Samsung 15" Series 9 NP900X4B thread

I'm pretty sure I know how this is going to go down. Testing the 15" with my wife should be telling.

 

What's your prediction?

 

She'll like the 13.3" better due to the physical size and weight but the 15" will win for screen readability. She is currently using a ThinkPad T400 14" with a 1440x900 native res screen. Per her preference she has the DPI set at 125%.

I want to see if she'll tolerate 1600x900 on the Samsung 15" screen. The NP900X4B is lighter than her T400 and certainly slimmer and sexier.

Like I said, this is going to be interesting.

 

So after the comparison, are you going to send one of them back?

I'm mainly looking for comparison in the screen quality of 13" PSL vs 15" non-PLS screen. Awaiting your comparison also.

 

Hey, did you end up getting a warranty on it? Also where did you end up getting it from? Thanks!

 

Using a micro hdmi to DVI (dual link) cable, works fine on the 13.3 inch under 7 32 bit, not at all under 64 bit on the 15 inch. I ordered a micro hdmi to hdmi cable with a hdmi to dvi single link adapter today based on a someone having that work in the Intel forums. Sounds like it works for you.

 

I tested HDMI and DVI connections to a Dell U2711 and had no issues driving it at 1920x1080. I had the Accell VGA adapter but returned it. I did not test it because of the price and I didn't want to open the package.

I have not found a way to drive the U2711 at its native resolution of 2560x1440. It isn't a show stopper but I would like a solution if it's possible. I was under the impression High Speed HDMI would support the resolution. I would also like a low cost way to get to DisplayPort.

I have not decided what to use for VGA.

 

I second that quest; I have a U2711, and not being able to drive it at full resolution is a deal breaker for me...

 

I will probably pursue this quest more fully after my 15" arrives today. I really wish we had some Samsung employee representation on this forum because I would like to know if it's even technically possible.

I know the GPU supports it, but I am curious to know if the connecters and standards Samsung picked have the machine hamstrung.

 

Can it do 1920x1200? I've got a U2410.

 

It's a known bug in the 64 bit drivers for the Intel chipset.

Makes me wonder what version the laptop is running of the GPU driver out of the box, I did not check before I loaded 7 Pro on it. It's Home 64 bit out of the box I believe.

The driver from Samsungs site still produces the failure for me.

Still blows my mind Samsung only offers a VGA cable and not DVI or DisplayPort.

 

Where are you guys getting your laptops? It is not available on Amazon or Newegg so I was just curious. Also, what are the return policies like? I love to be able to try out my computers!

 

I ordered mine on costco.com Monday. Express Shipping (1-2 day) was $7 compared to 3-5 day for free. So I expressed it. I should have it in my hands in the next 2-4 hours.

Tell you what, I was just looking at the gallery of it on The Verge. That screen looks plenty nice in those pics. I am excited.

 

Nice. I love buying from Costco. In fact that's where I bought my wife's current laptop. Got a link to this item on Costco.com? (I'm on an iPhone right now).

 

Yep. See http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11749743

90 day return policy. When is Ivy Bridge coming again?

 

90 day return policy there I just read, I am about to call and find out if they will ship to Canada. Any Canadians have any experience with return polices and warranties on US products?

EDIT: Oh right you have to be a member.... Canadians foiled again.

 

Thanks !

 

I'm sure you already know this, but CostCo also adds a year on to the warranty. So you get 2 years plus the other services provided. See Costco.com: Concierge Services Free Technical Support Toll-Free 1-866-861-0450. You pay state sales tax but you end up getting other benefits that make it a wash.

Plus the state might fix a pothole.

 

Yeah, thanks. I'm an Executive member -- we buy a LOT of stuff from Costco.

 

So who wants to become the US Costco middleman to the world?

 

Work machine here, via CDW.

 

NP900X4B Delivered.

Creating True Image backup before 1st boot. After that I'll create the Samsung disk image set. After that I'll start to use this puppy.

 

What device are you creating that set with? Software cd writer? External cd writer? What model? Works fine?

 

How's it comin' along?
AND...
Initial thoughts so far??

 

Well, so far there have been no surprises. As expected the screen isn't in the same class as the 13.3". The colors and contrast are average. Blacks are actually quite good. Screen angles are average. You need to be looking directly at it for sure.

If your goal is a 1600x900 screen that is easy on the eyes while you use business tools, this screen is very good for that. It reminds me of the 1440x900 14" screen I had on my ThinkPad T410s. Much better quality than the screens on the ThinkPad T420, T420s, X301 and others. Not as good as a MacBook Air.

At 340 nits you have plenty of brightness for a sunny office or work outside. I will test it poolside tomorrow.

If you are a photographer or in some other profession where you want top color reproduction, you'd better plan on getting the 13.3" little brother.

This machine is every bit the head turner the little bro is.

Attached is the WEI score just to give you an idea of how it compares.

More later...

 

Funny.. On a clean install I got different numbers...

 

That isn't unusual. You have more free space and less bloat. I would expect a slight improvement on a clean install. I haven't performed any tuning and WINSAT ran on 1st boot. We aren't THAT far apart.

FYI, I did measure the screen just to double check. It is a 15.0" diagonal screen. I haven't measured brightness with my Spyder3Elite, nor have I tried to calibrate a color profile. After flipping through the pre-configured screen profiles, I don't expect much improvement.

And don't take my observations as a complaint. I am just trying to rate it relative to other machines I have direct experience with.

 

Just received the 15inch model.
By comparing with my last year's 13 inch series 9, i have to say 15 inch one is better overall... DEF A BETTER TOUCH PAD. (minus keyboard and viewing angles). It is impressive how this one is thinner than the 2011 13 inch one

people are complaining about the display, but I think it's well above average. of course its not better than the PLS display.

But I have to say the most downside of this 15inch one is the keyboard. other than that, it's near perfect.


oh yeah...better ethernet adapter for sure. it clicks to the laptop so it won't fall out.

 

The good news I see in these wei's is that they are almost definitely Sata III, given that they score 7.9 across the board. Even the Sony Z1's with RAID0 SATA II SSDS only score 7.3-7.7.

 

The Sony Z is too expensive for most people.

Regarding your comments on using the flash memory card slot to augment a lack of storage space, I have no such storage issue. However, members of my family do and the last thing I need them to worry about it what pic, audio, or video file is stored where. Not to mention losing the card since it sticks out.

When the time comes in a few months I'll replace the mSATA drive.

 

So the SD does stick out on the 15" as well eh, damn.

 

My 4B seemed to be running slightly warmer than the 3B so I got curious. Looking at the bottom it appeared to only have a single fan compared to the dual fan design of the 13.3" 3B.

So I took off the cover. I think you'll find this picture very interesting.

 

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I'm sorry, but I was not communicating clearly.

1. Sony Z's are too expensive for me as well; I have only owned used or refurbed Z1 models, never paying more than $1,100, which was the cost for an "Open Box" never used Z13 in my sig line.

2. My reference to the WEI for the SSDs was simply that, having owned a total of 5 Z1's with differing stock SSD configs (all SATA II), they mostly scored in the 7.3-7.7 range in RAID0 which made them very fast, in the area of Sequential 400Mb/s read/275Mb/s write (for comparison purposes only) and if the 128GB mSata in the 900X3B and 4B get WEIs of 7.9 non-raided, they must be SATA III drives and the machine has SATA III bus speeds. I hadn't heard that any one confirmed that, so I thought I'd offer this as suggestion that they are very likely SATA IIIs.

3. The reference I made - on the 3B thread, I believe - to Z2 owners using the dual SD card slots to increase storage that did not require speed was because the Z2 has no user-replaceable or upgradeable parts for storage or RAM. But the jump from 128GB SSD to 256GB was initially about $500, so people found it far more economically sensible to max out the SD storage instead of paying such a steep price to add 128GB storage on board. People who did this considered the SDs to be "permanently" mounted in their slots, not cards to take in and out and use for photos, etc. (I agree that keeping track of these tiny chips is no easy task.) I don't recall if they also protrude on the Z2 (they don't on the Z1), but even if they do I'm sure it's a small enough edge that it doesn't jeopardize fitting sleeves and bags over it.

If the large capacity mSATAs become more widely available at retail - there is only one, to my knowledge, that comes near the speed of the Samsung PM830 mSATA version (which is NOT sold at retail - see review here) and it is a Runcore with a SandForce controller and only comes in 120GB size only for now. My thought was that until a large capacity mSATa are redaily available in these high capacities, SD cards would be a far more economical solution, even if the card sticks out a bit.

 

Check out this weeks news at Micron Technology, Inc. - Micron Announces mSATA Solid-State Drive for Ultrathin Laptops. Looks like the landscape may improve. See Micron RealSSD C400 mSATA SSD Review | StorageReview.com - Storage Reviews for the review.

 

That's extremely interesting! Instead of the second fan Samsung have put two RAM slots. Are there still the two exhaust vents on the back? If so, the one by the RAM would act as an air inlet.

What is your feeling about the keyboard quality compared to the 13"?

Can you weigh this machine?

John

 

I will weight the machine eventually on a decent scale. It feels like it's a pound heavier than the 13.3" machine. It's light for a 15" machine.

The keyboard feels the same to me. The touchpad is offset further to the left and I don't like that much. But I do like the extra keys and not being forced to use the Fn or Fn Lock as much as I do on the 13.3".

The vent is right where the RAM SoDIMM slots are and I don't really know if air is being pushed or pulled through it and the back edge slots. My guess is that everything is being pulled in by the fan vacuum.

Regarding the pic, everyone should pay close attention to two key upgrade areas that are visible. First, the mSATA drive is just to the right of the fan. I took it off and inspected it. This is easily changed though you'll notice Samsung has a cardboard like cover over it for protection. It's the gray square in the pic.

Second, you'll notice the RAM is easily upgradable. And I just happen to have two 8GB SoDIMMs that will be very comfortable there.

So this machine is easily upgraded to 16GB of RAM and a 256GB mSATA drive. Sweet.

That's all for now. Night.

 

Wow, Im suddenly really excited here ... If you do upgrade the drive please share with the board any issues you come across... This just really brightened up my day

 

wait, i thought its max. system memory is 8gb... can you still upgrade?

 

Hey the memory is upgradable? In the 13" model, the memory is soldered on the motherboard, so you can't upgrade it to 8gb.

 

correct, the 13" will not accept any more memory, so this is one more plus for the 15", all it needs now is an IB refresh and a PLS screen and it'll be a stormer

come on samsung, make this happen and get the darn 830 mSATA 256Gb on the retail market.......or even stick it in the IB version for retail ;-)

 

I just dropped 16GB of RAM into my NP900X4B. Getting ready to kick off a clean install of Windows 7.

See attached.

 

Kick A$$... I just ordered mine based on this information. I don't suppose you have another solid state drive to test against your machine?

 

Unfortunately not. I sold the 80GB Intel drive I had. My next drive will likely be the Crucial when it arrives at newegg.com but given Micron just did their press release, it might be several months.

 

REMINDER: This is a Sandy Bridge based notebook computer. I have not decided if I am going to keep it or not. I haven't even had it 24 hours yet so make sure you are looking at all available reviews and weighing your personal priorities.

 

Any more thoughts to share?

 

Forty two.

 

Care to tell us about 20 or 30 of them?

 

What program do you use that you need 16gb of memory in a notebook for?

 

For an Ultrabook, I don't need 16GB. For virtualization I will continue to use my work machines and a portable workstation class machine (usually configured with 32GB of RAM).

The only reason I dropped 16GB in the machine, is because I have the two sticks sitting here unused after the sale of my T420. I just wanted to verify the NP900X4B would actually accept and use 16GB if needed.

Now that I know it does, I know I can use the machine to run a few VMs off an external USB 3.0 attached enclosure if desired. The key word is IF. I have no desire to do so. But I bet other folks that will read this do.

 

as above, ultrabooks are more than capable of running VM's, i've been running xp and w8 cp on mine for a while and its useful if all your cash is wrapped up in one pc, i personally dont have the disposable readies for many multiples of computers!!