Sager NP8170 review: A gaming laptop for geeks
Sager is a computer manufacturer primarily known to gamers for its high-end gaming laptops. One of the most popular Sager laptops on the market today is the np8170 with a 17-inch screen and some pretty impressive tech specs.
Design, ports and features.
Sager laptops are not extremely popular with gamers from a design standpoint. That’s mainly because the design is simplistic and a bit rough around the edges. Despite that, the np8170’s design isn’t necessarily unattractive, being simplistic and professional at the same time.
Sager’s new model is sleek, classy, but could look a bit more attractive if it had a few curves. Also, the np8170 is a bit thick and its weight isn’t exactly travel-friendly.
Ports are numerous and cleverly placed so as not to clutter either side of the laptop. On the right side you have the headphones, the microphone, an optical/digital output and an additional audio output with a USB 2.0 port, while on the left side there is the card reader, three USB ports, Ethernet and CATV input.
Keyboard, touchpad and screen
The keyboard is, like the whole notebook, solid, but quiet. The chiclet style is nice and the keys are well placed and spaced for a lot of comfort. The touch panel is Synaptics and supports multi-touch. There are also distinct left and right metal buttons, separated by a fingerprint reader – a nice touch if you ask us, and a welcome change from the usual toggle bar.
The 17.3-inch Full HD LED-backlit display with 1920×1080 resolution delivers extremely clear images with brilliant colors, excellent contrast and brightness. Viewing angles are also more than decent for a 17-inch screen laptop.
Performance, graphics and battery life
If the Sager np8170 suffers a bit in terms of design and elegance, in terms of performance it is one of the most powerful laptops on the market. The 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M with 2GB DDR5 will ensure that you can play all the new games with the highest quality and fastest speed.
As far as battery life goes, the 77WHr 8-cell should give you a decent runtime of at least three and a half hours, even when the laptop is under heavy power usage.
To wrap
In conclusion, the Sager np8170 is one of the most interesting gaming devices available today, the level of performance and value for money override design and elegance issues.
And yes, this may not be the best or the slimmest of all the gaming rigs on the market, but it is one of the fastest, and if speed is what you need, you’ll hardly find better than a Sager.
