Samsung 2012 Series 7 Chronos (NP700Z3, NP700Z4 & NP700Z5 series) Owners Lounge

No there's an actual antenna problem. The Intel card takes care of the Broadcomm problem but there's still the same weak reception problem with the antenna in the chronos. No card will fix that issue

 

Well if the card has better reception than the other. As I said, you can put whatever card you want to that slot, but you could not get it work because of the driver. Not just Broadcom or Intel, but Atheros and many, however, the chance you get it to work is too small.

 

The card swap does not do wonders. Actually the aluminium lid is the culprit... Get that replaced

 

Re. this F12 key light issue: I switched off Bluetooth and WLAN but it is still glowing all the time which is not welcome. What did I do wrong? I deactivated both "adaptors" (sorry, I not that familiar with administrative jobs on windows).

Any clue? (The support just recommended to me on the phone to recover the system but I installed the computer yesterday all day long and I´m not so much into resetting now.)

Also: in silent environment the fan appears to constantly goes on and off. using the according settings in "Easy Settings" does not help.

Otherwise very nice notebook (have it since yesterday)!

 

It should not remain lit. Any comments?

 

Might be a software glitch. Try using the lastest Easy Setting.

 

Hey everyone,

I bought the Samsung NP700z5 from Bestbuy a few weeks ago and had been loving it. A couple days ago when I started using it more I noticed a few problems with it. Had a couple BSOD, Office Powerpoint would crash, Newsleecher a program that has worked great for me for five years would crash.

I kind of assumed this was all due to how the manufacturer packaged up Win 7 and deployed it. So I did a clean install of Windows 7 Pro and have been trying to get it back in working order. The only thing I can't seem to find is the driver for the network controller (basically my WIFI). I downloaded all the drivers that Samsung had an their page and this one was not in it.

I checked Windows update and that didn't find anything either. I have been doing some Google searching and all that is coming up is those shady "driver" sites that don't have anything useful.

Does anyone that did a clean install have those drivers they can send me? Or are they uploaded somewhere. I even got the Express settings working with my SSD cache, and the new VGA drivers that are supposed to help with the switchable graphics.

Any help would be appreciated, this is my last ditch effort before returning this thing to Bestbuy.

 

So yall can disregard this one, I looked on the main page about switching the WIFI card within the laptop and used those drivers found there. Seems to be working, I think I call all the drivers I need installed.

 

Updates to the Series 7 Line:

Is this basically the updated version of this?

Other than the HDD difference (and the price difference), is there anything substantive?

 

Nope. However, the S03 would be better in this case because it has 7200RPM HDD compares to the S07. Every series 7 model is not different at all, at least till now. However, with the price from CompUSA or TigerDirect, I would recommend you to buy the S0A. It the top of the line right now. Although it only has 5400RPM HDD, most of the specs are top and it also has WiDi. More over, it is listed at the same price as the S07 .

 

Well, I need Windows Professional, so that's an upgrade cost for me. In addition, I'm not sure how often I'll use WiDI. I do project several presentations but I don't think any of our monitors at work are WiDi ready. Thoughts?

 

Hello,

I need to replace my reliable 7 years Dell Inspiron 9300 (in 7 years I just had to change the keyboard). I am starting a master's program and I need a new RELIABLE laptop.

I have been considering the Samsung Series 7 NP700Z5A-S0AUS 15.6-Inch Laptop. In terms of personal specs it fills my needs: matte screen, backlit keyboard, good battery life and medium range graphic card. (Starcraft 2 now and then)

Amazon.com: Samsung Series 7 NP700Z5A-S0AUS 15.6-Inch Laptop (Silver): Computers & Accessories

Since I have not bought a laptop since 2005 I am not aware of the reliability of current laptops.

Are Samsung laptops reliable in general and in this specific case is the Series 7 reliable???? Is Samsung's Warranty good??? Would not like to be with a dead laptop come finals or at the term of a project. Would you recommend a warranty extension by Warrantech or SquareTrade???

Or should I go with a Lenovo or Dell laptop that the university PC Stores sell???

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

Best Regards,

Mjoenir.

 

Well if you want Pro version, just go with one that has. Only one or two models have WiDi so I think that is not the common choice. Still has an old Windows 7 Ultimate copy from my old laptop so I don't really care about the OS.

@Mjoenir: Samsung Series 7 is more about mobility than the others. And also, depend on your reference, like matte screen vs glossy screen, AMD vs Nvidia, you should pick one that suit to you. More about series 7, it is just release last year, so talk about reliable, I am not sure, but I used several Samsung products and I haven't seen any problem at all. Warranty on Samsung laptop is 12 months, although they add 3 more after you register with them. Most laptop do come 1 year, only some special model, like the Envy of HP has 2 years. If you have money and do not want to mess with your after warranty, you should purchase extended warranty. Otherwise, nowadays, a laptop can last about 2 years if you take good care of it and the brand does not have any issue at all.

 

Hey everyone. I have a kind of strange question but I am very concerned about this, so I will be happy if you help me with this problem.

I have this device for 2 weeks now, after fixing the video driver everything has worked perfect except one or two blue screens playing crysis but I guess this is normal since the game was pirated and I played in 32bits...

Anyway my real concern is sounds coming from front left corner of the laptop. This is where the hdd is supposed to be. The sounds I am concerned about are not hdd sounds. I know the reading/writing sounds and I know parking the head sound. This sounds is like the ones come from speakers when you plug or unplug power, and also sound like capacitors releasing energy. This is not a click sound but very similar pop sound.

What I ask is can you please check if you have this sound too? It is random and it might take a while to produce this sound.

Thanks a lot!

 

By the way, does the S0A have express cache?

 

Hey all,
Im getting ready to pull the trigger on the S0A. From what I understand, its the only mark against it is the 5400rpm HD, otherwise its the best choice. My question is, if I replace the HD, do I lose access to the onboard express cache?

Thanks!

 

Read this thread.

John

 

Nope. I got rid with the OS that came with my S0A originally. I followed the guide to get EC back and everything is working better now.

 

I believe this the graphics card switching on. I hear the same thing on mine. I noticed it happens when I use applications I have configured as 'High Performance' in the switchable graphics configuration. You may want to try it and see if you notice the same pattern.

 

Hello all,

So I tried a couple of things: I tried re-installing Windows 7 Professional as an update, which didn't fix the Sleep mode problem, and I tried doing a clean install of Professional as an OEM purchase, which also did not work.

It was at this point that I restored the laptop back to its factory/ delivered settings (it came with Windows Home Premium installed), AND SLEEP MODE STILL DIDN'T WORK.

So it cannot be a problem with the upgrade since Sleep mode won't even work with the laptop's original settings, right? My event log is showing errors and warnings about an ACPI driver and Kernel power, both of which are controlled by drivers that I have no control over.

Any suggestions? It is starting to look like my only option is to return the laptop...

 

It is related to Bios Setting and Bios Firmware. Those Kernel-Power errors have something to do with either Bios or mainboard. If you not on the latest bios, try to upgrade it to see if it's fixed or not. If not, then just call Samsung and let them service. They might have to change the whole board or even trade you a new laptop as well. I haven't seen any issue with sleep mode with different brands, but my main desktop once had Kernel errors and I had to exchange for a new board.

 

The mainboard has to be changed IIRC.

 

Alright thanks guys. You've all been very helpful. I'm sending the laptop back tomorrow. Once my refund is credited back to my account I plan on ordering another 700Z5A, and hopefully never run into this problem again...

 

Hi just saw this laptop at best buy yesterday, looks pretty nice! Was reading some owner reviews on cnet and saw people saying they got a bsod playing youtube videos. Has that happened to anyone here? Thanks!

 

Nope. With the lastest graphic software update, the issue has been fixed. Been using it for nearly 3 weeks and I don't have much issue with it right now. Everything is stable at least until now .

 

Hi spincel, thanks for the info!

 

Hi, I've just heard about another problem with this laptop. On some owner review sites people are complaining about wifi problems, i.e. not staying connected or slow connection. Is anybody here having this problem? Thanks!

 

Well in my opinion it is because of the aluminum casing and poor antenna placement. If you were to get the Intel wifi chip it might improve but it will really vary.
But problems like no connection or slow connection I got none.
However you will notice internet might be a slower then normal depending on where u are sitting.

 

In addition, as someone pointed out in another thread, if you check the advanced options for the power saver and balanced power schemes, there are options to boost the Wifi signal. This is maxed by default in the High Performance scheme, as you would expect.

I don't have any problems with poor signal, but I do get occasional dropped connections, which are fixed simply by disabling, then re-enabling the adapter. I have the Intel one.

 

This is most likely the biggest issue with Wifi on this laptop. People are using it on the default setting while on battery, and then the option is set to "Maximum Power Saving" which leads to very poor performance and range.

I never had an issue with the Wifi on this laptop. (I have the original Broadcom)

 

Hi, I've got another question. In my short demo at best buy I didn't see any speaker grills on this laptop. How is the sound quality? Thanks!

 

There is actually speakers outside the Series 7 where the lid and the body join. They are near the ventilations. Some review said it's bad, some said it's acceptable. I found out that is acceptable. Not like those Beat Audio speakers or Dolby with subwoofer, the speakers sound not bad at all. I'm really not interest in laptop speakers because I tend to use headphone.

 

Hi spincel, thanks for the info! I just asked because I couldn't see any speaker grills. And, I'm tired of bad sound in laptops (my asus g74 buzzes)!

 

The sound quality is above average for sure, but it's not as good as those that really focus on good quality audio, like the Beats ones with external Sub. But for a normal notebook it sounds really good. Especially one of this size!

 

Hey guys, i've got a problem with the webcam. Whenever I use google plus to have a web chat, i always need to go into the cyberlink youcam application to turn on the low light compensation, its never on by default. How do i fix this?

 

That because the Cyberlink Youcam control the webcam. You can get rid those fancy software control and just using the webcam inside google plus. You won't get those effect like with YouCam and settings but it would be at default settings.

 

I just received the NP700Z5 and notice the space key fails to work every so often. There appears to be a dead spot on the key but it will self correct the next time I hit the key. Anyone else having the same problem? Any idea how this can be corrected?

 

Sadly but that the issue every Series 7 have . There is a trick that put a paper under the key so that it woud register any press at any point. So either you do that and live with the issue . It's annoying to me, but I got used to it. By the way, for everyone, you guys need to go to the sticky topic to find the current issues for the Series 7. Most of them are already on the list and some of them can be fixed with software, some of them are not fixable at the moment but not impossible though.

 

Thanks for quick response. I will try the "paper" trick this evening. Good reminder to check the sitcky topics. Will visit it right now.

 

My S7 doesn't have this issue.

 

Maybe you are so lucky that you got that laptop . Anyway, could someone ask Samsung about that and see what would they come up the solution. I guess they would tell us to send the laptop to service center and they will take out the key and put something underneath it.

 

There is a trick to "unjam" the key. Hit furiously on the spacebar so the mechanism starts to work fully.

 

Hi All,
My new series 7 has been randomly crashing to a "boot menu" screen. I am never around when it happens so I don't know what happens right before. Any one else seeing this? I've attached the picture of the screen. It looks like the HDD is missing and it wants to boot from the DVD. HDD problems?

 

Your HDD cable is going soon or could be loose.

 

Any news on a IB series 7 refresh with possibly a better screen?

 

Google will give you some hits for "NP700Z5C" but no trace of "NP700Z4C". I think Samsung are waiting for Intel to give out the chips in production quantities, sometime during the next few months.

John

 

Good to hear, but it seems no 1080p screen upgrade

 

Does anyone know of a good HDMI to VGA dongle to use? I did a search, but came across enough cord types to make my head spin, not sure which apply to in this situation. D-Sub, A, C, etc.

The proprietary (hurray) display port to VGA runs $40-$50 which seems a tad expensive.

 

I suggest you purchase HDMI to DVI or VGA cable. I am not sure about the mini HDMI. Anyway, you should purchase the cable because it is more convenient.

 

I purchased this one and it works fine for me.
HP HDMI to VGA Display Adapter | HP® Official Store