Notebook/Laptop vs Prebuilt Desktop vs Custom.

[SHORYUKEN]

Approximate Purchase Date: In a couple of weeks.

Budget Range: $1200 before shipping for the notebook, $1000 for a custom and $1100 for a prebuilt.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming > streaming > surfing > video + photo editing > everything else.

Are you buying a monitor: No, I have 2.

Parts to Upgrade: Not upgrading, rebuilding or buying.

Do you need to buy OS: Yes.
Please note that if you're using an OEM license of Windows, you will need a new one when buying a new motherboard.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: canadacomputers.com, bestbuy.ca, newegg.ca, ncix.ca and amazon.ca

Location: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.

Parts Preferences: Intel, NVidia and MSI.

Overclocking: Yes.

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe, I have a 560 Ti already so maybe.

Your Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080 and a 1440x900

Additional Comments: Would like a cool casing, maybe with LED if it fits into the budget.

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I need to get a better computer than this bottlenecking GTX 560 Ti + Pentium combo.


I am currently looking at this notebook:
http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=710_577_371&item_id=050944

This prebuilt:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/asus-asus-essentio-cm6340-gaming-pc-intel-core-i7-3770-128gb-ssd-2tb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-cm6340-ca002s/10227760.aspx?path=9d5e600e5f529bba8eb4f4a46306ccd5en02

And this custom:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/vSbD

+

560 Ti and 2 TB Caviar Black.

 

[djangoringo]

The laptop isn't that good for gaming, a 660m is not good for 1080p gaming, the prebuilt the same with a 7670, it's not good, both will perform less that the card you have, the 560 ti.
Get the custom pc, pick the parts and make a good pc, you have already good ideas, i just changed some things. for like a cheaper mobo, but with SLI support, 8GB ram, a 660 ti, a psu for SLI, a larger ssd, since you have already a hdd, no need for another one, just a large ssd.
My suggestion : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zC0B

 

[JMer806]

If you can spend the $1200, this is what I'd get (keep in mind that I'm leaving out the storage drives since it seems like you already have them): http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zCrj

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($216.99 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($110.52 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Intel 330 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($155.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($341.89 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1149.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-25 23:31 EST-0500)

 

[SHORYUKEN]

The laptop isn't that good for gaming, a 660m is not good for 1080p gaming, the prebuilt the same with a 7670, it's not good, both will perform less that the card you have, the 560 ti.
Get the custom pc, pick the parts and make a good pc, you have already good ideas, i just changed some things. for like a cheaper mobo, but with SLI support, 8GB ram, a 660 ti, a psu for SLI, a larger ssd, since you have already a hdd, no need for another one, just a large ssd.
My suggestion : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zC0B

Thanks but I already have a 560 Ti so that 660 is just making my 560 go to waste. I don't know what to do about it. But I do like that build.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

If you can spend the $1200, this is what I'd get (keep in mind that I'm leaving out the storage drives since it seems like you already have them): http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zCrj

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($216.99 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($29.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LX ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($110.52 @ DirectCanada)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($39.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Intel 330 Series 180GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($155.99 @ Computer Valley)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 670 2GB Video Card ($341.89 @ DirectCanada)
Case: Corsair 300R ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.99 @ Canada Computers)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($74.99 @ NCIX)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NS72 DVD/CD Writer ($17.06 @ DirectCanada)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($96.99 @ Computer Valley)
Total: $1149.40
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-01-25 23:31 EST-0500)

Yeah I don't have that much storage and I already have some Corsair 8 GB RAM. But that's a nice build, just a bit more than my $1000 for a custom.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

The laptop isn't that good for gaming, a 660m is not good for 1080p gaming, the prebuilt the same with a 7670, it's not good, both will perform less that the card you have, the 560 ti.
Get the custom pc, pick the parts and make a good pc, you have already good ideas, i just changed some things. for like a cheaper mobo, but with SLI support, 8GB ram, a 660 ti, a psu for SLI, a larger ssd, since you have already a hdd, no need for another one, just a large ssd.
My suggestion : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zC0B

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_BsTuuxY2g

I'm mainly looking for high settings set.

 

[djangoringo]

You can ditch the card, and use the 560 ti, and wait for newer generation cards that will come this year.
But the 660 ti is a upgrade from a 560 ti : http://tpucdn.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/images/perfrel_1920.gif
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/images/bf3_1920_1200.gif

That's a recent benchmark with several cards, the 660 ti gets 60 fps in BF3 at ultra settings @1080p.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

You can ditch the card, and use the 560 ti, and wait for newer generation cards that will come this year.
But the 660 ti is a upgrade from a 560 ti : http://tpucdn.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/images/perfrel_1920.gif
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/EVGA/GTX_670_FTW_Signature_2/images/bf3_1920_1200.gif

That's a recent benchmark with several cards, the 660 ti gets 60 fps in BF3 at ultra settings @1080p.

Alright, do you know anywhere where I can sell the card? Because I kind of don't want the newer generation cards as they probably will be expensive.

 

[djangoringo]

Check the link i gave it has the 660 ti with all the shops in canada.
The cheapest one is this http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75322&vpn=VCGGTX660TXPB&manufacture=PNY%20Technologies%20Inc&promoid=1338

 

[SHORYUKEN]

Check the link i gave it has the 660 ti with all the shops in canada.
The cheapest one is this http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=75322&vpn=VCGGTX660TXPB&manufacture=PNY%20Technologies%20Inc&promoid=1338

Alright but I still kind of want a laptop. I found one with a GTX 670MX 3GB RAM + 3630Q for 1110. Should I get that?

 

[djangoringo]

Even the 560 ti is better than that mobile gpu see here : http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-670MX.82603.0.html

Also if you check the that mobile card, it doesn't reach more than ~20 fps in BF3 @ 1080p ultra settings, the 660 ti does 60 fps.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

Even the 560 ti is better than that mobile gpu see here : http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-670MX.82603.0.html

Also if you check the that mobile card, it doesn't reach more than ~20 fps in BF3 @ 1080p ultra settings, the 660 ti does 60 fps.

sigh. I guess I should get that build you suggested. Is the 560 Ti SLI better than the 660 Ti?

 

[djangoringo]

Two 560 ti is on par with a 580 gtx, a 660 ti is better than a 580 gtx, it will be better than two 560 ti.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

Two 560 ti is on par with a 580 gtx, a 660 ti is better than a 580 gtx, it will be better than two 560 ti.

Alright, final question, do you think I should try to sell my 560 Ti and get another 660 + a better PSU?

 

[djangoringo]

A single 660 ti is fine for 1080p, no need for two 660 ti for now, just sell the 560ti to cut down the cost of the 660 ti.
I think you've seen the link that i put a few post above, that i made some changes, the psu is a xfx 750W, it's of good quality and more than enough for two 660 ti, also that mobo supports sli : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zGLg

 

[SHORYUKEN]

A single 660 ti is fine for 1080p, no need for two 660 ti for now, just sell the 560ti to cut down the cost of the 660 ti.
I think you've seen the link that i put a few post above, that i made some changes, the psu is a xfx 750W, it's of good quality and more than enough for two 660 ti, also that mobo supports sli : http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/p/zGLg

Alright thanks for all of that.

 

[SHORYUKEN]

Best answer selected by SHORYUKEN.