New laptop advice... Sager/Clevo?

[Cuda1447]

Alright, so I haven't purchased a new laptop in years. I've been yearning for one for quite awhile and I think its about time I get one. I'm really not looking to spend a ton of money.

I'm not really up to date with hardware anymore, so I have some general performance questions.


First of all, I'm looking to use it for some light gaming. Nothing major. But I want it to be able to handle newer games at least relatively well. I can't play Civ 5 on my current laptop, SC 2 doesn't run for shit... Company of Heroes or something like that lags when a lot is going on. I want a laptop that can handle that type of stuff. It doesn't need to be top of the line and chances of me playing an FPS or something else high end are pretty slim, as I do most of my gaming on console nowadays. Although, I might. Who knows?


I also am starting to really get into HTPC stuff. My current laptop struggles with high end 1080p videos. I am currently streaming to my tv via PS3 (wired) but may consider going via HDMI if I get a laptop that outputs in 1080p so that it looks good. Open to options as far as that goes.

I've read that 1920x1080 screens looks a lot better than the 1366x768 displays. I haven't had the chance to see the two side by side, so I'm curious as to some of your opinions on that. Is it that big of a difference that I should be looking at spending the extra money on it and limiting my options?


Lastly, I've been looking at a ton of different models and I ran across a company called Sager (re-branded from Clevo I guess). Apparently they are a tawainese company and make excellent quality laptops. There prices seem fantastic and they all come with a 3 year warranty. Have any of you ever had any experience with these models?


As an idea of what I'm looking at.

15.6 screen 1366x768 (the 1080p display is only 60 bucks more).
i-7 2630qm 2.0-2.8ghz, 2nd generation
nVidia GT540M 1024mb GDDR3.
4gig DDR3 1333mhz RAM
320gb HD @7200 rpm


No OS installed which probably keeps the price down, but let's be honest... that's probably a good thing. With the higher end display it prices out at $828, which seems to be great pricing. But I'm unfamiliar with the quality of that video card.

The processor seems like overkill for what I want, I figure an i-3 or i-5 would be plenty fast, but I can't find any of these Clevo models with high end video card and a slower processor, so I guess I'll take it?


Lastly, I haven't completely decided on screen size. I use it at home mostly, but from time to time will take it out. Any of you have experience going with a 17 inch screen? Is it just way to big to be lugging around? What about a 14 instead of 15? I'm thinking that extra inch smaller might make it a lot easier to carry in my laptop bag.


Thanks!

 

[Skott]

Sager is a good gaming laptop. Clevo makes the units for them as well as other companies. Its a good product. A bit more expensive than similar specced ASUS models but Sager has the better cooling system so they can command a higher price. Sager customer service is not the best so many people buy them from a third party vendors like GenTech, XoticPC, PCTorque, and etc., where you get more personalized and better customer service. If you decide to get a Sager go with one of those vendors or others that have a high rating for customer service. You can also go to http://www.notebookforums.com/forumindex.php for more info about Sager and other manufacturers. I hope this info helps.

 

[droshi]

Many of the new Sager PCs are in the Sandy Bridge problem category. This means you probably won't be able to get one until April realistically, maybe later (because quite a few people are in line for pre-orders).

Asus or other brands might have something available now if you need, otherwise it's best to try to way out the SB issues if you can is my opinion.

Overall I like Sager, it and Asus are my top go-to brands personally. For the most part they both make quality laptops, but as always you have to evaluate each model to make sure it's what best fits your needs.

As far as screen size, 17" is quite large to carry around at all, but it can be done. 15" is right in the middle and lets you have some of the best of both worlds. If you are going to use this primarily on a desk I wouldn't go smaller than 15", but that's just my preference. Maybe go to the store and have a look at some sizes to get an idea.

 

[Tom]

For years gaming capable laptops have been big and expensive, but now there are some mid range laptops with ok graphics chips. So you could probably get something for $600-700 and only give up a little, like playing the most demanding games on medium settings instead of high.

If price matters to you.

17" laptops are something of a chore to lug around, or to use on the couch, bed, etc.
15" laptops not really hard to carry or use in any scenario, but heavy enough you won't always have it with you.
Something that weighs 4 lbs or less, why not always bring it ? One gaming notebook that fits is the Alienware m11x, not sure what else does.

All play all the games I have well.

btw, I have one of each, 17" Gateway 7805u that mostly stays in it's case, a Dell 15r with Radeon 550v that gets used all the time, and an m11x that I'm typing on while it sits on my chest while I'm laying down on the couch.

If I only kept one it would be the 15" Dell, the bigger screen is very nice and it's not too big to be handy.

 

[Cuda1447]

Ahh yes, it does appear the Sager model I'm looking at is pre-order only. What a shame, I was really pumped for the specs.

While we are on the topic though, has anyone had a 1080p on a 15 inch screen? I've seeing mixed reviews about it. Some are saying its not worth it on such a small screen, others are saying for just 65 more its def. worth it. Thoughts?

 

[Husky55]

Great info and real good advise in this thread. For what the OP needs based on his useage, the 15" is best for him. Use at home and occasionally take it out. I even prefer the 14" over the 17" for overall use.

 

[Cuda1447]

It looks like the sager model I've decided on won't be available to april/may! Geez, that's a long time to wait for a laptop when I really wanted one now. I guess I've waited a couple years, whats a couple extra months. I'd get something different but I can't find ANYTHING close to the specs of that Sager for similar price.

 

[Husky55]

I actually bought a HP dv7t SB 2630QM but it had the SATA2 chipset design flaw (high current) so I returned it.

I will buy another SB laptop but the time frame will be much later!!! I am now running an HP dv8 18.4" desktop replacement and had wanted the DV7 17.3" for occasional mobile use, but the 17" is really too big and too heavy to lug around.

 

[Meaker10]

Go for graphics now, you can always upgrade the CPU later.

 

[simonizor]

Go for graphics now, you can always upgrade the CPU later.

If you get the 485 in the sager, it says "User Upgradeable" next to it, but that doesn't always pan out because nVidia hasn't been very good about releasing chips to upgrade with for notebooks. Seems like they think that not enough people would purchase them, so they just don't waste their time on it.

 

[roedtogsvart]

Please listen to me. 3 years ago I spent $2500 on a top-of-the-line gaming notebook from Sager. It's a waste of money. Don't do it. Build a great gaming PC for $1000 and get a light laptop with a decent PC. Learn about some hardware and get the best of all worlds.

 

[Cuda1447]

Please listen to me. 3 years ago I spent $2500 on a top-of-the-line gaming notebook from Sager. It's a waste of money. Don't do it. Build a great gaming PC for $1000 and get a light laptop with a decent PC. Learn about some hardware and get the best of all worlds.

I would never spend $2500 on a laptop. I'm looking at 900 absolute TOPS. I really want to be 700-800. I don't do a ton of gaming. Starcraft 2, Civ 5, Company of Heroes. I might dabble with an RTS or something, but really I game on the console if at all usually. When I do play something it'll be from my couch while watching tv with my wife. A desktop doesn't work for that. I'm not going to sit in a room and play a PC game by myself. A laptop allows me to game a little bit while still being with the wife.

 

[Cuda1447]

Alright, so I thought I had settled on the Sager model, but since I had to wait to get it I've been looking around at other models. I've found a very interesting HP model that I'm really thinking about.


Here are the differences


Sager:

2nd Gen i-7 2630qm 2.0-2.8ghz
nVidia GT540M 1024mb GDDR3 DX11
1920x1080 display
6gig 1333mhz RAM
320GB 7200rpm

$881 plus shipping




The HP, very similar...

2nd Gen i-7 2630qm
1366x768 display (not upgradeable)
1GB ATI Radeon 6570 (about 5% more performance than the nVidia 540M
6gig DDR3 RAM
640gb 7200rpm


$850 free shipping


If the HP was a sager, I'd probably jump on it. But.... I've heard Sager makes superior laptops and HP had some quality/engineering problems.

Any input on these two?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Well, it really depends; how big is the laptop? Since you essentially can't upgrade a lot of laptops - and from the sounds of it you wouldn't be interested in hooking it up to an external display - the display is surprisingly important on a laptop IMO: you did mention that you've had a laptop, but in my opinion the display has actually gone down in quality and resolution for the majority of makers these last few years.

If you wait a few months, AMD's Llano is set to come out, which I personally am excited about. Even if you're set on an Intel system, the arrival of competition may mean a pricedrop anyways . . ..

 

[Cuda1447]

Both laptops are 15" screens. That's the sweet spot for me. I wouldn't be against hooking it up to an external display at times. My 52" Samsung I could see myself hooking it up to at times, but I also wouldn't be against using a monitor when at home at times.

 

[AsusReview]

The new Sagers will be great machines, of course you have to wait for the SB thing to blow over. The nice thing is that for lower models they have some good screens available.

 

[Skott]

Please listen to me. 3 years ago I spent $2500 on a top-of-the-line gaming notebook from Sager. It's a waste of money. Don't do it. Build a great gaming PC for $1000 and get a light laptop with a decent PC. Learn about some hardware and get the best of all worlds.

Its always cheaper to build/buy a more powerful desktop than a laptop and its far easier to upgrade the desktop as well. This goes without saying. What you say though is not a bad idea but there is one thing a laptop has to offer that not even a small SFF rig can top. Portability. The laptop is pretty much all inclusive in one box whereas a SFF requires you to tote a monitor around as well.

It can be argued that many people need the power supply and a mouse too if they dont like the battery life or track pad of a laptop to carry as well but laptops are still the best for ease of portability. I'm not advocating laptops here but one needs to decide what is best for his/her situation and go with that. There are pros and cons to both sides one wishes to go. Having the best of both worlds is great but not everyone can afford both. And some dont want both even if they can afford it.

 

[Cuda1447]

For me, if my laptop can play most games at mediumish settings fairly well... that's plenty. I think the laptops I'm looking at can handle that.

 

[mnewsham]

If you can go 17" you should look into the ASUS G73JH refurb for $920 at newegg. It is only 1600x900 but the GPU and CPU are kick ass, not sandy bridge but for 900 bucks it is REALLY good.

 

[Cuda1447]

If you can go 17" you should look into the ASUS G73JH refurb for $920 at newegg. It is only 1600x900 but the GPU and CPU are kick ass, not sandy bridge but for 900 bucks it is REALLY good.

Problem is 17" isn't really portable.

 

[mnewsham]

Problem is 17" isn't really portable.

In a gaming laptop your battery is heavy enough that it wont be portable anyway no matter the size. you might also check out the G53 (the 15" version of the ASUS)

 

[Cuda1447]

If you can go 17" you should look into the ASUS G73JH refurb for $920 at newegg. It is only 1600x900 but the GPU and CPU are kick ass, not sandy bridge but for 900 bucks it is REALLY good.

Looking at it in more detail, it seems its only marginally better than the 15" HP that I am thinking about getting. Bit better processor, same RAM, non SB processor, slightly higher resolution screen.

 

[Cuda1447]

In a gaming laptop your battery is heavy enough that it wont be portable anyway no matter the size. you might also check out the G53 (the 15" version of the ASUS)

Yea, upon reconsidering it, I don't really think I'm against a 17" screen. Thing is, its not really any better performance than a new HP with 15" screen. And the HP is a bit cheaper.

 

[mnewsham]

Looking at it in more detail, it seems its only marginally better than the 15" HP that I am thinking about getting. Bit better processor, same RAM, non SB processor, slightly higher resolution screen.

The GPU on the G53 or G73 would destory anything in an HP besides in the HP envy 17. that is the only HP that could match the ASUS.

 

[mnewsham]

Yea, upon reconsidering it, I don't really think I'm against a 17" screen. Thing is, its not really any better performance than a new HP with 15" screen. And the HP is a bit cheaper.

see my post above, the GTX 460m or the ATI HD 5870m (both are in the ASUS depending on the model) The HP cant compare.