Looking for a mid range gaming laptop

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › Looking for a mid range gaming laptop

FKM

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Topic # 160044 21-Dec-2014 20:43

I am looking for a mid-range gaming laptop for around $2000

I would like the following features:

i7 quad core
SSD drive
7200rpm hard drives
A geforce 850m or better graphics card
ac wireless (2x2 if possible?)
15-17 inch full hd screen

Any suggestion? Thanks.

TLD

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Reply # 1201676 21-Dec-2014 23:23

Use the TradeMe filters to narrow your search and research

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/laptops/laptops

Set screen size, CPU, Drive parameters, check 'Brand new only, and order by cost. Unfortunately some of the parameters are not useful, like the maximum RAM being just 4Gb when you should be looking for 16Tb.

I went with an MSI GT70 One after going through the above process 18 months ago. One of the nicest things about it are the two 125Gb SSD in a raid0 for the boot drive. It boots in 30 seconds, and opens Photoshop in about six seconds from cold, and three seconds there after. Small apps like Powerpoint are instant.

I don't use it for gaming, but I have a full Adobe Creative Cloud subscription with all of the apps installed, and it runs them flawlessly, and I promise you that apps like Premiere Pro and After Effects really test a system.

This is the one that I bought
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?archive=1&id=617363123

Ahhh... Just checked and I actually paid $2900 for it, but I hope this helps you at least a bit.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1201684 22-Dec-2014 00:10

I've got an Alienware 14 that fits your description perfectly - it is however not a light laptop but does have a 240GiB SSD and a 1TiB HDD built in and a very beautiful 14" 1080p panel.

The best thing I like about it is the Keyboard, oh is the Keyboard so nice. Battery life is pretty good too.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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wasabi2k

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Reply # 1201687 22-Dec-2014 00:42

MSI GE60 Apache Pro - $2300 from ComputerLounge.

The best price/performance you will get.

FKM

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Geek

Reply # 1201964 22-Dec-2014 12:19

I took a look and find this laptop: ASUS ROG 751JM-T7061H for roughly $2300.

Intel? CoreT i7 4710HQ Processor
Operating System

Windows 8.1
Chipset

Intel? HM87 Express Chipset
Memory

16GB DDR3L MHz SDRAM, up to 32 G
Display

17.3" 16:9 IPS FHD (1920x1080) anti-glare
Graphic

NVIDIA? GeForce? GTX860M with 2GB GDDR5
Storage

1TB HDD 7200 RPM With 256 G SSD
Optical Drive

Super-Multi DVD
Card Reader

2 -in-1 card reader ( SD/ MMC)
Camera

HD Web Camera
Networking

Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Built-in BluetoothT V4.0
10/100/1000/Gigabits Base T
Interface

1 x Microphone-in jack
2 x Headphone-out jack (SPDIF)
1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor
4 x USB 3.0 port(s)
1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
1 x HDMI
1 x Thunderbolt port
1 x SD card reader
1X AC adapter plug

The spec looks nice. The furthest I will take this is from my room to the living room so bulky is not that much of a problem for me - though I am so used to lying on the bed to use computer I cannot use a desktop anymore :)

The drawback of the alienware is it only has a 14 inch screen - why on earth Dell didn't make a 15 inch Alienware?

I did spend lots of time staring at the MSI GE60 Apache Pro and it looks really nice before I stumble across the ASUS above......

At least I know I am in the right direction....

Ragnor

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Reply # 1202091 22-Dec-2014 14:50

If you want 15" instead of 17" you can pre order the Asus G551 which is <$2000

15.6" (1920x1080), i7 4710HQ, 8GB, GTX860M 2GB
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?r=p&partid=23693

..with GTX850 4GB instead
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?partid=23680

.. with SSD
http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?partid=23679

Batman

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Reply # 1202139 22-Dec-2014 15:53

Go gtx 860 hands down

Stan

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Reply # 1202373 22-Dec-2014 23:28

If you wanted to go a tad cheaper this:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/notebooks/componentview.asp?partid=23752

Take out the HDD and replace it with this:

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?r=p&partid=21947

But yes a GTX860m with GDDR5 would be much faster :)

jonb

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Reply # 1202990 24-Dec-2014 00:55

This Gigabyte one at pbtech for $2300

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NBKGBM02721&utm_source=xmasfront&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Retail&utm_content=Xmas-Gift_19&qr=ec_Xmas-Gift_19

Stan

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Reply # 1203455 24-Dec-2014 22:22

This is better value with the boxing day deal:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NBKASU65858

Stan

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Reply # 1203456 24-Dec-2014 22:25

Also there are 2 versions of the GTX 860m one is running a Kepler core the other is maxwel I understand the maxwell version is 10% faster and produces less heat.

FKM

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Reply # 1203466 24-Dec-2014 22:55

Thanks. That's probably the best deal out there. Any laptop that go a class higher cost significantly more.

How can I tell if the Asus 751JM feature the maxwell or not?

Stan

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Reply # 1203487 24-Dec-2014 23:42

FKM: Thanks. That's probably the best deal out there. Any laptop that go a class higher cost significantly more.

How can I tell if the Asus 751JM feature the maxwell or not?

Going into pbtech and installing GPU-z on it :P

I am not sure if it is easy to tell other than that. One would assume that Asus would have put maxwell in this but might pay to double check with pbtech but either way its still a really good deal.