Introducing The 2013 Series 7 Chronos with AMD HD8870M!

Seems amazon has removed it from their site based on the link provided.

 

I have no 17 inch, it's 15 ! 770Z5E-S01 with HD8870, available in Germany since last week.
Refused to buy TN-Panel crap for 1300€


Benchmarks are excatly what you wanted to see - but some volks here around don't understand how to read logs

 

Dude I'm confused. Sorry .

I'm one of those I guess. I saw average fps was around 42 fps, is that wrong?

 

Sorry for my misunderstanding, I suggest to every owner to put in his signature his code name model, just to avoid any future misunderstanding (maybe it's better to specify even GPU model) because in this thread coexist a whole laptops family.

 

They also removed the store pages for the old Chronos 7 models. I think this is a very good sign!! It seems they may be clearing house to make way for the new models, which they could potentially put all up at once today or this week!!

 

Let's hope!
Definitely a good sign

 

ah, so black doesn't have the 17" model either? ok, well will wait to see some more results on the 17" version before dismissing it. played with the 15.6" 8770 today at bestbuy. while a great form factor, found it to be quite heavy for its diminutive size. black, want to thank you for running all the tests and what not for those of us lurkers and potential buyers, especially here in the states.

 

Yes, I meant just to mention it in the post

In an italian forum a user have installed the old 13.2 beta 7 in NP770Z5E with no problem: so it's compatible..

I can't force you to do this upgrade but there isn't any proof that this new driver isn't compatible with new 8870M. I know that 8870M is not in the compatibility list, but there is also to consider that isn't even presents in the AMD site.

 

It won't simply install anything, installer closes after 3 seconds later.
Driver date signature stays the same after.

 

I wonder what this means for the people who have pre-ordered the laptop before it went missing. I was thinking about returning my NP780Z5E-S01UB from BB and getting this. Oh well.

 

The italian user have updated his Windows 8 to the PRO edition; after this, the user have downloaded and successfully installed the Catalyst Beta. Probably the driver works only after a clean install of Windows 8..

 

I have to say that the user that says to use Catalyst Beta has made a clean install of Windows 8 Pro.

 

i have finished a clean install on the 770z5e-s01IT of win 8 pro... but now i have to find the driver for the trackpad and the function keys... sould i install this?:
NP770Z5E -
and this say that can update the BIOS.. Can i use it or there is another way?
NP770Z5E -

 

Finished me too a clean install... Install software upgrade by samsung, and give perm. To install all drivers.
This laptop with 840 pro it's awesome!

Inviato dal mio GT-I9300 con Tapatalk 2

 

Why do you think that ATIV Book 8 will come with a SSD? I definitely hope not: I don't want to pay 200 euro more for a crappy ssd when I can buy a 840 Pro 256 GB for 180 euro

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

for the bios too???

 

Throttling can be prevented depending on whether a game is more CPU or GPU dependent.

- If CPU-dependent, downclock the GPU with overclock software
- If GPU-dependent, downclock the CPU using ThrottleStop

But if you're playing a game like Battlefield that heavily utilizes for GPU and CPU, then downclock either one until they no longer throttle.

 

Actually, can anyone who's opened up their laptop tell us what brand the stock HD is?

 

There's no need to open the computer: Use Device Manager to see the HDD model number.

John

 

Can anyone tell me the exact model number of the 8870m version that is coming out in the USA?

 

No one knows, however it's assumed to be
780z5e-s02
880z5e-s02

 

Dunno how to install pro directly, Win8 detects BIOS key before it even asks you to enter a key.
As soon you go online, it activates itself automatically and the numbers in bottom right corner are gone.

But I upgraded win8 consumer to win8 pro within windows itself, there is a function to add windows features and a box you can enter a key.

 

When you enter a Winpro key by going to add Windows feature does do any major things like formatting or delete stuff?

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

Nope, just installs something, reboot and done. Takes 2 minutes...

 

It's probably going to have "US" at the end of the extension of the main model number. The current Series 7 Chronos notebooks in the US all have "-S01US" at the end.

 

Yea but on samsung's site it'll be NP780z5e-s02, etc.

 

anyone know tools for fan control on chronos series?
i tried to hack the register where it stores values and found it - but there is a problem, can't disable auto mode if i write an app to constantly overwrite the value it battles samsungs settings and it spins off and on

they set the values to low, fan starts @50-51°C which can be reached in some situations when browsing.
if they have added +5°C the fan would never spin in office/internet

 

Considering the user in http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...-s01ub-graphic-card-never-seems-utilized.html has the model
NP780Z5E- S01UB
And links on the previous page point to a model NP770Z5E- S01IT
And previous U.S. models from last year all had "US" at the end.

And now they decide the U.S. doesn't even get end letters for their country's model? Makes sense.

 

Yes, it will be something like UB or US, all I'm saying is that on Samsungs site they have it as NP780z5e-S01, not S01US or UB

 

You could try using silent mode... the function key with the fan symbol on it. Silent mode limits clock speed, etc. and pretty much keeps the fan off. Its great for surfing since you don't need the power anyway and this lets it play silent like an ultrabook. Just have to hit the key again to disable it when you need power since the cpu tops out at 1.15ghz when in silent mode.

 

This silent mode really intrigues me! I think it will allow me to play games like the 10 year old but still massively fun SimCity 4 anywhere, while keeping heat extremely low, noise minimal, and battery life great!

 

It should work well... it basically locks you into a 1.15ghz cpu with hd4000 video, probably disables turbo boost on the gpu but can't be sure. I wish it had a light on the key to tell you when it was on... but its easy enough to set/unset using the samsung app on the F1 key.

I'm guessing battery life in that mode with screen at around 60-65% would probably be 10+ hrs. maybe longer with an ssd.

I got side tracked for a few days, and am now down to the wire and its final decision time on the chronos (best buy edition), since my 30 days are up this weekend.

I really like the hardware, its an extremely capable machine but there are a few unanswered questions lingering, maybe I missed the answers so any ideas folks?

First, the keyboard backlight. Ive been finding it increasingly annoying. Its on WAY to much which wastes power, and in far too many lighting situations the light blue backlight blends in with the keys and makes them look like a blank slate. Black keys would have been much better here (the pics posted a few pages back of the similar black machines backlight was fantastic by comparison). If I keep this one it would be really nice to at least be able to TURN OFF ALL THE AUTOMATIC BACKLIGHT stuff and just use the brighter/dimmer keys to change the backlight manually. In other words, when you turn it all the way down it stays down. I know this isn't ideal for first opening it in the dark but that happens far less often than dimly lit rooms where its worse than useless.

This isn't an issue to solve, just a drawback. The bestbuy version's 12gb memory expansion limit is a major pain in the . Just saying.

I don't suppose anyone has seen these in the US yet? I have that one thats coming to amazon added to my wishlist so I can watch it though. Not sure if its the exact same machine or not though, but sure looks like the same back.

Finally, has anyone found a good case that doesn't turn this thing into a tank? I bought this cheap 'puma' slip case at bestbuy that ive been using but it makes the thing far more of a pain to carry than it should be.

 

Don't know if you saw my post about this, but they removed the store page for that laptop today. However, this comes with a bit of good news because at the same time, they removed ALL store pages for last years Chronos models!!! To me, it seems like they are clearing house to make room for the fresh new models which they will likely add sometime this week.

 

Yea, I think your right there, clearing out all the old stuff before updating the site with new incoming models. So many questions though, will they at least get prices / models out this week so I can decide to wait, keep or return. Really, I bought this at $1199 on sale and now $1199 is the normal price so I could return and wait... of course i'd take my 840 ssd out first so if the 8870 models are too pricey i could always buy again at same price. Lol.

 

I honestly think you should return it. The great performance people have been reporting of the 8870m is right up the alley of what I think we've all been dreaming of from when we first heard about this laptop. I don't game on my computer religiously, but I do game often and when I do I need to max out settings or I feel like I'm missing out. I've already made my post about SimCity and how I can't wait to max it (The 650m on my Retina is far from up to the task), but I feel this 8870m future proofs me. For example, GTA 5 is currently my most anticipated video game ever, and the added benefit of running that game at max settings on a PC (when that version inevitably gets released a number of months after the console version) will be stunning. Even though I will be playing on the much inferior Xbox at launch, I am dismayed at knowing the fact that the graphics will be significantly degraded on that dated console. Games like that have so much to offer and have such a big scope and deserve to be played at maximum settings like the developer intended, and that's what the 8870m can achieve.

Hahaha, I've gone into a GTA 5 rant it seems, but I think you catch my drift. The package of having such powerful components in such a beautiful chassis (unlike literally every single other gaming computer out there) is too good not to love.

Unless the 8770m satisfies every one of your day-to-day needs and you see no immediate need or desire for something more powerful, keep it. But if the 8870m is only slightly more expensive and especially if that all-sexy black version comes out along with it all, I think you will be glad you returned it haha.

 

True, the black version solves the keyboard backlight problem as well. I'm really being lazy now and not wanting to swap the drives again, and I hit my install limit with office 2007 so i'll have to fight microsoft again to reinstall. lol. I know i'll be irritated if the 8870 model hits in the $1300 range though.

 

i'm sorry, what?

alch - if it makes u feel better, i beat u in the returns list

 

My 1.5cents. If the 12GB limit is going to cost you, say, 20-40 hours of hassle over the next 6mo or year, take it back. That alone is worth the few hundred bucks price difference. What you've learned on this model will also apply to the next, so hopefully you'll incur few additional learning costs. If not, enjoy it and spend your time having fun with it.
I'm going to keep this one, knowing that in 6 months I may want to upgrade, but after reselling it (with SSD and 12GB), I'm hoping the price will have come down on better tech and I'll only have spent a few hundred to "rent" it. I'm in a time pinch, so can't wait any longer. Also counting on the SSD to cover for the RAM deficit every now and then for large jobs.

Oh, speaking of... I'm going to put SSD into external enclosure, connect via USB, format it GST. Right?
.... then follow the rest of plan others have shown works.....
(F4 Samsung recovery will recognize external SSD, recover "factory" to SSD, make bootable. Swap drives. Boot F2, turn off Safe and Fast, do factory recovery. Boot again, turn on Fast. )
This results in Samsung fresh install, remove bloat. Enjoy. Add programs, make recoverable image. I'll make a 32GB USB factory recovery "backup" when I get the chance, should be the same...
hope I'm not missing something, wish I wasn't starting so late...

 

I highly doubt the 8870m will be able to max GTA 5. That seems way too much of an overestimation. Most probably it'll play around medium to low with decent fps.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

BestBuy updated their website to include the full model number: NP780Z5E-S01UB. It was "NP780Z5E-S". Maybe S02UB is coming soon!

 

Once you black , you never go back :thumbsup:

 

True, we have to stay realistic here. We're still talking about a laptop mobile graphics card. A good one, but far from the best one. It'll run GTA 5 in 1080p no problem, but all filters on? Not going to happen. Some other settings will have to be turned down too.

Kmann, please don't get your hopes up too high about this card, or you might be a little disappointed.

 

I would also add the chassis thermal design limit which appears to result in CPU and/or GPU being throttled under some conditions.

John

 

Ah. Was just thinking that anyone who's opened up their laptop to swap out their hard drive would be the only ones to know what it was. In that case, can anyone with a Chronos tell us what brand the stock HD is??

 

I didn't understand one thing: if I use Samsung Recovery and choose Factory Image, what software will I have exactly? ALL the bloatware will be gone or will something stay there? It would be great if someone made a list...

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

You will get the factory image with every samsung installed app.
Its a matter of uninstalling them. Sammy didnt include a lot of junk, except the Norton stuff.

Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

Ok, thank you. So things like MS Office trial will stay there.. Ok, got it, thanks.

Sent from HTC HD2 with Tapatalk

 

Did anyone test what are the benchmark results for the best stable setup ? (by preventing CPU turbo boost and downclocking the GPU to values that prevent throtteling) Would like to see a worst-case comparison.

 

My np770Z5E arrived today! So miri, and other people wanting to buy from fnac france, they definitely have it!

What sucks is that I'm at my dorm right now and I won't be home until saturday

 

Samsung Momentus Model: ST1000LM024