Which Is A Better Option?

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 1:21pm #1

For weeks I've been waiting to buy this laptop: http://www.komplett.ie/Komplett/product/17_18_inch/80003465/asus_17_3_n73sm_tz035v_i7_2670m_8gb_750gb/details.aspx

But now I'm second guessing and wondering will I be better off building my own desktop for the same price (€750, that's how much I was going to pay for laptop in the link)? Would it perform better than the laptop or would I be able to get a rig with similar specs to the laptop (with GPU upgrade) for a cheaper price?

Was planning on buying components from www.elara.ie Anyone here used them? Is there somewhere cheaper/better to buy from?

Is it even possible to build an i7/gtx desktop for the same price?

1. What is your budget? [€750 but if I really like it I can be flexible as long as it's not way over budget]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming and everyday use. Games such as Diablo III, Call of duty, would like to be able to able to play graphic intense games too though eg battlefield 3]

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Hard drive/DVD Drive/Case/PSU/etc.] No

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [22+]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.] No

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [No]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [Whener I find a build I like]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Dublin City]

Thanks folks

Tea_Bag · 10-04-2012 1:29pm

I'm not of much help here cause I'm on my phone, but I'm curious as to how you're going to get that laptop for €750?

also, don't be sold on i7 and gtx marketing. that laptop has one of the best mobile CPUs money can buy, but a relatively cheap desktop quad core will run circles around it, especially in games.

elara is a bit on the expensive side. we generally use hardwareversand.de and scan.co.uk

Eboggles · 10-04-2012 1:34pm

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 1:36pm

Tea_Bag wrote: »

I'm not of much help here cause I'm on my phone, but I'm curious as to how you're going to get that laptop for €750?

also, don't be sold on i7 and gtx marketing. that laptop has one of the best mobile CPUs money can buy, but a relatively cheap desktop quad core will run circles around it, especially in games.

elara is a bit on the expensive side. we generally use hardwareversand.de and scan.co.uk

I was going to get it ex. Vat.

I realise everything I listed is probably a bit optimistic for the price, but I'm just looking for the best performance/price ratio

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 1:47pm

Eboggles wrote: »

Item|Price
LiteOn iHAS124-19 schwarz SATA|€17.83
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9|€33.65
MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SB-Version Englisch|€83.64
BenQ G2225HD|€99.00
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€43.47
Xigmatek Asgard III Midi Tower - black, ohne Netzteil|€32.63
Rechner - Zusammenbau|€20.00
Intel Core i5-2400 Box, LGA1155|€164.13
ASRock H61M/U3S3 (B3), Sockel 1155, mATX|€54.30
Gainward GeForce GTX 560 Ti, 1GB GDDR5|€193.10
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€760.74

No point in getting an i7, it just has hyperthreading which does nothing in games.

Thanks for the reply man but is it just me being tired or is that build lacking a harddrive?

Eboggles · 10-04-2012 2:46pm

MadMardegan wrote: »

Thanks for the reply man but is it just me being tired or is that build lacking a harddrive?

Yeah it is, I'm a bit slow today

. Throw this in or get the 1tb version if you need more space. If it's ex-VAT you might be able to squeeze a bit more in, maybe an SSD or better graphics card?

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 3:25pm

Eboggles wrote: »

Yeah it is, I'm a bit slow today . Throw this in or get the 1tb version if you need more space. If it's ex-VAT you might be able to squeeze a bit more in, maybe an SSD or better graphics card?

Well I like your build the way it is, I'll probably just put the 500gb in and leave it as is. Not sure I'll be able to get this one ex-VAT so I suppose I can do without SSD and save a bit.

Would like to see some other builds before I commit but really appreciate your input man

There's always room for upgrades down the line though if I decide yeah?

Eboggles · 10-04-2012 3:34pm

MadMardegan wrote: »

Well I like your build the way it is, I'll probably just put the 500gb in and leave it as is. Not sure I'll be able to get this one ex-VAT so I suppose I can do without SSD and save a bit.

Would like to see some other builds before I commit but really appreciate your input man

There's always room for upgrades down the lime though if I decide yeah?

Yeah there isn't much room in the CPU derpartment as that is the best for what you're doing without overclocking, however you could (in a while) decide you want to take gaming up a notch and get a beefy graphics card like a GTX 680 or 7970. Though if you were to get that you'll have to upgrade your PSU to this (not the first choice as its very expensive but the alternatives are out of stock; see Super Flower Amazon 550 watt)
Or you could drop in an SSD for a very noticeable difference in day-to-day computing.

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 3:38pm

Eboggles wrote: »

Yeah there isn't much room in the CPU derpartment as that is the best for what you're doing without overclocking, however you could (in a while) decide you want to take gaming up a notch and get a beefy graphics card like a GTX 680 or 7970. Though if you were to get that you'll have to upgrade your PSU to this (not the first choice as its very expensive but the alternatives are out of stock; see Super Flower Amazon 550 watt)
Or you could drop in an SSD for a very noticeable difference in day-to-day computing.

Hmmm, might put a 128ssd in instead of a HD. I don't store much on my internal anyway, would probably be a better option, and the price isn't a whole lot more.

Jaafa · 10-04-2012 3:45pm

Maybe scale down the GPU slightly to a 6870/50 and get the i5-2500k instead? For future proofing sake?

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 4:11pm

Jaafa wrote: »

Maybe scale down the GPU slightly to a 6870/50 and get the i5-2500k instead? For future proofing sake?

I'm open to other build suggestions

Jaafa · 10-04-2012 4:18pm

MadMardegan wrote: »

I'm open to other build suggestions

Well 6870 is about 50 euro cheaper than 560ti and has almost the same performance If I understand correctly. 6850 is a little worse again but it's price is around the 100 euro mark.

In contrast the i5-2500k with the ability to over clock is a a lot better than the i5-2400. And it is around the 200 euro mark.

EDIT: then again you would need a different Mobo, add another 50 euro on top of that. Still I personally think it's worth it.

MadMardegan · 10-04-2012 6:24pm

Here's another build which I like as well:

CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 Box, LGA1155
Mainboard: ASRock Z68 Pro3 Gen3, Sockel 1155, ATX
GPU: Sapphire HD 6850 1GB GDDR5 PCI-Express
HD: OCZ Vertex 3 120GB 6,4cm (2,5") SATA3
RAM: 8GB-Kit G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-10667U CL9
PSU: Corsair Builder Series CX600 V2, 600 Watt
Case: NZXT SOURCE 210 Midi-Tower - black, ATX,
Optical: LG GH24NS bare schwarz
Monitor: Acer G225HQVbd
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Re-Spawn, USB, 3500 dpi
Keyboard: Razer Arctosa Gaming Keyboard Black, USB, silver

Comes to €883 after delivery and factory assembly.

What ya think?

Eboggles · 10-04-2012 6:57pm

Jaafa wrote: »

Well 6870 is about 50 euro cheaper than 560ti and has almost the same performance If I understand correctly. 6850 is a little worse again but it's price is around the 100 euro mark.

In contrast the i5-2500k with the ability to over clock is a a lot better than the i5-2400. And it is around the 200 euro mark.

EDIT: then again you would need a different Mobo, add another 50 euro on top of that. Still I personally think it's worth it.

Point taken on the 6870, but there's no overclocking involved so the i5 2400 is the top dog.

Jaafa · 10-04-2012 8:38pm

Eboggles wrote: »

Point taken on the 6870, but there's no overclocking involved so the i5 2400 is the top dog.

Yeah, for his needs I guess the 6870 will do, no great need for the 2500k really.

Which Is A Better Option?

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