Advice on gaming laptop

[CoreyMGrimard]

I've always wanted a nice gaming laptop simply because I like portability. Recently I purchased the Asus - Republic of Gamers 17.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive from Best Buy (http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-republic-of-gamers-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-soft-touch-black-silver-metal/4201701.p?id=1219706549980&skuId=4201701) and so far I love it. I'm using it to play MMOs like WoW, FFXIV and also some other non-mmo games and it runs them pretty well. WoW runs on Ultra settings with 80-100 fps, FFXIV is about 60fps on max settings and other games run beyond 60fps but they aren't graphically intense. But one thing that is making me kind of regret this purchase is the fact that it has an GTX 965M..

I really fear that this will date my laptop sooner than something like a GTX 970M. So what I was thinking was returning this laptop and using it to purchase (http/www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17-r3/pd?oc=dkcwg02m&model_id=alienware-17-r3) I was planning on using my fathers discount he gets from work to see if I could get the price to be around the same as the Asus laptop.

What do you guys think I should do, keep the laptop or get the Alienware if the discount makes it the same price as Asus? Or do some of you have a better solution? Please let me know!

 

[GreyCatz]

I've always wanted a nice gaming laptop simply because I like portability. Recently I purchased the Asus - Republic of Gamers 17.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive from Best Buy (http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-republic-of-gamers-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-soft-touch-black-silver-metal/4201701.p?id=1219706549980&skuId=4201701) and so far I love it. I'm using it to play MMOs like WoW, FFXIV and also some other non-mmo games and it runs them pretty well. WoW runs on Ultra settings with 80-100 fps, FFXIV is about 60fps on max settings and other games run beyond 60fps but they aren't graphically intense. But one thing that is making me kind of regret this purchase is the fact that it has an GTX 965M..

I really fear that this will date my laptop sooner than something like a GTX 970M. So what I was thinking was returning this laptop and using it to purchase (http/www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17-r3/pd?oc=dkcwg02m&model_id=alienware-17-r3) I was planning on using my fathers discount he gets from work to see if I could get the price to be around the same as the Asus laptop.

What do you guys think I should do, keep the laptop or get the Alienware if the discount makes it the same price as Asus? Or do some of you have a better solution? Please let me know!

Greetings, Corey:

The way I see it, these two laptops aren't really competing with each other - the Alienware is obviously more expensive because it is clearly more powerful than the Asus; it pretty much outperforms the Asus on all counts. Hence the steeper list price.

If you can get the price down to about the same as the Asus (with discounts etc), then by all means go for the Alienware - and buy your father a beer (or two).

But the Asus isn't bad, and for what it is the GTX 965M is a very good card, as you already know.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

 

[CoreyMGrimard]

I've always wanted a nice gaming laptop simply because I like portability. Recently I purchased the Asus - Republic of Gamers 17.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive from Best Buy (http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-republic-of-gamers-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-soft-touch-black-silver-metal/4201701.p?id=1219706549980&skuId=4201701) and so far I love it. I'm using it to play MMOs like WoW, FFXIV and also some other non-mmo games and it runs them pretty well. WoW runs on Ultra settings with 80-100 fps, FFXIV is about 60fps on max settings and other games run beyond 60fps but they aren't graphically intense. But one thing that is making me kind of regret this purchase is the fact that it has an GTX 965M..

I really fear that this will date my laptop sooner than something like a GTX 970M. So what I was thinking was returning this laptop and using it to purchase (http/www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17-r3/pd?oc=dkcwg02m&model_id=alienware-17-r3) I was planning on using my fathers discount he gets from work to see if I could get the price to be around the same as the Asus laptop.

What do you guys think I should do, keep the laptop or get the Alienware if the discount makes it the same price as Asus? Or do some of you have a better solution? Please let me know!

Greetings, Corey:

The way I see it, these two laptops aren't really competing with each other - the Alienware is obviously more expensive because it is clearly more powerful than the Asus; it pretty much outperforms the Asus on all counts. Hence the steeper list price.

If you can get the price down to about the same as the Asus (with discounts etc), then by all means go for the Alienware - and buy your father a beer (or two).

But the Asus isn't bad, and for what it is the GTX 965M is a very good card, as you already know.

Cheers,
GreyCatz.

Thanks for the reply! Apparently the discount is up to 30% off which makes it cheaper than the Asus laptop.

Would you happen to know how to return a laptop that I've been using back to Best Buy without all my programs being installed on here?

 

[GreyCatz]

Hello, Corey:

30% off is obviously impossible to pass on, so go to BestBuy and check their return policy. I regret to say I have never returned a PC myself, so I have no personal experience in this matter.

But generally speaking, you should prepare for some hurdles in this respect: If BestBuy is willing to take your Asus back at all, they will probably insist that you revert the system to its original state, i.e. perform a factory restore. You'll lose whatever files and apps that you haven't backed up yourself, and you may have to take a significant cut in the trade-in value of the Asus. Your best scenario is that the Asus will be considered a refurbished laptop.

Once you've contacted BestBuy, you'll know much more about this than I - and hopefully the 30% discount on the Alienware will see you through.

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

 

[CoreyMGrimard]

Hello, Corey:

30% off is obviously impossible to pass on, so go to BestBuy and check their return policy. I regret to say I have never returned a PC myself, so I have no personal experience in this matter.

But generally speaking, you should prepare for some hurdles in this respect: If BestBuy is willing to take your Asus back at all, they will probably insist that you revert the system to its original state, i.e. perform a factory restore. You'll lose whatever files and apps that you haven't backed up yourself, and you may have to take a significant cut in the trade-in value of the Asus. Your best scenario is that the Asus will be considered a refurbished laptop.

Once you've contacted BestBuy, you'll know much more about this than I - and hopefully the 30% discount on the Alienware will see you through.

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

I'm still under the 15 day return policy so I should get a full refund hopefully. I'll contact the store as soon as I can. Thanks for your help!

 

[TechSponge]

I've always wanted a nice gaming laptop simply because I like portability. Recently I purchased the Asus - Republic of Gamers 17.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive from Best Buy (http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-republic-of-gamers-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-soft-touch-black-silver-metal/4201701.p?id=1219706549980&skuId=4201701) and so far I love it. I'm using it to play MMOs like WoW, FFXIV and also some other non-mmo games and it runs them pretty well. WoW runs on Ultra settings with 80-100 fps, FFXIV is about 60fps on max settings and other games run beyond 60fps but they aren't graphically intense. But one thing that is making me kind of regret this purchase is the fact that it has an GTX 965M..
I really fear that this will date my laptop sooner than something like a GTX 970M. So what I was thinking was returning this laptop and using it to purchase (http/www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17-r3/pd?oc=dkcwg02m&model_id=alienware-17-r3) I was planning on using my fathers discount he gets from work to see if I could get the price to be around the same as the Asus laptop.

What do you guys think I should do, keep the laptop or get the Alienware if the discount makes it the same price as Asus? Or do some of you have a better solution? Please let me know!

Hey, Corey! Come check out my review of the GT72 on my youtube channel. I think it'll really help you make a decision. I hope this helps!
https/youtu.be/T_PIRnce0n8