More RAM vs More Warranty?

Hi guys,

I'm configuring a sager np8268-s, and the stock RAM is 8gb with a 980m 8gb and an i7 4710. The default warranty is 1 year for xotic pc: LIFETIME Ltd Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Technical Support (Labor through XPC)
Includes FREE Shipping Both Ways for Parts Warranty Repairs, whereas an extra year costs $80 more: Sager 2 Year Parts & LIFETIME Ltd Labor Warranty w/ Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Customer Support.

If I get the ram upgrade to 12gb (costs $45), then I will choose the 1 year warranty.
If I get the stock ram (8gb), I will go for a 2-year warranty.

What is the better option? Thank you!

 

warranty every time.
ram is cheap so upgrade yourself later.
if the gpu died after the first year your looking at $300-400 which will be covered if you have the extended warranty.

 

I'm assuming you don't need the extra RAM and it's just a "nice to have".

I'm not a big believer in warranties since I never actually need to use them, BUT in this case I think the extra year warranty will serve you better than the extra 4GB memory. Memory is cheap and if you ever do want/need more you can easily upgrade later anyway. The warranty can be costlier and harder to extend later.

I consider myself a very average user (mainly play games and just simple office stuff) and I don't ever actually use more than 8GB. That said, the reason I get more than 8 most times is just so I never even get close to running out, and to stop some annoying false low memory messages (when plenty is available) I've had off and on over the last year or so in Win 7 and 8.

 

So 8gb is sufficient for most current games at high/ultra with 980M right?

Thanks for the responses.

 

Yes, I would venture to say ALL but I'm sure someone would come in and say how game X uses so much memory. Honestly the most demanding games seem to use less than 4GB, and the OS doesn't use the rest all on it's own.

I have heard of folks having tons of open programs and 100 browser tabs etc that can cause high memory use. If you happen to run into low memory you can always choose to close a few things out. I normally don't have much running other than a browser with maybe 5-10 tabs.

 

Well first I must say that we're already past the cheap ram stage. Nevertheless, when its compared to a warranty, the warranty becomes the clear choice. In additions, most systems don't require more than 8GB ram anyway.

There are two caveats you should be aware of however:

First, who will fix your laptop in the second year? Be sure and read the fine print since its typically not the OEM, but a third party.

Second, know exactly what parts are covered and what they will be replaced with. On many occasions the rule is equivalent (meaning not new) parts.

One more thing, you should know is that when something on a computer fails, its most likely to fail during the first year of operation. After that, the likelihood of failure, diminishes significantly -- which is why manufacturers and seller get to offer these warranties -- so they usually make a 100% profit.

 

While both $80 or $45 extra on a ~$1.5K+ notebook are insignificant amounts, I would say do neither.

Warranty after a year is not worth it, ime. Neither is upgrading the RAM to 12GB either (16GB is the better choice, but not from xotic).


What I would do is upgrade the CPU to the i7 4810MQ for $35 and make sure to stay with a single 1x 8GB RAM module so that as soon as you got the system, you install a second module to enable Dual Channel memory and enjoy 16GB too.


See:
XOTIC PC | Sager NP8268-S (Clevo P150SM-A) - 15.6" Gaming Notebook


Yeah, I'm saying spend extra money. But the performance improvement (~10% higher for the cpu and another 30% or more with 16GB RAM) for a one time cost of less than $100 (~6% of the total cost of the system) is a far better investment that you will use and enjoy every day you use the system rather than spent towards a warranty that you're hoping you don't need to use.


See:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4710MQ+@+2.50GHz

See:
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-4810MQ+@+2.80GHz

 

My main use will be gaming and word processing. I've heard the 4810MQ has noticeable differences only when coding/graphic developing etc...? No visible frame rate differences and no 4710M bottlenecking the 980M as I've heard.

I will most definitely check out warranty terms. Thanks for the advice, Krane.

 

See:
ARK | Compare Intel® Products


Giving up ~10% to ~40% raw performance to save $35 to $100 (a one time cost...) on a platform that you will use every day (potentially for the next half decade) is not in your best long term interest...


And you are mistaken that mobile cpu's don't throttle gpu's. Depending on the game, it may not mean a lot in AVG FPS, but it might have a far bigger effect on MIN FPS which is more important, depending on the type of game in question.

Unless you have the highest iteration of a cpu at any given time, all other components are throttled too - and even then, they are still throttled vs. a desktop platform (high end, of course). The strength and capabilities of the cpu still control every other aspect of a platform.

 

Squashie, I'd say follow tilleroftheearth's advice, but go for 16GB RAM only when you need it instead of immediately after purchase.

 

Thanks for the advice. So in your opinions, I should go for the 8gb ram and 1 year warranty, but upgrade the CPU to a 4810MQ, right?
My only concern is, what if the laptop dies or something after the first year? Is that likely or something?

 

I would spend the extra and get 2 years warranty at least.. It will be dumb to spend so much on this laptop and sting on pennies for the warranty.. If you get an issue after 1 year, you'll be in a massive soup and here's where a warranty extension will be worth it... I'd get 2 years warranty + 4810MQ... As for RAM, I'd personally recommend 12GB.. I have this much and trust me, I never run out.. Its cheaper then getting 16GB and you'll be fine..

 

This is a chicken and egg question one can't happen without the other. I would say get more RAM and extended warranty but here is the kicker "READ" the fine print what it actually covers and what it doesn't there will be restrictions to what warranty covers means. If it doesn't cover screen and board and case wear and tear then forget it but if the user abuses or drops the case your warranty will not cover you but some warranty will cover this but they will cost far more. So advise here "READ" the fine print what extended warranty really covers and doesn't cover-failing to do so will be the users fault not the company selling the warranty. Once you agreed and signed they will now says you read it and you own it and no recourse can be given. Extended warranty is a double edge sword failed to understand it and you the user are at the loosing end regardless if it is a high power or every laptop.

 

clevo/sager laptops have very good warranty. its not like buying from a store and then it going to somewhere like the geek squad or pc world techs who mostly dont have a clue about high end laptops.

it totally depends on supplier but here in the uk mysn have a basic 2 years cover which includes parts,labour and courier both ways. but other companys only have 1 year. i upgrade always as my first clevo's graphics card died in its second year like thousands of others around the world (9800GT). it was replaced with the better and dearer 260gtx. others that went to other companys ended up having to fork out roughly £300 to replace it.

resellers warranty normally covers 30 day dead pixel (extra cover), 6 months battery (some is one year), and everything else is covered cpu/gpu/ram/motherboard/hard drive/ssd etc. but as mentioned above allways read the small print.

 

"This warranty applies only to hardware Products manufactured by or for Sager that can be identified by the "Sager" trademark, trade name, or logo affixed to them.Sager does not warrant any products that are not Sager Products."

Product = anything manufactured by or for Sager bearing the Sager logo/watermark and having been purchased from sager or an authorised reseller

So does that mean that an nVidia gpu will be included because it was manufactured for Sager notebooks or does it mean that it won't be included because it doesn't have the sager logo on it (does it?)

 

All internal components that shipped with the laptop will be covered by Sager, including the CPU and GPU. Also my general rule of thumb is for anything over $2000, get at least a 2 year warranty. And for a $3000+ laptop, buy the longest extended warranty you can. It may seem like a waste of money but you'll be glad you did when that $700 GPU craps out on you 2 years and 1 month down the road and you got the 3 year instead of 2 year warranty.

 

So I guess I will buy this laptop with the standard RAm and 1 year warranty (which is free) then pay $150 after a month to upgrade my warranty to 3 years. Thanks for the responses guys!