MSI VS HP VS Alienware

[Hossam Elsherif]

hey i want to know what is a perfect gaming laptop that lasts a lot (even if out dated can run games at least on low specially games like witcher and shadow of morder because they need the greatest)so i was choosing , i can now choose between MSI , HP and Alienware.

i already have an HP Pavillion gaming laptop (specs are 16GB of ram + core i7 6700hq 3.14 GHZ + Nvidia Geforce gtx 960m 4GB) but i want better because the processor is actually 2.5GHZ but turned on turbo speed so it begins lagging when reaching 3.4GHz and on 3.14 it is fine..

i heard that alienware even if a bit outdated its hardware helps alot so it does not overheat easily which prevents lag but i haven't heard anything like this on MSI or HP

but msi has a really huge specs on laptops so which is better

and if you don't know then don't say anything i only want real answers i can trust and don't suggest a desktop please.(no offence but i just want to know the answer because other links don't have a real answer)
(any answers are appreciated)

 

[jbgarcia]

There's nothing wrong with your processor. The 6700HQ is the second-best laptop processor in the world. Only the 6820HK beats it by a tiny margin (it can be overclocked but that's not recommended for long-term gaming). Your RAM amount is excellent (as long as it's at least DDR3 1600 MHz - DDR4 is better). The only thing you could do better is the GPU, which you could upgrade to a GTX 1070 or 1060. You could also get a GTX 1080 but then you would need to pair it with a desktop-class i7-6700 (yes, newer laptops CAN and DO run desktop processors) or else it would get bottlenecked. But that would increase the cost dramatically, plus you would have to constantly monitor temperature to avoid overheating with such powerful components in a laptop.

As for brands, my personal recommendation is Sager, because they have a great reputation and have excellent cooling, so you have a better chance at successful GPU overclocking if you ever choose to try it. Just last week I purchased my new laptop (a customized Sager NP8173-S) from XoticPC with an i7-6700HQ, a GTX 1070 (the new 10xx series is the same card, laptop or desktop), 16 GB of DDR4 2400 MHz RAM, and a 512 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD, for just under $1,900. If you have that kind of budget, that's a very good choice for laptop. But if you feel you can go for a different model with the 1060 instead (which is still good for 1080p Ultra at around 60 FPS on most games) you can save $300 or more. Not getting an SSD can also save you up to $150 or more.

I say you check out XoticPC and under laptops browse the Sager models with a GTX 1060 or 1070 and see if you like anything there. They have other brands like MSI and Asus as well. Feel free to ask me more questions if you'd like.

 

[jbgarcia]

By the way, I should mention that your processor can only do 3.4 GHz on 1 core. When it uses all 4 cores it drops down to 3.1 GHz, hence the "lag" (it's not really lag). It really doesn't make much difference for gaming, the GPU really does.

 

[Maurizio_3]

I think that "perfect" does not exist. Besides, even if one laptop were perfect today, it might not be in a few months or in one year. Besides, it can only be perfect depending on what you plan to do. Different needs require different machines.

When I buy an expensive laptop my number 1 concern is that it runs into problems. Even under warranty, it is annoying to send them back and forth. So, I read a lot to find out which brand has the best customer service. And, lately I started to favor using a re-seller, in particular if there is one near me because it means that I can take the computer to them in case I wanted to upgrade it or, I hope not, needed to have it fixed. While I like the Alienware brand, this seems to be their weak suit. Many will tell you that since they are owned by Dell, they have become Dell-ware instead of the original Alienware. It is true? I do not know, but just the idea to have a $4000 machine running into issues scares me to death.

Do not just go for the flashy. True, the HP Omen in my opinion has a super ugly logo, HP should be kicked in the head for having an absurd logo like that, but it feels solid. Also their specs do not even reach the level of MSI, Asus, Alienware, etc. But, if you don't need a super laptop, you can have a good one for considerable less money. Also, I think that HP's are quite reliable. Sure you find complaints, but compare the number of complaints to the number of items sold. How many people buy a high-end Alienware vs. an HP Omen? So maybe 100 complaints for the Omen are %-wise less severe than 10-20 complaints on an Alienware.

Be very careful about the specifics you want. For instance, If it had been available i would have bought an Asus G800VI. Period. It was supposed to cost ~$4500+ some extra = $5000. It is a lot, I know, but I truly loved the looks and the huge size. I could have gone with the Asus G701VI which is not equally beautiful, but close enough. Why not, then? Well, these machines only come in RAID configuration (RAID 0 or RAID 1). Now, I use it for work and while RAID 0 is fast and good for gaming, it is enough that one of the two SSD's runs into any trouble and then I lose everything. I can reinstall a game or two, more complex reinstalling professional and scientifc software which also requires time. RAID 1 is very safe. It is not a backup because if the computer burns, say, you lose everything the same. But it is a waste as I can do it much cheaper with an external hard drive. So, even if it pains my heart I decided against these beautiful machines. Besides Asus pissed me off by announcing them and then pulling them from sales. It makes me wonder if they are running into issues with heat dissipation when using the GTX 1080.

Be very wise choosing between 4K and FHD screens. If you are a gamer, 4K might be the right choice, but then make sure that you have a very strong CPU and GPU. Probably only SLI can really allow you to play games in 4K with satisfactory frame rate. However, again, if you plan to use your laptop also for work, be warned that a lot of important softwares do not scale well at all on 4K screens and you will be swearing like a sailor every day you need to use your computer for work or for school projects. This is not the computers' fault. It is the silly software makers who pretend that 4K is not important. In a few years we will be all 4K, but it is still a few years away. Plus, they are already talking about 8K...

It is not true that i7 6820hk is the top.. You can have the i7 6920hq as well. Look at the top MSI GT83Titan VR with 2 SLI GTX 1080 (I think it runs for around $4500-5000). But, before you worry about "hq" or "hk" and overclocking.. make sure that your machine allows you to overclock your CPU with ease since on some machines it requires some knowledge and that it is well built to dissipate the extra heat that this process generates.

Also look at how sturdy the construction is. Sadly, more and more plastic everywhere.. Should be all carbon fiber and aluminium. A beautiful warped screen is not that beautiful anymore. In this sense, Alienware bodies are still very good, better than MSI and Asus in my opinion.

Look for customizations. If you want to upgrade your machine, can you do it? Alienware for instance limits the run to 32GB, while MSI and Asus allows for 64GB, HP I think get only to 16GB. 16GB fine today, but in 1 year? How many SSD slots, is it easy to open, etc...

If you find size important, check the weights. Razer is about to come out with the thinnest 17.3" laptop sporting a GTX 1080. It will cost quite a bit, but how is the heat dissipation. You might be the guinea pig when you buy a very new model. That is something to keep in mind too as you want something you can use and that is reliable. Usually the thinner the laptop, the more likely it is to have heat issues.

Check the noise level. If you have the coolest computer in town but that laptop blows like a train, you are not going to impress anyone and if you are at a library, you could even upset some people.

I hope you got my jest. There is no such thing as "perfect". You need to pick what is right for you.

Cheers.