Gaming Streaming Adobe Laptop

[Warhiker]

Hello Toms, long time lurker here.... almost 20 years (I think),
Well, I am looking to upgrade my laptop and I need some help.

Priorities:
Ram Upgradeable to 32gb (already own 16gb)
Graphics Card - ddr5 unsure what size or type
17 inch, full HD monitor
i7 quad core


I would like to keep this under 1500 dollars, but I am willing to sacrifice
in order to get the features that I want

I have been looking at the MSI gt-70 dragon, which I like because of the large ram size
along with the ability to have two internal HDD, or swap one HDD for 3 SSD.

I also am not sure that I need an optical drive.
I might use this for an extra SSD in the future.


Please help me Tommers,
I really don't want to waste more money on a laptop that is only marginally useful!

 

[Bolin]

Are you talking about the 1886 or 2202 Dragon? there's a good 300$ gap.
It is upgradeable to 32GB (4 x 8GB sticks) of memory
17,3'' HD
i7 4810mq quad core
870m
9 cells battery

All priorities and requeriments have been met already. What do you exactly need help with?

 

[Warhiker]

I was originally looking at GT70-DominatorDragon-1886.
While I was able to find this option at MSI, I have zero clue if there
are better alternatives out there, or even where to start at.

So, I am looking for other quality builds or companies.
Perhaps I should just stick with MSI.... but I have no experience with them.

I'm getting away from Dell, which I have had bad luck with over and over.

 

[Bolin]

I was originally looking at GT70-DominatorDragon-1886.
While I was able to find this option at MSI, I have zero clue if there
are better alternatives out there, or even where to start at.

So, I am looking for other quality builds or companies.
Perhaps I should just stick with MSI.... but I have no experience with them.

I'm getting away from Dell, which I have had bad luck with over and over.

MSI is a very good brand and like every other brand there will always be minor issues that will be fixed by the time a new model comes out with new hardware that brings new problems too

I can recommend Acer, Asus, MSI, Sager and Lenovo.
Specific models? well, let me see, what's your budget? I am already assumming you're in the ~1450$ looking for an 870m.

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834233054
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152554
http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834233047
http/www.xoticpc.com/gigabyte-p25wv2cf5-p-7149.html
http/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8268s-clevo-p150sma-p-6987.html (my personal preference)

 

[Warhiker]

Thanks Bolin, that gave me some other things to look at.
I'm also seeing if I can do a build for around 1k, but it really looks like I can't.

 

[Bolin]

Thanks Bolin, that gave me some other things to look at.
I'm also seeing if I can do a build for around 1k, but it really looks like I can't.

870m builds exceed 1k. If an 860m is okay for your needs you can get one for 900$ or 1100$

http/shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/y-series/y50/
http/www.xoticpc.com/sager-np7358-clevo-w35ss-p-6991.html

you can search the manufacturer's websites, I am linking mostly from xoticpc/newegg as it's easy to just go and do a ctrl+f or a filter search

Also I must note that if the software you'll be using needs cuda cores Quadro GPUs are better but much more expensive. Gtx are more for gaming

 

[Warhiker]

Bolin, I appreciate your answers very much.
You hint upon my main problem. How can I future-proof my purchase
(at least for the near future).

I am tired of purchasing a laptop to find that I can't upgrade it very easily.
This is why I started to look at the MSI with 32 gb ram and upgradable CPU.
But, I would still be stuck with my GPU (to my knowledge).

For these reasons... I might just build a desktop.

Heat is also an issue, since I live in an area that is 110 in the summer.
Sure, the newest MSI laptops have dual fans.. but they are around 3k.

The desktop gives me more options to upgrade paths in the future.
I do think that this is important because we are nearing a point where
the upgrades to Ram and Mobos will be significant. We already have 16gb Dimms,
I need to be able to utilize this when they become cheaper.

I'm going to consider this "closed", as I plan to wait for Black Friday/ Cyber Monday
deals to purchase my desktop parts .... (or laptop if I decide)

 

[Bolin]

There are laptops with switchable graphics cards but it is not easy to find mobile GPUs which is the main problem as to why laptops can't be upgraded and it's what keeps desktops's market alive. Nvidia/AMD/Intel don't sell their mobile components individually nor allows companies to sell them for separate. Here are a few examples http/www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks-laptops-with-switchable-video-cards-ct-95_51_290.html
If they did, There would be already Universal Standars for laptops and they'd be easily upgradeable.