Gaming Laptop

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Dell can eat my d***. This whole time I forgot I was using the USA site and was about to place my order, then I remembered today that they have a Canadian site. So I go and set it up how I want and there is no option for the 6970. Those #######s have it available for the USA but not Canada.

And what the hell is with them charging $100 more for the base model? Our dollar is even.

Apparently if I phone and complain they can add it manually ($50 more than the American site by the way), but god damn. Really pissed and now considering the Sager again even though it is ugly as sin.


Why couldn't it be easy, picking a computer?

Just buy the Asus. $1299. How can you do better than that? Besides the screen (which I actually like at 1600x900), it has same specs than the $2100 Alienware unless you can get the 6970 model. It's also 17" compared to the Sager 15" Use the extra money for an SSD!

Do you want a bigger screen or more portability?

I just got dinged on GST twice for the Sager. I need to deal with that. These things are never easy unless you just buy one from MemEx or BestBuy but they never have the models I want.

[Hack&Lube]

I got my GST issue resolved. I paid GST on the original order but the notebook was shipped directly to me from California and CBSA charged me GST as well. Fortnaxnotebooks.com refunded me the difference.

I recieved my Clevo P151HM/Sager NP8130 on Friday. It's still missing an SSD as MemEx doesn't have anything good in stock but aside from not having a backlit keyboard, it's the best laptop I've ever owned.

Here are my 3Dmark Vantage and 3DMark11 scores. If you have a gaming notebook, feel free to add in your results too.


The only thing I am concerned about is the durability of the markings on the keyboard keys as they aren't lasered in. As this is a somewhat obscure system, I hope I can get decent Linux drivers going. On another forum, I know there are users installing OSX on this same system.

[Hanni]

Just a note on 3dMark, PhysX will inflate your CPU score, disable PPU in Vantage settings. Doesn't matter either way, (though apparently the "hardcore" benchmarker's consider it cheating) so long as whoever you are comparing with has it set the same as you.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Dell can eat my d***. This whole time I forgot I was using the USA site and was about to place my order, then I remembered today that they have a Canadian site. So I go and set it up how I want and there is no option for the 6970. Those #######s have it available for the USA but not Canada.

And what the hell is with them charging $100 more for the base model? Our dollar is even.

Apparently if I phone and complain they can add it manually ($50 more than the American site by the way), but god damn. Really pissed and now considering the Sager again even though it is ugly as sin.


Why couldn't it be easy, picking a computer?

I have a Alienware 17x R3 and received the 6970 with 0 issue. However I called in my order vs using the website since the Canadian website never has the newest options.

One thing to think about is Dell tends to give discounts rather easy when you get a good rep. I was able to bring down the price of mine by a bit over $200 while convincing them to add 8gigs of ram for no additional charge.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

I have a Alienware 17x R3 and received the 6970 with 0 issue. However I called in my order vs using the website since the Canadian website never has the newest options.

One thing to think about is Dell tends to give discounts rather easy when you get a good rep. I was able to bring down the price of mine by a bit over $200 while convincing them to add 8gigs of ram for no additional charge.

Sweet, how would I go about asking for a $200 discount and adding more ram?

Do I just straight up ask, "hey look why is it more on the American site when our dollar is par, etc", or what did you do?

[TSXCman]

Did anyone here go through with one of the sagen deals?

My bro is lookin for a premium laptop that will last for some time as a desktop replacement and so far this thread has some of the better suggestions that i can find online.

the sounds of :
15.6
Gpu stronger than the 460m
new i7
4-8gb RAM
any HD (can upgrade to a SSD and swap in)
matte finish screen

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

Did anyone here go through with one of the sagen deals?

My bro is lookin for a premium laptop that will last for some time as a desktop replacement and so far this thread has some of the better suggestions that i can find online.

the sounds of :
15.6
Gpu stronger than the 460m
new i7
4-8gb RAM
any HD (can upgrade to a SSD and swap in)
matte finish screen

Yeah, I got the Sager. What's your brother's budget?

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Yeah, I got the Sager. What's your brother's budget?

looking like up to 1800, maybe 2000$. he's got a large budget as long as he's getting a large bang for the buck. but those stats were pretty important for guidelines. the 6970 would be pretty exciting

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

looking like up to 1800, maybe 2000$. he's got a large budget as long as he's getting a large bang for the buck. but those stats were pretty important for guidelines. the 6970 would be pretty exciting

I put together an NP8150 with a 6970 from www.fortnaxnotebook.com which is where I bought mine and it was only 1595.00 for the base configuration.

I bought the NP8130 myself as it is the cheaper model and it comes default with a matte screen which I prefer. There is no option to upgrade to a 6970 on that model however. Only the 460M.

Looks like you can get TV tuners now. I might get that option in the future as an upgrade.

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I put together an NP8150 with a 6970 from www.fortnaxnotebook.com which is where I bought mine and it was only 1595.00 for the base configuration.

I bought the NP8130 myself as it is the cheaper model and it comes default with a matte screen which I prefer. There is no option to upgrade to a 6970 on that model however. Only the 460M.

Looks like you can get TV tuners now. I might get that option in the future as an upgrade.

That's exactly my issue with the NP8130, can't combine the matte screen with the 6970

[3 Justin 3]

I bought an Alienware.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

That's exactly my issue with the NP8130, can't combine the matte screen with the 6970

Actually you can if you e-mail Fortnax. He can install a matte screen separately onto the 8150 but it will cost extra. I inquired about that before. He's in Calgary too so I think that would be easiest. The problem is it's just going to cost more. -EDIT looks like it's only $30 more now if you get the 8150-S1 edition.

I've overclocked the GTX 460M quite a bit in the NP8130 and it runs everything, even Crysis at max settings so I think it will be adequate for 2-3 years personally. Especially when the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are slated to not be replaced until 2014, game developers will be focused on technology that works on those consoles and therefore, PC requirements have plateaued for years. Crysis 2 is less intensive than Crysis 1.

I'd personally recommend the NP8130 and get the stock i7 2630QM and a GTX 460M. The CPU is already overkill for the videocard. Overclock the GTX 460M and it's a great machine that will only cost about $1400. Use the savings to buy a 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD for $549. That's basically my route.

My only issues with the system overall (and a reason why the Alienware and Asus G53/73 might be better) are the lack of a backlit keyboard and the fact that the GPU fan spins up a little around 40° C even when idling on your desk so it can be a little irritating if you are sensitive to that. It's nothing a little light music doesn't hide completely.

[TSXCman]

My brother completed his order with a slight discount, sounds pretty nice to me. Thanks guys, Sager builds seem to be pretty sweet bang for your buck.

$1970 after tax, shipping, etc.

Sager NP8150-S1 Base config
1 x IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
1 x 15.6" Full HD LED-Backlit Display with Matte Finished Surface (1920 x 1080)
1 x AMD Radeon HD 6970 w/2GB GDDR5
1 x 2nd Generation Intel® Core™CORE i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz)
1 x Smart Li-ION Battery Pack
1 x Fingerprint Reader
1 x 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 2 X 4GB
1 x 500GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
1 x 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
1 x Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module
1 x Genuine MS Windows® 7 Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
1 x Microsoft Office Starter 2010
1 x Sager 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

My brother completed his order with a slight discount, sounds pretty nice to me. Thanks guys, Sager builds seem to be pretty sweet bang for your buck.

$1970 after tax, shipping, etc.

Sager NP8150-S1 Base config
1 x IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
1 x 15.6" Full HD LED-Backlit Display with Matte Finished Surface (1920 x 1080)
1 x AMD Radeon HD 6970 w/2GB GDDR5
1 x 2nd Generation Intel® Core™CORE i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz)
1 x Smart Li-ION Battery Pack
1 x Fingerprint Reader
1 x 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 2 X 4GB
1 x 500GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
1 x 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
1 x Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module
1 x Genuine MS Windows® 7 Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
1 x Microsoft Office Starter 2010
1 x Sager 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty

Did he buy that from Fortnax or XoticPC or directly from Sager or somewhere else? I like the IC Diamond option. It was $40 more for my system so I didn't get it. I wonder if that would quiet my GPU a bit more? Looks like he went with http://www.fortnaxnotebooks.com/inde...=11&Itemid=102 ?

Good that he sprung extra for the Intel wireless module. I kind of regret not spending the extra $25 for that and going with the stock Realtek chip as the Intel module has slightly better range.

The 6970 will be sweet. Can you ask him to do a 3DMark Vantage or 3DMark 11 benches on it when he gets it? I would like to see how much faster it is than my NP8130.

I kind of regret not waiting awhile for the 6970M model to be released with the 8150-S1 version. Can you ask your brother how quiet it is? I just priced one out for 1860. If I bought a 6970M separately plus the AC adapter needed to run it on my 8130 properly, it would cost me another $600.

[TSXCman]

I will get him to post a complete benchmark when he gets it. should be 2 weeks. and post noise analysis.

Not sure where he ordered, looks like Solution A E T Hanessian Inc. from what I can see.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

I will get him to post a complete benchmark when he gets it. should be 2 weeks. and post noise analysis.

Not sure where he ordered, looks like Solution A E T Hanessian Inc. from what I can see.

Oh, that's http://www.reflexnotebook.ca/ which is out in Ontario.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

My brother completed his order with a slight discount, sounds pretty nice to me. Thanks guys, Sager builds seem to be pretty sweet bang for your buck.

$1970 after tax, shipping, etc.

Sager NP8150-S1 Base config
1 x IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
1 x 15.6" Full HD LED-Backlit Display with Matte Finished Surface (1920 x 1080)
1 x AMD Radeon HD 6970 w/2GB GDDR5
1 x 2nd Generation Intel® Core™CORE i7-2630QM (2.0 GHz)
1 x Smart Li-ION Battery Pack
1 x Fingerprint Reader
1 x 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz - 2 X 4GB
1 x 500GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
1 x 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
1 x Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module
1 x Genuine MS Windows® 7 Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
1 x Microsoft Office Starter 2010
1 x Sager 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty

That much eh?

I paid less for my Alienware and it is the exact same (well, I have 4GB memory not 8, my screen is 17" though). I paid $1930 for mine with shipping and taxes. I was a dick to get the price down though and they just wouldn't go lower.

I say "that much" because I spec'd one almost the same and it came out to $1600ish. I wonder why your brothers was so much more?

[TSXCman]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

That much eh?

I paid less for my Alienware and it is the exact same (well, I have 4GB memory not 8, my screen is 17" though). I paid $1930 for mine with shipping and taxes. I was a dick to get the price down though and they just wouldn't go lower.

I say "that much" because I spec'd one almost the same and it came out to $1600ish. I wonder why your brothers was so much more?

i think there is a large price difference from 15.6 to 17 inch laptops.

15.6 is what i assume to be the max size for a portable laptop, 17inch ends up being planted on a desk often due to the size/weight. and it is easier for the companies to produce the larger product.

it seems like a pretty good price considering most of his options had a bit of what he wanted, but lacking something else, at $200ish less. This one hit all of his goals.

From what i remember from one site, the Sager's could have 6970 with glossy screen, or 460M with matte. Glossy is not very nice to deal with, so I'd imagine he paid a bit of the premium to get all the desired parts together.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

That much eh?

I paid less for my Alienware and it is the exact same (well, I have 4GB memory not 8, my screen is 17" though). I paid $1930 for mine with shipping and taxes. I was a dick to get the price down though and they just wouldn't go lower.

I say "that much" because I spec'd one almost the same and it came out to $1600ish. I wonder why your brothers was so much more?

His ends has 4GB more ram, a larger drive, and a more portable system and has to use more expensive, compact design and also a higher gamut matte screen and an upgraded wireless card. It's also the S1 version and not the normal edition. It also comes with IC Diamond compound which is thermal interface material made of diamond powder. Diamond has the highest thermal conductivity of any common (if you can call it that) material.

For me, 17" is just unmanagable for a laptop, it's a desktop replacement that is not very portable. The smaller the computer, the more expensive it usually is. That's why the Asus G73's were $1299 at Best Buy but the G53's were still around $1500.

[kirant]

Hm...Alienware is having a sale on their M15x (300 off). I'm looking at upgrading from my 5 year old computer (which pretty much sucks. It was the store minimum price from the Vista era).

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-m15x/pd?refid=alienware-m15x&s=dhs&cs=19&~ck=mn

I'm wondering, price wise, how it would compare to a Sager. Visual isn't a huge problem for me, but I would probably lean towards the non-black colours of Alienware:
http://www.fortnaxnotebooks.com/inde...id=7&Itemid=96

I'm not too familiar with the differences I'd feel between what I'd probably get with the Alienware deal and what I'd get with the Sager (taking the default purchase) because I've only had 2 computers before (a '98 fitted to run 2000 and my current laptop...now running Windows 7)

Off the customization, I'd get ($1299. A pretty nice price):
ALIENWARE (Can't seem to find the graphic card data anywhere...)
Intel® Core™ i7 740QM Quad Core Processor, 1.73GHz (2.93GHz Turbo Mode, 6M Cache)
4GB Dual Channel Memory (2x 2GB DDR3)
320GB SATAII Hard Drive
Wireless 1520 802.11n Half Mini-Card
6-cell (56Watt) LI Battery

And how much different would it be compared to my current laptop? It's got 1.6 GHz processor, 1 GB Ram, and can't run Starcraft II because of a terrible graphics card (and can't last 15 minutes unplugged ).