Buying a new Gaming laptop

[Tirfi]

Approximate Purchase Date: e.g.: this week (the closer the better)

Will be buying in the next 2-3 weeks. (Maybe this weekend if i make up my mind)

Budget Range: (e.g.: 300-400) Before / After Rebates; Before / After Shipping

Looking to spend $800-$1300 USD

System Usage from Most to Least Important: (e.g.: Folding@Home, gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies)

Gaming (anything from Minecraft to Skyrim ... but i play a lot of Modded Minecraft [feed the beast which is a ram hog])


Location: City, State/Region, Country - we need to know where these parts are being assembled and whether there are good store-only deals available

Dallas TX


I am looking at a few different options and would like input to let me know if my ideas are in the correct range or i have been out of the game to long and dont know what i am talking about.

I was a IT guy for 10+ years but 7 years ago i moved into medical and have not stayed up to date on the details of the equipment available today.

Currently i am using a Y550 by Lenovo and love it ... well other than the over heating issue... that i fixed by cutting the bottom of the laptop off and attaching 4 case fans from a old tower build... they are currently running off of a 500W power supply with the MOBO pins shorted out so i can use it without being plugging into a MOBO this is the reason i am upgrading.

so option 1
lenovo IdeaPad Y500 (59359554) Notebook Intel Core i7 3630QM(2.40GHz) 15.6" 12GB Memory DDR3 1600 1TB HDD+16GB SSD HDD 5400rpm Dual NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M SLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834312440

plus Y500 Removable DVD Burner DB36
http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=460&Code=0C22231

$1149.99 + $69.99

The dvd drive is for watching movies and installing games off of a CD only .. nothing special but i nice addon.. fits in the removable 2'nd graphics card slot and is clean and easy.. (I dont want a USB powered dvdrom .. this is the option i would like with this product)

Second option

Sager NP9130 - Gaming Laptop (Clevo P151EM1)
From http://www.xoticpc.com

upgrades are
FREE UPGRADE! - nVidia GeForce GTX 670MX 3,072MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 with Optimus™ Technology - [ETA: Feb.25th] (SKU - S5S999)
6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive - Special! (SKU - S7P557)
16GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (4 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4X822P)

stock 750GB HDD and so on ...

$1,224.00
Never owned a Sager Product so i know nothing about them. I have and do own a Lenovo and enjoy it... I hear LOTS of good reviews from the lenovo so i am not sure if its worth moving away from them

Also lenovo has some lower end options that are also getting great reviews (the Y400 and Y580 from the lenovo website) Are other options for slightly less money going to give me a large drop in ability ... is the extra $300-$400 worth it REALLY... am i missing some MAJOR players in the game...

You guys know what you are talking about and i would love to hear it ... the advice i get here will directly go into the laptop that i buy in the next few days or so i take what you have to say serious.

 

[bodeen2012]

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Xplorer_X7-5000_Gaming_Notebook/

 

[Tirfi]

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Xplorer_X7-5000_Gaming_Notebook/

I feel like the Lenovo Y400 has the same stats as this unit for $300 less ... so i dont know if i am missing something or what..

 

[Tirfi]

Oh and i guess i forgot to add ... I play on a 36" TV 90% of the time .. so screen size is not important for me... and i also am not a fan of the 17" laptops... 14"-15.6" is really the size i am looking for...

 

[Tirfi]

Talked the the guys over at xoticpc today and found out a little more about the systems they sell... Seems like they are like the old school Alienware or falcon northwest .. Thinking that passing on the Lenovo is a good idea... Anyone have anything else to add to help sway me one way or the other?

 

[Tirfi]

Ok after thinking it over i have gone over budget just a little but i think its for the right reasons... in the future i can expand on this platform so i think its worth the extra little money .. but this looks like it will be the rig i am ordering .. i know the 7970 is a much better card but i dont have $1550 to spend on a laptop at this time ...

any input would be nice..

Sager NP9150 / Clevo P150EM
- FREE!!! – U.S. UPS GROUND SHIPPING (Use Coupon Code "FREESHIP" in Checkout) [U.S. Lower 48 ONLY / Restrictions Apply]

- SAGER Winter Sale!!! - $50 OFF When you spend $1350.00* or more per system! (*excludes non-sager parts, accessories, shipping, & taxes)

- 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare Type Screen (SKU - S1R319)

- Standard Dead Pixel Policy

- Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3630QM (2.4GHz - 3.4GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU – S2R174)

- -Stock OEM Thermal Compound

- nVidia GeForce GTX 670MX 3,072MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 with Optimus™ Technology [User Upgradeable] - [ETA: Feb.25th] (SKU – S3R517)

- 16GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (4 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4T822P)

- 750GB 7200RPM [Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache] - Default (SKU - S5T306)

- 6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive - Special! (SKU - S7P557)

- Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)

- Bluetooth Included *With select wireless cards only* (See “Wireless Network” Section Below)

- Sager - Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card + Bluetooth™ v3.0 (SKU - S8R110)

- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera

- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included

- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)

- Integrated Fingerprint Reader

- ~Windows 8 - 64-Bit (64-Bit CD Included) + MS Office Trial 2012

 

[Tirfi]

any input would be great here .. i would like to hear what other people that keep on on the systems of today think about this kind of system ...

dropping $1400 of a laptop is the type of thing i would like to be a educated decision ..
i feel like with my knowledge of hardware it is a good idea to move away from the lenovo but being as i have not ever delt with xotic or sager in the past i would like a little input before i hit the buy button ..

 

[Tirfi]

Well the time has come ... I am disappointed that i didnt give a single comment about this ... I figured this would be the place to go to get input but i guess i was wrong ... thanks anyways THW ... it was fun while it lasted ..