New Samsung Series 7 NP700Z7C-S01US Laptop i7 3615QM 650m Review!

Has anyone downloaded and installed the beta 304.79 NVIDIA drivers for the 650M ? Looks like Samsung wants you to get drivers off their site but they don't have anything very new.

 

im running the beta drivers from nvidia since i have this laptop. no issues so far.

could someone pls post the windows experience index?

first pic is of a review with a graphic score of 7.1.



i only have a score of 6.7. anyone knows why there is such a big difference?



i've tried both nvidia beta drivers and samsung drivers - same score...

 

I have a 7.1 on mine. Maybe you should try running the tests again, and you computer have to be plugged in and not on power saving mode or quiet mode.

 

I have the exact same "issue": with the original samsung-driver (295.55) I got 7.1 in windows too. But after installing the newer drivers from May (296.87) I only got 6.7, too. But that's not important because I noticed an increase of 2-3% in 3dMark11, so the new driver is definitely better.
I have no experience with the 30x.xx beta drivers.

 

Same here, I suspect that with the newest drivers WEI may be running on intel HD4000 only. But who cares about WEI anyway, as it is faster in games with the newer drivers

 

Wei is not a good index to base your performance. On the same laptop I've had two different scores multiple times using two different versions of Windows 7 (Home premium and Enterprise). There are better synthetic benches to test, and if your experience is fun whilst playing games then that's all that matters

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

you're right. with new beta driver i have a better score on 3d mark 11 than with samsung drivers. so who cares about the wei - me not anymore ;-)

running on windows 7 prof by the way...

 

Hi, i'm sure it's been said before, but I've strongly been considering this laptop...right now I'd like to know if the issues surrounding this computer are really dealbreakers. I'm unfortunately only on wireless-g, but is the wifi really that big an issue? do issues only arise on N? If I need to get a little micro wifi card, that's not a big deal I guess...has any had to end up getting one of these? Also, thermal-wise, does the supposed lack of proper cooling effect the performance of this machine? I want to play current games on medium-ish settings, is this still possible? Has anyone benched this thing on a 3Dmark program? Everything else, esides the HDD which I can easily swap, seem to really be strong for the machine...

 

I don't have any wifi problem, but the only thing that I notice on my machine is the wifi range is only okay and not great. A couple people bought wifi cards earlier in this thread and they also posted the link to the one they bought and claim the external wifi is really good. The heat doesn't really affect performance; when you first get the machine, you will notice the heat on the left side of the keyboard, but it is not that significant and you will get used to it after a while. I barely notice the heat on the keyboard when I even gaming anymore. Also you should levitate your laptop off the table, it seems to reduce the heat ( I put mine on a flat laptop cooler, but the laptop cooler is not on, it is just used to raise the laptop). Gaming wise, you can run most games on high-ish. I can run diablo 3 on max settings and I put starcraft 2 on high settings (get around 70ish fps on average), it can also run on ultra but you might lag on big battle scenes. People benchmarked it earlier in the thread.

 

Anyone replace the power cable with an 'L' power cable ? If so, where did you get one ? I think that's the only problem I'm encountering, a pretty minor one - at that. Thanks

 

Hello, all.

I've this laptop since 2 months ago. The screen, power, sound, and most of all parts quality is awesome, except the bottom cover.

I replaced the HDD with a 480GB SSD from Corsair, and put the HDD onto the optical drive using the caddy from NewModeUs. Everything runs fine.

In the past few years, Ubuntu has been my main operating system, as I'm using it pretty much for anything, especially work. The choice is simply because I don't have to spend much time configuring stuff to work (compared against my previous experience using other distribution in the old times). Now, I'd like to use Gentoo for my main operating system, along with Windows 7 that comes with the laptop for playing Diablo 3.

Reading that some of you guys managed to install Gentoo on this laptop, do any of you have some links for me to read before I start getting my hands dirty with it? I tried installing Linux Mint 13 on this laptop, and it just won't show the boot loader. I read that it has something to do with UEFI/GPT (not so familiar with this). I've been reading about it as well recently, and I'm looking for more `literature` to give me more insights before I start.

Any configuration or important points to note, what doesn't work (and how to fix it), will be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

 

Got to demo one of these, HOLY CRAP the screen's amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't like the 15's screen at all so I thought the 1080 screen was just more pixels, but the colors are fantastic!!!!!!!!!! And at 6lbs for a 17", I think I'll pick this one up. Now if I only had $1500....

 

Awesome, I'm looking to get one on eBay...seems reputable to me, talked with the guy a little, has anyone ever gotten a fake one of these?

 

The specifications say 8 gigs (max) and I know that the memory is 2x4gigs has anyone tried to put, say 2x8 gig memory card in to make it 16 gigs? or is 8 gigs the maximum memory the laptop can hold?

 

It only has 1 memory slot, so 12Gb is max. 4Gb is soldered onto mainboard, 8Gb stick can be used in the slot to get 12Gb which has been confirmed to work just fine.

 

Hey there! i just decided to buy this laptop off of ebay and it was soppoused to be new and never before used. but i have my doubts unfortunately
so i have a question for you guys that bought it new: since i can not find a complete unboxing video or pictures, how was the laptop wrapped and protected?
my was inside its original box but only in a white "styrofoam" plastic baggy. no seals on the bag. no protective plastic cover on the screen. just a plastic sticker on the lid of the laptop held down by four round stickers. i had some other usage marks as well and was the battery precharged? my was completely empty which is also weird.
thank you for your answers!

 

My bought mine new and that was how it was. The battery was dead when I took it out of the box and had to plug it in the outlet to turn it on. It seems like you got a legit deal. When you first started it up, I think it is supposed to ask you to set up your name is password, if it did, then it is probably new; unless the other guy knows his computer stuff.

 

Great! 12 gigs sounds good enough for me! But, I hope when a 16 gig memory card comes out that it will be compatible with this laptop.

Also, I'm on the brink of buying this, but the wifi issues are really pulling at my hair. Anyone suggest a cheap, very good, and unnoticeable, wifi card? You know, just in case I draw the short straw (which seems likely) so I won't have to return it or live on a wired connection?

 

yor transfer rate is 5,9 acording to your HD. THE OTHERS wil vari acording to your auotomatic grafic setings
Morensen.

 

It's not he card that's the issue, it's the antenna placement/routing. Only way to get around it is getting an USB wifi adapter or something like that, I've seen the belkin micro USB n adapter getting recommended by others, but not tried it myself.

 

Mine came the same way, just in a bag, battery was empty. There was a sheet of protective plastic on the back of the screen though, which I actually never removed before returning it.

 

I read most of the thread and I remember someone was going to attempt to apply the arctic silver onto the CPU to solve the heat issue. Has anyone confirmed this?

 

sorry, if that has already been answered somewhere here, but: Has this notebook S-ATA 3 (6GB/s) or just S-ATA 2(3GB/s)
thanks =)

 

Does anyone know when/if the UK version is going to be released? I keep seeing the model number NP700Z7C-S01UK around, even on Samsung's website.

It is also strangely part of the new £100 cashback promotion they are doing..... so if its part of that then I wonder if it will be out soon?

 

HDD connector is SATA3.

ODD connector I don't know (for those that consider an ODD to HDD caddy).

 

I think it must be coming soon, there was a false-start on Misco last month (which went to 'discontinued' soon after listing) but now there's an eBay listing by LambdaTek with two units for sale:

Samsung NP700Z7C-S01UK - BLACK - INTEL CORE i7-3615QM 8GB 1TB NVIDIA 650M Gr... | eBay

 

I've read through the entire thread, and think I've decided to go for samsung despite the wifi issue - sounds like getting a usb wifi adaptor is an acceptable workaround? The only other option I'm still considering is building a laptop from Dell, but as nobody has mentioned a dell on here as a suitable alternative to the samsung I'm thinking I'll be disappointed with a dell....

Anyway, I have a few lingering questions I'm hoping someone wouldn't mind helping me out with:

I see that there is the s01 and s03, with the main difference being the s03 has a smaller but slightly faster hdd, correct? I've read about people installing an ssd instead to speed things up, but not being particularly technie not sure if this is something i could really try myself. I can get the s01 @ bestbuy for $1399 or the s03 on amazon for $1349. I'm a bit nervous about buying on amazon as their return policy doesn't sound so good.

Any insight would be much appreciated!

 

I believe the S03 only has 1GB DDR5 Video RAM vs the 2GB for the S01.

On another note I found the S01 on cowboom.com for $907 (plus tax, free shipping). Looks like this is the place BestBuy sells all their store returns. Some of them have no specific issue listed except that it doesn't come with OS pre-installed (Key is still included) and no OS disc. The pictures on those look like they are in perfect condition so I pulled the trigger and ordered one. I should get it Wed. I'll report back what I actually receive in the mail. They have 30 days return policy and I probably just have to pay shipping back if I'm not satisfied.

edit:
According to Samsung's Website:

S03 has 750GB 7200RPM and 650m 1GB DDR5
vs
S01 has 1TB 5400rpm and 650m 2GB DDR5

Everything else looks the same as far as I can tell.

 

Thanks for responding, I did see that bit about the video RAM but forgot. How important is that? I am definitely not a gamer, mostly use the laptop for internet, word/excel, looking at/storing pics and video.

I ended up spec-ing out a dell xps 17 with these system details:

PROCESSOR 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-2450M processor (2.50 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.10 GHz)
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64-Bit, English
MEMORY 8GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
VIDEO CARD NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 550M 1GB graphics with Optimus
HD DISPLAY 17.3" FHD (1080p) with 2.0MP HD Webcam
BATTERY OPTIONS 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1 Year ProSupport with 1 Year NBD Limited Onsite Service After Remote Diagnosis
INTERNAL OPTICAL DRIVE Tray Load Blu-ray Disc BD-Combo (Reads BD and Writes to DVD/CD)
WIRELESS CARDS Intel© Centrino© Advanced-N 6230 and Bluetooth 3.0

That comes out to $1100. Any thoughts on dell xps 17?

Never heard of cowboom, I'd be interested in hearing about how it turns out.

 

Last gen processor. IMHO stay away from Dell.


Sent from my New iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

I was thinking about doing the same thing, so please let us know how it goes. Also, it looks like return shipping is free - CowBoom RMA

 

Anyone know if the S03 has the same wi-fi issues as the S01? I am so very close to just pulling the trigger on the S03! Think I've talked myself out of the dell, now trying to decide btwn S01 and S03. If the wi-fi issue is resolved in the S03 I'd do that and deal with the 750 gb 7400rpm, otherwise might go for the S01 and get someone who knows what they're doing to put in a ssd for me!

 

Even Better

 

Brilliant! I just bought one from MoreComputers because they've been really good in the past especially with returns. £1001 and then I get £100 cashback later on in the year so basically £900 for this laptop is good value I think.

Pity about the 5400rpm drive, I would have rather had 750GB 7200rpm

 

The 1tb 5400 drive won't be noticeably slower than the 750gb 7200 drive. The higher density of the 1tb drive will yield pretty good performance. You're not missing out on much

Plus, an SSD upgrade is the way to go anyways.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

SSDs don't really offer enough storage for me. 128GB/256GB is too little once I have installed all my software.

It comes with 8GB of express cache - is this an mSATA drive or something else altogether? If it is mSATA then could I theoretically replace it with a Crucial M4 mSATA SSD drive and keep the 1TB HDD at the same time?

Will the warranty be void if you open up the laptop?

 

New video drivers are out. Anyone try them out yet?

 

Hello
How to exactly enable multi-core rendering?

 

New drivers installed - haven't noticed any difference.

Anyone having issues with placing the laptop to sleep? Mine refuses to sleep when either the power button is pressed or lid is closed. The fan continues to run and the keyboard light stays illuminated. I confirmed the power setting show sleep for both the power button and lid closure.

 

I would like to know if OC-results have been posted in this thread.
What was the maximum somebody OC'ed the chip-speed?
I started experimenting today and got +25MHz very easily.
3dMark11 score went up exactly 2%
in crysis I get 1fps more but thats just the beginning hehe..

I would be happy if anybody could summarize OC-experiences with this wonderful notebook
thx!

 

Could someone please confirm the spec of this laptop? I just bought the UK version and on the box it says Nvidia 650M 1GB Hybrid. I thought it had 2GB memory?

 

yes, usualy it has 2GB, but don't know about UK-Version. Just install GPU-Z and have a look on the exact specs..

 

Ah ha well looks like it's been released in the UK then.. Kikatek has it for £961 and free delivery... do I dare push the button while the missus is in bed...

 

I went to the web site and the only new graphics drivers are for Windows XP, so I'm hesitant to install them.

I've been having issues with my sleep settings as well. seems to be a bug in the Easy Settings software. I get inconsistent performance. Sometimes opening the lid wakes the OS. And sometimes the light blinks when it goes to sleep but opening the lid does not wake the computer from sleep. And sometimes the key commands for turning off WiFi do not respond. I have to run Easy Settings utility to do it.

 

I can't return it if I open the box and install anything on the computer so I was hoping someone could confirm that the GT 650M is a 1GB Hybrid card because that what is says on my box.

Or better still, if anyone still has the box for theirs if they could check what it says on the box. if it says 1GB Hybrid on yours too then I'll be happy.

 

Mine says 2GB Hybrid on the box.

 

Right looks they have reduced the graphics card ram to 1GB for the UK market.

Anyway I opened the laptop and turned it on. All I can say is holy crap! The screen is out of this world. I would have preferred glossy/glass front to it but nevertheless its pretty special.


First impressions are that the keyboard is good but feels a bit weak. However everything else is awesome, its so slim and cool to touch with the metallic body. Its pretty damn quiet as well compared to the Dell XPS.

I saw the one at Kikatek but wasn't sure if they were a decent retailer or not. I got mine from MoreComputers instead because they have been good with returns in the past. Also remember there is £100 cashback on these so really you're going to get quite cheap!

 

This may be a silly question but where is the battery on this laptop? I usually don't use the battery and keep it in the box but I can't find it on this model. Is it removeable?

 

The battery is not user replaceable ala this site: http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/samsung-series-7-chronos-17.3-inch

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

Is the hard disk noisy for anyone else? Mine keeps making a slight buzzing noise every couple of seconds. just want to make sure its not faulty because my Dell XPS 15 doesn't make this noise.