Laptop Advice

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 07:44

Been mulling over a new laptop for about 2 months now, going round in circles!

I’m looking at the below, found it for £1200.

But I’ve read that it had a Max-Q GPU and it comes in at about 10-12% lower performance wise compare to the standard.

Is this true?

Will I notice it?

Don’t think I’ve played any games that max out 6gb VRAM right?

I’ve noticed Pcars2 and steep use nearly 4 on my desktop on max settings though!

HP OMEN 15-ce013na

Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad Core Processor
15.6" Full HD IPS 120Hz Screen
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit
16GB DDR4 RAM
128GB SSD + 1000GB HDD
Dedicated GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics
NVidia G-Sync & VR Ready

MiSJAH · 1 Apr 2018 at 11:40

The Max-Q 1060 is around 10% less powerful than an old GTX 980M and the standard 1060 is around 5% more powerful than the 980M.

Also, the display is not IPS. The AUO42ED display is the same as in my AORUS X5V6.

Considering the GTX 1070 in my notebook will struggle to play some games at 100FPS+, pairing the under power Max-Q 1060 with 120Hz display seems very odd.

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 12:27

Could be back to the drawing board again

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 17:05

What about gigabyte laptops?

willhub · 1 Apr 2018 at 19:37

I have a GTX 1060 3GB in my laptop (in Sig) and it runs FF XV at high and Kingdom Come Deliverance a mix of high and very high at 1080p so I think 6gb more than enough

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 21:00

What make of laptop do you have? There’s so many to choose from I find myself just putting my phone down after a while. I like the ROG strix GL502 as well, between that and the omen

MiSJAH · 1 Apr 2018 at 21:08

The GTX 1060 Max-Q 6GB manages an average of 33.9 FPS in FFXV:

And the standard version 1060 6GB manages an average of 37-41 FPS:

Both would be a waste of the 120Hz display.

willhub · 1 Apr 2018 at 21:10

David Flett said:
What make of laptop do you have? There’s so many to choose from I find myself just putting my phone down after a while. I like the ROG strix GL502 as well, between that and the omen

I have MSI GP52MVR, quite a bit under you price tag however it has NON-IPS display and a 5400RPM 1TB HDD display as opposied the what is listed on site, there is just so many configs of the same laptop it's insane.

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 22:04

I’ll maybe have a look a MSI again as I just sold on my Msi that’s in my sig for a better powered one, I know it’s crazy so much differences for the same models,

So is the 120Hz displays more for 1070,1080 range?

willhub · 1 Apr 2018 at 22:11

David Flett said:
I’ll maybe have a look a MSI again as I just sold on my Msi that’s in my sig for a better powered one, I know it’s crazy so much differences for the same models,

So is the 120Hz displays more for 1070,1080 range?

You're not going to be playing many games at 120fps even with a 1080 tbh

MiSJAH · 1 Apr 2018 at 22:13

David Flett said:
I’ll maybe have a look a MSI again as I just sold on my Msi that’s in my sig for a better powered one, I know it’s crazy so much differences for the same models,

So is the 120Hz displays more for 1070,1080 range?

Heads up on MSI they treated customers that had bought premium laptops like dirt (some people had spent ~£4K on the top spec models). I would suggest avoiding until after the class action in the USA is completed, and any further legal action against them this side of the Atlantic.

And yeah, the 1070 and 1080 are a better match for AA and AAA games @120Hz.

The 60-75Hz IPS displays are very good, my previous IPS display would overclock to 100Hz using the Nvidia control panel.

DJ85 · 1 Apr 2018 at 22:19

I was happy playing 60fps at 1080 But just the games I’m playing my 960m 2gb was starting to struggle on games like pcars 2 and steep and wildlands.
Trying to find the best value, performance for my money. Looking to spend £1500

willhub · 1 Apr 2018 at 22:22

MiSJAH said:
Heads up on MSI they treated customers that had bought premium laptops like dirt (some people had spent ~£4K on the top spec models). I would suggest avoiding until after the class action in the USA is completed, and any further legal action against them this side of the Atlantic.

And yeah, the 1070 and 1080 are a better match for AA and AAA games @120Hz.

The 60-75Hz IPS displays are very good, my previous IPS display would overclock to 100Hz using the Nvidia control panel.

Why avoid them? What's the law suite going to do for prospective buyers?

MiSJAH · 2 Apr 2018 at 06:20

David Flett said:
I was happy playing 60fps at 1080 But just the games I’m playing my 960m 2gb was starting to struggle on games like pcars 2 and steep and wildlands.
Trying to find the best value, performance for my money. Looking to spend £1500

That's definitely GTX 1070 territory. The closer we get to Volta/Ampere being released the more you'll get or your money.

willhub said:
Why avoid them? What's the law suite going to do for prospective buyers?

The outcome will provide prospective buyers further insight into the company they will be buying. After all, knowledge is power.

willhub · 2 Apr 2018 at 09:27

MiSJAH said:
That's definitely GTX 1070 territory. The closer we get to Volta/Ampere being released the more you'll get or your money.

The outcome will provide prospective buyers further insight into the company they will be buying. After all, knowledge is power.

They potentially mis sold some laptops re upgradable graphics and messed up. It looks like they're taking remedial action also. I have just bought an MSI laptop and yes there are some things wrong with it as in wrong specs like not an IPS screen and slower HDD however I'm not sure it was intentional.

DJ85 · 2 Apr 2018 at 10:16

I’ll maybe go look into MSI again see what I can find,
I’ve also seen this one would this take advantage of the screen?

ASUS ROG STRIX GL502VS-FY256T

Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad Core Processor
15.6" Full HD Screen
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit
16GB DDR4 RAM
256GB M.2 SSD + 1000GB HDD
Dedicated GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Graphics
NVidia G-SYNC & VR Ready
USB3 | HDMI | Bluetooth

DJ85 · 2 Apr 2018 at 10:29

MSI GE72MVR 7RG(Apache Pro)-064UK

Intel Core i7-7700HQ Quad Core Processor
17.3" Full HD 120Hz Screen
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit
16GB DDR4 RAM
256GB SSD + 1000GB HDD
Dedicated GeForce GTX 1070 8GB Graphics
USB3 | HDMI | Bluetooth | Mini Display Port
Full Colour Blacklit Keyboard

DJ85 · 2 Apr 2018 at 17:22

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus....6-fhd-i7-7700hq-gaming-laptop-lt-24n-as.html

Thinking of going for this one

JimboJet · 2 Apr 2018 at 18:41

I think the max q models have their place in more compact, lighter machines. if portability and size/weight isn't a major issue then going full fat 1060, 1070 or 1080 is the way forward. In any case, i'd advise you to do thorough research into any laptop you are looking to buy to see if there are issues with thermal throttling, excessive fan noise, keyboard, touchpads or displays as these tend to be the weak point of many of the machines that have issues. Most machines will have an element of the above in one way or another and the inevitable trade off is weight and size and that leaves you to make the decision as to what you're willing to accept and what you are not.

I think its probably going to be above your budget, but maybe worth waiting til the 3rd April when we'll hear more about the 8th gen refresh of the Gigabyte Aero 15x. My guess is it will retail at around £2000 though.

It maybe worth looking at the dell outlet for refurbed alienware models such as the m17x r4 which can offer some good specs at a price significantly cheaper than new. I've had a few machines from them in the past and they've all been fine on delivery (except the gtx580m in the m17xr3 i had which was known to have issues after a yr or two but i upgraded that to a 780m after the 580m gave up)

DJ85 · 2 Apr 2018 at 20:10

I am not to fussed about size or weight, under 3kgs though as I travel offshore a lot and its good to keep the baggage weight down. but 15-17" screen I don't mind. but like I did with my last laptop I don't want to go buy it, then 2 weeks later see something else I wish I got instead, I have been doing research for the last 2 months now seems like ill never actually buy a new laptop :eek:

every time I find one I like and think would be good, I always find someone that has a bad comment about it and then it puts me off. yeah well I was hoping to stick to my budget of around 1500 but well see. ill have a look on dell sites as a few folk have pointed my to alienware but its ju8st the i5 spec that's in my price range at the moment. ill check for refurb ones also as I don't mind.