New Gaming Laptop

[cdepappe]

Hi guys,
I am in the process of ordering a custom gaming laptop through XoticPC.com. I will also be using the computer for School/Adobe Master Suite. Right now i am trying to decide between an Alienware and an MSI.
Here are the specs:
http/www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=5317{215}1411{76}776{94}1074{209}3138{92}4997{187}1416{88}4794{251}4764{186}1532{243}4506{93}4452{112}655{206}2939{271}5763{237}5732{246}5732{96}2523{97}2395{104}674{98}1798{115}3019{168}1453{199}751{120}2352{110}5029{169}1449{117}705{119}708{100}734{164}1441{107}1539{106}1688{121}694{108}710{109}711{170}1492{214}3520{173}1175{245}4700{116}4302{167}1452{205}2928{213}3414{103}5026{210}3226{198}2781{260}5551{230}4184{194}2594{113}1413{111}1414{69}2848{267}5717{268}5716{212}3256{208}3136{241}4462{196}2719

-3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3740QM (2.7GHz - 3.7GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP)
- nVidia GeForce GTX 680M 4,096MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 w/ Optimus™ Technology
- 16GB DDR3 1600MHz
- Custom A Surface Skin – [Back of LCD Panel Only] (Choose from our designs or your own)
- 750GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - X5R303)
- ON SALE! - 1,000GB (1TB) 5400RPM (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - X5R351)
- HDD Raid Settings - OFF
- 6X Blu-Ray Writer/Reader + 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive (SKU - X7R551)
- 15.6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut
- Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Dual Band Wireless-N 1202 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module + Bluetooth 4.0 | Up to 300Mbps (2x2)
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio
- 2 Year MSI US/Canada Parts & Labor 1 Year Global Warranty w/ Lifetime Tech Support
+ 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (Requires Registration within 30 Days from Ship Date) (SKU - M9R301)
-Windows 8 64 bit
-$2534
and:
http/www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=5578{215}1411{248}4610{76}4582{94}4584{209}3138{92}4611{187}4590{88}4697{186}1532{243}4506{93}3447{249}4633{112}4586{247}4587{250}4702{271}5733{237}4568{96}2723{97}4651{104}3003{98}4595{115}3019{168}1453{199}751{120}2352{110}5577{169}1449{117}3252{119}708{100}734{164}1441{107}1539{106}1688{121}694{108}710{109}711{170}1492{214}3520{173}1175{116}4302{167}1452{205}2928{213}3414{103}5026{210}3226{260}5551{230}4184{194}2594{113}1413{111}1414{69}1512{212}3256{208}3136{241}4462{196}2719

Same as above except for
-17.3 inches
-8gb Ram
-no blue ray
- 2X500gb 7200rpm 16mb cache hdd
- 2 Year Parts & LIFETIME Ltd Labor Warranty + LIFETIME 24/7 Telephone Tech Support
-$2697

The MSI is better hardware wize, and honestly the only true benefit to the alianware i am seeing is that... well, it's an alienware lol. I just wanted to get some feedback from the community on which you think is better out of the two. any feedback is appreciated! thanks in advance

 

[Madn3ss795]

You're giving the link to your shopping cart which only you can see. Better give links to products intead. And I have to agree that the best about Alienware stuffs is that they are Alienware stuffs, might include some flashy things :lol:

 

[cdepappe]

There i fixed it a bit haha thanks, wasnt sure if others could view it

 

[g-unit1111]

You're giving the link to your shopping cart which only you can see. Better give links to products intead. And I have to agree that the best about Alienware stuffs is that they are Alienware stuffs, might include some flashy things :lol:

Yeah flashy lighting is probably the only reason people buy Alienware. :lol:

The MSI laptop you're looking at is essentially a rebaged Sager laptop, you should check them out: http/www.sagernotebook.com/

 

[cdepappe]

so alienware is just to have the name? i understand they ARE good laptops for sure. but for the price... i can have better lol. and yea i checked them out earlier and mainly just didnt care for the body style. Which is why i built the MSI one.

 

[DarkSable]

The benefit to alienware is that it has lights and will impress anyone who doesn't know anything about what's good in the computer world. 😛

Seriously, the hardware is not only cheap, but often nonsensical. (I've seen them use an i7 (which is no better than an i5 for gaming) and a 640 (which can run powerpoint on a good day) in a computer and sell it as a gaming computer.) The operating system is DELL branded, so it comes filled with all sorts of bloatware, and you have to deal with THEIR customer service.

Go with the MSI. 😛

 

[cdepappe]

The benefit to alienware is that it has lights and will impress anyone who doesn't know anything about what's good in the computer world. 😛

Seriously, the hardware is not only cheap, but often nonsensical. (I've seen them use an i7 (which is no better than an i5 for gaming) and a 640 (which can run powerpoint on a good day) in a computer and sell it as a gaming computer.) The operating system is DELL branded, so it comes filled with all sorts of bloatware, and you have to deal with THEIR customer service.

Go with the MSI. 😛

thanks 😀 this was great info to have, do you have any info or experience with the MSI laptops? The hardware im getting in it for that price is just so much better than the alienware

 

[Madn3ss795]

Uhm how about picking a MSI GT70 instead : http/www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=msi+gt70&N=-1&isNodeId=1

 

[cdepappe]

Uhm how about picking a MSI GT70 instead : http/www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=msi+gt70&N=-1&isNodeId=1

I shall look at the models on Xoticpc and see how they compare pricewize 😛 Exotic PC basicly takes any model/brand they carry and lets u totally customize it inside and out to an extent lol, they had good deals on this one so ill check out the 70

 

[cdepappe]

http/www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=5774{215}1411{161}5510{76}768{94}3085{209}3138{92}5791{187}1416{88}5796{251}4764{186}1532{243}4506{93}5875{112}655{206}2939{271}5763{237}5732{246}5732{96}2925{97}2395{98}5140{115}3019{168}1453{199}751{120}2352{110}5029{169}1449{117}5835{119}708{100}734{164}1441{107}1539{106}1688{121}694{108}710{109}711{170}1492{214}3520{173}1175{245}4701{116}4302{167}1452{205}2928{213}3414{103}5026{210}3226{198}2781{260}5551{230}4184{194}2594{113}1413{111}1414{69}2848{267}5717{268}5716{212}3256{208}3136{241}4462{196}2719

Specs:
- FREE!!! – U.S. UPS GROUND SHIPPING (Use Coupon Code "FREESHIP" in Checkout) [U.S. Lower 48 ONLY / Restrictions Apply]
- FREE!!! - FIREFALL Exclusive BETA Key w/ Purchase! [limited time offer / while supplies last]
- 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Matte Screen (1920x1080) (SKU - X1R553)
- FREE!!! - 30 Day "No Dead Pixel" Guarantee! (Limited Time Only / XPC Service)
- NO Professional Monitor Color Calibration
- 4th Generation Intel® Haswell Core™ i7-4800MQ (2.7GHz - 3.7GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache) (SKU – X2X916)
- Stock OEM Thermal Compound ( IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU Provided FREE with Processor Upgrade!)
- NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 780M 4,096MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 w/ Optimus™ Technology
- No Copper Cooling Upgrade
- No Video Adapter
- No External Mobile Display
- FREE UPGRADE! - 16GB DDR3 1600MHz [SKU–444FP] (Dual Channel Memory (4x4GB SODIMMS)) - ($25 Value!)
- Custom A Surface Skin – [Back of LCD Panel Only] (Choose from our designs or your own) *Will add 5-13 business days (XPC Service)
- Standard White Logo Backlight
- Independant Confirguration of mSATA's in Primary HDD Bay (If selecting mSATA Options these will replace primary hard drive with mSATA’s selected below)
- No mSATA SSD - [ mSATA Caddy = 2 x mSATA In Primary Hard Drive ] (if selected, no primary hard drive below)
- No mSATA SSD - [ mSATA Caddy = 2 x mSATA In Primary Hard Drive ] (if selected, no primary hard drive below)
- ON SALE! - 750GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - X5R304)
- ON SALE! - 1,000GB (1TB) 5400RPM (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - X5R351)
- 6X Blu-Ray Reader + 8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive (SKU - X7X560)
- No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- NO External USB Optical Drive
- Bluetooth Included *With select wireless cards only* (See “Wireless Network” Section Below)
- Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Dual Band Wireless-N 1202 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module + Bluetooth 4.0 | Up to 300Mbps (2x2) - Default (SKU – X8R117)
- No Network Accessory
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/SDHC/SDXC)
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- No Carrying Case
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- No Spare AC Adapter
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- No Fingerprint Reader
- No Headset
- No External Keyboard
- XOTIC PC Backlit Island Style Keyboard
- No External Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- No Thanks, Please do not Overclock my system
- No Operating System Redline Boost
- WINDOWS 8 - 64-Bit (Pre-Installed + Drivers & Utilities Disk)
- Clean Windows Installation (Install drivers only - no bloatwares) (For factory installed OS only, not required if OS upgrade is selected) (XPC Service)
- No thanks, do not create backup recovery DVD's
- None
- No Antivirus Essentials Software Bundle
- No Back Up Software
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- 2 Year MSI US/Canada Parts & Labor 1 Year Global Warranty w/ Lifetime Tech Support
+ 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (Requires Registration within 30 Days from Ship Date) (SKU - M9R301)
- No Certificate & Binder
- * 24/7 LIFETIME U.S. based telephone technical support
* Extreme QA testing by dedicated technicians
* 72 Hour stress testing and benchmarking to ensure top performance and stability
- Standard Production Time
- No Outside of US Shipping Coverage
- Yes, I would like XOTIC PC’s White Glove Premium Packaging (XPC Service)
- No XOTIC PC Gear

I think this is THE ONE 😀 haha. what do you guys think out of the 3 so far? and does anyone have knowglege or experience with MSI?

 

[DarkSable]

I have knowledge of them as a PARTS brand, and love them. Couldn't tell you how that carries over into laptops, though.

I have to say, that looks like a pretty sexy setup.

 

[cdepappe]

I have knowledge of them as a PARTS brand, and love them. Couldn't tell you how that carries over into laptops, though.

I have to say, that looks like a pretty sexy setup.

THank you 😀 haha, I liked the 15 inch, but then i found this 70 on Xoticpc and customized it and got it to $50 more than the 15 inch one! But I love the daul drives cause i plan to use one for my school and desgin and the other for gaming haha. But the 4th gen I7 is sweet too, with a 780m.. pretty nice. haha.

 

[Madn3ss795]

Technically it's the same laptops on Newegg 😛 Did you select a SSD?

 

[cdepappe]

Technically it's the same laptops on Newegg 😛 Did you select a SSD?

theyre a bit different, plus this website does custom skinning on the back and custom keyboard. and no im not gonna order with an SSD atm, because i am more concerned about space for what im doing, and can add an SSD later myself. But i might go back and look a bit, i mayyyy add one before i order it

 

[Madn3ss795]

Don't forget a SSD. It's a must-have part for any high performance system from 2000$ and above. If you don't like the pricing of SSDs on xoticPC ( which is quite high as far as I can see ), it's easy to order a 2.5" ssd from another online store and add it to the laptop yourself. ( for example, right now a Samsung 840 pro 128gb costs 20$ less than on xoticpc ).

 

[cdepappe]

Don't forget a SSD. It's a must-have part for any high performance system from 2000$ and above. If you don't like the pricing of SSDs on xoticPC ( which is quite high as far as I can see ), it's easy to order a 2.5" ssd from another online store and add it to the laptop yourself. ( for example, right now a Samsung 840 pro 128gb costs 20$ less than on xoticpc ).

yea thats my plan is too just add one myself