2013 Series 7 chronos / Ativ Book 8 15" owner's lounge (NP770Z5E / NP780Z5E / NP870Z5E / NP880Z5E)

no, it's all about CCCP

 

How's subtitle support on those? I love VLC's simplicity. It works for everything and it's fast.



I said in my review that the screen is dimmer than I expected. When I disabled adaptive brightness it was so much brighter! Please do this when you find that your screen is to dim. I put the instructions in the FAQ.

 

Never had an issue with subs; CCCP-wrapped codecs work brilliantly on all of my computers. I tend to use the bundled MPC more than VLC. Personal preference.

 

The process that monitors this is started by Task Scheduler. You can disable it there.

 

Ok guys just came back from best buy and again checked out the laptop section and had another look at the 15" touchscreen w/ 8770m and this time the display is not grainy and it was clear like a glossy screen should be and the display manufacturer is AUO.

As you guys may remember, i had that model about 2 weeks ago and returned it due to grainy screen like some grease was smeared all over it and it had some form of a yellow tint to it. That display manufacturer was CMO Chi Mei.

I think i come to the conclusion that Chi Mei panels mostly have grainy screen regardless if it's matte or glossy. Even notebookcheck mentioned that on the new G75VX where the AUO was clear and the Chi Mei panel they had on the G75VW was so grainy. Same thing on the MSI GT70 Chi Mei panel reviewed by notebookcheck.

 

Hey folks, it seems I really need help from more experienced users.

I cannot find the startup settings in the ASO/troublehooting section.

Thing is I want to install the driver for my old scanner, which is, guess what, uncertified. I have gathered that you should be able to allow this in the Advanced Startup Options / Troubleshooting / Startup Settings, but they are just not there. There is only a reduced ASO when you access it in the usual way (just Continue or Shutdown), booting with a USB drive gives you the Troublehooting option at least, but then there is no tile at all for Startup Settings.
Has anyone made the same experience?
If you know any way round this, I'd be most grateful for advice. I've wasted five hours already and am on the brink of despair. And no, I won't throw away my good, old reliable scanner, because I hate throwing away things that still perfectly suit my needs.

 

I have an AUO touchscreen, and I still notice the graininess. Maybe it's not as bad as the CMO Chi Mei, but I don't have one to compare it to.

 

Hi guys, i got the thing today)), couple questions though

1. i read a while ago that there is something that needs to be done to improve the screen quality (some settings thing). (brightness or something)
2. What other things need to be done intially to get this thing properly running. Like updates or bios or smth.
3. for the colour of the screen, does it need to be calibrated?
4. whats wrong with the wlan, why is it so slow?, theres some fix i think, anyone know it?

thanks guys

 

How can you tell the manufacturer of the display on Chronos 7 notebooks? Is it listed on Device Manager?

 

1. For brightness, check the FAQ in post #1 in this thread. There I explained how to turn off adaptive brightness and various other important settings.
For the best sharpness go to control panel> Appearances and personalization> Display> Make text and other items larger or smaller and set it to 100%.

2. I suggest to uninstall bloatware and intellimemory (if you don't like it). Next install updates through windows and the SW update app (don't forget to uncheck intellimemory if you don't want to reinstall that). BIOS update can be done through SW update app too.

3. I did not find that necessary myself.

4. If you install the updates through the SW update app the newest wlan driver will be installed as well. This hould fix the problems.

Yes, right click on your display in device manager, click properties, go to details tab and select hardware-id in the drop down menu.

 

Go to Device Manager then Monitor then right click and click Properties, then go to Details Tab then click the drop down arrow and go to hardware id and VOILA!!

 

I do not have the Chronos, but is good to know. Thanks for the clarification it's good to know both that Samsung has listed the manufacturer in there and that are two different screens so far for the Chronos 7.

Most notebook manufactures does not list the display manufacturer and its labeled simply as "Generic Monitor" on Device manager.

 

Guys what do you suggest for ssd, samsung recovery or fresh install? Theoretically fresh install should be the cleanest solution but practically does it make that much difference?

 

I have a bit of a conflict with VLC and the latest Intel HD graphics drivers. Whenever I updated to the latest drivers VLC player would suddenly crop out a portion of any video I watch. I thought about switching to other video players but I decided to downgrade back to previous drivers to get the weird cropping out. Have you experienced this issue?

 

No I don't have those problems. Maybe reinstalling vlc could help.

 

I'm having these really annoying slow downs and high disk usages. It took around 3 minutes to start up chrome and get to this webpage. Here's a screenshot of my task manager:


Edit: oops I didn't see I had a previous post I could edit, sorry. And the screenshot is in Dutch, sorry about that.

 

Please help
i purchased the np780ze 4 days ago and everytime i open a video or app/game its transparent, i can slightly see the last page/app i was on. does anyone know how to turn this off

 

I'm having similar hangs on my (different) laptop. It started happening when I installed Windows 8 so I really think it's a W8 bug, not Samsung... Hopefully it can be sorted/fixed with an update from Microsoft.

 

Thanks. When googling it I found a lot of other people also had this problem with windows 8.

 

how can i turn off keyboard backlight? If i use FN + F9, it turns off, but it turns on after a few seconds :/ thx for help!

 

^ Samsung calls that a feature !!

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/713775-disable-2013-series-7-chronos-keyboard-backlight.html

 

SAME HERE !!!!

i cant adjust manually the keyboard backlight, is very annoying

please help !

 

Any user experience with hardcore( or normal) 3D modeling and rendering on "bestbuy" 8770 version? I am running out of time... I am leaving US in the beginning of May, and I just have that feeling that 8870 will come out right after my departure.

 

I've also experienced extended periods where the disk goes to 100%. Maybe 3 or 4 times, it's been noticeable. Mostly this has happened when restarting my computer or when waking it from sleep or hibernate. I was unable to find any process that was using lots of CPU time during these periods. Looking at the event viewer, I have performance entries from ESENT with ids 507,508, and 510. The wording of the event is something like:

"A request to write to the file "name removed" at offset 466944 (0x0000000000072000) for 4096 (0x00001000) bytes succeeded, but took an abnormally long time (482 seconds) to be serviced by the OS. This problem is likely due to faulty hardware. Please contact your hardware vendor for further assistance diagnosing the problem."

Other entries are for even longer periods of time. Searching it appears that this isn't new to windows 8. I did see a post that suggests it may be a driver issue. I was wondering if it has anything to do with intellimemory which I haven't removed like many others. And unlike many others, I haven't replaced the hard drive with an SSD.

 

It's fantastic. I'm on one right now and the 3D modelling is not as bad as people think. It's very capable and can handle 3D gaming well.

 

1. Look at the HDD SMART data. I suggest using a trial version of ActiveSMART which monitors changes in the SMART data which would indicate an HDD problem. Some HDDs die young.

2. If the SMART data show no errors then try uninstalling IntelliMemory.

John

 

Hey got a question about the SDD swap, i read a while ago in the big thread that you gotta disable the battery by sticking something in the tiny hole. i do not see that in blacks tutorial however. anyone know about that?

 

i did the swap without disabling the battery, had no problems... Try to not touch anything other than the hdd

 

Anyone can tell me how can i install windows 8 pro on NP770Z5E? During clean installation windows pro cd don't work, i can bypass bios product key?

 

Add Windows 8 Pro to your edition of Windows
1.Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.

(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)

2.Enter add features in the search box, and then tap or click Settings .

3.Tap or click Add features to Windows 8 and then do one of the following:

•If you need to purchase a product key, tap or click I want to buy a product key online.

Follow the steps to purchase and enter a product key.

•If you already have a product key, tap or click I already have a product key.

4.Enter your product key and click Next.

5.Read the license terms, select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click Add features.

 

Swapped HDD with SDD and then problems getting windows on SSD..:

I have a problem installing windows too. So i did two things, i have a 32 gb usb 3 stick and a 32 gb usb 2.0 stick. On the USb 3 one i did the factory recovery thing with the 15.7 gb. I disabled secure boot and fast boot, and changed this thing to cfm and uefm or watever its called. So when i boot it goes into recovery after a while and then just stay in the first screen telling me to wait, then it reboots and starts the same thing over...

On the usb 2 one i made a bootable winodws 8 thing with the setup tool from microsoft, i entered a windows 8 pro key to download it which i bought prior to buying the comp. When i boot with it starts fine, asks me which language to use for windows and stuff, and then when its supposed to start installing, it promps me with an error message telling me i have the wrong product key and then thats as far as i can go.

As usual it easier to get it illegally than properly.

So here my question.. Where the hell can i get a bootable windows 8 version, i have a legit win 8 pro key.
and also ofc, whats going with the recovery? why is that not working?

thankyou guys, help is very appreciated.

 

Has someone successfully installed the latest intel graphic card drivers and still could adjust screen brightness manually ?

 

Alright, so I just bought this computer (np780z5e-s01UB) and ran into a slight issue. I backed up the restore partition to my external hard drive so that I could use an SSD instead. Fresh install from the recovery seemed to work without a hitch. I first ran SW update and it updated the bios along with about 6 other things. Then I did all the updates through windows update. Lastly I attempted to do the system rating. As soon as it started my screen turned off and stayed that way for a few hours (I started it and then left to go do something else). So, I restart my computer and try it again. Same thing. Again and again other than I only waited a few minutes. No rating. So, I tried a fresh install from recovery and same thing. Then I tried installing SC2 to test the graphics card in another way. I put it on 1080p resolution, medium textures, high graphics with the game set to run at high performance on the switchable graphics config. Power settings at high performance as well. (This was done for the rating test as well). Game seemed to run fine for about 5 minutes but got bored without a wireless mouse so I quit it. Now, I'm pretty sure its a graphics card issue since when I restart the computer by holding the power button down for ~5 seconds, the event log on reboot says that amdkmdap stopped working but restarted successfully (although the display never turned back on, event ID 4101).

I'm not looking for any crazy trouble shooting. I just want to know if anyone has seen this before, especially on this computer. Otherwise, I'm going to call samsung tomorrow and then likely return it for a replacement if no solution is given. I may try putting in the old hard drive to see if it the original installation has any issues. Still, with 2 fresh installs on the SSD, I find that unlikely.


EDIT: I got it replaced and haven't had that issue anymore.

 

Hi guys, dunno if im being extra stupid:

but i simply cannot get my hands on a windows 8 64 bit version.
What do i have to do to make a clean install of windows 8 64 bit on this comp?
Really getting frustrated.
Help is appreciated thanks.

 

Apart from all the difficult hardware/software questions I've got a really trivial one (which I hope hasn't been answered yet): Has anyone of you found a sleeve that fits with the Chronos? I'm currently looking but there aren't really any sleeves available for utrabooks yet, so all of the others are actually designed for laptops and seem to be too large for the acutally quite thin Chronos which is why I am afraid that the notebook won't be securely fitted in them.
I know this quite the trivial question but I hope that maybe some of you can help me with it.

 

Go to an Apple store. They have an excellent selection of ultra sleek 15" sleeves and bags that fit the Series 7 perfectly.

 

I'll feel kind of bad going in with my non-MacBook laptop!
Do the 15" retina sleeves fit or the 15" pro sleeves?
I'm considering getting a messenger bag, anyone know of any nice ones?

And man is this keyboard lighting annoying. I really hope the black one comes out!

 

Back in the game!!

Had the devil's luck today. I ordered a Linksys access point from Bestbuy (having some wifi issues at my 2 story house so decided to supplement it with the AP for the lower level). Did a in-store pick-up but when I went after work to pick it up, BB apparently 'lost' my order. Ended up waiting for 20 mins while they scrambled to get my order ready again.

Then thought to check the open box item and see if my returned 780E (8770) was still in. And it was right beside the other open box Macbooks. As I've stated many times in my posts, I didn't really consider the Chronos for gaming but more so for its ultrabook features and cost factor and touch screen. Decided at $1049, it was easily worth it (compared to the similar speced Asus Zenbook at $2k).

When I walked back to the pickup section, the girl smiled and said they had gotten my Linksys order ready but to make up the wait time, she was going to give me 10% discount! The bells rang in my head and I smiled back and said "I'm going to ask u a big favor...would u mind applying the 10% off on this laptop instead? She was like "sure..np...sorry for the wait". Long story short, I got the 8770 version for approx $1k out the door!! No regrets whatsoever.

I do online COD/Blops2 gaming on the Xbox (with my friends over at AVSforum) but for RPGs, I'll start using my Chronos for it.

Came home and really, it was smooth sailing uninstalling the typical crap (Norton, Intellimemory, games, etc)...disabling the auto brightness (which is the MAJOR one). Here it is in all its glory (uninstalling Norton). And the obvious is the stupid keyboard backliting NEVER kicked in even though my kitchen was in partial darkness (I had to cover the sensor with my finger later and it turned on immediately):


This was my major gripe on this model. The backligting on the kb has its own mind. Really thinking to cut our a black duct tape and then stick it on top of the sensor. Cos when the backlighting does work as intended, it's actually not too bad.

But other than that, very happy with my $1k purchase.

 

See my post here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ng-2013-series-7-chronos-amd-hd8870m-478.html
Used acronis true image on a bootable usb stick to clone the original hard drive onto my ssd. The original drive was connected via a usb hard drive enclosure.

 

Hey guys. I bought the canadian 16gb version last night. Love it so far but i want to swap in an SSD. I have never done something like this before so i am a bit nervous.

I need a bit of clarification regarding the following statement in black83s tutorial:
Installing a fresh Windows Version, not from Samsung recovery! I used "Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool" to create an bootable Windows image. Used a external HDD for that.

So im going to have a stick with the 16gb recovery image and then another stick with a bootable windows image?

So then when i boot into the BIOS after installing the SSD what stick needs to be in? both of them or just the bootable windows image?

If im not mistaken, the bootable windows image will be used to boot into windows in order to install the recovery image?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, just want to make sure i understand everything before doing the swap.

Thanks guys!

 

I just got my NP770Z5E and i'm trying to get Windows 7 Pro to work as good as possible. So far i haven't had any luck with the Radeon graphics card and the touch pad. Could someone please write the soecs for the touchpad so i can search for a driver?

It is completely unacceptable and absurd that samsung haven't got any drivers for windows 7 which is still by far the most used OS, especially in the bussiness sector!!! I payed 2000 USD for the computer and they can't even provide any decent downgrade path let alone drivers for windows 7?!?

 

Ok having some repetitive issues with wireless. The wireless does not auto connect to the wireless network (sometimes). Then it troubleshoots and resets wireless adapter and usually works. Also, cannot do wireless lan update. Keeps failing. Any suggestions? Other computers in house are just fine.

 

Get the latest WiFi driver direct from the Intel website. I presume you have the Intel 6235 adapter and the new driver has fixed connectivity problems for many people.

John

 

Done that already. Tried Samsung support and the guy just uninstalled my driver and the left without properly reinstalling it. Useless. Thankfully Im borderline competent enough to do that much.
I have the right driver, just not the wireless update from Samsung.

Actually to be honest, I had the wireless update and then used system restore because of other issues and now cannot reinstall it.

For those of you seeing constant 100% usage of the HDD, I noticed this happening when the graphics update came from Samsung. Someone else posted that it had to do with the sequence in which windows updates and the graphics updates were installed. Sure enough, I went back, reinstalled everything and problem went away.

 

I bought a incase pro messenger bag for mbpr 15"
Let's hope it fits!
Is there still interest in high quality photos of the chronos
If so I can take them tomorrow. It's really overcast right now, and it'd look better with natural light.

 

hi, please answer me, i am very noob at this (and english is not my native language)

for what programs or application do you recomend to use the 8870m ??? (in switchable graphic app)

Of course in games and programs like photoshop.

But the web browser for example ?? PowerDVD ?? some othe program i am missing maybe ??

or just for games ??

thats all, thank you very much

regards

 

I'd recommend to use the 8870m only for 3D applications like gaming and CAD and for graphically intensive 2D applications like photo and video editing.

For watching movies and browsing the web the HD4000 will be more than enough.









EDIT: Did anyone of you get FC3 for free too with their laptop? I can't get it activated because I'm in Belgium and my laptop is French.

 

From my win 8 installation it's an ELAN ETD0B00 v11.7.9.5. From the mouse properties dialog the device is Elan Smart-Pad (ETDWare X64 11.7.9_5_WHQL)

Have you had any further progress on your Win 7 Pro installation as it's a route I would like to go down? Win 8 just doesn't sit well with the tools I used for work.

 

Thank you very much!

Yes i have indeed had luck getting everything to work properly, even the radeon card.

I tried downloading the SW update tools from samsung for the model. They state it's only for windows 8 but all the drivers work fine for windows 7. The only thing im having a bit of trouble with is the s agent program that needs to run to enable all the special Fn buttons like brightness dimming etc. It wants admin rights everytime i start the computer.


EDIT: I found the drivers and they work perfectly, now the touch pad works just as with Windows 8!

This baby takes the same time to start up with Windows 7 as with Windows 8, the difference is not noticable.

 

Would it be possible for someone to make a program that does function-f7(or whatever key it is for lowering keyboard backlight) every 5 seconds? That could possibly work!