Sager NP8255 Build - Any suggestions?

Here is my build from Sager, looking for any comments or suggestions:

NP8255 - (Clevo P157SM):

15.6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Sager Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080)
4th Generation Intel® Haswell Core™ i7-4700MQ (2.4GHz - 3.4GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache)
Stock OEM Thermal Compound
NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 770M (3.0GB) GDDR5 PCI-Express DX11
8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS)
1TB 7200RPM [SATA II - 3GB/s]
8X Super Multi DVDRW/CDRW Combo Drive (Sager) (Dual Layer w/ Software)
Intel® Dual Band AC 7260 802.11 A/AC/B/G/N 2.4/5.0GHz + Bluetooth™ 4.0
Windows 8.1 - 64-Bit

 

I would get a mSATA or SSD as the primary drive for your OS and programs, they are much faster then a regular hard drive. IC Diamond thermal compound if you plan on gaming much on the computer, it will help lower temps a bit. I put it on all my computers.

 

Is it worth getting an SSD later down the road if money is tight? I figure I could buy myself and add later?

 

If your budget doenst allow you to add one now you can install one later if you're comfortable doing so. It is worth it, in my opinion its the #1 upgrade you can do to see a noticable increase in performance. You'll see the change from a HDD to SSD/mSATA more then you would upgrading the CPU or GPU.

 

It is cheaper to get a SSD later. I just got a 240GB one for $150 on cyber Monday.

Have you looked at the NP8275-S? Specifically compare price when specs are the same, and look at the overall dimensions. Some say the 1080P on the 15" is a little bit small. I am not saying to do it, just making sure you ruled it out.

To save more money you could forgo the optical drive. Some say they never use it, some use it a lot.

Looks like a good build. Almost the one I got until I decided to go 17".

 

Yeah, I agree,I have one in my desktop rig, it's amazing. I have a 60gig Crucial booting Windows 7 in about 4 seconds. I might just bite the bullet and get it the more I think about it.

 

I've always had 17" notebooks, but wanted to go with a more mobile option. I'll check out the 8275-S. Does that model have the backlit keyboard and num pad? I really like the 8255 look of the chassis, especially the tracking pad.

 

If you like the look of the 8255 check out the 8295, those two are similar in design.

Since you have a SSD in your desktop now, the you'll notice how much slower a HDD is from the frist time you boot it up. In my experience you dont appreciate how much better of an improvement you've gotten until you go back to what you had before.

 

Should I spend the money for the upgraded Glare Type, 90% NTSC Color Gamut? Never had Matte type before.

 

I prefer matte, I have it on my notebook and external monitors. Since you have a desktop I'll assume you have a LCD screen hooked up to it, which is also probably matte? If so how's that look to you. I do like the 72% matte over the 90% glossy. If you end up going for the NP8255 the 95% matte is definitely worth it, lots of owners here that have posted how much they like the screen.

 

ahh..I didn't even think about my LCD I use with my Rig, lol..yes, that would be matte. For some reason I have it stuck in my head that Matte is only an option for Laptop screens. No clue why.

 

Yes, check out the NP8295-S, it is the 17" version of the 8255 with the light up keyboard and track pad. Like I said, compare the actual dimensions of the unit. I actually measured and drew out the foot print of both models to compare.

As for glare, it depends. Best way is to compare a current notebook in the same enviroments and see if there might be glare and if it might bother you. Or check using a phone held at the same angle as the display would be. For my usage I don't have lights above me or behind me, so I went with glossy.

 

The 17inch makes quite a difference to portability, if it's not that important to you the 17 inch does offer some nice touches along with the bigger screen to help make it worth it.

 

If you plan to overclock, the power supply in the np8255 is too small, but fine if you don't overclock. The power supply on the 17"ers is bigger.

 

You can change the AC adapter to a larger one then you will have more headroom to OC.

 

Is there a difference in color calibration/anything like that or is it just preference? And how bad is it with lights around you?

 

A matte display has a coating to disperse reflections, it's another layer on the screen and can reduce the clarity.

 

I don't understand the color calibration question. Do you mean do colors look off? No, even the standard screens that ship with these models look good and have a ton of colors. They are good screens. Just some people want the "best", or are editing photographs that will be printed.

As for how bad the glare is, well that is subjective. If there was one best answer for everyone, then they would sell one screen type. In a perfect enviroment, glossy is best. But looking at a light reflected in the screen will drive some people crazy. Others are not bothered so much. Also, I am not sure, but I think some glossy screens come with a antiglare coating. Also, you can put a matte type screen protecter on the display.

But I think the best thing is to take your phone and pretend it is the laptop display. Smart phones are usually a glossy, smooth display. See if you can see lights reflected in the background. Then try to decide if it will bother you. Another option is to visit a computer store and ask if they have a laptop with glossy and matte displays.

 

If you can tolerate the glare, I'd go with a glossy screen any day. Colors pop out more and none of that grainy feel when looking at white backgronds.

 

Not sure if it is still applicable to you but I recently just purchased a NP8255-S with the following specs:

750GB 7200rpm SATA2 Hard Drive
optical-special-9150-8X DVD±R/RW/4X
cpu-4thG-i7-4700mq
1 x Intel Dual Band Wireless -AC 7260 AC + BT
radeon-HD8970M
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 2 X 4GB-
thermal-high-IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU-
display-special-9150-Full HD LED-Backlit Display 95% Matte

I have been siting on a 240 SSD so I'll throw that in when I get it (should be next week).

It seems that Sager and other re-sellers have been offering the NP8255-Special (that come equipped with 8970) for a while now. I am new to Sager and this forum but from what I have gathered the 8970 has a great performance to price ratio and it is not that much of price jump when compared to 770.I don't think it can be too different in regards of price when compared to the above specs you listed.

As an aside: I just came from an Asus G75VX, it was a 17.3inch. The difference between gaming Sager's and Asus ROG not withstanding, I found that unless you plan on keeping it put-a 17.3inch laptop is a pain (well at least for me it is, I work at an University and mobility is needed)