Which laptop would you choose

[Zeke14]

First off - I'm looking for a laptop under $900 that will be used primarily for playing three games - Diablo 3, CS:GO, and Civ V. I don't need or expect to play at ultra settings but certainly don't want to play at anything less then 1366 x 768, medium texture/detail, or ~35-40 FPS. I'm pretty set on getting something with an SSD as i really despise slow boot times and storage space isn't of concern (i have a desktop for that).

With that in mind, which of the following would you guys recommend, or is there another option out there that i should consider?

Xplorer X6-9120 Gaming Notebook (on sale at cyberpower PC)- $849 no shipping fees/tax

Primary Attributes
Display - 15.6" Full HD 1920x1080 Display
CPU - Intel® Core™ i7-3610QM
RAM - 8GB (8GBx1) DDR3-1600 (Corsair Vengeance)
GPU - NVIDIA GT 640M 2GB PCIe Video
HDD - 256GB ADATA SP900 SSD SATA-III 6.0Gb/s - 555 MB/s Read & 530 MB/s Write


HP Pavilion dv6t-7000 Quad edition (on sale + coupon code at HP)- 874.99 + ~50 in tax, no shipping fee

Primary Attributes
Display - 15.6-inch diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366x768)
CPU - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3610QM Processor
RAM - 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2X4GB) (not disclosed but likely 1333 mhz)
GPU - NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GT 650M Graphics with 2GB GDDR 5 video memory
HDD - 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive w/ 32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cach


So basically the comparison is:
A ~$75 cheaper Cyberpower laptop with a better display (higher res support), higher frequency and quality RAM, a true SSD but a step lower GPU
or
The more expenseive HP model with the superior 650m GPU, but lesser screen res and components including only a 32 GB ssd cache.

 

[americanbrian]

Personally I would go for the cheaper one with SSD and slightly lower GPU.

Then I would see that the GPU core is identical to the 650m with lower clocks (384 shaders @ 625MHz vs 384 shaders @ 735-850MHz)

Both are based on the GK107... They are identical pieces of silicon. Using afterburner or similar it is likely that you can clock the 640m to the same or similar clocks as the 650m.

I have a 525m in mine that clocks to the 550m (again identical silicon) with no issues whatsoever.

 

[Zeke14]

Personally I would go for the cheaper one with SSD and slightly lower GPU.

Then I would see that the GPU core is identical to the 650m with lower clocks (384 shaders @ 625MHz vs 384 shaders @ 735-850MHz)

Both are based on the GK107... They are identical pieces of silicon. Using afterburner or similar it is likely that you can clock the 640m to the same or similar clocks as the 650m.

I have a 525m in mine that clocks to the 550m (again identical silicon) with no issues whatsoever.

After further review, it would appear that the 640M model has ddr3 memory. The 650M model has gddr5 as previously noted. Would this sway your opinion?

 

[dingo07]

I would get the one with more resolution - its almost 2013, why would you want to use 1366x768!!! not to mention a HDD in a laptop... SSD all the way bro! c'mon!

 

[Kiiro Neko]

After further review, it would appear that the 640M model has ddr3 memory. The 650M model has gddr5 as previously noted. Would this sway your opinion?

Sometimes manufacturers 'gimp' out the GPU in laptops to save money by giving them DDR3 instead of GDDR5 or lowering the bus width dramatically.
That was one of the main issues I had with buying a laptop years ago so you have to be careful.
One 650 could be entirely different from another 650 depending on who it's from.

 

[DarkOutlaw]

Agreed, the difference between the two GPU's is going to be none existant in the real world, but the SSD will definately blow your mind.

 

[DarkOutlaw]

After further review, it would appear that the 640M model has ddr3 memory. The 650M model has gddr5 as previously noted. Would this sway your opinion?

Sometimes manufacturers 'gimp' out the GPU in laptops to save money by giving them DDR3 instead of GDDR5 or lowering the bus width dramatically.
That was one of the main issues I had with buying a laptop years ago so you have to be careful.
One 650 could be entirely different from another 650 depending on who it's from.

Actually it can be DDR3 -or- GDDR5, you will have to contact the manufacturer to find out which it has. I would still go with the 640M. These games are not huge on graphics, Diablo 3 runs on a 550 ti I still have just fine, as does skyrim.

 

[Zeke14]

Actually it can be DDR3 -or- GDDR5, you will have to contact the manufacturer to find out which it has. I would still go with the 640M. These games are not huge on graphics, Diablo 3 runs on a 550 ti I still have just fine, as does skyrim.

In this instance, that is, with respect to the two laptops in my original post, the 640M is ddr3 and the 650M is gddr5. Based on what you guys have said, I should still go with the cyberpowerpc due to its other components which are superior to that of the HP. I was leaning this way prior to posting since the product was cheaper and I remain suspicious of HPs quality as it is.

Thank you all for your insight, it looks like i will be purchasing the xplorer rig this weekend barring an an influx of posters who suggest otherwise.

 

[dingo07]

this horse has been beat to death IMO... go get it now and don't wait for the weekend!

 

[DarkOutlaw]

+1