Zepto Znote 6224W

Eeja, this is my first review here so let's go!
English is not my native language so sorry for the grammar-faults

I've bought a Zepto Znote 6224W with underneath hardware:
14,1" @ 1440 x 900
nVidia GO 8600M GT 512MB
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2,20GHz 800MHz 4MB
2048MB DDR2 - 800MHz Dual Channel
100GB @ 7200 rpm HD
DVD+-RW
Integrated BT & Wi-Fi/
Windows Vista Home Premium x86

At the moment I have it a couple of weeks so it's time for a review!!



Featureset:
The hardware of this laptop are very congigurable!
You can configurate your own laptop with the specs that you want!
You can choose different memory, you can choose the HardDisk and the processor!

Maximum specs:
2.40 GHz Intel® Core™2 Duo T7700 800MHz
4096MB (2x2048) DDR2 800/PC6400 SODIMM
14,1" WXGA+ 1440x900
nVidia Geforce Go 8600M GT 512MB
160GB Hybrid 2,5" 5400rpm HD / 100 GB 7200rpm HD / 32GB SSD - HD
DVD-RW Dual Layer brander (Slot-in)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG 54Mbit or Zepto Wpro 300Mbit BGN
Built-in 2.0 BlueTooth-module
6 Cell Batterij / 12 Cell Batterij

You also can choose all kinds of accessoires:
Just like batteries, chargers , sleeve and (post)bags!

Most of the NotebookReviewers want to choose their own hardware in their laptops
and Zepto is one of the producers of Built to Order laptops!
Other brands that are also BTO are: BTO, Compal, Ahtec or Dell.

Other features of this Zepto Znote 6224W are:
Intel® 965PM / ICH8-M Chipset
4 x USB 2.0 , 1 x Firewire, 1 x VGA uit
Sound in- en out , 1 x TV-Uit, infraroodport
Built-in 3in1 cardreader
100/1000 Megabit netwerk, 56K modem
341mm x 247mm x 27-39mm, 2,35 kg



Personally I miss a built-in webcam! It’s not a very important point but I just wanna notice it. There are also complaints about the fact that this laptop only has a VGA-out and not a DVI-out or a HDMI-out. It doesn’t matter to me because I never use an external screen, but I can imagine that some people will miss a DVI (or even HDMI) port!

This laptop has 2 intergrated music-boxes. Most of the time these boxes are of bad quality, but the boxes in this laptop aren’t! The quality of the music is quite nice and is more than enough for listening to the radio, playing a cd or watching a DVD!




Prestations:
Prestations are very very nice! This laptop is based on the new Santa Rosa platform, what’s brand new, but it’s functioning perfect! You can find enough drivers for your hardware (on the Zepto-ftp or on internet) De 7200rpm HD is very quick with reading and writing data, de wireless internet-connection is very stable.
The processor is one of the fastest you can find in a laptop, and you can really notice that! Fast……!
And we can’t forget the monster-videocard: GO8600M GT 512MB dedicated memory.
All the games I’ve tested are working very smooth at the native resolution of 1440x900 pixels with (ultra)high details!



Some framerates of games are:
Command and Conquer III @ 1440x900: Just building: 22fps / fighting: 16fps
Command and Conquer III @ 1280x800: Just building: 30fps / fighting: 22 fps
(game is limited to 30fps!)

Tombraider - Anniversary @ 1440x900: Just walking: 60fps/ in a fight: 55fps
Tombraider - Anniversary @ 1280x768: Just walking: 70fps/ in a fight: 65fps

Need for Speed - Most Wanted @ 1440x900: 26-35 fps
Need for Speed - Most Wanted @ 1280x800: 32-40 fps

Overlord @ 1440x900: 16-18fps
Overlord @ 1280x800: 18-20fps

FEAR @ 1440x900: 43-50 fps

Swat 4 @ 1600x1200*: 100-100fps outside
Swat 4 @ 1600x1200*: 70-80fps inside buildings

* Yes you can choose a not native resolution in this game



It’s the best videocard you can find in a 14,1” notebook and it is a DX10 card,
so we have to wait on the real DX10 games a la Crysis and so on!

More benches:
CPU-z animated gif:


Temperatures of CPU and HardDisk are about 50 degrees Celcius!

3D Mark '06 Scores:
nVidia driver: 101.08
Resolution: 1280x 800
'06 Score: 3329 points





nVidia driver: 158.45
Resolution: 1280x 854
'06 score: 3339 points







Videocarddriver- , Benchmark- and OverClockingtable of CLB



1 ==> Core Clock/ Shader Clock/ Memory Clock
2 ==> Tested on a resolution of 1280x 854
3 ==> Tested on a resolution of 1440x900 with object- / worddetail at level 3 (of the 5)
4 ==> Tested on a resolution of 1280x800 with everything on medium and AA was off
5 ==> 1st fps is walking in the jungle/ 2nd fps is during fights
6 ==> Crysis is tested at DX9 and DX10 and gives the same framerates.
That's because DX10 is only showable at 'very high' and I've tested it at medium!
7 ==> X = Isn't benched, because I used that drivers months ago.

* Test-device:
Zepto Znote 6224W: 14,1" @ 1440 x 900/ nVidia GO 8600M GT 512MB/ Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2,20GHz 800MHz 4MB
2048MB DDR2 - 800MHz DC/ 100GB @ 7200 rpm HD/ DVD+-RW/ Integrated BT & Wi-Fi/ Windows Vista Home Premium x86
** All tests done with energylevel at: 'high prestations'

163.44 can't be OC'd but has 'sleeping mode'
167.26 can be OC'd but hasn't got 'sleeping mode'
169.02 can be OC'd and has 'sleeping mode'

Further than 600Mhz/ 1200Mhz/ 475Mhz isn't possible wit my 8600M GT without artifacts

Download 3D Mark '06 & Download RivaTuner 2.05

Offcourse this table will be updated with every benchmark/ test that I have!!


Screen-quality:
The resolution of the 14,1” screen is very high: 1440x900 (WXGA+) and I like it very much. My first laptop was also a 14,1” Zepto, but with 1280x800 pixels. I also like the non-glare screen in comparison with the glare screen I’ve had. It’s just a perfect resolution for a 14,1” laptop. 1680x1050 is way too small and imho this is just perfect!
You can set the screen-brightness with the FN + F4 (decrease) and F5 (increase) on 8 modes, varying from really dark to really bright.

The contrastratio is 500:1
The brightness is 300 cd/m²

That are really nice specs for a laptop-screen! The viewing-angles are also very high!




Build-quality:
Is just very nice. You can open the screen with one hand, which is really nice. The laptop feels really robuust, it opens and close nice, the on/off button and the 4 QL-buttons feel good and the keyboard is just typing very nice. No problems at all!


Ergonomy:
Just like I said, the keyboard is typing very nice. The buttons are nice, the touch of it is nice. I don’t have much words about it… If you want to ask me something, you allways can! The touchpad is also working fine, but normall I use a external mouse (the Logitech VX Revolution) so my touchpad is allways set-off (with FN + F6)



You can use the FN-buttons with the F2 till the F10 buttons!

The FN-button-functions are:

F2: Standby
F3: Screen-choice: Laptop/ extern/ Laptop + extern
F4: Decrease Screenbrightness
F5: Increase Screenbrightness
F6: Lock/ unlock off the touchpad
F7: Sound on/ off
F8: Decrease Soundvolume
F9: Increase Soundvolume
F10: Bluetooth on/ off


Warmth- and Soundproduction:
Are just nice also. The warmth-exhaust is on the leftside of the laptop, but you don’t notice it when you just typing a Word-document, are surfing on the internet or watching a movie. When you’re going to game the exhaust is going to ‘spit’ (didn’t know the good words for it) some warm air! Only warm not hot! Sometimes you hear the fan spinning, but this is only with very high loads and it’s not irritating me.
The charger of the laptop is getting hot as hell! You can grab it and put it in you hand but that’s it.
I read it with all kind of laptops so it’s not Zepto-related but it’s a point to notice.





Mobility and battery-time:
The mobility of the laptop is really sublime! Compact design, low weight and you can put it in any sleeve or backpack to get it with you. The charger isn’t very big also so you can easily take it with you in your backpack.







The battery-time is the biggest con of this laptop!! The standard-battery is a 6 cell version and during the typing of some Word documents or internetting you can use it a little bit more than 2 hours on a full charge. If you’re going to game with the battery you can only use it for 1 hour. I have to say that the nVidia GO8600M GT is a big power-consumer, my screen is at brightnesslevel 4 and that I’m using Windows Vista.



Price:
The price is nice, espacially because Zepto is the only laptop-manufactuar with a 14,1” laptop
with such a videocard and a WXGA+ screen! I paid 1600 euro for underneath config:

14,1" @ 1440 x 900
nVidia GO 8600M GT 512MB
Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2,20GHz 800MHz 4MB
2048MB DDR2 - 800MHz Dual Channel
100GB @ 7200 rpm HD
DVD+-RW
Integrated BT & Wi-Fi/
Windows Vista Home Premium x86



Maybe it costs a little more in comparison with other concurrents but the quality of this laptop is compensating that easily! Zepto gives 2 years warranty and all the other manufactuars give only 1 year warranty (except Asus)

Conclusion:
A super 14,1” laptop with a very nice price, futureproof and with a compact design!

Pro’s:
-Many features
-Lots of accesoires available
-Better music-boxes than other laptops
-Laptop is based at the Santa Rosa platform
-Best videocard available in a 14,1” laptop
-Videocard is based at DirectX 10
-Very nice resolution: 1440x900 (WXGA+)
-Screen qua sharpness and viewing-angle
-Build-quality
-Keyboard and touchpad
- Warmth- and Soundproduction
-Mobility of the laptop is sublime
-The price for what you get
-Standard 2 year warranty (6 months at the battery)

Con’s:
-Hasn’t got a webcam
-Only has a VGA-out
-Charger is getting hot
-Batterytime during Word/ internet is +2 hours
-Batterytime during playing a game is 1 hour

Want more reallife pictures and benches? Check:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=137634


Want some pictures of other angles and so on!? Ask me!!!

Also check my YouTube video and write a comment

-Click on the picture above to play the YouTube video-​

Because of the bad quality I've uploaded it here in QVGA-quality: http://rapidshare.com/files/40869127/Zepto_Znote_6224W.mpg.html

I have also an XL-version of this movie!
Because it was too big for YouTube I've splitted
it with Winrar in 4 parts of 50MB and put it on Rapidshare:

Part 1: www.tinyurl.com/2wjqyq
Part 2: www.tinyurl.com/3dhbdh
Part 3: www.tinyurl.com/3d2owx
Part 4: www.tinyurl.com/2wr2pz

It lasts 2 minutes longer and has more ingame-shots and it's on VGA-quality!!

 

Looks awesome. The LCD bezel though is horrendously ugly in my opinion, makes it look larger then it really is!

Any dimensions and weight information?

 

Nice review.. keep it up!

 

341mm x 247mm x 27-39mm, 2,35 kg

Thank you!

 

Excellent config you have and I agreed with coriolis that LCD bezel seems small and weak.

 

Awesome review CLB, your English is fine. Great pictures!

I definitely agree - very powerful configuration, it's one-of-a-kind at the moment (8600M-GT in a 14.1"). I like the way it looks very much.

Thanks for typing this up!

 

Mwah personally I don't think so, and it isn't small and weak at all!
It feels good and robust, it opens with one hand and the scharnieren*
[it's a Dutch word and I don't know the translation] are also very nice!

The two twisty-things that put the screen onto the laptop

Thank you times 2

No Problem

 

first of all I'd like to thank for your very nice and complete test of the laptop

and I have some questions :
- the games you tested, are they on max graphics ? (AA, anisotropic filter, ...)
Command & Cnquer for example did you activate the AA 8X when you tested it ?
- have you tested these games : (and if you have if you could please tell me how they performed ^^)
* STALKER
* Oblivion
* Supreme Commander
* Half Life 2
Oh ! I allso wanted to tell you that the short battery life is maybe because of your hard disk, most laptops are equipped with 5400 hard disks because they consume less
One last question, do you find the screen big enough ? how does it compare to a 17inch CRT screen ?

 

Your Welcome

Noopz, I don't know... I never look at those options, just the resolutions and normal settings

Not that I know

Noopz otherwise they woulde be in the review
But I've played Stalker on my Zepto Znote 6214W with 1280x800 resolution and all the graphics on high and it performed more than okay, so I think it will be just as smooth on 1440x900 with this nVidia GO8600M GT 512MB instead of the GO7600 512MB!

That's just a little bit true! I've seen much benchmarks and the battery-time of a 7200rpm'er is almost the same as a 5400rpm'er... Maybe a couple of minutes!

Yes it's more than enough! That's why I've bought a 14,1" Zepto again! I like the size!






17 inch monitor on the left side, 19 inch Formac monitor on the right site

 

Thanks for replying so quikly

I am very interested in this laptop, the price for such a powerfull machine is realy impressive

Sorry to bother you again but could you please test Command & Conquer 3 with graphics on super high and tell me how it peforms (so I can compare with my PC )

 

I think he just did MetalZig. He said he tested it on Ultra High and got 30FPS while building and 22FPS while fighting @ 1280x800; which is quite good in my personal opinion.

Anyhow very nice review and that laptop has a very nice screen (way above normal laptop average of about 250:1 , 200cd/m2)

 

No problem, that will be this afternoon/ late in the evening!
I will put AA/ AF and blabla on

 

Ok thanks again !!!
This laptop looks so cool !!!
If I get it I will take the 120Go hybrid hard disk, and the T7300

 

Seriously, I don't know why people would buy a Zepto. The notebook specced by CLB is about 1600-1700EUR w/ Vista Ultimate but it doesn't even feature HDMI/DVI, the design looks ugly imo:


Those reflections (or dust?) look so ugly lol

way too large image - but have a look
Who designs this laptop? Why would you want to have your speakers under your screen? Another design-issue, just plain ass ugly imo.

So, my thoughts; too expensive, ugly. Only think I can think of as an advantage is the 14.1" display. But not worth the $$$.

 

FlushedMurdock, I don't agree with you on anything you say
Personaly I think the laptop looks nice, having the speakers under the screen did surprise me to start of with but I don't think it's a bad idea
Now when you say you don't see why people buy Zepto laptops I realy don't understand you, I guess you just don't know much about computer hardware ....
The performance, and technologie in this machine is great, and for such a powerfull laptop the price is good
It is likely I am going to get this laptop, but with the T7300, 2Go(no dual channel) and the 120Go hybrid hard disk instead, and it will cost 1350€ TTC (transport costs 40€) so lets say it will be about 1400€, such a good laptop at this price is a good offer, it is in no way over priced
It's true it could be nice for it to feature HDMI/DVI, but for me it's not a problem
And if I am mistaken and you realy can get better deals than this please give me some links ...

 

Ay let him speak! He's just jealous that we can buy such laptops!
And about my 'spamming'... I made topics about the Zepto's not spam

And I've also made a topic about the Dell XPS 1330 on tweakers.net!
O shouldn't say that, because that's spamming isn't it!!?

That picture is of the 62 14W dude with your 'reflections and dust'

 

Sure. Buy a Compal (only downside is the 15,4"). T7500, 4GB, 8600M GT 6 cell, priced at 1300-1350EUR.

I don't no nothing about hardware? Gimme a break..

 

Actually, in every new topic you recommend the Zepto, even if it doesn't reflect the user needs.. sigh if that isn't spam..

And I do believe the 6214 IS a Zepto which I was referring to.

'we'?

This was the dust I was talking about

 

Actually, that's the protective plastic covering that the laptop ships with. The picture was just taken before the owner peeled it off. You could have posted pretty much any other picture, and it would not have that. It doesn't matter if you like the laptop's looks anyway, because it's just your opinion, and myself and others disagree.

Also, getting these specs into a 15.4" laptop is cake, it's the fact that it's in a 14" chasis that makes it worth the price. It is the most powerful 14" laptop on the market, bar none, and that's why it carries the price tag it does. It's still not that expensive, anyway.

 

I know. That's what I said in my first post. That's the only advantage... dunno why u'd need a 8600M in a 14.1" if you hook it to ur external display... this is why the lack of DVI/HDMI sucks. Even my I9400 had DVI..

I've seen it on more photos vrijsen.. another image:

 

I agree that the lack of DVI/HDMI ports sucks, but that's really the only strike against the laptop, as far as I'm concerned. A better graphics card is always desirable, even in a 14" laptop, for anybody that games, and doesn't want to get a desktop dedicated to gaming.

EDIT: One more strike against the laptop: the lack of a battery bigger than the 6 cell. Come on Zepto, 12 cell battery, get on it!

 

I know, but still... if you config it with a decent processor you really get a config of about 1600-1700EUR.. But I'm not sure why u would need a 14.1" with 8600M if you hook it up to an external display.. Why don't u get a 14.1" with an X3100 or 8400M or so and get a desktop?

 

Yeah CLB-NL and MetalZlig

Pffff whatevah
On tweakers.net I have about 9000 posts and they are all 'BUY A ZEPTO' yeah right

And don't use my picture it's copyrighted to CLB

Perhaps because I never use an external display...

So why are you talking about dust!?

Because not everybody uses or has an external display!?

Get a laptop with integrated shizzle or a sh*tty GO8400 and a 'normal' desktop,
will cost less than 1700 euro I don't think so

I only put my review on notebookreview.com and you're are blaming me for this,
blaming me for that... Blabla 'spam' blabla 'spam' and so on... Give me a break please

 

I won't.

To begin with, You don't use an external display eh? What about the picture with the external display you posted in your "review"?

An integrated GPU (stop using the word shizzle FFS) or 8400M which will cost about 800-900 EURand a descent desktop about 800-900 which makes 1700EUR.

And yes, every post you post at forums is about how great the Zepto is.

I'm talking about dust and design flaws because there ARE major design flaws.

 

I haven't posted it in my review and it's not a personal picture

I say what I want

Uhm I don't know where you buy your computer

I only spend this words on it...

That's your humble opinion and not mine. End of discussion

 

Heh, you can easily config a computer for 700EUR (200EUR for a display) which makes 900EUR, especially with after July 26th when Intel lowers it prices.

 

Actualy I wanted to know if you could please give a link for this powerful config you talked about earlier (T7500, 4Go, ...), I searched a bit I can't find anything close to it for 1300-1350EUR
Personaly I don't realy care what make I buy, I just want the best laptop possible, and for the moment Zepto seem to be the most interesting

 

http://friesland-computers.nl/shop_detail.php?id=1822

Have it upgraded to 4GB (not 4Go stupid french people.. ffs) for 30EUR more.

 

Not yours, CL.. ehh whatevaa?

 

Friesland-shizzle has not deliverd one single laptop at the moment

Where do you see a connection between my laptop and one of those screens?

 

eeeeeeeee what do you mean when you say they havn't delivered one signle laptop CLB-NL ? I don't realy understand much on the site, I don't speak the language
rather strange site, I can't see any photo of the laptop(maybe because I don't know where to clic )
do they deliver in france ? (by the way FlushedMurdock, I'm actualy english but I live in france )
It's a bit strange but if I realy can get a laptop that powerfull for such a price I am very interested
Oh yeah FlushedMurdock if you could maybe find an other link for this kind of laptop that could be nice (as I said before I don't undersatnd the language)

 

That they have spot-prices for laptops with monster-configs...
So many people have ordered one, but no one has got it

 

oh
well if that's true in kinda suxxx

I must say such configs for such low prices does seem a bit difficult to believe

 

You can try www.laptops4u.nl but they are generally more expensive.

 

Frieslandcomputers, or Friesland-Shizzle as CLB calls it (?) builds computers by buying a Compal Barebone (which is 550EUR max) and builds it. You can easily build the notebook for the same price if you'd like. No hoax whatsoever.

 

Laptops4u.nl is a very nice site imho With good service and so on!

That's true!
But you have to say that it is really weird that nobody has got his ordered monster-laptop...

 

Something to be proud on: 2000 views in 1,5 month:



[small]-click on the picture to watch the movie-[/small]