Sandy bridge notebooks?

[dustin1706]

I want to get a new laptop and was going to get an ASUS G73Jw, (mostly just because it looks so friggin cool) but I was kinda hoping they'd bring out an updated version with a 2600 CPU and a 5xx GPU. Desktops are being sold with these processors now, but when will the laptops be available?

I haven't read anything about this yet and Google didn't help me find out.

[lowfat]

A 17" notebook definitely isn't something I would consider a netbook.

You will never see a Sandy Bridge netbook. However I am sure more Sandy Bridge notebooks will be available here shortly. It has only really been available for less than two weeks now. Give it a month or two and you'll start to see considerably more available.

[dustin1706]

Lol. My brain meant notebook, but my fingers typed netbook. Title edited. I just expected to see some advertising or product announcements by now and thought I may have missed reading them somewhere.

[YukonTrooper]

Acer announced they are working on a Sandy Bridge Timeline notebook. More announcements will come; however, Core mobile processors haven't been in the channel that long so I'm sure manufacturers aren't in a hurry to do so until their stocks start drying up.

[Chris350]

Dustin, the new ASUS G73SW (sandy bridge model) is currently on pre-order at NCIX.

NCIX.com - Buy ASUS G73SW-A1 17.3IN FHD I7-2630QM 8GB 1TB GeForce GTX 460M WIN7 Prem Blu Ray Black Notebook - G73SW-A1 In Canada.

Dell's Alienware M17xR3 machines can be configured at dell.ca. These also come with sandy bridge.

My HP DV7 cooked itself just before xmas so I have been waiting for these sandy bridges to come out as well. I was ready to pull the trigger on the G73SW but the price is a bit steep considering it is just the original G73 with a newer CPU without a GPU update.

[dustin1706]

Originally Posted by Chris350

Dustin, the new ASUS G73SW (sandy bridge model) is currently on pre-order at NCIX.

NCIX.com - Buy ASUS G73SW-A1 17.3IN FHD I7-2630QM 8GB 1TB GeForce GTX 460M WIN7 Prem Blu Ray Black Notebook - G73SW-A1 In Canada.

Dell's Alienware M17xR3 machines can be configured at dell.ca. These also come with sandy bridge.

My HP DV7 cooked itself just before xmas so I have been waiting for these sandy bridges to come out as well. I was ready to pull the trigger on the G73SW but the price is a bit steep considering it is just the original G73 with a newer CPU without a GPU update.

Thanks for that link, that's what I've been looking for.

I think these laptops seem to be the best bang for your buck for a decent laptop. Really i want to make sure I get a BD player, 17" screen and dual HDD slots, along with decent CPU and ram.

I think a 460 is adequate for a single 17" panel, but I really thought they'd swap out to a 5xx or a 6xxx series card at the same time as the CPU upgrade. however, after looking at ATI and Nvidias websites, the 460 is still one of the best m GPU available. Even the 6970m and 555m bench very closely to the 460m. The only better GPUs are the 470m 480m and 485m, but I can only assume that their power consumption is much higher as well.

I think I'll end up getting this notebook, but i may just wait for the 3D version, as I don't have any other 3d monitors and it might be fun to play with for a bit.

[Keltron 3030]

many boutique builder got Sandy notebooks, such as AVADirect and Xotic PC. Alienware and ASUS got some as well


EDIT: That's what I get for not reading all the posts

[Chris350]

Dustin:

This is the best price I have seen for the non 3d version (from another forum):

LU Computers

Said forum:

ASUS G73SW Owners' Lounge - Page 17

[Thund3rball]

I read something about an HP DV9 Sandy Bridge hitting last week. Pretty much just an update with the same old design IIRC.

[Chris350]

Call me a hater because I just had a DV7 melt itself in sleep mode but I'd be wary of "lots of power" in a HP designed laptop with poor cooling. I would much rather a "normal" looking laptop like the HP DV7 over an Asus G73 but when it comes down to it, I don't think the HP design allows for the required cooling. From day one my HP needed to be propped up while playing games or it would either freeze up or shutdown automatically to save itself. I think a product has failed if it can't perform its designed function without external help like a cooling pad.

Having said that, I am guessing the HP sandy bridge models should run cooler and they may have redesigned their cooling but it is asking a lot to keep a "normal" looking laptop cooled properly.

80% of the reason I am leaning towards the G73SW is the superior cooling design. I'll have to live with the funky looking design but at least it will function properly.