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

Hello out there!

Any of you guys who know the issue with bad headphones sound from the Realtek soundcard!

For some reason music sounds like there is no bass in them, while when i use my headphones on a mp3 player the audio sounds totally awesome!

My last notebook also had Realtek audiocard, but the sound was good there with bass too!

I have tried adjusting 5000 settings, and uninstalled Creative THX aswell, and installed it again! i cant seem to find out why, the bass is "almost" gona in my headphones when listening to music on youtube and mp3's on this Clevo P170HM.

I know there is nothing wrong with the headphones, so it must be the computer! i know a lot of you guys have the problem aswell that the sound is "thin" and "bass-less"

Hopefully some of you out there can provide the hotfix for this problem i dont want my 50 dollar mp3player beat my computer!

I have tried Headphones, 5.1, 7.1 in the Realtek Soundcard Software aswell...

I dont know where the problem lies, that makes the audio that goes through the "green" audio output, thin and almost without bass!

 

Try hitting FN + F5?

 

That has no influenze on headphones, only the internal speakers, and FN + F5 is not a shortcut to provide extra bass

 

Private email me and I will send the manuals (PDF format) right away.

 

Just saying HI, my np8170 just left LA and should arrive in 11 days, SO looking forward to being mobile again, can't hardly wait to use my adobe CS 2011 on it without being tied to a desktop. Not sure if my specs will post (added in my profile) but if someone has a moment to advise how to add a signature line, I'll use it.
Thanks for ALL the helpful info on this thread!

Here is a link to the pdf manuals for it (I downloaded it from another page in this thread, so thanks to OP) and the CMOS battery location shows on page 21 in the ESM manual.

 

Well, check your User CP settings on the top left of the screen in NBR. Then click on " Edit Signature" and you can add something on it

 

Hi, thisisalamp;
in both NBR and new NBR style, I don't have the option to add or edit a signature
The only thing I can even find with the word signature under any of the dropdown menus in my user control panel is a checkbox that lets me view them lol

I looked up signature in FAQs, it apparently needs to be enabled by admin. I'll see if a quick contact note can rectify it.

 

It could be that you're a new user, and maybe some of the features are only available when you have 10 or more posts.

 

Sounds logical to me. If I don't see anything by then, I'll write in specifically - no big deal for now.

Oh and I just noticed the page link I added to the pdf manuals download didn't appear above. Sorry for that, maybe another newbie permission issue.

I'll try again here, and if no go, I'll search for it and post the thread page instead.
http://download943.mediafire.com/1tjdlk91z7lg/a30xi8esao963y0/P1xOHM_Manual.zip

 

Here you go...

ClevoP170HMand3-SagerNP8170ServiceManual.pdf
_

 

There you go, littleslaves, not just one but two links to the service manual - that should get you through resetting your CMOS battery

 

I've wondered about this same thing. Headphones on this notebook sound like absolute crap. Most of the time I just listen to music and watch videos on my iPhone, in which the sound quality absolutely blows this thing away, all while using the exact same headphones.

 

Its normal realtek quality. These onboard cards just cant give enough impedance to headphones, especially hifi ones, that needs more impedance than normal.
The speakers sound is better because its powered from external source, not the onboard card.
I like to listen music in really hi quality. If you guys too, i recommend getting an USB DAC, like FIIO E7. You will get better quqlity than hifi pc sound cards and plus you can buy iphone/ipod adapter to boost apple poor sound quality.

Take a look here http://anythingbutipod.com/2010/03/fiio-e7-headphone-amplifierusb-dac-review/

 

any suggestions for a backpak that can fit this thing ? ? most backpacks ive tried are for 17inch macs and wont fit this laptop

 

@srsairbags
I ordered a Nyx 1711 (Clevo P170HM) from Mythlogic the other day ago. Also looking for a backpack to carry the machine around in, I noticed Mythlogic sells " Slappa 17" Velocity Spyder Pro Laptop Backpacks". They look to be of high quality and have great reviews.

On another note, how long can I expect it to take for my laptop to boot up given that is has the following specs:
CPU: Intel core i7 2720QM, 2.2GHz
GPU: ATI Radeon 6990m
RAM: 16Gb DDR3-1600
HD: 640Gb, 7200rpm

I know the HD will be bottlenecking start up time. How much faster would the boot up time be with a SSD?

Thanks,
- Inventor22

 

Well that's a first. Just on regular use the temperature got up to 150 F and Windows 7 aero turned off then turned back on when I pushed fn + 1 just using regular programs with no gaming.

I posted about the obvious hibernation bug (where the fans stick on max) that many people seem to acknowledge but I think randomly the fans don't spin up. That should probably be looked into.

 

That would be Fn + 5

 

That is worriesome, hss this happenrf to anyone else? I don't use aero due to the conflict with adobe cs programs, but this is a true concern.

 

150F = 65C, which is still on the low end of average for temps on these machines, and is definitely nothing to worry about. Aero requires more graphics horsepower than a classic desktop, so slightly higher temps aren't unexpected either.

 

DOH! Being Canadian I think of everything in celsius, didn't notice the F for fahrenheit. Yes, I am pretty sure I've read of them hitting 80-90s C when worked if I am not mistaken.

 

Just this morning, while booting up my 8170 before heading to class, I noticed that the fans started spinning at 100% right at boot up, and didn't stop no matter what I did. I tried the Fn + 1 combo, but that just stopped them for half a second, then they went right back to 100%, so I pressed it again (thinking that would turn it off), but it just did the same thing. I only have Google Chrome open right now, and I'm pretty sure that this pc can run GC without the fans spinning at all. I've had my 8170 for two weeks, and my OCD is getting to me about this. xD

I have class now, but any sort of idea with what's going on would be nice by the time I get back. Thanks.

 

Was this a cold boot, or waking up from hibernation/sleep?

 

Waking from hibernation.

 

That's what I thought you'd say. I've seen someone else mention that occasionally happening after hibernation. It has not yet happened to me.

A standard reboot or power down should fix it.

 

I find the sound from the system with headphones to be excellent for what I use it for. My wife and I are ghost hunters and I maintain a ghost-hunting website. I need to listen to sound files and video files for "stuff" and I find the sound to be excellent. I am going to get a real vinyl record player to get true fidelity. I know that digital is not what it was cracked up to be.

 

Hook a FiiO E11 up to the headphone jack, and you'll be blown away by the difference. Though, with a notebook, the E7 DAC is most ideal.

I have both.

 

You won't think it's excelent anymore as soon you use any hi-fi DAC.

 

For those who have asked, Sager is still shipping the HANNSTAR HDS series displays on this model for the standard screen..
_

 

anybody out here have a keyboard that rattles !?!?!?! if so, got a fix ...

 

I remember reading about that hibernation/fans full-out issue somewhere here. But I have stopped using Hibernate on any computer since it's given me grief with my m17x alienware and now also my custom-built phenom quad black edition (both running windows 64, one ultimate and one home). Had to reinstall windows on the alienware.

 

has anybody checked temperatures right after they come out of hibernation, just to see what is up? I always like to see if there is a legitimate reason for a behaviour (maybe it overheats in hibernate?) before calling out 'bug'.

As I am awaiting my 8170 (eeeeee wish it would get here!) I can't check it myself yet.

 

I 2nd this interest.

 

Just updated at Sager....

17.3" 120Hz 3D-Ready Full HD Display featuring 72% NTSC Color Gamut in Matte Finish (1920 x1080) is now just $135.00 upgrade from the stock screen!
nVidia Cards Only. This without the the NVIDIA 3D Vision Glasses Kit Bundle which is extra...
_

 

Has anyone confirmed that the 120Hz screen just flat-out won't display the picture, if an AMD card is installed? I'm not talking Sager PR speak, I mean have any of you sellers actually tried it yourselves.

 

Yes the screen will absolutely work with a AMD card in it. The reason why Sager does not install the screen with an AMD card is that 3D would not be supported.

Otherwise the screen would work.
_

 

The panel set to 120Hz (2ms refresh rate) even in 2D is very nice for video work since it allows very smooth high speed action viewing without the jitters most 60Hz screens have. The only down side with these higher bandwidth panels is the dual channel 50-pin LVDS cable needed to retrofit a system when most use the standard 40-pin LVDS cable. So, unless you can source the upgraded cable and know for a fact the system board will feed it, you are out of luck. Sager could not get me this cable a month ago as a spare part, but maybe it is available now. Too bad I already sold the Sager or I would evaluate it like I did with the Dell here.

I suspect Clevo/Sager is using the matte version of the LP17WF2 panel like Dell is doing with the glossy version. The specs look to be the same.

If anyone gets one and wants to take it apart, please post a pic of your LVDS cable.

Scott-

 

Does anyone who uses Adobe creative suite 2011 (specifically 3ds Max) possibly let me know what they think of the rendering speed of this unit?
Thanks in advance!

 

So, its not actually LVDS that the HM3's screen is using. Its a different motherboard because embedded displayport is actually being used, which allows for higher bandwidth. The screen itself IS indeed the LP17WF2 which is the eDP version of the WF1 (And 120Hz). The eDP is wired from the MXM slot, so as long as the video card (Which the AMD's do) present eDP as an output type then you are all good. So you will need both the HM3 motherboard and the eDP cable to do the conversion.

 

The low voltage differencial signaling (LVDS) operation is there, but you are correct in regards to a multi-lane eDP receiver being onboard and used as well for 120Hz/3D thanks to the MStar MST7329Y controller chip. This looks to be why we are talking a 50-pin interface on the LCD panel side compared to a standard 40-pin.

I have posted the preliminary specs for the WF2 panel for review HERE, which goes over everything including the interface pinout. It is not the final spec document, but it is close.

In regards to the system board, I believe the existing version is usable, no? Next to the standard LCD cable block-header on the top side of the system board is another similar looking connector (DP1?) present that is not used on the non-3D systems. I may have taken a picture of it, but I will have to look more as I cannot find it at this time. It may be the eDP tap shared with the HDMI that would also feed the WF2 panel with the elusive 120Hz/3D cable(??). The circuit diagram is below.

Ugh.. just when I sell the system, things get inetresting.

Scott-

 

Yea we have the final spec doc on the WF2, there are no real changes.

Systemboard wise, while the port is there in theory (its physically there don't get me wrong), but there is a separate motherboard construction to get the eDP to work in addition to the different BIOS as there are some signals re-routed to make it work.

 

The exact same thing happened to me last night - but I couldn't recall whether it was from hibernation or cold boot. Fn+1 only stops the fan for a split second, and then it is on full again. A shutdown works, but it would be nice to know what is going on.

 

Next time this happens, are you able to check your actual temperatures to see if hibernation made it run hot, or if this not temperature related? Or did you check them? If so let us know, it seems to be a more-than-uncommon occurrence.

 

I didn't immediately turn on my HWMonitor, but I did do that after about 10-15 seconds when I realized I couldn't turn it off and wondering if this was going to super-cool my chips... I don't remember all the results, but nothing seemed out of line or else I would have freaked. I think my GPU was mid 30s and my CPU was low 40s.
If it happens again, I'll definitely take more detailed notes.

 

I need a good ICC profile, anybody got one?

 

Does anyone know how to use the built-in tv tuner in the NP8170?

 

I saw this in the manual:

TV Tuner Module
(Model C Only)
If your purchase configuration includes the optional USB Mini-Card TV Tuner
module, you will be supplied with a remote control unit and appropriate fittings for the module. Software support for the TV Tuner module is provided by Windows Media Center in Windows 7 (not included in Starter or Home Basic versions). A driver is provided on the Device Drivers & Utilities + User’s Manual disc for the remote control supplied with the TV Tuner.
The optional TV Tuner allows you to watch TV, play music CDs, video conference and capture still images and video on your PC.
The Cable (CATV) antenna will only be enabled when a TV Tuner module is
installed. Make sure you connect the TV antenna.

Hope this steers you in the right direction.
I also read that unless there is a strong digital signal, it will not show a picture. I was imagining you'd hook up a cable from a satellite/cable company, but if you live in an area where you've got lots of distributors broadcasting digital signals over air, that an antenna could pick them up (does it come with an antenna? or you might need to find one on ebay)

 

The Sager NP8170 S-1 now has 4 CPU options. It is minus $110.00 if you choose the i7-2630QM Processor now.
_

 

I tried searching the thread, but I didn't get any results for keywords.

I was directed here from my topic ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/wha.../605082-1500-1600-reliable-gaming-laptop.html) so I thought I'd get some input from Sager/Clevo owners. This is one of the laptops I'm considering but I'm wondering:

Does the NP8170 have any common reoccuring issues in its line?
What would you say makes it better than other laptops? Or worse?
Pros and cons?
How many years do you think I'd be able to play the newest games that come out?
What do you think makes NP8170 stand out from its competitors?
Is the NP8170 the best Sager model I can get for around 1,500?

Thanks. I know little about buying a gaming laptop, so if you can, try to "spell things out". Links are welcome as well.

 

Thanks for replying

I dont have a remote but the laptop itself does come with the port where you plug in the tv.

Also Im wondering why the laptop upon awakening from hibernation via closing the laptop will not respond. I can move the mouse but nothing can be selected and the white light that flashes indicating HDD use is not flashing.