High spec gaming laptop

Elessar

Right, so I've decided to upgrade, to go back to windows and get myself a high end gaming laptop and would love some advice.

For starters, yes, I know that I'd get more for my money by buying and building a desktop machine but for my own reasons, I want a good high spec laptop.

I would love some help selecting the right laptop A few points I 'd like:

1) 17" Full HD screen, of good quality.
2) Ivy Bridge CPU
3) The latest and greatest GPU (AMD 7970M?) preferably REMOVABLE and user upgradable - MXM type?
4) Good quality audio system with subwoofer
5) Good quality keyboard
6) Excellent connectivity (USB 3, HDMI etc.)
7) Looks good, sturdy and is well made (no cheap plastic)
8) Some sort of SSD setup is preferable, but I have my own 120GB I can put into it.

9) Good support and decent warranty

Not asking for much am I This will be a desktop replacement machine so size, weight and battery life are not important.

I spend 90% of my free time on my laptop (currently Macbook Pro) so the right machine is vitally important to me. My budget is €2000.

At the moment (after a bit of research) I've seen a few models that would meet some of the above criteria, (some are not even released yet) and would love to get some opinions:

ASUS G75 with Core i7 2.3GHz and Nvidia 660m (looks great but no user upgradable GPU though). No price yet.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O2Bzw_JNIY

MSI GT70 with Core i7 2.3GHz and Nividia 670m though according to Engadget the screen has poor viewing angles and again it has no user removable GPU. No price yet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6oIltA53Js

Alienware M17x - Core i7 with 7970m though I'm not sure if it has good speakers or if the keyboard or screen is good. The GPU is user upgradable though I believe. Price comes to about €2000.

Samsung Series 7 Gamer with Core i7 and 7970m and lots of other good specs like excellent screen, fast boot SSD setup, 3D screen etc. No price yet.

Any opinions? If anyone has any other suggestions I'd love to hear them. Any other manufacturers I should look at?

Help appreciated!

Morbert

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Top-10-Desktop-Replacement-Laptops.17035.0.html

I am thinking of buying the Schenker XMG702 when Ivy-bridge comes out.

http://www.mysn.de/detail.asp?bestellnr=adnl0001&userid=5560200D2D7842CB85B18EC69345D730&KategorienOrder=010;020;015;010;010

Jarren

Asus G75?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/5176239.p?id=1218621250769&skuId=5176239&st=asus%20g75&cp=1&lp=1&AID=10597222&PID=3640576&SID=skim525X832X6f38bda0b2676bb42f570f88c6bf0fd1&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FAsus%2B-%2B17.3%2526%252334%253B%2BLaptop%2B-%2B8GB%2BMemory%2B-%2B1TB%2BHard%2BDrive%2F5176239.p%3Fid%3D1218621250769%26skuId%3D5176239%26st%3Dasus%2520g75%26cp%3D1%26lp%3D1&ref=39&CJPID=3640576&loc=01

just use them http://www.myus.com/en/landing/?aid=1000721

calculate your duty/import taxes

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/

Morbert

Jarren wrote: »

Asus G75?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+8GB+Memory+-+1TB+Hard+Drive/5176239.p?id=1218621250769&skuId=5176239&st=asus%20g75&cp=1&lp=1&AID=10597222&PID=3640576&SID=skim525X832X6f38bda0b2676bb42f570f88c6bf0fd1&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2FAsus%2B-%2B17.3%2526%252334%253B%2BLaptop%2B-%2B8GB%2BMemory%2B-%2B1TB%2BHard%2BDrive%2F5176239.p%3Fid%3D1218621250769%26skuId%3D5176239%26st%3Dasus%2520g75%26cp%3D1%26lp%3D1&ref=39&CJPID=3640576&loc=01

just use them http://www.myus.com/en/landing/?aid=1000721

calculate your duty/import taxes

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/

I was thinking about this. Does it work both ways? I.e. If I need to ship the laptop back for repairs under warranty, can I do so?

Jarren

Nope, it's international, so as long as there is a ASUS Service repair centre nearby, you can drop it off there or will get picked up by a courier company.

UK(Ireland) 0035-31890719918 09:00-17:00 Mon-Fri

http://support.asus.com/ServiceCenter.aspx?SLanguage=en

What about powering the laptop? Won't you need a different AC adapter? Surely it's designed for the US? Yes, I'm new to all this!

Torqay

Morbert wrote: »

I am thinking of buying the Schenker XMG702 when Ivy-bridge comes out.

Yep, the XMG502 and XMG702 really mean business.

Jarren

Nope, you look good http://www.boards.ie/search/?sort=newest&f=9&u=19026

Personally speaking I would only use original or Irish/UK specific adapter that goes with a make and model laptop.

Just get a plug adaptor

Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/US-UK-Plug-Travel-Adaptor/dp/B0006OFKNC/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195658654&sr=8-16

You can get those in 2 Euro stores.

TPM

what about
http://www.maxburns.ie/?ECProduct=3732

only gtx 570m though
store price €1685

Jarren

GPU looks good

www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/range/eliteextreme2760v2.html?th=g

Not sure if CPU is upgradable.

Jarren

Jarren wrote: »

Nope, you look good http://www.boards.ie/search/?sort=newest&f=9&u=19026

Personally speaking I would only use original or Irish/UK specific adapter that goes with a make and model laptop.

Just get a plug adaptor

Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/US-UK-Plug-Travel-Adaptor/dp/B0006OFKNC/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1195658654&sr=8-16

You can get those in 2 Euro stores.

I think you're wrong there mate. Surely the ac adapter that comes with it would have a different input/output current so a simple plug adapter wouldn't cut it. I do have a universal notebook adapter so maybe that would work? The reason I'm being such a pain about this is I've done my sums and I think I'd end up paying €1400 in total which I think is a steal for this. The only problem I'm having is the adapter issue. I'd hate to buy the thing only for it to explode when I plug it in! Thanks for the links and your help so far Jarren...

TPM

most of the modern power supplies work with an input voltage range of 100 - 240 vac and 50-60 Hz

Jarren

no worries


As far as I know, all notebooks automatically adjust to whatever electric current is available.
Just get Irish/Uk compatible plug for the power block.

However it's always good to be sure 100% and this case you can get this info from Asus directly.

http://support.asus.com/ContactUs.aspx?SLanguage=en

Ah yes I see! Just need an adapter like the man says! Sorry for hijacking the thread.

Elessar

Any more input?

Thanks to Morbert I've had a good look at Schenker and now the XMG702 is a real contender - fully upgradable CPU and GPU, customised internals, good screen (according to notebookcheck.net). Only thing is the speakers or keyboard wouldn't be as good as the MSI...

So many choices!

_AVALANCHE_

http://www.pwnpcs.co.uk/?q=laptops/sager-np9170-clevo-p170em-extreme-performance-custom-gaming-laptop

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/vortexIII-17/

Both have the 7970 on pre-order, will have ivy, Full HD (matte), backlit keyboards, external speakers are better, SSD options, even the new mSATA ones are an option, though who'd want one anyway (yet).

Elessar

_AVALANCHE_ wrote: »

http://www.pwnpcs.co.uk/?q=laptops/sager-np9170-clevo-p170em-extreme-performance-custom-gaming-laptop

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/vortexIII-17/

Both have the 7970 on pre-order, will have ivy, Full HD (matte), backlit keyboards, external speakers are better, SSD options, even the new mSATA ones are an option, though who'd want one anyway (yet).

Thanks Avalanche, but are these not rebranded Schenker computers? They look exactly the same.

Have you ever bought from those companies? Pcspecialist offers a 3 year warranty but I wonder will they honour it for Irish customers (collect and return etc)...

Also, when's Ivy Bridge out?

_AVALANCHE_

Elessar wrote: »

Thanks Avalanche, but are these not rebranded Schenker computers? They look exactly the same.

Other way around:pac:, Schenker are rebranded clevo. Same thing though yea, whole load of sites buy clevo chasis/shell, customise and sell on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevo#Vendors

Elessar wrote: »

Have you ever bought from those companies? Pcspecialist offers a 3 year warranty but I wonder will they honour it for Irish customers (collect and return etc)...

Also, when's Ivy Bridge out?

PC specialist is sound...I can only assume they honour the warranty, well reviewed company so easy to find out, don't know much about pwnpcs, only came across them a couple of weeks ago.

_AVALANCHE_

Elessar wrote: »

Also, when's Ivy Bridge out?

Tomorrow for some of the chips (desktop and higher laptop), middle of May for some others, start of June should be loads around.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2402625,00.asp

Morbert

_AVALANCHE_ wrote: »

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/vortexIII-17/

I have pretty much settled on this or the XMG 702. A question though: The GTX675 is 100 quid more expensive than the GTX670. From what I'm reading, both are just tweaked 500 cards, but I am wondering if the 100 quid is really worth it. Consoles seem to be driving most single player games, and multiplayer games like Minecraft,Eve,WoW, and Diablo don't demand too much either.