Gaming Laptop Finalization Help

[Xydor]

All is in USD

Hello, I've narrowed down to a selection of:

1.) MSI GX640-260US (what is the difference between this model and the gx640-098US?)

# Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ Glare Type (1680x1050)
# CPU: Core i5 450M 2.4GHz, 2.4-2.67GHz, (3MB L3 cache)
# RAM: 4096 MB DDR3 1066MHz
# HDD: 500GB 7200RPM
# CD: Super Multi DVD±R/RW / CDRW
# Wireless: Built In WIFI & Bluetooth
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5850 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11

Base Total ≈ 1115

+ upgrade:
IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU (35$)
6GB DDR3 1333MHz

Total with upgrades ≈ 1290



2.) MSI GX740

* Model: MSI GX740
* Display: 17" WSXGA+ Glare Type (1680x1050)
* CPU: Intel® Mobile Core i7 720QM, 1.60-2.80GHz, (45nm, 6MB L3 cache)
* RAM: 4096 MB DDR3 1066MHz
* HDD: 500GB 7200RPM
* CD: Blu-Ray Reader + Super Multi DVD±R/RW / CDRW
* Wireless: Built In WIFI & Bluetooth
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5870 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11

Base Cost ≈ 1415


My knowledge and in field experience pertaining to computers are in no way comprehensive, so I need the help of more informed individuals, i.e. you all, than myself. All responses are greatly appreciated.

The focal point of either laptop would be for fairly high-end gaming, secondarily; music, surfing, etc.

I would prefer the 17", however I am perfectly content with the 15.4". The addition of the blue ray reader is more or less superfluous. In the gx740, will the CPU bottleneck the GPU? How much is the true practical performance benefit from the gx740 compared to the gx640 base, and also with the 6gb 1333MHz RAM?


Potential options:

base GX640 - save 300$

GX640 RAM upgrade - save 160$

GX640 RAM & Thermal compound upgrade - save 125$

GX740

, or of course there might be a better choice of laptop(≤1500$), which i would be open to.

 

[xBiocide]

1.) MSI GX640-260US (what is the difference between this model and the gx640-098US?)

# Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ Glare Type (1680x1050)
# CPU: Core i5 450M 2.4GHz, 2.4-2.67GHz, (3MB L3 cache)
# RAM: 4096 MB DDR3 1066MHz
# HDD: 500GB 7200RPM
# CD: Super Multi DVD±R/RW / CDRW
# Wireless: Built In WIFI & Bluetooth
GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5850 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11

Base Total ≈ 1115
.

Firstly, two things I wanna point out to you about the MSI GX640. One thing, a large vent is on the right side, which blows the heat right on your hand if you are using a mouse to the right side of the computer. It's not burning or anything, but you may get a little sweaty. Also, the keyboard has a weird bottom left corner. It switches the Fn (Function) and Ctrl (Control) key so that the Fn key is to the left of the Cntrl key. Not a big deal if you aren't a gamer, but in my personal opinion, that may really bug me. There was really no reason for them to switch them.


The difference between the GX640-098US and GX640-260US is that the 098US runs on a 32-bit system while the 260US runs on 64-bit. If you plan to make the most of your RAM or expand in the future, you may need to get the 64-bit system.


The i7 on the other laptop will eat more of your battery and generate more heat, so if you need a longer battery life, look into it before you buy. I also suspect the weight of the GX740 to be significantly more than the GX640.


These are really just points to consider. Hopefully, someone can give you a more technical comparison (I am not that knowledgeable in laptops to find the slighter differences).


Btw, you and I are looking for pretty similar laptops. Check out my thread: http/www.tomshardware.com/forum/62673-35-suggestions-student-gaming-laptop

Not trying to advertise, just trying to help.

 

[Guest]

As far as I'm concerned, if you are going for a gaming laptop you need some sort of priority list:
1) A proper GPU because these are normally soldered to the mobo (i.e. not upgradable) <-- So do a lot of research on the GPU!
2) CPU with >= 2 cores and lots of cache, and a high GHz value
3) 4GB or more RAM (DDR3 or matched to your CPU's FSB)
4) >= 7200 RPM hard-drive or even SSD.
5) A screen which can display >= 800pixels in height (Premiere Pro CS5 which is not a game, needs at least 1280x900!)

 

[xBiocide]

As far as I'm concerned, if you are going for a gaming laptop you need some sort of priority list:
1) A proper GPU because these are normally soldered to the mobo (i.e. not upgradable) <-- So do a lot of research on the GPU!
2) CPU with >= 2 cores and lots of cache, and a high GHz value
3) 4GB or more RAM (DDR3 or matched to your CPU's FSB)
4) >= 7200 RPM hard-drive or even SSD.
5) A screen which can display >= 800pixels in height (Premiere Pro CS5 which is not a game, needs at least 1280x900!)

A Hard-drive with >= 7200 RPM or SSD is not necessary. A 5200 RPM works fine. Yes, it may take a few more seconds to initially load a game or constantly open and close files, but when the game (or any other program) gets started up, a faster hard drive makes no difference.