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

From perusing this thread I've read several members posting the HDD disk noise issue. You are not alone. However, I would recommend an SSD the moment you can afford a decent sized one. You can still use the 1tb HDD in an external USB 2.0/3.0 fixture

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

do you think it would be good to exchange it for a different one or are all of them like this?

 

I asked the salesman at Best Buy about the noise, and he said all the display units had this issue. I would bet that most will have this issue. Invest in an SSD though You will be happy.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

S01US with 2GB GDDR5 while S03US with 1GB GDDR5, so maybe UK version has exactly 1GB memory. I don't think it matters much unless you plug a 1600p screen using its DP/HDMI. Also 1GB may decrease power consumption.

 

i'm going to plug it into a 2560x1440p screen which I haven't tested yet. My 2GB 640M in the Dell XPS manages fine.... I hope this samsung does.

 

I can't hear the hard drive at all on mine unless I put my ear up to it. SSD is great, but just remember it voids the warranty.

I tried the upgrade from the software that comes with it. It entirely removed all my NVIDIA drivers and software. I had to go to the Samsung page and download/reinstall the drivers from there.

 

Why do people say this? All you have to do is put it back to the original configuration before shipping it to them.

Sent from my Samsung Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

 

I've been using mine as a gaming laptop for a few weeks now. Handles everything fine. I've overclocked the GPU to 1,000 and left everything else alone. Benchmarks in the 2,700 area for 3DMark11 at 1,000. I've gotten it up to 1,200 but it blue screened. 1,000 is stable and the temps run in the low 70's to very low 80's gaming. I usually leave it at stock clocking speeds cause it works fine with games the way it is from the factory. Stock the temps run in the 70's after long hours of hard gaming.

The CPU runs usually 10-20% utilized during major gaming.

Because Samsung themselves warned me if you open it your warranty is gone. If you accidently break any tabs or do anything wrong leaving signs you were in there changing out parts they will know when they work on it.

On the noisy hard drive issue. I'll throw this out there cause it's something I've noticed on mine. Try putting the sound on mute and see if it's still there. Because on mine the default sound profile that it came with there is a tick noise that when you do certain functions makes it sound like the hard drive heads are moving. Changed my profile sounds and it's gone.

 

The displayport on mine doesn't detect the external monitor. Using the same connection on my Dell XPS 15 it works fine.

Is there something I have to do to enable the Displayport on this machine?

 

Have you tried switching between monitor combinations by holding down Fn then hitting the F4 key?

 

Yes and it just keeps saying LCD on the laptop display. I've been into the change resolution section where you can detect other monitors and it says nothing else detected.

My monitor has dual-link DVI so I'm using a DP-to-DVID cable which works perfectly on my Dell XPS 15.

 

Are you hitting F4 more than once while holding down the Fn key? It goes LCD, CRT, LCD+CRT Clone, LCD+CRT Dual View.

The manual also says if the screen does not switch even if you press the Fn + F4 keys to make sure "Easy Settings" program is installed.

Connecting and using external display devices is explained in the owners manual chapter 2, page 50:

Support - Notebooks NP700Z7CH | Samsung Laptops

 

I doubt this will change anything, but have you tried rebooting with the monitor plugged in and turned on?

Sent from my Samsung Epic 4G Touch using Tapatalk

 

Tried everything, it won't detect it. So then I used a HDMI cable to see if that worked and it does. It will detect and connect to the monitor using HDMI but not DP. So I can only conclude that the DP port is faulty.

 

Hey everyone! I need some help. So I'm starting college soon and been looking at laptops, and this one really strikes my eye. I've read most of this thread but still can't find an answer for some of this... (BTW, I'm getting the S03 on amazon)

-I honestly need to be connected to wifi at all times. I'm ALWAYS on the internet. I have a small house but still. Is this easily fixed by just buying a micro wifi adaptor? Because if so I have no problem with that, it's so small I doubt I would even notice it's there...I would also be taking this to college with me too.

-I will probably do very mild gaming, nothing too graphic extensive. Mostly Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 and the Sims 3. I don't game all the time really, but it worries me that all the heat from gaming would affect the screen. How bad is this issue? Does anyone have a picture of it? I would just be really worried that after multiple times it would cause the screen to have permanent damage...

 

I use a WNDR3700-10 N600 Wireless Dual Band Router that has Wi-Fi specs which include a 2.4 GHz Atheros AR9223 2x2 MIMO radio and a 5 GHz Atheros AR9220 2x2 MIMO radio. I have issues using the 2.4Ghz and get random drops. Using the 5Ghz everything works fine. At my dad's house which uses Wireless G it worked perfectly.

Yes, you can get a USB Wifi adapter and probably work fine if the built in gives you issues.

I've only had my laptop for about 30 days. I have clocked over 100 hours of hard core gaming on it and it runs 24/7. I've had absolutely no issues with the screen getting damaged from heat. I keep the lid open and tilted back and never run it with the lid closed.

Long-term it's hard to say since these laptops haven't been around that long.

 

Thanks for clearing that up man! I'm definitely getting this laptop tonight then. I was going to consider the Envy 17 but it's not even in stock on amazon and HP's website (well, the model I want) and I'm very wary of HP laptops because I know so many people that have too many problems with theirs.

 

Got my S01 today from CowBoom. Everything is as expected. This Laptop is in very good condition. There are some scuff marks on the bottom but they are very minor and minimal. All the metal parts of the casing are in perfect condition. Screen, keyboard, touchpad and ports all look new.

I downloaded Win7 Home Premium x64 from MSDN. It didn't auto activate, I had to call the automated phone system. Took like 5min but everything went smoothly and activated fine.

I highly recommend grabbing one of the other ones with no specific issue as you are likely to just get scuff marks on the plastic bottom like mine. I can upload pics if interested.

 

Thank You for posting so quickly Ryzir. Did you buy one that was 8/10? I may be buy a used one from another forum, but I plan to go through Cowboom if it doesn't pan out.

 

Yes it was listed as an 8. It also had pictures of the screen/keyboard and the top of the lid.

 

he guys, I have a little problem with the 650M, click here to read.

 

anyone else having problems with the keys showing wear already? My A key is chipping away, and with the backlit keyboard, it looks terrible!

 

Can't it be fixed under warranty?

 

Haven't contacted the warranty department yet. I would hope so, however I've changed out the hard drive and I'm not sure if it's worth it to change back just for the sake of one key.

 

I just got my 700Z7C-01US a few days ago, I was debating between this and the ASUS n56vz, but I'm glad I chose the samsung. The performance so far is great, playing Max Payne 3 on highest setting on 1080p with no lag to speak of, and the HDD is as fast as I need it for now, although it does slow down sometimes. I have no trouble with the WiFi, getting good to excellent signal behind 2 walls, and the speakers are superb. Although I was originally going to get a 15 inch laptop, this 17 isn't as bulky or heavy and it's really slim compared to other 17 inches. The top middle of the keyboard, where the speakers are, gets a little bit heated during Max Payne runs, but it's definitely not as hot as I thought it would be. Also, the headphone/mic jack is really stiff, it's very difficult getting my headphones out without the fear of breaking the jack, but it'll definitely loosen up after more usage.
I got this puppy for 1280$ total, only about 200 dollars more than what I would have paid for the ASUS N56VZ, so all in all, DEFINITELY WORTH THE BUY. If any of you are on the fence about this laptop, don't be, it's an awesome laptop, in terms of gaming, it will perform most games out there on highest setting, and it looks like a damn space ship with the white/black lit up keyboard.

 

Well said my friend, laptop is awesome... I play MW3 ay it's highest settings and the LP just laughs at it.... it tells me "BRING IT"

 

I just picked up a grade 8 for $799.99 + tax over at Cowboom. They're doing some deal of the day laptop off thing, but if you add a laptop to your cart that's already been sold, they give you a pop up of four laptops. When I did it, they were all NP700Z7C, grade 5 through 8, but I'm still getting grade 8 ones using he same method. Anyway, I can't wait!

 

Hey, besides being used systems, are there any other "disadvantages" of buying from Cowboom? You know, regarding Samsung's warranty, possible defective systems and so on. I'm not from the US so I don't know much, but I might travel there soon and I'd like to buy this laptop.

 

I've read about people needing a proof of purchase with their products, but I've personally only needed to provide the serial number with Samsung RMAs in the past. As for Cowboom, they have a "30 Day No-Hassle Return Policy" and they even pay return shipping, so I figure it's worth it. I think if something is bad then it'll most likely be discovered in the first 30 days, and I'd be willing to bet most returners were unsatisfied with things like the trackpad, size, etc.

 

Very well, thank you very much, I'm more interested in the S03US version though but I won't be going to the US for a couple of weeks so I'll have to see what options I have when I get there.

 

With my current 15" Z5A model, people have reported having problems with 9.5mm SSDs and have had to resort to 7mm instead. Anyway, are there any kind of limitations with the this model? Does anyone have a 9.5mm SSD in their NP700Z7C and if so, which brand? I'm thinking a 9.5mm should be fine, due to the 17" being slightly thicker, but wanted to ask anyway. Thanks!

 

I got a grade 8 NP700Z7C-S01US off cowboom for 799.99 as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't have an AC adapter. Does anyone recommend a good place to get a replacement OEM or an AC adapter of equivalent quality? I have an iGo adapter that may have the right tip, but I'm not sure if it has the correct voltage for the Samsung 7. I also got grade 6 Samsung 9 NP900X3A-A03US for $500 and this is coming with an adapter. I'm not sure if I'll keep both just yet.

 

So I'm looking at buying this laptop and was wondering if it's worth going from 1TB hard drive to 280gb or smaller just to have a SSD hard drive? I mostly use my computer for gaming and movies and know basic information about tech stuff... hence the question.

 

If its just for gaming and movies, probably not. You'll enjoy the 1tb for all your movies and games files. Since you won't be doing productivity work or pro apps you won't utilize the speed of the SSD. In gaming the real benefit is loading time. Game performance is basically the same on SSD and HDD.

However, SSD really has faster response time and boot times. If you don't mind an external drive set up for all your media files, then I say yes for sure. But if you prefer not, then in your position I say don't do it..

Another option is to replace the optical drive with an HDD caddy. That way both SSD and HDD are in your laptop. To me, this is ideal It's how I have my laptop setup. I personally don't have a need for optical drive, but you may be different.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

 

So I have an Intel X25-M G2 SAT II SSD from my old laptop that I was thinking of installing in my new Samsung 7. How much of a performance difference would I see between the X25-M and a newer SAT III SSD drive?

Also, if I replace the optical drive with an HDD, the optical slot load bracket still stays on the laptop, right? I just want to make sure that installing an HDD caddy won't alter the outside of the chassis.

 

Thanks for posting that. I contacted Customer Support and they refunded me $115.00!

 

Hello guys.

I am looking for a notebook for Illustration/Photography/3D modeling.
Some of you use it for any of this?
I need a decent cpu/gpu and a VERY good display (viewing angles - more or less sRGB color gamut - 1920x1080, etc). Mobility is not an issue.

I am considering the next options in order of relevance:
1°-Samsung Series 7 Chronos NP700Z7 (the one in this thread)
2°-Asus Zenbook UX32VD
3°-Asus N76VZ

What do you think?
Thanks.

 

Fantastic! I sent you a PM with a question.

 

I am using this laptop for Photoshop.
CPU and GPU have no problems.
Display has the best color and viewing angles I have seen on a TN panel. IPS is still better but I am happy with this screen. I don't have my screen calibrated and I don't really do any color correction. I do have some light bleed. I can only see it with an all black image at night at 80%+ brightness.

The biggest limiting factor is the HDD, like others have mentioned. I plan on swapping out the ODD so I can run an SSD and keep the 1TB storage space.

 

I consider this laptop as great value for money. I want to replace its hard drive to SSD (OCZ Vertex 4). As I found it should be not that hard to accomplish, however is there any option to completely turn off (e.g. somewhere in BIOS) or physically remove 8 GB Express Cache disk ? Since I'll have much faster main SSD drive I see no sense to keep it inside. Second thing that concerns me is about switching between integrated and dedicated graphics without using Optimus. Is there any setting in BIOS or somewhere else, which provides "fixed" graphics mode" ?

 

I'm really curious as to whether installing an HDD caddy will alter the appearance of this laptop... I couldn't find anything in this thread about people having issues with the appearance post ODD replacement. I just don't want the laptop to look odd after I replace the ODD with an HDD

 

For the Optimus you can set the dedicated graphics to be used all times through the nvidia control panel.


You can use the iSSD for windows temp files:

 

Thanks, that's great, what about setting to use Intel HD 4000 all the time ? Is it possible with this guy ? Particularly I am also thinking about installing some Linux distro along with Windows 7 on custom SSD and I am concerned about any issues.

I see some clever point in that, however since I guess this iSSD cannot be replaced, then I want to save its life-time for future owner (warranty is not forever).

 

Yes. There is a setting in the included utility (Easy Settings) that let's you totally disable the onboard cache.

 

Since it's a slot loading dvd drive it will look exactly the same with or without the optical drive inside.


Has anyone used on of these ( ebay)to put their dvd drive into?

 

I dont know about that, in windows I am pretty sure you can set one of the graphics (dedicated or integrated) to run all time, but on linux I dont know.

 

Don't see where nvidia control panel can set itself to be dedicated. What setting is that ?

 

It will be something like this:



Just choose the preferred graphics processor.

 

Hey guys.

I purchased this laptop last week and today I made a clean installation of Windows on SSD and installed only the needed drivers or so. Now just came in mind that is there some good programs coming with the laptop that I should download from their site? Like some batterylife boost would be nice. I don't know much about computers, only basic stuff and I had my brother helping me with the ssd installation.

Also, is it okay to use the express cache storage as swap? I mean put the pagefile there. I understood that this would save my main ssd since it wouldn't have to write those small files all the time.

Thanks a lot for any help, really appreciate it.

 

Since those settings are under '3D' I assumed they only effected 3d parameters. Do they work for a plain'ol .avi movie ?