Razer's Blade 14" vs MSi GS70 17"

[prolific]

Obviously these two don't necessarily match-up given the size difference alone, but they are both clearly in the high-end gaming laptop market, as well as having the whole "slim" look going for them (in addition to other similarities).

I'll keep it simple at the moment and ask a basic question in regards to these two beautiful builds:

If you were in the market for a new laptop, out of the two listed above (or perhaps another, completely different brand, make, and model), which would you choose and why?

Tom's is always really helpful, figured I'd start my search for direction here...

Thanks!

 

[lightsong]

I looked at both of these laptops and my thoughts went like this: Razer (slightly smaller screen than I wanted, and bad resolution), MSI (too big for what I was looking at). Now i'm not sure what kind of games you play but if a 750M will handle what you want, you could look at the new Dell XPS 15. I ended up buying the highest spec because I wont play many games (or if i do it will be like SC2/Diablo3 ... easy stuff). This way i get the size i want (15.6", nice resolution, top notch rest of stuff).

 

[prolific]

Thanks for the reply.

I think the MSi is "big" for what I'm used too - coming from an HP Envy 14, currently, which is why I'm particularly fond of the Razer Blade.

But all I've read about is how the GS70, despite the 17" since, is still lighter and thinner than anything out at the moment, including the Blade 14" - definitely an attractive quality.

Now I'd play the games you mentioned above, in addition to something like WoW, but I'd want a device like this purely to be satisfied my needs for the next several years down the road.

I'll look into the XPS 15, as well. Thank you again!

 

[donovands]

This is the droid you're looking for:

http/www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-P34G-CF1-14-Inch-Laptop/dp/B00FJ4P5CK/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383593974&sr=8-1&keywords=p34g

Here's a review:

http/hexus.net/tech/reviews/laptop/60913-gigabyte-p34g/?page=2

It costs less than the Razor with similar performance and a better screen. Ultrabook dimensions and weight. Solid construction. 760m, i7-4700HQ. 3.6 lbs. Boom.

 

[prolific]

Can't say I've done much research about Gigabyte, but I really appreciate the links and suggestion - I will definitely look into it!

Thanks again!

 

[sora]

This is the droid you're looking for:

http/www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-P34G-CF1-14-Inch-Laptop/dp/B00FJ4P5CK/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383593974&sr=8-1&keywords=p34g

Here's a review:

http/hexus.net/tech/reviews/laptop/60913-gigabyte-p34g/?page=2

It costs less than the Razor with similar performance and a better screen. Ultrabook dimensions and weight. Solid construction. 760m, i7-4700HQ. 3.6 lbs. Boom.

Go with this. People usually go with Razor because it "looks cool" but Razor is pretty much overrated.

 

[prolific]

Thank you again - everyone seems to be pretty high on the Gigabyte model, the P34 I believe.

Definitely pushes it into consideration.

I suppose I'll backtrack a little and restate why I'm in the market and what exactly for...

Obviously the aesthetics are a factor as I not only like the look of a thin laptop/ultrabook, whatever you want to call it, but I also like the idea of being able to pick it up and go where ever I want without any hassle.

With that being said, while I'm working from home in my office, I will be plugged into an external monitor and keyboard/mouse so the overall look of the screen and feel of the keyboard, etc., isn't a huge deal at this point but will come into play down the road when/if I'm out and about and need to work - whatever the case may be.

I like the idea of a 14" model, again I have the HP Envy 14 currently (been very pleased since purchase) but the 17" MSi model is definitely something I'm admiring despite the large make - still very, very thin (believe it's the thinnest out @ 17 inches).

There's been plenty of talk about this Gigabyte model and in turn, the Razer, but not much about the MSi. Is there some glaring negative(s) that I'm overlooking here?

 

[donovands]

The MSI starts at $1,800. The Gigabyte starts at $1,400. Same processor. MSI has a slightly better GPU. The Gigabyte P34G is thinner, physically smaller and weighs a few pounds less and won't look out of place in a boardroom. If you want a larger model, the P35K is the bigger brother of the P34G and has the same processor and GPU as the MSi does, while being thinner, lighter and costing $1,500. Gigabyte is currently the best option out there pound for pound and dollar for dollar by a pretty wide margin. Untill the next big thing anyway.

 

[prolific]

The MSI starts at $1,800. The Gigabyte starts at $1,400. Same processor. MSI has a slightly better GPU. The Gigabyte P34G is thinner, physically smaller and weighs a few pounds less and won't look out of place in a boardroom. If you want a larger model, the P35K is the bigger brother of the P34G and has the same processor and GPU as the MSi does, while being thinner, lighter and costing $1,500. Gigabyte is currently the best option out there pound for pound and dollar for dollar by a pretty wide margin. Untill the next big thing anyway.

I really appreciate the insight, honestly - this helps a ton!

With that being said, again, I'll backtrack a little... it sounds like MSi model definitely has the pricetag working against it (obviously) and it almost appears to be a no-brainer when picking another option (the Gigabyte model, for example).

Are there any pro's going for the MSi model at all?

 

[prolific]

Sorry for the bump - any further opinion/discussion on the topic?

Much appreciated!

 

[cupAsoup]

I am not sure how anyone can game on a 14 inch screen. I guess if you are used to it, then its no big deal. Is the small profile really that important to you? You get so much more bang for your buck on the "bigger" gaming machines.

 

[Judazzz]

I received my Gigabyte P34G a week ago, and although it has a few things that could have been better, I'm nonetheless seriously happy with it.

The cons:
- Sometimes erratic fan behavior under low load circumstances (under full load it is fine imo: with speaker volume at 50-60% you hardly hear it, let alone with headphones);
- Keyboard tray (made of aluminium) and certain keys have a bit of flex, and the screen bevel is made of cheapish plastic - none of it is all too bad, but it does contrast with the overall build quality and appearance (it definitely looks like a high-end product);
- Screen is slightly grainy due to non-glare coating, and also has a bit of a yellowish hue (which should be fixable with a good color profile) - other than that, the screen is outstanding as far as viewing angles, brightness, contrast, color depth etc. are concerned;
- The keyboard layout is not bad, but could be better: it lacks dedicated Home/End/PageUp/PageDown keys - the cursor keys double as such through the Fn-key, which is inconvenient given its location to the left of the space bar. The keyboard also has half-sized Up/Down keys. So that's something to keep in mind of you want to use it for actual work as well (I use it for designing/developing my own website, it it does take a bit of getting used to it). Lastly, key presses result in a cheapish 'dup-dup-dup'-sound.

The pros:
- Performance is amazing given the size/weight of the machine: in 1080p, Battlefield 4 runs smoothly in high (SP) and medium-high (MP), as does Sleeping Dogs with everything maxxed out except anti-aliasing. During normal use, the machine is very snappy and responsive (Lightroom 5, web development), a pleasure to work with;
- Good storage capacity: mine came with a 128GB SSD (max 512GB), a 750GB HDD (max. 1TB) and 8GB RAM (max. 16GB);
- As said, the screen is stunning;
- Decent trackpad (although to me it feels cold and - too? - smooth to the touch: my previous laptop, an Alienware m11x, had a textured, all-plastic one, so it might be a case of getting used to it);
- Good connectivity: 4x USB (2x USB 3), VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, Card reader;
- It remains cool to the touch even after a long and intensive gaming session. Also, as soon as you close down a game, fan speed decreases drastically;
- I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I really like the sleek, stylish and modest design (and despite that, it does turn heads, I noticed - especially the screen gets a lot of reactions). The used materials generally add to the overall impression (except those few things I mentioned in the Cons-section) of a generally good build quality - it's a well-engineered machine;
- It's incredibly portable at 2,1" thick and 1.7kg of weight. A useful (fake leather?) sleeve is included, although in the end you might want to get something a bit more study/protective.


As far as gaming on it: I'll always keep playing certain games (like FPS and other games that pretty much require mouse/keyboard controls) on my desktop, but for relaxed gaming sessions playing games that do well with a wireless X-Box controller (3rd person, sandbox, racing) the screen is more than adequate (2-3ft distance). Gaming with my laptop on the coffee table while chilling on the couch works remarkably well!

 

[prolific]

I am not sure how anyone can game on a 14 inch screen. I guess if you are used to it, then its no big deal. Is the small profile really that important to you? You get so much more bang for your buck on the "bigger" gaming machines.

Understandable.

The 14" factor is definitely all about the portability, but at the end of the day, when I'm at home (90% of the time), whatever laptop I end up going with (whether a 14" or 17", etc.) will more than likely always be hooked up to an external monitor/mouse/keyboard - so in a way, the size doesn't REALLY matter (and the 17" GSi is very, very thin and portable despite the dimensions I believe) doesn't matter too, too much.

Judazz: thank you for the awesome, in-depth and detailed response.

Keep the replies coming! Thanks again!

 

[prolific]

Friendly bump

Happy holidays & thanks for all the help thus far!

 

[prolific]

I received my Gigabyte P34G a week ago, and although it has a few things that could have been better, I'm nonetheless seriously happy with it.

The cons:
- Sometimes erratic fan behavior under low load circumstances (under full load it is fine imo: with speaker volume at 50-60% you hardly hear it, let alone with headphones);
- Keyboard tray (made of aluminium) and certain keys have a bit of flex, and the screen bevel is made of cheapish plastic - none of it is all too bad, but it does contrast with the overall build quality and appearance (it definitely looks like a high-end product);
- Screen is slightly grainy due to non-glare coating, and also has a bit of a yellowish hue (which should be fixable with a good color profile) - other than that, the screen is outstanding as far as viewing angles, brightness, contrast, color depth etc. are concerned;
- The keyboard layout is not bad, but could be better: it lacks dedicated Home/End/PageUp/PageDown keys - the cursor keys double as such through the Fn-key, which is inconvenient given its location to the left of the space bar. The keyboard also has half-sized Up/Down keys. So that's something to keep in mind of you want to use it for actual work as well (I use it for designing/developing my own website, it it does take a bit of getting used to it). Lastly, key presses result in a cheapish 'dup-dup-dup'-sound.

The pros:
- Performance is amazing given the size/weight of the machine: in 1080p, Battlefield 4 runs smoothly in high (SP) and medium-high (MP), as does Sleeping Dogs with everything maxxed out except anti-aliasing. During normal use, the machine is very snappy and responsive (Lightroom 5, web development), a pleasure to work with;
- Good storage capacity: mine came with a 128GB SSD (max 512GB), a 750GB HDD (max. 1TB) and 8GB RAM (max. 16GB);
- As said, the screen is stunning;
- Decent trackpad (although to me it feels cold and - too? - smooth to the touch: my previous laptop, an Alienware m11x, had a textured, all-plastic one, so it might be a case of getting used to it);
- Good connectivity: 4x USB (2x USB 3), VGA, HDMI, Ethernet, Card reader;
- It remains cool to the touch even after a long and intensive gaming session. Also, as soon as you close down a game, fan speed decreases drastically;
- I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I really like the sleek, stylish and modest design (and despite that, it does turn heads, I noticed - especially the screen gets a lot of reactions). The used materials generally add to the overall impression (except those few things I mentioned in the Cons-section) of a generally good build quality - it's a well-engineered machine;
- It's incredibly portable at 2,1" thick and 1.7kg of weight. A useful (fake leather?) sleeve is included, although in the end you might want to get something a bit more study/protective.


As far as gaming on it: I'll always keep playing certain games (like FPS and other games that pretty much require mouse/keyboard controls) on my desktop, but for relaxed gaming sessions playing games that do well with a wireless X-Box controller (3rd person, sandbox, racing) the screen is more than adequate (2-3ft distance). Gaming with my laptop on the coffee table while chilling on the couch works remarkably well!

This is an awesome, detailed response - I really, really appreciate it!

Going to give this thread one last bump, tho!

Thank you all again.