Impressions / Review of the Sager NP8150!

Doggone it! So that's why!

If it is similar to the 8170, then I think putting the fans on max would probably make them sound like a hairdryer, as Htwingnut had mentioned.

Even if it weren't on max, I would think it would be audible in a quiet classroom when at load. (<-- that syntax just sounds weird, but I'm too lazy to correct it)

 

Hmmm... well 80 person lecture halls with 70+ laptops going are rarely quiet but i'll see when it comes.

 

try 500 person lecture halls with around 350+ laptops lol.. that class was kinda ridiculous. even more so on test days. imagine 500 people all flipping pages and making other various test-related noises.. not very quiet. good thing he used a microphone/speaker setup

 

I noticed that your laptop doesn't have the SAGER logo on it....which reseller did you buy it from?

 

Just out of curiosity, can this thing With the 485 drive 2 external monitors? I think the eyefinity setup on 6970 can do 2+ the internal right?

 

It has an DVI-I out and an HDMI out, so I'm guessing it should..

 

I bought it from LPC-digital,

try contacting babyhemi here on the forums for a quote..

to be honest I thought it would be kind of dull, but I'm beginning to like the sleek backside of the laptop.



http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=92267

 

I'm for sure going to get th 6970m when it comes out,

I'll gather some of my friends' monitors to see if this will drive eyefinity.

That though, is going to be a while from now......

 

Thanks for the great review and wonderful pix.

These are clearly the prettiest Clevos yet and ooze quality. Very cool that they can cram awesome GPUs in there.

 

Quick question, do the 8150 and 8130 share the same platform? If so, most of the items covered here will be the same for the 8130 right?

The keyboad flex, trackpad and sd card slot are making me nervous now about ordering an 8130. I always have an SD card plugged into my laptop really just so I always know where it is when I need it. Won't be able to do that with it hanging half way out of the slot.

One thing I can't stand is when I'm typing on a keyboard and it feels like there is a sponge under the keys. It isn't that bad is it?

With the trackpad, is it usable if you a lightly slide your finger on it or adjust the sensitivity to be a little higher?

Sorry for the all the questions and thanks for the info, this is very helpful.

Any thoughts?

 

Note the trackpad for the 8150 is different then the 8130 since the 8150 has that rubberized coating. Check youtube for xoticpc videos on the 8130 and 8150 where they discuss this. I'm interested in the answer on your keyboard question though as I'm a software developer that types all day. My current Dell E6400 is fine keyboard wise, would be interested in how the keyboard on the 8130 and 8150 compare.

 

I am quite certain the the 8130 and 8150 share the same keyboard. Except for the rubberized coating, larger PSU, and greater upgradeability on the 8150, both are essentially the same systems.

Looking at Meraki1990's videos, the flex during actual typing really isn't that bad. It's only when you intentionally apply a large force that you will see greater flex. I think what you should be more concerned about, as Meraki had mentioned, is the spacing between the keys.

 

Yeah, apparently the flex isn't too bad, it's just that it makes a light, clanky noise when I try to type..

This is coming from a topre keyboard, so bear with me.

The spacing between the keys seem to be larger than the macbook my friend lend me, and you really have to adjust stretching your hands out to type, which I didn't experience with my m17x or macbook..

 

Hey Meraki!
Hows you liking the laptop so far? Anything interesting to tell? Got any games to fraps??

 

Actually, I don't game..

I ran synthetic benchmarks and game demo benchmarks in the OP,

but that's about all I have that I can bench.............................

 

The trackpad on the 8130 shouldn't be that bad since the two models don't share the rubberized coating that makes the 8150 so bad.

 

Darn, I should have asked in this thread I guess...

Does this system have any hiss/crackle/stack through the headphone jack?

I'm trying to find something that doesn't...don't want to have to buy something and then return it...

Glad someone pointed out that 8130...I'd actually prefer a normal non-rubbery coating, so basically you're paying for the 485 versus the 460...which is twice as powerful though...

 

For the 8150 (vs 8130), you are really paying for the upgradeability, rubberized finish, and glossy screen, since you can also get the 460m on it as well. The biggest one, imo, is upgradeability. So, if that is really important for you, the 8150/70 might be better options for you (although I saw you mentioned that you have space concerns).

 

There is no white noise in the jack.



The audio quality seems to be very good as well.

 

Thanks! That's excellent to hear...couldn't believe how terrible the static was in Dell's M15x's headphone jack.

Have you been able to install Nvidia's normal drivers from their website on your 8150? I'm a bit worried about that too.

 

No, I wasn't able to install the drivers.

The only drivers I could install without modifying the inf files was the one provided on the disc.

 

Sorry, so the Nvidia.com drivers WON'T install? That's bad news

Thanks for the info.

 

These won't install? NVIDIA DRIVERS 266.58 WHQL
Theres also this: NVIDIA DRIVERS 267.24 BETA

HTML:

This driver will install on the following GPUs with the exception of some notebooks listed below:
GeForce 400M series:
GTX 480M, GTX 470M, GTX 460M, GT 445M, GT 435M, GT 425M, GT 420M, GT 415M

Unless for some unknown reason it uses a non-standard device id these drivers and any of the other verde/notebook drivers should work without modding the inf, anyone care to post the device id of their GTX 460M?

In device manager expand display adapters, properties on your gtx, details tab
the numbers/letters after DEV_ and SUBSYS_ will be handy to see exactly which driver releases support it.

 

Wonder if it will work with 485m because it isn't listed.

 

Yeah, I'm concerned about that, and now even about the GTX 460.

 

D they new drivers bring anything new like cuda 4 etc?
Cause if they dont i really dont see the concern since everyone seems to be getting great performance from the stock drivers provided by clevo.

 

Taken from the Sager provided Nvidia driver's inf:

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_51021558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_71001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.03% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_72001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.05% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_81001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.06% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_86871558 

NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M  "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.05 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M   "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.06 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M    "

From the generic Nvidia mobile inf:

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.03% = Section015, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_72001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.04% = Section015, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_81001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.05% = Section015, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0DD1&SUBSYS_86871558 

NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M  "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M   "
NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.05 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M    "

So our GTX 460M's are either NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.01, NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.02 or NVIDIA_DEV.0DD1.06 it would appear.

Also for those with the GTX 485M Heres the id's for reference:

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.01% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E31&SUBSYS_51021558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.02% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E31&SUBSYS_71001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.03% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E31&SUBSYS_72001558 

NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M "
NVIDIA_DEV.0E31.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M  "

And GTX 470M:

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.01% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_51021558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.02% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_71001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.03% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_72001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.04% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_86871558 

NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.01 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M"
NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.02 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M "
NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M  "
NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M   "

Generic inf:

Code:

%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.03% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_72001558 
%NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.04% = Section042, PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E30&SUBSYS_86871558 

NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.03 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M  "
NVIDIA_DEV.0E30.04 = "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470M   "

Looks like theres a few other machines out there using these id's, also you can add the needed lines to your inf's as necessary to mod your own driver should the need arise.

 

It's a *HUGE* deal. Without the ability to update drivers, you can and will hit situations where your computer is able to run something, except it can't, only because of drivers.

So what does this mean? Are the GTX 460 and/or 485 in these Sagers supported in Nvidia's official drivers?

 

It would appear they are not, however I saw the id's pop up in a few other oem's drivers on laptopvideo2go.com So theres always the possibility of finding compatible drivers from other oem's.

The modded inf route is still available as undesirable as it may be for some it's still an option nonetheless for those not wanting to wait for official driver updates for their brand of choice.

I personally am used to the hobby of modding Nvidia drivers so when my laptop is in my hands (GTX 460M equipped) I'll be playing around a bit and report what I find out.

 

Is that 100% sure? I'm not sure about the GTX 485, but the GTX 460 has been out for a while now, and is supported on other system.

 

Nvidia usually puts out a few different device id versions of oem cards, in this case these 3:

0DD1.01 - Now confirmed as the GTX 460M in these laptops. Thanks hispeed4567
0DD1.02
0DD1.06

Which are not supported in the generic mobile driver from Nvidia.com/Geforce.com

Only these 460's are supported by the generic driver inf:

0DD1.03
0DD1.04
0DD1.05

 

Really? Ive never heard of a nvidia gpu driver only working for specific computer models since the 1990's...

 

By all means have a look at the driver inf's, I'm only reporting the info straight from the driver data. Nvidia has also been doing this since they started providing notebook drivers through their website, they've only ever supported a base set of cards in those releases, granted it did support many cards found in oem machines, but a subset like what we have here are only officially supported in oem provided drivers.

There can be any number of reasons for the subsets, sometimes it's specialized hardware setups, other times it's just oem differentiation. If you read the documentation on the drivers it even states that there are machines that will not be supported by the generic release.

The desktop drivers don't usually follow this same separation.

EDIT: updated my above post as 0DD1.01 has been confirmed as the version of GTX 460m in these laptops which is NOT supported by the generic inf, but is widely used by various oems currently offering more up to date driver revisions. An example: http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/28163-asus-drivers-26708-and-25913/

 

Darn, well this is really bad news-and also strange, because Nvidia doesn't say these aren't supported. I was under the impression that they explicitly listed anything that wasn't supported.

Also strange that stuff obviously being solid on the strength of their GPUs (in fact, this is the only brand I'm even AWARE of with a GTX 485) wouldn't be supported in the official drivers

I know you can mod them, but I don't want to, and anyway I've heard some stuff suggest that can cause issue for Blu Ray, so these are out for me.

I really appreciate the feedback though!

 

Kinda stealing this guys thread dontcha think? Be considerate of his insightful review I'm sure a new thread in the main page would benefit a lot of other users as well (me included!)

 

They just get rolled in to other threads and ignored, unfortunately. At any rate, this is a really important aspect of buying a notebook, so hardly stealing a review.

 

I think the best method would be just a separate thread with drivers that actually work. Thanks!

 

Just out of curiosity, with the screen all the way down, only wifi on, closing as many apps etc as possible is it possible to stretch the battery to over 3 hours?

 

It already goes over 3 hours...



It goes up to about 3:15 ish.

 

Could someone point out the dead pixel. I looked at all his screens and I do not see it. when I buy a Sager, I wonder if I should buy the no dead pixel warranty.

Jorune

 

I have no dead pixels on mine and I did not opt for the dead pixel warranty. If you feel like the assurance of the warranty will make it sleep better at night, then by all means get it. Otherwise, have a dead pixel or two is acceptable by my standards.

 

Same here. My screen came with not a single dead pixel or any other issue. I also didn't opt for the dead pixel warranty either.

 

If the pixel is just stuck and not dead, they should be fixable. Stuck means they are either Red, Green, or Blue. Dead means they are black. I had a desktop monitor ship with some stuck ones and I was able to fix them all.

First try running this applet over the affected pixels overnight: JScreenFix - Fix stuck pixels
Make sure to disable screensaver and power saver.

If that doesn't work, you can gently rub it with a pencil eraser. Massage it with a combination of the applet, and it should come back eventually.

This one time my roommate threw a quarter at me and I ducked, and it hit my screen, killing like 50 pixels. I did these techniques and they all came back to life in about a week.

 

Yeah, except for the fact that the single dead pixel is now like 4 pixels that are black in the middle of the screen..............

Larry said he will replace my screen anyways when I repair my motherboard for the Chipset recall, so I'm not worried!

 

I don't see any dead pixels... knock on wood, but I had the guarantee through Mythlogic...

 

From my standpoint, I'd actually find the lack of a logo a selling point, albeit a small one. It makes the laptop even more "stealth"

 

I doubt it will affect resell at all. Like harmattan said, maybe even make it a little better for some people.

 

I want a laptop that will last me a while, you think this is sturdy, will last me about 2 years without a problem??

 

Yes, the build quality is top notch.

I myself am planning to use this for 3+ years,

and then get another Sager! It is that good.