*** Official Sager NP8150/Clevo P150HM Owners Lounge ***

I sense jealousy

 

Yes, that was what I was thinking - with the exception of Mafia 2 there is a a bit better performance of the GTX 485m - but then again, in price/ performance the 6970m will be the winner .

 

I have the 8690 and after 1 minute of Furmark, the GPU temps of the GTX 285M are 70C. In gaming sessions for hours, for example GTA IV have never seen GPU temps go beyond 78C yet 10 minutes of Furmark can give higher temperatures.

In my opinion, it is never wise to base conclusions on Furmark too much simply because it pushes the GPU further than the vast majority of games and is intensive specifically for that reason. In even a 3D intensive game, it may not be as intensive as Furmark. So to summarise, 7 minutes of Furmark pushes my GPU to 87C yet 3 hours of GTA IV or JC2 never goes beyond 78C.

The cooling design in Clevo's are the best I have ever seen and I have no doubts that it will be able to deal with the GTX 485M in a 15'' chassis without overheating. I have opted for the 17'' though, couldn't resist the 2 HDD's and still being able to use a CD drive.

 

That is very sad to hear and an absolute deal breaker to me. By taking this choice they are dooming the laptop to abysmal battery life and the complete loss of Intel Quick Sync functionality.

Sandy Bridge also has a dedicated video decode unit you *could* have had an extremely long portable video experience with, yet now we're stuck with however long the gtx460 / gtx485 can run for.

I would also quite have liked intel Widi support as mentioned earlier in the thread.

If there was a hardware switch I would have ordered right now. As it stands this is not really a laptop, it's a smaller desktop.

Does anyone know how the dedicated graphics card is connected to the outputs? There is a software solution in the work for desktop that might work on laptops as well, depending on how things are wired up:

Lucid Enables Quick Sync with Discrete Graphics on Sandy Bridge - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

I fear the nvidia card is routed directly to the LCD and external outputs, in which case there is zero hope for ever running without it or for me ordering a P150HM.

 

@desktopman
Ive seen thaose videos before but from what i understand, both igp and gpu are enabled on that machine. What the lucid software does is enable the igp when you want to use it via some kind of software switch. But both igp/gpu have to be enabled to start with.
Ciiw of course (which i hope i am really)

 

This guy posted a german review of the 6970, some you may find the info interesting

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/548058-w860cu-hd-6970m-german-review.html

 

Yeah, the same is also true for Optimus. I read a bit more about Lucid and it seems to work *exactly* the same way as current generation Optimus. (Copy framebuffer from discrete card to IGP and display.) However, both of these are software solutions and could be enabled after a product is launched, depending on how things are wired up. If the LCD and external lines are connected directly to the gtx460 / gtx485 we're out of luck though.

 

Yup i caught the framebuffer thing too. But im thinking that you need igp hardware/bios enabled for the system to recognize its even there.
But like i mentioned above, i surely hope im wrong and your right and lucid allows software switching even with the igp disabled on the machine.

At first i always saw igp as a gimmik, but the more i read about it the more important it seemed and not having it just isnt the same. For video editors and transcoders you get quick sync; for multimedia buffs and business presenters you get widi 2.0; for gamers you get the ability to run you games on the go, albeit at reduced fidelty, but possibly gaming for hours on battery!
As i mentioned in one of my first posts about the 8150, snb plus 485 is as perfect a laptop as you can get atm , until i heard about igp disabled and aluminum heat sinks.

 

I don't disagree. Without a doubt the 485M is faster/fastest.

 

I'm coming around to the train of though, that the 6970M is being held back by the 485M. I'm not saying that's a definite, just that we need to see what 6970M does when paired with a new-gen CPU.

 

in that german review, the 6970 was being compared to the 460m for the most part. otoh the 485m was being compared to the 460m sli, 480m and sometimes the 5870 cf. i didnt look into the numbers too much but it seems like the 485 is just in a level above the 485m.
granted that the nvidia card was paired with a snb cpu, i dont see this as being a major advantage except in benches like 3dmark06 or the few games that are cpu intensive- unless the (original) core i7 cpu was somehow bottlenecking the 6970.

 

Is this also P150HM based?
Schenker Notebooks - Xtreme Mobile Gaming | mySN.de - A501 ADVANCED Gaming Notebook 39,6cm (15.6")

How is the GPU connected to the mainboard on clevo machines? MXM or soldered?

 

Reviewed there

 

This is not the P501 but the A501, which is somewhat cheaper and has therefore "only" a GF540M with a HD+ screen.

 

In case you have not seen it below is a youtube of the unit...

YouTube - Clevo Prostar P150HM Gaming Laptop Review__

 

Sexy Can't wait to get mine! Thats some extreme choppiness but hey he had a 460m in there so thats expected from that tech demo.

 

Someone told me in another thread that the new SB chipset cannot use more than 8GB of RAM. Is this true or is this guy just blowing smoke? I was thinking of getting 12GB but if the CPU can't use it what's the point?

 

Not true. Why in the world would clevo include 4 RAM slots if 8 GB was max?

On the other hand, it's unlikely that you could ever get your computer to use more than 8 GB of RAM except for a select few types of applications. In other words, if you're not a researcher, you're probably not using more than 8 GB of RAM ( or 4 GB for that matter )

 

Expandable to 16GB RAM.

Sager NP8170 (Built on Clevo P170HM) Custom Gaming Laptop

 

I thought the guy was a bit off saying only 8GB. However I did learn that the SB2630 cpu is limited to 8GB of RAM from Intel's specs.
The reason for more RAM is I have to render a lot of large video files. I think more RAM in that case is helpful, but not positive.
If I can save the money I'd rather get a better CPU and upgrade the RAM later if I need it.

 

Those are soft specs from Intel. The Sager NP8150 will support 16GB (or more later once larger memory pieces become available at reasonable prices) with any of the available processors.

 

i did read somewhere that the 8150 and/or 8170 can only use 8gb of 1600 ram. however it can use up to 32gb (8gb*4) of 1333 or lower.
1600 ram doesnt interest me, so i never bothered to check the info.

 

I believe it depends on which SB cpu you get. For my needs 1600 RAM will not make a significant difference.

 

Crucial C300 - 256gb purchazed and ready to install.
16gb also purchazed and ready.
1 to 2 weeks to wait...
By the way, I went back to the store and I confirm that the model was black color. I couldn't install furmark but 2 benchmarks were available (Monster hunter, lost planet 2), I put both at the same time.
I could feel the air getting hot which was pushed behind. One was way hotter than the other one (GPU probably). So it seems the heat from GPU doesn't interfere CPU.
The keyboard was same temperature.
I am still completely amazed how light the computer is... I really think you can bring this everywhere. It's not thick at all either. I am still worry with the temp but the cooling seems to work. I am not sure about the noise, I don't think it was too loud but the shop was noisy so I can't really confirm at this moment.

 

yeah the youtube post of babyhemi really confirms how sleek this baby is.
i believe the german review rated the sound of those fans at 50db which is as loud as hair dryer.
even with all the igp features disabled and the accompanying mediocre battery life (for snb standards), i would still consider the 8150 if temps are stable.

 

This is my biggest concern. I think that If I find the right notebook cooler blowing under the notebook at the right spot (large fan with good CFM for low db), I might be able to reduce this a lot. Not that I care about noise myself (with close headphones not prob) but for other people around it's important.
I bought a zalman which is ok, I heard nzxt were the best but it was a long time ago...what is the best NB cooler today for 15 inch? I don't know about antec and coolermaster ones, any good?

 

Personally, I have a cooler master for my 15in laptop from 2007. It ramps up the fan just by turning on the laptop, so it could get quite hot. The cooler doesn't completely turn the fan off on my laptop, but it lowers the setting and the palm-rests get significantly cooler.

 

for me, having to carry a cooler along severely limits the portability of this laptop - i just might as well get the 8170 if thats the case.
my sager 8690, with its overclock and overvolt, can go on chugging even during our 38 degree summers with just an electric fan in the room.
i already have potential buyers for my laptop but im thinking if this is a wise upgrade for me...

 

very sexy. Is the P151HM the exact same but with a different screen?

 

still no temp. reviews on this? and can clevo confirm that it would be POSSIBLE to use the IGP with a bios update? for the advanced user the opportunity should at least be there, even though optimus has had its issues.

 

Since we know this baby is going to be running hot based on that German review. What do you guys think of these?

Newegg.com - Antec Cooling system for notebook computers Model Notebook Cooler 200
Newegg.com - NZXT Black Aluminum Notebook cooler w/ 3 120mm adjustable fans Model CRYO-001B
Newegg.com - ZALMAN Notebook Cooler Model ZM-NC2000 Black
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER SF-19 Notebook Cooler Model SGA-4000-KKNF1
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Notebook cooler Model CLN0008

As far as I can tell from the pictures I saw of the laptop, the fans seem to be placed in pretty good positions in regards to the heatsyncs on the laptop. Would anyone recommend getting any of these? Or do you guys have something else in mind?

 

It won't ever be possible to use the iGPU on these laptops as the displays are actually wired to the mxm slots so even if you could get the iGPU to do work, the best you will be able to do is use the quicksync features as it will never be possible to use any of the output because its physically not hooked up.

 

I bought this one.

Newegg.com - Thermaltake Massive23 LX Notebook Cooler Model CLN0015

Seemed like a cheapear version for the same product. Its coming in today with my p150!!!

 

In the name of all that is holy, please dear god give us some sort of short preview regarding temps and how well that cooler actually works. I am depending on you my friend!

 

Excuse me but the cooler is coming in couple days later, my sleeve is comiing in today with it. Yeah I defeintely will. I will probably make an impressions thread though I can't find my camera. I am staring out the window waiting for the ups truck to pull up.

 

Thanks man, can't wait to read about how the thing runs.

 

Just got it in !!! It's here!!!

 

Pictures, temps, benchmarks, games ( starcraft 2, battlefield bc2, gta4, crysis, dragon age), and MORE PICTURES!!

Also, let us know how the laptop rests on the table without a battery. Does it slant if you put your weight on one side?

EDIT: And take videos of the laptop with fraps running the games : )

 

furmarkan and overclockan and benchmarkan tiem;D

 

Is this processor to weak for the GTX 485?

Intel® Mobile Core i7 2630QM / 6MB L3 Cache, 2.00GHz - 2.90GHz Turbo Modus,

 

First and foremost, run a stress test and see how hot things get!

 

Now we're talkin!

Reviews Reviews Reviews

 

Congrats! We can't wait for your impression...

 

Thanks larry. I got it at perfect timing. And the packaging was great!!

whats stress test programs should i download?

 

furmark..
FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net

vantage
Futuremark - Benchmarks - 3DMark Vantage - Download

These are the ones to start with...

 

To really stress the gpu I would recommend furmark, its designed to really push a gpu to its limits and show you how hot your gpu can run.

FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net

Don't push it though! be sure to monitor your temps man. If you see it hit above 90c stop.

 

Woot Woot!

Go Larry! (Throw in some freebie upgrades in there!)

 

Alright will do. Just updating all the drivers and such right now. I don't have many games that aren't on steam so I will have to bench with that and sc2 which I have on hand. Otherwise I'll have to download overnight.

 

I am sure many will want to see a Vantage run as well...

Futuremark - Benchmarks - 3DMark Vantage - Download

__

 

If you have your steam games on another computer or laptop, you can backup your games via steam to an external hard drive and restore them on a new drive.