Samsung Series 7 Laptops - 15.0" and 15.6" Models (NP700Z4 & NP700Z5)

My two most recent laptops aren't so recent any more:

13.3" Sony Vaio VGN-S360P
17" HP ZD7000

I've been using a desktop for most of the last 4 years but I need more mobility again since I'm leaving soon on a 6 month motorcycle trip.

 

Moreover, these specs were announced, just the non backlit keyboard wasn't mentionned (as it said before): AnandTech - Samsung Releases Series 7 Laptops: Aluminum Body and SSD Caching

 

can you try stressing the computer a bit (maybe some games or something) and see how it manages the heat?

 

+1, if you could, use HWMonitor to monitor the temps.

 

Pretty excited to check these babies out tomorrow. All the BB stores near me are now stocked

 

If it is available at their store, does it mean that they have it displayed on floor?

 

Yes.

10char

 

i want the

15' screen in the 14' chassis
a core i7
and the 6750m gpu

thatd be the perfect laptop for me...

now idk if that is going to be available or not though...

it seems as if the 14" (15" screen) will have the 6750m but not a core i7(only will be avail with core i5)???
anyone confirm this?

and also how much better is the core i7 than the core i5?

 

The big one has a quad i7 and the smaller ones have a dual i5 so it would be a very big difference if you do any kind of rendering or video encoding. IMO the extra size is worth getting way more processing power but it really depends on what you plan on doing with the laptop.

 

that would be perfect config in a 14" chassis... but samsung is still confusing us regarding the gpu in the 14" chassis(15"screen).
read the comments below the video in the link. samsung rep posted.
Get to know the Samsung SERIES 7 CHRONOS (14 inch) - YouTube

 

Is the 15" screen with 14" chassis just a concept that samsung was working with but never actually created? I haven't seen any current news about this laptop. I do agree that this would be the optimal choice if it carried the same specs as the 15.6".

 

The most recent news is in the comments of the youtube video linked above. It's confusing though because first the rep says that the 15" will have the 6490 but then he says it will come in two versions: one with integrated graphics and one with 6750. Guess we just have to wait and see. I'm reluctant to get my hopes up though. I would prefer the 15" with 6750 but I don't mind getting the 15.6"

 

exactly.. they are freaking confusing us.. i don think even those reps know.. cos it makes no sense when he earlier said 6490 in 15" then today he says 6750... we jus have to wait till oct 2nd..

 

it sounds like the 15inch screen (14inch body) will have the 6750...because the reps say that many times
sounds like there will be one with intel integrated graphics and one with the 6750


now the real question is will it have the core i7?

and if it doesnt...would the core i7 upgrade over the i5 be enough to suck it up and buy the bigger 15.6 model?

 

Went to my local BB today... still no S7.

 

the I7 is going to be much faster than the I5 but if your not doing video encoding or something to that extream then the I5 is more than enough. Even for gaming the I5 should be more than enough most games are gpu not cpu limited.

Now the price difference between the I7 and the I5 (15.6 and 14 ) is so small that its just worth getting the 15.6 because of the better graphics card.

 

hmm...well i am going to be gaming...but i wont be doing anything heavier than that...are there any links to where you are basing your information about the core i7 and core i5 advice from?

the 15inch screen (14inch chassis) is supposidly having the 6750m
multiple reps have said this...i doubt they'd all be wrong

but none of them have commented on whether or not this model will have a core i7...

the 15.6 inch screen (15inch chassis) is also having the 6750m
but it also has the core i7

i think i want a smaller laptop...so i might just buy the 14inch chassis (15 inch screen) as long as it has a 6750
and that the core i5 isnt too much slower in comparison to the core i7

 

ya me too.. it doesn't bother me if the 14" chassis(15" screen) has an i5 as long as it has 6750 gpu.

 

as long as i can play sc2 and upcoming diablo 3 on mid to high settings im happy

i can do that with a sandy bridge i5 right? (given that the gpu is the 6750)

 

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

i5 2430M: 3,552
i7 2670M (2675 isn't listed yet): 7,227

So it will probably be about twice as fast for a slightly larger and heavier laptop. I doubt you would notice the speed difference unless you want to do something like rotoscoping a 1080p video in after effects CS5 using the rotoscoping brush... That can be really slow....

I am going for the 15.6 off Amazon.

 

look at the mx11 from alien ware can play most games at high or ultra settings and its cpu is very limited in power

 

hmm...sounds good...i think im gonna be getting the 15" (14chassis) version
given that it's gpu is 6750m

i wonder what the size difference is btwn the

15" and the 15.6

that might change my mind also

 

good point...but also note that the resolution on that screen is also very small.

i hope samsung releases the 15"(14chassis) asap...otherwise i might just spring for the 15.6 version

..then feel later when i hear samsung is finally giving us the 15" version

 

Maybe it is a location thing, like some countries get the 15''(14'' body) with the better 6750, while others get it with the 6490?

Anyone think some how the 14in model may have a slight worse screen quality vs the 15.6in model?

Amandaville do you think you can maybe post pics showing the vertical and horizontal viewing angles? Thanks

 

The thing I would be worried about is the heat on that gpu in such a small system. If you look at mac book pro's they have basicly the same set up and same size factor as the 15.6 from samsung. Their system gets very hot under stress so unless samsung came up with a new way to vent the system that gpu/cpu combo is way to much heat for that size factor.

 

I thought the 15in model is going to be a dual core not quad core like the larger 15.6in brethren. Also, aren't there 14in notebooks with nvidia GT540, and GT550 gpu? Granted they also maybe with dual core cpus, I haven't heard much about them having any real heat issues, but I could be wrong.

 

Do all three models have the same color gamut? Are these suppose to be like the replacement of the X series like the X460?

 

Yes it depends on location. But even so I doubt that they can stuff that i7 processor in the 15'' chasis without having heat issue.

 

How about openning programs and webpages? Does i7 provide any significant improvements in terms of speed over i5?

 

agreed.

for gaming i doubt there will be a tangible difference between the two.

 

If 0,001 second is significant, yes.
The only + of an i7 in regular usage is if you are multitasking more than 4 tasks at a time (i5 has 4 threads, and i7 8 threads). Let's say you have one unzipping on 1st thread, one virus scan on the second thread, and a flash video running on 3rd and 4rd thread if you open a fifth program that uses the cpu constantly, then you may have opening and running speed improvement when all 4 threads are busy and you start the fifth one. It's kind of dumbed down as an explanation but that's the spirit.
Note that an i7 may speed up some browsers like chrome that are multithreaded (lots of processes all called chrome.exe at the same time) but it's already lightning fast on even i3...

 

Thanks for the reply

 

Both of the reps who've mentioned the 15"/14" as having the 6750M seem to have been talking about the Korean version. I don't think it's coming out in the US, or at least they've never mentioned the US version. Whenever I ask about the 700z4a's US release date, they just ignore me.

 

I haven't even found a merchant selling the 14" or 15" model yet just the 15.6" ones.

I think il get the 15.6" though... its like 1/2 an inch/lb bigger which isnt a big deal to me.

 

The Best Buy version is back up to $950. Still no backlit keyboard, no expresscache, and no 6750.

Samsung - Series 7 Laptop / Intel® Core™ i7 Processor / 15.6" Display - Silver - NP700Z5B-W01UB

 

I just said "screw it" and preordered the $1150 15.6" model from TigerDirect. It was discounted to $1130, so with shipping the total cost was $1140. You can get 4% cash back for TigerDirect at FatWallet, which for this model comes to a respectable 50 bucks or so. (I've just put in my order, so it'll take while to process--I think in the past it's taken me several weeks to receive the cash back.)

I'll keep you guys posted re: shipping dates and other stuff.

 

The pricing of the Best Buy version seems totally messed up.
It has gone back up to $950 but that is the discounted price - the full price is now $1019.99. It is also now available - not a pre order and available for pickup at most stores.

 

Yeah, it's typical shady Best Buy stuff. They hike up the normal price, then discount it back down to the actual price so you feel like you're getting a deal.

 

arghh I've been calling all the best buys in my area that have the laptop available for pickup, but sadly none are on display yet... Can someone who has the laptop, review the build quality and also temperatures of the laptop while playing games?

 

Alright guys. So I was reading the Samsung Chronos facebook page. They replied to this one guy regarding the U.S. release dates and here is what they said: "@Karthik Mahadevan - We're pleased to inform that the SERIES 7 CHRONOS will be released in the USA early October from Best Buy retailer. Please note that the release date for other retailers is expected early November. We hope this helps!"

Is Samsung referring to brick-and-mortar retailers, or also online retailers? That would really suck if Best Buy had exclusivity for the Series 7 upon release since they just seem to be selling the watered-down version. No offense to those who already purchased this version, but I really think you guys should return what you bought and get the version with the express cache.

From past experience of those who have purchased from Best Buy; do they usually sell the "real" version upon release date? Or stick to their watered-down one?

I am really set on purchasing the most expensive version going for $1,299. I'm talking about the 700Z5A(15.6") with the numerical keypad, HD6750M GPU, and express cache. I sure hope this comes out this Sunday though (on October 2) as Samsung has promised. My XPS m1530 is on its last sunset and needs to be replaced soon.

 

TigerDirect says "ships early October," but who knows.

I saw the $1150 version available on Best Buy's site for $1199, I think, so presumably they will have the $1299 one as well. I still wouldn't recommend shopping there.
(On edit, I can't find it anymore--it may have actually been a Series 9.)

 

Samsung really needs to get their sh*t straight.

 

Best Buy almost always sells the watered down version of the laptop.

 

By the way guys...check this image out.

Look closely at the keyboards and it's easy to determine which is back-lit and which is not. It seems that this prototype unit of the 15.6" version is the one Best Buy is selling (with painted-on characters).

The 14" one clearly has back-lit keys.

If you choose to order online, double check those product shots to be sure you're getting the back-lit keyboard one.

 

Anyone willing to tear theirs apart when they get it? Questions I have:

Is the CPU in a socket or soldered?
Is the 4GB of ram that is not easily accessible soldered or replaceable?
Are the graphics in a fixed or dynamic mode? Can you switch between the two? AMD has issues with OpenGL and non-windows OSs with their dynamic implementation.

Thanks in advance

 

Been wondering that also. My only experience with "double-barrelled" graphics was with some Alienware m15x's we had at work in 2008.

The implementation of switchable discrete/onboard (Intel GMA) graphics left much to be desired, to say the least.

 

Hey Guys, new to the forum but I just picked up the Samsung 7 series from Bestbuy at 949.99. Time to see if it will beat out the 2010 15" Macbook Pro i5 w/ 120gb ssd that I'm currently using. So far, the samsung looks nicer and about 1/2 inch smaller than the macbook. The display reminds me of the older macbook pro matte screens, casing seems a bit cheaper on the bottom panel and sides.

 

You have the laptop already? Anyway, could you check if the ODD is easily removable to put a second hard drive?

 

Yup, I picked it up today since it was showing in stock at the location close by. The employees were clueless that it was up for sale. Im gonna wait and decide whether to keep it before opening it up. Seems like the ram has the only direct access without unscrewing the complete bottom panel.

 

All,

I just picked one up at best buy. First impression is the bad quality screen. I have not color meter it yet just eyed balled it side by side a 72% gamut, 95% gamut and 45% gamut screen. The screen looks like its a low gamut screen (most likely 45%ish). Viewing angle bad, just like the typical low end screens you find at best buy, slight tight and everything is inverted. Contrast is also poor guessing in the 100 to the 200 range.

Other observations: no keyboard backlit. Bottom case shell feels like plastic. Sitting next to the old macbook pro 15 (one before unibody), the samsung was a bit longer. But over all feels more compact.

This one going back. Also cancelling the TigerDirect pre order...