*** Official Sager NP8170/Clevo P170HM Owners Lounge ***

Your gaming temps aren't bad. However, your idling temp is way too high. The average idling temp for the NP8170 (with or without the diamond thermal paste) is around ~43 degrees. How hot is your room?

 

So is there a fix for that fan problem after hibernation where the fans stay on 100% after you unhibernate? fn+1 does nothing. It doesn't bother me since the fans aren't that loud, but it would be nice to find a permanent fix since I only hibernate my laptop.

 

Thats very strange, my fans work fine after hibernation. But does simply restarting the laptop than hitting Fn + 1 again work? I think that was the solution a couple pages back

 

Are there any programs that monitor the temps but show you what they are in-game ?

 

excuse my ignorance everyone but to those that have ssd's (like me which i think is most) i just dont hibernate anymore than soo much with my previous laptops. its so fast i just shut down and restart which is really quick. Is there any other reason so many are hibernating and have the fan issue? I know its not a fix to the fan challenge but just wondering. Thanks

 

Well hibernating will save your current state, so all open programs and the exact way your desktop session is running will be saved so you don't have to reopen everything again. Sometimes if you're doing lots of stuff you don't want to have to reload it all if you can help it.

 

There are others but MSI Afterburner is the most straight forward one in my opinion.

Some one found the problem disappeared after trying different GPU drivers but it could have just been a coincidence. Some suggest the fans doing that are a hardware or Bios problem. My laptop never does that and I use hibernation all of the time.

 

My room is around 75F normally.

Also with the fans on overdrive I am able to keep my temp down to 46, but I didn't think I had to have that on when idling. I still have the problem with the graphics being messed up though. I tried installing the modded video drivers that someone posted a few days ago and that didn't help either... so I am thinking its a hardware problem.

 

My room is also around 75F and I idle at ~42. What sort of mess up do you see with the graphics?

 

the glass effect in windows 7 is kind of fuzzy/shimmering if you look close and alot of the graphics that should be smooth just don't look the same. It was fine till I installed far cry 2 and played an hour or so of that, but after that It messed everything up! Even after re-installing windows 7 it is still just not like it should be.

*edit* still idling at 61 with fans on normal

 

did you try reformatting? Or installing the factory image? I remember I had an issue with a new NP8690 that simply couldn't be fixed without completely reformatting the laptop

 

nope, I just used the windows format. But now that you mention it ill try booting to my linux disc utility tool and doing a full format and ill let you know!

*edit* also I don't think my cpu temps have gone up past 55 while gaming - or any other time. but even with my gpu slightly undervolted (I had too much time on my hands the other day) it wouldn't drop below 61 without the fan overdrive on.

 

I would suggest doing a full reformat, making sure to delete all the partitions.

Your CPU has never gone past 55 while gaming? What heat monitor are you using? CPUID drops the temp down 5-10 degrees the instant you alt-tab out of a game. In any case, that is impressive. As for your GPU, it def shouldn't be that high- especially during idling.

 

ATI Tray tools has an on-screen display that shows your fps, clock speed, gpu load, and temperature

 

well, I seem to have misplaced my gparted boot disc. Ill just download the latest version, format, and get back to you guys later this evening!

thanks for the help so far

 

Any update regarding the 3d screen functionality with the gtx 580m? I am holding my np8170 purchase until this is implemented and I'm running out of patience :6

 

Yeah that's always fixed it. It only happens when the laptop comes out of hibernation.

I tend to have a lot of files open since I'm a developer. The specs of the machine are in my signature. I'm using the nvidia 8.17.12.7533 driver for my GPU.

Anyway I unhibernated and it didn't do it. It seems to happen randomly. Maybe the reason some people didn't see the bug is because they don't hibernate much.

 

In a table format, here is what I get:
- Hibernate, wake up....fans on max
- Fn+1 inop
- Restart, fans on max
- Fn+1 inop
- Restart, fans normal
- Fn+1 op normal

 

well, after a few hours of fooling around with reformatting, reinstalling 7, finally throwing in a different drive.... my problem seems to be hardware related. So... unless you guys can think of anything else (other than the bios which I don't think would affect my gpu in such a way) I'm going to contact the guys at power notebooks and see about getting this gpu replaced.

thanks so much for the suggestions

 

Hey AJ, I have not opened my rig to see if this is "end-user"-able, but have you tried to remove & reseat the GPU card? Sometimes it really is the easy fix that gets it done, and I hope that is the case.

"It's always something.....n'est-ce pas"​

 

not that I can't... Ill just have to check the warranty terms and conditions and see if that will cause a problem if I do need to get it replaced. also I'm short on AC5

 

AJ, I can email the service manual to you if you need it/want it.

Also, in my previous life (aviation), there were many times when removing a connector and reseating it performed miracles, so not just a card reseat, but a connector reseat might just be it??

I hope you will get to the answer soon, as I see your mobo is still listed as broken on your alternate rig. Oooh, withdrawal from TEK, not good

 

AJ, Good thing there is a truce between the Federation and the BORG......

 

Thanks, but when I first got this rig I pulled off all the covers. I had to put another hard drive in and also wanted to see what I was working with.
It seems pretty straight forward from what I saw... but the only thing I am worried about is not seating the heat-sync properly after I pull it off, because I know how easy that is to screw up.

*edit* didn't the borg get wiped out in the books?


*edit #2* reseated, still no change I REALLY don't want to have to send this machine back in!

 

I have these shimmerings too. But I'm pretty sure it's screen related. GPU and Win has nothing to do with it. Theese screens that comes with Clevo aren't the best ones.

I'm happy with mine. I can see this shimmering only if I look very close and with attention.

 

no offense bro, but that's the difference between me and some people. If my new machine has a problem it bugs the hell out of me till I get it fixed

 

I have in the past built a few towers and the HEAT SINK was not a problem if one was careful, did not apply too much (read: too thick) a film of thermal compound, and did not apply too much pressure "to make it seat properly". If you decided to go this route, work slowly and methodically, and not at ZERO-Dark-Thirty.

As for the BORG, we allowed the history books to show us gone, after all RESISTANCE is FUTILE and all that.....

 

If the screen shimmering thing is screen related, not GPU related we should all have it right??

So, to those who have shimmer what GPU is involved?
What version of Windows is running?

I do not have it, and now I have really (really) looked for it

GPU= GTX 560M
Win 7 Home Premium
Stock Screen

Just a thought, has anybody had shimmer with Linux running? We can probably narrow this thing down rather quickly (if we get a large enough sample size) if we see who has & does not have shimmer and what might be the common component for those who SHIMMER

 

The root of the discussion will be solved simply, if you plug into an external TV or monitor, and report whether the shimmering shows itself.

 

Initial impression: two folks reporting shimmering, both Radeon owners, and AJ, you had it only after you played FarCry 2 for an hour or so. You also have some high idle temps. I am going out on a limb here.... perhaps there is an overly temp-sensitive chip in the Radeon card?? With just two "samples" that may be a very premature conclusion.

Forum participants: consider posting that you have or don't have "it", before guys start sending in their prized rigs (and driving our resellers nuts )

What is the common thread? I have seen temp related component issues deliver all kinds of weirdness in aircraft systems. We'll see.....

 

Excellent idea Kevin, although if the shimmering does not appear on the external monitor it only takes some of the "chain" out of the question. But it does backtrack into the GPU card (should that even BE the problem) to the point where the video signal gets broken out for different connectors. It will narrow down the focus.

 

It seems they really slathered on the diamond compound xD but still no improvement in image quality after re-seating the card. I guess ill just call power notebooks and see what they think... but thanks so much for the help

*edit*

what do you mean by that?

*edit 2* (ill always edit before ill double post)
after reseating my gpu my idle temp is now 45! GO FIGURE EH? but like I said... still got issues

I guess if I had to I could live with this problem, but its like a small splinter in your finger. I just can't rest till I get this fixed!

 

Hey AJ, I was asking the Forum participants to weigh in if they have or don't have the shimmering effect. If we can get both conditions posting then it may be that the answer will become clear.

Dude, you have seen for yourself that more thermal paste is not always better, now that your temps have dropped pretty impressively! The "right amount" of thermal paste is worth trying to achieve. A cut-to-size stiff card is a better applicator than a finger tip. We want intimate contact between the two parts, and a slathered on coat of (even the Diamond) paste will actually cause less than full contact due to its inability to ooze out under the modest pressure applied.

As for the shimmering being a splinter in your finger (or a PITA), I don't blame you; I like my TEK to work "as advertised" & they should!! Hopefully somebody else has had and troubleshot this display quality issue, and will soon be posting the answer, may it be so.

 

The shimmerings are because of the stock LCD screen thats what I said.
There is nothing you can do unless buying a good one.
Its very little shimmerings common on low quality LCD screens.
You cant even see it from lets say more than 15cm.

 

Yeah, but if that were the case I would have noticed that when I first booted the machine. 7 looked smooth as silk on my acer 6920g with nvidia 9500m and I would think a machine that costs twice as much and three years newer(and hand picked hardware) would at least run 7 and make it look halfway decent. which leads me to believe that it is truly a hardware defect or maybe just a dud screen/video card.

sorry if I'm coming on a little strong, but this is annoying the hell out of me!

 

I doubt its due to the fact its a stock screen- I have a stock screen and don't see what you see.

 

Put your Windows 7 Aero all on black. Now make the taskbar a little ticker so you can see better.
Look very close to the taskbar. Here I can see like really rapdly flashings right on aero glass effect. Looks like a TV with noise, interference. If I use my AOC 23" i can`t see this. So its my stock screen.

 

Hey guys I need a ingerprint manager software that works with Firefox 5.
I used Authentec TrueSuite with Firefox 4, but it`s not working on Firefox 5.
Do you know other good software?

 

Guys I am curious if there is a Fan control for this laptop since there is no silent mode button? maybe something like ''work at 25%'' etc. ??

Also may you say me if someone uses clevo m571tu before that laptop, how much its noise disturbs when you compare this laptop with clevo m571tu?

Regards

 

No fan control whatsoever. Even apps like speedfan don't recognize it. Only options are bios controlled or maximum toggled by using the Fn + 1 combination.

 

Hmm, it is pity then. I have become really obsessed about fan noise because of m571tu.

 

In case anyone is interested, my NP8170 is back up for sale. $1750 shipped to CONUS.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/not...r-np8170-clevo-p170hm-gtx-485m-i7-2720qm.html

 

Just FYI I've noticed that so-called 'shimmering' effect on my lcd as well (stock). As stated above, it looks just like the noise effect on a television, with little tiny dots. It's only noticeable up close, and really only seen on certain colors, such as grey. I always thought it was some kind of interference coming from somewhere, since I only see it sometimes. Moving the laptop or going to another room or something sometimes gets rid of it. Really strange, but not a huge concern for me, especially since I've already had to RMA my notebook twice.

 

It is a shame that we have not gotten the responses I asked for, a few days ago: If you have the shimmering note your system specs and post. If you do not have the shimmering do the same. I am not convinced it is the screen yet.

I do not have the shimmering and my stats are in the sig block below. We can get to the bottom of this if we get a definitive enough number of responses.

As before, I am thinking it is the Radeon 6970 GPU.

 

It could be the gpu, but I think it has to do with the lcd. I've gone through 3 6970M's, and the problem has always been there. So, if it is the gpu, then it's probably not really a defect and just something you'll have to live with, because I doubt that 3 gpu's would all have the same problem. Would be interesting to get to the bottom of this though.

 

I also do not have the shimmering effect as described in this thread, and have a 6970M in my system, I also have the 90% NTSC gamut V4 screen from AUO.

 

Hey everyone,
Newb here, I've been lurking for about 8 weeks. I ordered the NP8170 back in late May. I read about the less than enthusiastic reviews of the stock screen so I ordered the 90% gamut. I was just notified it shipped today so I should have it by next week 7/15/11. Six weeks from order to delivery I'll report next week if I have the shimmering or not. Thanks in advance to everyone for all the information provided on this forum

 

Nope, I have the 6970 and no shimmering.

 

So it may in fact be the screen, so which screens?

The comment about moving the rig to another room sometimes gets rid of the shimmer is intriguing as now we are talking shielding. Hmm, the plot thickens

 

my screen: LP173WF1-TLC1 no shimmer.