I have to travel for a bit and would like to get a laptop to do some gaming on. I dont need the absolute top of the line, but I want something good. At least a GTX 1070. I dont have a specific budget, but I am mostly looking for whatever is the best value for a higher-end laptop. Suggestions?
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Good gaming laptops?
- Thread starter SPL Tech
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2008
1070 class will need a bit of cash but not excessive. I have an older generation MSI GE62 6QF (970m), so a more modern version of that might be a consideration. The Asus ROG range don't look bad either but I'm not up to speed on them as at the time of looking the MSI range were just cheaper. But it is MSI.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
Are you OK with disassembly? Right now the best gaming laptop money can buy is also the worst. Dell and their infinite wisdom used a tri-pod type of design that uses metal arms to apply pressure rather than a bored through slug with bolts. As a result the stock thermal pads make terrible contact causing pretty much all of them out of the box to overheat. However all of that can be remedied by a total disassembly and reapplying pads and paste using Fujipoly/Liquid Metal via Conductonaut. I purchased a AW13r3 GTX1060 OLED 13" for about $1300 the last time the outlet ran a coupon and got additional money off after I bitched to customer service and threatened a return. Easy to do overall but the question is whether or not you'd be willing to? Currently my idle temps are 31C* and load temps are in the low 60s and if you chose a 15" or a 17" and got an HK you're looking at a laptop that easily overclocks into the 4.5ghz range and carries both a 1070 and 1080.
Now if you AREN'T willing to do a complete teardown then I'd just focus on price, go to slickdeals and set an alert up for GTX1070 and wait. Here's a recent example:
https://slickdeals.net/f/9850852-as...-1500-taxes?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1
https://slickdeals.net/f/10484868-g...00-with-f-s?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1
Alienware:
https://slickdeals.net/f/10488420-a...tb-hdd-1372?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1
https://slickdeals.net/f/10404416-d...ee-shipping?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1
Example outlet coupons:
https://slickdeals.net/f/10371016-n...ne-inlcuded?src=SiteSearchV2_SearchBarV2Algo1
Trying to decide on a new one also.
This would be about perfect:
https://www.amazon.com/G-SYNC-Gamin...qid=1503693866&sr=1-3&keywords=asus+rog+strix
IF it had Thunderbolt, could ditch the 2.5" drive and get a 97wh battery. I could stick a 512/1TB NVMe in it which would be plenty. Could let the battery go but Asus cheaping out and not putting a Thunderbolt port is just really stupid. I likely wouldn't need or use an external GPU with a 1070 onboard but its the principle of it. Guess they want you to spend over $2k for a Zephyrus to get it all.
Not sure I need a real serious portable gamer though. I bought an old HP Pavilion 17" with a good i7 processor a few years back. Put an SSD and upped to 16GB ram and it was great for work apps, pretty weak gaming no discrete gpu. Been so long since I used it I literally cannot find it. Somewhere in my house but hell if I know. Taking a long international flight in a few weeks and will be working out of my company HQ for a week. Not sure I really want to break out a laptop on a flight. I have a NV Shield tablet and a Switch for entertainment. I will be able to plug in when actually using the lappy but I may want to do some decent gaming in the hotel.
Really had my eye on the ASUS UX550VE-DB71T, a 1050 ti in something that size is just really sexy but they've obviously been having issues delaying it from release for months. No ones gotten any to review. Plus a loaded 4K model is going to be pretty pricey. If it was in store today though might have to give it a try.
That leaves the tried and true XPS 15 with a 1050.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/474706/XPS_15_156_Gaming_Laptop_Computer_-_Silver
Not to bad on price, but still up there. Gorgeous screen. I do love my 4K desktops but vs 120hz/Gsync its a dilemma.
*UPDATE*
Found this one, gonna go store and check it out.
http://www.frys.com/product/9104498?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
This would be about perfect:
https://www.amazon.com/G-SYNC-Gamin...qid=1503693866&sr=1-3&keywords=asus+rog+strix
IF it had Thunderbolt, could ditch the 2.5" drive and get a 97wh battery. I could stick a 512/1TB NVMe in it which would be plenty. Could let the battery go but Asus cheaping out and not putting a Thunderbolt port is just really stupid. I likely wouldn't need or use an external GPU with a 1070 onboard but its the principle of it. Guess they want you to spend over $2k for a Zephyrus to get it all.
Not sure I need a real serious portable gamer though. I bought an old HP Pavilion 17" with a good i7 processor a few years back. Put an SSD and upped to 16GB ram and it was great for work apps, pretty weak gaming no discrete gpu. Been so long since I used it I literally cannot find it. Somewhere in my house but hell if I know. Taking a long international flight in a few weeks and will be working out of my company HQ for a week. Not sure I really want to break out a laptop on a flight. I have a NV Shield tablet and a Switch for entertainment. I will be able to plug in when actually using the lappy but I may want to do some decent gaming in the hotel.
Really had my eye on the ASUS UX550VE-DB71T, a 1050 ti in something that size is just really sexy but they've obviously been having issues delaying it from release for months. No ones gotten any to review. Plus a loaded 4K model is going to be pretty pricey. If it was in store today though might have to give it a try.
That leaves the tried and true XPS 15 with a 1050.
http://www.microcenter.com/product/474706/XPS_15_156_Gaming_Laptop_Computer_-_Silver
Not to bad on price, but still up there. Gorgeous screen. I do love my 4K desktops but vs 120hz/Gsync its a dilemma.
*UPDATE*
Found this one, gonna go store and check it out.
http://www.frys.com/product/9104498?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
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Back from MC and Frys. Nothing for me, but got an Acer V17 Nitro black edition on sale for $1200 for office mate. Got a great outer shell but the keyboard is kind of weak. Got to pick up a Legion Y720 for another guy in the office tomorrow so can check out some more then.
The XPS 15 screen is just stupid good looking. So much gloss its like liquid. If Alienware stuck a slightly larger version of this screen on a 1070 body with Gsync we would be in business. The 15R3 is pretty close, couldn't find any with 4K to check out but the FHD wasn't bad.
The Asus GL702VS-RS71 screen was fairly lack luster at least at the desktop and looks pretty much like all the rest. No real color pop. Might just be the matte screens I really hate.
The XPS 15 screen is just stupid good looking. So much gloss its like liquid. If Alienware stuck a slightly larger version of this screen on a 1070 body with Gsync we would be in business. The 15R3 is pretty close, couldn't find any with 4K to check out but the FHD wasn't bad.
The Asus GL702VS-RS71 screen was fairly lack luster at least at the desktop and looks pretty much like all the rest. No real color pop. Might just be the matte screens I really hate.
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- Thread Starter
- #6
Ended up going with this one since you can overclock the CPU:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834725034R&ignorebbr=1
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834725034R&ignorebbr=1
- Thread Starter
- #9
So I save $500 because it doesent come with the original box. Sounds good to me. I've always bought refurbished or open box laptops and rarely have an issue but have collectively saved thousands.
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
Worst case it's some kind of thermal issue which is why it was returned; most likely there's a guide on the notebookcheck forums that will show you how.
- Thread Starter
- #11
I guess I'll find out. That assumes I actually get it. The last three things I bought from Newegg I waited for days and then Newegg sent me an email saying it was out of stock after they already charged my card. Newegg sucks big time and I hate ordering from them but dont have much choice sometimes.
Decided to give the GL702VS-RS71 a shot. 120hz Gysnc IPS with 1070 puts it in a category by itself right now. Has the Thunderbolt 3 port I want. Thickness not to bad, right around the middle of the pack between the thin and lights and the fat boys. Keyboard is decent but not as good as some others.
The MSI Steelseries was really tempting. Serious premium quality but just little under powered for the prices.
The MSI Steelseries was really tempting. Serious premium quality but just little under powered for the prices.
- Thread Starter
- #13
Looks good but no SSD is going to really cripple that laptop. It's like putting off roading monster truck tires on a Ferrari.
Ha, not for long. First stop I made was to MC to pick up a 960 evo 500 GB. Also replacing the 1TB 7200 with a 500 GB 850 evo I had left from parting out my old machine. Ordered Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, Fujipoly thermalpads, Super 33+ vinyl electrical tape, and ArtiClean kit to do a repaste.
