Spec me or advise me a decent gaming laptop :) for 1500
- Thread starter joedacrow
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Msi / Alienware
I have been researching the same, and pretty much have the same budget.
It comes down to a choice of two now for me.
1 - Alienware M17xR3 , which has a Nvidia 580GTX-M , Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 2670QM (2.20Ghz, 6MB, 4C) , 4 GB RAM , Win7 Home Premium 64 bit , 2 x HDD bays (with only 1 filled but you can spec it for two or 1 + SSD)
2 - the MSi GTX series (available from OCUK - just look under the laptops section). The Msi series only does Nvidia 570GTX -M cards though. It also has the same i7 processor, and 8 GB RAM , but includes 2 x 750GB HDD (in RAID 0 for performance and space 1.5TB in all)
I cannot link to the alienware as it is for sale only by competitors, but the link to the MSI is here : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=LT-057-MS
Both will set you back around 1350 , which leaves room for extra memory or hdd or carry-case upgrades.
Hope this helps your decision, mine has been agonising , especially as the MSi deal on OCUK expires tommorrow, and the alienware deals expire on the 4th Jan. Gonna have to spend soon !
I have been researching the same, and pretty much have the same budget.
It comes down to a choice of two now for me.
1 - Alienware M17xR3 , which has a Nvidia 580GTX-M , Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 2670QM (2.20Ghz, 6MB, 4C) , 4 GB RAM , Win7 Home Premium 64 bit , 2 x HDD bays (with only 1 filled but you can spec it for two or 1 + SSD)
2 - the MSi GTX series (available from OCUK - just look under the laptops section). The Msi series only does Nvidia 570GTX -M cards though. It also has the same i7 processor, and 8 GB RAM , but includes 2 x 750GB HDD (in RAID 0 for performance and space 1.5TB in all)
I cannot link to the alienware as it is for sale only by competitors, but the link to the MSI is here : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=LT-057-MS
Both will set you back around 1350 , which leaves room for extra memory or hdd or carry-case upgrades.
Hope this helps your decision, mine has been agonising , especially as the MSi deal on OCUK expires tommorrow, and the alienware deals expire on the 4th Jan. Gonna have to spend soon !
Soldato
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Does it have to be a laptop? Gaming laptops are big and heavy and not very mobile so you are forced to find a table with a plug and sit down and use it anyway.
I would suggest going down the MSI route personally as alienware are such rip offs for what they offer. Also, raid in a laptop is generally not a good idea.
I would suggest going down the MSI route personally as alienware are such rip offs for what they offer. Also, raid in a laptop is generally not a good idea.
ih8modem;20885444 2 - the MSi GTX series (available from OCUK - just look under the laptops section). The Msi series only does Nvidia 570GTX -M cards though. It also has the same i7 processor said:
Soldato
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Yes it does, you are thinking of raid 1 mirror.
Raid Types
As you brought it up, raid 0 is performance and space, where raid 1 is mirrored drives which results in the 750GB capacity.
There are many many resources out there, but here is one for you to look at
http://www.midwestdatarecovery.com/raid-array-types.html
Merry Christmas !
As you brought it up, raid 0 is performance and space, where raid 1 is mirrored drives which results in the 750GB capacity.
There are many many resources out there, but here is one for you to look at
http://www.midwestdatarecovery.com/raid-array-types.html
Merry Christmas !
Soldato
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As you brought it up, raid 0 is performance and space, where raid 1 is mirrored drives which results in the 750GB capacity.
There are many many resources out there, but here is one for you to look at
http://www.midwestdatarecovery.com/raid-array-types.html
Gahhh, brain freeze moment!
Msi are a good brand for GFX cards and motherboards, I myself have used them quite a bit in the past.
For laptops they seem to suffer from build quality issues AT TIMES (I have read) but overall seem to be on par with alienware from Dell.
Alienware offer slightly more bang for buck at this very moment though, as an m17xR3 with a 580GTX and the 1080p screen will set you back £1299. *using discount codes freely available - just look for Dell discount codes.
On the other hand the MSi offering here on OCUK will give you more storage space (1.5TB in a 2x750GB format) vs the 500GB on the Alienware. That said the Alienware does have a second HDD bay and can easily be upgraded now or at a later stage.
OCUK used to at one point stock Dell laptops, not sure why they stopped.
* Edit - Yes the Msi will run BF3 and other such games - and will do it quite well on high settings (not ultra/extreme). It all comes down to the GFX card, and the 570GTX in the MSi is quite a capable beast, the 580GTX in the alienware will beat it by a small margin.(some 8-12% margin depending on game).
Oh final comment, in my experience Dell and MSi have about the same level of customer service, they are both rubbish.
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we moved home and i had no place to plonk my gaming rig, so i got rid of it and bought an alienware m17x r3 with the ati 6990m card in it plus the 1920x1080p screen and am loving it...cost me £1600, built quality is first class keyboard and pad are very good.
Soldato
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Im rocking a Vortex II to here, its runs really well and was close to the prices you find on the dell outlet. I would recommend one of those 2. You can get lucky with the outlet and find a crazy laptop, 580m ssd 1080p for around £1200 which is really nice.
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