"Gaming" replacement of Surface Book ~$1300 USD

[LaboonTheWhale]

Hey guys I don't know shit about laptops and was looking for recommendations. I don't know what brands or models are good and only see linus posting Razer blade videos as results when i search on youtube. (That's recent) 

 

A family member wants my surfacebook so I need something to upgrade to. 

 

I have a main rig at home that'll do my VR and heavy lifting but when I go abroad I'd like to have a laptop that can play some games when i have some down time. 

 

Things i was looking for if possible: 

• 1080p high gaming 60hz w/ IPS 
• Touch screen (IF it doesn't exponentially increase the price)
• Not super thick. 

 

I guess that's pretty much it from what I can think of off the top of my head. 

[Pendragon]

with 1300 you're looking at a low end 1060 6gb at best. Something like the Eluktronics P650HP6 on sale.

 

I'd just recommend the Dell 7567 and tell you to save money. A 1050ti gets plenty of FPS at 1080p. The sacrifice to quality of life by moving it up to 1060 is too high. 

[The Sloth]

2 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

with 1300 you're looking at a low end 1060 6gb at best. Something like the Eluktronics P650HP6 on sale.

 

I'd just recommend the Dell 7567 and tell you to save money. A 1050ti gets plenty of FPS at 1080p. The sacrifice to quality of life by moving it up to 1060 is too high. 

 

specs are really good but the reviews seem to vary mixed https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8S159T9298

[Pendragon]

Just now, nerdslayer1 said:

specs are really good but the reviews seem to vary mixed https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8S159T9298

yea at that price...ehhh. not worth. could get it here for cheaper https://lpc-digital.com/product/sager-np8156-clevo-p650hp6-g/?ex=1 (use cash price).

 

eluktronics does sales that puts that model at $1250 and then it becomes a great deal. 

[Droidbot]

XPS15 from Dell Outlet imho would kick ass at this price point

[LaboonTheWhale]

1 minute ago, Droidbot said:

XPS15 from Dell Outlet imho would kick ass at this price point

Are they just refurbed in dell outlet? 

[RadiatingLight]

1 minute ago, Droidbot said:

XPS15 from Dell Outlet imho would kick ass at this price point

AFAIK that's a 1050 non-Ti, which is good enough for games today, but isn't really a serious gaming laptop. at least a 1050Ti, but ideally a 1060 makes a laptop a true gaming laptop to match a $1300 budget.

[Droidbot]

Just now, RadiatingLight said:

AFAIK that's a 1050 non-Ti, which is good enough for games today, but isn't really a serious gaming laptop. at least a 1050Ti, but ideally a 1060 makes a laptop a true gaming laptop to match a $1300 budget.

1050 non-Ti, yes. you sacrifice some power for nicer aesthetics, a nicer screen and usually a lighter weight. surface book screen is hi res so moving down to a low end 1060 6G laptop will be hard

[LaboonTheWhale]

Just doing some random googling... Opinions? https://www.amazon.com/FX502VM-AS73-15-6-inch-Gaming-7th-Gen-Windows/dp/B01N9QKYZ9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1493523843&sr=1-2&keywords=gaming+laptop+gtx+1060

[genexis_x]

https://www.amazon.com/Asus-GL702VM-i7-6700HQ-Nvidia-128GB/dp/B01M7Q3RPV/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493524181&sr=1-22&keywords=laptop+gtx+1060&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A2224371011

https://www.amazon.com/Asus-GL702VM-DB71-17-3-Inch-i7-6700HQ-7200RPM/dp/B01KB0W4R0/ref=sr_1_23?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493524181&sr=1-23&keywords=laptop+gtx+1060&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A2224371011

 https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-Gaming-GeForce-G9-593-72VT/dp/B01LD4MGSA/ref=sr_1_25?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493524181&sr=1-25&keywords=laptop+gtx+1060&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A2224371011  (too thick)

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-Nitro-GeForce-VN7-593G-73KV/dp/B01N35Z1DA/ref=sr_1_29?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1493524181&sr=1-29&keywords=laptop+gtx+1060&refinements=p_n_condition-type%3A2224371011

[genexis_x]

10 minutes ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

Just doing some random googling... Opinions? https://www.amazon.com/FX502VM-AS73-15-6-inch-Gaming-7th-Gen-Windows/dp/B01N9QKYZ9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1493523843&sr=1-2&keywords=gaming+laptop+gtx+1060

It has a TN panel. You're looking for IPS panel right?

[crzyces]

6 minutes ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

Just doing some random googling... Opinions? https://www.amazon.com/FX502VM-AS73-15-6-inch-Gaming-7th-Gen-Windows/dp/B01N9QKYZ9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1493523843&sr=1-2&keywords=gaming+laptop+gtx+1060

I was just posting that one . https://www.amazon.com/Asus-GL702VM-DB71-17-3-Inch-i7-6700HQ-7200RPM/dp/B01KB0W4R0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493524179&sr=8-2&keywords=Laptops+1060+6gb

 

Right at budget at $1285.

[LaboonTheWhale]

Just now, ZM Fong said:

It has a TN panel. You're looking for IPS panel right?

Oops good catch. 

[genexis_x]

9 minutes ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

Oops good catch. 

Actually, if you willing to turn down the settings a bit, laptop with 1050TI GPU will suit you. Dell 7567, Lenovo Y520, Acer VX15 are among the good choices.

[crzyces]

38 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

Actually, if you willing to turn down the settings a bit, laptop with 1050TI GPU will suit you. Dell 7567, Lenovo Y520, Acer VX15 are among the good choices.

I'd probably go with the 6gb 1060 knowing I could game on medium-ultra settings for the next few years and sacrifice some color depth. It is a tough call though, and depends on the games being played. If he's playing CSGO or CW then the 1060 won't matter, if he's going more gpu intense, well then obviously it will. Plenty of options for him, I'm sure he'll be pleased with his upgrade over the Surface regardless.

[LaboonTheWhale]

2 minutes ago, crzyces said:

I'd probably go with the 6gb 1060 knowing I could game on medium-ultra settings for the next few years and sacrifice some color depth. It is a tough call though, and depends on the games being played. If he's playing CSGO or CW then the 1060 won't matter, if he's going more gpu intense, well then obviously it will. Plenty of options for him, I'm sure he'll be pleased with his upgrade over the Surface regardless.

I probably should have specified what I would probably be playing. My main game i'll be playing is World of tanks. ( I know not GPU intensive) but I also love to play AAA titles. I also have my Vive so I could use this laptop as a backup VR PC If I bring it to a friends house or something. 

[crzyces]

1 minute ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

I probably should have specified what I would probably be playing. My main game i'll be playing is World of tanks. ( I know not GPU intensive) but I also love to play AAA titles. I also have my Vive so I could use this laptop as a backup VR PC If I bring it to a friends house or something. 

Then the 1060 6 gig it's going to have to be my friend. The 1060 I listed also has a 17.3", so that's a plus *shrugs*.

[LaboonTheWhale]

18 minutes ago, crzyces said:

Then the 1060 6 gig it's going to have to be my friend. The 1060 I listed also has a 17.3", so that's a plus *shrugs*.

No SSD is my only complaint  

 

Edit: Nvm found the SSD version lol, oof $300 more. nope 

[Pendragon]

17 minutes ago, crzyces said:

Then the 1060 6 gig it's going to have to be my friend. The 1060 I listed also has a 17.3", so that's a plus *shrugs*.

https://www.amazon.com/Eluktronics-P650RP6-Premium-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B01LYOTO9B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493528865&sr=8-1&keywords=p650rp6&th=1

 

much better than the GL702. There's a 17in version in the same link. Runs cool, as a MUX switch for extended battery life. Doesn't throttle. Better quality higher. I just hate the 6700HQ on both of them because 3.1ghz quad core 8 threads is a real bottleneck (in terms of clock speed) for intensive games. 

[crzyces]

4 minutes ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

No SSD is my only complaint  

 

Edit: Nvm found the SSD version lol 

Off topic. I've never owned a Surface book, but I watch these commercials with a female graphics/animator for Marvel, who has a commercial where she is editing scenes from the Dr. Strange movie. Looking at the specs, I find it difficult to believe her claims of doing much of her graphics work on said Surface Pro. This is just a marketing line of nonsense right?

[LaboonTheWhale]

Just now, crzyces said:

Off topic. I've never owned a Surface book, but I watch these commercials with a female graphics/animator for Marvel, who has a commercial where she is editing scenes from the Dr. Strange movie. Looking at the specs, I find it difficult to believe her claims of doing much of her graphics work on said Surface Pro. This is just a marketing line of nonsense right?

I mean if its the balls to the wall model w/ the Nvidia Performance base, I'd say its plausible. maybe not as good as a Dedicated Wacom setup and whatnot. but Marketing is marketing 

[crzyces]

4 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

https://www.amazon.com/Eluktronics-P650RP6-Premium-Gaming-Laptop/dp/B01LYOTO9B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493528865&sr=8-1&keywords=p650rp6&th=1

 

much better than the GL702. There's a 17in version in the same link. Runs cool, as a MUX switch for extended battery life. Doesn't throttle. Better quality higher. I just hate the 6700HQ on both of them because 3.1ghz quad core 8 threads is a real bottleneck (in terms of clock speed) for intensive games. 

They boost to 3.8 for gaming though, so it's not such a bottleneck on a 1060 6. Actually, it's probably the other way around. I like the ips screen.

[Pendragon]

4 minutes ago, crzyces said:

They boost to 3.8 for gaming though, so it's not such a bottleneck on a 1060 6. Actually, it's probably the other way around. I like the ips screen.

no. they dont. its 3.1 ghz 4 core turbo boost. so during intensive games like witcher 3 that utlize all 4 cores, its at 3.1ghz. which is shit. they also never even reach 3.8 ghz. 3.5ghz is max 4 core turbo boost.. where do you even get the 3.8ghz from.

 

Also search up benchmarks running the 1060 with varying clockspeeds. huge difference. yes its not as huge, but compared to a 4.2ghz CPU like my 6820HK, its pretty huge. 

[LaboonTheWhale]

2 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

no. they dont. its 3.1 ghz 4 core turbo boost. so during intensive games like witcher 3 that utlize all 4 cores, its at 3.1ghz. which is shit. they also never even reach 3.8 ghz. 3.5ghz. where do you even get the 3.8ghz from.

 

Also search up benchmarks running the 1060 with varying clockspeeds. huge difference. yes its not as huge, but compared to a 4.2ghz CPU like my 6820HK, its pretty huge. 

would the 7700 instead make that big of a difference in mobile? https://www.amazon.com/Latest-Eluktronics-P650HP6-Graphic-Design/dp/B01NBUWWWD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493529552&sr=8-1&keywords=Eluktronics%2Bi7-7700hq%2Bgtx%2B1060&th=1

[Pendragon]

Just now, LaboonTheWhale said:

would the 7700 instead make that big of a difference in mobile? https://www.amazon.com/Latest-Eluktronics-P650HP6-Graphic-Design/dp/B01NBUWWWD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493529552&sr=8-1&keywords=Eluktronics%2Bi7-7700hq%2Bgtx%2B1060&th=1

 

No because the 7700HQ is 6700HQ + 300mhz. It's a 3.4ghz 4 core turbo boost cpu. It's meh, better than the 6700HQ, but not by much. Also the laptop you linked often goes on sale for $1250. Only grab it on sale at that price if budget is what you're looking for. 

 

Otherwise the RP6 will be fine. You'll see maybe a 10-20% performance difference running a maxed out 4.2ghz 6820HK vs a 6700HQ. The 7700HQ is only maybe 3-5% better and not noticable.