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NP7682 or Asus F50SV series?

post #1 of 11
5/12/09 at 10:44pm
Thread Starter 
I can't seem to find any reviews of the 7682. It looks like a very nice system, but I'm having trouble deciding between these two machines. The differences are:

1) 15.4 16:10 screen in either 1200x800 or 1680x1050 vs. 16.4" 16:9 w/ 1366x768 res only

2) Intel wifi card vs whatever Asus uses

3) eSATA port (I'm agnostic here since I will mostly be using a My Passport bus-powered drive)

4) Nvidia G105M vs GT120 (I'm not even sure exactly what each of these cards is since I'm not clear on the new numbering scheme)

5) Weight -- 7682 ~5.8Lbs vs. ~6.3 for the Asus (is a half pound even worth worrying about?)

6) Price -- The Asus can be had for roughly $300 less given the same general specs (P8600, 4GB RAM, 320GB 7200 HD, BD drive), including 2-year warranty and 1-year ADP both direct from Asus.

The reason I'm conflicted is that I had an 8790 and loved it (albeit after ATS took it in for warranty to replace the mobo after the overheating/artifacting deal), but Asus seems to make some top-notch stuff, and the price is definitely nice. I guess the main issue is -- is the 7682, being a Clevo product, superior to the Asus in overall quality, just like it is over the Compal 209x models?

Sorry if this is confusing, but any help here is much appreciated!
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post #2 of 11
5/13/09 at 12:30am
To clear up your graphics card question, the GT105M is the new low-midrange card and the GT120M is midrange-performance.

Regarding build quality, Asus has some very well built machines, but the F series is typically on the lower end of Asus' build quality scales. That doesn't mean the particular model you're considering is better or worse, but it provides some info for consideration.
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post #3 of 11
5/13/09 at 2:47pm
Thread Starter 
Will the GT105 be sufficient for BD and HD video playback? I don't really have any need for any more horsepower than is required to play a BD disc or HD video smoothly and without slowing things down (unlike a GMA chip).
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post #4 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:20pm
yes, the GT 105M should be able to handle high-definition video playback quite adequately.
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post #5 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:25pm
Thread Starter 
I also meant to ask about the Intel Wifi -- I have heard that they offer better range and speed over "generic" products (as with the Asus, where the radio maker is unknown), but I have never been able to test this myself. Is Intel Pro/Wireless worth the extra cost or is it just to get the sticker?
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post #6 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SagerGuy24 View Post
I also meant to ask about the Intel Wifi -- I have heard that they offer better range and speed over "generic" products (as with the Asus, where the radio maker is unknown), but I have never been able to test this myself. Is Intel Pro/Wireless worth the extra cost or is it just to get the sticker?
FYI, the manufacturer of the wireless card in the F50Sv is Broadcom (probably using an Atheros chipset)

Personally, I've had good experiences with Intel wireless cards, so I'd prefer Intel over Broadcom, in this case. However, it probably won't be that much of a difference in real life conditions.
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post #7 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:33pm
Thread Starter 
That's what I figured -- my point being, it doesn't seem by itself to be worth an extra $300 or so. I would definitely spring for it if I got the Sager, but it's not something that I would think would make or break my decision between the two systems.
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post #8 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:40pm
yeah, if you wanted an Intel card instead, you could buy one for $35. Much less than $300
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post #9 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 
Are Wifi cards in laptops easily replaceable? I always figured they were one of the integrated components on a laptop motherboard to save space and cost.
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post #10 of 11
5/13/09 at 4:55pm
nope, they're not integrated. They plug into a mini PCI Express slot on the motherboard. All you have to do to change one is disconnect the antenna leads from the old one and pop it out of the slot, then pop the new one in, hook the antenna leads back up and you're in business! (of course, you'll also need a driver, but those are easy to find, especially from Intel)
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post #11 of 11
5/13/09 at 5:01pm
Thread Starter 
Nice...basically just like a RAM swap. Thanks for the tip!
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