Introducing The 2013 Series 7 Chronos with AMD HD8870M!

Note that the Samsung guy didn't talk about voiding warranty exchanging the HDD

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Yes please, try to play GW2 at max settings and FXAA On and tell us your frame rate, i think we all would appreciate it!!!

 

Those are some great numbers. If you want to recreate notebookcheck's tests, here you can see more details about the settings: Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards - NotebookCheck.net Tech

So what's the driver version you have?

 

Samsung? Wow, that was really a pain in the a**! Would you mind to upload somewhere that ISO please?

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For all of you who still doubt the 15" 8870m version is coming (kmann1994): Samsung zeigt Notebooks der Serie 7 Chronos und Serie 7 Ultra - Notebookcheck.com News
Samsung displayed it this week at MWC 2013 in Spain. (I'm sorry it's German)

 

Thank you for your contribution is very helpful
Can you supply your ambient temp?
I have just seen the logs:

New3Dmark:
CPU keep Turbo active for most of the time (3.2GHz on 4 cores) and hits 80°C as max temp.
GPU keep Turbo active almost always (775MHz) and 71°C as max temp.
So no throttling evidence.

GW2:
CPU runs for most the time at 2.4GHz (standard clock with no turbo) but sometime switch to 1.2GHz (but not on every core simultaneously) and hits 88°C as max temp.
GPU runs for most of the time at 725MHz (standard clock with no turbo), but is has switched very often to lower clock (688MHz, 650MHz, 635MHz, 575MHz), but clock at 635MHz or 575MHz are very few, sometime even turbo mode was activated (775MHz), max temp was 84°C.
So there is a slight throttling on GPU but it doesn't seem very serious.
Could be interesting to see in others most demanding games like Crysis2.


About driver:
I think that people that are hoping in magic new driver are loosing its time, this is not a new architecture. If it's true what Notebookcheck says "The design of the Radeon 8800M series has its roots to the Cape Verde chip as found, for example, on the desktop Radeon HD 7770 with 640 1D shader cores and 40 texture units", then AMD driver developers knows enough this chip to develop a good driver at day one.
Maybe could be some improvement in specific new game as Crysis3, but for now it's just a speculation.

In the follow link, you can find the logs modified (xlsx format) for a best view:
Multiupload.nl - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites!

Catalyst 13.2 beta 7 are out, it seems that performance on Crysis 3 are improved:

AMD Catalyst

Maybe some owner could try it, to check if they are working better than stock driver (Only if you know what you're doing).

 

Why don't they list the 8000 series anywhere on the AMD site in relation to drivers?

 

I think that beta driver have support even for 8000m series, but they don't write anything until official presentation.

 

Official presentation? You can buy those things in Germany since 2 weeks...
Both Companies need to improve how they present themselves and add "community support" on top of their to do lists.

Compared to Apple and Nvidia this is more than just a joke.

 

Sometime official presentation can occur after the release on the market.

 

Downloaded A Bunch Of Updates And What Not. Let It Charge Full And Getting Around 10-12 Second Boot Times. Not Bad. Sorry For The Weird Caps. My Phone Is Messing Up lol

 

I have the Best Buy 8770. I think this is lemon. Even when disabling the Intel 4000 graphics the 8770 doesn't appear to be working (meaning it doesn't show up when you right click on the Catalyst task bar symbol, or when I run the "Windows Experience Index" test). Anything else to try or pass go and recollect my $1200?

 

Get a new one? You have unlimited exchanges.

 

This is awesome news!

And btw, I'm not doubting it's coming. I'm just getting impatient that it's taking so long

Alchemist, you don't have to swap and SSD to test this theory. If you're willing, all you'd have to do is boot into Windows 8 setup, erase your hard drive, and attempt to reinstall Windows 8.

 

The following is all from page 68 of the Samsung Manual
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201301/20130116091029716/Win8_Manual_eng.pdf

Using AMD Graphics Effectively

PowerXpress is Switchable Graphics technology that selectively enables either the internal or external graphics chipset depending on the program to extend the battery life time while maintaining the graphics performance. This technology uses the internal graphics by default to reduce battery consumption and switches to the external graphics when the user uses some program functions that require a high graphics performance such as games and playing videos.

Adding programs for PowerXpress graphics technology
You have to register the program to run some functions of a program using the external graphics chipset. Some programs are pre-registered. To register more programs, complete the following steps.
Note - Unregistered programs will run using the internal graphics chipset. You can register executable files (EXE) only.

1 Right-click on the Desktop and select Configure Switchable Graphics from the popup menu.
2 Click the Browse button and register the software and click the Apply button.
3 From now on some of the functions of the registered program that require a high graphics performance will run with the external graphics chipset without additional configuration.

 

This is clearly a placeholder for older Radeon graphics switching technology. If i'm not mistaken, the new technology is called Enduro and it does it all automatically.

 

Most of the BB exclusives that I have seen have lasted for 1 quarter (3 months) That is the length of time on the exclusive they have on the Asus ROG g46. So that would mean that we wouldn't see other versions until after April 1st, unfortunately.

 

This does sound like my issue. But I don't have a "Browse" button. Bummer.

 

Go to the windows desktop... right click anywhere on the desktop and select the option (2nd from the top) that called 'configure switchable graphics' or something similar. This is where you can specify if a program should use High Performance Graphics or not.

Hint: It displays recently launched programs so its best to run the program in question and close it right before doing this, that way you don't have to press 'Add New' and browse around to find the program you want to set to High Performance.

 

9.3.5.0 - Catalyst Control Center 2012.1127.15.314

My ambient temperature is around 20-21°C
The 3dmark benchmark was done directy after I've started the machine.

I've checked the Notebookcheck benchmarking procedure and tried to repeat it.
Remember that the framerate with Fraps may be lower than without it.
Here you go:

1024x768, Best Performance Preset:
Frames: 811 - Time: 12532ms - Avg: 64.714 - Min: 54 - Max: 74
Frames: 460 - Time: 5672ms - Avg: 81.100 - Min: 76 - Max: 88

1366x768, Best Appearance Preset, FXAA:
Frames: 221 - Time: 7828ms - Avg: 28.232 - Min: 14 - Max: 35
Frames: 274 - Time: 8297ms - Avg: 33.024 - Min: 21 - Max: 36

1920x1080, All Maximum / On, FXAA, Render: Supersampling:
Frames: 83 - Time: 4735ms - Avg: 17.529 - Min: 15 - Max: 20
Frames: 53 - Time: 3516ms - Avg: 15.074 - Min: 11 - Max: 20

 

in Italian Samsung site, they added today the 17.3" version LINK, it's the NP770Z7E-S02IT.
Different also from the 15.6" "S01" version, it's that have inside an 750GB 7200rpm instead the 1TB 5400rpm.
Hope to see both asap in store now.

ps. tomorrow (friday), notebook check will publish their official review of the Samsung Chronos 7.... YAY

 

I thought we were in agreement that there was no BB exclusivity? Didn't Fry's have the S01US in stock, or was that just a placeholder?

In any case, I'm surprised by the results of GW2 on High getting 30-40. Something's definitely off on my computer if I'm staggering along on high at 24 fps.
Considering that's the ONE GAME I'd install on this thing?

...I guess I'm going to get back in line for the 8870. Just in case.

How's the battery life comparison between the 8770 and 8870 models? Anybody run tests similar to Alchemists'?

 

I could be wrong but I think all the 8870 model information is coming from 17" machines so battery specs may be quite different.

The samsung FAQ about the 8770 model specifically states 'This model is a best buy exclusive... ' so its safe to say its an exclusive model. I couldn't find it on the JR.com site although it may be in stores, i don't have one locally so can't check.

 

This isn't necessarily true at all, but it would really, really suck. We don't know if this is the kind of exclusive where we can only get it through Best Buy or not.

Can somebody confirm this with any sort of link to any site or store other than Best Buy with the SO1US? I would love to know. That would subdue fears of having to wait until April.

 

Don't have a link but when I went 2 days ago to see the laptop for myself it was indeed a UB model. Even the best buy salesman told me it was an exclusive model for Best Buy.

 

Samsung has as much as said in their FAQ that the 8770 model is a best buy exclusive. This doesn't mean anything other than this specific model was made for best buy and is exclusive to them. In some cases exclusives may be for a set period of time but most recently best buy has been doing 'exclusive models' instead. For example when asus released their q200/q202/etc model vivobook 11.6" i3 touch screen notebook... it was first out at best buy with a 2nd gen core i3 processor but within a week there were versions at microcenter for $100 more with the 3rd gen i3 processor and hd4000 graphics... then a couple weeks later they were all over amazon and everywhere. Best buy is still the only store selling it with the 2nd gen i3 although now they sell that model for $399 and are selling a 3rd gen i3 for $499 like everybody else.

What this means to the chronos is that the only thing we can exclude is this model appearing on amazon or elsewhere. They might get one with and 8850 or 8870 gpu or 16gb or ram upgradability or any other spec combination except this specific model.

I was thinking, I'm starting to make an argument in my head FOR the 8770 over the 8870 gpu.

The 8870 is definitely faster thats a given, but its heat profile is greater and notebookcheck has it suitable for Large notebooks and desktop replacements while the 8770 runs cooler and is suitable for medium sized notebooks. So the 8770 model will run cooler, cost less and still have 650m caliber graphics performance. Running hot will shorten the life of a notebook, so the 8770 might last longer as well.

On the bright side, its pretty cool when a company makes a notebook that the only competition I see for it is a yet to be released upgraded model of the same notebook.

 

And that's exactly what we want! I just hope it is before April. Anytime within the next 2 weeks would be stellar.

 

Thanks very helpful

For current owners of the 8770 Best Buy model

Regarding battery life, the Samsung manual has this

Extending the Battery Life
In the Settings program, click Power Management and set the Battery Life Extender to ON or OFF.
OFF - This mode maintains 100% of the battery charge when using the computer on AC power. In this case, although the battery use time increases, the battery life is reduced.
ON - This mode maintains 80% of the battery charge when using the computer on AC power. In this case, although the battery use time decreases, the battery life is extended.

Does the 8770 Best Buy model have this option?

For current owners of the 8770 Best Buy model

Somewhere in this thread was a discussion on bloatware. Are there any bloatware programs that aren't obvious? Someone mentioned bitsomething?

 

Yes the Best Buy model has this option. Essentially all it does is say the battery is empty when it reaches 20%. So you lose 20% of your battery life in daily operations but the battery itself will go through more cycles because it isn't being drained completely. Its a trade off, personally I don't think its worth the 20% loss up front for the possible gain in extending the batteries overall life. Id rather use the power now and buy a new battery or laptop when it won't hold a charge anymore.

 

Hi, can anyone confirm if the Samsung MZ-7TD500BW SSD (or the 250gb version) is compatible with the model that is actually available at BB. If so, how do they perform? I will most likely be buying the laptop these days with an ssd. Which ssd would you recommend? Please consider i am tight on budget, thanks!

 

I've played with this. I have set everything they allow to High Performance. Nothing. I disabled the Intel 4000 in Device Manager and according to Windows Experience Index, it kicked to some sort of emergency graphics. I tried re-installing the original Catalyst to see if that Browse button would appear, nothing.
I think it's fried/incorrectly installed/somethingscrewedup. I'm in the process of putting it back to stock so I can hopefully exchange it this afternoon. Fingers-crossed BB's website is correct and they have one in stock and toes-crossed it doesn't have this problem.

 

I think the drivers have a lot of problems right now. Sometines the developers fail to deliver from day 1.

New Samsung Series 7 Chronos WiFi and Sleep, Follow-up video - YouTube

 

What do you think about switching off the battery with the button on the bottom of the laptop when using it with AC adapter plugged?

If you want a reliable ssd with good speed/price I'd suggest Crucial m4

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

Did you notice that problems are due to poor installation of the operating system?
This user has made SSD swap, but it seems that he was unable to find or reinstall the right drivers.
Until now others users that have not reinstalled operating system don't report this issue.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

I found your premise debatable, he was able install a bunch of other drivers, the AMD were the ones failing and causing problems. Don't get me wrong I like AMD (I have a 6970 in my desktop) but I think the current drivers for the 8770m have a flaw and if the installation of drivers has problems I found likely the performance too.

 

I suggest to try new catalyst 13.2 beta 7, maybe there are several improvements.
http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/amdcatalyst132betadriver.aspx

It's even possible that this notebook uses a custom driver realized only for Samsung

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

I was told by people from bestbuy that the 8770 model which is now available has a discount of 100 bucks from its original 1300 price. As i was told that discount comes from the 100 dollar discount for this week for all touch screen laptops, so it is possible (not confirmed) that the mentioned discount will expire this saturday, so, if anyone is considering buying the laptop keep that in mind, and hurry up

 

According to The Verge the discounts will last until March 9 Best Buy offers two-week, $100 discount on all Windows 8 touchscreen PCs | The Verge

 

if you looked a couple pages back, i made a quick honest review switching to a samsung 840 250gb. This computer has never ran better. In all, the switching process was easy, the toughest part was removing the back panel. You really have to be gentle, but at the same time apply good pressure to pop the tabs or else they arent coming out

the guys shown in the top video really has a F'ed up install, our systems did not come like that, and he could have reinstalled SW update and it woulda been just fine

 

Review is out:
Test Samsung Serie 7 Chronos 770Z7E Notebook - Notebookcheck.com Tests

It's German, dunno if it's translated already.
Looks like Asus UX51VZ wins

Medium build quality, TN-Panel, not even close to 300 nit , brightness turns itself down on battery, throttling (PSU or made by Samsung).
+battery life. But if you limit a device that way, every good notebook can run for that long.

-> old drivers, assassins creed 3 has graphic errors.

 

Are you referring to this laptop posted on bestbuy.com? SAMSUNG COMPUTER 15.6" TouchScreen Laptop 8GB Memory 1TB Hard Drive NP780Z5E-S - Best Buy

I think that's an entirely different product line, not the Series 7 Chronos model. There is no Chronos branding on the display images and no specs listed for this laptop. The Chronos Model "H" (1080p display, i7 and 8870m) and even the lower spec Chronos Model "M" (1366x768 display, i5 CPU) both had the Chronos logo on the top left corner of the chassis.

 

I think that at this point the only test that we need is to try with a more powerful PSU.
It has a strange kind of throttling when CPU and GPU are both used at max power, I haven't never seen before: 1 core at max clock and the others 3 clocked at 1.2GHz, maybe is related to insufficient power supply or is a Samsung choice.

 

Fry's has a different model number. NP7 60Z5E-U01US . The specs seem the same as the Best Buy NP780Z5E
FRYS.com | Samsung

Interestingly canadacomputers.com uses the same model number (NP7 60Z5E-U01CA) as Fry's. The specs seem the same as the Best Buy NP780Z5E
Canada Computers | Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets | Samsung Nike II Mid (NP760Z5E-U01CA) Notebook | Intel Core I7_3635QM.50 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TBHDD, DVD-RW | 15.6" HD PLS Touch AMD HD8770M 1GB; Windows 8

and canadacomputers.com uses the "8" in the higher model designation NP7 80Z5E-S02CA for the yet to be released 8870 version
Canada Computers | Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets | Samsung Nike II High (NP780Z5E-S02CA) Notebook | Intel Core I7_3635QM 8GB RAM, 1TB_5.4KR/16G EC, DVD-RW | 15.6" FHD PLS Touch AMD HD8870M 2GB; Windows 8

 

How do you figure that?

The Chronos with 8870m performed comparably to the Schenker laptop with Nvidia 670m, almost as good as the 675m in the 3DMark 2013 and Heaven benchmarks, but apparently as a result of Enduro issues it was slightly worse than the 660m in actual gaming performance.

This is a brand new card, and hopefully AMD will update drivers in order to deliver better gaming performance. However, even if they were to fail to update drivers, the performance is still better than the 650m in the Asus UX51VZ.

 

I'm done with Samsung Chronos - I could accept throttling but not crappy TN-Panels for 1300€ +
Support also seems to be way below average :/

Compare Screens directly and see how crappy Chronos displays are:
http://www.notebookcheck.com/typo3temp/pics/85e03ed705.jpg
http://www.notebookcheck.com/typo3temp/pics/30334acf8e.jpg

 

If you had read the thread you'd know that the Samsung NP760Z5E is the name of Series 5 for USA:
http://pci34.fishingtree.com/nike2/strategy/570Z5E/

 

It sounds like the particular model they reviewed had a matte display, the glossy version is going to look much better.

 

thats the 17", the 15" comes with MVA that most owners think is great, as far as I know.

 

This is a different model in the chronos series... it is 17" has a display port and only has a 80000mwh battery instead of the 91000mwh battery in the best buy model. This review is useful for its 8870 benchmarks and discussion of throttling due to heat and/or power supply limitations. It does say that those limitations are more likely by design than any bug on samsungs part. In other words if they only give you a 90w power supply so the GPU / CPU throttles they probably did that to avoid overheating.

Edit: It also has a matte NON-TOUCH screen instead of a glass/gloss touch screen display. The display is also a TN with not so great viewing angles. Much better tech in the 15"

 

Cyberport.de - Computer, Notebooks, Fernseher, Apple, Handys & Digitalkameras

"04.04.2013" -> It's the official release date of 15" model?