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New Laptop

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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
Processor Intel Core i7-3630QM
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Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
Ok I don't know a lot about pc hardware, but I really want a computer that can run games from medium to ultra well (ie BF3, Rome 2, which I know isnt out yet). My budget is about $1000 to $1400 (of course I am willing to go lower). Unfortunately I am stuck in an apartment, and I will need the laptop for work/school as well, so that rules out a desktop for now. Like I said I dont know much about hardware, so I have been looking at newegg for prebuilt computers. They seem to have decent prices, so I am hoping someone can help a noob figure out which laptop will be a good value for what I am looking for. Thanks guys, go easy on me haha!

Here is one laptop that I have been looking at:
MSI GX Series GX60 3AE-216US AMD A-Series 8GB Memo...
 
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Here's a review for the laptop you're looking at:

AnandTech

I'm pretty impressed at the specs for the price. I bought my laptop several years ago, paid a bit less than that, but it wasn't that powerful even when I bought it. In comparison to the laptop you're looking at, the price/performance ratio is much better.
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
Processor Intel Core i7-3630QM
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Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
ya like I said I can't do a desktop right now due to size and transportation constraints. so for now i need a laptop and that looks to be good for the price, and has gotten decent reviews. It actually costs less than my current laptop did, and seems to be more powerful than it was
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
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Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
Anyone else have any other suggestions or do you think this is a solid choice to go with?
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
Processor Intel Core i7-3630QM
Memory DDRIII 12 GB
Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
I did actually. The Gpu seems a little weaker (just from reviews I've looked at) and I'm not sure if the upgrade in CPU is worth it. Maybe I'm wrong which is why I'm on here
 
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I looked at the Anandtech review and they think that the A10-5750M is holding back the performance of the 7970M GPU. Also if you look at the Gaming performance charts the AMD APU mostly performs lower than Ivy Bridge Intel CPUs paired with either a GTX 680M or the AMD 7970M. So I would guess that a Haswell CPU like the 4700M would only further increase the overall difference in performance in favor of Intel.

$1000+ is a lot of money so it's a tough decision to make. If I went by the Anandtech review I would pick the laptop with the Intel CPU even though it is several hundred dollars more and has a slightly weaker GPU.
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
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Storage 750 GB
I definitely respect what you're saying. I honestly am leaning towards the cheaper one for now. I just hope that there isn't going to be a huge difference in the two models.
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
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Storage 750 GB
I guess let me ask this, can I run games that are already out fairly well (ie guild wars 2)l with the gx60 and will I be able to run Rome 2 total war. I'm not a huge pic gamer so I mostly play rts and a few shooters. Not going to be doing the majority of my gaming on the pc
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
Processor Intel Core i7-3630QM
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Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
Not that that's an open question or anything... Ugh I wish I knew more haha its so confusing
 
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If you look at the Gaming Performance charts in the Anadtech review you will get a feel for how the A10-5750M and 7970M perform in games (FPS) at several different resolutions. Plus you get to see which games were used for benchmarking. That might help resolve some of your confusion.

Anandtech MSI GX60 Review: Gaming Performance
 
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Ahh I didn't even see that page haha. So I see what you mean now. Anywhere I can get the benchmarks for the laptop you suggested with intel CPU?
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
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Storage 750 GB
Or even the Evo computer suggested by another member
 
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I have to agree that the AMD processor doesn't seem to have enough going for it to keep up with the 7970M. I don't know a whole lot about it myself, but it seems kind of odd to stick such a strong GPU with a not-as-strong CPU.

Keep looking around some OP, there are plenty of laptops out there. You've got a pretty large budget, so there is a lot available to you.
 
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I couldn't find any reviews of the MSI GX60 GT60 laptop or for that matter any Core i7-4700MQ/GTX 770M CPU/GPU combo.

I did look at the Xotic PC web site and found this nice configuration: Core i7-4700MX/AMD 7970M XOTIC PC Sager NP8265-S (Clevo P150SM) The problem is it's above your budget at $1499 with no OS. :banghead:
 
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Storage 750 GB
Ya I suppose you're right. I guess I need to keep going. Also I really don't want to wait 2 to 4 weeks for this which is why I'm kind of limited to prebuilts. If you had my budget what would you buy?
 
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To clear something up; you keep mentioning pre-builts and hardware while talking about laptops, but you should know it isn't all that common for people to assemble their own laptop. I'm sure a very large percent of PC who build their desktop PCs do not also build their laptops, mainly because the market isn't there and so the hardware isn't there. You'd have one heck of a time getting together parts to build your own laptop.

Excuse this small rant if it's not what you were getting at.
 
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Storage 750 GB
To clear something up; you keep mentioning pre-builts and hardware while talking about laptops, but you should know it isn't all that common for people to assemble their own laptop. I'm sure a very large percent of PC who build their desktop PCs do not also build their laptops, mainly because the market isn't there and so the hardware isn't there. You'd have one heck of a time getting together parts to build your own laptop.

Excuse this small rant if it's not what you were getting at.

No that's a valid point. To clear it up I am looking to buy a laptop, not build one. When I talk about customizing it I am talking about the choices the manufactures give you on things to upgrade. But i know that if I want a customized laptop, I'm going to have to wait longer
 
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No that's a valid point. To clear it up I am looking to buy a laptop, not build one. When I talk about customizing it I am talking about the choices the manufactures give you on things to upgrade. But i know that if I want a customized laptop, I'm going to have to wait longer

Ahh, okay. Most of the time the different configurations they have are already built and should take as long to ship as any other model. Look at Dell; they offer all sorts of configurations, but the ship time is going to be pretty much the same across the board.
 
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I second the i7-4700MQ/GTX 770M laptop listed above. MSI GT Series GT60 2OC-022US Intel Core i7 8GB Mem...

Yes, it's $200 more than the AMD laptop you listed, and the graphics card is somewhat weaker, but overall it will have more predictable performance than the AMD laptop, especially in games. Some games demand a really good CPU to feed the graphics processor, and a weak processor can essentially sandbag your entire laptop in some games/applications. The GTX 770m is actually a desktop GTX 660 with about a 15% clock speed reduction, so it's actually a pretty decent chip and a lot better than the GTX 660m chips that were less than half as powerful.

You're also welcome to check out the Clevo, Sager, etc. BTO notebooks on various boutique websites like XoticPC, AVADirect, iBuyPower, etc. but obviously a built-to-order notebook is going to take almost a month to get to you.
 
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System Name MSI GT60 0NC
Processor Intel Core i7-3630QM
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Video Card(s) Nvidia GeForce GTX 680m/4 Gb
Storage 750 GB
No that's a valid point. To clear it up I am looking to buy a laptop, not build one. When I talk about customizing it I am talking about the choices the manufactures give you on things to upgrade. But i know that if I want a customized laptop, I'm going to have to wait longer

I second the i7-4700MQ/GTX 770M laptop listed above. MSI GT Series GT60 2OC-022US Intel Core i7 8GB Mem...

Yes, it's $200 more than the AMD laptop you listed, and the graphics card is somewhat weaker, but overall it will have more predictable performance than the AMD laptop, especially in games. Some games demand a really good CPU to feed the graphics processor, and a weak processor can essentially sandbag your entire laptop in some games/applications. The GTX 770m is actually a desktop GTX 660 with about a 15% clock speed reduction, so it's actually a pretty decent chip and a lot better than the GTX 660m chips that were less than half as powerful.

You're also welcome to check out the Clevo, Sager, etc. BTO notebooks on various boutique websites like XoticPC, AVADirect, iBuyPower, etc. but obviously a built-to-order notebook is going to take almost a month to get to you.

Ok I mean that is right on the edge of my budget. But if I'm going to shell out that kind of cash how does it stack up with this:

Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More!

Same price, so I'm kind of torn
 
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Definitely keep looking around a bit OP. If you can avoid it, don't push the limits of your budget. While the MSI GT60 might be a decent laptop, I think it's a bit overpriced. Even if others feel it isn't, it's just a better choice and one you'll be happier with if you can avoid spending that much.

Jstn has given you a list of some of the good, lesser-known manufacturers OP. They're worth checking out.
 
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If I had to chose between the AMD laptop you found or the Intel one I found I would pick the Intel. From all the reviews I looked at this afternoon the common theme is that the AMD 7970M is too much GPU for the A10-5750M processor.

I do have one more option for you. How about an Amazon Warehouse deal. This laptop is "Used - Like New" for $1351.61. It has a 3rd gen Ivy Bridge CPU and a GTX 680M video card. This Intel CPU while not the latest gen is superior to the A10-5750 and the GPU should perform at least as good as the AMD 7970M. Plus since it's used it is over $500 cheaper than new.

Amazon Warehouse Deal - MSI Computer Corp. GT60 0NE-403US

You can get the specs from MSI here:

MSI GT60 0NE-403US Intel Core i7 12GB Memory 750GB HDD 15.6" Notebook Windows 8

Definitely look around. I only suggested the MSI laptop on NewEgg because that is where you were looking and it was within your budget. There are plenty of gaming laptops out there and lots of deals. You just have to find the one that fits the price and performance that you are looking for.
 
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Ok I mean that is right on the edge of my budget. But if I'm going to shell out that kind of cash how does it stack up with this:

Computer Parts, Laptops, Electronics, and More!

Same price, so I'm kind of torn

Fixed link for all following this thread: ASUS G75 Series G750JW-DB71 Intel Core i7 12GB Mem...

The GTX 765M (768 shaders @ 850MHz, 2GB 128bit GDDR5) is noticeably weaker than the GTX 770M (960 shaders @ 811MHz, 3GB 192bit GDDR5), so I would personally avoid it in favor of at least the GTX 770M.
 
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