Looking for an Actual VR Ready Laptop

[Gorto]

I am starting to look into a more portable solution than lugging my desktop to friends houses when I want to bring my Vive over. So I am starting to research VR ready laptops. I know more on the desktop side, but am lost when it comes to laptops.

 

My budget is around $2000 USD, and the weight and size does not matter (as long as it smaller than a desktop, which hopefully is a given). I'd rather it look more like a regular laptop, but not at the cost of thermals. I will most likely only use it plugged in, so battery life is not as important.

 

From what I have seen a GTX 1080, RTX 2070 or 2080 (non Max-Q) is what I should be looking for, but most laptops that I've seen have the Max-Q variant. For VR I assume an I7 is a given. I'd like a full size DisplayPort, so I don't have to get a dongle. Thunderbolt 3, NVME storage, and an extra m.2 slot, and Windows Hello would all be nice to haves.

[Fasauceome]

28 minutes ago, Gorto said:

From what I have seen a GTX 1080, RTX 2070 or 2080 (non Max-Q) is what I should be looking for, but most laptops that I've seen have the Max-Q variant. For VR I assume an I7 is a given

A max-Q is just an underclocked variant, would still have serious horsepower.

 

Also a lot of i5 models resemble i7 models, some have just a 200MHz difference in clocks.

 

Regardless, at $2000 or less:

https://www.newegg.com/product/N82E16834234949?m_ver=1

This ROG Zephyrus is a strong contender. First and foremost, it's sleek and stylish, the slender chassis looks great. The i7 and 1080 would be downright overkill for VR.

 

https://www.newegg.com/product/9SIA57X9P07122?m_ver=1

step it up a few hundred dollars and you get a newer zephyrus model, with an even faster i7 and a 2070 which has similar performance to the 1080, as well as a higher refresh rate screen for non VR.

 

https://www.newegg.com/product/9SIA7AB9849522?m_ver=1

On the MSI side of things, you can go similar spec with a bigger chassis, and some different style.

 

unfortunately, full-size DisplayPort is extremely rare on laptops. However, you could just build a really tiny desktop.

[genexis_x]

58 minutes ago, Gorto said:

My budget is around $2000 USD

For your budget either get a 2070 laptop for under $1700 or increase budget to get 2080

 

Are you from US? Any preference on weight? Is TB3 a must?

[Kilrah]

59 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

However, you could just build a really tiny desktop.

Yup, an SFF desktop could be an option. That's exactly what I did  Using it for when I travel for work, for LANs at friends and for VR.

 

[Gorto]

35 minutes ago, genexis_x said:

For your budget either get a 2070 laptop for under $1700 or increase budget to get 2080

 

Are you from US? Any preference on weight? Is TB3 a must?

Yeah the 2070 seems to be a better price point. I am US based, with no weight preference, and Thunderbolt is not a must.

[Gorto]

22 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

Yup, an SFF desktop could be an option. That's exactly what I did  Using it for when I travel for work, for LANs at friends and for VR.

 

 

My current rig is an ITX build, which at one point was in a Node 202 case. My issue is the peripherals, and the grab and go factor. But I'd love to do a SFF build one day, but right now I would like to go for a Laptop.   

[genexis_x]

11 hours ago, Gorto said:

Yeah the 2070 seems to be a better price point. I am US based, with no weight preference, and Thunderbolt is not a must.

Just to comment on the recommendations above: GX501 has 1080MQ which is slower than 2070. GX502 has a full 2070MP GPU but runs hot, repaste+undervolt+max fans are musts. Also, Asus laptops don't have good QC+aftersales in general.

 

Since you don't have any preference on weight, avoid thin and light if possible.

 

With 2070 GPU:

Eluktronics Mech-17 G1R / G1RX

Clevo PB51RF-G, PB71RF-G (can get for cheap from Microcenter)

MSI GE65, GE75, GE63: MSI QC is also hit or miss like Asus, also build quality isn't that great considering its high price