Ok, I know a lot of people have been looking foreword to reviews of this model so I'll try not to disapoint anyone. If I dont cover something here, just ask your question and I'll do my best to anwser. I'm going to try to make this easy to follow, so I'm putting in a search system of sorts. Just use the search command of your browser (Ctrl-F usually) and type in the name of a heading (ex.- 3-Packaging) I hope you all enjoy!
Note: Pictures will come as soon as my web server starts to behave. I know I promised pics with this, but please bear with me. I'll have them up ASAP. Sorry for the inconvience.
Search headings:
1-My System!
2-Ordering
3-Packaging
4-First Impressions and "Style"
5-Build quality
6-Keyboard
7-The screen
8-Performance
- 8a-Gaming
- 8b-Graphics software
8c-Benchmarks
9-The battery
10-Heat
11-Portability
12-Conclusion
13-(added)Fan noize
1-My system!
Probably the most important part, my bragging :P Heres the specs...
Pentium M 1.86 GHz Processor
80GB SATA Hard drive
512MB RAM (Trying to save a bit of cash)
WSXGA Display 1680x1050
ATi Mobility Radeon x700 w/ 256MB Video RAM (Duh!)
2-Ordering
Ordering this machine from PCT was simple. No problems at all, and Luke anwsered just about anything I asked him. I had a very good experience with PCT and would order from them again.
PC Torque is the greatest!!
3-Packaging
The packaging from Sager was just "OK". There was a box fit snugly inside a larger box. The laptop was inside cradled with two pieces of stirofoam. Not much else to say.
4-First Impressions and "Style"
Upon seeing this notebook my first reaction was wow! This is a very styleish lappy. I was quite impressed! The diagonal is a very cool look and I guess adds to thermal disapation by letting air get in under the machine a little. The silver and black look very nice paired together.
5-Build quality
I'd have to say, for the most part, my computer was pretty well built. It feels very solid and well put together to the touch. The top part of the LCD is made of some kind of metal. I cant figure out what it is exactly. However, it seems to protect the LCD, not to mention add to the awesome looks
My gripe about the metal is that it can get fingerprints and oils from your skin on it easily, but they polish out.
The screen stays put and is tight wherever you want it. Moving it, for me, seems to take the perfect amount of force. Not too much, not too little. Just right. However, the hinges seem flimzy. Like they could break or crack. I'm going to be keeping my eye on this!
The front panel DJ is pretty cool and adds the the wow factor, but it was shipped to me with a small scratch
I havent used the thing yet though.
6-Keyboard
Unlike a couple other people here, I seem to have gotten a good keyboard. It doesnt stick up at all and feels very nice to my hands. Theres no flex at all. The F8 key does make a small "click" if you push near the top of it, but thats not an issue for me since I generally click the bottom of it when I use it. My only "complaint" is that its a little large for my hands. But the keyboard of any 15" laptop is like that for me. I have very small hands
7-The screen
The screen is gorgeous! Wonderful viewing angles! Bright vibrant colors! No dead pixels. I think its the best screen I ever laid eyes on! This beats out the monitors on the Macs at college. Huge 24" widescreen things that we do heavy graphics apps on. Also, the rez on those things is 12xx something. Whatever the numbers are there, I forget
The reason I opted for the 1690x1050 screen is because the biggest one I used was that Mac. I was leary about hoping to a rez as large is the 1920x1200 one. I stand by my decision and dont regret it at all. I've got more than enough realestate for almost everything.
8-Performance
8a-Gaming
Ok, this lappy ROCKS
I can play FarCry at 1280x1024 at 40-45 fps depending on how much is going on with full settings. Doom 3 plays 42-50 with max settings. Like doc_simple I also tested Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War (Want to play sometime doc?) and got AMAZING gameplay with totally maxed settings. Didnt get framerates for this one though, sorry.
I'm confident this will play whatever I throw at it! Especially if I upgrade its RAM.
8b-Graphics software
This is my career, graphic design, and part of my reasons for buying it was school and work.
In 2D stuff, like Adobe CS I could swear this out performs the Macs at college. I loaded up the same 10 MB Photoshop file on a mac and my 5320 and mine finished loading it first. It does anything I ask it to do with no fuss or slowdown. Wonderful machine!
In 3D apps its x700 gives respectable performance. Its obviously no Quatro or FireGL, but it performs nicely considered. I'll try to give more specific specs later, but I'm a tad buisy right now.
8c-Benchmarks
My 3DMark05 benches are as follows:
Default clock 350/660: 2773
Overclock 420/780: 3253
9-The battery
*bad music plays*
Well for all this power you'd think the battery suffers. Well, it does a little bit. Web surfing with wireless and the screen dimmed all the way at the college got me a pretty respectable 3 hours. However watching a DVD at full screen with the brightness down as far as it goes got me about 2 hours 20 minutes. Using something from Adobe CS on battery gives me a respectable 2 hours 40 minutes.
I'm a little disapointed. Considering the performance of some rival laptops in this catagory, I almost expected a little more and was trying to be hopeful. But I'm not too surprised with what I got and I can live with it.
10-Heat
This machine can get pretty damn warm! Most of the heat seems to be concentrated right above the middle function keys, where the video card is located. It gets so hot after a heavy gaming session that it almost worries me. The next warmest place is the right top area of the keyboard. Its no where near as warm as the video card area, but still gets warm. The last area of heavy heat concentration is to the right of the touch pad, where the hard drive is. This doesnt get anywhere near as warm as the other two areas, but its warm enough to bear mention.
11-Portability
This lappy is heavy. Its not the heaviest in its class but its certantly not the lightest. I can deal with carrying it around college and to work with me even with my books, and I'm not a very big person. In my opinion, it just works out.
12-Conclusion
I'm pretty damn happy with this laptop. It gives me almost all the performance I need while still being semi portable. I get the feeling it'll probably last quite a while and not let me down. It has great looks and a beautiful screen. For all that, I'm willing to put up with its "quirks"
I give it a 9 out of 10!
I'd recomend the 5320 to other people who might need something similar to my needs: Gamer, Graphic Designer, Computer Enthusiast(like classmates, people I work with, and other gamers). But for the simple folk who just go web surfing and typing, I'd say get something with less power. Or if your a hard core gamer who wants nothing but an extra bajillion FPS in a very graphic intensive game and wont take it anywhere, I'd say go for one of the huge DTR's. The 5320 is a wonderfully balanced machine for the right user!
Added stuff:
13-(added)Fan noize
For the most part, the fans dont make much noize on this thing. If I'm just web surfing or typing, I cant even hear them. If I start doing anything graphic intensive however, they turn on about a half hour or so into it. It sounds like the quiet hum of a VCR in my opinion. If you're gaming or watching a movie, you wont notice it. But if you're working in something from the Adobe CS you will. It doesnt get on my nerves too much, I just know its there.
Note: Pictures will come as soon as my web server starts to behave. I know I promised pics with this, but please bear with me. I'll have them up ASAP. Sorry for the inconvience.
Search headings:
1-My System!
2-Ordering
3-Packaging
4-First Impressions and "Style"
5-Build quality
6-Keyboard
7-The screen
8-Performance
- 8a-Gaming
- 8b-Graphics software
8c-Benchmarks
9-The battery
10-Heat
11-Portability
12-Conclusion
13-(added)Fan noize
1-My system!
Probably the most important part, my bragging :P Heres the specs...
Pentium M 1.86 GHz Processor
80GB SATA Hard drive
512MB RAM (Trying to save a bit of cash)
WSXGA Display 1680x1050
ATi Mobility Radeon x700 w/ 256MB Video RAM (Duh!)
2-Ordering
Ordering this machine from PCT was simple. No problems at all, and Luke anwsered just about anything I asked him. I had a very good experience with PCT and would order from them again.
PC Torque is the greatest!!
3-Packaging
The packaging from Sager was just "OK". There was a box fit snugly inside a larger box. The laptop was inside cradled with two pieces of stirofoam. Not much else to say.
4-First Impressions and "Style"
Upon seeing this notebook my first reaction was wow! This is a very styleish lappy. I was quite impressed! The diagonal is a very cool look and I guess adds to thermal disapation by letting air get in under the machine a little. The silver and black look very nice paired together.
5-Build quality
I'd have to say, for the most part, my computer was pretty well built. It feels very solid and well put together to the touch. The top part of the LCD is made of some kind of metal. I cant figure out what it is exactly. However, it seems to protect the LCD, not to mention add to the awesome looks
My gripe about the metal is that it can get fingerprints and oils from your skin on it easily, but they polish out.The screen stays put and is tight wherever you want it. Moving it, for me, seems to take the perfect amount of force. Not too much, not too little. Just right. However, the hinges seem flimzy. Like they could break or crack. I'm going to be keeping my eye on this!
The front panel DJ is pretty cool and adds the the wow factor, but it was shipped to me with a small scratch
I havent used the thing yet though.6-Keyboard
Unlike a couple other people here, I seem to have gotten a good keyboard. It doesnt stick up at all and feels very nice to my hands. Theres no flex at all. The F8 key does make a small "click" if you push near the top of it, but thats not an issue for me since I generally click the bottom of it when I use it. My only "complaint" is that its a little large for my hands. But the keyboard of any 15" laptop is like that for me. I have very small hands
7-The screen
The screen is gorgeous! Wonderful viewing angles! Bright vibrant colors! No dead pixels. I think its the best screen I ever laid eyes on! This beats out the monitors on the Macs at college. Huge 24" widescreen things that we do heavy graphics apps on. Also, the rez on those things is 12xx something. Whatever the numbers are there, I forget
The reason I opted for the 1690x1050 screen is because the biggest one I used was that Mac. I was leary about hoping to a rez as large is the 1920x1200 one. I stand by my decision and dont regret it at all. I've got more than enough realestate for almost everything.
8-Performance
8a-Gaming
Ok, this lappy ROCKS
I can play FarCry at 1280x1024 at 40-45 fps depending on how much is going on with full settings. Doom 3 plays 42-50 with max settings. Like doc_simple I also tested Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War (Want to play sometime doc?) and got AMAZING gameplay with totally maxed settings. Didnt get framerates for this one though, sorry.I'm confident this will play whatever I throw at it! Especially if I upgrade its RAM.
8b-Graphics software
This is my career, graphic design, and part of my reasons for buying it was school and work.
In 2D stuff, like Adobe CS I could swear this out performs the Macs at college. I loaded up the same 10 MB Photoshop file on a mac and my 5320 and mine finished loading it first. It does anything I ask it to do with no fuss or slowdown. Wonderful machine!
In 3D apps its x700 gives respectable performance. Its obviously no Quatro or FireGL, but it performs nicely considered. I'll try to give more specific specs later, but I'm a tad buisy right now.
8c-Benchmarks
My 3DMark05 benches are as follows:
Default clock 350/660: 2773
Overclock 420/780: 3253
9-The battery
*bad music plays*
Well for all this power you'd think the battery suffers. Well, it does a little bit. Web surfing with wireless and the screen dimmed all the way at the college got me a pretty respectable 3 hours. However watching a DVD at full screen with the brightness down as far as it goes got me about 2 hours 20 minutes. Using something from Adobe CS on battery gives me a respectable 2 hours 40 minutes.
I'm a little disapointed. Considering the performance of some rival laptops in this catagory, I almost expected a little more and was trying to be hopeful. But I'm not too surprised with what I got and I can live with it.
10-Heat
This machine can get pretty damn warm! Most of the heat seems to be concentrated right above the middle function keys, where the video card is located. It gets so hot after a heavy gaming session that it almost worries me. The next warmest place is the right top area of the keyboard. Its no where near as warm as the video card area, but still gets warm. The last area of heavy heat concentration is to the right of the touch pad, where the hard drive is. This doesnt get anywhere near as warm as the other two areas, but its warm enough to bear mention.
11-Portability
This lappy is heavy. Its not the heaviest in its class but its certantly not the lightest. I can deal with carrying it around college and to work with me even with my books, and I'm not a very big person. In my opinion, it just works out.
12-Conclusion
I'm pretty damn happy with this laptop. It gives me almost all the performance I need while still being semi portable. I get the feeling it'll probably last quite a while and not let me down. It has great looks and a beautiful screen. For all that, I'm willing to put up with its "quirks"
I give it a 9 out of 10!
I'd recomend the 5320 to other people who might need something similar to my needs: Gamer, Graphic Designer, Computer Enthusiast(like classmates, people I work with, and other gamers). But for the simple folk who just go web surfing and typing, I'd say get something with less power. Or if your a hard core gamer who wants nothing but an extra bajillion FPS in a very graphic intensive game and wont take it anywhere, I'd say go for one of the huge DTR's. The 5320 is a wonderfully balanced machine for the right user!
Added stuff:
13-(added)Fan noize
For the most part, the fans dont make much noize on this thing. If I'm just web surfing or typing, I cant even hear them. If I start doing anything graphic intensive however, they turn on about a half hour or so into it. It sounds like the quiet hum of a VCR in my opinion. If you're gaming or watching a movie, you wont notice it. But if you're working in something from the Adobe CS you will. It doesnt get on my nerves too much, I just know its there.
( ) which helped a small bit (3dmark 03) but I am always looking for a better driver.
