arasco2
06-12-2009, 08:57 PM
First off:
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
Up to ~1500 +/- a bit (see below)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
15.4"
3) What country are you buying this in?
USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Prefer: Clevo barebone models
I'm basing this mostly off of reviews, so I'll bow to hands-on experience from sources I can trust (I've found Xoticpc has a very good reputation, which is why I chose to come here)
5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
I'm starting a grad program in the sciences, so I'll be doing a lot of online reading (journal articles etc). I'll also need some minor Photoshop capabilities and the possibility of being able to handle basic 3d modeling. In addition, I imagine I'll use it to watch a few movies and stuff like that. A good internet connection is important. Basically, it should be able to handle anything I might throw at it, keeping in mind that I doubt I'll ever get into any sort of hard-core gaming.
6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
I'll be lugging it around everywhere.
7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
No, at least not worth mentioning.
8) How many hours of battery life do you need?
2 absolute min. I would prefer 2.5+. I'll most likely get a second battery, but I want one battery to last through the longest of my classes (1.5-2 hours).
9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Not particularly
10) What OS do you prefer? (more details below
No OS. I already use Win 7 RC and I'm sick of Vista and the bloatware that comes with the pre-installed systems.
Screen Specifics
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non glossy screen?
Not sure. I think I've only had glossy in the past and that seemed to work fine.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
I'll take functionality over looks any day. The single most important thing for me is build quality.
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
ASAP. My old one just broke. I know it's a bit unrealistic, but I want to try to make the laptop last through the end of grad school (4-7 yrs). I'll be willing to pay a bit more for that luxury. I'm usually very careful with my computers.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 80GB, 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 1TB, or 1.5TB?
Min 250GB, 7200RPM. I would prefer a 320GB, 7200RPM
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, CD/DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
Yes. I'll need a DVD burner, but a Blue-Ray drive isn't worth the money right now. I can always replace the optical drive in a few years.
17) What speed CPU/Processor would you like? Dual core or Quad Core CPU?
Dual core should be fine.
So here's the deal: I just ended an unhappy, 1.5 yr, relationship with Toshiba, which spanned 2 computers and shop time measuring in months for each computer. Basically, it's left me a bit paranoid about the build quality of the new laptop. I want a laptop that is relatively easy to replace/upgrade all the parts, including the GPU if need be, as well as excellent build quality. The Clevo barebones seem to best fit my needs, but I'm still open-minded.
I could go on for a while about my perceived pros and cons of the various models (including the non-Clevo models), but I think I've narrowed the choices down to the Sager NP7682 and NP8662.
7682:
This model seems more suited to my current needs (and price range), but I'm wondering how it will stand the test of time. Also, I haven't been able to find any info on it at all. Does anyone have any experience with this model? Here are the specs I was looking at:
Sager NP7682 (Built on Clevo M762TU) (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2571%7B76%7D650%7B187 %7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2422%7B88%7D1949%7B186% 7D1532%7B93%7D2044%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D656%7B98%7D 1295%7B96%7D2434%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D696%7B117%7D 705%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D2426%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7D 1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D1539%7B106%7 D1691%7B121%7D694%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170%7D 1591%7B173%7D1175%7B167%7D1452%7B103%7D686%7B113%7 D1413%7B111%7D1414%7B69%7D2520)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- nVidia GeForce G 105M 512MB PCI-Express DDR2 DX10
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- No Floppy Drive
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- No Carrying Case
- Smart Li-ion Battery (6-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- None Standard*
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No External Keyboard or Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- None Standard - Drivers & Utility Software Only
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime XOTIC PC 24/7 Toll Free Telephone Tech Support
PRICE: $1,006
8662:
Performance-wise, the 8662 is obviously the better computer. The biggest difference (for me) seems to be the switch from DDR2 to DDR3 RAM (and the included warranty). Is this a significant difference to justify the price increase? I'm wondering if it performs “too” well for what I'll be using it for, especially since the performance comes at the cost of the battery life. If it weren't for this fact, I'd probably go for this model. Does anyone have any guesses as to what sort of battery life I might get with the following specs on Window's 7 power saving mode with the wireless on and just working on documents/browsing the web?
Sager NP8662 (Built on Clevo M860TU) Custom Gaming Laptop (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2564%7B76%7D2438%7B18 7%7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2422%7B88%7D1925%7B186 %7D1532%7B93%7D2431%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D656%7B98%7 D1295%7B96%7D2434%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D696%7B117%7 D705%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D2426%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7 D1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D689%7B106%7 D1696%7B121%7D694%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170%7D 1591%7B173%7D1175%7B167%7D1452%7B103%7D686%7B113%7 D1413%7B111%7D1414%7B69%7D714)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- nVidia GeForce GTX 260M 1,024MB PCI-Express DDR3 DX10 (User Upgradeable)
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR3 1066MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- No Floppy Drive
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- None Standard*
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No External Keyboard or Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- None Standard - Drivers & Utility Software Only
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- 3 Year Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Based Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
PRICE: $1,472
Also, would it be possible to downgrade the video card in the 8662 to get a better battery life (yea, I know I just gave a bunch of people a collective apoplexy)? If so, any suggestions as to a good video card? I remember hearing about the defective GeForce models. Does anyone know how that turned out? I haven't heard anything in a few months.
As for the other models, the 16:9 ratio on the KHBL2 will drive me crazy, and I'm not too keen on the Intel 5100 wireless card in the JHL90s as well as their weird screen size and some of the concerns I've been hearing about the build quality and other stuff. None of the Asus models strike my fancy, and for the price, I think the 7682 performs better anyway. I haven't heard much about the MSI models, just that the Clevo will hold up better.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
Up to ~1500 +/- a bit (see below)
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
15.4"
3) What country are you buying this in?
USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Prefer: Clevo barebone models
I'm basing this mostly off of reviews, so I'll bow to hands-on experience from sources I can trust (I've found Xoticpc has a very good reputation, which is why I chose to come here)
5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
I'm starting a grad program in the sciences, so I'll be doing a lot of online reading (journal articles etc). I'll also need some minor Photoshop capabilities and the possibility of being able to handle basic 3d modeling. In addition, I imagine I'll use it to watch a few movies and stuff like that. A good internet connection is important. Basically, it should be able to handle anything I might throw at it, keeping in mind that I doubt I'll ever get into any sort of hard-core gaming.
6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
I'll be lugging it around everywhere.
7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
No, at least not worth mentioning.
8) How many hours of battery life do you need?
2 absolute min. I would prefer 2.5+. I'll most likely get a second battery, but I want one battery to last through the longest of my classes (1.5-2 hours).
9) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
Not particularly
10) What OS do you prefer? (more details below
No OS. I already use Win 7 RC and I'm sick of Vista and the bloatware that comes with the pre-installed systems.
Screen Specifics
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non glossy screen?
Not sure. I think I've only had glossy in the past and that seemed to work fine.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
I'll take functionality over looks any day. The single most important thing for me is build quality.
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
ASAP. My old one just broke. I know it's a bit unrealistic, but I want to try to make the laptop last through the end of grad school (4-7 yrs). I'll be willing to pay a bit more for that luxury. I'm usually very careful with my computers.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 80GB, 160GB, 250GB, 320GB, 500GB, 1TB, or 1.5TB?
Min 250GB, 7200RPM. I would prefer a 320GB, 7200RPM
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, CD/DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
Yes. I'll need a DVD burner, but a Blue-Ray drive isn't worth the money right now. I can always replace the optical drive in a few years.
17) What speed CPU/Processor would you like? Dual core or Quad Core CPU?
Dual core should be fine.
So here's the deal: I just ended an unhappy, 1.5 yr, relationship with Toshiba, which spanned 2 computers and shop time measuring in months for each computer. Basically, it's left me a bit paranoid about the build quality of the new laptop. I want a laptop that is relatively easy to replace/upgrade all the parts, including the GPU if need be, as well as excellent build quality. The Clevo barebones seem to best fit my needs, but I'm still open-minded.
I could go on for a while about my perceived pros and cons of the various models (including the non-Clevo models), but I think I've narrowed the choices down to the Sager NP7682 and NP8662.
7682:
This model seems more suited to my current needs (and price range), but I'm wondering how it will stand the test of time. Also, I haven't been able to find any info on it at all. Does anyone have any experience with this model? Here are the specs I was looking at:
Sager NP7682 (Built on Clevo M762TU) (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2571%7B76%7D650%7B187 %7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2422%7B88%7D1949%7B186% 7D1532%7B93%7D2044%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D656%7B98%7D 1295%7B96%7D2434%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D696%7B117%7D 705%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D2426%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7D 1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D1539%7B106%7 D1691%7B121%7D694%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170%7D 1591%7B173%7D1175%7B167%7D1452%7B103%7D686%7B113%7 D1413%7B111%7D1414%7B69%7D2520)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050) `
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- nVidia GeForce G 105M 512MB PCI-Express DDR2 DX10
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR2 800 (2 SODIMMS) Dual Channel Memory (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- No Floppy Drive
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- No Carrying Case
- Smart Li-ion Battery (6-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- None Standard*
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No External Keyboard or Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- None Standard - Drivers & Utility Software Only
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- 1 Year Parts & Labor, Lifetime XOTIC PC 24/7 Toll Free Telephone Tech Support
PRICE: $1,006
8662:
Performance-wise, the 8662 is obviously the better computer. The biggest difference (for me) seems to be the switch from DDR2 to DDR3 RAM (and the included warranty). Is this a significant difference to justify the price increase? I'm wondering if it performs “too” well for what I'll be using it for, especially since the performance comes at the cost of the battery life. If it weren't for this fact, I'd probably go for this model. Does anyone have any guesses as to what sort of battery life I might get with the following specs on Window's 7 power saving mode with the wireless on and just working on documents/browsing the web?
Sager NP8662 (Built on Clevo M860TU) Custom Gaming Laptop (http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=2564%7B76%7D2438%7B18 7%7D1757%7B94%7D1074%7B92%7D2422%7B88%7D1925%7B186 %7D1532%7B93%7D2431%7B193%7D657%7B112%7D656%7B98%7 D1295%7B96%7D2434%7B168%7D1453%7B116%7D696%7B117%7 D705%7B120%7D703%7B110%7D2426%7B169%7D1449%7B119%7 D1898%7B100%7D734%7B164%7D1441%7B107%7D689%7B106%7 D1696%7B121%7D694%7B108%7D710%7B109%7D711%7B170%7D 1591%7B173%7D1175%7B167%7D1452%7B103%7D686%7B113%7 D1413%7B111%7D1414%7B69%7D714)
- 15.4" WSXGA+ "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1680x1050)
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- ~Intel® P8700 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.53GHz w/3MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 25 watt
- nVidia GeForce GTX 260M 1,024MB PCI-Express DDR3 DX10 (User Upgradeable)
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 4,096MB DDR3 1066MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- None Standard--
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache)
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- No Floppy Drive
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi Link
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- None Standard*
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No External Keyboard or Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- None Standard - Drivers & Utility Software Only
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- 3 Year Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime 24/7 DOMESTIC Based Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
PRICE: $1,472
Also, would it be possible to downgrade the video card in the 8662 to get a better battery life (yea, I know I just gave a bunch of people a collective apoplexy)? If so, any suggestions as to a good video card? I remember hearing about the defective GeForce models. Does anyone know how that turned out? I haven't heard anything in a few months.
As for the other models, the 16:9 ratio on the KHBL2 will drive me crazy, and I'm not too keen on the Intel 5100 wireless card in the JHL90s as well as their weird screen size and some of the concerns I've been hearing about the build quality and other stuff. None of the Asus models strike my fancy, and for the price, I think the 7682 performs better anyway. I haven't heard much about the MSI models, just that the Clevo will hold up better.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks