Which laptop would you choose?

[ca0s]

Hai EZ,

I'm getting a new laptop for christmas, so I'm trying to decide which one of these (in no particular order)

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1 - http://www.pccomponentes.com/msi_gs70_stealth_2od_066es_i7_4700m_8gb_1tb_gtx765m_17_3_.html
8GB RAM
i7 4700MQ
1TB HD
Backlight keyboard
1400 €


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2 - http://www.mountain.es/epages/Mountain.sf/es_ES/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store.Mountain/Products/OMPSTUDIOMX_174G
i7 4700MQ
8GB RAM
750GB HD + 128GB SSD
1230€

Expansion to 16GB RAM: 90€


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3 - http://www.pccomponentes.com/msi_gs70_2od_233es_i7_4700hq_16gb_1tb_256g_ssd_gtx765m_17_3_.html
i7 4700HQ
16GB RAM
1TB HD + 2 * 128 SSD RAID 0
Backlight keyboard
1700€


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4 - http://www.pccomponentes.com/msi_ge70_20e_079es_i7_4700mq_8gb_750gb_gtx765m_17_3___bundle.html
i7 4700MQ
8GB RAM
750GB HD
Backlight keyboard
1150€


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5 - http://www.pccomponentes.com/asus_n750jv_i7_4700hq_8gb_1tb_gt750_17_3_.html
i7 4700HQ
8GB RAM
1TB HD
1230€

My first option was the MSI gs70 stealth (the 16GB version), but it is way too expensive. Also, I was leaning towards buying one with a SSD for the OS, but I never had one so idk if the speedup is worth it.

I think 8GB RAM would be enough to virtualize 2-3 machines smoothly (my dual core 4gb RAM dies with 2).

About the processor, is the HQ version of the 4700 worth the extra ~120€? The only difference I find in their specs is that the HQ supports VT-d. But I'm not sure if standard virtualization software takes advantage of that.

And I don't really care about the GPU. I almost never play videogames.

Backlight keyboard would be cool, but it is not that important.

The Mountain has the advantage of being easily upgraded (I've read the MSI stealth is a pain to do so), so its my first  option.

What's your opinion, EZ? Also, If you know of a better laptop in that range, tell me, please.

[Alin]

I would never buy anything without SSD and at least 16 gig of RAM.


What are you using the computer for?

[ca0s]

Coding, reversing, the kind of stuff is done by the folks in this forum, you know.

I have to virtualize various machines for university tasks (network emulation, distributed systems), and my current laptop (~4 years old) suffers a bit.

Sometimes playing, but not very often (my graphics card has been dead for a year, so I have not played any game in the last year).

I liked the idea of having a small SSD for windows & linux, and I will probably end up buying a SSD one. But I wanted to know if the OS realy runs that faster.

And if I buy a Mountain, I will sure pay the extra 8GB of RAM.

[proxx]

SSD speeds are noticeable, there are other objections to SSD for various reasons, the wear is kinda heavy on these drives for example.
But fast it is.
I have one for my OS but keep nearly all data stored on different drives.

Apart from the criteria you mentioned I would personally inspect the chips used.
For example an intel network card is a must,  goes for wireless; I would want intel/atheros ,people often forget the importance of such matters.
Battery life ?

[ca0s]

Those batteries should stand for ~3-4h, according to what their manufacturers say. I usually have it connected to AC, though.

MSIs come with a Killer (which I had never listened about before). I don't know about the others. I have an external card for inyection, if that was what you were thinking about.

[lucid]

Also, I was leaning towards buying one with a SSD for the OS, but I never had one so idk if the speedup is worth it.

From what I hear it is, but I've never had one either. I also don't see why you'd need more then 8gb of RAM in a laptop... not that it hurts. What about brand names? Because I would never buy another Asus for example.

I have an external card for inyection, if that was what you were thinking about.

I think he means about compatibility.

[Satan911]

Do you have a powerful desktop computer too? If so I'd go for something a bit cheaper but definitely with a SSD. The difference is mind-blowing if you get a good one.

I also don't see why you'd need more then 8gb of RAM in a laptop... not that it hurts.

Same reason you'd need more RAM on a desktop computer. I do everything on my laptop and honestly think it's far more convenient than a desktop computer. My development environment is always with me. Couldn't be happier with 15" screen, 256 SSD, i7 and 16 GB RAM all in my bag.

[ca0s]

I don't have a desktop computer, I do all my stuff in my lap. That's why I'm buying a 17' one.

Because I would never buy another Asus for example.

Why? I've had Asus before and I never had any issue with them. They've worked better than any other brand I've tried.

I have read that MSIs are good, but some of them (like the stealth) are not very tunneable. That's why I started looking at those Mountains: you can change almost every piece just removing the back of the laptop.

[lucid]

Maybe I'm unlucky but I've had two of the same Asus laptop. The first developed huge dead pixel patches within weeks. Got it replaced with the same one and that developed dead pixel patches after a year. Plus random keyboard issues.

My next laptop's gonna be a lenovo. But I really just want the money to build my own rig.

[proxx]

Those batteries should stand for ~3-4h, according to what their manufacturers say. I usually have it connected to AC, though.

MSIs come with a Killer (which I had never listened about before). I don't know about the others. I have an external card for inyection, if that was what you were thinking about.

Well its not perse about injection ,  its also about stability, cross platform support etc.
What OS are you going to run on it ?

Battery life can be annoying at least for my job it can be  as I am on the move a lot.

[ca0s]

95% Arch Linux, 5% Windows. Dual boot.

Maybe I'm unlucky but I've had two of the same Asus laptop. The first developed huge dead pixel patches within weeks. Got it replaced with the same one and that developed dead pixel patches after a year. Plus random keyboard issues.

Wow, that's bad luck. I've had 3 Asus computers and they have worked pretty fine.

My next laptop's gonna be a lenovo. But I really just want the money to build my own rig.

I considered them, but they are not sold in many shops in my country.

Edit: this is what I'm thinking about right now:

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http://www.pccomponentes.com/asus_n750jv_i7_4700_8gb_750gb_gt750m_17_3_.html
i7 4700MQ
8GB RAM
750GB HD
Atheros chipset
Backlight keyboard
3.3Kg
4-5h battery
1100€
+ 250 GB SSD: 150€
+ 8GB RAM: 130€
Total: 1380€


[lucid]

Yeah go for that one. The Atheros chipset is really what got me. That's a fine laptop right there.

[proxx]

95% Arch Linux, 5% Windows. Dual boot.
Wow, that's bad luck. I've had 3 Asus computers and they have worked pretty fine.
I considered them, but they are not sold in many shops in my country.

Edit: this is what I'm thinking about right now:

Code: [Select]

http://www.pccomponentes.com/asus_n750jv_i7_4700_8gb_750gb_gt750m_17_3_.html
i7 4700MQ
8GB RAM
750GB HD
Atheros chipset
Backlight keyboard
3.3Kg
4-5h battery
1100€
+ 250 GB SSD: 150€
+ 8GB RAM: 130€
Total: 1380€


If you are going to run that much linux, are you sure you want hybrid graphics ?
Especially with that budget there are some more options.
And as I suspected your gonna run linux, be really damn sure your hardware is supported , see if you can find reference and/or people with problems.
Ive burnt my hands on that just too many times, I want to spare you the trouble.

*edit*
Personally I would rather have some proper intel graphics (top of the line) than some hybrid crap.
They still dont perform well on linux, it becomes acceptable but still its not great and a waste of money from that perspective.

[ca0s]

I've had several computers with nvidia cards and never had a problem with them drivers. Both official and open source. And I don't think I will have any trouble with that wireless chipset. I hope I won't, some years ago I had a hard time finding drivers for some rare card I had.

Especially with that budget there are some more options.

Such as? If it is some kind of international seller or I can find it here, I'm open to all suggestions.

And thanks for your opinions, guys.

Personally I would rather have some proper intel graphics (top of the line) than some hybrid crap.
They still dont perform well on linux, it becomes acceptable but still its not great and a waste of money from that perspective.

Well, they have improved over the years. I tried playing Team Fortress 2 from Steam in Arch some months ago and it worked fine (until the whole laptop shut down, my video card is kinda burnt)

[proxx]

I've had several computers with nvidia cards and never had a problem with them drivers. Both official and open source. And I don't think I will have any trouble with that wireless chipset. I hope I won't, some years ago I had a hard time finding drivers for some rare card I had.
Such as? If it is some kind of international seller or I can find it here, I'm open to all suggestions.

And thanks for your opinions, guys.

Dont mistaken that nvidia chip for a dedicated one, those are rarely made these days.
The Intel and nvidia chips are hooked up, they are being shared ; https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/hybrid_graphics
This is not perse bad for performance and the idea is kinda alright but that means you need drivers.
Nvidia litterly said it will not be supported by them , since the drivers are not opensource there is nothing the community can do but hack.
They did with bumblebee and some follow up projects, which again work alright but not the same performance as in windows.
Sadly this is a waste of money.
Recently Nvidia accounced that they are going support it in the future which would be great, question however is when.. apart from the possibility that it will not be backwards compatible.
Im just saying dont underestimate the consequence like I did.

If you want good graphics make sure you have something dedicated , that gt750 is not.
(dedicated is not the right term because no RAM is shared but I dont really know how to call it otherwise.)

I have no suggestions atm, Ill might have a look.