Gaming + Work Laptop

George_w · 21-11-2011, 12:35

Can't decide which one to get, it's a close call, but I really really do like the looks of the samsung one, looks really nice...

So we have:

Samsung 700G7A 17.3" 3D 120Hz WLED TFT, Intel HM65 I7-2670QM 2.2GHz, 8GB DDR3, 1.5TB HDD, ATI HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5 Graphics
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=LT-127-SA

OR

MSI GT780DXR-290UK Gaming Laptop 17.3" WLED TFT Intel I7-2670QM, 8GB DDR3, 1.5tb HDD, NVIDIA GTX 570M 1.5GB GDDR5 Graphics
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=LT-046-MS

I'll be using it for work which will include photoshop and having lots and lots of windows open... and then having a nice game of BF3 on here and then possibly some other games. I'll be deffo getting an SSD straight away no doubt about it. The samsung does have the intel 8GB cache though

Lord Nikon · 22-11-2011, 16:34

http://www.bestbuy.co.uk/product/100...gb-memory.aspx could be worth a look

George_w · 22-11-2011, 16:42

Looking for something a bit more powerful than 5850... and I wouldn't go for another Acer

Lord Nikon · 22-11-2011, 16:44

They also list an Alienware M15X for 799

George_w · 22-11-2011, 16:50

That M15X has a 240M, This sony I have ATM has a 330M so would be a little silly, I do like Alienware but for the price I can get the samsung (£500 rather than £1500) then I think it's a bit silly not to go for it

DocDutch · 22-11-2011, 18:12

What is your budget and main items you want on the laptop

George_w · 22-11-2011, 20:08

Budget is £1500, and it needs to play latest games, and have a nice beefy processor and memory for day to day tasks like photoshop + lots of windows open...

Thing I like about the samsung is it seems to have all that, it's a nice screen + 3D. Keyboard looks nice etc etc

Gavin78 · 23-11-2011, 20:18

you tried looking at laptops direct as well?

**Rob** · 23-11-2011, 21:31

At that level of spec any laptop is going to deal with most business type applications (except perhaps some of the most demanding graphical ones such as CAD) and loads of windows being open at once quite easily.

But, these are standard drives so a SSD will be important for anything you want to open quickly. But has the laptop chassis got space for that, or are you immediately going to need an external drive?

Are you really going to be happy gaming for more than a short period of time on a screen that is 17". After all installed in a desktop computer both of those graphics cards would easily support resolutions that would make a much bigger monitor look impressive. And if you are serious about photoshop and stuff like that, plus loads of windows open, would you not want a dual monitor setup?

Where things could get interesting is heat. Something of that spec running under a heavy load is going to chuck out a lot of heat.

Of course if you do need the portability then the laptop is the only option to the desktop, and I suppose when you are at "base camp" you could always have a second cheapo monitor available to plug in.

Halcyon · 23-11-2011, 22:41

Rob has a very good point. And you have to think if you want to get better games and upgrade your hardware it will be easier in a PC than on a laptop which more or less only comes with upgradable RAM.

A gaming PC will cost you a lot less than a gaming laptop and you will get more hardware spec for your money.
However if you need the portability factor then I guess the laptop route is the only one to take.

**Rob** · 24-11-2011, 02:00

Actually re-reading the spec the Samsunbg has two 750 HDDs in RAID 0. so you might be able to pull out one of those and put the SSD inside in it's place. But you need to ensure there will be compatibility with the controller card, and then you've got that HDD you paid for sitting around idle.

At this size of lappy it will be a fair weight and size means portabilty is compromised.

As Halcyon says upgradeability is very limited so you are buying a machine at a set point in time which you should regard as having a finite specification and lifespan. Having said that a Desktop with that overall level of spec is probably going to be over a grand including OS and a decent monitor, unless perhaps you are scrimping components for a self build.