Vortex III Build Feedback

[Ocean-Ripple]

Main specs:
Intel Core i7-3820QM
8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 4GB)
2GB AMD Radeon HD 7970M
750GB WD SCORPIO BLACK

A few questions on this:
1 - How come the Kingston memory is limited to 8GB max in the configurator?
2 - How easy will in be to put in a SSD as a boot drive at a later date, was thinking of getting a 120GB 330 or 520 at some point down the line... Will this be a simple case of pop-out/pop-in new drive, or will it require new drivers and such?
3 - More of a heat noise question for those who already own this chassis, how hot does a high end GPU run under gaming load and how loud does it get? In your experience is it worth paying extra for the Thermal Paste. If any of you that have done so in the past, how well was the paste applied?

Thanks for any answers, and any other feedback/advice you can think of regarding the build is welcome.

 

[nipplepie]

Reply would be nice, I was wondering the same questions

 

[PCS]

Welcome to our forums

1. Kingston don't yet offer a 16GB memory kit, however the Samsung option is equal in terms of performance.

2. It's very easy to install a new HDD/SSD - just unscrew the back panel, take out the old drive and pop the new drive in. The 17.3" Vortex III supports two HDDs by default. If you wanted to keep your HDD in the 15.6" Vortex III you can order a HDD caddy from us (at the loss of your optical drive).

3. The GPU does not run excessively hot. The thermal paste help lower the temperature by a few degrees which helps the GPU provide optimal performance.

 

[Ocean-Ripple]

1. Kingston don't yet offer a 16GB memory kit, however the Samsung option is equal in terms of performance.

First of all, thank you for the reply.

As a follow up to the ram question, if I order 8GB (2x4) will the ram be installed into the modules behind the keyboard or the ones behind the back panel? Obviously I would prefer it being installed in the slots under the keyboard as it would mean I would have less trouble should I wish to upgrade to 16GB in the future.

 

[Finn]

As far as I'm aware with only 2 dimms installed they must be behind the back panel, the slots under the keyboard can only be used if the bottom 2 are have already been filled.

I very much agree that its an extremely annoying design decision on clevo's part which almost seems intended to force users to contact their resellers to upgrade their memory.

Something to note is that the clevo chassis doesn't actually support more than 2 dimms of memory rated higher than 1333mhz, if you have more than 2 dimms installed it must be 1333mhz, I believe PCS said they had seen bluescreens on setups which had 4 dimms of higher rated memory.

 

[Ocean-Ripple]

As far as I'm aware with only 2 dimms installed they must be behind the back panel, the slots under the keyboard can only be used if the bottom 2 are have already been filled.

That's really disappointing, if true it really does sound like a terrible design decision that will just create issues for the user.

Something to note is that the clevo chassis doesn't actually support more than 2 dimms of memory rated higher than 1333mhz, if you have more than 2 dimms installed it must be 1333mhz, I believe PCS said they had seen bluescreens on setups which had 4 dimms of higher rated memory.

If this is the case, then it's really weird that PCS themselves offer 16GB of 1600mhz Ram as an option in the customiser for this chassis?

Thanks for bringing these issues to light Finn, now if someone at PCS could confirm/correct these issues I would be grateful as it could affect my purchase plans.

 

[Finn]

If this is the case, then it's really weird that PCS themselves offer 16GB of 1600mhz Ram as an option in the customiser for this chassis?

Thanks for bringing these issues to light Finn, now if someone at PCS could confirm/correct these issues I would be grateful as it could affect my purchase plans.

Thats weird, they removed the option from the vortex 2 shortly before the vortex 3 cam in and when the vortex 3 came it was also missing. I queried with them on the phone before ordering my vortex 3 and thats what I was told, and that it was true of both the 2 and 3 models.

 

[Ocean-Ripple]

Well, while waiting for a response from the PCS, I asked the question over on the NotebookReview forum, and got this response back from one of the guys at XoticPC (US reseller):

http://forum.notebookreview.com/8509975-post10.html

Still, if someone from PCS could confirm this and tell me if they do in fact allow the customer to specify which slots (behind the keyboard) they want the ram in then that would be appreciated, it's really the only thing currently stopping me from putting in my order.

 

[Finn]

Ok, that is immensely annoying as I specifically asked about the vortex3 and was told 1600mhz wasnt an option so have ended up with 1333

 

[Rsaeire]

I'm also interested in a response from PCS regarding this as I've been choosing 16 GB 1600 Mhz RAM in my Vortex III config since it's an option, but if it's being offered and there's the possibility of issues, then that's something that needs to be addressed. With that said, I'm at least hopeful that this is not the case, given Ocean-Ripple's post above.

 

[Ocean-Ripple]

I had a email back saying that in the case of 8GB (2x4) of installed ram the, slots behind the back panel are filled, bit disappointing but at least that issue is resolved.

Another question I have in regard to the Kingston HyperX ram, which version is it that you (PCS) fit on the laptop, non-ECC or the Plug & Play model?

Non-ECC: http://www.ebuyer.com/244107-kingst...0mhz-cl9-non-ecc-sodimm-xmp-khx1600c9s3k2-8gx
Plug&Play: http://www.ebuyer.com/266721-kingst...g-n-play-laptop-memory-kit-khx1600c9s3p1k2-8g

From what I've been told the non-ECC model defaults to 1333Mhz, so I assume you install the Plug&Play model, but looking at you ram information page from the customizer, it says nothing about this. So a answer to this would be appreciated.

Page in question: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/matrix/198/2/3/

Also looking at said page, the 16GB Samsung DDR3 1600Mhz is shown as 1333Mhz in the Speed category under its specifications, is this simply a typo?


Here is the Notebook review thread where I have been asking questions in regards to the Kingston HyperX ram: http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/661311-170em-build-feedback-2.html


Hopefully one of the PCS guys can answer these questions soon.

 

[PCS]

Initially when we first started offering the Vortex III we did not offer 16GB DDR 1600MHz due to the potential for instability issues. However, we have carried our further tests and I can confirm that 16GB 1600MHz can now be ordered and it will run stable.

As for the Kingston RAM we use the following SKU: KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G which is the Plug & Play version.

The reference to 16GB Samsung DDR3 1600Mhz as 1333Mhz has now been corrected.