** LATE BUT IN FASHION: SAMSUNG G700 GAMING LAPTOP ARRIVING TOMORROW! **

Hi guys, just puleld the trigger on a 700G7A, should arrive tomorrow.

Just wondering, I'm replacing the main HDD with a Crucial M4 SSD. Do I need to use the restore software supplied or does it come with a windows recovery disk for a vanilla install?

Also read the comments about the express cache, is there a way to target this to HDD caching duties only?

I take it it doesn't make sense to use express cache SSD on top of the main SSD?

looking forward to this! :)
 
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Genoma

Hi guys, just puleld the trigger on a 700G7A, should arrive tomorrow.

Just wondering, I'm replacing the main HDD with a Crucial M4 SSD. Do I need to use the restore software supplied or does it come with a windows recovery disk for a vanillay install?

Comes with a full windows DVD and a full drivers DVD, but make sure to use the latest drivers from their site (I provided links in this thread).


Also read the comments about the express cache, is there a way to target this to HDD caching duties only?

No you can't target it to another drive that does not have an OS on it. What you can do is just format the SSD Cache and use it as a 8GB drive too. I would stick the pagefile on it in the configuration you are doing.

I take it it doesn't make sense to use express cache SSD on top of the main SSD?

Nope, as above format it and use it as a pagefile area, it will then show up as a drive on windows.

looking forward to this! :)


Enjoy mate it's a fantastic laptop, also remember this "ONLY RUN WINDOWS UPDATE IN BALANCED MODE" in game mode it will error and seem like it is not working due to the Mode Dial software disabling some important windows services (you can disable that feature in the Mode Dial software if you want but it helps makes games run faster), read this thread and everything I and others have said and you will have an easy life ;).
 
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Snograt said:
Has this thing really got a subwoofer?

I can't "hear" it and any sound option bar stereo is greyed out. It's also odd that, even when headphones are plugged in (which work fine) the software still sees them as speakers.

On a related note, if I want simulated surround through a decent pair of stereo cans (the best option, apparently) is there complicated connectivity involved or does Dolby work its witchcraft through the standard headphone socket?
Click to expand...

Yup the subwoofer is at the bottom of the laptop so make sure to place it on a hard surface to enjoy the subwoofer it down fires, so if you have it on a bed you won't hear it. Also use the Dolby software provided to adjust the sound. The Dolby also works on the headphones and HDMI sound out.
 
Got mine! Solid piece of kit, really responsive with the SSD in it.

SSD installation was easy enough but there are tiny screws attaching the HDD cage, the only thing I had that small was a glasses screwdriver and one of the screws was so tight I thought I was going to snap the head off! Then it was just a matter of covering the SDD with the rubber casing and placing the lot carefully back in.

W7 installation was a breeze, but I did spend most of yesterday with several several updates, and figuring out which software / drivers to apply from the CD and which to apply off the web.

The 3D with the glasses is amazing but I don't think I'll be gaming with it, just a bit of a sensory overload :)

Had a quick blast of Portal 2, Skyrim and MW3, was amazed how quiet the fans are, bonus! Gameplay seemed great.

Keyboard is really nice, and the trackpad doesn't get in the way. Screen is fantastic, deep colours and the resolution seems perfect for normal day to day.

My minor niggle is the power connector, just doesnt feel sturdy and sticks out a bit. Otherwise top piece of kit so far, very pleased indeed.

Can't figure out how to get any options to configure the gestures on the trackpad though, looked at the synaptics folder but couldn't figure it out.

Just finishing copying all my music and videos to the 1TB HDD, MS Synctoy is pretty handy for that as it will resume from wherever left.
 
Have you installed the touchpad software ? If you have you will find the settings for it under the control panel under "Mouse" and there is a tab there you can adjust it and allow or disallow certain gestures you like or dislike to use and lots of other things regarding the touchpad. Happy you are enjoying the laptop :D, it is a great bit of kit for the price as you now have realised ;).
 
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Genoma said:
Can't figure out how to get any options to configure the gestures on the trackpad though, looked at the synaptics folder but couldn't figure it out.
Click to expand...

I had the same problems played around a bit and found some options in the control panel.

Start>Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Devices and Printers > Mouse

Once in there you can turn the icon on in the taskbar.
 
Thanks - why didn't I think of this? I'll check when I get home. (*edit I think I did, I couldn't see the trackpad in the control panel as I had a mouse plugged in!).

A lot of people have asked about how quiet this machine is. To my delight during normal operation it's whisper quiet, if you have the TV on for example you will not hear it.

Under load I was also amazed how quiet it is, the fans definetly kick in but we are by no means talking anywhere near the jet engine noise that my desktop's GTX 285 makes! It is very good indeed.
 
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I'm planning to get this come the end of this month/payday, thanks in no small part to this great thread.
Purgatory/Genoma:I really am a complete luddite/newb when it comes to installing ssd's and performing fresh installs of os's but really want to have have a try at plopping in an ssd into this laptop but the prospect slightly worries me to put it mildly.
Purgatory/Genoma: could you tell me what specific drivers you would recommend installing from the dvd and which you recommend applying from the web. Do these have to be installed in any particular order?
Genoma:With regards to fitting the ssd you mention "covering the SDD with the rubber casing". Does this come with the ssd or is it already present covering one of the 750GB drives? Do I need to obtain a mounting kit/cage of some description for this ssd? I'm planning on getting the Crucial 128GB M4 SATA III SSD, is this a good choice?
Purgatory: you recommend using the 8GB express cache drive as a pagefile area. I don't even know what this is (will google this now) but when doing a fresh install of W7 will I be given the option of setting the drive up as exactly this?
Sorry about all the stupid newb questions.
 
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SSD installation

With regards to installing the SSD it's pretty simple and has really transformed the windows performance, everything is just immediate and quiet. The installation is a breeze just a bit fiddly.

First download the manual (.exe interactive manual..) here:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/...igh-performance/NP700G7A-S01UK-supportforward

Have a look at chapter 3 page 86, you can see the parts mentioned. The process is as simple as:

1. Remove the memory/hdd plastic cover with a Phillips screwdriver. The HDD slots are labelled HHD0 or HDD1 (or something to that effect). With the laptop upside down and the cover removed near you, it's the HDD in the bay on the right you want to replace.
2. Remove the 2 screws that secure the HDD cage***
3. Carefully lift the HDD and the thin SATA lead, it's surrounded by a rubber anti-vibration cover.
4. Cover the SSD with the rubber cover, place the SSD back in the slot
5. Put the HDD cage back and screw it back down
6. Boot the Win7 Recovery CD and away you go!
Welcome to windows updates galore!

***these are tiny Phillips screws, think slightly bigger than glasses screws... you need a really small screwdriver for these, I managed with a glasses screwdriver but it was hard.

No parts required - everything is in the machine and I went with a Crucial M4 128GB too! Seems superb. Also consider getting an external USB 3.0 2.5" enclosure so you can drop the 1TB HDD you just replaced into it and use it as an external drive.
 
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Using Express Cache for pagefile/Virtual Memory

The express cache is just an internal 8GB SSD, managed by software, simply don't install the EC software. You will see the expresscache as a drive after a clean install (I think I had to go to disk management and format/assign it).

Pagefile is a basically a disk extension to memory managed by windows (virtual memory) and is probably not even used with 8GB in the machine. It's contained in a hidden file called pagefile.sys which takes up valuable SSD storage - to change it:

Right click my computer
Select 'advanced system settings'
Select 'performance' 'settings' button, 'advanced' tab
Select 'virtual memory' 'change'
Untick 'automatically manage paging file size for all drives'
select c drive, select no paging file
select the 8GB EC drive
Select custom size, around 7500 MB
Click OK - you just moved the virtual memory file (pagefile.sys) from the SSD to the spare EC SSD saving some space on your prime drive (around 7/8GB).

Arguably you don't even need a pagefile full stop, I never tried it but worth a go too! :) I'm upgrading my RAM to 16GB tomorrow and will give it a go without a pagefile. You can configure this anytime BTW.
 
Drivers & Software

For the drivers I can't remember the order, it was mostly of the web on the link provided by Purgatory:

People with S02UK version this page:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/NP700G7A-S02UK

People with S01UK version this page:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/NP700G7A-S01UK

I think I started with the LAN and WLAN off the CD to get access to the net, then downloaded core things like chipset, USB, video, touchpad, then the easy software manager, easy settings, modeswitch

Worth installing modeshift early (it controls the settings for the various speed dial modes on the laptop) and selecting 'limit services' to OFF in modeshift so that all windows services run, including windows update in gaming mode for the first day or so until everything is updated
I keep limit services to off anyway as I can't see the services having that much impact on gaming..

Expect a few BSODs as you install the initial chipset drivers and things are being installed/updated. (they have all gone after the initial reboots).

The things I had to install of the CD was PowerDVD and I think Tridef although I had to find the right folder and install it manually in the end.
It looks like easy software manager does download the latest versions off the web anyhow if the CD isn't in the drive.

I stayied away from the Norton stuff, as I have free Kaspersky with a Barclays online account. I also didn't isntall the windows 7 SP1 updates and media centre updates off the CD as I assumed these would be downloaded by Windows anyway.

Again, fantastic laptop. One minor issue (which was I aware of) is forget about long battery times with this machine. Think 2-3hrs in balanced mode maybe :)
 
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Genoma : I seriously can't thank you enough for taking the time and going to all the obvious hassle of providing me with such an easy to understand and comprehensive walk-through of the entire ssd and fresh os install processes. I feel a lot more confident about going done this route now. Domo arigato.
Btw how are you finding the laptop in regards to how hot (or not) it runs?
 
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You are welcome, details might not be 100% accurate but should be some good pointers there for you and hopefully for others.

Under normal usage, heat is not an issue at all, heat is sucked from below and pushed out through the large vents at the back. i've used it on my lap for a few hours without barely noticing it.

Under load gaming it does get warmer as expected but I didn't find it an issue at all, in fact it's hard to tell if your legs are getting colder or warmer as it's actually sucking air in from the bottom. I've heard horror stories about disconfort on Dell laptops on the base, but here all heat is being chucked out the back, just need to position your knees out of the way.
 
Tridef 5.2 out now. "The Virual 3d" becoimes "Power 3d", and improvements in Bf3, Crysis 2 etc. But, the game i play most, F1 2011, makes it look "flat" in "power 3d", so I'm back on 5.1 now. I always set a system restore point before perforing updates etc, as in this case, 5.2 cant be rolled back i don't think. By all means though, D/L and see if it suits you.

Tony
 
hi all wondered if someone can help.

i have 16gb corsair vengance on my desk and thought about chucking it in this new laptop.

only problem is when you remove the bottom cover only two slots are ther which are both empty.

so where the hell is the other two with the ram in them ??? i called samsung but they don't know. can someone slip there bottom cover off
 
swiftylee1972 said:
hi all wondered if someone can help.

i have 16gb corsair vengance on my desk and thought about chucking it in this new laptop.

only problem is when you remove the bottom cover only two slots are ther which are both empty.

so where the hell is the other two with the ram in them ??? i called samsung but they don't know. can someone slip there bottom cover off
Click to expand...

Shows the laptop taken apart.

http://translate.google.com/transla...&prev=hp&u=http://www.3dnews.ru/mobile/622780
 
Hi everyone.

my name is Ish and this is my first post on this forum.

I just order the Samsung 700G7A S01 laptop and i've ordered a crucial 128m4 ssd aswell.

I'm a complete noob when it comes to pc's...and I have never installed a hard disk before.

Just wanted to know, do I have to open up the laptop and put the new ssd drive in before I start up the laptop for the first time?

Also do i have to burn my own recovery cd, or does the laptop come with one?

thanks
 
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