Sager NP9773 / Clevo P770ZM-G 980m with G-Sync 75Hz LCD Initial Impressions

Full review just published: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...0zm-g-980m-g-sync-review-by-htwingnut.777906/

Including Overview, Benchmark and G-sync YouTube videos

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Sager NP9773 / Clevo P750ZM-G with i7-4790k, GTX 980m, 75Hz LG 1080p LCD with Nvidia G-Sync Initial Impressions


Clevo has stepped up their game with 17" notebooks with the P770ZM-G introducing a quality 75Hz LG IPS 1920x1080 FHD LCD, but more importantly, Nvidia's new G-Sync technology. LPC-Digital has provided a Sager NP9773 based on the P770ZM-G as a review sample to share my experiences with you. So be sure to thank them and at least pay their site a visit if you are considering a new Sager laptop.

G-sync technology I think will be difficult to portray in words or images because it has everything to do with minute details of syncing GPU and LCD frames to eliminate any amount of stutter or tearing noticeable as an inherent result of LCD technology. But I will do my best to share the experience analytically and how it improves (or not) the general gaming experience.

This post here will basically be my list of thoughts and experiences with the laptop as I use it and will eventually publish a more formal review when complete, here at the NBR forums. A majority of the focus will be on the G-sync tech, but I will still include numerous benchmarks, images, and general commentary as usual.



SPECS:

The laptop provided is loaded with the following features:

Sager NP9773-S (Clevo P770ZM-G)
17.3" Full HD (1920x1080) LG IPS Matte G-Sync Compatible Monitor
Intel Core i7-4790k *DESKTOP* CPU 4-4.4GHz
Nvidia GeForce GTX 980m 8GB GDDR5 with Nvidia G-Sync
Kingston HyperX 2x8GB (16GB total) DDR3L 1866MHz CL10 RAM
Qualcomm Killer Wireless AC 1525 M.2
Samsung SM951 M.2 PCIe 512GB SSD
1TB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-bit
230W 19.5V 4-prong power supply (330W optional)

Spoiler: power supply sizes

Storage Options:
2x PCIe / SATA M.2 (1x PCIe or 2x SATA)
2x 2.5" x 9mm SATA III SSD or HDD

Ports:
Left:
1x Gigabit Ethernet Port
3x USB 3.0
1x eSATA / USB 3.0 combo port
1x SD Card Reader

Right:
1x Headphone Jack
1x Mic Jack
1x Line-In Jack
1x 3.5mm S/PDIF Jack
1x USB 3.0

Back:
1x HDMI
2x DisplayPort 1.2

Dimensions (Measured):
16.5" x 11.0" x 1.5" (419 x 282 x 38mm)

Weight (Measured):
8lbs 10oz (3.9kg) with one HDD and M.2 SSD, 2x RAM sticks

Spoiler: laptop weight

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The laptop is identical to the P770ZM already released earlier this year, but with the addition of the G-Sync LCD and G-Sync technology. G-Sync is a licensed tech with a key stored in the BIOS that allows the drivers to properly recognize and manage the timing between the GPU and LCD. It adds about $100 to the cost of the laptop, so I guess it's up to the user to decide if it's the tech for them! There is also a G-sync capable 15" P750ZM-G notebook but only comes with a 4K G-sync capable LCD at the moment, where the 17" version offers only FHD option for now.

But before I hit on G-Sync I wanted to give my initial impressions on the laptop itself. I did review the P750ZM which is this laptop's brother 15" version, albeit without G-sync capability, but the P770ZM-G shares the same cooling system, mainboard, keyboard and most everything else except the size of the chassis and LCD. So you can take a look at that review here if you want more detailed impressions on the cooling and performance before I get this review updated.

Spoiler: CPU-Z Info

Internal components are also just as easily accessible as the P750ZM, so swapping RAM, storage drives, or repasting the CPU/GPU heatpipe assembly is quick and convenient. It's still hard to get over looking at a desktop socket and CPU inside a laptop, but the added performance and probably more importantly, tuning capabilities are priceless. Intel Extreme Tuning Utility will get a heavy workout as I tune for best temperature and performance, since the options are almost endless.







I did do a repaste with both Gelid GC Extreme and IC Diamond and the IC Diamond resulted in peak temps on CPU and GPU of about 4-5 deg C less during wPrime, Resident Evil 6 benchmark looping twice, and 3D Mark 11 and Fire Strike.

For some reason the 980m shows up as GPU 1617 without info on the Technology (Maxwell), Die Size, Release Date, or Transistors. Not sure why, because it's certainly a 980m.



Finally having a quality 17" IPS LCD is a nice addition especially to complement the desktop CPU and high powered GTX 980m GPU in its sleek matte black exterior. The laptop surface has a rubberized finish, with a black plastic frame around the LCD. The LCD hinge is solid. The keyboard is pretty solid but has some flex to with some extra pressure near the center of the keyboard. The large touchpad is also nice and responsive with individual mouse keys that are quite silent.

LCD in P770ZM-G is LG LP173WF4-SPD1. Windows Device Manager shows Hardware ID as LGD046C

http://www.panelook.com/LP173WF4-SPD1_LG Display_17.3_LCM_invitemdetail_64227.html



17" LCD with 75Hz refresh, even though paper specs call out 60Hz


Sager now offers the new Samsung SM951 PCIe M.2 drives as a configurable option which this review unit comes with. It passes the SATA III limites like Porsche flying by a turtle on the freeway. Running at 1300 MB/sec sequential speeds will be fun to evaluate as well.


G-SYNC

Of course the first thing I did after I spent the couple hours of downloading and installing Windows updates, apps, etc, and updating drivers to 353.06 was to run the G-sync pendulum tech demo that you might have seen floating around on some videos. I think Nvidia clearly tries to exaggerate the tearing and stuttering issues with this demo, but the result is a surprisingly smooth experience with G-sync enabled. Running a few benchmarks also resulted in a different visual experience than what I was accustomed to, but in a good way. Any micro stutters or lag was gone completely. In the full review, I am hoping to delve into this a bit to show how this experience is different than what we're used to. But it's apparent from the few benchmarks I've run so far.

Here's a video of the pendulum demo. Not sure if the smoothness difference between V-sync, no V-sync, and G-sync are readily apparent in the video, but I posted it nevertheless. I'll work on getting a better version out later.


G-sync is enabled by default with a clean install of drivers and currently I'm running 353.06 where the stock drivers that came with it were 347.88. The GPU and G-sync was recognized by this latest 353.06 WHQL driver. You can adjust G-sync through a couple ways. The Nvidia control panel has task option for G-sync to enable it an can opt for full screen or full screen and windowed. Or you can go into "Manage 3D settings" and enable it through global settings.





Many times I wasn't sure what framerate the benchmark or game was actually running at other than looking at the frame counter, because it's so smooth even at 30-40 FPS. With the LCD having a 75Hz refresh, this means things will run remarkably smooth up to 75 FPS and G-sync will cap performance at that FPS. So with G-sync it's not necessarily all about max performance, but visual quality is the more important factor.

I'm sure many people are thinking this is a gimmick, and I'm skeptical myself. But for now I feel this is one of those technologies like where it's marginally noticeable going from DSL to Cable internet, but even more noticable if you go back to DSL and realize you can't live without the super fast internet. I plan on playing games on this laptop for a while, and then going back to my P650SE with 970m and no G-sync to see if it's one of those "can't live without" features.


TO BE CONTINUED...

Anyhow I'm off to play some more and will report back later.

UPDATE 6/26/2015: System Overview Video


Working on benchmark summary video next.

 

Saved for additional info...

 

Will my Clevo P750ZM with the Sharp 4k screen be able to utilize g sync? I heard it's just a bios upgrade away?

 

HTWingNut on the high road of reviews. As usual a good read!

For now only the Sammy 4K on the 15" model...

 

Rough times on the boulevard I see... rough times on the boulevard...

 

Just got my ROG swift a few days ago and have been testing out G-sync myself. After playing with it in games like GTA V and going back and replaying some older games with the feature turned on it's amazing what a difference it makes and is giving new life to the games I have already played. The difference is especially noticeable in a game like Wolfenstein the new order because that game always had such huge v-sync issues and being able to play without them is making me want to replay the entire game. Granted this is at 144hz, but those extra frames even at the 80 to 90 fps range really make a huge difference in the overall feel of the game.

 

Long story short I find the real value lies in its ability to run at higher fps smoothly rather than make lower fps feel more smooth which it only does to a very small degree

 

From what little time I've had with it, I find it just smooths out the experience altogether. Sometimes the skipping or tearing is subtle on traditional LCD's and laptops, not overly noticeable in games. But it's that fine tuning that makes the visual difference whether at 40-50FPS or 120-140FPS, so much more refined. It's like watching a movie on a 120Hz 1080p IPS LCD for the first time after watching shows on a crappy 720p TN LCD for a long time.

 

Exactly yea just a more streamlined smoother more rounded out experience

 

Nice review) have a few questions if you don't mind:

1) Is it possible to overclock the display even further?
2) Could you backup your vbios and flash Prema's modded to see if the display stays at 75hz and still has G-Sync?
3) Does G-Sync really smooth experience at 30-40fps gameplay? I used Acer 4K gsync and i had to keep fps at 40-45 min to really feel this tech)

I hope you and Prema can do a system bios backup so people can flash their non-G systems to see if gsync and 75hz are enabled in the options) That would be awesome!

 

An older version of the g-sync BIOS is on palkeo's mirror since a good month...

 

And nobody managed to flash it still?) Did you make a modded bios out of it or still testing? I wonder if 5775C is overclockable in that system) As of today there was only a few MB able to OC Broadwell!

I mean grab g-sync bios, flash your non-g ZM system, flash mooded vbios and if it works - buy non-G laptop while supplies last and save yourself a 100 bucks) Am i correct?

 

Mythlogic has had the G-Sync (non-G) ZM. I suspect, thanks to the Cookie Monster aka Prema

 

From what I have seen there is no price difference with Clevo re-seller between ZM and ZM-G base...only thing you have to pay more for is maybe the screen model. Some may just not have offered those screen models before...

 

If you look at the Sager models, there is an exact $100 between the models and they have (supposedly) the same LCD.

 

Because this is technically LPC property for the time being, I can't modify in anyway that would void warranty. It's hard enough to resell these things WITH warranty which 99% of people want when buying, and already people want a 20-25% price drop because it's not *brand new*, I can't imagine how much less people would want to buy it for if it had no warranty.

 

You can always revert to a stock bios, hehe but i understand your concerns.

Will wait for your full review and initial thoughts about g-sync on a laptop. I'm really interested in your experience with gameplay at 30-40 fps.

 

@HTWingNut what happens when a game drops below 30 FPS for an entended period of time or there is a hitch? Does the display flicker or drop out?

 

No, it still works, just under 30 FPS no matter if synced or not your eyes physically can see the slowdown.

 

@HTWingNut Hi, I am new here, I am also not a native English speaker, so bear with me please. I also don't understand these things enough, so maybe i am not going to be right. I have G751JT without G-Sync. According to Gamenab (who released those modded Geforce 347.25 drivers with G-Sync) and what I have read here and there that everything we prolly need to enable G-Sync is EDID of that CLEVO P770ZM-G's display. As you already pointed out P770ZM-G and P770ZM has the same display, except for the refresh rate (75hz and 60hz). More interestingly it is the same display as the one in the G751JT/JY (60hz). So... Is there a slight chance that you would save Edid (as bin,dat, inf...) of that display and post it so I can see if this will work or not? I would really love you for that . Maybe I am totally wrong and it is all in the vbios, but as you said, you don't want to void the warranty and I understand that. Anyway, thank you.

 

From my understanding is there is an actual license code that is embedded in the BIOS or vBIOS that allows for G-Sync to activate, similar to Windows 8.1 keys are system embedded now. So just updating EDID I can guarantee 100% would not work.

 

Well if this is true, it's a bad news. But I am still baffled why those 347.25 drivers worked (and they still works), without that vBIOS or BIOS. Anyway, can you still do it for me? I would like to use 75hz natively again (Nvidia changed it from 60 to 75 to 60 again). I have custom 75hz and for some reason some games are still telling me only 60.

 

Here's inf file created from Entech Monitor Asset Manager... link will only be active for 24 hours. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/173386/LG.inf

 

You were right, it is prolly embedded license in the vbios. Anyway, thank you very much. Now I can set 75hz in games like HOTS and others.

 

The alpha preview likely had signing disabled for testing purposes.

 

So far I have mixed feelings about this. It's only useful or noticeable in certain games and situations. Although I have to say Battlefield 4 is a whole new experience. I didn't realize how much stutter and skipping was due to the GPU even though I was running limited to 60FPS and was pretty much pegged there on my P650SE with 970m. With G-sync it's butter smooth, and only stutter is due to network lag/rubber banding.

 

I just got a P770ZM-G with 980m, installed Windows 8.1 x64 and all the P770ZM drivers from the Clevo site (no G specific option listed).

The exception was I downloaded the latest Nvidia 353.06 drivers direct from Nvidia instead of the ones from Clevo.

I'm not seeing any G-Sync options in the Nvidia control panel, and the only refresh rate listed for all resolutions is 60 Hz.

The BIOS versions are:

BIOS 1.03.02
KBC/EC 1.03.09
VBIOS 84.04.48.00.1C
VBIOS build date 01/08/15

Besides installing the LG.inf file posted by HTWingNut, is there anything else I need to do to get G-Sync working at 75 Hz?

 

You shouldn't have to instal any EDID inf file at all... HTWingNut just provided us with the edid data that were already on his laptop, so we could compare with non g-sync models...

that's wierd... your laptop should come with 75Hz display etc...
you just need to install nvidia drivers

You have a g-sync sticker on your laptop?

 

Yes , I have a G-Sync sticker, and the model shows as P770ZM-G both on the label on the box and in the BIOS.

I'm wondering if it needs a VBIOS update since it shows build date 01/08/15.

I'm going to contact the reseller tomorrow, but I was hoping any other P770ZM-G (or Sager equivalent) owners can chime in with their VBIOS build dates.

 

If it is truly a ZM-G the G stands for G-sync so it should have the G-sync option. I'm using 353.06 and the G-sync option is available and works.

vBIOS shouldn't matter. They likely just forgot to program the G-sync license in the BIOS. You'll have to ship the laptop back for them to do that. I'd give them hell though. You bought a G-sync laptop and paid a premium for it, for them to forget that feature is inexcusable. I know it happens, but really?

 

Your vBIOS/BIOS & EC are fine.
What's your screen model? Only the LG LGD046C has g-sync enabled.

 

HWINFO64 shows LG Philips LGD046C (LP173WF4-SPD1 on second line).

Thanks for the info, I will follow up with a reseller experience thread once I find out how they respond.

 

What is the color gamut on this screen?

 

Just regular 60-70% range I believe for the current series of IPS displays.

 

Just wondering since I heard compared to the Sharp IGZO is 100 percent gamut. If this would be decent for gaming,

 

This might be a random question but, has anyone had a problem with the Sager 4 pronged power supplies in the sense that one of the prongs falls off? I am thinking of getting a 9773, but dropping around 2000 for a computer and having it just break from the charging port is something holding me back from buying this.

 

Never heard of that, have 4 prongs makes it pretty sturdy.

 

I'd have to ask, since the specs of the NP773 and NP9753 are almost identical aside from the screen resolution, is there any other major difference between the two models? Are temperatures on the 9773 lower than the 9753 since it has a slightly larger chassis? I know that the heatsinks are similar but the extra space could possibly make the temps lower. Very important factor for me since the weather is usually hot where I live.

 

So far I haven't found the extra space more helpful than the 15" version. It uses same fans and layout.

 

If the heatsinks and fans are the same size you wont notice large differences in temperatures between any models.

 

Thanks for that clarification. The 9773 has a matte display whereas the 9753 has a glossy one as far as I've read. Is the 9773 the only G-Sync model that has a 1080p matte display? I've checked different resellers and I haven't seen a 9753 with a 1080p matte display.

 

Yes, that's correct; 17" - 1080p Matte, 15" - 4K Glossy.

 

Thanks. I now have my mind set on the 9773.

Looking forward to your updates HTWingNut.

 

Matte coatings impact the clarity of such high density displays is the issue.

 

Can the G Sync screens be overclocked higher than 75hz or is that already the max

 

Try 100Hz

 

How does one overclock a display? Any risk to hardware malfunction?

 

Yes there is risk. And you can set a custom resolution in Nvidia Control Panel custom resolution option.

 

So it would work best to do small increases at a time. How do you tell if it'll be stable since this is dealing with the extra control chip from the G Sync function?

 

You're thinking of desktop G-Sync. Laptop G-Sync has no additional hardware. I'm not sure what risks of LCD overclocking @HTWingNut is referring to.