*** OFFICIAL Sager NP8760 / Clevo W870CU Owners Lounge ***

Hello all,

I've had my NP8760 for a couple of weeks now and while I am enjoying the machine so far, there are a few things that I'd like to comment on (yes, many/all have been posted before, or are minor nits):

1) BIOS setup is missing some features:
a) Bluetooth can't be enabled by default AFAIK.
b) SATA mode can't be switched to legacy IDE mode
c) Can't use the fingerprint scanner to enter the BIOS startup password.

2) Audio is REALLY lacking
This notebook claims to contain a subwoofer -- if it does, I'd hate to hear what it sounds like without it! My Dell BUSINESS notebook has MUCH better sound than this thing. I shouldn't need external cards, speakers, or headsets to get decent audio on a gaming notebook, especially one as large as this. What's needed here? Driver update? Better speakers?

3) No dedicated audio volume/mute control (I don't consider a FN key combination as "dedicated"). Can the 3 touch buttons be remapped for this?

4) No webcam LED -- how do I know if it's enabled or not?

5) A slightly larger battery would have been nice. Clarksfield can do a decent job of power-saving, but it can't work miracles. (I realize this isn't the kind of box you'd want to run untethered for long, so I can sort of understand the trade-off here).

I realize this is a whitebox notebook so perhaps it's a bit unfair of me to expect the type of fit and finish one might find on a consumer retail product.

Some positives:

1) Ability to configure high-end parts in the machine. I have the Extreme CPU, BluRay burner, and nice SSD in my machine. It's very fast!

2) Nice selection of ports - they even included an RJ11 56k modem port for completeness. Who could live without THAT in their Gig-E, 802.11N, desktop-replacement box?

3) The notebook runs cool and quiet considering what's under the hood.

4) No Bloatware.

Finally - props to the resellers! My experience with XoticPC was very pleasant and smooth. Thanks guys!

 

LOTS of machines have no cam LED so no fault.

The audio issues bug me so here's the countermeasure:


Newegg (had) these creative speakers for cheap. Got two pairs:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836116044

Check back for stock!!

 

I believe it's manga. haha

 

Fingerprint scanner should never work for bios security and never will ...as Long as engieneers have common sense

 

Not to mention, you'd need drivers and image processing software at the bios level.. It's just nonsensical.

There isn't a single laptop or desktop that accepts fingerprints as a bios password on the market right now. I'm always interested to see in what people don't like about the laptop, but that's a new one.

 

I feel sad for you that you know the difference.

 

I feel sad that you didn't get the movie reference I was trying to make. It just happens to be very similar to that random manga image I found.

 

Many laptops currrently on the market support preboot authentication, such as the Dell E6500. True, this may not be implemented entirely at the BIOS level, but the point is that preboot authenication allows for biometric access to the BIOS setup menu or to boot the operating system. AFAIK, the NP8760 doesn't support preboot authentication with the included Protector Suite software.

 

About the audio lack of the W870CU do you think an express sound card (like this one: http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=844&product=17988&listby=) could help?

The problem is more on the speakers side or on the audio chipset side? Or both?

 

That's the sound card I use in mine, awesome indeed! It works well with the link...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829999011

BTW, this is a great deal! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167016

 

Yeah, I had to get the $189 SSD too. No trim, but you can use HDerase.v3 once a month and just image back the drive to make it like new. I think it's gonna smoke alongside the vertex120

 

Anyone have any idea what generation the Intel SSD models are that the resellers put in their configurations?

 

Gotta be second gen, but you'd better ask!

 

Thanks Brandon,

UPS says out for delivery....omg I may actually get it today. Tomorrow I am on the plane for Korea, so tight timing. Below is what I got, 920 and extreme soundcard, will see if the speakers are crap or the built in audio.

Will try it out and post before I go.

1 x NP8760

* -Display: 17.3" 1920x1080 Full HD LED-Backlit Display
* -Processor: Intel Core i7 920XM Quad (2.0GHz overclockable to 3.2GHz, 8MB)
* -Memory (RAM): 4GB DDR3 1333MHz dual channel (2 x 2GB)
* -Disk Drive: 2X Blu-ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
* -Video Card: nVidia GTX 280M DDR3 (1GB)
* -Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM Serial-ATA (16MB cache)
* -Second Hard Drive: No Thanks
* -RAID Settings: No HDD RAID
* -Wireless Network: Built-in Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN
* -Sound Card: Creative X-Fi 7.1 Xtreme Audio Notebook Express Card
* -Carrying Case: Basic Black Business Case
* -A/C Adapter: Full Range Auto Switching AC Adapter - Included
* -Battery: Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
* -Microsoft Office: No Thanks
* -Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit) + Free Windows 7 Upgrade Coupon
* -Warranty: Complete Care: 3 Year Labor + 1 Year Parts Warranty + Lifetime U.S. Based Toll Free Tech Support

 

I just finished putting together my W870CU. It's quite a remarkable notebook. I have deeply underestimated it as well. There is so much space for modding inside of this notebook that it's not even funny. I did need to clean up the GPU a bit before turning it on for the first time. RJTech put on generic GFC-M7 on the die as always just like all the other vendors. There were also a few stickers that I took the liberty of removing from the tops of the memory chips as well.

 

Congratulations! Speaking of which... I just finished applying X-23 to my GPU.
Conclusion: Applying it is a pain which makes a proper application almost impossible, this thing doesn't want to stick to anything and as a result my temps are actually worse than with a good MX-2 application. I will probably revert back to MX-2.

EDIT: I actually checked again and the temps are almost identical... so I will keep the X-23 for now.

 

X23 takes some time to break in. Give it a day or two. After you have applied it a few times, you'll get used to handling it.

 

Great to see that you got the W870CU! Are you planning a review with pics and such?

 

Hey Sov, congrats on the W870CU.

 

Thanks. I have no plans for any kind of review, sorry. But I am open to questions regarding the machine. I'm not going to run off on you guys like everyone else who got a new toy.

I just finished flashing the GPU to a new set of clocks. The MXM 3.0 GTX 280M is very flexible compared to my MXM 2.1 one.

3D application: 500/1250/800 @ 1v
3D desktop: 400/800/300 @ 0.85v
2D desktop: 300/600/300 @ 0.85v
Idle: 150/300/100 @ 0.85v

I underclocked because I do not want to stress the GPU until I finish my upcoming cooling overhaul. As for the idle clocks, I just pulled those numbers out of nowhere thinking that it wouldn't work, but for some reason it does. I will be lowering it even more later on and hex the voltages down to as low as 0.7v. The same goes for the CPU. I have locked my 920XM to 1.6GHz until I finish the overhaul.

 

Great.

By the way, is the difference in power of the 920XM compared to the 820QM worth the $242 premium (820QM - $358 in ebay, your 920XM - $600) ?

 

unless you do professional work you will not need the extra power.

Gaming will be just fine with the 820.

 

Damn right it's worth the premium. $242 to go from 1.73GHz to 2.53GHz, a difference of ~46% is very well worth it. If you consider Turbo Boost into it, 2GHz to 2.53GHz, a difference of 26.5% is still worth it.

I think my good luck has helped me yet again. When I was handpicking the CPU at the Fremont warehouse, I seem to have picked a very cool one. I did a slop job on applying thermal paste as I know I am going to reapply it again tomorrow, yet my CPU is running very cool in the mid to high 30's. Room temperature is ~19*C.

 

If you would like help then you actually need to post something i can help with .....?

 

Small update. This is my last flash for the night. I need to reformat my HDD and get my notebook ready for next week. This clock set has been tested to work normally. Anyone with an MXM 3.0 GTX 280M can flash this set without worry.

3D application: 500/1250/800 @ 1v
3D desktop: 400/800/400 @ 0.85v
2D desktop: 300/600/300 @ 0.85v
Idle: 150/300/75 @ 0.7v

Enjoy your super low idle temps everyone. I will further undervolt the other levels another time.

 

On my W870CU, with 720QM processor, my BIOS screen is missing a bunch of options that babyhemi showed.

His BIOS:


Mine:


I know that I don't have his 920XM processor, but some of these options should still be there, right? For example, I know my processor has Turbo Boost and Intel Virtualization Technology.

Do I need a BIOS upgrade? Can't find any updates on Clevo's website.

On another topic, how is your battery life? With a full charge, doing nothing but watching a Blu-Ray movie, I run out after 30 minutes. Is this what you are seeing?

Thanks in advance.

 

How about if I just use it for the W860CU? Would it be a no go for you?

 

Sorry Moo/all,

To much beer and stress I guess, no time to mess with pc now, am on plane in a few hours. Deleted that post! I do seem to be missing my extreme audio card though..

Cheers,

 

Yeah I'm honestly shocked at how cool this CPU is. My last notebook's x9100 would hit 85+C while encoding video, and I'm currently an hour into a video encode and my CPUs are 48/46/52/48C! And it's doing it faster than my x9100 too.

 

@Soviet can you control the GPU Fan? wich temps with the new settings?

my modded card:

3D application: 600/1492/1001 @ 1v
3D desktop: 383/767/400 @ 0.9v
2D desktop: 245/490/300 @ 0.85v
Idle: 150/300/101@ 0.8v

 

Paying $242 to go from 1.73GHz to 2GHz would still be a good deal because you're moving up two bins for $242. I can say the same for the 720QM and 820QM as well; moving up one bin and 2MB more cache for $200. But again, like The_Moo™ said, if you don't do anything intensive short of professional work, then the 820QM will suffice. The 820QM will already perform similar to a Q9200 and just short of the QX9300. This is not including Turbo Boost.

No harm done. It happens to me too. Just don't drink so much that you get plastered.

Yes, it is very cool. Last night while I was sleeping, I left my notebook running an infinite loop on Prime95 using all eight threads and 3.2GB of my RAM. I had my CPU locked at 720QM clocks of 1.6GHz and it barely passed 55*C. I am also happy that my RAM is error free as well after that overnight stress test.

Unfortunately I don't have control of the fans other than locking them at minimum speed with silent mode. I still need to find out the fan off threshold for my card, but I do know that the GPU fan will turn on when the GPU core temperature hits 44*C. I haven't done a thorough temperature stress test on the highest level yet, but I am pretty sure that the card will be stable for me at 500/1250/800 @ 0.95v.

I also found out that in silent mode, the GPU is restricted to 2D desktop speeds as it's max. On my previous M570TU, silent mode had no restrictions on the GPU. I have still yet to observe at what speed the CPU is locked to in silent mode.

I haven't tested this clock set on my notebook yet as I just wiped the HDD right now, but by referencing my old clocks from my M570TU, you should be rock stable.

3D application: 600/1500/900 @ 1v
3D desktop: 400/800/400 @ 0.8v
2D desktop: 300/600/300 @ 0.75v
Idle: 150/300/100@ 0.7v

 

And besides the resale value of the 920XM would be higher, yes?

Will there be higher-end versions of the i7 cpu for the 8690/8760 in the future?

 

Yes, the resale value of the 920XM will be higher. OEM 920XM's can still resell for over $1,000 right now. There are no ES 920XM's on the black market to compete with, so the price of the OEM 920XM will remain very high for some time, even after the ES's are released.

No, there will not be any higher-end versions of the mobile i7 in the future. What you see now is the best tech a notebook can get until Sandy Bridge.

 

The quote below is from a review from notebookcheck.net

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-mySN-XMG7-c-Notebook.22205.0.html

Can anybody who has some personal experience with W870CU confirm or deny these sound results. Is it really this loud?

System Noise

One of the biggest weak points of the mySN XMG7.c (based on Clevo's W870CU barebone) is its high noise development. The fans already rotate very audibly in idle mode with an average of 39.6 dB(A). The volume even increases up to an annoyingly loud 46.6 dB(A) under load. It doesn't look much better with the DVD drive. 48.5 dB(A) at DVD rendering and 49.9 dB(A) at data accessing are bleak. All evaluations were made at a distance of 15 cm. The volume of the drive relativizes itself at a normal distance, the case fans disagreeably attract attention even at a larger distance, though.

Loudness
Idle 39.6 / 39.6 / 39.6 dB
HDD 40.4 dB
DVD 48.5 / 49.9 dB
Load 43.7 / 46.6 dB

silent 30 dB
audible 40 dB
loud 50 dB

 

@ MySN
when is the open bios Relaes?
and where

 

wuuf: If I can find my sound meter I'll take some measurements, but that seems way too loud to me. Even under full load I find it nice and quiet.

 

cool, thanks...

 

Found my meter but it only measures down to 50db. Though even under full load the needle didn't move.

 

If anyone has an iPhone I think there's a dB meter app..

 

Just reviewed by NBR.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5569182

 

I've never flashed the vbios to underclock.. You can do it at the driver level.

 

My god, sometimes I feel that people need to learn how to search first before asking how to do more technical work on their notebooks. This trend of asking before searching, including spamming my inbox, needs to stop. There are too many GPU guides here on NBR, includng my own, that shows you step by step. But like BrandonSi said, you can underclock at the software level using NST. I haven't tried NST on this notebook yet, but you should be able to access the native voltages on the card as well. I just prefer flashing because that's how my dad taught me how to first overclock when I was a kid.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ebookreview.com+flash+gpu+guide&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

 

Thanks -- I was searching the sub thread. Sorry, SS. Go back to studying now

I always search first, BTW!

 

NST then find the clocks then flash

Now now soviet be kind and don't unleash on a single new user .... spread it out so it isn't so bad

 

There's a difference between searching and searching thoroughly.

I'm just trying to keep my soldiers alive.

 

"Yeah, by nagging them to death.."

 

Damn right. And it works.

 

Soo...I just looked at that google search, and I don't see anything about flashing a 280M. Flashing is scary, I'm not going to use a guide for another notebook or another GPU. If you're going to post about flashing/underclocking on a new notebook, don't be surprised if people ask how you did it.

 

Flashing a GTX 280M is the same as flashing any other GPU since the FX series. The process as a whole really isn't too bad once you know what to do. It's all a matter of keeping steps in order. Overclocking by BIOS flashing came first way before software overclocking spoon fed people the easy way. Ever since then, the art of flashing slowly withered to the mere existence that is now for the majority of users that overclock to the point where they have become scared because of consequences that can be easily avoided and, if needed, recovered.