Gaming Laptop with Skylake (a fun one) can ddr3 laptops use ddr4? unidimm?

[Vogner16]

Im looking at a skylake laptop from msi and Sager and ive heard Acer and alienware also make a few decent options as well.

What im looking for spec wise is 15.6 inch screen 1080p
i7 HQ class skylake
3dMark score graphics card over 4000 (960 and up)
dual channel ram 8 gigs works fine if in dual channel. I have yet to find an application that maxes 8 gigs. ddr4 preferred, BUT I heard rumors of a UniDimm that allows ddr3L laptops to use DDR4 and if that's the case we could look at upgrades...
1TB storage drive and slot for M.2 128gb Samsung SP951 running NVMe
decent audio preferred and keyboard but that stuff will all be about the same at the same beyond the $500 point.
Would LOVE to see a DVD drive, but if there is a hell of a deal without one they we can skip it.
battery? meh let it last 2 hours I don't care

Looking to spend under $1500 TOTAL. that includes if I swap DDR3L for DDR4 and if I have to get a ssd aftermarket. and install on it.

Oh and windows 10 for sure gotta have an OS I know there are some weird sager deals that come without an OS but what the hell is the good of that...


Primary games played are World of Tanks and World of Warships. 960M is my minimum because it can play these games on ultra and at 1080p over 30 fps.

 

[rgd1101]

Check the laptop spec. It should tell you if it support both,

 

[Vogner16]

how would you know? all I see from sager is that it comes with ddr3L and you can configure the amount.

 

[jaguarskx]

According to the following article from March 2015, the last paragraph basically states that the laptop would need to be labeled as "DDR4 Ready".

http/kalen2utech.com/intel-launches-unidimm-initiative-ddr3-and-ddr4-rams-for-laptops-and-notebooks/


UniDIMM is Intel's pet project so it will not be an industry standard which is something that falls under the JEDEC's jurisdiction. There is no word on when these types of RAM modules will be released. Naturally, Skylake laptops are not going to labelled as "DDR4 Ready" until these RAM modules are definitely going to be released.

 

[Vogner16]

so do you know of any skylake laptops that are ddr3L standard but ddr4 ready? just out of curiosity

 

[rgd1101]

If it doesn't said it support DDR4, probably because it doesn't support DDR4.
Vendor usually don't list what they don't support. Only list what they support.

 

[jaguarskx]

Since there is no further information regarding UniDIMM since Mar 2015 that I know of, it is probably safe to say that it is still being developed. Laptop makers cannot test for DDR4 support until they at least get some engineering samples.

 

[Vogner16]

ok so as a personal opinion regarding skylake i7 6700hq. would you pick a sager with ddr3L or an identical MSI with ddr4. all other specs are the same. sager is slightly cheaper. oh and msi has backlit keyboard.

 

[rgd1101]

What is the Ram speed?
Can you post the link to the models that you are looking at?

 

[Vogner16]

http/www.sagernotebook.com/Notebook-NP7255.html $1000 (slightly cheaper on xoticpc)

http/www.xoticpc.com/msi-ge62-apache-pro004-eta-late-oct-2015-p-8591.html $1100

both would get an upgrade to nvme m.2 Samsung sm951 128 gb and dual channel ram option.

speeds look like 1600ddr3L (CL10 I would bet as they have an option for more money to get CL9 stuff)

and 2133mhz ddr4 (CL 11 or 12 I would bet)

 

[rgd1101]

At those RAM speed, there isn't much different for gaming.
Almost the same spec, only thing was the MSI have USB3.1 type C port.

 

[Vogner16]

which is nice I guess? nobody makes any usb 3.1 type C devices that I know of. plus I already have a sandisk extreme 64gb so I wont need a new one anytime soon anyway.

final conclusion is left to opinion of ascetics then? 0 real difference msi cost a little bit more and has rgb keyboard?

 

[rgd1101]

which is nice I guess? nobody makes any usb 3.1 type C devices that I know of. plus I already have a sandisk extreme 64gb so I wont need a new one anytime soon anyway.

final conclusion is left to opinion of ascetics then? 0 real difference msi cost a little bit more and has rgb keyboard?

Yup. Unless there are some user reviews. Is a toss up.

 

[Vogner16]

well that sucks. I think im leaning toward MSI anyway for that potential for an upgrade later. 2400mhz ram or 2666 stuff. thanks for your help! ill mark as a solution!

 

[rgd1101]

The msi configurator do show an option for 2400mhz RAM, so it possible, but for gaming, it really not much of a different.
The option SP951 is cheaper on the MSI, you must want to use the configure to price it out.

 

[Vogner16]

I can always buy one on newegg for $130 which is the price on the msi one so the price would be identical. and I agree 2400 MHz ram would not help much on gaming or really any performance over 2133, but say 5 years down the road and I want to upgrade from 8 gb to 16 because finally there is a game that will use over 8 gb of ram I could get faster stuff while on ddr3 I would be really stuck. for now 2133 for sure.