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G-Omaha's **8790 Review** Now Open To Questions and Comments - Page 8

post #141 of 228
3/27/04 at 3:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CardComp
All this talk about fan noise and such, does put teh thought into ones head of finding higher quality replacement fans to "mod" these heavy beasts. I noted in this thread talk about the fans being custom made for clevo, so I gather finding similar size, power req't, output fans is not a trivial matter. Since Clevo is in the business of mass producing these things to make money, its not too much of a stretch that they are using as inexpensive units as possible that meet a minimum spec. Anyone know of a replacement source for these things? I know I'd be willing to pay much more than a clevo to buy higher performing/more quiet fans if I knew of a reliable alternative...

I just finally made the plunge and ordered an 8790 equivalent. I went the route of a non-sager due to a couple of factors: 1) I wanted a 100% iron clad guarantee of no dead/stuck pixels, and I was willing to pay for it; 2) I just knew if I bought a Sager, the very first thing I would do is pull it apart and replace the thermal pad between the heatpipe and CPU with a premium thermal cmpd, and I'd fear voiding Sager's warrantee in doing so (hard for me to hold off tinkering with things);and 3) I've seen some of the paint jobs people have been getting on similar notebooks and thought I'd finally treat myself to a totally frivolous excess (I promise to post pics..). Time will tell whether or not the premium $$ I spent is worth it or not. FYI I ordered today, 3/26, initial expected ship date 4/25 (which according to my calendar is a Sunday, so little more than an automated "guessdate"). My current situation made the $$ and the extra delay less of a factor. The countdown begins...

- Card
I am thinking of doing the exact thing for the same reasons. I am expecting a good long review from you . G-Omaha I hope your problems get sorted out. Good luck.
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post #142 of 228
3/27/04 at 5:42am
Check this out :-

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=19515

Hope that helps...
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post #143 of 228
3/28/04 at 7:41pm
Thread Starter 

TV Tuner

I sent this email to sager today:

Quote:
I uninstalled the drivers and software for the TV Tuner. I needed to do this because I could not correctly scan the channels from my Cable TV “Box”. I originally used USA-NETSC, then “search all frequencies”, and then Cable box uses USA-NTSC-HRC. The setting obtained from the “search all frequencies” could not be cleared for some reason. When I reviewed all of the CDs/FDDs that were provided with the configuration, I could not find the drivers and software for this hardware. I went to the Sager Support site and downloaded the software for the 8790. Unfortunately, this is Part 3 of 4 and the previous three parts are not available. Fortunately, I was able to download the software and drivers from EUROCOM and have reinstalled them and everything works well.

This is a “heads up” to let you know that the Support site does not have the complete version of the software available for downloading.

What do I need to do to obtain the original CD for this software?

Please let me know.

Thanks,

Gary
The tuner works very well once the correct "scan" is accomplished. The image is real sharp; however, is a bit dark and seems "muddy" when displayed as fullscreen. I have recorded programs and dubbed VCRs to DVD. I did have to use "My DVD" software to actually get the images burned to DVD (I hate that software). I have not tried the S-Video and the audio in yet as my VCR does not support S-Video. I will be trying that later from one of my TVs when I have some more free time - it takes a long time.

Before I deinstalled and reinstalled the drivers and software, I was experiencing random machine "lock ups". Since installing the new ones, I have not been able to recreate the problem. Everything appears to be working perfect.
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post #144 of 228
3/29/04 at 3:24pm
Thread Starter 

Backordered Subwoofer - Received Today

I will swap out the tuner and see what this item is like in the near future and post observations.
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post #145 of 228
3/29/04 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 

Subwoofer - Good but not Great

Well, I guess, what would you expect for the $25. It does; however, improve the sound when playind a DVD if you aren't using headphones.

Well - Off with the subwoofer and on with the tuner again.
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post #146 of 228
3/30/04 at 8:47pm
Thread Starter 

CPU fan clarification

See the following: http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=19734
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post #147 of 228
3/30/04 at 9:50pm
Guys,

Run CPU-Z for me and under the memory tab on the top right tell me if PATS (performance mode) is disabled or enabled in dual channel mode.

Thanks.
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post #148 of 228
3/30/04 at 11:31pm
Thread Starter 

HDTV - Need to look at this further

Well, last night we hooked the 8790 (actually my son did to his Uber Big Sony unit) and liked playing the games. The background was very clear and crisp; however, the windows screens and "pop ups" were almost unreadable. I'm not sure that something was or was not set up correctly. We will need to look at this more. It appears as if we have some "sizing" issues here and we did not have enough time to solve all of the issues.
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post #149 of 228
3/30/04 at 11:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by rancid
Guys,

Run CPU-Z for me and under the memory tab on the top right tell me if PATS (performance mode) is disabled or enabled in dual channel mode.

Thanks.
Provided in your other thread. PAT is not valid with the 8790 as the supporting "chip set" (865) does not support it. Dual mode; however, is supported (at least if the two memory cards are the same speed and size).
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post #150 of 228
3/31/04 at 12:02am
Thread Starter 

Reviews have been suspended - Read on

I have talked with Sager regarding the "Heat Issue" and can't get past it. If it is not resolved, I will be returning this unit for a full refund (minus the shipping costs) and then try again at a later time.

As I have spent a lot of time putting this configuration "thru the paces"; that is the only "show stopper" that I have found.

Now I have complained very much about the WiFi; however, I think that the crux of the problem is really with the router and not the internal device. It seems as if anyone close to the unit (within one block) even farts, the signal strength dips. The signal will shift between 33db and 5db without changing the placement of either the router or the laptop. This is a really strange behavior. My other laptop, which uses a "time proved" LINKSYS PCMICA card exhibits the same behavior.

Except for the "Heat Issue", I find that this unit is well engineered and a great machine. It has taken everything that I can "throw at it" and has not failed.

Oops, forgot that the Battery (8 Cell) can not support the system while at "Full System Usage Capacity (and I mean FULL - Maxed out usages of resources)" without being damaged. At normal operations, it works fine. (This may be related to the "Heat Issue"; however, it is too premature to arrive at such a conclusion firmly).

I'll keep you posted regarding the unit's return, replacement, or whatever follows.

Gary
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post #151 of 228
3/31/04 at 12:16am
wow, looks like you have issues too. I sent mine back for repairs: headphone jack came loose and the power brick started doing the whole heat wave/distortion thing that is normally researved for mirages in the desert or my oven. Otherwise had no problems. My internal wireless card works great with my linksys router, and I looked up in the manual that you can't use both bluetooth and the wireless g card at the same time. I guess they use the same frequency or the same antenna or something.

Did you re-install Windows? Do you have problems with your USB ports not being listed as Hi-Speed? I tried the manual's advice and uninstall/reboot the controller drivers, but every time I boot, the Camra keeps telling me that it is plugged into a non-Hi-Speed port and to unplug it and plug it back in again. umm, can't do that.
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post #152 of 228
3/31/04 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
SEMC,

During evaluations I try to the utmost degree not to reinstall until that evaluation is finished. All of the 7-in-1 USB devices are 1.1 and not high speed. The others that support internal devices, I have not determined if they are or are not. The actual USB devices (external hookups) should be high speed devices. I disabled bluetooth and powered it down to remove it fom the "equation", with what I initially thought was good results (proved to be no improvement). Wen reinstalling windows it is very important that the drivers are installed in a regimented manner - any deviation and all bet's are off.

Good luck with your new unit.
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post #153 of 228
3/31/04 at 12:37am
G-Omaha, could you help me on this one: This is the full explanation of my problem.

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=19880

I would only have done this as a last resort, but I don't send in systems without reformating. I just don't like others knowing what was on the drive. Problem is, now I am having all sorts of problems and no means of solving them. It's like the 8790 can't be reformated. I followed the manual exactly in all steps.
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post #154 of 228
3/31/04 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Omaha
SEMC,

.. All of the 7-in-1 USB devices are 1.1 and not high speed...
Good luck with your new unit.
Are you saying the Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader is USB 1.1 and not USB 2.0 ?
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post #155 of 228
3/31/04 at 1:07am
no, just "full speed" not "hi-speed." Full-speed is 12 MB/s, while hi-speed is 480 MB/s. Two different standards of USB 2.
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post #156 of 228
3/31/04 at 1:28am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Computer_Potato
Are you saying the Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader is USB 1.1 and not USB 2.0 ?
I think that Sandra reported these as 1.1

The 2.0, to the best of my knowledge is not 12MBs. It thought that was 1.1 (different from 1.0); however, I may be mistaken.
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post #157 of 228
3/31/04 at 1:34am
Could be right, but I know for a fact that there are/were two different USB 2.0 standards one was called Full Speed which was slower than Hi Speed (true USB 2.0 at 480 MB/s).
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post #158 of 228
3/31/04 at 1:44am
A quick search found this link.
http://www.usb.org/info/usb_nomenclature
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post #159 of 228
4/1/04 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 

WiFi Update

FINALLY!!!!

We have isolated the WiFi issues to the use of WPA. We "googled" and found some more information about gigabyte equipment (I'll have to relocate the links so that I can provide them) and it appears as if the "fading signal problem" is somehow related to the use of WPA. We swapped to WEP a couple of days ago and are now seeimg more consistant signal levels. There is also an "antenna issue" that can be solved by purchasing another antenna (the one with the router unit is replacable). My old LINKSYS router had two antenna and that may have made a difference.
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post #160 of 228
4/2/04 at 10:55pm
this may be off topic a little, but i was wondering if the 8790 comes with thermal paste on the CPU and if i would viod the warenty if i opened it up and put some on myself?
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