*** Official Clevo W230ST/Sager NP7330 Owner's Lounge ***

So initial impressions are that this computer is pretty fantastic so far. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but this screen is amazing. I adjusted to the high ppi pretty quickly and it makes the screen size seem much larger than it actually is, which is awesome. Mine does have some minor bleeding though, but to be honest, it's fairly minor and is only noticed on darker wallpapers. I did notice a stuck green pixel after using it for a few hours but the pixel density is so great on this thing that I can only find it on near-black images. It still bugs me, but I don't really want to chance trying to get an exchange, even though I'm pretty sure I can't anyway. I will probably look into some way to try and remove it since it just seems to be stuck at one color and those seem to be fixable.

Build quality is pretty nice and I have to say that this thing looks much better in person. The rubber finish on the lid definitely helps with that. The keyboard is pretty nice and I like the finish on it. I'm not sure if its rubber, but it feels pretty nice and is quiet too. The keys are very shallow though, but they feel quality so I haven't run into any issues so far. The track pad is alright, but I used it for about a few minutes before plugging my mouse in. I have definitely noticed that the fan tends to spin up rather quickly although it tends to be fairly inaudible unless file transfers or games are open.

I haven't done too much gaming on this yet, but I fired up Fallout: New Vegas. Obviously not too demanding, but it was still silky smooth from the few minutes I played. At this resolution anti-aliasing isn't even neccesarry and the game looks incredibly nice and sharp, even for being fairly old.

I still do have the problem of the cover not fitting quite right with my ssd in it like I mentioned earlier so I haven't yet screwed it in. I emailed Mythlogic with some pictures and am waiting for a response from them. I also opted for install windows myself so the whole driver situation is pretty confusing. I got two driver disks which seem to be identical and are full of drivers for all of their laptops. I'm not really sure which ones are worth installing and which aren't; if anyone could help me out with that, that would be great. The Clevo Control Center seems handy too, but I can't seem to find a place to download it online.

Anyways, great laptop; if you any of you guys are having doubts about it, don't because it is a fantastic machine.

 

No, they usually don't, but I admit there are exceptions though.
See real world examples here : Power And Performance Per Watt - Four 2.5" Hard Drives From 500 GB To 1 TB, Benchmarked

Or check manufacturers datasheets if you want to convince yourself:
http://www.hgst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/FF05B02FBBBF9E8288257AAF00686AD6/$file/TS7K1000_ds.pdf
http://www.hgst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/79BA810F702AD64E88257977006375D8/$file/TS5K1000_ds.pdf

Also, 7200rpm WILL be audible, while modern 5400 usually aren't.

 

Are the fan problems and high temps serious issues? I returned my Lenovo Y410p in order to get a w230ST, but after reading everyone problems I think I'll just wait a bit =/

 

You mean the plastic cover that you pull to get the HDD/SSD out? Just put it on and ignore it. If it does the job, it does the job.

If you are talking about the SSD not fitting, you should know that the 840 Pro is a 7mm thick SSD, and that the HDD bay in the W230ST accepts only 9.5mm. You will need a 7mm to 9.5mm spacer.

 

Anyone have the same issue as me with the built-in microphone, where in the "recording devices>recording>microphone>levels" tab, there's NO option for "Microphone Boost" like on my other computers? My friends are complaining that they can't hear me on skype, and if I speak up extra loud, I sound super nerdy, lol.

 

Could someone open up CPU-Z, select the Mainboard section, and tell me what revision your southbridge is? Is it 04 or 05?

 

I have heard multiple people say that they couldn't get the generic Nvidia drivers (326.41, currently) to work.

Is this the "cruddy" version you mentioned?

EDIT: See also.

 

Yesterday i got my w230st (i74700) and what i can say, hmmm temperatures on default settings are very high 99c on cpu ( cpu cooling paste mx-4 ) on high load ( bf3 ) but laptop is ok, place where i have hands, keyboard is ok it's not hot. After undervolting ( View image: UV1 ) CPU temps are on 91c max ( and no throtling ) but you need to know that fan is very laught and noisy ( like my vacuum cleaner ). ( BF3 low, multi, 64 ppl on server FPS ~ avg. 74 )

On normal working, web, some youtube movie, editors CPU temperatures are about ~55c and fan is working but very quiet not noisy.

Oooo today temperatures in my city are from 28 to 34c so it's very hot day.

From long time i wasnt have soooo plastic laptop but plastic used in w230st looking strong and good so i dont get this on bad side of w230st.
I don't like touchpad, for me touching this laptop touchpad is not very comfortable just dont like it, I HATE IT

 

How to keep XTU undervolting settings running ? it is always reinitializing for whatever reasons (sleep mode, reboot etc...)

 

Well this is what happens to me:


There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the SSD install...


I'm thinking that this spacer is the culprit and is trying to fit between the empty space at the edge of the SSD? Does anyone else have this?

 

Hello everyone,

I installed the nvidia 326.41 beta drivers on my machine and from time to time I get a blue screen with this error : VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_EROR . It seems to indicate that the Microsoft DirectX graphics kernel subsystem has detected a violation.

Does anybody has any clue of what it is?

 

Well, I just grabbed a nail filer and shaved down the tab a few millimeters and now it fits like a charm!

 

I was getting GPU BSOD issues. I reformatted and stayed with the stock drivers and have not had an issue since.


In other news, this little piece came off my heatsink. Is that bad?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

So I got my unit delivered yesterday and started assembly last night and I hit a snag.
I don't know how it happened after taking apart so many laptops but I hit a nightmare.
I was just chatting with the wife as she cooked and i worked on this and maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. I Totally stripped a screw. Looks like i was using too small of a Phillips head

Retaining screw 5 by the GPU. Its still in there,and my efforts last eve we fruitless in getting it out
1st in going to need to get it out, 2nd im going to need to replace it.
I've been considering several ways to get it out, Solder, slotting the screw and hit it with a flat head but im going to take a shot with something 1st
Moody Tools 58-0670 6-Piece Slot/Phil/Screw Extractor
I figure I will try that before I start doing anything crazy. Wish me luck.

And just to say this is KILLING ME mentally.A newb,careless mistake and I have been beating my self up about it for almost 24 hours now

 

Get some tacky dough like some of that wall stick dough, put it on the screw. Jab your screwdrive into the dough into the screw head as best you can. Lift up on the arm of the heatsink that it's attached to keep it under pressure as you unscrew. Use quite a bit of pressure on the screwdriver and as you pull up. Just not so hard you jab the screwdriver into the motherboard or drag the screwdriver across the motherboard. Also unplug and remove the battery!!!

Good luck. I can maybe show what I mean in images later when I get home.

 

Wing, is there anything wrong with that piece of my heatsink being detached?

 

Try putting it back? It seems the heatsink fins are all separated and can be put back on like Legos.

 

I ordered from mythlogic also (in q&a right now) and I asked about this, guy said just don't install new drivers, stick to the drivers mythlogic puts on there for you. I do recall earlier in this discussion someone posted about modifying inf files to get this done. I probably won't mess with it though.

Are the stock drivers complete crap? I just bought Sleeping Dogs and Witcher 2 on steam for dirt cheap and I was hoping for decent perf at decent settings.

 

Nope I totally understand what you mean. Much like that ive heard use a rubber-band in the same place to try to get some traction. I think Ill try that this eve, Worst case that extraction tool comes tomorrow.
And my battery always comes out before I even open it:thumbsup: I'm stupid (obviously) but not that stupid. The LAST thing i need to do is kill it because I'm careless.

 

First post as a registered member of this forum, but have been doing research on this model by reading reviews and configuring on Xotic PC and Mythlogic to get a sense of what I want. The only thing that irks me is the short battery life, commonly quoted at 4 hours under light use. I want to be able to write papers / study with this laptop while away from an outlet, yet have the full performance of the specs when plugged in and gaming. Weight is one of the primary reasons why I'm considering this model, so lugging around the PSU or an extra battery is less than ideal. Gonna have to keep weighing my options...

 

Thanks it's what I'll do too I think.

How did this piece of your heatsink fall out?

 

I have similar issue. This is the one thing that is missing from this laptop to become perfect. Longer life or bigger battery. I have contacted Clevo with question about extended battery (like in dell business line) and the answer was that they will consider this for their next product. For which I replied that this is to bad because I need it now!! No response. Maybe if we all email them about this they will react and prepare this as a option?

 

What a coincidence! I just sent an email to Sager and Clevo asking them about this before I even read your post.

 

I took the heatsink off to replace the thermal paste and I noticed it was loose, and I gently tugged at it and it came off. Didn't seem particularly useful, but I could be entirely wrong.

 

Bumpin' for some help Btw, I'm using the built-in microphone on the top of the screen.

 

That is one of the heatsink fins, if it was not bonded properly it was not doing its job anyway, it will have a slight impact on cooling, I would contact your vendor.

 

Okay I got my Mythlogic yesterday and as I promised I am doing a short review of it.

Specs -
Stock except for Wireless AC and Plextor M5M as main drive.

First off, the screen. It is a Chemei and it has very slight backlight bleed in the bottom right hand corner that is unnoticeable below 85% brightness, but overall it is a very solid panel. Next for those wondering about Mythlogic Drivers vs Nvidia, stick with Mythlogic, there is no performance benefit except with very new games and in older games like DOTA 2 you will actually lose about 10% performance on normal Nvidia drivers. Finally, heat and fan profiles, I have had 0 issues with a -15mv undervolt, and slightly higher multipliers actually, I am getting temps in the 70s sometimes spiking into the 80s during normal gaming sessions so apparently those Mythlogic fan profiles are doing work (The fan is almost always going full blast during gaming and is quite loud, but I have headphones and very large studio monitors so I usually don't hear it.)

 

Is it worth sending back to XoticPC?

 

Do you have the VIA HD Audio Pack programme installed? I do, it's on the driver disk/website - and it has a mic boost function in it... is that what you're after?

P.

 

Hmm, my xtu settings keep going back to default on system reboots. Does anyone have an idea why? The system is stable and passes stress tests, so it's not due to crashing and such (or so I think?)

 

Good luck. Yeah rubber band works too. I say to remove battery because I've tried to offer advice in the past and people were mad because I didn't tell them to remove the battery. And I think I killed my first W110ER because I forgot to remove the battery and accidentally dragged metal pliers across the motherboard trying to route some wires. That was just me being stupid and careless.

I would see if your reseller can get you some replacement screws. Otherwise if you're not using one of them for the mSATA slots it may fit.

That would be nice. Plus if it's thicker it could prop up the laptop like I had in my HP with a 9-cell battery to improve cooling and typing angle. Maybe I will start a petition request to add an extended battery... and yes everyone email Sager and/or Clevo requesting this option.

 

Contact address: [email protected].

 

Applied Tuniq TX-4 paste to both GPU and CPU. Max temps during BF3 are at 86 with undervolt at 69.

Idle is at 48

 

HTWingnut put up a poll for letting Sager/Clevo know that we would like an extended battery. Check the top "yes" for consistency and don't forget to send them emails! http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/727987-petition-request-add-extended-life-battery-clevo-w230st-sager-np7330.html

 

I'm looking at getting mine from Mythlogic too, I've never bought anything from these places so I just have one simple question. How does the laptop and specially the top of the lid look like? Is it the standard sager look with the Mythlogic logo or does it have anything else? I'll probably use this for work and gaming at home, and I don't want it to be too flashy or "gaming looking".

Also, how loud are the speakers? I'll be using it for conference calls and things like that, I wanted to know if it's they are low for that. (I'll probably get a external speakerphone if it's not good enough).

 

If it's something that's working for you right now, I'd say keep it and get in contact with our service team or Sager directly and buy a new heatsink. I don't think they're too expensive and if your cooling works fine without it probably not something you need to stress about replacing right away or at all. shouldn't affect too much.

 

Does anyone know what the two stripes of black foam, with glue on one side, is for?

 

No idea. I haven't figured it out yet either.

 

Mmk, thanks anyway

 

The lid is very nice and minimalistic in my opinion. It has a very nice rubber finish to it although it kind of collects oil from fingerprints. You can also mention in the additional requests box if you want the logo or not. I sprung for no logo, but it looks kind of bare and I'm sort of wishing I got it. The Mythlogic branding is pretty nice in my opinion. Pics from their facebook page.

 

Any of you guys experience this problem? This is the second time it's happened and first since i reformatted the HD.

I shut the laptop to put it to sleep, and when i come back I find the fan blowing at full speed, and when I open the machine, the screen is black and windows will not resume, so I need to do a hard shut down by holding the power button down with my finger.

 

Thanks, I voted and will be sending an email. I guess if I do order now, I'll just get an extra battery and carry that around. Hopefully 8 hours is enough at the library before needed a recharge.

Along the same lines, not too many people have commented on the keyboard (for obvious reasons, as it is a gaming enthusiast machine), but any thoughts on how it performs when writing papers? I've read that there's no flex, which is good, but any issues with dropped keystrokes / feel / stuck keys / etc.? Thanks.

 

Finally pulled the trigger and ordered the unit from Pro-Star.

 

The keyboard is virtually identical to those found on Asus business notebooks such as the u36, very solid and stable keys, nice kind of matte texture, backlit, but keystroke could be deeper. Coming from an alienware m11x I find the chiclet keyboard very nice to type on, english enthusiasts and gamers alike will take delight in typing on this keyboard however I cannot say the same about the touchpad.

 

I received the laptop a week ago from Sager. I bought it as a replacement for my 5 year old desktop and as a system I could hook up to my TV and watch video and play old video games (and new) with. It is a great little system.

I went with mostly basic specs:
4700mq, 8 gigs of RAM, 128 gig mSATA crucial M4 and stock HDD, and Intel Wireless 7260AC.

I am mostly disappointed with the CPU temperature issues. Typical CPU temperature behavior involves idling at around 56C and spiking up to 100C. The laptup usually regulates itself around 90C, but the CPU throttles as low as 3GHz to do so depending on the load. Usually throttles to around 3.1-3.2GHz when gaming. It runs at second to last fan setting unless max fan is toggled.

I have it propped, I am limiting frame rates, and I am undervolting with IXTU, but I haven't found a stable undervolting number yet. -94mV is as low as I've gotten it without it rebooting in game, even though I've had successful prime95 tests at over -100mV (not temps; does not reset with 0mV offset). I can't seem to get the bios to keep these settings after a shutdown, though. They stay after a reset, but reset to 0mV offset after a shutdown. Any ideas? I will be re-pasting the stock paste when I get some time, but I doubt it will fix throttling completely.

I have received mine with screen bruising in the bottom right corner, but it is minor and I usually have the laptop hooked up to a secondary screen. Fan does make noise on low setting occasionally, but hasn't for several days. I would say this is exactly what I wanted if I could run it at max 90C with an unthrottled CPU. I am very jealous of everyone with better temps.

 

Cool, thanks!

 

I'm running into the same thing - I can crank away at IntelBurnTest all afternoon at -95mV and it's happy as can be, bouncing off the TDP limit and never hitting 85C. But it'll lock hard and reboot if I even load to the main menu of (the original) Company of Heroes at that voltage. I've found it's unstable gaming at anything more aggressive than -75mV.

I've also noticed that if I go back and look after a round of CoH, max CPU utilization isn't super high (~65%), even when there were 1000 bots dragging the framerate down to a crawl. Not quite sure what to make of that. My old P9500 would be at 100% the entire time.

 

If you all undervolt the CPU why don't you choose the 4702QM with 10w less?

 

I choose 4702mq and undervolted it anyway

 

Welcome to the wonders of EIST (Enhanced Intel Speedstep Technology). Don't undervolt as hard if you're going to be running the cpu on powersave or balanced mode. Intel dynamic clocking destabilises the cpu and needs extra voltage overall to compensate. Or just always keep the machine in performance mode.

I have the same problem, it also affects suspend to ram. Not sure if an XTU problem, a bios problem or what, but incredibly irritating.