Gaming Laptops and Prices

[Traak]

I think I will possibly do a comparo of a bunch of gaming laptops specs:

The highest-spec SLI/Crossfires, with every option from whatever site added, that does not include software other than the OS.
The minimum-you-can-spend-and-still-get SLI/Crossfire
Highest-spec non-SLI/Crossfire-capable, but with the highest-end single VPU solutions from AMD and Nvidia
Minimum-you-can-spend and still get the highest-end VPU solutions from AMD and Nvidia.

All 17" class.

Planned makers: Sager, Falcon, Alienware, Asus, MSI, and Mtech. It looks like it will consiste of four each from Sager, Falcon, Alienware, and Mtech, and two each from Asus and Mtech.

If I add "has future space for another VPU for future, user-upgradeable (or return-to-dealer upgradeable)" then I will have to see who amongst them will do that, and for how much.

If anyone has a brand that produces a gaming laptop that has the latest video card, whether the 6990 from ATI, or the GTX 580M from Nvidia, and want that brand included, let me know. Helpful if you give me a link to a site that deals in that brand.

I will go to work on this later, as it

[Traak]

I think I will possibly do a comparo of a bunch of gaming laptops specs:

The highest-spec SLI/Crossfires, with every option from whatever site added, that does not include software other than the OS.
The minimum-you-can-spend-and-still-get SLI/Crossfire
Highest-spec non-SLI/Crossfire-capable, but with the highest-end single VPU solutions from AMD and Nvidia
Minimum-you-can-spend and still get the highest-end VPU solutions from AMD and Nvidia.

All 17" class.

Planned makers: Sager, Falcon, Alienware, Asus, MSI, and Mtech. It looks like it will consiste of four each from Sager, Falcon, Alienware, and Mtech, and two each from Asus and Mtech.

If I add "has future space for another VPU for future, user-upgradeable (or return-to-dealer upgradeable)" then I will have to see who amongst them will do that, and for how much.

If anyone has a brand that produces a gaming laptop that has the latest video card, whether the 6990 from ATI, or the GTX 580M from Nvidia, and want that brand included, let me know. Helpful if you give me a link to a site that deals in that brand.

I will go to work on this later, as it will be quite a good project.

[Sirisian]

For anyone skimming this without hardware experience don't just select the most expensive parts. This is a good tutorial for how not to build a laptop. I mean realistically the best gaming laptop is going to be one with:

i7-2820QM
485m 2 GB
16 GB 1600 MHz (Also wtf... Malibal sells 32 GB of RAM for my laptop now...)
120 GB SSD

Those are like the only important parts to make a laptop run any game at max settings. I find it hilarious how you can find a laptop with a non-sandy bridge chip like the i7-950 and stuff. Such a scam.

Also the 485m is faster than the 580m. The key difference though is Optimus support if you need that.

[Traak]

Originally Posted by Sirisian

I find it hilarious how you can find a laptop with a non-sandy bridge chip like the i7-950 and stuff. Such a scam.

So from looking at Wikipedia, the Sandy Bridge ones have four-digit names.

Seems that the non-Sandy Bridge ones are quite prevalent in the dual-VPU laptop segment. Could this be because the product cycle for dual-VPU mobo's is a lot longer, thus usually less current?

Originally Posted by Sirisian;

Also the 485m is faster than the 580m. The key difference though is Optimus support if you need that.

What is Optimus support? Educate this price-surfer that all may profit.

[Traak]

And, as a follow-on to your informing me that Malibal exists, I have spec'd a close-to-bottom-dollar laptop, but with the Nvidia GTX 580M, 16GB of 1333MHz RAM, Blu-Ray, and 3D capability.

This has the Sandy Bridge processor architecture.

Malibal Satori
www.malibal.com
$2,278.53

Glossy 17.3" screen 3D capable.

1 Intel® Core™ i7-2630QM, 6MB L3 Cache, 2.0-2.9GHz

16GB PC3-12800/1600MHz DDR3 - 4 SO-DIMM

NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M 2GB GDDR5

Everything else as offered

500GB 7200 RPM drive.

6X Blu-Ray reader

No upgrades to storage.

$125 discount for computers over 1500 bux.

[Sirisian]

Optimus support turns off your dedicated GPU when you aren't using it and uses the built in CPU integrated chip. On a fun sidenote the sandy bridge chips are DX 10.1 capable with enough processing power to run starcraft 2. Anyway Optimus is just a power saving feature if both the motherboard and GPU support it.

[Traak]

Thanks. I heard of something like that, didn't know the official name. Optimus, power saving switching capability between the on-board chipset and the video card.

Okay, next up is our high-zoot offering in the single-VPU Sandy-Bridge 17.3" class from Malibal Satori
www.malibal.com
No SSD's offered in this line from Malibal, but perhaps if you called them, you could work something out. Next-best hybrid 500GB+4GB flash RAM drives, however, in RAID 0 should make for reasonable boot times.

Price $5,023.63

$125 Off Configurations Over $1500

17.3" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit 120Hz 3D 72% NTSC Matte Display
Includes NVIDIA 3D Vision Glasses Kit

1 Intel® Core™ i7-2960XM, Extreme 8MB L3 Cache, 2.7-3.7GHz

32GB, PC3-10660/1333MHz DDR3 - 4 SO-DIMM

1 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M 2GB GDDR5 (User Upgradeable)

2 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA 300 Hybrid w/ 4GB NAND Flash in RAID 0

6X Blu-ray Burner 8X DVD+/-R DL Super-Multi Drive

Includes original Windows Disc and Driver CD for Backups
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Ultimate; 64-bit, includes original Windows Disc and Driver CD for Backups

Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 802.11A/B/G/N LAN Card

IC Diamond 7 Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU

[Traak]

Malibal's Dual-VPU laptop, with desktop-class processors

Model: Malibal Nine X 7200
www.malibal.com

Price $3,442.53

17.3" 1920 x 1080 FHD LED Backlit Glossy Display

Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M 1.5GB GDDR5 (User upgradeable)

(6GB) 6144MB, PC3-10660/1333MHz DDR3 - 3 SO-DIMM

1 500GB 7200rpm 2.5" SATA 300

1 6X Blu-ray Reader 8X DVD+/-R DL Super-Multi Drive

Includes original Windows Disc and Driver CD for Backups Microsoft® Windows® 7 Ultimate; 64-bit

Intel® 6300 Ultimate-N 802.11A/B/G/N LAN and Bluetooth Card
Stock OEM Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU

Surprisingly low price for a dual VPU notebook. If budget graphics might is your thing, might want to look at this one. Since it uses desktop processors, you can probably more easily replace the CPU in the future, and the video cards state user-upgradeable, and of course, the RAM and storage are all upgradeable, as with most laptops in the higher end.

[Traak]

Malibal's Dual-VPU laptop, with desktop-class processors

Model: Malibal Nine X 7200
www.malibal.com

Dual Nvidia GTX 580M's in SLI
$8,354.00

With dual AMD Radeon HD 6990M's in Crossfire
$7684.00 ($670 cheaper)

With dual Nvidia as above, and one notch lower than fastest CPU and 12GB instead of 24GB RAM No longer requires dual power cords/bricks without the i7-990X CPU
Price: $5,939.00 (Yes, that is $2,265 less!)

With dual AMD VPU"s as above, but one notch lower than fastest CPU and 12GB instead of 24GB RAM. No longer requires dual power cords/bricks without the i7-990X CPU
$5419.00

Intel® Core™ i7-990X Extreme, 12MB L3 Cache, 3.46-3.73GHz (Desktop CPU)

24GB PC3-10660/1333MHz DDR3 - 3 SO-DIMM
Dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 580M 2GB GDDR5, includes 2nd AC Adapter & Converter Box. Required for 990X CPU (user upgradeable)

3 250GB Intel® (510) SATA III 6Gb/s SSD2 Drive in RAID 0 High Performance (Three Hard Drive Configuration)

6X Blu-ray Burner 8X DVD+/-R DL Super-Multi Drive

Microsoft® Windows® 7 Ultimate; 64-bit includes original Windows Disc and Driver CD for Backups

Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 802.11A/B/G/N LAN Card

IC Diamond 7 Thermal Compound, CPU & GPU

This is the highest-performance solution, does not offer 3D glasses or display. There are larger SSD's, but not faster ones offered. As usual, choosing just a bit slower CPU and less RAM could results in a giant drop in price, while leaving your video speed very high.

[Bags]

I'm confused, what is the point of this thread? Or do you seriously think someone here is going to drop eight grand on a gaming laptop?

[Traak]

Next up is the Mtech single-VPU offering

$2505 as spec'd
$2176 with Nvidia GTX 560M 1.5GB
$2171 with top-line AMD Radeon HD 6990 2GB, which enables the glossy screen, since it does not have 3D included, so the price falls below the base Nvidia.

http://www.mtechlaptops.com

17.3" FHD/3D/Matt (not glossy, not available on this model with 3D) w/Nvidia 3D glasses

1 Nvidia GTX 580M 2GB

1 Intel core i7 2630QM 4-core, 1333MHz RAM

Mtech thermal compound

8GB DDR3 1333MHz (2X4GB)

1 320GB SATA II HDD 7200 RPM

1 4X Blu-Ray reader, DVD R/RW burner (does not burn to Blu-Ray, but conventional DVD's)

1 Fingerprint reader

1 Basic wireless 802.11 B/G/N/bluetooth/ethernet card

Quite affordable with some basic specs and a top-of-the-line video card.

[Traak]

Mtech single-VPU, high-zoot

$5409 as spec'd
$5004 with top-line AMD Radeon HD 6990 2GB, which enables the glossy screen, since it does not have 3D included.

http://www.mtechlaptops.com

17.3" FHD/3D/Matt (not glossy, not available on this model with 3D) w/Nvidia 3D glasses

1 Nvidia GTX 580M 2GB

1 Intel core i7 2960XM 4-core, 8MB cache, 1333MHz RAM

IC Diamond thermal compound

16B DDR3 1333MHz (2X4GB) (It will clock to lower clock speed, but higher-clockable RAM can generally have its latency adjusted lower when it is run at lower clock speeds, so it is potentially faster than 1333MHz RAM)

2 250GB SATA III SSD in RAID 0

1 6X Blu-Ray burner, DVD R/RW burner

1 Fingerprint reader

1 Bigfoot Networks N-1102.

[Traak]

.

[Raka Maru]

I don't recommend those big 17 inch screens. They are monsters to tote around. Battery life sucks. I have two of them and they stay home all the time now. I bring my 11 inch with me, and for the money you save, you can get a flatscreen for home use with hdmi output and spend a little more on a decent tack ball.

[Traak]

Good points. However, not all of us have a home. So we have to be mobile. And we can still have fun on our computer as we travel.

Laptops spend very little of their time being moved, even for one such as I, and the vast majority of their time being used while plugged in, or just idle.

So, yeah, a tower computer with a vast-screen monitor is what I would prefer. I like to build tower computers. Try travelling around the Middle East with one, though, LOL.

Even if I had it well-enough cased to protect it from the luggage process, how suspicious would it look going through X-ray machines?

And the flat-screen.

There are already posts in the VPU and CPU thread, those are geared towards people who have the luxury of a fixed location. Given a certain set of parameters, I like to see what I can do with those restrictions, mine being travel. Even the heaviest luggage spends very little of its time being actually carried. It is usually on the plane, on the cart at the airport, on the cart at the hotel, on the floor or desk at the hotel, etc.