*** Official X8100 (Sager 8120) Owners Thread ***

The screen was a HUGE draw for me as well as the third HD spot.

I have 2 500 GB HDs in a Mirror and a 750 GB in the third hole. The Gaming performance is FUN, but I don't really game a lot. It also has SPDIF out, also important to me.

Funny thing is, you can buy this from Eurocom with ATI 5870, go figure. I emailed PCTORQUE and they don't know when the 480M will hit, but supposedly it will be in Laptops in June sometime. You can't go wrong with the 8102, it is BIG and Heavy. The bag that comes with it is barely serviceable. I am looking at the Toshiba Metropolitan bag for it.

I will say that you interact with a computer the most with the display, and it is to die for here. I use a Razer Mamba mouse so this computer just looks and feels killer!

I really wanted the Asus G73, but that looked like it is unreliable, plus I really wanted the 18.4".

 

So I received my laptop today and man had no idea the power adaptor was a breeze block

But there are a few issues and just wondering if im being too fussy, what would you guys do?

The laptop has some tiny marks on the silver trim at the front where the silvers come off and is now black.

Also screen is ccfl should have been led, I can live with that.

The screen may have one dead pixel which is no big deal but there are several other marks which seem to be dust stuck between the protective cover and screen. These almost look like dead pixels but they move with the plastic cover so they cant be dead pixels.

Would you guys live with it or send it back?

 

I would send it back, and demand a machine with no scratches/marks, and with LED screen backlighting.

 

Who did you order from? It sounds second hand to me. It should go back, and you might want to change vendor?

That is a serious Honkin' PS brick. It's very handy to have it near if you are walking thru a dodgy part of town! I guarantee you could kill someone with it!

 

I'm very curious about how hot the GPU's and CPU's get while under gaming load.

I'm actually amazed that these temp's seem so low. My current laptop (one I'm looking to replace) is a Compal FL92, and the GPU (GeForce 8600M GT) *idles* higher than these temps -- around 68-70C. Playing a game like Empire Total War, temps shoot up to 86-88C.

Given what a beast the NP8120 is, I was kind of assuming you'd need a cooler if you plan on gaming for a couple hours at a time. Of course, happy to save the expense of getting a good cooler if it's unnecessary.

Have folks had trouble with the NP8120 running too hot?

 

Not naming the vendor, wouldn't be fair until they have had a chance to respond. I'm sure they will work something out.

 

So... folks are finding the NP8120 generally runs cool, or at least, not too warm? Not warm enough to be a real problem?

Has anyone found a notebook cooler to be a necessity with it? (If so, which -- there aren't many that can accommodate an 18" laptop!)

 

I've used a cooler for the the last 4 years. This one does not need a cooler.

 

That's pretty amazing -- 2 GPU's, quad core, and manages to remain pretty cool!

Thanks Les Garten -- appreciate the feedback (and you saved me the cost of a cooler!)

Well, I think I'm gonna have to pull the trigger on this. Yeah, $3200 out the window, but I have no doubt that when I fire up Battlefield Bad Company on that big beautiful 18" screen, it will all be worth it.

 

Since my Last Sager burnt to a crisp thru 6 MB's, I was very careful in researching cooling systems. You might say I had been "burnt" pretty bad.

No complaints from me here. The 8120s cooling system is awesome! I've gamed some on it and it's killer!

 

Well, it's on its way... here's what i got. pretty excited

Sager NP8120 (Built on Clevo X8100) Gaming Laptop

Display 18.4" FHD WUXGA Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Dual Lamp Screen (1920x1080)

Processor Intel® Core™ i7-820QM, 1.73-3.06GHz, (45nm, 8MB L3 cache)

Thermal Compound - IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU

Graphics Video Card SLi ENABLED DUAL (2) 1024MB PCI-Express nVIDIA GTX 285M's (2048MB Total) w/GDDR3 DX10 Video Cards (User Upgradeable)

Ram ~ 4,096MB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS)

Optical Drive ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares

Primary Hard Drive ~ 80GB Intel X25-M Solid State Drive (SSD2 Serial-ATA II)
Second Hard Drive ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)~
Third Hard Drive None Standard -

Operating System ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
Warranty Sager 3 Year Parts & Labor Warranty w/ Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC

 

Sweet! Who did you order from?

 

Ordered from XoticPC -- they were great. Very knowledgeable and willing to answer questions.

I'm also psyched to learn that a lot of components are user upgradeable -- GPU, CPU, etc -- I didn't know that beforehand. (Not that I think i'll need to upgrade anytime soon -- with specs like this, this thing should keep me comfortable for a while i think!)

 

Are there any problems with the NP8120? Traditionally I'm an Alienware guy. Love the M17x, but have been busy waiting for the last four months for 5870 x-fire. Now I'm looking at the NP8120 and thinking.

I have most of what I'd need to install. 8GB Ram, dual Intel SSDs, 640GB HDD, 920-XM CPU. To be able to have all of that and an 18.4 in screen would be pretty sweet. Never had a Sager, but wondering if there have been any issues with this model. What all can be messed with in the BIOS as far as overclocking the CPU?

EDIT: If I were to order one, what would be the best place to do so? Sagernotebooks.com?

 

Congrats sandman2575!

I was eyeing for this but I decided that I can't live with the weight. Please post impression when you get the laptop if you are up for it I'd love to read your review/impressions

Cheers.

 

@DR650SE

You can try RJTech, since you already have all those components, RJ will sell it to you without any memory, CPU, HDDs, etc. Just the barebones.

 

Wow, that's perfect. Definately the way I'm going to go if I decide not to go with the M17x. Now I have some real thinking to do.

+1

Any idea on if there have been any problems with this computer such as throttling, overclocking issues, screen problems, cooling?

 

There's 42 pages here, perhaps worthy of reading...

 

Read all pages and didn't seem to be many problems. As for the screen flickering problem, it sounds less like a driver issue, and more like a power draw issue. Not sure if it's been resolved. Sounds like the PSU is hitting it's limits. 2-3 HDDs, Screen, Wifi, USB, keyboard illuminating, and dual GPU's is a lot of drawn power. Sounds like a BIOS update might be needed. This was the same case with the M17x R2.

 

If you've read the thread, you're as up to date as any of us.

 

So, would it be possible to put in Dual Nvidia GTX 480's in SLI mode there without any complication as overheating etc?

 

The Fermi cards are already being queued up for this platform. I think Eurocom had it listed on their ordering page for this Chassis by mistake a few weeks ago in anticipation of the June Launch.

 

It may be July before shipping these but like many I can't wait!

 

I'm trying not to think about it!

 

I don't have much money right now so I cant think about it even if I wanted to. That said Im also concerned on power, speed and heat issues as well. I want to see some results before I even consider dropping cash on trying to get a card upgrade.

 

For sure. I can't justify it, I don't play games that much. But it would be kewl. I should spend the $$$ on a processor...

 

I'm trying to use SPDIF out. I have an adapter in there and there is no redlight/signal coming out of the Jack.. I have Digital Audio out set as default. The mixer shows source material levels, but no LED light output.

Anybody here using SPDIF out? Is there a trick to get it to work?

 

The SPDIF on the clevos is digital coaxial and NOT optical.

 

Really! I did not know that. Thanx!

So it takes a 3.5mm MONO to RCA??

EDIT: Just talked to Sager. It is COAXIAL as mentioned above. You can use a 3.5mm Stereo to RCA Splitter and then use the left channel for the SPDIF signal. I make a lot of cables so I'll order some ends for this and make up a cable for it.

Thanx for the answer Theriko!

 

No problem, the 3.5mm mono to rca would also work.

 

Really hope this is the case. Am waiting to take possession of my 8120 and in the meantime have been trawling these forums -- I've come across a few somewhat alarming posts (from folks far more knowledgeable than me!) questioning whether the Clevo x8100 is 'end of the line' as they move toward the x7200 (which may be a refresh of the Clevo D900F? don't quote me on that though) -- it's supposed to feature a desktop i7 processor and GTX 480M SLI.

Any worries here that the 8120 might prove to be less upgradeable (in terms of CPU & GPU) than previously thought?

 

Do you all know why Clevo pulled the x8100 off their website?

 

Hmmm, That's strange...

 

Why should I upgrade from the M980NU to this laptop?

 

Who said you should???

 

No one. Just wondering what the benefits are?

 

There aren't any...

 

Thought so.

 

One thing I just noticed today.

There is a silver trim piece that goes around the Laptop. The silver finish rubs off really easily. I have quite a few Black sections that are showing thru the silver finish after just 6 weeks or so.

Someone had mentioned he received one from a Vendor like that was sold as new. These were wear marks it seems.

No big deal, just strange that finish is not more durable.

 

After a year mine is just fine.

No benefit here.

 

Well then you really don't need an upgrade!

You don't use the one you have!

 

It's used extensively and I take it on trips with me and the silver trim is fine.

 

That was while gaming. I neglected to mention that when I was asking about the temps.

More than that I had been running that for several hours.

And those were the temps.

The funniest thing is, it's like an air conditioner on the bottom...it's just the back that blows out the hot stuff.

But according to everyone here (including yourself) those temps aren't all that hot considering I'd been running the game for many hours.

 

It's back!

CLEVO - Products

I noticed they still have the power adapter listed as a 220W, I assume that's going to go up?

 

Yes they added the x7200 and W880CU as well.

 

Looks like one 480m has more cores and will be faster than our two 285m's in SLI. Just got off the phone with a guy at Sager, the standard 480m will not fit in our 8120 and the TDP is 100w rather than 75 for the 285m. He qualiified this with the fact that he suspects that manufacturer's will later on make a card that will be backward compatable with the 8120 MXM slot and to call again in Aug or Sept to get an update.

I hate not having the fastest and most current stuff. Looks like my 8120 that I bought in March stayed on top for ~ 60 days!!!!

 

Well, if you hate not having the fastest stuff, then you really should be looking towards the X7200 instead, no?

 

Yeah that would have been me. The vendor was Kobalt, in their defence they have agreed to swap the unit ... at some point.

 

If it works well, I wouldn't sweat it, and I wouldn't take the chance on getting a Lemon.

But if Kobalt has a feedback Forum, I would state it was my opinion that they sold used as new. They need to pay for that "sleight of hand".

 

guy is wrong

you will be able to get x8100 with a solo 480 GTX, just needs a bios flash

That guy needs to go back to school Clevos own website confirms this not to mention 2 vendors i have spoken to

It was prob just brushed during the assembly process, they dont sell on 2nd hand units as they dont have a PX system so they never get 2nd hand units unless they are for RMA

"sleight of hand" infers an underhand move and is quite a serious things to be saying against a company when you have no proof watch your words