There's not any significant flex to be found that I'd consider worrying about at all. You'd have to put some effort into bending it by force to get it to flex. Screen wise, don't know. The hinges are nice and stiff though.

Adding to that thought - the keyboard itself does have a bit of flex in some spots . Mostly at the very front around the alt keys. You can push on the plastic insert in the front and see the board flex. Mainly I think this is due to a mounting system where there's one attach point in the center, and the sides... nothing in between. But that's kinda standard. Comfort wise it's very similar to the 9262 keyboard. When you type, other keys may rattle.
From about YJM to the number 5 on the keypad...I can observe keyboard flex when I type. Each keypress is a bit deep compared to what I usually work on....

 

Yes, that would be lovely to add to the thread. But have no worries, I am planning in getting a 280M as well. If no one else is gonna tear his M570Tu apart by then, I will anyway. But I have a strong feeling emike will be the first .

 

Yeah I figured one of you guys with more experience in OC'ing would do it.
If you get a show-n-tell thread together before I get the review compiled and complete, I can link to it just for the sake of completion.

Credit given of course.

 

I see you got your eye on a GTX 280M too, Blacky. JGZinv's heatsink makes you drool too huh. I'm just glad Nvidia slashed the price down from the 9800M GTX so I can use my tax refund and my upcoming birthday funds to buy it.

 

Yes, I do have my eyes on it, but I was hoping for a better OC. I was actually hoping to see that thing hit 700 OC on the core.

JGZinv, do you know what is the voltage of your card now? If you don't there is an easy way of finding out. Just use GPU-Z to read the GPU BIOS to file. And then open the file with nibitor. Nibitor won't recognize the card for sure, so just change the device ID to 0617 or 0608 and it is likely to show to info correctly. Then just check voltages to see what's in there.

Or, plan B, just read the BIOS with GPU-Z and if you are kind enough, please post on somewhere so it can be download and have a look into.

Thanx

 

Hmm, I'd like to have a look at that VBIOS also.

 

Well after 3d mark gets done, and if I can find GPU-z...I'll see what I can do.

 

Count me in for the vBIOS also. Very curious.

 

There you go,the latests GPU-Z. No install needed. Just download and unpack. To get the vBIOS just click the small chip icon next to the BIOS Version.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1363/TechPowerUp_GPU-Z_v0.3.3.html

So, who's the first to try to flash his 9800M GTX with a 280M BIOS ?

 

he will be for sure the first 98M GTX user to have to blind reflash it!

 

Not true. I had to go through this already when I accidentally forgot to change the device ID from 0608 back to 0617 (I know, it was pretty stupid). And no, I do not want to go through that again.

 

You better believe I'm going to try flashing it! I've done enough blind flash's i don't mind doing one again

 

this has what you want from gpu-z in it as well as screen caps of the 3d mark 06 scores which look pretty inaccurate in some cases.

http://www.filedropper.com/3dmark1

 

here it is 1.05v for high and 0.8v for battery life

 

First of all thanx a lot for the vBIOS. Looks like the card works at stock with 1.0 V which might explain why it doesn't overclock so well. nibitor allows you to push it up to 1.05, which is good. Also the critical temperature has been changed from 90C to 108C which might actually mean better OC stability.

To read it properly I just changed the device ID from 060A to 0617.

By the way, did you get that score, 10300 with stock clocks ?

 

me wants benchies...

 

Anyone brave enough to flash 280 BIOS to 98GTX?

 

Doing that now. BRB in 10 min.

 

this is going to be "SWEET!" cant wait.

 

IT WORKED!!!!

Posting Screens now.

 

OK, ill try now.

 

Screenshot here:

http://www.mojaveunderground.com/screen.jpg

Testing now. Fingers still crossed.

EDIT: Well it seems to test about on par as my 9800M GTX vBIOS. Not really seeing any difference. However, my GPU is severely messed up, and am waiting for a replacement from Sager. I can't get through a single 3DM06 session without a gpu kernal panic. Kaltmond, I'm entrusting you to do all the testing. Let me know what you find.

 

screenshot url is just a white page. maybe it's just me.

Kaltmond goodluck!

 

Works in IE, not Firefox.

 

emike, I salute you. You are a patriot.

 

3DMark 06 done. Almost same point. With same System, same Driver and same frequence. Only BIOS flash 0617 -> 060A.

 

Nice,

Was this flashed with Olie's over volted 280m?

 

I changed the Vcore from 1.05/0.85 to 0.95/0.75. Above 0.95V is too hot for 98MGTX in M86......

 

Ok I also have a successful flash.

No speed increase, and I am sorry to post that it does not solve the powermizer DPC lag issue when changing clock speeds either.

9800M GTX Bios: 11953 3D Mark 06 (585/1463/950) 1v
280M GTX Bios: 11907 3D Mark 06 (585/1463/950) 1v

 

All my 3d mark 06 results as given are on completely stock settings, drivers, whatever.

 

Interesting. So no performance increase; I expected as much, the shaders should be burnt out.

This experience is also revealing. It shows there is absolutely NOTHING changed in the GTX 280m chip, with the exception of the die shrink and no shaders being zapped out.

It also tells us the vBIOS is designed to function on any of its chips, so long as they fall in the same catagory (ie G92, G94, etc.) So kinda a universal vBIOS.

If you ask me, nVidia has been cutting corners and making excuses for being able to sell the chip they already have. further into the future. Masking it with names, revisions, die shriks, etc; instead of doing whats right and developing new chips. Way to go, nVidia. I'm feeling I will hold off of the GTX 280m and wait for the GT212 chip. We'll see.

Thanks Kevin Jack

 

hmm, so you could flash a 9800M GTX to a GTX 280M eh? Makes me wonder what a 8800M GTX can be flashed to and if people can just buy a GTX 260M and flash it to a GTX 280M as I have yet to see the benefit of an 8% increase in shader processors.

 

Meh, nvidia needs to make another mig jump. The only true jump was from the 79xxm to the 8800m's.