Solved! Gaming laptops - thoughts on these two

[ultimabeam]

Hey all,

My roommate is considering buying a new laptop for everyday user and moderate gaming (Diablo 3, Starcraft 2 type stuff when they come out). After scouting around for a bit I stumbled on these two machines:

1) $899 ASUS G60JX-RBBX05, i5-430M, GTS 360M, 16" display at 1366x768, 7.5lb, 2.5hr battery life

2) $1199 ASUS G73JH-RBBX05, i7-720QM, Mobility Radeon HD 5870, 17.3" display at 1600x900, 7.5lb, 2.5hr battery life

Do any of you have thoughts on how these two stack up against each other from a value/futureproof standpoint? Are there any other solid gaming laptops in the $900-$1200 price range I should be looking at?

Thanks!

(edited for broken links)

 

[lostandwandering]

Your links don't work, but that's a function of Best Buy. They never work. Anyway, I think you are looking at the Asus G51 and the G73, right?

The Asus G73 in the second link is about as good as it gets. The HD 5870 is currently the fastest mobile graphics card, plus you get DX 11 which the G51 in the 1st link doesn't have. My vote goes for the G73.

 

[ultimabeam]

thanks for the prompt reply. it looked promising to me as well, but it's nice to hear it from someone who actually knows stuff about laptops!

 

[ultimabeam]

just bumping this to see if anyone else has other laptop suggestions in the $1200 range. thanks!

 

[lostandwandering]

just bumping this to see if anyone else has other laptop suggestions in the $1200 range. thanks!

Can you go over $1200? There is an MSI GX 740 that has pretty similar specs to the G73, but it's more like $1300-1400.

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152192

 

[ultimabeam]

thoughts on this guy?

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q860 PQX33U-01G00H - $1099

seems saucy, if a little heavy.

 

[lostandwandering]

thoughts on this guy?

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q860 PQX33U-01G00H - $1099

seems saucy, if a little heavy.

Both the G73 and MSI are better machines. The GTS 360 in the Toshiba doesn't stack up to the 5870. I, personally, don't like the way the Qosmio looks. I rank it up there with Alienware in terms of ugly.

 

[ultimabeam]

one more bump on this to make sure there aren't any good laptops i'm missing. $1250 or less, good bang for the buck from a daily usage/gaming perspective.