8800 Update for Sager 5791 & Sager 9261

[[email protected]]

Date: 11/27/2007
NP9261
We wanted to write to confirm that current (D901C) units will not be able to accommodate the new nVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX graphics card without a mother board swap out / modifications. Unfortunately, when we design our units we cannot predict the impact of unforeseen technology. In this case the old mother board simply cannot accommodate the new graphics card. We recognize this is disappointing to our customers, and Sager intends to launch a very reasonably and attracted discounted priced upgrade path for Sager branded units only. That will include the new graphics card and a motherboard swap out.

Currently Sager is working very closely with both Clevo and nVIDIA to sort out all the issues and at this point we know that a motherboard swap out is a MUST on the NP9260/1 (D901C) series.

NP5791
We are currently making good progress on the NP5790/1 (M570RU), but we have one outstanding issue that would require a motherboard revision. The issue is related to suspending the system to memory (S3). With the current motherboard the unit would resume into a blank black screen.

At this time we have been informed that this cannot be fixed by software, however we are currently considering different upgrade packages for the NP579x (M570RU) if this remains the only hardware modification required issue.

1.We will allow the customer to upgrade on their own, under the pre-condition that the customer understands that the unit cannot resume from suspend to memory
2.We will do the motherboard modification rework at a discounted rate
3.We will swap out the motherboard and graphics card for the customer at a discounted priced upgrade package.

Further upgrade package and pre-order details will be released on Dec, 6th 2007

[halophoenix]

is there a way for the np2090 to upgrade to it? a mxm card swap maybe? (i'm a newb so i dont' know xD)

[canucklehead]

Wow that's disappointing. I think it's great you guys are being really accomodating about it, but damnit I thought the whole point of MXM boards was that they were "ready for the future" and all that nVidia bullcrap. Looks like a cheap selling point for those jerks. Guess that's what happens when you pretty much own the GPU market.

Too bad so sad! What kind of price ranges do you think we'll be looking at?

[[email protected]]

Unfortunately the 2090 can not handle this type of video card.

We will not have pricing details available until 12/6. I know it is frustrating that the cards just dont snap in and upgrade.

Keep in mind that there was no way for Clevo/Sager to have a 8800M Sample 4-6 months back to ensure future upgradeability. nVidia just started providing the 8800 for testing just weeks back.

[xpcdude]

Which by all means, is good news for Sager 5791 owners.
For those willing to live without standby , they can have the 8800M GTX pretty soon.
We have to wait until 12/6 for prices and availability,and maybe Justin will provide us with some benchmarks

[canucklehead]

So what's the deal with MXM then? Any freaking point to it?

[xpcdude]

Actually yes. The laptop accomodates either the 7950GTX, or the 8700GT,both MXM and user upgradeable.
The5791 WILL take benefit of the MXM, and will have the 8800M GTX, with the minor standby setback.
Sadly enough,these are all NVIDIA`s fault,because they released the chip very late and did not work with laptop manufacturers to make sure upgradeability was taken care of. Except for the 5791

[canucklehead]

Sounds like a big cash grab to me. They tout this great MXM technology, but each revision of MXM is only good for what, 6-8 months? Awesome. :roll:

[[email protected]]

Not at all a cash grab...

It is MXM, any NON MXM system has a soldered on Video card that can never change. It may not be able to upgrade to a newly released video card but it can change with other MXM cards that were released with the model. We understand this is frustrating.

nVidia released this card many months after these systems were released. How can a system be ensured to work with future upgrades if the architecture is changed or a sample is provided at a later date after this system is already designed for the previous protocol?

Constraints of new technology can really never be forecasted accurately...

[hfeigel]

Just to clarify, upgrading to an 8800 on a 5790 will inhibit standby (sleep)...will it also disable hibernate?

[[email protected]]

What we know right now it is only Sleep. We will post more info as we have more findings.

Some have asked for a bit more detail on why the 8800M requires a motherboard modification.

As an initial matter the motherboard of a desktop and a notebook computer are complete different in design. Notebooks have much tighter space constraints and this has implications for design, heat dispersal, and signal interference. As an example, a VGA card in a standard desktop has a monitor output directly on the card, but in the case of a laptop the card output has to pass through the motherboard and the LCD monitor itself has to pass through the notebook design for power saving controls and other.

In the case of the 8800M, prior cards including the 8700M were done with a design kit that allowed ODMs to design and build the card modules with the GPU chips that supported 2 protocols to communicate to the LCD panels -- LVDS & EDID. However with the 8800M things have changed a bit, nVIDIA decided that they would pre-build the modules and ship them to ODMs for final customization, and only the EDID protocol is supported by these modules. This limits Clevo’s ability to make software changes for compatibility. Both nVIDIA and Clevo are doing their best to find ways to get around all the speed bumps with software fixes, but there are just some resources that must be adjusted by hardware rework due to this protocol change.

[canucklehead]

I understand that, but, like any company that's in business for profit, it's to their advantage to require users to buy new hardware to support their product, especially when they make money on that hardware also. It's not like the 8800 technology just came out, it's been on desktops for a year now. Meh, I don't really care either way, I know this is how it goes, but I'm just hesitant when people start defending the practices of companies who's sole existence is to make money off of you. nVidia is not my friend, and ultimately they prefer when I have to open my wallet up, they're not in the business of saving me money.

[[email protected]]

11/30/2007 Upgrade Info

Upgrading Sager NP9260/1 (D901C) & NP5790/1 (M570RU) to new nVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX w/512MB

Due to specification changes out of Sager’s Control, the Sager NP9260/NP9261 will require a motherboard swap out to the updated Revision V6.x motherboard to correctly support the new nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB. The motherboard version number can be located on the bottom memory socket. The Sager NP5790/NP5791 has three different upgrade options available*.

For NP9260/NP9261/NP5790/NP5791 users wishing to purchase the nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB, Sager will perform the necessary motherboard swap out and install the card. Shipping and handling charges to and from Sager will be the responsibility of the customer. Sager will not be responsible for any case scratches or paint chipping that may occur during the modification. Please Contact the Sager Technical Support department for detailed information.

The upgrade/swap out kit will be available beginning Jan 15th, 2008. For Sager brand Clevo D901C/M570RU customers the swap out process will take 5 business days. Non-Sager branded Clevo D901C/M570RU units will require 10 to 15 business days. Rush service available call for details.

For Sager Branded Clevo D901C / M570RU customers, the nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB GPU and motherboard will receive a new 1 year warranty or the remaining extended warranty if longer than 1 year remaining; the rest of the unit warranty (or extended warranty if previously purchased by customer) remains as is.

Non Sager branded Clevo D901C / M570RU units will have 90 day warranty for all replaced parts. Sager is not responsible for the terms and conditions of any other warranties on Non-Sager Branded units, and you should review those terms to determine whether Sager service on such units will void other warranties.

For a limited time (Jan 15th, 2008 through June 30th 2008), Sager will offer the upgrade packages at a discounted rate.

Sager NP9260/NP9261 (Clevo D901C):
• Price good between Jan 15th’08 through June 30th’08
• New revision D06 (Ver. 6.x) motherboard
• 1x nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB Card
• Labor included
• $899.00 after instant $200.00 off for Sager Branded customers
• $1099.00 Non-Sager Branded systems

$745.00 for additional nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB Card


Sager NP5790/NP5791 (Clevo M570RU):

Option 1: Full swap out package
• Price good between Jan 15th’08 through June 30th’08
• New nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB
• New Motherboard
• Labor included
• $899.00 after instant $200.00 off for Sager Branded customers
• $1099.00 Non-Sager Branded systems

Option 2*: Send in to Sager for Motherboard Rework
• Available Jan 15th’08
• New nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB
• Sager will perform motherboard Rework needed
• $745.00 Sager Branded Systems FREE Labor Included
• $845.00 ($745.00 +$100.00 labor) for non Sager Branded systems

Option 3*: Pre-condition User self upgrade
• Available Jan 15th’08
• New nVIDIA® GeForce™ 8800M GTX w/512MB
• User understands that the system will have unable to wake from suspend to ram (S3) aka: Suspend / Sleep mode issues.
• $745.00





* NOTE: NP579x Option 2 & Option 3 may or may not be available depending on final testing results from Clevo.

[xpcdude]

Sounds to me that the best option for the M570RU (sager 5791) is option 2, since you get both the motherboard and the GPu for the same price as the GPU when you would upgrade it yourself...