Sager is a computer manufacturer known primarily 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 technical 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 is not necessarily unappealing, while being simplistic and professional at the same time.
Sager’s new model is sleek, classy, but it could look a bit more attractive if it had a few curves. Also, the np8170 is a bit chunky and its weight isn’t exactly travel-friendly.
The ports are numerous and cleverly placed so as not to clutter either side of the laptop. On the right side, you have the headphones, microphone, an optical / digital output and an additional audio output with a USB 2.0 port, while on the left side you have the card reader, three USB ports, Ethernet input and CATV.
Keyboard, touchpad and screen
The keyboard is, like all notebooks, solid, but quiet. The chiclet style is nice and the keys are well placed and well spaced for a lot of comfort. The touch panel is Synaptics and supports multi-touch. There are also separate 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 display with LED-backlit display technology and 1920 x 1080 resolution deliver extremely clear images, with brilliant colors, excellent contrast and brightness. Viewing angles are more than decent for a 17-inch screen laptop too.
Performance, graphics and battery life
If the Sager np8170 suffers a bit in terms of design and elegance, performance wise, this is one of the strongest notebooks on the market. The second generation Intel Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M with 2GB DDR5 will ensure that you can play all the new games with the highest quality and the fastest speed.
When it comes to battery life, the 8-cell 77WHr should give you a decent runtime of at least three and a half hours, even when the laptop has high power usage.
Wrap
In conclusion, the Sager np8170 is one of the most interesting gaming devices available today, the level of performance and the value for money cancel out the problems of design and elegance.
And yes, this may not be the most attractive or the thinnest of all the gaming rigs on the market, but it is one of the fastest, and if speed is what you need, you will hardly find better than a Sager.
