What's the difference between these three? Which should I get?

Hi guys,

I could have put this in the What to Buy thread but as it's purely Clevo centric I thought it best to put it in the Clevo thread as this is where the real knowledge will be centred mostly! I hope!

Anyway I'm getting close to retiring my beautiful M570TU. Starting to get a little tired around the edges and I'd like a better video card than the 9800M GT and quad core would be nice...
Anyway I've decided to go for a smaller form factor this time 15.6inch

I've narrowed it down to these three Clevos. As I am in Australia I can't order from Xotic PC or Sager (I think) so I'm going to order from this company - see pics.

Laptops are in order of price the W150ER, P151EM1, P150EM.

I think the GTX650M or GTX670M base GPU should be more than sufficient and a big step up from the 9800M GT.

Writing this all down helps me work out so thanks for your time in responding to any of these. It all helps.

I can spec them up a bit with an SSD or dual HDD's etc but otherwise they all have the same screen res and CPU and are very similar in many respects I have some questions though I am hoping people can answer.

1. Is the P150EM the only 15.6inch Clevo/Sager with the backlit keyboard? I really like that and would like to have it so I guess if that's the only model with the backlit keyboard then I would need to get that one...

2. Are there any key differences between these 3 models I should be focusing on?

3. Which is the best? The laptop is an all rounder. Gaming (Diablo 3 mostly at the moment) and Email, web, sharetrading software, office software. Bit of everything.

4. Is the price difference between the cheapest W150ER and the more expensive P150EM worth it? Is the GTX670M that much better than the GTX650M?

5. How does the HDD caddy for the optical drive work? Is it a removal Optical drive that can be swapped in and out? If I don't opt for that is the Optical drive fixed?

6. If the W150ER had a backlit keyboard I think that I would just buy that. Save $350 and get 8GB of RAM vs 16GB RAM (not a problem) and a GTX650M vs GTX670 (I think I could live with that).

7. What is the difference between the P151EM1 and P150EM?

Same CPUs, RAM, video cards, HDD...$200 for a backlit keyboard?

Appreciate your time.

 

1) AFAIK, yes.

2) You seem to be aware of all relevant differences.

3) The P150EM (9150)

4) That's a good question. It's all about your needs, really. Experience has told me that, when given the choice, go for the best GPU if you're a gamer.

5) Yes, more or less. If you choose the OD caddy, then you get a machine without an OD, but with two hard drives. If you choose to buy an OD caddy aftermarket, you will retain your original OD but you can put in another hard drive into your machine if you want.

6) Um...ok. Not really a question

7) All that, and a more powerful PSU, which supports some of the higher end GPUs. The PSU itself is around $100.

Mr. Mysterious

 

About aftermarket caddies and using the laptop's ODD afterwards: you'll either have to whip out the screwdrivers and open the computer, or find an appropriate enclosure for it.

I'd just get the caddy first and get an external ODD separately.

 

Well, if what you said in #1 is true, you've already realized that the P150EM is your only choice. Are you just trying to come to terms with the differences in pricing?

Go with the 2 x 4GB, which saves you $44. With that amount subtracted, I'd say the 670M's advantage over the 650M + premium, backlit and full-size keyboard + future GPU options are worth the extra hundreds.

 

No problem.

 

Thankyou! OK I wasn't sure if there were more differences...

Weight is the other issue. 2.6kgs vs 3.3kgs is quite a bit...is that because of the GPU and PSU differences?

Thankyou.

Yes pretty much although I wasn't sure if there was a W150ER version with a backlit screen. If there was then I'd probably settle for that. Now that there isn't then I can feel better about paying the extra $$ for the P150EM with it's better video card, PSU etc

Yes dropping the Ram would save a little without any real loss of performance I think.

All excellent information and advice thankyou!

So if I order the HDD caddy option then I can choose to put the Optical drive or an HDD in it...I think?

Sorry for the dumb questions.

It looks like the W150ER can hold two HDDs as well as the Optical Caddy option...is that correct?

Can the P150EM only have one HDD/SSD plus the Optical Caddy?

Anything else I have forgotten?

Is it worth upgrading to the GTX675 now for an extra $129? Over the GTX670?

Also I love the Gloss screen on the M570TU. I'd not had a gloss screen laptop before that and I've found it excellent. I'm guessing the LED/LCD screen on the P150EM would be just as good or better?

Is changing to the 95% Gamut Gloss for $57 worth it? I've read good things about Gamut Gloss.

But then again I've read good things about the Gamut Matt...

 

Ahh thankyou you just answered a lot of my next questions.

OK!

Which is better - 7970M ($199 upgrade) or GTX675 ($129 upgrade)?

I like both Nvidia and ATI/AMD. I think the 7970M is a bit faster than the GTX675...

Are there any reported issues with either card upgrade?

 

If you can afford it, go for the 7970M, no question.

Mr. Mysterious

 

Saying the 7970m is a bit faster than the 675m is an understatement, 675m is a heavily downclocked 560m while 7970m performs on levels with the desktop 580. Now, the main issue with the 7970m is that it's in very short supply right now which will heavily delay your order (July, maybe), and it's brand new so the drivers aren't mature. As the GPU is upgradeable with this, it is always possible to get the 7970m later (what I'm doing) to save time and hassle.

 

The 675M is a 580M with a higher clock rate, not a downclocked 560M (the 560M is most comparable, performance-wise, to the 650M).

The 7970M gets about 50% better performance than the 675M; the upshot of that (the part that should actually matter to most people), is that it will fluently run any modern game except Metro 2033 on Ultra settings and 1080p at well above 30FPS. The 675M will not.

 

Yes the GTX675m is a rebadged GTX580m, and it's also correct the 7970m is the fastest money can buy right now, but I'd have to disagree with the fluency of the 7970 over the GTX675m. I myself have the GTX675m and it can max games out too in 1080p all settings on, it just plain works though the 7970m will give you far smoother gameplay the GTX675m can game pretty well at very playable framerates ( I don't have metro so I can't have my say on that, but MW3/crysis2 DX11&Tesselation/AION 3.0/Allan Wake I have and it's maxed out, really crisp and smooth)

 

Thanks for all the responses guys I see which laptop I will be getting.

I've just watched this "XOTIC PC - Sager NP9150 (Clevo P150EM) Video Review" which has pretty much nailed it for me.

XOTIC PC - Sager NP9150 (Clevo P150EM) Video Review - YouTube

So is the GTX675 the new smaller 28nm fabrication chip like the desktop GTX680/670 etc or is it based on the 40nm size like the GTX580?

This means it would be hotter than the 28nm 7970M yes?

Or is the 7970M also 40nm?

 

The 675M should still be the old 40nm technology but the 7970M is based on the 28nm technology.
More, quick information at a glance, can be found on the 675M here NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - Notebookcheck.net Tech
While the 7970M can be found here AMD Radeon HD 7970M - Notebookcheck.net Tech

 

Keep it simple.

The 675M is a renamed and unchanged GTX 580M, which is the desktop GTX 560 Ti, but with severely lowered clock rates.

The 7970M is the desktop 7870, with minor differences in clock speed.

 

To point out that the 7970M is almost twice the power than the 675M.

 

Just so you know, there's another reseller in Australia that sells Clevo machines. From a quick glance, it seems like the prices are quite similar but it never hurts to have more options right?

Logicalblueone

I've asked a couple of questions through their e-mail system and the guy has been really good with getting back to me + I'm pretty sure you can ask about discounts for NBR members.

Hope it helps and congrats on getting one, I'm on the cusp but just don't quite have the cash sitting around at the moment

 

Oooooooooooooooops, meant to say 560 Ti

675m is 40nm and identical to the 580m except for a firmware flash to change the name in the bios and various monitoring tools like HWMonitor. The 7970m is 28nm.

 

7970m>>>675m

 

Awesome information thankyou all so much. I'm yet to pull the trigger.

STOP PRESS: As I write I have noticed that affordablelaptops have added a $399 upgrade option for the GTX680M...LOL nice for some but I won't be springing for that.

Been crazy busy this week with a sick child and work. I've specced it up with the 7970M and a 40GB Intel SRT and a 750GB drive rather than the 500GB drive and only 8GB RAM instead of 16GB and just the optical drive no caddy default option and it comes to $1998 without delivery.

Is the SRT drive worth it? I don't know much about SRT technology...some sort of caching system that speeds up boot times?

Is it worth the extra $149?

 

Is Gamut 95% Matte that much better?

Here it is with that added instead of the default gloss screen.

 

Oh also the final questions I forgot to ask.

Is the power brick the same as that - or atleast will the one from my M570TU work on this laptop?

I have two for my M570TU so I can sell one with it and keep the other.

Last question for today.

How much do you think I could sell my 2nd hand M570TU for?

$300US/AU (it's about the same exchange rate)

Oh also to the poster that posted the QLD Metabox/Clevo site thankyou I will have a look at their pricing. Might be cheaper on delivery and also easier for warranty (which I shouldn't need of course ).

 

Do you know how the Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drives work? It's just like that, except with a much larger cache. Read some reviews on newegg if you don't know how they work, but basically it will improve boot times on anything that you access often.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys - bought the following

1 x Metabox P150EM laptop
Metabox EOFY Sales Promotion: Bonus Intel Advanced-N 6235 upgrade and Optical Hard Drive Caddy
Custom built to order laptop: Diamond Thermal Compound applied to processor and graphics card
Operating system: No operating system - drivers disk supplied only
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 7970M 2GB GDDR5 graphics (A$199.00)
Screen type: 15.6" FHD 1920x1080 LED/LCD screen Gloss
Processor: i7-3610QM Ivy Bridge CPU 2.3GHz up to 3.3GHz
RAM memory: 16GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM (4 x 4GB)
Intel mSATA: Intel mSATA - not required
Primary drive: Primary drive Hybrid 8GB SSD-750GB (A$158.00)
Optical drive: Dual Layer DVD+/-R/W optical drive
Optical HDD Caddy: HDD caddy for optical drive - not required
Wireless WiFi: WiFi 802.11AGN and Bluetooth combo
Accessories 1: Spare AC adaptor - not required
Accessories 2: Spare 8-cell battery - not required
Accessories 3: USB Digital TV Tuner - not required
Metabox Warranty: Metabox 1st year Onsite pick up and return warranty
Carry Bag: Bonus Carry Bag with your order
Specifications 1: 2.0MP Web Cam, built-in Mic, 2 x Onkyo speakers, subwoofer, S/PDIF output
Specifications 2: 3 x USB 3.0 ports (eSATA), 1 x USB 2.0, Firewire, 3-in-1 card reader,
Specifications 3: HDMI, DVI-I, VGA, Display port 1.1a, Fingerprint reader
Specifications 4: Colour backlit keyboard, Ethernet, AC Adaptor 180W, 8-cell battery
Dimensions: D/H/W = 256/35 - 43/376 mm, Weight 3.1 kg

$2031 AU delivered and I'll install Windows 7 Pro 64bit on it when it arrives.

Thanks for all your advice.

 

No SSD?
Looks a beast otherwise.

 

I have a 256GB SSD in my desktop PC - almost full.

120GB SSDs aren't big enough and 256GB SSDs are too expensive...

I got a Momentus XT instead.

Nice middle ground. Hopefully.

Worst case I get an SSD in 6 months or so and get a nice big speed boost.

Can't wait for CHEAP 512GB+ sized SSDs

 

Fair plan, and those prices are certainly dropping. Good luck with it.