DailyTech - WidowPC Announces Socket AM2 Notebooks

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Gadgets WidowPC Announces Socket AM2 Notebooks
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - August 28, 2006 6:47 PM

17 comment(s) - last by tRicky547.. on Aug 29 at 3:59 PM

Its so hot it stings

WidowPC has announced its Socket AM2 powered Sting 917X2 notebook. The Sting 917X2 is powered by AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 and FX dual-core processors. Sting 917X2 systems can be ordered with up to 2GB of DDR2-667 memory and two hard drives.

Powering the graphics portion of the Sting 917X2 is an unnamed 512MB graphics card, though WidowPC claims the Sting 917X2 can be ordered with the fastest graphics cards available. Backing the 512MB graphics card is a large 17” wide screen display capable of 1920x1200. Widow PC hasn’t published weight numbers, though DailyTech expects it to be no less than 10lbs. Considering the Sting is a desktop-replacement (DTR) rather than a thin and light laptop, we are willing to give a little slack on the weight specifications.

The WidowPC Sting 917X2 also has Reverse Hyper Threading technology according to the product page, though this is likely a typo as RHT has been largely disproven as a component of the K8 architecture.

WidowPC has gotten a few headlines this year as the company also claimed to be the first manufacturer of SLI notebooks when in fact a other manufacturers began to rebadge the Clevo white books too.

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Incorrect resolution

By AncientPC on 8/29/2006 12:08:01 AM , Rating: 2

WUXGA = 1920 x 1200, not 1900 x 1200.

RE: Incorrect resolution

By rmaharaj on 8/29/2006 2:10:59 AM , Rating: 2

And even a 7900GTX will struggle with that resolution. I'm just not getting the point of this machine. Bragging rights? Darwin Award? Who knows.

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DDR2-667?

By Goty on 8/29/2006 12:03:48 AM , Rating: 3

Soooo... are there just no DDR2-800 SODIMMs out there or what?

,,,

By Comdrpopnfresh on 8/29/2006 12:38:31 AM , Rating: 1

comes with a Quadro 1400 or a 7900gtx. didn't see the rht blurb, but they say it has ddr memory...... its am2 dudes... and they're calling a laptop with sata 150 and amd tech faster than most desktops. lol

RE: ,,,

By Kim Leo on 8/29/2006 11:17:38 AM , Rating: 2

well Actually it is, most Intel enthusiasts People i see today still have some P4/PD, and if you look at every computer you'll realize that even in 5 years from now not many % will be Core 2, i just fixed a PC at work today, guess what it was 750MHz AMD Slot A, and thats not unusual, and here in denmark.. and we are able to get the new stuff at good prices.

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yikes

By One43637 on 8/28/2006 7:38:01 PM , Rating: 2

can be ordered with the fastest GFX card? that's going to be heavy and hot... =/

looks like an updated clevo

By Lonearchon on 8/28/2006 7:44:35 PM , Rating: 2

http://www.clevo.com.tw/products/D900K.asp
that one weigth in a 5.8kg(12.8Lbs) Look nice but for lan party or a DTR but not much more due to its size and weight.

Waste of time

By JackPack on 8/28/06, Rating: 0

RE: Waste of time

By nerdye on 8/28/2006 9:13:44 PM , Rating: 2

I agree that a large desktop replacement is, well, not a good notebook pc. Sure merom and a the current top of the top mobile gpus are very attractive and are probably on my wish list, but desktop relacements serve their purpose and a very small demographic. I guess for elite lan party gamers a dtr is easier to lug around than a higher performing small form factor pc and a higher performing lcd, yet thats not as convenient. This is a burly dtr and is made for a small demographic, though I imagine conroe will find its way to this demographic very soon (yet I'm glad the am2 gets to shine very briefly in this position, if it does indeed shine that is =)

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nice!

By tRicky547 on 8/29/2006 3:59:04 PM , Rating: 2

me want!! :O :D weight does'nt matter, i want it as a laptop! :P
i would carry it on wheels if nessesary! ^^

AMD... why bother?

By headbox on 8/28/06, Rating: -1

RE: AMD... why bother?

By nerdye on 8/28/2006 10:14:09 PM , Rating: 2

I agree that performance wise the am2 now is similar to what the a64 did to the p4. I love amd, but I agree, one would be a fool to not buy a low end conroe than buy an am2 4200, or 4600 for slightly less money. I would say that a 939 x2 would be the bargain bet, but conroe with an asrock ddr1/ddr2 has made that a non issue. I'm not celebrating, yet admiting, its currently a conroe world.

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RE: AMD... why bother?

By Missing Ghost on 8/28/2006 11:42:38 PM , Rating: 2

laptops with merom won't have good availability until some time.

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RE: AMD... why bother?

By rmaharaj on 8/29/2006 2:13:29 AM , Rating: 2

Can't the current-available Yonah match Athlon64 clock-for-clock? Let's face it, Intel has always owned the mobile CPU market, even when AMD was trouncing them on the desktop and server. Buying a ultra-high-end machine like this with an AMD chip is bizarre.

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RE: AMD... why bother?

By StevoLincolnite on 8/29/2006 4:35:08 AM , Rating: 3

I have a 1.6ghz Yonah Processor, Overclocked to 2.4ghz. And CPU benchmarks have shown its slightly faster than an Athlon 64 clock for clock.

16ghz Pentium M @ 2.4ghz
Radeon 9700 Mobility (Upgraded to a 9800).
2gb of DDR
100GB 7200 RPM HDD. (Its a fast drive for a laptop!).

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RE: AMD... why bother?

By peternelson on 8/29/2006 1:04:03 PM , Rating: 1

The YONAH can't match the AMD laptops AT ALL when trying to run 64 BIT INSTRUCTIONS (it can't!)

Personally I LIKE desktop replacement systems.

Conventional and ultra notebooks have keys that are too small and screens that are too small.

The weight of a DTR system is not a big issue. I regularly carry around much more weight.

The DTR has the advantage you can just put down your DTR on a desk and there is your whole work environment. No fiddling with monitor cables, speakers etc. You can set it up in a cafe or Starbucks and nobody will care. Try doing that with your desktop pc!

Also the bigger screen means more than one person can watch it comfortably eg you are showing work to a colleague or doing a sales presentation.

DTR systems rock. If you don't like the weight, go to a gym and do some weight training.

AMD laptop processor is AROUND THE SAME performance as the latest Intel rivals.

AMD lacks the branding of "Centrino" ie chipset/cpu/wireless but there are plenty other components that do the same job.

The 64 bit AMD alternative is WAY better than Yonah.

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RE: AMD... why bother?

By OrSin on 8/29/2006 8:54:25 AM , Rating: 2

I can see getting AM2 if they are getting the lowwalts ones. 35W is sweet for a notebook CPU. And currently for power vs performances its the best. But if power draw is not an issue Conroe is the way to go.

I currently have a amd 939 (single core) on the low end. Ifi get upgrade in the next 6 months it will be an X2. After that it still might not be a Conroe. The reason why is I dont need another motherboard or memory so an X2 in the near terms is very cheap. In six months AMD might (big if) be should something i want to see. And since they am2 will work with AM3 chips yopu have long upgrade path. But thats only if AMD comes with something. Right now Conroe is my choose after six months.

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