Gaming laptop: how much RAM? and do we need mSATA?

[slayvoff]

So how much RAM should you have for a gaming laptop, and also is it worth getting an mSATA drive? if so, should it be preconfigured as an operating system, or for storage as C: drive, or what?

 

[DarkSable]

4GB should be the minimum, 8GB is absolutely plenty.

The only reason to get an mSATA drive is if it's an SSD and you don't have another way of putting an SSD in there.

You want the operating system to be on the SSD if you have one. Games and files gain no benefit from it.

 

[slayvoff]

Cool. Interesting, the 15.6 inch sager I want is on backorder on their site but is available on xoticpc. Does this make sense?

I cannot decide between the 15.6 and 17.3

 

[DarkSable]

I would personally go with the smaller laptops. Large laptops are heavy and awkward, and if it's going to be planted on a desk all the time then you're WAY better off building a very small computer than buying a large laptop that performs worse than half as well.

 

[slayvoff]

What do you think between 750GB 7200RPM [SATA II - 16MB Cache] and 1TB 5400RPM [SATA II - 3GB/s]?

 

[Mizo Zizo]

What do you think between 750GB 7200RPM [SATA II - 16MB Cache] and 1TB 5400RPM [SATA II - 3GB/s]?

the 7200 rpm delivers noticeable speed in transferring files and accessing data . i'd go for it and sacrifice the extra 250 gbs.

 

[DarkSable]

I would absolutely take the 7200RPM drive.

Also, what is this computer being used for? I've noticed that in a lot of cases it would be a lot better to go with, say, a chromebook and a miniature gaming computer.

 

[slayvoff]

It's going to be used mainly for gaming. I think I found a great choice..the MSi GS60 Ghost

 

[DarkSable]

It's going to be used mainly for gaming. I think I found a great choice..the MSi GS60 Ghost

Then I strongly, STRONGLY suggest you build yourself a small form factor desktop computer. They can be portable enough to throw in the back of a car, into your backpack, or on an airplane.

Why do I suggest one so strongly? Two reasons.

1) The fact that you can upgrade a computer. That means that four years down the line, you can overclock your CPU and add a new graphics card and still have a beastly gaming computer.

2) They're way, way more powerful. Seriously, for a given budget, a gaming computer is going to be twice as powerful as a laptop. You simply are wasting a HUGE amount of money if you buy a gaming laptop unless you need it's processing power for other things. You could have a far more powerful gaming computer for far less money.

 

[slayvoff]

ya but i am also in school and need to take it to class and to the library to study, and around my apartment to lounge you know? I am willing to pay a premium for the convenience of a laptop. I think once I get my own more permanent place and am working in 2 years then I may be ready to invest in a desktop but for my lifestyle now a laptop is just more suitable. Also I live in NYC. no car haha

Also forget the GS60. I've been debating between that and the Aorus x7 and I am now leaning heavily towards the Aorus. Also since my current laptop is an MSI I think I want to steer clear from them. Had problems with it (had to send it in 4 times in under 2 years. Three times for motherboard, once for graphics card failure).

 

[DarkSable]

I absolutely understand, but the trouble is that you aren't paying a premium for the convenience alone. You're paying a premium for the convenience and half the performance.

You're looking at spending at least $1700 on a gaming laptop, but here's the thing. Gaming laptops, ALL gaming laptops, have serious issues. It's very difficult to dissipate heat in such a small form factor, and because of that, the power of the parts is highly limited. They perform about as well as a gaming desktop half their price.

I would strongly, strongly recommend building a gaming desktop for $1300, which is going to absolutely trash a gaming laptop, and then buying a $400 laptop (Again, chromebooks are awesome for this) for school and web browsing in bed. You can build a gaming desktop that's tiny, easy to hide in an apartment, but that still has the power you're looking for, and still have the convenience of a laptop.

If that doesn't work for you, I strongly recommend you check out the Razor Blade. Still doesn't have nearly the gaming power, but it's sexy and will get you a lot of looks on campus.

 

[slayvoff]

Ya the Razer Blade is nice but with that price tag it's like paying a super premium, then bending over so Razer can fuck me in the ass


I am referring to the 17 inch not the 14 inch. 14 is Much too small to game on IMO

 

[DarkSable]

Ya the Razer Blade is nice but with that price tag it's like paying a super premium, then bending over so Razer can fuck me in the ass


I am referring to the 17 inch not the 14 inch. 14 is Much too small to game on IMO

Ah, I was talking about the 14 inch. If you attach your own mouse, I would think it would do just fine.

Anyways, think about what I said, and think about the fact that nearly any gaming computer is going to be bulky, heavy, hot, and noisy... and that economically it makes sense to have a gaming desktop and a school/work computer, giving you the best of both worlds.

That being said, stay away from Gigabyte. Their hardware is great, but their firmware has never done anything but cause me issues. (Plus you're paying $2,300 for a 1080p laptop. Even the 14" Blade is 1800p.)

If you're adamant on getting a gaming laptop, look at Sager. They have the most reliable around, for kind of reasonable prices.