**Official Clevo P151SM1 / Sager NP8230 Owner's Lounge**

The graphics card driver will work just fine but they are updated so often, sometimes monthly, that it wont hurt to check for new ones.

 

I bought the Plextor m5m 128 GB mSATA and i'm very happy with it.
Newegg.com - Plextor M5M PX-128M5M mSATA 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Link to my video review of the NP8230 ( Includes bootup with said SSD )

Sager NP8230 review (Clevo P151SM) - YouTube

 

In case anyone was wondering-- i took a vacation for the past week because my buddy from Georgia flew to Cali to spend some time here. All my friends are gamers so we LAN'ed pretty much the whole time. We're talking 8+ hour gaming sessions on this puppy. Handled everything like a champ. Multiple hours of intense large map SC2 custom games, multiple hours of Bioshock and Killing Floor, Counter strike, Battlefield 2, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, World of Warcraft etc. Thermals were great! Even with 6+ computers heating up the room pretty hot the laptop itself was at max 80 C during Bioshock and usually in the low 70s for most other games. For the lower tier games it was between high 50s and low 60s. The palmrest and keyboard were always a comfortable temp during the gameplay. Definitely love the keyboard.

 

Awesome, that's a great price too! I'll probably go for that one then. It's fairly easy to install an mSATA in this laptop right? Could you potentially direct me to a resource with the steps to install one? Like I said, sorry for all the noobish questions haha just brand new to the world of gaming laptops/computing in general. Great review btw!

 

Definitely great news and thanks for sharing the video review! This is my first Sager so I'm definitely on the nervous side but the more I read through the forums the more confident I feel about my purchasing decision.

Can't wait to get my hands on it!

So question, while we're on this topic, is there a difference between msata vs regular SSDs other than the form factor? Are there any benefits using one over the other as the primary boot device?

 

mSATA drives are usually more expensive for the same capacity and you have more choice with 2.5" drives. However with the good mSATA drives like the M500 and intel 525 they match the speed of their larger brothers.

 

Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD3 Solid State Drive - Newegg.com
Newegg.com - Crucial M500 120GB SATA mSATA Internal Solid State Drive CT120M500SSD3

So between these two is the M500 (the bottom link) the better choice?

 

So I should just go with a regular SSD drive if I already have one. There's no real incentive for one to get an msata SSD correct?

 

The biggest advantage is that you can have a mSATA and a HDD for cheaper storage space.

 

Why not both? That's what i did. I have a 128gb mSATA for my boot drive ( plextor m5m ) and a 240GB Intel 330 series in my 2.5" bay for my steam games. If the SSD is large enough for your needs throw it in for extra super fast storage! The m5m is on par performance wise with the intel 525 and the crucial mSATA just FYI. Although you would definitely have to purchase it on your own and install it yourself-- which is fairly easy. At least Xoticpc didn't offer the plextor drive. Another big advantage to the mSATA is that you can keep your OS files separate from your storage files making future reinstalls a lot easier because you can avoid wiping out tons of precious data during a windows reinstall.

 

you're right, for some weird reason I kept thinking that the 8230 has two 2.5 bays.

 

I'm getting dangerously close to pulling the trigger on one of these models, but can use a little help first. I'm no stranger to PCs (built a good number), but I have never owned a laptop before so there's some lingering questions after my general research.

I guess first and foremost (and a potential preclude to the stuff below) is around what time of the year Sager typically puts out their (yes it's a resold Clevo but you get me here) new lineup. I am looking to get a laptop anytime between now and next year, and while a refresh will definitely happen by then I think I could hold out a few more months vs 8+.

Assuming I have a good wait (or my work schedule gets pushed up) I'll continue. I'll be using this for travel and work, with the most intense thing being gaming whilst I travel. It seems like it will be able to comfortably handle Battlefield 4 (probably the most intense thing I'll be throwing at it with any regularity). As for spec, I'm going with the following:

i7-4700MQ
GTX 770M 3GB GDDR5
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 2 X 4GB
750GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW
2-Year Warranty without LCD coverage
No OS Preinstalled (Throwing Win7 Pro myself)

I'm currently debating upgrading the monitor choice (any personal experience/thoughts appreciated) and the network card to the Intel 7260 802.11ac option. However, given the quickly changing nature of network spec drafts and remembering reading a lot of horror stories with early N-Drafts I'm not sure if upping the wireless will end up becoming a big headache over time. Can anyone speak to the reliability and overall worth of the unit? I do have an ASUS N65U router (running Padavan's firmware) at home, so the Dual Band capability is nice but I don't think I'd cry over losing it.

Thanks in advance!

 

I'm getting dangerously close to pulling the trigger on one of these models, but can use a little help first. I'm no stranger to PCs (built a good number), but I have never owned a laptop before so there's some lingering questions after my general research.

I guess first and foremost (and a potential preclude to the stuff below) is around what time of the year Sager typically puts out their (yes it's a resold Clevo but you get me here) new lineup. I am looking to get a laptop anytime between now and next year, and while a refresh will definitely happen by then I think I could hold out a few more months vs 8+.

Assuming I have a good wait (or my work schedule gets pushed up) I'll continue. I'll be using this for travel and work, with the most intense thing being gaming whilst I travel. It seems like it will be able to comfortably handle Battlefield 4 (probably the most intense thing I'll be throwing at it with any regularity). As for spec, I'm going with the following:

i7-4700MQ
GTX 770M 3GB GDDR5
8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 2 X 4GB
750GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW
2-Year Warranty without LCD coverage
No OS Preinstalled (Throwing Win7 Pro myself)

I'm currently debating upgrading the monitor choice (any personal experience/thoughts appreciated) and the network card to the Intel 7260 802.11ac option. However, given the quickly changing nature of network spec drafts and remembering reading a lot of horror stories with early N-Drafts I'm not sure if upping the wireless will end up becoming a big headache over time. Can anyone speak to the reliability and overall worth of the unit? I do have an ASUS N65U router (running Padavan's firmware) at home, so the Dual Band capability is nice but I don't think I'd cry over losing it.

Thanks in advance!

 

These models came out a month ago and won't be refreshed till next summer, so they are still fairly new.

Sager panels are almost always very good quality, they will not disappoint. I can only speak about the upgraded one, but unless you need the color accuracy for photo-editing it's not going to be a significant difference. As for the upgraded wifi, why not? Go for the 7260 since it's the new standard.

 

Especially with broadwell being pushed back it wont be updated for a little bit.

 

New here, hello. My only concern as of now is dead pixels on the screen. Ordering from Xotic PC, would you recommend that I'd throw in the 60 Day No Dead Pixel Warranty or just get the standard? Has anyone had issues with dead pixels ordering from standard so far?

 

My 8230 should get here tomorrow!

 

I found my culprit for high heat and fan noise.
My Intel PCH temps are idling @ 69c.. while cpu is ~50 and gpu is ~30.
Guess the CPU needs a repaste?

EDIT: Also seeing quite high cpu temps...like 60+. Time to repaste again...

 

Dead pixels are rare but they do happen. Sagers standard policy will require 5 total or 1 in the middle before they will cover it for warranty.

 

Hi all, I just received my new laptop yesterday and I like it.

I installed the drivers including the Sound Blaster X-Fi MB3. Now, every time I boot, it says "no supported audio device". I realize that it is a Realtek audio chip, but what is the point with all that Sound Blaster stuff?

Here is my Sager NP8230 rig:
Intel® Core™ i7-4700MQ
32GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz - 4 X 8GB
480GB Crucial M5 Series SATA3
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235
Win 8 Enterprise 64bit

Thank you for your input!

 

You installed the Realtek audio drivers, right?

The sound blaster stuff is just software side optimizations to the sounds produced.

 

Anyone know why on some sites the Clevo P151SM1 has two available mSATA slots, but on the Sager NP8230, it only has one (according to product listings)? I was thinking about buying to 128gb Plextors and trying this Raid thing out, but I guess it's not possible?

 

Hello again all! I am potentially interested in immediately putting in a 128GB Plextor mSATA ssd when I get my np8230 in. Never done this before, could you all recommend me what you think is the best online resource to learn how to do this?

 

Yes, I installed these from the CD first. Any idea?

 

The user manual

 

Sooo, xotic pc's site no longer lists the 8230, but instead lists the 8235. It appears to be identical, they even transferred the reviews from the 8230 on to the 8235. Whats the difference ? What gives ?

 

*Edit* Wrong post.

 

I haven't looked into it yet. From the surface, it looks like Sager has finished testing and updating the 2nd msata slot which I heard as unstable in 8230. So NP8235 basically has 2 msata slots instead of one. So you can add 2 SSDs!

 

Hey all, just got the 8230 in a couple days ago and I absolutely LOVE it! Could anyone suggest a good cooling stand for this laptop in particular (considering the rear exhaust and such)?

 

Well got mine in last week literally the day we went off for a vacation so today was the first day if turning it on. The laptop seems fantastic so far...I'm getting really irritated by windows 8 though, should of gotten windows 7, what was i thinking?

Now going through the pain of transferring itunes to the new laptop. Anyone used touch copy before?

 

How has this laptop been for tasks other than gaming? I assume it can handle pretty much anything with the i7-4700MQ.

 

It will eat any tasks like that for breakfast, a side benefit of a good gaming setup.

 

I can get a better deal for the Clevo P151SM1 if I get the prostar brand instead of the sager brand... Is there any reason why I should stick to Sager? Do all Clevo P151SM1 have the exact same chassis, fan, keyboard, touchpad, etc.?
Someone told me that the batteries from Clevo laptops (and perhaps most other high power gaming laptops) die after a relatively small number of cycles and suggests that I buy a spare battery (130$, so not an insignificant amount of money...).

Last question; why did you choose this laptop instead of the MSI GE60?

 

Any idea why the laptop is now renamed Sager NP8235 on XoticPC instead of NP8230? The name change seems strange...given that everything else about the laptop has stayed the same?

Also, how does the NP8235 compare with the MSI GT60 2OC-023US? Both seem to be basically the same in price after Windows 8 Installation (770m GPU, $1400), how do the dual fans vs. single fan, heat, noise, keyboard temperature, and sound issues of them compare against each other?

 

The name difference comes with a of the second mSATA port allowing 2 mSATA drives instead of 1.

 

I sometimes run into a ACPI_BOOT_ERROR blue screen, after which the computer tries unsuccessfully to restart and freezes, forcing me to shut it down by the power button. This only happens when the computer starts up and fails to automatically launch any programs besides Synaptics, NVIDIA Settings and Intel Rapid Storage Technology. During this scenario, if I try restarting or shutting down through the start button (classic shell on windows 8), the display turns off but the computer stays on. The indicator light for the dGPU also comes on and the fans activate, and the only way to stop this is by, once again, holding down the power button. I'm not quite sure what is going on, but it's a pain in the neck. Did I miss a BIOS update or something?

 

I am planning to buy this laptop it seams really good upgrade from my old clevo w860CU. But the only thing holding me right now is msata ports. I still could not understand if msata are 3Gb Sata II or 6Gb Sata III, could someone check this please?

 

I just got my laptop and I have ran into some problems so if you guys can provide me with some help i would appreciate it.
So here is my situation:

I bought this with no OS since i have a Copy of Windows 7 64bit.
When i speak with my friends in my games or skype they all say that the microphone sucks and that I sound like "Kenny from Southpark".
Webcam is great under good lighting but when it comes to low lighting I'm ghosting like crazy.

I am not sure if this is due to hardware or software so if you guys are encountering the same thing could you confirm if this is a known issue? If you are not encountering this and have no idea what I am saying because this laptop is just so awesome please help me.

Thank you.

 

You are best off with a headset mic, you could try adjusting the camera contrast etc.

 

Yeah i haven't ever used a laptop microphone so i wouldn't know. The webcam is also something i never use really. I'd recommend a nice USB headset microphone. I really like my wireless corsair vengeance 2000. Just saying. I'd buy it retail though with a warranty because headsets break all the time. Being able to go back to microcenter and swap out my headset when broken is a must for me.

 

Hm.... darn. Im upgrading from a MSI gt627 and something that worked well for me on that laptop was the microphone and webcam. I mean it wasn't amazing or anything but adequate. I would say the webcam would be around 20-25 fps in low lighting and the microphone just did its job on that laptop. As for this laptop I boosted up the mic to max but for some reason when i look under recording devices the bar for the microphone never goes over 1 bar which is kinda frustrating. I just want to know if this is a known issue with this model to see if its a problem with the software or hardware.

Also, is there a way to bring down the MP for the webcam for possible elimination of ghosting?

 

Hello guys, I'm going to college in a few days, and was thinking of buying this laptop from xotic pc. From what I've read, the performance is quite good, but there is still one thing that bugs me, the battery life. I have not seen much feedback on that matter, and was hoping you guys could tell me from you experience, how the battery performs when doing low usage tasks like taking notes on word, maybe some light internet browsing

thanks!

 

Hi, I didn't do serious testing with mine, but I used it in some meetings and I was positively surprised. After an hour of mix of taking notes and idling, it was still way over 80% from what I recall.

 

Thats great for battery time. We also often have people ask how loud the fans are. What did you think about them during the meeting, nothing distracting I hope.

 

Thanks for the reply guys! it's good to know it performs well in light tasks, i'll be using it for taking notes at class, and gaming in my room, but with the power outlet of course!

If anyone else has some imput, it would be great!

 

Hah i wouldn't know because 100% of the time that i've used this machine has been with the power cord plugged in. it's for gaming it's not going to have great battery life no matter how you slice it.

 

I know it's a gaming laptop, it's part of the reason why i'm buying it I don't expect it to stay on for 8 hours, but knowing it can handle a couple of hours for taking notes in classes and all would be nice!

 

Anyone else's dGPU light always on? The bottom right blue LED is constantly on, however the dGPU does not seem to be active as indicated by the NVIDIA GPU Activity taskbar icon. Switched it to battery saving mode while disconnected from the charger and the light still on. Any ideas?

 

If you have GPU monitoring software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision active, then it will force the use of the dedicated GPU.

 

After 3 hours of browsing the web, I was down to 40%. Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Balanced power plan.