Samsung 15" Series 9 NP900X4C with Ivy Bridge CPU

With wPrime 1024M running the CPU temperature rose to 93C. No fan kicked in - but it didn't switch off either..... I'll check the CPU speed.

 

You can also hit the CPU with Prime 95 or Orthos - they run for longer. And 3D Mark06 is quite good for loading both the CPU and GPU concurrently (they are both in the same package and this may be a more several thermal challenge).

Did you notice if the CPU was throttling? If so, by how much?

John

 

I think the CPU was being throttled - on running Prim 95 - the CPU hit around 93C a little higher on occasion but hovered around there and didn't shut off. I think I might take it to the Samsung Service center - have you heard anything about Samuel King?

Thanks!

 

Samuel King has had the occasional mention here. Their quality of work seems OK.

The potential issue is who pays the bill. If you can get them to agree that something is abnormal then you will probably need to go back to Samsung support with the evidence and get them to authorise Samuel King to do the work under warranty.

Remember to take the PSU so you can demonstrate the problem properly - the CPU won't run at turbo speed when on battery.

John

 

Just to update you on what happened. I took in to Samuel King and gave it to them to have a look at. They replaced the fan under warranty as I expected and I should have it back on Monday or Tuesday

 

Thanks for the update. In this case getting one of the service agents to physically see the problem obviously helped.

Please give a further update with the new temperatures once you get the computer back.

John

 

So, it's back finally! And the fan is working nicely - it kicks in at around 60-70C and really ramps up after 70C. Whilst running wPrime (I didn't run it to the end) it hit 73/74C but seemed to stick there.

Thanks for the help!

 

That's a nice temperature. It's a shame that Samsung didn't put another step in the fan rules so that maximum speed is triggered at 80C, not 70C.

By the way, which model is your CPU?

John

 

Yh, a few more steps with the fan would be nice - but I'm just happy it's working at the moment. I've got the one with the i5 (3317U I think).

 

Thanks.

As I noted further up this thread, the i5 seems to run a little cooler than the i7. although both have the same nominal power rating the faster i7, under load, seems to run a bit hotter (but no significant under light usage).

John

 

Hi guys
I still buying ultrabook .
BUT good thing is that i am 180% sure it would be Samsung Series 9 .
Only problem is that now i am undecided between 15" vs. 13.3".
I now have 15.6" and i am afraid 13.3 will be to small.I saw 15" Series 9 is already smaller then 15.6" by 3cm smaller,is that right?
Maybe keyboard and touchpad can help me what to take.Who got better keyboard 13.3" or 15"?
I know this question is already been ask 1000 times.Is 13.3" too small?

 

I first got the 13.3" X3B before the 15" arrived but realised that my eyes weren't happy with the size. While the 15" display isn't of the same quality, it's very usable at the right viewing angle and my eyes stopped complaining.

Other strengths of the 15" are:

(i) The battery has about 40% higher capacity
(ii) The row of navigation keys on the right side of the keyboard are much more usable than Fn+ another key
(iii) The touchpad is a size bigger
(iv) It has two RAM slots so it is not constrained by the 4GB of RAM (which may be only single channel depending on model)

But it has only one fan so it is slightly noisier when working hard.

Which computer do I take on holiday when I want to travel light? It's the 15". In a thin neoprene sleeve it hardly needs any space, because it is so thin and can easily be stuffed in a bag. Don't forget that Samsung claimed that it was a 15" screen in a 14" notebook (hence the 4 in the model number). They must have been comparing with a 14" notebook that had wide display bezels but it is much smaller than the 15.6" notebooks that are often called 15".

John

 

Thanks John

 

Hi guys!
I just updated to Win 8.1.
The Samsung SW Update seems not working. Maybe will be an update to the Samsung software soon? Hope so.

 

On the subject on Win 8.1, please see the sticky thread we just posted about it.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...pgrade-until-samsung-has-updated-drivers.html

Even though there is likely to be some issues unique to individual models (particularly relating to graphics drivers) the basic incompatibilities between Win 8.1 and existing Samsung drivers, Settings and SW Update are common to all Samsung models. We're trying to gather experiences and updates about that instead of having it mushroom across all the individual threads (as is currently happening).

 

Too late
Anyway, till now the only thing it seems do not work properly is SWUpdate

 

SW Update has actually been updated today, as mentioned in the sticky thread. But most users are finding that Settings only works partially. These are my findings from when I tested the 8.1 preview, and most users have reported similar findings.

For some it is still workable, which is great of course

 

But you should now have been offered a new version by SW Update. I think it was released last night.

If not, use the Find Model facility in SW Update to look for "Windows Blue".

John

 

I have only win 7 and 8...
SWUpdate version 2.1.19

 

Also... I noticed the Bluetooth setting is disappeared

 

Someone mentioned a fix for that in the Win 8.1 sticky thread. I'm away from my PC now, but you should be able to find it.

 

So i will definitely order NP900X4C on Monday from Amazon.de or Amazon.com.
I will order it from Amazon because i can return it after 30 days if i don't like it because of something.
My question is,from when they start counting days.Are they counting it from the day they send it or the day i receive it?
How would they know when did i receive it?
I ask this because sometimes things travel 15 and even 20 days.

Also,is somebody here from eastern Europe?Does this notebook have illuminated or printed Sloven keys.My plan is to order Croatia keyboard(i know i got to change all top part of case)and give them to change.
I will also change SSD but that thing can wait,for sure.It will be one year project ,but its the only way to have perfect 15" Series 9.
Man,if i only had money while 900X4 was available in Croatia.

 

I don't know which criterion Amazon use for the start of the returns period but I would expect Amazon to use a courier with a tracking system and they usually move packages between continents within a few days.

As far as I know, all the 15" Series 9 use a backlit keyboard with the translucent white lettering built into the keys.

John

 

Hey John
I find one discussion about return shipping police and when they start to count,but its in Amazon seller forum and you need to be register to enter and read it.
Last thing that i order was Asus monitor and i think it was 10 days.
900X3C have Croatian illuminated keyboard.
I told seller from Slovenia(they have same keyboard) to take picture of 900X4C keyboard and it was German keyboard and our six letters(that English alphabet don't have) was just stickers.
But i suspect this:because there is no more Croatian models,seller order from Germany and then just put six stickers.
Samsung Croatia service send me this offer for Croatia keyboard :
keyboard: p/n: BA97-03698S (ASSY UNIT-HOUSING_TOP;AMOR2-14R,SEC,SERB)

 

If the choice is between a few stickers and a very expensive new top housing (it does have "SERB" in the name, which I assume means Serbia) then I would opt for the stickers.

John

 

Sorry John i am perfectionist .

 

No news about SW Update for this model? I'm yet stuck with 2.1.19, no sign of Win 8.1 drivers.
I have to say that the notebook is working good, except a couple of BSOD never experienced before and buetooth control in Settings. Also the battery seems less performant.
Just quite annoying that Sammy take so long.

 

1. Did your X4C ship with Windows 7 or Windows 8? Samsung don't seem to be offering the 8.1 updates for the machines that shipped with Windows 7. However, my SW Update on my Win 7 X4C is listing SW Update 2.1.21.0.

I was about to suggest you use the Find Model function to see what is offered for your X4C. However, I seen an inconsistency between what SW Update's normal window lists for my NP900X4C-A01UK (SW Update 2.1.21.0 is there) and what I see using the Find Model tool (SW Update 2.1.4.22). You will find some Windows 8.1 files listed under the NP900X4C-A02UK. However that isn't a full list.

Note that the Win 8 X4C shipped with a different BIOS (P**ABK) than the Win 7 versions (P**AAC) which suggests that more than a simple BIOS update was needed to give full Win 8 compatibility. Samsung may not be making it easy for the owners of what were the Win 7 models to do the update to Win 8.1 since the update might not go smoothly ( there are plenty enough problems with updating the newer Samsung notebooks to 8.1).

2. Regarding your battery, use HWiNFO or BatteryBar to check the power drain, current capacity and battery wear.

John

 

I'm on the P*AAC bios. Are all the drivers for the NP900X4C-A02UK ok for NP900X4C-A01UK or are there any we should avoid?

Thanks!

 

Win 7, bought Aug 2012. It's kinda ridicolous If it's true that Samsung won't support such a recent notebook. And as I mentioned before, the update to 8.1 went smooth and the notebook works just fine, it miss only a couple of stuff.
Find model function find Win 7 and 8.

There's a direct link for latest SW update release?

Thanks for your reply John, I'll try to check out the battery.

 

On paper they should work. The reality may be different given that Samsung seems to be trying to evade supporting 8.1 on the windows 7 models. There might be issues such as it conflicts with Intel Rapid Start or some other UEFI-related issue. If you want to try 8.1 then make a full backup image of your system first so that you have something to return to if 8.1 doesn't work properly. Reduced battery run time is one of the current complaints that I haven't seen a fix for. There is a fix for the gestures not being enabled under the new touchpad driver. Samsung's upgrade instructions are here.

The only link I can find to SW Update is http://orcaservice.samsungmobile.com/SWUpdate.aspx and the version currently offered (2.1.19.0) is slightly out of date. If you want the latest then you have to trawl round the SW Update database using the Find Model function.

John

 

Do you reckon the drivers from NP900X4D-A02UK or NP900X4D-A03UK would be better because as far as I can see - the specs are exactly the same. NP900X4C-A02UK has an i7 though (the one you have?).

 

I don't think the selection of drivers and software will be any different between those two models or, for that matter, any of the later 15" Series 9s. The possible specification variables are CPU, SSD capacity, RAM and Windows version and none of these will require different drivers or software. However, I would recommend you wait until Samsung has produced the full driver / software set (one obvious absentee at the moment is Settings).

BTW, my newer X4C is the -A02IN which I came across while browsing through an electronics store. The key feature was a 512GB mSATA SSD. It's i7-3537U CPU is about 20% faster than the i5-3317U in my old X4C but the speed difference isn't obvious in everyday usage.

John

 

Thanks for the info. I had actually already upgraded to Windows 8.1 ( the day it was out - I did back up everything first ). I haven't had any issues at all really - it worked pretty well with the old set of drivers - the only thing missing that I noticed was touchpad sensors. I just thought it would be nice to have an updated set of drivers. I used the ones for the NP900X4C-A02UK and the touchpad gestures are back. I hope this helps someone!

Ah! The 512GB SSD sounds good as does the i7!

 

Hi everyone!
I have bought a computer Samsung-np900x4c-a01us and shortly after the purchase, I've upgraded it to Windows 8 and since then the computer always get stuck when I try to search or save big files. (becomes slow)
Also- it becomes very slow when I type in big Word files.
I've tried to install the Samsung-sw update & it just didn’t help, I've also tried to reformat the computer & to upgrade to Windows 8.1- and now the Samsung D doesn’t work, 'cause it can't find the model number, & when I try to put it manually it says that there are no downloads & I should contact the Samsung download center.
By the way, the problem did not start immediately after the installation but a few days later.
Does anyone here has a solution or an advice what to do????
thanks a lot.

 

At the moment Samsung does not appear to be offering windows 8.1 updates for the Windows 7 versions of notebooks.

An incomplete set of drivers / software is available for newer versions of the X4C such as the -A06US which you can use at your own risk.

John

 

Hello guys. I had my laptop motherboard replaced by samsung and my computer takes two power buttons to wake up. Wont go to sleep, that never happen. Anyhow, how did anyone manage to get that high 400+ nit brightness, I remember it only need to be set on samsung optimized power plan, however mine no longer give that brightness unless connected with charger.

 

Did your X4C originally come with Windows 7 or Windows 8 and what BIOS is now installed (use the standalone BIOS update program linked to in the first post in this thread to check). I wonder whether there is some changed behaviour if you have a Windows 7 machine now kitted out with a board having the newer (P88ABK) BIOS particularly if some settings are those appropriate to Windows 8. Do you have fast start enabled in the BIOS? Also check using SW Update that you are running the newest version of (Easy) Settings.

Your brightness problem is probably caused by Adaptive Brightness. See this and this for possible fixes.

John

 

My x4c originally came with W8, now it has P09ABK BIOS installed, and the program says that it is the latest. I enabled fast start in my BIOS.

Adaptive brightness was indeed the problem. Thank you very much!

edit: Changed fast start setting and it still wont go to sleep, i mean it will fail resuming after sleep. This problem still persist despite i reinstall windows 8.1 to 8 through clean install.

 

P09ABK is the latest BIOS which came out last week. It seems to have a few bugs.

When you try to resume from sleep is there just a blank screen or some other error? I occasionally get the blank screen on resume from sleep and it can usually be fixed by closing the lid, waiting a minute and then opening it again. However, I set the lid close action to hibernate because I find resume from hibernation to be more reliable. Hence closing the lid triggers hibernation.

You can also try reinstalling the Settings program which should reapply any Samsung-specific power options.

John

 

Just upgraded myself to 8.1 yesterday, and the only complaint I have is the touchpad. I've tried installing a few different driver variants: the Windows 8(.0) driver for the A06US model, the 8.1 driver for the A02UK model, and the 8.1 driver for the A06US model. (My model is actually the A06US.)

In each one, I've most the options and functionality for three- and four-finger flick options, which were existent under Windows 7 and 8. Anyone else having this issue? Is there a workaround?

Input is greatly appreciated!

 

There is discussion of the touchpad issue in the Win 8.1 (don't) upgrade thread. See, for example, this post.

John

 

Solution worked perfectly, thank you!

 

Just if someone else wonders, I updated my X4C to Windows 8,1 yesterday
and everything seems working OK,

See here for details http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...-updated-drivers-post9444516.html#post9444516

Per

 

Hey all. I just want to confirm that the problem when the laptop crashed when put into sleep, still can do hibernate though, is because the BIOS P09ABK, correct?

Is there anyone who has x4c with P09ABK that can put the laptop to sleep and not crashed?

p.s. there is BIOS update to P10ABK, I am thinking of updating if that was the case.

edit: Does anyone knows how to update? I run it as admin, but the computer just restarted and boot normally. Is there any prior setting that I have to change?

 

Use the standalone BIOS Update program as described in the first post in this thread.

First download the BIOS to your computer then go to the downloaded file and run it As Administrator. You will get some message and it will close Windows to do the BIOS update where you get a progress display in a DOS box. Remember to re-enable Battery Life Extender (if you use it). The BIOS update always turns it off.

John

 

Doesn't do it. Been there so many times. :/
After the restart, my computer would disregard, i.e. act as if i have never order it to update bios, and proceed to load up windows.

 

My experience is that the BIOS update is run after closing Windows but before the restart. I have a BIOS password that I have to enter on restart and that only happens after the BIOS update.

I have to wonder whether there's a broken update sitting whether these things get put in order to run when Windows is closed. However, I don't know where that is or how to clear it.

John

 

Thanks for the clarification. Can anybody confirms that P09ABK causes problem resuming from sleep though for np900x4c? I don't know what happened to my laptop since I sent it in for repair, it won't resume from sleep. :/ Always crashed and did cold boot afterward.

 

I was noticing my system hanging up when going into sleep on P09ABK (screen would shut off, but power light would remain on). I'd have to force a power off and cold boot again. Updating to P10ABK seems to have fixed the problem for me.