£1K laptop??

Slobbo · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:15

Wonder if some kind folks could help me. Been looking around for a few days, but can't seem to make up my mind!

My budget is around £1,000. Could probably stretch to £1,200ish at a push.

Im looking for a desktop replacement, probably 17 inches, I was tempted by the P34G, but think I'm pretty much set on the larger screen rather than the portability. The machine will probably never leave the house anyway, as I travel with an iPad / Note 3.

I am a very occasional gamer, though might spend more time gaming in the future. I've not had a capable desktop machine for a couple of years due to lack of space, but used to love Half Life 2 and Hidden and Dangerous back in the day! Also partial to the odd game of Fifa.

Not fussed about an SSD, as I'll probably pick I up an 480GB once prices drop a little more.

I've been looking at the various OcUK models, but I'm not convinced by the generic casings. Am I being stupid overlooking these? Also looking at the MSI and Gigabyte P27K models on here - the P27K looks to be the best value, with the 765m and an SSD.

Think I've made up my mind then I have another look at the OcUK machines and think I could get more bang for the buck with one of those.

An advice??

Thanks

kefan77 · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:16

if it never leaves the house, get a ITX/mATX desktop.

Slobbo · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:47

kefan77 said:
if it never leaves the house, get a ITX/mATX desktop.

No space for a desktop of any description unfortunately. I would love to build a high specced beast, but just not gonna happen.

My bikes take up most of my allocated flat space!

kefan77 · 1 Jan 2014 at 17:51

something is seriously wrong with your living space, if you can't even fit in 35cm cube like Bitfenix Phenom.

1000 PC (150 for monitor and 50 for KB/mouse) would annihilate 1200 laptop for games.

Slobbo · 1 Jan 2014 at 18:02

kefan77 said:
something is seriously wrong with your living space, if you can't even fit in 35cm cube like Bitfenix Phenom.

1000 PC (150 for monitor and 50 for KB/mouse) would annihilate 1200 laptop for games.

Are we talking about a 35cm cube, or are we taking about a 35 cm cube, a computer desk, a monitor, a decent chair, cables, some storage space, extension plugs, sockets?

If I wanted a desktop I would build a proper desktop, not a 35cm cube.

Thanks for the great advice, though. It's sometimes easier giving advise when you also make up the question.

kefan77 · 1 Jan 2014 at 18:22

Slobbo said:
Are we talking about a 35cm cube, or are we taking about a 35 cm cube, a computer desk, a monitor, a decent chair, cables, some storage space, extension plugs, sockets?

well and where would you put the 17" laptop? won't you need a desk anyway?

same with chair.

if you get wifi and wireless mouse/KB, we're talking 2 cables, one to mains and one to monitor. that's only 1 more than on a laptop. or will you be playing on battery that lasts 1 hour?

what storage space? you can fit 4TB drives in Phenom. how many 4TB drives can you fit in 17" laptop?

extension plugs? sockets? what for? you need one, same as for laptop.

mk17 · 1 Jan 2014 at 22:55

I'm in a similar boat, Slobbo, I'm switching jobs in February, and looking for a decent laptop.

I keep glancing at the MSI machines, but I'm likely to go for the OCUK Extreme builds, I think they're more configurable and a better fit to my needs. Some people don't like the cases, but for a machine that won't leave my desk very often (or in your case, your flat), I'm not concerned by the eye candy aspect.

Hopefully an OCUK laptop owner or two might post up their own experiences.

156charl · 2 Jan 2014 at 02:33

If the laptop is not going to leave the house, then I agree with mk17, get a OCUK ones. But if you do take them out occasionally, try Gigabyte P35K. Had one of this for a few months and still works awesome

kevpuk · 2 Jan 2014 at 08:57

I'll throw my voice into the P35K camp - picked up one around a month ago, albeit the more expensive configuration, and am delighted with it. Plenty of power, yet not a behemoth that warms the neighbourhood.......SSD and HDD, optical drive and flexible storage options around either 2nd/3rd SSD and or additional HDD in place of ODD, i7 & 756m, 1080p IPS display and mainly aluminium body.

SarGara · 2 Jan 2014 at 11:18

kefan77 said:
well and where would you put the 17" laptop? won't you need a desk anyway?

same with chair.

if you get wifi and wireless mouse/KB, we're talking 2 cables, one to mains and one to monitor. that's only 1 more than on a laptop. or will you be playing on battery that lasts 1 hour?

what storage space? you can fit 4TB drives in Phenom. how many 4TB drives can you fit in 17" laptop?

extension plugs? sockets? what for? you need one, same as for laptop.

What he said. The fact you've decided on 17" means you've ruled out being able to use it on your lap due to the weight, bulk and heat so you are going to need a desk regardless.

I've got a 14" MSI GE40-2OC so sit on the bed and use mine almost daily.

Slobbo · 4 Jan 2014 at 15:27

mk17 said:
I'm in a similar boat, Slobbo, I'm switching jobs in February, and looking for a decent laptop.

I keep glancing at the MSI machines, but I'm likely to go for the OCUK Extreme builds, I think they're more configurable and a better fit to my needs. Some people don't like the cases, but for a machine that won't leave my desk very often (or in your case, your flat), I'm not concerned by the eye candy aspect.

Hopefully an OCUK laptop owner or two might post up their own experiences.

Ended up going for a machine similar to the OC ones based around an i7 4800MQ @ 2.7GHz, GTX 765M, Kingston HyperX SSD and a Scorpio Black. Cost dead on £1K.

I'm having buyers remorse regarding the case, particularly as the gf has just taken delivery of a shiny new MacBook Pro!