Trying to find replacement for my desktop PC

[infinit0s]

Hello guys,

I am trying to find a substitution for my Desktop pc - in form a laptop. I have found 3 laptops that i am interested in but i do seek an advice.

1st. Dell XPS15
- i7-4702HQ
- 16GB ram (8x2) - 1600
- 512GB ssd
- Nvidia GT750M 2GB
- Full HD screen
- 15.6 inch (price +/- 1550 pounds)

link: http/www.dell.com/uk/p/xps-15-9530/pd?oc=cnx9512&model_id=xps-15-9530

2nd. Lenovo ThinkPad W540 (customized)
- i7-4900MQ
- 8GB ram - 1600
- 256GB ssd
- Nvidia Quadro K2100M 2GB
- 3K IPS screen
- 15.6 inch (price +/- 2100 pounds)

link: http/shop.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/thinkpad/w-series/w540/

3rd. MSI GS70
- i7-4700HQ
- 16GB ram
- 128GB ssd
- 1000GB HDD
- Nvidia GTX 870M 3GB
- Full HD screen
- 17.3 inch (price +/- 1370 pounds)

link: http/www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/GS70-2PE-014UK-MSI-GS70_1593674.html

All these laptops have pros and cons to each. Also i want to have a Debian system on it (and probably windows to play some games in a free time). - Or just play via Wine ?. Anyway i am a programmer, and my current Desktop is rather powerful but i want to get rid of it as it takes space - but at the same time i want to notice as little down-performance as possible.

Lenovo ThinkPad series are known to be tough and durable.
Dell - Well i had once dell and it broke... but this one is a high end ?
MSI - no idea but seems like its the best value for money - full metal body etc ? any thoughts??

 

[i7Baby]

Don't get Dell or HP.

Both Asus and MSI are good quality, followed by Lenovo.

Your Lenovo has a workstation (cad) graphics card. I'd only get that if I was doing cad work all the time.

So, out of those three, I'd choose the MSI.

 

[infinit0s]

Out of curiosity why Dell is a No No ?.
So Quadro GPU is for Cad, well i don't do ANY cad so perhaps the other series Lenovo, which is T i think would be considerable ?

Don't get Dell or HP.

Both Asus and MSI are good quality, followed by Lenovo.

Your Lenovo has a workstation (cad) graphics card. I'd only get that if I was doing cad work all the time.

So, out of those three, I'd choose the MSI.

 

[i7Baby]

We get a lot of problems reported on Dell and HP laptops and pcs. And neither company provides much support eg info that will help

Have a look at the Lenovo 510. Not as good as the MSI, but worth a look.

 

[photonboy]

1) QUADRO is optimized for workstation tasks, poor value if only looking at GAME tasks, and you don't list any programs that you would need Quadro for.

2) Reliability:
a) Look at customer feedback for exact model (large number of reviews and read comments. Go to Amazon etc)
b) Find a professional review, if possible.
c) Look at Warranty (at least 2-year if possible, or reasonably priced extension)

3) SCREENS:
If a desktop replacement, 15.6" seems rather small even if it's high resolution.

4) 8GB is plenty for System RAM unless doing video editing, or using VM's.

5) Laptops devs always stop updating the drivers fairly quickly compared to desktop.

6) Small desktop instead?
You can build a really small, quiet desktop that gives much higher performance based on a mini-ITX motherboard. It would also be a lot easier to repair and upgrade. Additionally, the screen would be larger if desired though not sure of your FOOTPRINT requirements.

However, since you already have a PC I guess you aren't interested.

Summary:
Based on only these three I'd recommend the MSI laptop, though I think gaming laptops are way overpriced.

 

[infinit0s]

Well, i didn't know that Quadro is specific to editing, CAD work etc. I don't look only for Gaming laptop as i am NOT a gamer - but i do like to play some game from time to time. Hence i am looking for a laptop that will be able to run something ;o.

I want to install Debian / Linux on it - and i know that Lenovo & Dell have great support for Linux systems, but as i7Baby said - avoid Dells - and yes i had once Dell and it did broke so i am skeptical towards them. I am a software developer and do a lot of multi-threaded tasks and i do use quite a lot of RAM + CPU. But the reason why i want to get rid of the desktop is simply to get rid of the desk that takes a lot of space + i can not really commute with the desktop can i.

I did look at the reviews and feedback from customers and it looks like the MSI is rather good - and also it does not seem to be the most expensive out of these - in fact is the cheapest ? but i never had MSI laptop, and once i had MSI GPU in my desktop which was utter rubbish... + i do not know how good the linux support is for MSI

1) QUADRO is optimized for workstation tasks, poor value if only looking at GAME tasks, and you don't list any programs that you would need Quadro for.

2) Reliability:
a) Look at customer feedback for exact model (large number of reviews and read comments. Go to Amazon etc)
b) Find a professional review, if possible.
c) Look at Warranty (at least 2-year if possible, or reasonably priced extension)

3) SCREENS:
If a desktop replacement, 15.6" seems rather small even if it's high resolution.

4) 8GB is plenty for System RAM unless doing video editing, or using VM's.

5) Small desktop instead?
You can build a really small, quiet desktop that gives much higher performance based on a mini-ITX motherboard. It would also be a lot easier to repair and upgrade. Additionally, the screen would be larger if desired though not sure of your FOOTPRINT requirements.

However, since you already have a PC I guess you aren't interested.

Summary:
Based on only these three I'd recommend the MSI laptop, though I think gaming laptops are way overpriced.

 

[photonboy]

If you want to play some GAMES then your focus should be on the best GPU in your budget.

So here's a checklist:

1) i7-4xxx CPU
2) GTX860M or GTX870M graphics (or similar, but not Quadro since you don't list any programs that would need this)

3) 8GB memory
4) 17" 1600x900 or 1920x1080 screen ?

5) Quality laptop, with good reviews
6) Windows 8 64-bit

*may want to get START8 ($5) for Windows 8.

 

[photonboy]

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-17-3-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/2990031.p?id=1219085427884&skuId=2990031&st=pcmcat287600050003_categoryid$abcat0502000&cp=1&lp=1

The above laptop has really great customer feedback. The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an SSD. If it had a 2nd slot to add a 2.5" or even M.2 SSD that would be great and you could CLONE the Windows drive. Not sure how to find out.. contact Asus I guess.

Trying to find similar QUALITY with 860M/870M and SSD for not much more money...

Update:
The recent ASUS models appear to be excellent quality. The Asus site says the G750 series has DUAL hard drive support so you could likely by your own SSD and clone (or use a backup/restore utility like Acronis True Image to backup to a USB HDD, 2nd HDD partition and restore to the SSD..)

Other options include:
a) Get one with a 256GB SSD, then add your own HDD if needed, or
b) Get a HYBRID drive (probably not what you want but does work fairly well)

I recommend either of these models with an 860M or 870M depending on budget:
860M: http/www.asus.com/ca-en/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_ROG_G750JM/specifications/

870M: http/www.asus.com/ca-en/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_ROG_G750JS/specifications/

*It really depends on the PRICING so you can investigate that. I'd recommend the model with SSD if it's reasonably priced. You can buy a Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD for about $130 I believe so it would be under $1400 to get the $1250 model and add an SSD (860M I linked above somewhere).