Novice Looking for Gaming Beast

[GT15]

Intro: Hi Everyone. First, I want to thank all of you for dropping your 2 cents no matter how small or large the coin lol. I've been a gamer since I could hold a controller. Of course my love, extended to the PC. I've got fond memories of CS, Unreal Tournament, hell Streets of Sim City for those that remember lol (22 is not that old). As I was introduced to MMOs via City of Heroes and WoW, I realized I had a bit of a problem: My Dimension 8100 was just complete s*** lol. I did my best to upgrade here and there, but grew fed up with just getting by. I retired my Razer in favor of a 360 controller.

With Skyrim, TOR already released and Guild Wars 2's release on the horizon, I feel its time to reenter PC Gaming. I've decided to get a Gaming Laptop.

Here's some background on why:
I'll be moving into a room/studio in May. I'll be living in a small space, and whatever I can do to gimme some extra space, I'll do it.

I'm also attending College in September. I'd like to be able to carry all my notes with me, and do homework at a girl's house on a wim. "Wink...You know what I'm talking about. Lol"

Forgot to mention, I live in New York City. So I'm a little more paranoid about my stuff. I'd rather have my laptop connected at the hip, than to leave it at home.

This being my first laptop, I've been doing a bit of research. This forum has been quite a help. Here were the three computers that caught my eye, and my thoughts after reading a couple reviews. Feel free to correct any wrong information.

1) Asus G74sx Series:
Link:
Newegg.com - ASUS G74SX-DH72 Notebook Intel Core i7 2670QM(2.20GHz) 17.3" 16GB Memory DDR3 750GB 7200 + 160GB SSD HDD 7200rpm Blu-ray-enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M

I loved the simplistic style. The quiet and strong cooling system was also a major plus. The Negative? Read the battery power was quite poor, that the cooling system couldn't handle the Intel 2860, and no chance of finding one with a 570m or above. Also read the upcoming G75's GPU, wouldn't be up to the 580's level of effectiveness.


2) MSI GT783:
Newegg.com - MSI GT783-625US Notebook Intel Core i7 2670QM(2.20GHz) 17.3" 16GB Memory DDR3 750GB HDD + 128GB SSD HDD 7200rpm Blu-Ray Burner NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M

This seemed like a beast. Love the Price. But I'm not too familiar with MSI. I've read that their Customer Service needs something to be desired. As attractive as this thing is, I'd hate to buy this and be left out to dry if something went wrong. Cuz I'm flying to Taiwan and someone's stomped lol.


3) Alienware M17x R3:
Price: 4500.00 (Scream lol)
Specs:

System Color: Alienware M17x, Soft Touch Stealth Black
Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Ultimate, 64bit
Processor :Intel® Core™ i7 2860QM 2.5GHz
Memory:16GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (4DIMMS)
A/C Adapter: Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter
Display Panel :17.3-inch WideFHD 1920x1080 120Hz WLED w/ NVIDIA 3D
Video Card: 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M
Hard Drive: 256GB Solid State Drive SATA 3Gb/s with Secondary 750GB
Optical Drives: 8X Slot-Load Dual Layer DVD Burner (DVD+-RW, CD-RW)
Sound: Internal High-Definition 5.1 Surround Sound Audio
Wireless: Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 a/g/n 3x3 MIMO for Gaming & Video
Office Productivity Software Microsoft® Office Professional 2010
Security Software No Anti-Virus Software Selected
Service 3 Year Advanced Service Plan
Pre-Installed Software Steam and Portal™ Factory Installed
Guaranteed Buy Back: Tech Forward Guaranteed Buyback® Plan for your new PC

The so called top dog lol. The Price makes me cringe, but this, is "supposed" to be the best Laptop company all around. Then again, many people believe Norton is the best AV option lol. I'd spring for it, but I'm pretty sure there's alternatives with similar options and less of that price tag. Read that they have the strongest Warranty options. But others have said, their customer service reps are terribad.



My priorities in terms of importanceare:

1) Strong Warranty/Customer Service: If something goes wrong, I want to look forward to the phone call and not become pissed at the oncoming incompetence

2) Durability: As careful, as we may be with out tech, things do happen. I don't want the occasional bump to cause the computer to self destruct.

3) Battery Life: I know, I know, its a Gaming Laptop. What Battery Life? But anything that can get me at least 2 hrs, gets an extra look.

4) Longevity: Technology improves in what seems like seconds. I'd love to have a laptop, that I know will take me into 2014 without a hitch.

5) SSD + HDD Setup: SSD is entirely new for me. But what from what I've read, they provide much faster load up times, especially for games. The OS, and TOR/GW2 (Depending on Which was more enjoyable) would be the sole things on the drive. While everything else (Music, Video, Docs) would be on the HDD. If I'm wrong, please correct me. Seems like SSDs, are expensive for a small amount of space. I've heard about a "Raid 0" setup being quite fast as well, but I'm not too familiar with them either.


*Note: I've been suffering from horriblecomputeritis, for a long time. I want a beast. If it reaches 3500 after taxes, that's perfectly fine.



Once again, thank you all for reading and posting on my thread. I've included your required "What To Buy Form Below"







What is your budget?
3000 - Max

What country will you be buying this in?
USA

What size notebook do you prefer?
Desktop Replacement (17-inch + screen)

What brands do you like or dislike?
Like: Nope.
Dislike: Nope

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
No

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Listening to Music, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Graphic Intense 3D Gaming

I desire a gaming laptop, not only because I'll be living in a small space (Room/Studio), but I also will be attending college in September. I want to have the ability to work on homework whenever or game in a secure place with WiFi.

What games will you be playing?
Outside of the usual suspect shooters, (BF 3, Rage, MW3). I'd primarily be playing The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, and anything Grand Theft Auto.

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places and Will stay on desk

How many hours of battery life do you need?
At least 2

Will you be buying online or in store?
online or in store

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
Max Resolution (1920 x 1080)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Glossy or Matte is fine

Is the laptops design important to you?
Yes

Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop?
Around 04/15/2012

How long do you want this laptop to last?
2 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
750 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
Yes

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
Blu-Ray

[gwilled]

Any of the best options here will be very hard to "connect at the hip" as you want. That's just the nature of these monstrous 17"+ beasts. They are all going to be theft-magnets whatever you do too. These will all be darn right impossible to heave around on a daily basis, especially if you are confined to public transportation in a place like NYC.

Value-wise, you'd probably want one of the Clevo X7200, Clevo P180HM, or the Alienware M18x. I'd just go for the M18x with the GTX 580M SLI. Spending $2000+ without SLI or Crossfire is pretty bad from a value standpoint. Couple that with Alienware's on-site service, and I think the deal should be sealed. Do make sure you haggle with the Dell sales reps on the phone though. You will be able to squeeze out a sizeable discount (15% on up).

[GT15]

Any of the best options here will be very hard to "connect at the hip" as you want. That's just the nature of these monstrous 17"+ beasts. They are all going to be theft-magnets whatever you do too. These will all be darn right impossible to heave around on a daily basis, especially if you are confined to public transportation in a place like NYC.

Value-wise, you'd probably want one of the Clevo X7200, Clevo P180HM, or the Alienware M18x. I'd just go for the M18x with the GTX 580M SLI. Spending $2000+ without SLI or Crossfire is pretty bad from a value standpoint. Couple that with Alienware's on-site service, and I think the deal should be sealed. Do make sure you haggle with the Dell sales reps on the phone though. You will be able to squeeze out a sizeable discount (15% on up).

Lol...when I said hip, I really meant back. Definitely won't be pulling it out on any mode of public transportation. I'll even watch the cab driver like a hawk lol.

I've been hearing alot about Clevo's/Sagers. Not sure if they're the same company, but the brands themselves come up alot, especially on this forum. I'll definitely take a look. The M18x just sounded like it would be a bit over the top lol. Any idea, how significant the difference between it and the M17X, in terms of sheer size, and battery power? The SLI is definitely intriguing, but it also makes me worry about the size lol. 10 to 12lbs is no problem, especially with the proper laptop backpack, but above that, and I'm wondering if it would even fit on the average college desk lol.

Other than the Clevos and Alienware, is there any other models, considering the preferences, are worth a look? Thanks again, G.

[Ellatan]

I'd buy two laptops tbh. First the gaming one however big you want (desktop would be better, but can't travel with it) + a 14 inch or under for school with a long battery life. Personally, I think that even 15 inch laptops at 7lbs are uncomfortable to carry around and fit on college desks.

[gwilled]

I'd buy two laptops tbh. First the gaming one however big you want (desktop would be better, but can't travel with it) + a 14 inch or under for school with a long battery life. Personally, I think that even 15 inch laptops at 7lbs are uncomfortable to carry around and fit on college desks.

That is a great idea. This is probably the best way to go to allow you to not worry about size.

[avsfan4]

That sounds like a good idea..and honestly from my experience lugging a 17" gaming beast in a backpack is very annoying and heavy plus not many reasonable backpacks can fit them.

[GT15]

That is a great idea. This is probably the best way to go to allow you to not worry about size.

Well here's two questions for you guys.

A) I favor having one laptop. One less thing to worry about, and all my files saved to one place. What would be the consensus laptop under 3k, with a great processor, 570m or above, at least 4 gig 1600 mem, blueray reader/cd/dvd burner, decent battery power, and a decent quality of build?

B) Let's say I did entertain the thought of two laptops, what two would you recommend for a maximum price of 3500? One with a size, battery life, and durability to bang out those term papers. The other to get my HD, Ultra Settings, MMO fix.

Note: Thoughts on that MSI GT783? Any experience with the brand?

[avsfan4]

Well here's two questions for you guys.

A) I favor having one laptop. One less thing to worry about, and all my files saved to one place. What would be the consensus laptop under 3k, with a great processor, 570m or above, at least 4 gig 1600 mem, blueray reader/cd/dvd burner, decent battery power, and a decent quality of build?

B) Let's say I did entertain the thought of two laptops, what two would you recommend for a maximum price of 3500? One with a size, battery life, and durability to bang out those term papers. The other to get my HD, Ultra Settings, MMO fix.

Note: Thoughts on that MSI GT783? Any experience with the brand?

If your going to be carrying it around a fair amount I would look at 15"-16" laptops and MAYBE look at a lighter 17 incher. If your really serious about gaming then just buy a nice 17-18" but your gonna have to leave it behind alot because of weight, battery and heat. There are a few good MSI, and Sager laptops that have a smaller profile but will defiantly fit your gaming needs! Just look around on some of the popular gaming notebook sites to see what builds and brands you like. (XoticPC.com, Gentechpc.com, powernotebooks.com, Malibal.com)

B.) You can get alot more bang for your buck with SLI'd 580's instead of 1 580 plus on some builds it may end up being cheaper. The MSI you are looking at is very nice indeed but you can get a 15" Clevo/MSIwith the same specs which you can carry around with you with relative ease compared to that 7-9lb beast.

http://www.xoticpc.com/msi-gt783625u...wconfigure=yes - GT 783 (Does have a nice bundle package from Xoticpc.com)

$2424

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8150-...wconfigure=yes - Sager/Clevo NP8150 with GTX580m - $1875 plus a few discounts

[gwilled]

A) I favor having one laptop. One less thing to worry about, and all my files saved to one place. What would be the consensus laptop under 3k, with a great processor, 570m or above, at least 4 gig 1600 mem, blueray reader/cd/dvd burner, decent battery power, and a decent quality of build?

B) Let's say I did entertain the thought of two laptops, what two would you recommend for a maximum price of 3500? One with a size, battery life, and durability to bang out those term papers. The other to get my HD, Ultra Settings, MMO fix.

A) If you don't mind carrying around a 17", I'd go with the GT783 that you mentioned. If you'd rather drop to 15", I'd go with a Clevo P150HM or a MSI 16F2.

B) I'd go with a Clevo P180HM or a Alienware M18x as the gaming machine. The first would have a 6990M Crossfire and second one would have a GTX 580M SLI. That will ideally run anywhere from $2000-2500 after discounts (Clevo) and haggling (Alienware). Then take that last $1000 and get an Ultrabook or notebook that is very portable. Maybe an ASUS Zenbook or Lenovo X220 for instance. Or, you can spend $600 and get a refurbished 14" Latitude or Vostro from the Dell Outlet.

[avsfan4]

A) If you don't mind carrying around a 17", I'd go with the GT783 that you mentioned. If you'd rather drop to 15", I'd go with a Clevo P150HM or a MSI 16F2.

B) I'd go with a Clevo P180HM or a Alienware M18x as the gaming machine. The first would have a 6990M Crossfire and second one would have a GTX 580M SLI. That will ideally run anywhere from $2000-2500 after discounts (Clevo) and haggling (Alienware). Then take that last $1000 and get an Ultrabook or notebook that is very portable. Maybe an ASUS Zenbook or Lenovo X220 for instance.

Im going to agree with gwilled. The X220 (from my experience) is extremely powerful and very solidly built plus gets very very good battery life and can easily fit in a normal size backpack. As for the MSI I also think its a good choice if your going to get 2 laptops to get the bigger 17" screen rather than get a smaller gaming laptop which would sit on your desk anyways.