Series 3 11.6" with i3 - np300u1a - anyone else have one?

usually 128GB would be more than enough. Only problem is that as you said it forces you to do backup more regularly, which in theory is good but not when you don't have time and are messy at keeping files/folder organized.

what heatsink mod are you talking about? on the S3?

 

in my sig. I posted my version of forges heatsink mod...plus a couple other things. I got to add a few more things to it. like links and photos

 

for someone who commented on netflix, I just got netflix and it plays fine no issues , 1080p HD in some cases, CPU util does not go over 35%.

As for overcloking, no sandybridge chip can take a fsb over 105 (max) and even that may cause issues: you overclock it using the multiplier (for desktop chips like 2500k) which are locked for a mobile chip like this so people pursuing the SetFSB path are not going to get more than 3-5% gain if it even works!

 

i could see that for the ones that have a high freq but for ones that have such a low freq makes no sense.

 

You do know that FSB drives other frequencies as well and the sandybridge platform cannot handle out of spec frequencies too well, the sanybridge-e chips have a 125 Mhz base clock option I believe with necessary dividers so that can lead to a potential 25% FSB overclock. It has everything to do with the chip architecture and nothing to do with it's max. frequency.

 

I am still unclear if this laptop has a SATA II or III bus. That would be important when purchasing an SSD. Can someone clarify?

 

they are backwards compatibly so not a big deal

 

Yeah, but still is curious how Samsung does not provide such essential information.. It's especially important if you don't intend to keep the SSD in the future, i.e. why buy SATA3 if the laptop is only SATA2 (I'm assuming, not stating)? S2 SSD will be a bit cheaper..

 

Yes, the NP300U1A is completely compatible with Bigfoot Killer-N 1102 card. I have upgraded mine with

1. 256GB Samsung 830 SSD (7 mm).
2. Bigfoot Killer-N 1102 Wireless card.
3. 8GB DDR3 memory (BTW, it is available in MicroCenter for $49.99).

The memory module passed all Extended Windows 7 Memory Tests (64-bit). The wireless card now shows 300Mbps connection speed (the previous Intel wireless card showed only 56Mbps). The performance index of Samsung SSD (SATA-3) in Windows 7 (on the scale 1 to 7.9) is 7.7. My previous Axiom 512GB SSD (SATA-2) had 7.4.

 

I had the same problem with my 256GB Samsung 830 SSD (SATA-3). I was getting disk error at the boot if the SATA-3 (SATA GEN3 Mode) option was enabled in the BIOS. I disabled GEN3 option in the BIOS and everything works fine after that. The strange thing is that my previous 512GB Axiom SSD (SATA-2) worked fine with this GEN3 option enabled in the BIOS. Probably this option does not affect the SATA-2 drives.

UPDATE: I was able to enable the SATA-3 (SATA GEN3 Mode) in the BIOS and boot in Windows 7 after installing the latest chipset driver from Intel:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...g&OSVersion=Windows 7 (32-bit)*&DownloadType=

Now the CrystalDiskInfo utility shows SATA/600 Transfer Mode, but the SSD performance was not change (I guess because of my 32-bit Widndows system).

 

^^That is strange as I have the 830 64 GB on SATA-3 with 05PY bios and it runs flawlessly: the mobo suports sata-3 and using a 830 at sata-2 speeds is really limiting it. My problem was probably that I was using the native windows install disc instead of the recovery disc and it did not have some drivers that this machine needs for boot-up, the agility 3 would probably have worked as well but the Samsung 830 was a perfect fit though twice as expensive and the Agility 3 made a good second SSD for my desktop so I let it be.

 

Can you install a Magician Software from Samsung:

Support - Solid State Drives MZ-7PC128N | Samsung Memory & Storage

and run a performance test for your SSD? If you get 250MB/sec for the read speed, your SSD works at the SATA-2 mode. If the speed is about 500MB/sec, it works at the SATA-3 mode.

 

Get over 500 mbps in aida and crystal diskmark

 

well that is not comforting. I have no external DVD drive, also I have no recovery disk. I have been installing windows from USB for the last few years. However I might just clone my hdd when moving to an ssd.

Is that going to be an issue?
Also what are the improvements of the latest BIOS?

 

You can put the contents of the recovery disk that came with the laptop (everyone should have one in the box) onto a usb drive and install from there

 

Problem!!

As I was pulling the laptop out of my backpack (I guess) one of the rear rubber feat ripped off, and now I can't find it. I've looked everywhere. Anyone know of a way to get that tiny, obscure rubber foot part from Samsung? I assume there's no way, but I figured I'd might as well ask...

 

Look on amazon or ebay buddy^, replace all of them if you can't find a matching one - should be a couple of bux.

 

Something like this?

John

 

does anybody know if this laptop supports low voltage ram? There are 8GB sticks that run at 1.35v and that could be a great power saving.

Are there any disavantages of lower volt ram?
Also 1333 speeds should be supported, correct?

 

This uses samsung ram which is already low voltage and low voltage ram does not translate to much power saving.

 

I tried some 1.35V modules in my Lenovo T420s. I couldn't see any change in the power consumption and further research revealed that the Sandy Bridge mobile platform doesn't support 1.35V (Ivy Bridge should) so the modules will run at the normal 1.5V. The speed will be whatever they are rated at. If buying RAM now I would consider getting the 1.35V modules so they would give benefit if moved over to an Ivy Bridge machine.

John

 

Hey guys.. I started having issues with my hibernation. Sometimes when i wake up the laptop, laptop brightness is at max, and i lose brightness control. Can't adjust brightness anywhere, only after reboot.

Any one had similar issue? Thanks.

 

I have a 9mm Kingston SSD that fits with no bulge. The keys:

1) Don't use the black rubber sleeve from the original Hitachi hard drive.

2) There is a foam bumper/spacer that supports a corner of the Hitachi. Make sure you peel it off before you insert your SSD into the cavity.

 

I'm selling my Princeton, with Crucial M4 128GB (not installed 9mm version). Anyone interested? (sorry if this is the wrong place to post).

 

There as a marketplace forum.

John

 

pm with a price for the crucial.

john, thanks for that info.

drelectron, that's great news as now i don't have to worry about getting a 7mm ssd. Although i read there are minor differences between 9mm thicknesses

 

Apologies: I need to take back what I said below. Upon closer inspection, I could see a slight bulge on the palmrest near the Windows7 sticker. I had to open the laptop, remove the SSD cover and use the rubber sleeve. Fits nicely now. Bottom line: If you want a hassle-free SSD install, get a 7mm.

 

hey all,

is anyone else having issues with how slow the Samsung control center program is? The first time i hit it upon a fresh reboot it takes about 30 seconds to actually do anything... after that its a little better at about 10 seconds but still... Not as snappy as i would expect from this little powerhouse!!

if anyone has any tips for improving the response time of this laptop im all ears!


Warm regards,
Demon

 

Yeah. It's slow, and not much you can do about it. Besides, I guess, dropping an SSD in. I don't really find the need to use it very much.

 

Something is wrong. For me, it takes about 1 second after I answer the UAC question "Do you want to allow..". Make sure you have no driver issues - especially the display adapter. My driver for Intel HD Graphics 3000 is dated 2/12/2012, version 8.15.10.2653. You could also have some malware or misbehaving anti-virus software. I do have an SSD but I'm sure that when I had an HDD, I never saw 10 seconds for opening Samsung Control.

 

Hi DrElectron,

thanks for the reply - It didnt seem right to me either to be honest... And it is starting to bug me! I have a plethora of anti spyware / malware installed and regularly update all the drivers through the Intel driver update utility. I will try reinstalling Samsung control center when i get the system back ( Currently with the significant other who managed to break her own laptop...)

I wont have it back for another 2 weeks but when i do i will probably reinstall windows from fresh and go from there (Or just buy an SSD ...again...).

Having said that, i am torn between 2 SSD's: (both dirt cheap at the moment on Amazon)

Kingston V-200 120GB
Sandisk Extreme 120GB

Both about the same price and i'm leaning toward the Sandisk for the moment...

Any suggestions or input on either will be appreciated.

warm regards,
Demon

 

Made a few observations :

1. My extended battery is quite heavy and the laptops sometimes shuts down with when moved around (I am thinking the contacts are not as tight due to the weight of the battery), this is the $30.xx ebay one many here have bought. For now I am keeping the bigger battery for stand-by/travel and using the standard battery on a daily basis (most of the times the machine is plugged is as my htpc)
2. The laptop bios keeps the cpu max frequency at 800 Mhz max on battery and at this speed some netflix videos are quite choppy, this cannot be fixed by bios options/windows power settings but a handy tool called ThrottleStop can be used to easily correct this behavior and enable the 1300 max frequency on battery.

Hope this helps somebody.

 

Does anyone have any experiences with this laptop while gaming? I am looking at Diablo 3 with everything turned to it's lowest setting. With this processor and a 6 score for 3D graphics I am curious.

Thanks!

 

alright a couple things one..will this work with it? It is doing on sale todsya on newegg for shell shocker
Newegg.com - Rosewill RMNA-11001 Universal automatic Notebook Power Adapter 90W

also i still can't find that menu to turn off the "turn trackpad off while typing" Only thing i find is sensitivity to reduce unwanted contact...nothing that turns it off.

Also are there any new drivers i should know about?

Lastly, has anyone repasted this? When playing games it gets hot so i was tempted to use ICD

 

ok before i go any further and break this...how do u take it apart? It seems to not wnat to be taken apart I was going to repaste it

edit well found this http://wlbloguno.blogspot.com/2011/08/samsung-princeton-notebook-116-np300u1a.html

i was afraid i was going to have to repost the rubber pieces :/


EDIT: I think i botched the pasting. what are your guy's temp idle and with prime and furmark

i am at 50C idle downloading prime and furmark now

I get 74-77C with furmark and prime. I think it is the same a before...i bet if i redid it and did a good job it would have been better. i forgot what the temps were before. i think they were about the same. I remember gaming and it was 70 something maybe 75? forget what idle was.

 

all the SSD on sale are 9mm and the m4 256gb has a warranty sticker on one of the screws. the plextor looks promising but i can't find this info

 

so from what I take of people here who bought a 9.5mm SSD is that it will fit with a slight bulge. Is this correct? 7mm are too expensive.

 

hey Punk,

Thats correct - i had a Crucial M4 in mine, fit without any huge problems apart from a slight bulge in the bottom right corner. Not really noticeable unless you look for it!

Good luck,
Demon

 

thanks! rep to you

 

hey Punk,


One thing to note though specifically on the M4 is that i couldn't get my wireless to work properly with that SSD in... Again i didnt have it in long enough to figure out why (ended up putting the SSD in my main system and the mechanical drive back in the samsung).

From what i have heard nobody else has experienced this though so you will probably be fine.

Good luck,
Demon

 

This is 7mm and a pretty straight shot:

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC064B/WW 2.5" 64GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Knowing that 7mm are ideal for this laptop, might as well go for a Samsung 830 and do it "right." I'm thinking about it.

 

Would anyone happen to know where I can download the newest firmware for this laptop? Currently I'm on firmware 03PY.

 

doesn't it auto update or is that samsung program a joke?

 

What happens if you run the firmware update program listed here under support > downloads > firmware. If it is like other recent Samsung models then the program searches for any BIOS update and then manages the installation.

John

 

so i asked this before but no one responded. Someone found the feature awhile back in this thread and i cant find the post. It was to turn off the feature where your mouse pad stops working when you type. I could only find the setting where it reduces the aggressiveness of such a feature and not the disable/enable feature button/check box.

sidenote loving this! been playing Star War empire at war on full graphics in class when it gets boring/pointless! I need to get an external DVD drive or burn an ISO file of battle for middle earth so i can play that too. I did the RTS for glass because they require little power compared to FPS and it is less noticeable because I can casually play. Me bobbing and weaving and mashing keys in class would be too obvious lol.

Obviously though, I do this after i finish my homework in class and there is nothing important being said ^-^

 

Perhaps this is what you are wanting: Search the registry for "DisableWhenType_Enable" and change the value from 1 to 0.

John

 

ummm how do you search through registry again...i haven't messed with that in ages. Someone found it in a setting somewhere before :/

 

Hi, it was me who mentioned the disable when typing function, but we came to the conclusion it wasn't available in any Samsung/Driver functions.

But that's a really nice alternative John. Thanks for that.

 

oh i thought you found it lol my bad

 

Start > Enter "Regedit" in search box; Then Edit > find and enter the text you want to find.

So what works on this notebook? My suggestion assumes the Elan touchpad which features on many recent Samsung notebooks.

John