*** Official Clevo x7200 and Sager NP7280 owners lounge ***

I do. And I am fed up with the problems I have with my M17x. If someone could tell me it was possible to swap the screen from my M17x to the X7200 I would seriously consider buying an X7200 and trashing my M17x to upgrade it. If someone could also tell me how to swap the keyboard from the M17x to the X7200 I would definitly do it. Probably half the disgruntled M17x owners would also

If Clevo ever starts making laptops with a good screen and a decent keyboard then they will dominate the high end laptop market but then I guess that is about as likely as if my Aunty was guy. Because if she was a guy then she would be my Uncle and no longer my Aunty. What I am trying to say there is - I believe Clevo will continue to make good performace laptops but never a great laptop.

On a more serious note - I think I will ditch this Alienware in about 3 - 6 months and likely return to the Clevo fold. Does anyone know if there is a refresh of the X7200 in the works?

 

What are you looking for in terms of an update? New components are being added / changed almost every week - CPUs, Graphics cards, SSDs, etc.

In terms of the "core" motherboard, LCD, etc., the x7200 release is around six months old. I don't believe Clevo has ever changed a model's core components once released. Could be wrong, but just saying...

(Edit - just noticed Aikimox's post below... Does Clevo update components throughout a model's lifetime?)

 

M17XR1&R2 have 1920x1200p screens while X7200 has 1080p. You can't swap those but there are decent 17" screen upgrades available (up to 90% gamut) and we are expecting even better panels to be available around April, so stay tuned

 

You can try the screen that Speedy used, IIRC it was from a dell laptop with a similiar screen to RGB but its on 1080p not 1200p resolution. Right now, I have it on 2nd to the last level of brightness and its still brighter than most of the laptop screens that I used.

 

Interesting. If there are parts w/ matching dimensions (backlit keyboards, better LCDs), is there a market for this that resellers could offer as an add-on?

OR

Could this be done by the tech-minded end-user w/ out voiding any warranty from Clevo?

 

I wonder about keyboards too - I already know what screen I would use instead of the stock one - but I'd love a decent keyboard as well!

OR

I am almost sure these operations won't void the warranty... Being very "tech-minded end-user-friendly" is one of the things I enjoy most about owning a Sager. Someone from the authorized resellers may give the 100% true answer though.

 

Alright I finally bought this beast.

Xeon W3680
12 GB ddr3 1333
512 Toshiba SSD
2X 500 GB SATA2 Momentous (Seagate)
typical wireless
2X 485's
4 gb turbo mem
Win 7 64 bit

Found some interesting things out.
Newegg sells compatible memory cheaper then other guys (Kingston 4 gb 204 pin 1333 mhz sodimm; only manufacture one model, cuts down on choices eh?) , You can buy intels best mini pci-e for 5 dollars less then they sell the cheaper ones, You can get a new Toshiba SSD (2.5 in standard) for about 800 dollars that they have torn out of the new apple laptops. Works great in Windows based pc's considering I put it in my D900F to try it. Only thing I am not looking forward to is lugging two PS's around *-*o.

Its also interesting that the Xeon processors have a higher memory bandwidth then the I7 Xe's (32 Gb/s compared to 25.6 Gb/s) and that the cost is almost the same.

 

I wonder if I can tear the old screen of my D900F for 1200P

 

I heard several months ago that there were some problems with power supplies tripping off but I never heard what the fix was. Is that the fix? Supply two power supplies and swap between them when one overheats?

 

From what I read on RJtech.com you can save 150 dollars (US) by only getting one PS but the breaker can trip. I ordered two so fun fun. Should be interesting carrying around a nookbook that needs two PS's *-*o

 

Yes it is cold I am at the same longitude. On the other hand the cold weather keeps the processor cooler.

 

No m8 there is i small converter box you get with the system an you connect both of the psu into so you can say you duble the power up so you get like a 600 insted of a 300 good for gaming and when you bench other wise pain in the a**

 

i have the 980x with sli 480
and the only times the psu have trippes is when i run prime95
or furmark when gaming it have happend couple of times but thats only when nod32 starts running some test in the background at the same time
or tuneup utilites starts doing some maintenance

 

If im not wrong the d900f has a 17,1" screen and x7200 has a 17,3" screen
what you realy want to put in the bby is alienware 120hz screen that would be great im not 100% that its 17,3"
i know there 60hz screens are 17,3"
and the there is the connector if it will fit would love to here from some tech
but it is a Dell screen and read on this site that some one put a Dell screen in his x7200 and that connector was a match

 

The highest end xeons have identical memory bandwidth to the 980x/990x as they are just about the same chip.....very minute differences architecturally (except for the 2nd QPI on the x5600 series - only one on W3600 series)

 

Yeah, I would just get the 990x honestly, unless you absolutely need the Xeon instruction sets, if you're getting the Xeon, definitely get the one you have or the X5660/X5675. The W3680 is definitely the best bang for the buck though, but uses more power 130W vs 95W. What will you be using the laptop for mainly?

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Obviously that Passmark test is just general, I was trying to find some rendering benchmarks, CAD, etc. to compare the two.
Heh check out the scores on that 3680 in Vantage though http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=314538&page=2

 

In my experience, you'll trip the safety with an i7 950 OC'ed to about 3.4ghz and GTX 485s OC'ed to 700/1650. Understood there can be some voltage variance across different CPUs/GPUs, but I'd say the limit for a single PSU is about there.

I'd recommend getting a second PSU if you plan OC-ing this (so, everyone), and definitely if you're getting an i7 970 or higher.

 

Has anyone attempted to run the Dragon Age II demo? I'm getting major graphical issues at all settings? My experience tells my a driver issue...

 

Is there some that know how to up the base multripel from 25*133
to 29 - 30 becouse i want a base speed of prox 3.5ghz - 4ghz up to now i only get turbo boost multripel is there any software that actualy give you that pos
since there is none in the bios

 

have you tried the 267.?? beta driver dont know if they compatible with the 485s you are running tho

 

Huh, tried to run it a thrid time and everything is working dandy all the way to max settings and aa. Weirdness...

 

strange
the 267.24 beta driver chould have extra support for that game

 

Any one know how to up the max v from 0.85 to 0.90 on the 480m trying to oc not getting more then 495-990-1260 stable after that the fing driver crashes and my thought is that im not getting the right amount of power to the gpu

 

Actually any of the x5600 series is kind of wasted on the x7200. Those are only worth buying if you are doing a dual processor system as they have that 2nd QPI link needed. They cost a fortune because of that. The W3600 series or regular Core i7 should be all anyone would need. The instruction differences will be very minimal if any. The Xeons are just a little better binned and tend to run hotter and use more power at the same speeds as the i7 parts.

 

Great system dagnabit!

If you're thinking of oc'ing the cpu, good luck, xtu doesnt like them, but even at stock it will be beautifull

 

I just ran MOH tier 1 on highest settings lowest fps was 108 and the highest was 148 fps

 

If you have the patience to read this thread, I thought someone posted changing the GPU voltage can be done, but the normal BIOS does not allow it. They mentioned a different BIOS which, after flashing the video card's bioses, voltage can be modified with some tool (MSI Afterburner, perhaps?).

Anyway, see if you can find it in this forum's messages.

 

It's been covered in this thread - pick it up from here. More on the following pages.

 

Wait. I thought you were settled on waiting for the fixed Sandy Bridge chipset / CPUs.

 

must have missed that page

 

Regardless of processor, if you go non-SLI / non-CF, there isn't enough draw to trip the PSU safety mechanism. It's only when you dual graphics cards + the high-end CPUs where you can run into problems.

 

I thought someone posted a follow-up to my question and scook9's answer that the BIOS flash will allow you to change GPU voltages. Could be mistaken, but that is my recollection.

 

I am going to use this for high end gaming mostly. Probably graphical rendering too. I would not get the W5680 I do not need two QPI links.
The reason why I bought the Xeon was it was 60 dollars more then the 990X and had the higher memory bandwidth. I also don't think a difference of of 110 mhz really means much! I got higher clock speeds when I OC'd my I7 965 XE a year and 1/2 ago.

I do wish Clevo would make a better BIOS setup though. Compared to EVGA's high end BIOS's it looks like an ACER BIOS ()_().

 

As far a DA II demo goes I get issues with the DirectX 11 version but in the DirectX 9 version it runs alot better. Then again my current setup is a D900F with a 280M and a I7 965 in it. (DX 10 card)

 

jclausius
thanks for the link m8 i just wish i knew how to re wright the bios or use nibitor .Or for that mather rip a copy of the bios
quite new to oc in all aspects

 

Yes. For my purposes, I don't need the extra GPU resources, and I don't know what changing the BIOS may do to a warranty if something goes wrong with the card. For video, my suggestion is to just worry about changing the clock speed and leaving the voltage alone.

 

Yea thats what I was thinking, I have the dual PSU fr when I am at home, but I am going to Chicago for buisness in 3 weeks, I will turn off SLI and only bring one PSU......

I can just see myself goin through a TSA check with this beast and 2 PSU's, let alone getting them both in the lappy bag

On a side note...anyone hear any rumors when a new graphics driver comming out ? On that note also, what do you all do to keep your drivers up to date ? I know there is automated software for checking those but I am leary of them to be honest. Dell used to have a RSS feed that ya could monitor for new drivers for AW came out....

 

Nvidia said that nothing better than the GTX 485m will be out in 2011 (at least until late 2011).

The 6970m will probably be it for a while too. I would expect a refresh from ATI before Nvidia

 

I am assuming you dont mean that Nvidia said there will not be any more drivers for their 485m till late 2011....but nothing better than the card itself.

 

If you want to play with your BIOS intel has an interesting program called BITS. It allows you to play with your BIOS. Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to mess with it myself due to me being so busy.

 

Have you thought of upgrading your machine to 2x6970M?

 

Has anyone had issues with a raid setup on their system ? Its odd, I have a disk go "degraded" and I rebuild the raid5....then its fine for a few days, then goes bad again....rince/repeat. I am starting to wonder if its the controller and not the drive. Anyone know a way to test that theory ? I was hoping that flashing the firmware in the disks to S24 would fix it but nada.....

 

Got the system late friday. Set it up on saturday.

It's huge, it's fast and it's slightly loud. The keyboard could be better and I don't really like the screen. How do you calibrate the colors?

I'll first try the calibration. If that doesn't fix it, I'll go the Speedy way and change it with the Dell screen.

 

How do you calibrate the screen ?

 

Congratulations! If you feel yours is a bit loud, I guess it must be SLI 485 in action. My own unit has the SLI 470m and is silent as a ninja running above the ground.

True, the keyboard is meh... As to the screen - it is nothing spectacular, but quite functional, I might even say reasonably good.

Calibration is best performed using the special equipment, but if you have no access to such equipment and no desire to hire a specialist - you can use the Nvidia Control Panel -> Adjust Desktop Color Settings. It will allow you to reduce the overwhelming blue tint the display has out of the box, and to make the picture more balanced and pleasant - at least for gaming, since you won't be able to effectively use this display for photo editing or other precision tasks anyway .

Yeah, I am going to do the same in the end.. no rush here, since I use an external monitor anyway.

 

The odds of 6970m support being added to the M17x R1 are probably about none. Never mind I only have a single 240W power supply and what would most likely be inadequate cooling for such GPUs....(double sided pcb with ram both sides is the first of a few short comings)

 

Well, if it was only for the BIOS support, you could find someone who can hack it, PSU could also be found (18X's or X7200's 300w with modded connector). Dunno about the double sided PCB...but you could theoretically use the M18X's HS. But that would be painful and not 100% doable.

 

The M18x will likely not be heatsink compatible with the M17x R1 and R2 unfortunately. Nor is it a guaranteed product yet.....

 

I see two ways of possibly trouble shooting this on your own (both of these are very *undesirable*):

a) Find/buy another Momentus XT HDD. Replace your "degraded" drive (still port 2?) See if after use of the new drive you encounter degraded performance. Out $$$, but would now have a spare drive.

b) Start over. Take out the drives, and bump/rotate their ports -> 0 goes to 1, 1 to 2 and 2 to 0. Reinstall (using RST at OS load). Big hit in lost time from your 1st config/setup.

After either one, test like crazy to see what kind of problem you encounter on your system.

 

I might just do option a, I just happen to have a spare, unopened Momentus XT HDD, and see how it goes from there. Will probably wait till it goes into "degraded" (yes always port 2) again though, rebuilt the raid5 yesterday and no issues so far.

3/8/2011 1:30am: Well, port 2 just failed, but I am working so really cant shut down to replace the drive at moment, rebuilding it now, but soon as I am off work will replace it and see whats up.