Any news on a new ATIV 9 15" for 2015/2016

I think I'm ready to replace my Sony Vaio Z with a larger screened laptop but I want it as light as possible with an acceptable processor. I see the Ativ is relatively light for a 15" model but notice using the older processor and I'd like it to run as cool and as for long times on battery alone.

 

The third post in this thread mentions an NP940Z5L. The numbering suggests a touchscreen, which not everyone wants.

John

 

Thanks - I'm definitely waiting for a good 15" hopefully that will be a great model. I wouldn't mind a touch screen if it was a flip type laptop or it had a detachable keyboard but otherwise it would be a waste of money for a feature I wouldn't use.

 

The NP940Z5L's user manual is available to download using Samsung's SW Update. Another download is a Nvidia graphics driver which confirms that this notebook will have a discrete GPU (something I had expected given the Z in the model number).

Unfortunately, the User Manual is not very informative. It mentions a 90W PSU which suggests that this notebook is unlikely to be a very lightweight 15.6" machine and indicates that the touchscreen is optional. There are three USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C port and an HDMI port.

The upside of having a notebook with a dGPU, even if it is not used, is that the cooling system should have plenty of capacity and run quietly under normal usage (a key feature of the dGPU version of the Dell E7450 that I am currently using). However, this notebook would need to be carefully compared with the latest version of the Dell XPS-15.

So, at the moment, Samsung do not appear to be creating a direct successor to the NP930X5J. ie a 15.6" notebook with weight in the 14" notebook range.

John

 

Is there a link to download the manual? Is this a convertible? IF not the touchscreen is pretty useless.

 

Samsung don't make it easy. You can get SW Update here (it will install on any Windows computer). Then use the find model function to got to United States > Series 9 then scroll to the right of the list and select your notebook.

I would also add that Samsung don't provide a PDF file but an installation file. I recommend not running the installer (which seems to have an uninstall problem) but use this program to extract the PDF you want from the package.

John

 

Confirmed, in the US at least.
http://www.engadget.com/2015/11/04/samsung-ativ-book-9-pro/

Now that is has a true QC CPU, it could be an attractive alternative to the XPS15, especially if there is 2x m.2 slots. It does have USB3.1 and 4K screen.

 

It's got an upgrade on everything from the old Ativ Book 8 NP870Z5G, kinda looks like a spiritual successor.
To sum it up:

- i7 6700HQ
- GeForce GTX 950M (GDDR type not specified)
- 8GB of RAM (DDR3/DDR4 not specified)
- 15.6" 4k Display with claimed enhancements
- 256 GB SSD
- full Aluminium chassis (black)
- 4.45 pounds (~2kg)
- claimed 6.5h worth of battery life
- 1600$ at launch

Not really sure if we really need 4k at 15.6", at least I probably won't. But wow, I've been waiting for something like the old Ativ Book 8 for quite a while. It's definitely worth watching if you didn't get any of the remaining models from 2014.

Also...maybe we could rename the thread and have it for all posts about this model?

 

1080p would give you better battery life, but at least 4K is a perfect multiplier of both 720p and 1080p if you're into gaming.

 

Wow! I take it that this will only be released for the asian market, seeing as they pulled out of europe/us?
I wonder if they'll do a variant without the 4K screen. However - I'm really interested in those quad speakers.

 

Use the Find Model function in Samsung's SW Update to search for where this notebook may appear. Last time I looked I found it only under USA.

John

 

I dont think I really need something that powerful for art/animation work as my quad core 770Z5E is running things fine (as long as I leave windows on 8), but nevertheless it's really tempting with the graphics card that I guess will be better supported, along with the quad speakers. The one thing that I'm not keen on is the touchscreen, which means it's going to be glossy. If they do a matte version, then I may delve in.

 

The NP940Z5L-X01US is available in the US here:
http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/pcs/NP940Z5L-X01US
and here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung...lack/4526101.p?id=1219757968441&skuId=4526101

 

I wonder what they mean by "4K HDMI"? No indication there are 2x SSD slots though.

 

I believe it means that the HDMI port can drive an external 4K monitor.

 

CNET First look review and video of the NP940Z5L:
http://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-ativ-book-9-pro/

 

I was wondering if it was HDMI 2.0 which could do 4k@60Hz, but I guess the USB3.1 could as well.

 

According to this preview it is indeed HDMI 2.0:

"The Book 9 Pro comes with one of Intel’s hardcore new Core i7 Skylake processors, 4K-ready HDMI 2.0 port connectivity, USB Type-C connections, a lightning-quick 256GB SSD storage memory and most importantly for a 4K UHD machine, its own discrete GPU in the form of a very respectable Nvidia GeForce 950M graphics card."

 

I am really considering getting this laptop to replace my Dell XPS 15 9550 but there are not that many reviews on it. Does anyone have any firsthand experience with this laptop and it's performance?

 

Welcome to NBR

I took the liberty of moving your post to this thread where the Ativ Book 9 Pro is already discussed. See if it answers some of your questions.

If you end up buying it, you are very welcome to create an Owners Lounge thread (as your original thread title suggested).

 

According to the reviews on best buy, there seems to be a green display issue that may/may not have been fixed with an update.

 

Great news:
Samsung has been somewhat of a small player in the notebook market lately, but today they are announcing two new devices which should appeal to anyone looking for a very portable laptop. The new Notebook 9 series laptops, in both 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch sizes, come in at a very svelte 1.85 lb (840 g) and 2.84 lb (1.29 kg) mass, respectively.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9913/...ralight-notebook-9-series-laptops-at-ces-2016

 

Yes. That 15" appears to be a return to form (in a 14" chassis). Very tempted, but I want gunmetal gray. One concern is did they skimp on the battery size.

 

One of the strengths of the old X4C is that it could be stretched to about 10 hours. The new CPU may be more efficient but I don't think there has been any significant improvement to display backlight efficiency and lighting up a 15.5" screen will need at least as much power as the 15.0" panel. Perhaps 7 hours if being frugal, 4 to 5 under normal usage.

John

 

Indeed, per the Verge:

"Glancing at Windows 10s battery life estimator on the 15-inch Notebook 9, I was promised 3 hours and 33 minutes off a remaining charge of 83 percent."

So it sounds as though they have cut the battery in half.

 

Aside from the NP940Z5L- X01US there is now also a NP940Z5L- X03US in the latest version of Samsung Update.

Any idea what that could be?

Matte display? 16GB RAM? (I wish!)

 

More likely to be a different SSD size or Windows version.

John

 

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-updates-new-notebook-9-line

I am so disappointed that the new 15 inch Kaby Lake model will NOT be available with 16GB of RAM (The 13.3 inch will).

That makes no sense. I hope it is a mistake.

Also, why is the SSD only "up to 256GB" ???

 

Thanks for the link but I suggest we continue the discussion of the Kaby Lake models in this other thread.

I agree that it's inappropriate to limit a 2017 15" notebook to 8GB RAM which is, most likely soldered and can't be upgraded when the 13.3" will be available with 16GB (bat at what price?). However, it's also likely that the SSD will be a standard module and can be upgraded.

John