M14x or Sager NP8130?

I need a new laptop (I have no desire for a desktop). I like the build quality and durability of Thinkpads but they are about $1000 and I don't want to pay that kind of money without being able to game a little (I am not a serious gamer but I do enjoy the occasional RTS game like Dawn of War). So I start looking at the 14x which I like but I come across the Sager NP8130 and realize for about the same price (after I upgrade the screen on the 14x) the Sager gives me an even better screen (I like the matt screen), a better graphics card, and even more RAM (8gb instead of 4). The only thing the 14x seems to offer is customized lights (nice but I don't care about them), maybe a coupon, and probably better battery life (which I don't care about).

I only use my laptop for internet browsing, word docs, excel, just the basic stuff.

So why should I go with the 14x? Better build quality or what?

 

I'm not bashing the 14x, just trying to figure out what the best deal is. I know I don't need a high end gaming machine to suit my needs but I'm tired playing the occasional game at such few framerates it looks like I'm watching a slow mo movie. I'm also looking for a laptop with a good enough build quality to last 3 to 4 years.

 

My reasons:

1. M14x looks cooler
2. M14x is smaller (althought it is thicker). I prefer a smaller, thicker laptop over a larger, thinner one.
3. You get the benefit of this forum (this was actually a big plus for me). There are so many experts here who share their tips and tricks for improving the system that you can tinker with the M14x so that it is much more powerful than retail bought...of course you could do the same with the Sager, but I don't think the community is the same.
4. M14x is a newer system...I generally prefer new to old.

those are my reasons, most are quite subjective.

 

I'm currently using the 8130 and I find it to be a spectacular laptop; especially the matte display, however Sager's warranty sucks!

Personally doing the switch from the 8130 to the M14X in order to have next-day service almost anywhere in the world (western/developed eastern - I'm moving across the world).

It's important to note that the 8130 is quite ugly, but the size is about 2/3 of the G53 by Asus, it makes carrying it very easy.

I just need a better warranty with 0 downtime. Sager's warranty is decent if you live close to Califonia/Western USA, but anywhere else in Canada/USA will make it a big pain in the butt to get it serviced since the majority of resellers and Sager HQ themselves are all from the California/Nevada area.

Oh, and although the Sager keyboard is brilliant, not having it backlit is a real downer. Cooling is excellent, though, which AW products also have.

You will be getting a better video card with the Sager and 8GB RAM means nothing when all you need is 4GB to game. 8GB+ is for heavy Maya/3D users With the M14X, you get a little less "guts" but in exchange for this, you get premium/elite warranty service unmatched by any other laptop companies.

 

I live in Ca so that won't be a problem. Why do you need such a good warranty? I'm hoping to buy a quality laptop so I WON'T have problems with it. Have you had to return your Sager to be repaired?

 

Well, after MSI kept my laptop for 5 weeks, I sold it and went with Asus. When that broke down, they kept it for 6 weeks and then offered me a refund, so you can see as to why I'm sick and tired of mail-box warranty service

I'll also be traveling to teach in Asia with a humanitarian aid agency, so I can't afford downtime, hence the AW purchase The 8130 build quality is very good and I've never had a repair experience ...yet. Just can't take the chance of it breaking down or else my employment will go down the toilet if I have to wait weeks.

 

"Cooling is excellent, though, which AW products also have."

Not sure how true this statement is...a few reviews have mentioned how hot the M14x runs while gaming.

I'm leaning toward the Sager more and more...it has:
1) better screen
2) better GPU
3) more RAM (8gb vs 4) for the same price

But, I like the Alienware too so if you see reasons to go with it please post, I'm kind of a noob and not sure if I'm missing something here.

 

I feel like the Sager is a better fit for you. I have an 8660. My only gripe is battery life, but the 8130 should be a better performer in that department.

 

of course though, from your usage description I cannot fathom why you would want all of the downsides of a gamer notebook if you don't play that many pc games.

 

If the only real point in the 14's favour are the battery life and the lights - both of which you don't seem to have a huge use for - I'd just go for the 8130.

 

BIOS update fixes the M14X fan issue.

If you're staying put in the USA, get the 8130. It's got a beautiful matte screen that I adore and it can handle everything I've thrown at it on high/ultra

The only downside like I mentioned is the below average warranty service. If you have an alternate computer to use during downtime, then this doesn't matter much, but if it's your main computer, the extensive wait periods for the repairs can get quite annoying/bothersome. The MSI/Asus issue I mentioned nearly destroyed my Fall 2010 semester since it took up to 6 weeks.

 

if you get your 8130 through Mythlogic, they'll do all repairs in house (at their shop in Michigan) so there's a much quicker turnaround than having to send to to sager. Or, if you feel comfortable replacing the part, they just mail it to you, and you can do it yourself

not as quick as dell still, but a better turnaround than a sager resellers (Myth is a clevo builder)

 

Your right, most of what I need a laptop for I can do on a $500, four year old laptop. I believe a huge portion of the world population can get by on an old Core 2 Duo...from a technological point of view we have kind of hit a plateau where our computers are more advanced than we need them to be in most cases with one exception...gaming.

I have a $1200 laptop (Thinkpad T410) that is more than capable for all of my work related needs but if I were to install a 7 year old game (Warhammer Dawn of War) it would have trouble playing it. So what's an extra $100 to get a gaming laptop that will play all current games great, and do everything else I need. Frankly I'm Sick and Tired of playing games at 13 FPS.

As far as the downsides of a gaming laptop:
- I do all my computer stuff in my living room so desktop won't work
- I will always be near an outlet so battery life is irrelevant
- I have a thin and light laptop for travel so size is irrelevant
- I use my computer on a TV tray, not my lap, so heat is irrelevant

I can't think of any other negatives to a gaming laptop other than price, and as I've shown above, the price isn't really that different than a quality non-gaming laptop.

 

have you considered a larger screen then? If it really is a desktop replacement you might enjoy more screen real estate than a 15.6 or 14 inch would afford. Also, the larger models are more upgradable with better starting specs.

 

Better yes but also more expensive...I'm comfortable with the size and price of 14" / 15" laptops.

 

I'd recommend 8150 or 30 then.

 

Thanks, but what about build quality? I've read a few reviews that say there is some flex in the keyboard, ect on the Sager. As far as what I've read on Alienwares they are rock solid except for the hinges but I think they have fixed those. I'm looking for a laptop that will be durable enough to last 3 or 4 years.

 

Get the 30 over the 50 if you don't plan on upgrading the video card (you don't really need to considering the 460m handles nearly everything on high/ultra).

The only thing that the 50 offers over the 30 besides upgradeability is a rubberized palm rest and touchpad, which isn't worth the 200$ price difference. Also, the 30 has a matte display; 50 has a glossy. Matte is superior for the office/school/travel/outside; glossy is superior for staying put at home with limited lights.

 

Well, I was deciding between the m15x and the 8660 a couple of years ago. I read that the hinges were bad on the alienware. Now I'm scared that my 8660's wires to the lcd may soon be damaged since the hinge on the left side no longer works correctly. Also, the keyboard quality isn't great on mine. There is a lot of flex. However, clevo has redesigned the keyboards and the screen hinges look slightly different. So,I'd have to say that you should read reviews and go by specific models. We don't really have any user reviews of the m14x yet, but you should check out the sager/clevo thread.

 

haha, probably more practical Voodooi, but the 485 or 6970 would be pretty sweet...

 

the 485 is pretty sweet gonna be sad next week when it goes bye bye next week :tear:

 

8150 with 6970 or bust. Otherwise, get the M14x.

Personally, the 8130 doesn't appeal to me...a 460M is only ~15% faster than a 555M and with no Optimus it is going to be quite the battery vampire. Not to mention you have better financing options with Dell AND you can haggle more! Get that laptop for even cheaper. 21% off retail is pretty nice.

Oh, and one more thing - don't forget about resale value. Alienware is real solid in that department. I am unfamiliar with how Sager/Clevo is, but I imagine they are not as well-known to the eBay masses.

 

I have the same dilemma, but the m14x fits me better in my opinion.

We don't have sager in my country, while Dell is eveywhere. I'm just going to wait for the price of the m14x to go down a little on ebay (need to use paypal)

 

You're absolutely right about the resale value.

Alienwares and Macs sell incredibly well on ebay. Other laptops don't even come close to the amazing resale value both companies have imo.

 

Closer to thirty than fifteen. Let's say 25%, on average.

 

If you live in the USA buy AW not sager...
If either break, AW has the edge b/c you don't have to ship it to get fixed.

Sager cranks out PCs that are not really ready for the consumer market. They are more interested in breaking benchmarking records than making a fully functional computer.

 

i was talking to my cousin about the frames lost between the 555gt and 460M he said anywhere from 2-5 fps which is closer to 15% then 25%, and to answer your question, go with AW i like the look (thats just me)

 

Maybe you should look into the m15x then at a bargain price...

 

That might be true if the 555m is running on a 1600x900 screen such as the M14x vs the GTX 460m running on a 1920x1080 screen.

 

Ding ding ding. I think that's where I got confused, too. At native resolution (most 460M machines are 1080p, whereas the 555M on the M14x is either 720p or 900p) the 460M is 15% faster.

Everything even, it's 25-30% faster as Kevin_Jack2.0 said.

It may seem stupid to compare that way, but it makes sense to me as I'm not going to be using an external monitor.

 

Your question is best answered in the WNSIB area of NBR. vs. type threads are not permitted in any of the individual manufacturer forums.

Check here before posting -

What Notebook Should I Buy?
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