Laptop for VR/Game Dev

[KamiKaze425]

Hey guys, 

 

New to the forums, but long time watcher of LMG channels. Nice to meet you

 

So for the longest time, I've been sort of anti-laptop. I would just get a custom desktop and use like a tablet or netbook for travel. But a few years back, I got a Macbook Pro Retina 2012 from work a while back (used to do mobile dev, and Apple's stupid requirements to build onto iOS). I stopped doing mobile dev and switched to Virtual Reality development, so the Macbook just became my travel laptop.

Welllll I accidentally spilled some coffee on it the other day, and the keyboard is trash now. I've been on the fence about buying a newer Windows laptop anyways, so I guess fate decided for me, haha. (It was showing signs of its age anyways)

 

So I would like to be able to do some work on the go, and also game a little when visiting family. Basic requirements:

1) Preferably 144/120hz. But 60 wouldn't be the end of the world. IPS. Resolution isn't as important. 1080p or 1440p. Don't need 4k (especially at that screen size)

2) Preferably a quad-core or better. hyper threading not necessary

3) Preferably a GTX 1070. Although a 1060 might not be bad if I'm only going 60hz

4) Max budget is $2500, but the lower the better. Probably aiming for ~$2000

5) I use Unity3D for VR dev

6) an SSD for the main drive. Preferably just a large SSD, but a secondary HDD is okay

7) I play games like Assassin's Creed, Monster Hunter World, Black Desert Online, and Overwatch.

8 ) 16GB of RAM or more

 

I've been looking at the Razer Blade 15 and the MSI GS65. But my research into the laptop world is fairly limited. So I don't know all the companies, or their pros/cons. Or if there are any features I should really be aiming for (Like how Linus is super pro Thunderbolt)

 

Any help would be great

Thanks!

[genexis_x]

Where are you from? Any preference on weight and battery life?

[KamiKaze425]

I'm in Arizona, USA.

I'd like a relatively light one, probably under 6 pounds. Battery life not quite as important. I would game or work with it plugged in. Just browsing the web or watching videos, maybe like 4 hours?

[genexis_x]

On 12/11/2018 at 12:34 AM, KamiKaze425 said:

under 6 pounds

Battery life 4 hours

1070:

Asus Zephyrus M GM501GS (thin) - poor battery life, otherwise great model

 

1060:

Eluktronics Mech-17 Pro-X (TongFang GK7CN6S)

Clevo PA71ES

HP Omen 15 dc customize - avoid default 60Hz IPS panel

MSI GE63/GP63 8RE

Asus GL504GM

Lenovo Legion Y530 customize - avoid 250 nits 45% NTSC IPS panel

 

Try to avoid thin and lights due to bad cooling