*** Official Sager NP8170/Clevo P170HM Owners Lounge ***

New user here, and i just pulled the trigger on the np8170 preorder at xotic pc, here's the specs i got...

Intel Core i7-2630QM
nVidia GeForce GTX 485m
4 gb ram
DVD combo drive
500 gb 7200 rpm hdd
Windows 7 home

I'm gonna use it primarily for gaming and browsing/light video editing for YT...but i'm a little worried i should've gone for the i7-2720QM for gaming, will it make much of a difference for games like Crysis 1 and 2 or Starcraft 2? Or should i be confident with my choice?

Also can i upgrade to a bluray burner in the future just by taking out the dvd drive?

Finally if i made the wrong choice with any of these parts can i still go back and change my specs before it ships?

 

2630QM is more than adquate for gaming. The Sandy Bridge chips are phenomenally fast, even the lower end quad like the 2630QM. Optical drive is held in by just one screw. Just remove the bottom cover, remove the screw holding in the DVD drive, and pull it out. Reverse the process with the blu-ray drive. Most resellers will let you make changes until the laptop ships without affecting your spot in the queue.

 

Funny how this comes full circle because I asked the same questions at one point:

Processor choice: the 2630qm is more than capable. You'll end up GPU bottlenecked 9 times of 10 because that GPU still only equals a mid range desktop card, while the CPU falls higher in terms of desktop chipsets. Long story short, while the 2720qm provided better bang for your buck and fills a sweet spot, it's not necessary to run all games quite well. Unless you plan to run VM's and need virtualization support like VT-d or run heavy video transcoding type work, you'll never see any real performance issues with your processor. Games will hit the limit with your GPU much sooner.

Bluray burner: You are correct, it is a simple replacement. Take out one screw and slide out the drive it came with. You can replace it with any slimline bluray drive for laptops (there are only 3 or 4 right now, and they're more expensive than the external options- I'd say go external and get an optical drive caddy so you can have 2x internal drives plus external bluray).

Changing your specs: It depends on the reseller. All of the ones I know of will let you change your order up until it's being put together and shipped, which will all happen together (but probably not for 2-3 weeks minimum because the recall hasn't finished yet). I've had Malibal change my order quiet a few times and they've been awesome about it.

 

I've got to stop typing so much, I've yet to be the first response to any question on here today!

 

Thank you so much to both of you for the answer. I plan to run Crysis on these settings...

Texture quality - High
Object quality - High
Shadows quality - Medium
Physics quality - High
Shaders quality - High
Volumetric effects - Medium
Game effects - High
Post Processing - Very high (god rays ouch)
Particles quality - High
Water Quality - High

Resolution, 720-900p No AA, definitely don't plan on playing crysis in full hd. I'm hoping i can stay above 40 fps with these settings as they looked good enough to me according to tweak guides, many of those settings i couldn't tell apart.

Also i probably won't even consider upgrading anything in this laptop build for 1-2 years so i'm hoping prices for the cpu and bluray drives will drop a bit in that timeframe. I will most likely be super happy with the performance anyways considering i'm used to sub hd console gaming.

 

All High @ 1080p will easily average over 30fps.

 

Yea high looks fine to me, i just require god rays from the very high post processing setting to be happy lol. So i'm hoping that doesn't give it too much of a hit, i'm also hoping that if i run in 720p or so i'll get maybe a 10 fps boost since i am perfectly happy with 720p being a former console gamer only.

Not to mention i plan to use hdmi to plug into my 32 inch sony bravia which only does 720p anyways.

 

I just bought a Malibal Satori P170HM-S1, and I know I'm gonna be happy with it, question is, just how powerful is this beast?

Order specs:


Customizations:
Display: LCD-FHD-17 - 17.3" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit GlassView Display
Processor: CPU-i7-2720QM - Intel® Core™ i7-2720QM, 6MB L3 Cache, 2.2-3.3GHz
Memory: RAM-10660-DDR3-8GB - (8GB) 8192MB, PC3-10660/1333MHz DDR3 - 2 SO-DIMM
Graphics Card: GPU-485M-GTX - NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 485M 2GB GDDR5
Hard Drive: HDD-500-7200 - 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA 300
Hard Drive 2: HDD-500-7200-2 - 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA-300
RAID: RAID-0-2 - 0 High Performance (Two Hard Drive Configuration)
Optical Bay: OPT-BLU-READ-6 - 6X Blu-ray Reader 8X DVD+/-R DL Super-Multi Drive
Operating System: OS-7-Home-64 - Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium; 64-bit
Wireless: WE-802.11-Blue-A - Intel® 6230 Advanced-N 802.11A/B/G/N LAN and Bluetooth Card
Cooling: T-ICDIA-1 - IC Diamond 7 Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU
Warranty: WAR-3-YEAR-1 - 3 Year Ltd. Labor and 1 Year Parts Warranty with 24/7 USA-Based Support
Extras: I-CAM-W - Integrated 2.0 Megapixel Web Camera
Extras: I-CARD-R-9 - Integrated 9 in 1 Card Reader
Extras: I-CASE-1 - Standard Black Carrying Case
Extras: S-DVD-CAM - PowerDVD & Bison Cam Software Package
Extras: I-FPRINT-R - Integrated Fingerprint Reader
Extras: S-OFF-TR - Microsoft Office Ready OS with Free 60-Day Trial
Extras: S-WIN-OS - Microsoft Windows 7 DVD-ROM
Extras: S-MAL-DR - MALIBAL Software & Drivers Disc

 

Uhhh so i didn't get the diamond thermal paste does that matter all that much if i don't plan to overclock?

 

Not at all. And if temps are ever a problem you can apply it yourself without too much trouble...for MUCH cheaper than $40.

And side question: Why start your question with, "Uhhh"?

 

Cause i'm feeling inadequate next to everyone elses superior builds lol.

 

Superior? 0.o my MALIBAL was not even 2500 dollars. I just wanted to get some of the more important things. Anyone have an Idea of FPS for my build on WoW, Black ops, ME2, all ultra?

 

60, 60, and 60.

Dude @ 720p you can set everything to Very High, and will get well over 30fps with no problems.

 

Woooo hooo! Sounds good, might even try 900p

 

485M = GTX 460
If it's pulling ~25fps w/ Very High @ 1080p, imagine what will happen @ 720p or 900p.

 

Someone on gamefaqs was telling me going from 1080p down to 720p gave them a 16 fps boost, but that was on a 460m and 1st gen i7 740qm. So here's hoping for some good numbers once i get my sager.

I just wonder how long it will take since i just ordered it today, i assume there's a lot of people waiting in line for their january orders to get repaired or fullfilled.

 

Yep, that's about right. Here's my results of Crysis DirectX 10 @ 1080p on GTX 485m all very high:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...pgrading-260m-gtx-485m-gtx-4.html#post7152283

 

Damn it's gonna run super smooth at 720p hooked up to my sony bravia 32 incher and my logitech z-5500 speakers. I wonder if i'll be able to enable some AA at 720p as well. Cannot wait!!

 

If you can run DirectX 9, which I found little to no difference in detail, FPS is 40+

 

I'm still in doubt about my purchase, shall i go for the Clevop170hm with GTX470m or spend extra 230€ on a GTX485m?
Is this upgrade worth the money?

produces the GTX485m more heat and noise than a GTX470m?

I would like to place my purchase within the next 2 weeks, so tips are more than welcome.

 

If you can afford it, and if you will be gaming on it a good amount, the 485 seems to be a sure bet. You may as well get as much lifespan from this thing as possible!

 

The NEW 510 Series Intel SSD's are ready to order today, with your system!!



__

 

I think RAM and an SSD is my future upgrades for this beast once I get it. Gotta figure out how to talk the wife into it.....

 

Placed my order (with Malibal who I've always had great service from):

i7-2820QM, 485M, 8GB, 256GB Crucial RealSSD, 750GB secondary drive

Sounds like it won't be TOO long for it to be delivered, hopefully not much more than a month. I can benchmark with anything on Steam once I get it, happy to do some tests for people who are interested.

 

Along with the above Justin posted on early this morning also:
Sager is offering a new wireless card: Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1102.
More info here: Killer? Wireless-N 1102
Sager has tested this exciting Gaming Wi-Fi card offering from Bigfoot networks, however they have noticed that on some of the models the hardware Wi-Fi LED indicator does not function. Sager has tested and the card will function as it should 100%, you will need to view if the RF Signal is being turned on / off with-in windows.

 

Yay another 2820qm user!

Welcome.

 

I am not sure my router at home through ATT will even support the new wireless technology. Regardless I chose the 6230. How hard is it to install the bigfoot down the road? And how much better is it over the 6230

 

We are awaiting for first ones to arrive in and will test and compare to the 62xx series cards. They are easy to install.

 

Thanks Justin! I consider this a silver lining as I wait on my pre-order. With the new options for SSDs and network cards, my order with Xotic just went up Now we need to get Intel on the ball -- it's costing me a fortune Can't wait to get my hands on my new beast, it's sooooo hard when you enjoy new technology.

 

The Bigfoot offers nothing the Intel chips don't, so why bother?

 

To the Xotic pc guys, if i just ordered my np8170 yesterday, how long am i gonna have to wait till i get charged? I assume there's a lot of january orders still backed up along with completed orders that need repairs.

The reason i ask is because if it takes into April for me to be charged i might as well upgrade my processor since i'll have even more funds in april for it.

 

These are REALLY Great SSD's...

 

We will not charge a credit card until they arrive into stock for your order. You can just play it by ear and always upgrade in between our contact with you when a machine is available

 

Can someone tell me how the keyboard is on these units (someone who has them obviously)? I am going to be doing a LOT of typing on this, so I want to know that the keyboard is comfortable for long hours of repeated use. Thanks!

 

That's a great news about new SDD's and wireless adapter! Still waiting for middle of March to place my order.

 

Welcome to the club

 

I wish I could have afforded the 2820 but the 485M was more important for me. I am hoping to upgrade the chip down the road.

 

And OCZ Technology announced the Vertex 3 Pro series today... I'm looking forward to putting the Vertex 3 Pro 240GB in my NP8170... Awesomeness...

 

The keyboard looks basically the same as on my 870cu, which is very comfortable to type on for long stretches. I've used it all day, many days, with no problems. Assuming you're okay with the chiclet-style keyboard, it should be fine for you.

 

Hello to all!
I've been a follower of this forum for quite a few years, since before i bought my trusty, but now aged, xps m1530...
I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the sage laptops and i'm planning on buying one of the monster NP8170, all and all without a doubt a much more robust gaming machine than what the dell xps line now offers...
I want to buy a pretty standard configuration with views to upgrading it progressively during its life cycle, but i do have one very important question:
Since my xps m1530 has a -sigh- 8600m gt -sigh- that is soldered directly to the motherboard i was wondering if that was also the case with the gtx 460 in this machine or if it is future upgradable? Will i be able to swap the gtx 460 for one of the new 28nm gpu's that will be coming out in the next year (hopefully this)?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered before, but i'm completely new to this brand and screen size laptop.

Thank you all in advance and i hope to have some very productive discussion with you all.

Hauzeur

 

From what I have read the Sager is upgradable by the user. If you look at a lot of hte pictures there is very easy access to all of the components.

 

Is there a 2630QM club i can join?

 

Im in the 2630QM club, represent!

 

Woot woot! Now i feel a little more special!

 

We are all special!

 

...and I must be the lone man with the 2720QM I want a club too!!

 

You are not alone. WE SHALL STAND AS ONE!

 

You are not alone, member of the 2720QM club as well... Keeps the Heart of Gold tickin!

 

Another 2720 member

 

Don't forget the Infinite Improbability Drive