The 2012 Samsung Series 9 13.3" (NP900X3B)

Their pictures indicate it is a two fan model.

Regarding the RAM, I am not brave enough to tear the machine apart to look closely under the RAM cover.

And for the mSATA to SATA question, I have one of those cards on order. In the event the machine won't boot, you can bet I'll be pulling my data off before it goes to be serviced.

I figure the card will work for me in two scenarios:

1. Dropped into a Lenovo Ultrabay hard drive adapter
2. Connected to an eSATAp cable

After the 256GB mSATA drives enter the retail channel, having the replaced 128GB mSATA on the shelf will also help mitigate the issue.

I think the card might also go in one of my USB 3.0 enclosures so the 128GB mSATA might have a home there. Not sure about that yet.

 

"At just 15.7mm-16.2mm thick" - hmm, it doesnt stack up, 12.9mm or 15.7 mm thick? Did they actualle have unit or just took spec from web?

15.7mm here:
NP900X3B Series 9 Notebook - TECH SPECS | SAMSUNG

vs

12.9mm
Specs - Series 9 Notebooks NP900X3B | Samsung Laptops

 

The review is inconsistent in a few places: The specification table includes this:

The thickness does depend on whether the measurements include the rubber pads on the bottom but if the numbers on the Samsung UK website seem to be a copy of the X3A data. The review also has different weights in the text and table.

John

 

Interesting also that the highly-touted PLS screen only covers 63% of RGB. Great review overall, but if I can't get better RGB coverage on the 13-inch, I might as well go for the extra real estate on the 15-inch model. The Sony Z is also starting to look more attractive if I can get past the price.

 

Daily backups not good enough for you?

 

I'm used to doing them on a weekly basis unless I'm working on something very critical that I copy onto a flash drive as work in progress. I've been using SSDs for the past 3 years so the most likely cause of a problem is Windows seriously malfunctioning or a system failure. And the backup for Windows has been the ability to slot in a cloned HDD, put the SSD into an external enclosure and get on with the work. The mSATA SSDs don't offer such convenience.

John

 

If windows malfunction, make backups with Acronis True Image or Ghost regularly (I do monthly or after major changes; my data is always in sync with my desktop using Windows Live Mesh so I never have to worry), then just recover the Windows partition and within 15m you are good to go, no swapping necessary. That is what I do.

 

The main issue is what to do when the machine fails (power supply, motherboard) but the drive is still good.

Are you really going to send your data on that mSATA drive to a Samsung depot?

This isn't a backup software issue. It requires a screwdriver.

 

I've used Acronis for years for cloning. Given the absence of a built-in optical drive what is your hardware arrangement for backups? Does the Acronis boot disc recognise USB 3.0 or can you boot with it plugged into the USB 2.0 port then swap the device in the USB 2.0 to be the one with your backup?

John

 

Regarding the battery wear: When I first got this notebook, the battery wear came with 3%. I just did the battery calibration once, and wear level is now at 5.8%. I'm not sure if this decrease is from the incorrect calibration that it came with, or if the actual calibration process of completely draining the battery caused the wear. Either way, near 6% for a brand new notebook isn't something I'm happy with.

Have you guys ran the battery calibration from the BIOS screen yet? If so, can you confirm before and after the calibration?

 

Looking at HWiNFO64 my battery wear level is also 5.8%. But I would also like to do a battery calibration.

 

My battery is still at 3%. I haven't tried the calibration and don't plan to do so until I think there's a need (eg battery goes empty unexpectedly quickly). The calibration does a deep discharge so it can cause some wear but this is usually more than offset by the extra capacity recovered.

John

 

Acronis True Image Home 2012 seems to have USB 3.0 support of some sort. I attach an external HDD enclosure with a 2TB HDD drive to the USB 2.0 port. I attach a Sony DRX-840U external DVD drive to the USB 3.0 port and boot via it to the Acronis Full Backup/Recovery disk.

I haven't had any issues doing this on the 3B or 4B Samsungs.

That is in fact how I made a snapshot of the factory image before I ever booted into Windows.

 

Thanks for this info. Acronis used to be slow in supporting new hardware. I will try it out, ideally after figuring out how to make a bootable flash drive running True Image.

John

 

I guess it depends on what you're doing - this isn't an image pro's notebook as such, but I've certainly not felt constrained by it. If you don't need the GPU of the Sony, it's definitely better value. It's not an engineering tour de force of the Sony for sure, but in many ways the Samsung is less flawed due to that.

And although it's a massive step forward from the 900X3A which I frankly found a bit of a bad joke, I still don't like the core thinking behind the Series 9, which is basically an Asian-ripoff Air. The Z2 still represents more original thinking.

 

Yes, Acronis True Image supports USB2/3. You can also remove/add new USB drives while already loaded in Acronis. That is what I do sometimes.

 

One thing you can't do with the trial download is build a full backup/recovery DVD. I assume that also means USB stick.

I believe that is because they don't phone home for piracy activation checks on the backup/recovery disk. At least not yet.

 

I paid my money some time ago - it's relatively cheap for the convenience. The software pacakage includes a tool to put the Acronis boot loader onto a flash drive or USB HDD. I can confirm that I'm now running a backup off a flash drive in the USB 2.0 port onto a HDD in the USB 3.0 port. I first tried making a bootable SD card but, as I think had already been discovered, the computer won't boot off the SD card although the system thinks it is another USB device. I will next be testing if I can back up onto a USB 3.0 HDD.

John

PS: The Acronis bootable environment will handle a USB 3.0 HDD plugged into the USB 3.0 port, but I get the impression that it's running at USB 2.0 speed - it doesn't seem any faster than the previous backup. Anyway, knowing that it will talk to thank drive means that I'm safe in carrying round a HDD with all my other files on it that can also be used for Acronis backup and restore, using a flash drive as the boot device if necessary.

 

If we can get a few more people to comment at the review, maybe the reviewer will do a tear down and take some pictures before they return the machine (if they haven't already).

 

I've added my contribution.

John

 

Is anyone else a little put off the fact that the display does not have even brightness in all sections across the screen?

 

Very few notebook screens have uniform brightness when tested, but how often have you noticed this as a problem? My NP900X3B looks fine in this respect.

John

 

It isn't an issue.

 

I was CTO of a tech company that sold a modified Asus EP121 Windows Slate and have a lot of experience both with imaging/backups and mSata drives.

The Runcore you linked previously works very well, I use it personally and we used it at work. We also used a mSata->USB adapter.

Regarding imaging, CloneZilla is free, fast, and super efficient. I use it on Linux and Windows machines.

I recommend MultiBoot to make a USB flash drive - you can put gparted (partition tools, freeware/shareware), clonezilla (imaging, freeware/shareware), ultimatebootcd, and any other .ISO and it will be bootable.

YUMI I believe is identical to multiboot:
YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux

 

First comment was mine, posted my youtube video of the disassembly to show that it was indeed soldered in. I'm surprised they can make such a confident comment about that without even opening up the notebook.

It looks like they changed it memory being soldered on now, however there's still a mistake when they said " similar to its predecessor". They are not similar, this NP900X3B has soldered memory (not upgradable), and the older NP900X3A has sodimm slots that are upgradable.

 

I have yet to see a video or pictures of the fans and heat pipe assemblies removed. Did you remove yours?

Have a link to that?

FYI,

The author of the review responded in the review comments that the RAM is soldered. He also modified the original review to reflect that.

DRAT !!!

 

I tried this Samsung NP300x3B at a local retail store today and overall it didn't wow me. The screen colors did not seem as even or "good" compared to a 2011 Macbook Air 13 (samsung panel). I'm hoping this is because the Samsung NP300X3B needs a good color calibration via a device like the Spyder.

The NP300X3B's touchpad was touchy and not as smooth as the Macbook Air's (in windows mode too). But, I thought this could be attributed to adjusting the touchpad settings more or the driver and not the hardware iteslf. The NP300XB's keyboard was alright and definitely more than acceptable.

Likes:
More Portable size than MBA 13
Higher Resolution Display than MBA 13
Matte screen (no reflections! )
Light Weight

Dislikes:
1. The PLS Matte display was good, but not THAT great. It felt like there was almost this "hazy" effect similar to the Samsung Series 7 I reviewed a few months ago. Also, regardless of the brightness setting, it just felt like the colors/shades never blended together and I think this might be due to the uneven screen brightness across the screen OR the display needing a color calibration. Whatever the reason, the MBA 13's TN display was easier on my eyes (in low-reflective environment) than the Samsung NP300X3B.

2. The response of the computer felt slighty "laggy," but this could be because of bloatware installed, etc.

Has anyone tried a color calibration on these Samsung NP300X3B's? If yes, how did it affect your visual comfort towards the screen?

 

It's quite likely that the display can be further improved using colour calibration equipment. However, I would never describe the display on my NP900X3B as being "hazy".

It's also quite likely that the software and drivers on the display machine have never been updated. IIRC the touchpad performance was noticeably improved by a newer driver.

John

 

I learned long ago to never judge display technology in retail settings. This is true for large screen HDTVs, and notebook computers.

Unless you made it a point to verify the color profile and all other settings were factory default, you have no idea who screwed with the machine before you looked at it.

Even if the machine was supposedly locked down to prevent tampering and altering the colors or brightness levels, there are other ways. Viewing the machine in a fluorescent retail environment is bad all by itself.

Regarding the performance, the same holds true for a demo machine on the floor of retail. The kiosk mode and demo can break all sorts of features and performance.

The Samsung Series 9 NP900X3B is every bit as fast as the current generation MacBook Air.

 

I'm looking for a keyboard skin, I can't find one specifically for this notebook. Does anyone know if there are any similar ones that will fit? I looked at the macbook keyboard skins, but not confident it'll be an exact fit. Can someone help me confirm this, or find a better fitting one?

Amazon.com: GTMax Aluminum Unibody Apple MacBook / Pro / Air Silicone Keyboard Skin Cover - Black: Computers & Accessories

 

A few pages up, somebody mentioned that their hinge was a bit loose-- if they held the laptop vertically, the lid would open slightly. This was not happening to me at the time, but has just started. I don't mind, except that if it gets too loose it might wake the computer. It strikes me that there must be some kind of an adjustment that one could make to tighten it up again-- in the hinge, perhaps? Do any of you guys who are experienced at taking these things apart have any suggestions?

BTW, thanks again to all who helped trouble shoot the IRST issues. My real world experience of battery life is completely different now. Meaning: even though the battery life isn't that great, I hardly notice, because I'm no longer draining battery while asleep.

 

As long as you fully close the display, slightly loose hinges won't cause it to open: The display is held shut by magnets located about 2cm in from each top corner of the display and at the two front corners of the palm rest (test for yourself with a piece of steel).

John

 

Yes but if I hold it by the hinge, perpendicular (I realize it doesn't happen very often, but a couple times lately it has happened to me, which is how I discovered it), the lid opens a bit. If it's held by a magnet, should that not be happening? Or, are you saying the magnet will prevent it from opening further? (And how DO you know so much about this thing, anyway?)

PS just to clarify, the computer is completely closed when this happens. Another user described the same phenomenon, way back, probably a manufacturing error in his case. In my case, it used to stay closed when I turned it on end, but for some reason doesn't any more.

 

The energy you used to lose while asleep was powering the magnets?

 

There's always a catch.....

 

Why do I have a feeling there's going to be an epidemic of people being found by family members, colleagues and so on holding their S9's as Shelley describes and peering at the gap between the lid and base?

 

The magnets will be most effective when the display is completely shut. The two things you can check are (a) that the two magnets at the top of the display attract a steel object with equal force; and (ii) the top of the display closes snugly against the front edge of the palm rest.

I've just done a simple test and if I close the display to within about 10mm of the palm rest then it will stay there, held by the friction in the hinges. If I push the display down further to about 5mm from the palm rest then the magnets pull it shut. That seems to be the point at which the magnetic force is bigger than the hinge friction (which seems to reduce at that point). So there's a zone of around 5mm open when the magnetic force is weak but the hinge friction isn't very big. However, if you can hold the computer upside down and it doesn't open further then there's not much to worry about. My NP900X3B goes to sleep if I push the display down to about 20mm from the palm rest but doesn't wake up until it is opened about 50mm (hint: playing some music makes this easy to detect).

There's a gap at each side of the keyboard (presumably for cosmetic reasons) but there shouldn't be a gap along the front edge).

John

 

Team,

Overall I am enjoying my new Samsung Series 9.

Has anyone else found the WiFi on their Series 9 to be a bit hit and miss?

I can't browse at home (ISP is TalkTalk, a UK ISP) but WiFi works fine at a friend's house up the road (they are on BT). My old laptop works fine with the home wireless. On my new Samsung the signal strength shows high and it accepts the password fine and says its connected. Just gets its knickers in a twist when I try to open explorer and do any searching.

I spent an age on the phone on the phone to Talk Talk tech support on Sunday. We tried a bunch of stuff, mainly on the wireless config but with no improvement.

I work away in London during the week and have just tried the WiFi in the London flat (also BT) and it works great.

Weird!

 

First, did you get the NP900X3B or the older NP900X3A, which is known to have buggy wireless unless it has the Intel 6300 WiFi card with 3 antennae?

I haven't had any problems with my NP900X3B but, so far, it's only been used at home. I did, however, find that when at the far end of the house the signal strength varied with the orientation of the notebook (the antennae are in the back of the base between the hinges). Try using InSSIDer to see what the state of your local WiFi signals is like. Are you using 2.4 or 5GHz?

John

 

John,

Thanks for the speedy reply.

Laptop is a NP900X3B. I'm not having an issue with the signal strength which is excellent but rather that the laptop and router don't seem to be able to manage a conversation.

I've checked security settings, encryption type and have tried a bunch of other things contained in this thread (below...I am the OP),

Home wifi fine for some devices not others - Help appreciated - Overclockers UK Forums

All is working fine on the other networks I have tried so far...the only problem is the one at home!

Cheers

 

I just got one of the best laughs I have had in a long time. I suspect my husband would find it even funnier.

 

I think you've been looking at too many lipstick-on-a-pig screens. Matte screens are always 'hazy'. It's a facet of their light scattering. The PLS screen is a little on the washed out side even by matte screen standards, but it's not bad at all and suited to it's general-purpose, more business-orientated image. It's not supposed to 'pop'.

 

See this earlier post in this thread and then work back a pages to see if the problems are the same as you are getting.

John

 

From experience, I got some very odd looks when the missus caught me holding the S9 up and peering under it due to the advice much further up-thread on slightly noisy fans

Just got posted at Engadget, link to a Samsung page with a tear down/exploded view of the S9: The New Series 9: Slim Inside and Out | SAMSUNG TOMORROW Global

 

A bit of Samsung propaganda, but quite interesting all the same. I wasn't sure whether the palmrest / keyboard surround was metal or plastic, but now I know.

John

 

Oh yes, very sales pitchy, but a few interesting nuggets of information in there.

 

Hey Geronimo--

I seemed to have the most problems when using legacy standards (b/g). The laptop would report an excellent connection but downloads would freeze up partway through and speeds were wildly inconsistent. Make sure you're using the device on an N network, and see if your router has had any problems with the card in the S9 (an intel 6230).

 

And that you ARE NOT using WEP for security.

Eventually someone is going to rip the cover off that RAM.

 

this lol.

EDIT: Anyone else have an update to Easy Settings in their Software Manager that fails on install?

 

hey guys.

I designed a port dock specifically for our np900x3b laptops.

Here's a photo:


Here's my full blog post:
Puzzles that probably don't need to be solved: Port Dock for Samsung np900x3b (2012 series 9)

LMK if you have an interest in me making you one.