*** Official Clevo P170EM / Sager NP9170 Owner's Lounge ***

I'm rather surprised about the lack of popularity and interest in this laptop. It should have been shipping out for a few days now, and I've so far only seen one review (Prostar's review, and it hardly counts as a review).

 

How many USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports does the P170EM have? Can't find that info anywhere.

 

There seems to be far more interest in the P150EM. Personally, I'm moving from my 15" laptop to this one. 15" is smaller than I care for and I don't mind lugging around a 17" laptop. An extra hard drive will be nice too.

 

After owning a 17" laptop I can never, ever, go back to a 15" screen on my main.

I assumed a lot of people here were gamers/CAD people, so bigger screen = better screen, and with the apparent death of the P270wm I just thought more people would flock towards this one.

 

From Malibal:

1 HDMI output Port
1 DVI-I output Port
1 DisplayPort 1.1a
1 eSATA Port
2 USB 3.0 Ports
2 USB 2.0 Ports
1 RJ-45 LAN (10/100/1000Mbps)
1 Headphone Jack
1 Microphone Jack
1 Line-in Jack
1 S/PDIF output Jack
1 IEEE-1394a Fire Wire
1 Kensington Lock Slot

 

Looking at the pictures on Xotic's site, it looks like there's a USB 2.0 on the right side, 2 USB 3.0's and a 2.0 on the left side, and then the eSATA on the back is a combo with a USB port as well, to make 5 total. The eSATA/USB combo port doesn't say if it's 2.0 or 3.0, but it looks like 2.0.

Edit: Nevermind those are from the previous model on Xotic's site, but it looks like the new one (from the pics on Malibal's site) is the same as the old one. 5 total, 2x3.0 and 3x2.0

 

Yea I was thinking the same thing, esp with the delays of the NP9270.. I have seen a couple of review videos on YouTube, but none longer than 8 minutes. There just doesn't seem to be much hype with this laptop.

I am still curious though of where a good place to buy aftermarket laptop CPU's would be? Any suggestions? I would like to eventually upgrade my CPU on my NP9170 further on down the road. So I am interested in a good, trusted company. I am open for suggestions.

___________________________
Ordered

Sager NP9170

i7-2670QM | GTX 675M 2,048MB | 8GB DDR3 1333MHz | 80GB Intel 310 Series mSATA SSD - Preconfigured as an OS Drive | Display: 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" w/ 72% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) | 500GB 7200RPM (but ordered two 240GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD's) | 6X Blu-Ray Burner | Intel Advanced-N 6235 | Windows 7 Pro

 

After my Xoticpc disaster I'm thinking PowerNotebooks

 

So PowerNotebooks would sell laptop CPU processors individually (without having to buy a whole laptop)?

 

@Gear332 - I think the pics on the Malibal site are for the 8170. For one, the pics are copyright 2011. For another, I don't think the 9170 has a CATV jack, but the 8170 did.

 

I have to agree with the general findings about the pics, I have yet to find any pics of the NP9170, although I can guarantee Im gonna take a hefty workload doing so myself, and I can attempt to give it a proper review. Should be shipping soon.

All the places Ive looked have NP8170 pics as placeholders.

Whoops: Seems I spoke too soon, the sager site seems to have pics of the 9170. No CATV jack, 2 usb 3 + a combo eSata/usb3 on the left, 4 audio jacks, another usb, and optical on the right, with DVI, hdmi and displayport as well as the power input on the rear, in between the vents.

Also mentions that the mSata slot is in the same compartment as the memory, cpu and gpu. Seems legit enough to me anyway.

 

One can do a YouTube search for "NP9170" and there are a couple of videos on the new laptop. Granted, it's not pictures, but then again video is better than pictures, right? Only thing is I haven't found a video any longer than around 8 minutes long.

___________________________
Ordered

Sager NP9170

i7-2670QM | GTX 675M 2,048MB | 8GB DDR3 1333MHz | 80GB Intel 310 Series mSATA SSD - Preconfigured as an OS Drive | Display: 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" w/ 72% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) | 500GB 7200RPM (but ordered two 240GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD's) | 6X Blu-Ray Burner | Intel Advanced-N 6235 | Windows 7 Pro

 

Granted, Ill give you that haha. Just prefer to read reviews as they can be more indepth, and from what youre telling me, 8 minutes must not be that in depth at all!

I just want to do my fair share, Ill try to do an unboxing and a proper review, although I know itll slaughter my current asus anyway. Plus itll be one of my first laptop reviews and unboxings, so should be pretty interesting.

Also, out of curiousity, could I expect it to arrive here middle/end of next week? Considering my order went through today (@xoticpc), with the config in my sig, taking into consideration the time for the 90% color gamut screen and ground shipping all around.

 

It's a possibility. My payment went through last Tuesday and production on it started. I didn't add anything that added production time like your build, and mine shipped on Friday. It is expected to be delivered via UPS on Wednesday.

*Edit: Didn't see you said next week, so that's probably more likely.

 

If I don't do graphics, photography, CAD, etc.... is the $185 glossy 90% NTSC really worth it?

 

Probably not, though everyone has their preferences. If you don't find yourself looking at most laptop screens and complaining about quality, I'd say save your money and maybe put it into something that will make a big performance increase like an SSD. The screen will be an upgrade for sure, but if you're not doing anything that will make use of it, then it probably isn't worth the expense.

 

Thanks.
I have the money to get it, and am kinda interested in it. But for that much unless it's absolutely a wow-ing upgrade compared to the stock, or if it's for work I'm just not ready to pay that much for just another screen.

 

I havent personally used a 90% color gamut screen myself, but from reading anyway, its only really useful if you need to be able to see the differences in color. Me, being in game design, or rather with what I do with graphic design, color accuracy can be important, say an animation or so, so I need to be able to see those little blemishes and such. I wouldnt think it makes a big difference outside specialized uses like that, YMMV.

On a side note, can I assume it comes with an unlocked bios to adjust the 2960xm's mult?

 

The beta BIOS from February that I have here has Intel XTU enabled, so YES it has adjustable multis via Intel XTU software for XM CPUS, but not in BIOS directly.

 

Which that means that we could overclock (for sure) the XM chips in the P150/P170EM thru XTU ? No need to wait for Clevo to release a new BIOS ? (indeed I've seen somewhere that the new BIOS would be compatible with XTU but does that really mean we can hit the multipliers..)

 

P150 no
P170 yes

For XTU support. XTU runs on P150 but doesn't allow adjustments

 

Weird.

I know P150HM because of the chipset (HM65) doesn't allow the use of XTU at all while the P170HM (with HM67) you could o/c with the modded BIOS.
So does the story repeat again with the EM Models ? Though both of them have the new HM77 with XTU support (according to Clevo) so not sure why the P150 couldn't get full use of XTU...

 

They both have the H77 chipset, but remember XTU is an optional feature that gets enabled, so its up to the implementer to implement it or not. They have chosen not to.

 

Thanks for the clarification, it seems fair enough since the P150 is a pretty small case and wouldn't handle well an o/c CPU.

 

So just making sure Im understanding correctly...

With that BIOS mod (flash?) it enables intel XTU on the p170em w/out 3d screen & w/XM cpu, so allows to change the cpu mult within windows?

 

XTU has two parts:

1) In the BIOS that does the heavy lifting that you can't see
2) A piece of software (tool) in windows that shows you the knobs that you can turn yourself

So instead of BIOS menu's you have to go through to change things, there is a windows application that you make all your adjustments with that app communicates with the BIOS to do the actual changes.

 

I thought the P170em would work with intel wireless display, but one of the resellers told me that even though it has optimus, it still won't work. Anyone know why?

 

It works with Wireless display so long as you use an intel wireless card, please be aware that if you go onto the NVIDIA gpu then it WONT work with wireless display, it has to be using the intel GPU for rendering (not just displaying)

 

OK great, that's what I originally thought. I just want to use it to watch movies in another room, so it should work fine.
Thanks!

 

Does anyone know if the 9170 can output audio via its HDMI port?

I paid for mine a month ago and it only just went into production last Tuesday, nor has it shipped. A lot of people are probably in the same boat. Also, many people are surely waiting for Ivy Bridge CPUs, which will slow down the user reviews even more. Heck, even Sager may be waiting to send out review units until the new processors come along.

 

I didn't consider that. It IS pretty damn close to the release of Ivy Bridge.
I'm just so tittering right now that a gentle push is all I need to actually order this.

 

Any word on better screens becoming available? Something matte in the 90+ NTSC range?

 

Just got my P170em from Malibal!!

So far so good, downloading BF3 right now so Ill let yall know how it is under load!

 

Now this is what I've been waiting on.
Monitor the temps, so we can get some ideas on how it's running.

Which screen you get?
Post specs.

 

SO far Bf3 running everything on High-Ultra comp staying cool and sound not noticable, i will start recording temps, and ill post specs in a smin

 

Alright SO i have the 2670, 675m Nvidia, 750GB HD, 8GB of ram.

temps staying low, getting 50 plus FPS on bf3, on mix of high and ultra settings, computer is still staying pretty quite, comp isnt even breaking a sweat running BF3, temps still staying pretty low.

 

When can we expect available configurations with the new i7-3920XM CPU? It was released April 12th so should start being available soon! I'm waiting for it to place my order..

By the way, the Intel Overclocking utility comes with the laptop as part as the software driver's package? I dont see anywhere where the app can be downloaded.. OriginPC claims they can push the P170EM to 4.8Ghz and i wonder if they do somethings more to get it that high or anyone can reach those speeds with the current configurations available..

..I still dont know which vendor to choose yet to place my order.. any feedback actually much appreciated.. Sager, Prostar and OriginPC people never bother to reply to my emails what so ever so I know at least with those for sure i dont want to do business!

 

I liked Malibal a lot, they answer there phones FAST, and they shipped pretty quick, also cheap prices!

 

Did you get the IC Diamond thermal paste on it?

 

Malibal for prices.
Myth for custom everything.
XoticPC looks decent too.

All three of these are also very active on the forums, and have good reputations for responses.

I am probably going with Malibal when I order.

 

yes i also had IC Diamond, sorry forgot to mention that, Malibal gave it to me for free

 

I highly recommend XoticPC. Competitive prices, great selection of customizations like paint, OC, and all the options sager themselves offer, needless to say. I didnt consider it much but they have an airbrush crew if thats something youd like. Standard lifetime labor warranty too, which I very much lean towards, along with the 3 year parts warranty (extra). Also very high level of customer service, you get to know the people actually dealing with your machine, which is great in my book.

 

Still playing BF3, and temps are still extremely low, fans are a bit louder, but not noticeably

 

OK, thanks a lot for the heads-up! Malibal's site look the best and clean.. Ill contact them and see what they can offer! I really hope to be able to configure mine with the new i7-3920XM CPU and get very clear information about the overclocking capabilities, app bundled for that and features before I buy.. its all about speed for me

 

Now that I like.

 

The above poster mentioned something I should have.
XoticPC does have some interesting "insurance"-like deals that you might consider important, as well as custom paintjobs.
Myth also has one or two additional programs other than the default 1-3 Year 2-way shipping warranties.

Personally I wouldn't get much use out of the secondary abilities of XoticPC and Myth, and Myths prices tend to be a little bit higher (but Myth puts a LOT of effort into their laptops).

 

Thanks a lot for the feedback! Ill contact them and see what I get back and make my choice

The only Clevo I bought before was a 900F from Sager that overheated endlessly and would shut off, then got dead pixels, then the webcam died, then the track pad broke, then power button sunk inside the case and Sager positively never cared about proper handling of any of these matters. It was a nightmare dealing with them and the machine was a fortune, over 3 grand with a XE Desktop CPU on it).. I still have it but never use it because its huts off after 10 mins every time no matter cooling fan mods, thermal paste mods, correcting heat sink fit.. it basically never works. So, this time I just wanna be a bit more careful and wish for better luck..

..and life for me is not as easy as for most of U guy because I'm not in the USA, I'm in Hong Kong and its over 300 bucks EACH WAY back and forth for repairs every time I need send the unit back for service, no matter my warranty plan..

 

I am very interesting in such a machine. Momentarily I do have a HP laptop with a wide gammut display which I will not have any longer...

Since I like the display of the HP notebook I decided to buy a notebook which is able to deliver 10 bit per pixel via diplayport to an external eizo lcd.

I read some different sources and found no information whether the Geforce 670/675 or the upcoming AMD 7970 graphic card is able to deliver such a signal.

Does anyone have an information for me?

Chris

 

Origin just uses IntelXTU to set the maximum single core multi to somewhere between 4.1 and 4.8ghz. They save that value to NVRAM, run all their test with it and cover it under their warranty.

That being said I bought my P170HM from Origin. They are good, but the company is a already a bit too big with many different departments. In a sense that you don't get to speak to the tech guys directly and I had the feeling that I had to explain them their work.

That being said I ordered the W110ER from Mythlogic this time as they are responsive and very enthusiastic about going the extra mile, it's real joy to deal with the tech guys directly.

 

If you are in HK, why don´t you just buy from the Clevo Reseller in Shenzhen or Terrans Force?