Gaming Laptop Guide - UPDATED RTX Edition!

[Berk70]

On 2/24/2021 at 4:52 PM, Ba0 said:

Hi everyone !

 

I plan to buy a new gaming laptop and I would like to know if some of you have any recommandation ?

I don't really know the accurate price range conversion between Euro and USD but I think around 1,000 and 1,500 $

I actually have a Msi Leopard gp62 mvr 7rf that I upgraded with 8 GB of ram and a 2"5 1 To SSD so I would like to get a new laptop with a free 2"5 enclosure to keep my SSD if possible

 

Thanks a lot for those who will take the time to answer me !

Nobody answered this but the best thing is to get a sager clevo like computer since they offer best price performance

You have msi right now  and 1500 USD will get you at best RTX2070 and 10875H on msi

I assume you want 15" laptop since your is 15" right now

I have found this that offer great gpu but overbudget although with 3070 i would opt for thishttps://xoticpc.com/collections/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks/products/sager-np8752r-clevo-pc50dr?conf=353201

 

When asking for recommendations on laptops you need to specify size first and performance need on top of the budget

I am just commenting here since nobody did take it with grain of salt

[genexis_x]

8 hours ago, Berk70 said:

since they offer best price performance

Not anymore.

[mt123]

On 2/1/2017 at 2:50 PM, Galm said:

 

The RTX Gaming Laptop Guide

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Other Guides:  Computer Parts | Reseller Guide

 

So this time around I'm dividing by graphics card.  That's because the prices this gen are all over the place and in general don't fit any nice cut off points like under 1500...  Unfortunately for RTX you'll be paying more than that.  Note that until I reach the portables section these laptops are more focused on performance and non max q components.

 

Categories:

RTX 2060 Machines

RTX 2070 Machines

RTX 2080 Machine

No Limit

Portables

 

IMPORTANT: Links are to view the product.  It doesn't mean that's where you should buy from.

 

BE CAREFUL TO AVOID 1x16GB ram stick.  You'll take a significant performance hit this gen with single channel RAM.

 

BASE PRICE: Generally what I'd consider a starting config price range.  Should be about 16GB of ram and either an ssd + hdd or larger sized ssd.  I try and make it a "base" useful config.  A config with 8GB of ram for gaming is fairly useless.

 

 

Owner's lounges (where actual owners of the models discuss their machines) will be linked, though not everything has an owners lounge.

 

 

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RTX 2060 Machines:

 

This is where stuff starts getting good.  Now we have some serious gaming horsepower coming into the mix, with the RTX 2060 present in all recommendations.  Anything less is not a smart use of money for a gaming machine in this price range.  Quality also increases here.

 

Sager NP8961/Clevo P960ED (17" version here)  - One of the new 16.1" models this machine has a similar footprint to 15" laptops with larger bezels.  Overall a thinner unit but also competitively priced.  Cooling not yet known.

 

Base Price: $1470

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 (1 SATA/PCIE, 1PCIE) || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 16.1" 144Hz WVA FHD               |               Battery: 51WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI 2.0 || 1 mDP 1.2 || 2 USB Type C (1 DP capable) || 2 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack

Dimensions: 14.96” (w) x 9.92” (d) x 0.78” (h) 

Other: 180W adapter || 4.6 pounds barebones || RGB keyboard (zone lit) || fingerprint sensor in the touchpad || 6 in 1 card reader

 

(Owner's lounge here)

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MSI GL63 - MSI's entry level gaming laptops for RTX these laptops lack some of the bells and whistles of the more premium series above it like the GP and GE series.  Worse displays, no RGB, worse speakers, smaller battery etc...  

 

Base Price: $1600

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 120Hz FHD              |               Battery: 51WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C || 3 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || mic jack || headset jack

Dimensions: 15.07" (w) x 10.23" (d) x 1.16" (h)

Other: 180W adapter || 4.8 pounds

 

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MSI GE63 Raider - MSI's mid level gaming laptops for RTX these laptops are share the same chassis as the GL and GP series but come with all the features the chassis can offer:  

 

Base Price: $1749

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 120Hz FHD              |               Battery: 65WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C || 3 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || mic jack || headset jack

Dimensions: 15.07" (w) x 10.23" (d) x 1.16" (h)

Other: 180W adapter || 5.49 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofers || spdif with Sabre dac || sd card reader

 

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Lenovo Y740 -Lenovos new 2060 offering provides solid performance at a solid price:  

 

Base Price: $1500 (256GB ssd)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD              |               Battery: 57WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || NOVO hole (for system recovery)

Dimensions: 14.2” x 10.5” x 0.88”

Other: 230W adapter || 5.1 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofers

 

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Aorus 15 W9 - Aorus's new chassis at a more afforable price than their X5 X7 type chassis designs.  

 

Base Price: $1800 (includes a lot of storage)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1M.2 SATA/PCIE || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD IPS             |               Battery: 62WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 (DP capable) || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || mini sd card reader

Dimensions: 14.21(W) x 9.68(D) x 0.96(H) inch

Other: 180W adapter || 5.29 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone)

 

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Tongfang GK5CP0Z - This TongFang chassis is most well known in the United States as the Walmart OP15+ and Eluktronics Mech 15 G2 units though it is also sold under other names.  It's generally an excellent value and known well performing laptop that can properly hold both cpu and gpu clocks.

 

Base Price: $1500+ (includes a lot of storage)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA that's filled with the better battery

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD IPS             |               Battery: 62WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 2 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 2 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack || 4 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 14.13" x 9.29" x 0.86"

Other: 150W adapter || 4.4+ pounds || RGB keyboard

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Asus GL504 - Asus's current entry level into RTX laptops.  Features an aggressive gaming design with a light bar in front and slim bezels.  Has a signature slanted black brushed finish.

 

Base Price: $1800

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level"             |               Battery: 66WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || sd card reader

Dimensions: 14.21(W) x 10.31(D) x 1.00 ~ 1.03(H)

Other: 180W adapter || 5.29 pounds || RGB keyboard (Zone)

 

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MSI GS65 - MSI's premium thin option.  Black and gold color scheme with a better and larger trackpad that last gen.  

 

Base Price: $2100 (Cheap vs the 2080  )

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD WVA            |               Battery: 82WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || mic jack || spdif sabre dac

Dimensions: 0.71 (H) x 14.09 (W) x 9.76 (D) in

Other: 180W adapter || 4.07 pounds || RGB keyboard || glass touchpad

 

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AW M15 2060 - AWs first thin laptop in...  Pretty much ever.  Sports an all new design with a well under an inch chassis.

 

Base Price: $1900 (more expensive than it looks for good specs)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie

Display: 15.6" FHD 60Hz IPS || FHD 144Hz IPS || UHD 60Hz IPS            |               Battery: 60WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || 1 AGA || Ethernet || headset jack

Dimensions: 14.3(W) x 10.8(D) x ~0.7-0.83(H) inch

Other: 180W adapter || 5.78 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone)

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Clevo P750TM1-G - Clevo's big boy 15".  This is a 15" machine with a desktop cpu and modular components.  Typically a more powerful more enthusiast machine.  HIDevolution is linked because they offer an unlocked bios and cooling mods to tame this beast's thermals.  Can be equipped with a 2060-2080.

 

Base Price: $1900+ (will be more properly specced)

CPU: i5 9600k - i9 9900k(!)               |                GPU: RTX 2060MP

Ram Slots: 4(!)                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 sata/pcie || 2 2.5" sata (4 total!)

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level" GSync            |               Battery: 90WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack || 6 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 15.2"(W) x 10.32"(D) x 1.5"(H)

Other: 330W adapter || 7.5 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone) ||  Sabre dac

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RTX  2070 Machines:

2070 laptops are actually not all that common without max q design in 15" chassis's.  But as long as the cooling permits these will be fast machines offering performance close to a max q 2080.  

 

Aorus 15 X9 - Aorus's new chassis at a more afforable price than their X5 X7 type chassis designs.  Almost identical to its 2060 brother besides price and the 2070.

 

Base Price: $2100 (includes a lot of storage)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1M.2 SATA/PCIE || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD IPS             |               Battery: 62WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 (DP capable) || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || mini sd card reader

Dimensions: 14.21(W) x 9.68(D) x 0.96(H) inch

Other: 230W adapter || 5.29 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone)

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Clevo PB51EF-G - A new chassis design from Clevo.  The spiritual successor to the Clevo P650 series models.

 

Base Price: $1820 (for a 256GB ssd + 1TB HDD with 16GB ram)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 (1 SATA/PCIE, 1PCIE) || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 144Hz WVA FHD               |               Battery: 62WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI 2.0 || 1 mDP 1.2 || 2 USB Type C (1 DP capable, 1 TB III) || 2 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack

Dimensions: 14.13” (w) x 10.15” (d) x 1.18” (h)

Other: 230W adapter || 5.8 pounds barebones || RGB keyboard || fingerprint sensor in the touchpad || 6 in 1 card reader

 

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Tongfang GK7CP7S - This 17" TongFang chassis is like it's 15" brother mostly known for the Walmart OP17+ and Eluktronics Mech 17 G1R models in the U.S.  Like it's 15" brother it can also handle its hardware at a hard to beat price

 

Base Price: $1800

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA (taken by larger battery)

Display: 17.3" 144Hz IPS FHD               |               Battery: 62WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI 2.0 || 2 mDP 1.4 || 1 USB Type C  || 2 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack || 4 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 15.5" x 10.25 x 1"

Other: 180W adapter || 5.25+ pounds barebones || RGB keyboard

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Asus GL504 - Asus's current entry level into RTX laptops.  Features an aggressive gaming design with a light bar in front and slim bezels.  Has a signature slanted black brushed finish.  This one obviously sports a 2070MP.

 

Base Price: $2000 (500gb ssd 16GB ram)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level"             |               Battery: 66WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || sd card reader

Dimensions: 14.21(W) x 10.31(D) x 1.00 ~ 1.03(H)

Other: 230W adapter || 5.29 pounds || RGB keyboard (Zone)

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MSI GE63 Raider - MSI's mid level gaming laptops for RTX these laptops are share the same chassis as the GL and GP series but come with all the features the chassis can offer:  

 

Base Price: $2200

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 15.6" 120Hz FHD              |               Battery: 65WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C || 3 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || mic jack || headset jack

Dimensions: 15.07" (w) x 10.23" (d) x 1.16" (h)

Other: 280W adapter || 5.49 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofers || spdif with Sabre dac || sd card reader

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MSI GT63 Titan - MSI's 15" serious gaming laptop.  Larger chassis design for prioritizing performance over any other 15" model they make this is the big boy.

 

Base Price: $2500

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 4(!)                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level"             |               Battery: 90WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 3 USB 3.1 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || quad audio ports including spdif || 3 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 15.35"(w) x 10.47"(d) x 1.56"(h)

Other: 330W adapter || 6.84 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofer

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Clevo P750TM1-G - Clevo's big boy 15".  This is a 15" machine with a desktop cpu and modular components.  Typically a more powerful more enthusiast machine.  HIDevolution is linked because they offer an unlocked bios and cooling mods to tame this beast's thermals.  Can be equipped with a 2060-2080.

 

Base Price: $2150+ (will be more properly specced)

CPU: i5 9600k - i9 9900k(!)               |                GPU: RTX 2070MP

Ram Slots: 4(!)                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 sata/pcie || 2 2.5" sata (4 total!)

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level" GSync            |               Battery: 90WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack || 6 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 15.2"(W) x 10.32"(D) x 1.5"(H)

Other: 330W adapter || 7.5 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone) ||  Sabre dac

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RTX 2080 and up:

 

Clevo P750TM1-G - Clevo's big boy 15".  This is a 15" machine with a desktop cpu and modular components.  Typically a more powerful more enthusiast machine.  HIDevolution is linked because they offer an unlocked bios and cooling mods to tame this beast's thermals.  Can be equipped with a 2060-2080.

 

Base Price: $2550+ (will be more properly specced)

CPU: i5 9600k - i9 9900k(!)               |                GPU: RTX 2080MP

Ram Slots: 4(!)                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 sata/pcie || 2 2.5" sata (4 total!)

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level" GSync            |               Battery: 90WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.0 || 1 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack || 6 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 15.2"(W) x 10.32"(D) x 1.5"(H)

Other: 330W adapter || 7.5 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone) ||  Sabre dac

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Asus G703 - Asus's current entry level into RTX laptops.  Features an aggressive gaming design with a light bar in front and slim bezels.  Has a signature slanted black brushed finish.  This one obviously sports a 2070MP.

 

Base Price: $3000

CPU: i7 8750H (i9 available)               |                GPU: RTX 2080MP

Ram Slots: 4                |               Storage Slots: 3 M.2 pcie (1 is sata) || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 17.3" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level"             |               Battery: 96WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C 3.1 || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || mic jack || sd card reader

Dimensions: 16.7"(W) x 12.6"(D) x 2.0"(H)

Other: 2X 280W adapter || 10.4 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofers

 

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Alienware Area-51M - Alienwares new shot at the top.  A Clevo matching desktop cpu and 200W power limit 2080 means on paper this is the most powerful laptop of this generation.  Note this laptop has been recalled for thermal issues causing failures.

 

Base Price: $3050+ (bad stock storage)

CPU: i7 9700k - i9 9900k(!)               |                GPU: RTX 2080MP

Ram Slots: 4                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 pcie (1 is sata too) || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 17.3" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level" Gsync Tobii Eye Tracking             |               Battery: 90WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 AGA || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || headset jack || headphone jack

Dimensions: 16.10(W) x 15.85(D) x 1.09(H) inch (thicker than this)

Other: 180W + 330W adapter || 9.7 pounds barebone || RGB keyboard

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MSI GT75 Titan - MSI's 15" serious gaming laptop.  Larger chassis design for prioritizing performance over any other 15" model they make this is the big boy.

 

Base Price: $3400

CPU: i7 8750H (i9 available)                |                GPU: RTX 2080MP

Ram Slots: 4(!)                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie || 2 M.2 sata/pcie || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD "IPS-level"             |               Battery: 75WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 USB Type C TB III || 5(!) USB 3.1 || Ethernet || quad audio ports including spdif || 3 in 1 card reader

Dimensions: 16.85"(W) x 12.36"(D) x 1.22-2.28"(H)

Other: 2x 230W adapter || 10.05 pounds || RGB keyboard || subwoofer

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Max-Q RTX Thin Laptops:

 

No budget but you need it to be thin and portable?  Look here:

 

Note that these machines have Max-Q gpus which means crippled performance.  If you want better value most of these laptops will have a 2060 non max q option which should be a better bang for your buck.  This is especially true of 2070 max q units which barely beat a 2060.

 

MSI GS65 - MSI's premium thin option.  Black and gold color scheme with a better and larger trackpad that last gen.  

 

Base Price: $2800

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2080 Max-Q

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 pcie

Display: 15.6" 144Hz FHD WVA            |               Battery: 82WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack || mic jack || spdif sabre dac

Dimensions: 0.71 (H) x 14.09 (W) x 9.76 (D) in

Other: 230W adapter || 4.07 pounds || RGB keyboard || glass touchpad

 

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Alienware M15 - Alienware's first real forray into a thin unit.

 

Base Price: $2600 (bad default storage) 

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2080 Max-Q

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 sata/pcie || 1 M.2 pcie || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 15.6" 60Hz IPS || 144Hz FHD IPS || UHD IPS          |               Battery: 60WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 AGA || 1 USB C TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || Ethernet || headset jack

Dimensions: 14.3(W) x 10.8(D) x ~0.7-0.83(H)

Other: 230W adapter || 4.78 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone)

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Asus Zephyrus S - Zephyrus is Asus's thin line.  To try and get better thermals the keyboard is in an unusual spot.  The trackpads also double as numpads.

 

Base Price: $3000 

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2080 Max-Q

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 sata/pcie

Display: 15.6" 60Hz IPS || 144Hz FHD IPS || UHD IPS          |               Battery: 60WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 2 USB C || 1 USB 3.1 || 2 USB 2.0 || Ethernet || headset jack

Dimensions: 14.17(W) x 10.55(D) x 0.60 ~ 0.63(H)

Other: 230W adapter || 4.63 pounds || RGB keyboard (zone)

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Razer Blade 15 - Razer's mainstay gaming laptop...  Thin and sexy, not known for quality control however.  

 

Base Price: $2400 (2070) $3000 (2080)

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2080 Max-Q

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 1 M.2 sata/pcie || 1 2.5" sata

Display: 144Hz FHD IPS-Level       |               Battery: 80WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI || 1 mDP || 1 TB III || 3 USB 3.1 || headset jack

Dimensions: 0.70" x 9.25" x 13.98"

Other: 230W adapter || 4.63 pounds || RGB keyboard

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Clevo P960EN - Clevo's 16.1" thin and light with a Max Q 2080

 

Base Price: $2220

CPU: i7 8750H                |                GPU: RTX 2080 Max-Q

Ram Slots: 2                |               Storage Slots: 2 M.2 (1 SATA/PCIE, 1PCIE) || 1 2.5" SATA

Display: 16.1" 144Hz WVA FHD               |               Battery: 51WHR      

Ports: 1 HDMI 2.0 || 1 mDP 1.2 || 2 USB Type C (1 DP capable) || 2 USB 3.0 || Ethernet || headphone jack || mic jack

Dimensions: 14.96” (w) x 9.92” (d) x 0.78” (h) 

Other: 180W(!) adapter || 4.6 pounds barebones || RGB keyboard (zone lit) || fingerprint sensor in the touchpad || 6 in 1 card reader

 

(Owner's lounge here)

 

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Well there you have it.  That's my current guide to gaming laptops.  It will be updated as more stuff comes out most likely.

 

For Clevo laptops I'd recommend a Prema partner like HIDEvolution in the U.S.  If they cost too much find a cheaper option like LPC-Digital (Larry is awesome there), GentechPC, XoticPC, or Eurocom.

 

HID, GenTechPC, and Xotic are also good for other brands as they sell a ton.  HID is the only reseller I'm aware of with Razer though.

 

There are of course other gaming laptops that could be right for you, but in general these are the best of the best machines out there.

 

Good luck shopping!

--------------------------------

For context of OLD comments from page 1-18, here's the original guide:

  Reveal hidden contents

Hi guys, I thought I'd post my guide from the notebookreview forums here.  I'm new here, but not there.  I figured it could be of use here.  Feel free to leave feedback as usual!

 

Other Guides: Build Quality/Quality Control  |  Computer Parts | Reseller Guide

 

IMPORTANT: Note that links are to view the product.  With Kaby Lake partially rolled out from different brands links could still be to a Skylake model.  Please ask or check if your using the links in this guide to buy.

 

ALSO: Kaby Lake is a very very small improvement over Skylake.  If you can find a Skylake model of a laptop here for cheaper it is worth getting!

 

PSA: MSI 16L13 is now a GTX 1080 option for 15" users!  Price to match though...  3K+

 

Hey guys!  I thought I'd post my guide to buying a gaming laptop to fit your needs, since I see a lot of the same questions over and over again.  If it helps, or you have feedback, I'd love to hear it!

 

Pascal gpus are here, and they make a big difference.  So if gaming is what your going for I'd strongly suggest saving for at least a  GTX1060.  They seriously crush the Maxwell series of cards.

 

Categories:

Under $1000

Under $1500

Under $2000

Under $3000

No Limit

Portables

 

Links to buy, and to owner's lounges (where actual owners of the models discuss their machines) will be linked, though not everything has an owners lounge.

 

SALES:

GT62VR with 1060 for 1200:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834154292

 

MicroCenter has (in store only) the Acer Predator G9-793-78CM 17-inch gaming notebook for $1399 + tax. This is a markdown of $600 from the previous retail price. It comes with an i7 6700HQ CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 8 GB GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, 2x128 GB SSD in RAID-0, 1 TB spinning hard drive, 1080p 75 Hz G-Sync compatible built-in display, and Windows 10 Home.
(S/O to saturnotaku at NBR )

 

(Please feel free to alert me of any good deals!)

 

Acer Predator 17 with a GTX 1080 for 1999!

http://www.microcenter.com/product/475582/Predator_17_GX-792-7448_173_Gaming_Laptop_Computer_-_Black

That being said lets go look at  some categories!

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1000 and under:

 

These are the budget machines that will game, but you'll be making sacrifices on build quality, screen quality, performance, storage options etc...

 

HP Pavilion 15T - Cheapest 1050 laptop on the market.  Base config sports a quad core i5, 8GB of ram, and a 1TB hdd.  Has room for an additional pcie ssd for extra speed and up to 16GB of ram.  Has a nice IPS panel. 

 

Dell Inspiron 7567 - Another good budget option.  Packs a 1050 (or 1050 Ti), a quad core i5/i7, and a 256GB ssd makes this a great value laptop for gaming on a budget!  It's build quality is acceptable, but worse than many of the more expensive options out there.  TN panel is poor though...

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Sager NP6852/Clevo N850HK1 - You'll be making a bigger sacrifice on build quality on this one, but the i7 7700HQ cpu is a more powerful alternative the i5 that comes with the Dell.  It's also easier to customize your storage and ram than the limited amazon Inspiron configs, letting you put whatever drives you want inside.  It also has 3 USB ports (1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0) and a USB 3.1 type C, which is pretty nice in this price range.  This is the choice I would go with if you really need a customized storage or ram config for cheap, otherwise the MSI below is probably a better option.  IPS panel.

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MSI GL62 - A solid budget choice from MSI.  Build quality is acceptable, but not great.  The specs however are quite good.  The 12GB of included ram for this configuration is honestly a very nice amount for current gaming, and it packs an i7 7700hq and 1050 plus a small ssd to make boot times quick along with a more standard 1TB hard drive.  This one also sports a USB 3.1 Type C USB port.  IPS Panel.

 

Those are the three main options I would consider right now.  Asus, Acer, HP, and Lenovo offerings in this price range are not very impressive, with very few clear advantages over the ones above.  As large mostly nongaming companies I really find the quality of their cheap options severely lacking.  The Dell and MSI offerings are pretty superior in comparison.  Though if you can find any of them sporting a 960m for under 800 paired with an i7, they could be worth considering.

 

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1500 and under:

 

This is where stuff starts getting good.  Now we have some serious gaming horsepower coming into the mix, with the GTX 1060 present in all recommendations.  Anything less is not a smart use of money for a gaming machine in this price range.  Quality also increases here.

 

Sager NP8156/Clevo P650HP6 (17" version here)  - Once you get to the Clevo P series machines, overall quality takes a jump up.  The P650 chassis is very well built being all metal, except for the lid, which is the weakest point of the machine.  The machine is well cooled, well built, and has some impressive customization options.  It sports 2 m.2 drives (1 pcie) and 2 2.5" bays for up to 4 physical drives, along with 4 ram slots (up to 64GB).  It also comes with a GSync display.  It starts at $1330 right now from a good reseller, and the NP8152-S loadout (16GB of RAM + 256GB ssd), is really a solid overall customization at $1430.  Sports 2 USB type C 3.1 ports.  RGB keyboard present.  (Owner's lounge here)

 

I would avoid the NP8151, the garbage TN panel is not worth it.  Pay the extra 50 bucks for an IPS GSync.

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Asus GL502VM - A very solid offering from Asus with a competitive price.  Sports a 7700hq, 1060, and 16GB of ram along with a 1TB HDD.  I would recommend getting an ssd either through the reseller of your choice, or on your own.  Build quality is good, and it isn't plagued with issues like some Asus machines of the past.  Compared to the Clevo this one is thinner, lighter, and quieter, but offers less flexibility (only 2 drives and 2 ram slots), is a little worse cooled, and has a very difference aesthetic.  Has GSync and a red backlit keyboard.  (Owner's lounge here)

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MSI GT62VR - Another very solid option.  This is the "high end" option at this price level.  It sports a larger (but better built) chassis that does a superior job cooling its 7700hq and 1060 than the two above.  It has only 2 drive slots, but 4 ram slots, and has far superior audio than the two above.  It's speakers include a dedicated subwoofer, with impressive oomph.  Of course, it also has a GSync display.  RGB keyboard present.  (Owner's lounge here)

 

Again, no other options I consider to be better than the 3 posted here.  The MSI GE62 is a notable option missing.  I would strongly recommend looking at the Clevo or Asus instead as they are better built and better value options.  If you can find an AW machine in this price range with a 1060 and a 6700HQ (not 6820HK see below with AW 15) than go for it!  Remember don't buy unreviewed machines!  Machines like the Gigabyte P55W aren't necessarily bad, but don't have any advantages that are notable over the above.  If you need portable look at the MSI GS43VR.  (Owner's lounger here)

 

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2000 and under:

 

Probably my favorite category, the machines in this price range all sport mighty 1070 gpus.  Build quality is still very solid, and higher end cpus and displays become a bit more common.  Desktop cpus also start here.

Sager NP8157/Clevo P650HS (17" version here) - Full diclosure I own this one.  It's a pretty great value machine starting at 1600 with a 1070.  Options are fully open here.  You can get a 4K GSync display, overclockable 7820hk cpu, there are 4 ram slots, and 4 storage slots like the P650RP6.  It also has a SABRE DAC which is an advantage over it's little brother.  This one is also thinner than the Asus GL502VS which sports a 1070 (1.1" vs 1.2").  Clevo also has access to a lot of resellers, and thermal pastes and the Prema bios mod are available options (with the [USER=109539]@Prema[/USER] bios being a unique bios for Clevo's).  It's a lean mean customizable machine.  RGB keyboard present.  (Owner's lounger here)

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MSI GT62VR (GT72VR 17")- Huh this seems like a pretty similar list to the 1500 and under...  Well that's because these chassis's are all really good.  Same deal on this laptop as the 1060 category.  I will add though that besides now sporting a 1070, the GT62VR is an MXM-B laptop, meaning it is possible though not guaranteed, to be able to upgrade it down the line.  RGB keyboard is present.  (Owner's Lounge here)

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MSI 16L13 - This is an MSI GT62 barebones machine with one MAJOR difference.  It sports a full desktop cpu!  It also sports a thunderbolt III port.  I'm listing this seperately because not everyone needs a desktop cpu, and it comes with a bit of a premium.  But this is a cool new option on the market.  It also is the only 15" on the market with a GTX 1080!  Sold by Eurocom and CyberPowerPC currently.  (Owner's lounge here)

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Sager NP9153/Clevo P750DM3 - This is Clevo's offering with a desktop cpu.  Again like the MSI barebones, both the cpu and gpu are changeable.  Includes 4 storage options, 4 ram slots, and a SABRE DAC for audio.  Will support the Prema bios, and again has an RGB keyboard.  Buid quality is good, though not quite as good as say the GT62.  (Owner's lounge here)

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Alienware 15 R3* (Power Users Only) - I put an asterisk on this one because there are a bunch of qualifications for this guy.  First off, be very careful with cpu temps.  A known issue is uneven pressure from the heatplate on the cpu causing uneven temps (often one core is very hot).  You'll need to be willing to rma or pop it open yourself.  The only reason it even gets a recommendation is besides that it's great.  Read up on the issue and solutions here.  Update: Kaby Lake AW machines should be ok.  Also...  Stock pricing is awful.  Don't buy an Alienware without a discount coupon.  Go over to the Alienware subforum to ask about how to do that, it isn't very hard, I doubt many of the veteran AW users there are paying stock prices.  Besides that...  It's pretty awesome.  Build quality is easily the best of the bunch, and the screen is great.  2 ram slots, one PCIe M.2, and one 2.5" bay.  Has some pretty crazy Alienware FX lighting if that's your thing as well.  Noticeably thinner than the old stuff.  Decent battery life as well which is a rarity.

 

These are the kings for performance in this range.  Other options are worth looking at, but not when looking for value for the money.  That will come later.  Asus models are not present because they have had some quality control issues.  They may be less frequent now, but they provide very little other benefits over the options above with one exception and that's noise.  If you need portable look at the MSI GS63VR/GS73VR  (Owner's lounger here)

 

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3000 and under:

 

You'll notice I skipped 2500.  There isn't much worth buying, except you can cram a P775DM into that budget if you really try.  You won't get much real noticeable performance increases until you hit a 1080.

 

Here your looking at options with impressive displays, lots of power, and usually the GTX 1080.

 

Clevo P775DM - Linked to HID on this one because they offer the 1440p 120Hz display.  This has a desktop cpu, and can even support a GTX 1080 desktop card barely within budget.  The smart play here is an i5 6600k desktop cpu with a 1080 and 1440p 120Hz display.  4 storage drives, 4 ram drives, huh looks like Clevo keeps winning in those two categories...  (Owner's lounge here)

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MSI GT73VR - 120Hz 1080p display, and finally more storage options makes this a solid MSI machine.  Though the cpu is still mobile it supports 4 storage drives, and 4 ram slots.  Importantly, it can either take a 1080, or 1070 sli.  Though 1070 sli is way over 3000 it is something you could consider doing down the line.  (Owner's lounge here)

 

...Where is everything else??  Well this is a weird price range.  Not much else is even here unfortunately...

Alienware will probably join soon with the 17 and its 1440p 120 Hz display.

 

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No Limit:

 

The end all category.  Performance here is far better than all but the highest end desktops (Pretty much just Titian XP sli at this point) and build quality is never a real worry.  Let's get into it!

 

Clevo P870KM - Where is the Sager variant you ask?  Not here.  If your spending thousands and thousands you should be getting the [USER=109539]@Prema[/USER] bios (Sager doesn't offer it).  You should also probably go with a reseller that will delid the cpu like the one I linked to help lower temps.  This thing is a beast.  A desktop cpu is supported by 2 GTX 1080s in sli, and a 1440p 120Hz GSync display.  That's living the dream right there.  However, the 4K GSync display is actually a valid option as 1080 SLI will max nearly everything at that resolution.  4 ram slots, 4 storage slots, 2 thunderbolt III ports and 5 more USB ports give this thing a crazy amount of power and flexibility.  This is the true desktop replacement king with basically no mobile parts.  Of course it also has SABRE audio and an RGB keyboard.  Literally everything can be changed.  (Owner's lounge here)

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MSI GT83VR - 1080 sli, 7920hq cpu, and oh yeah a mechanical keyboard.  Technically a weaker cpu than the Clevo, this thing is still a beast.  4 drives, 4 ram slots, and an 18" display.  Quite a beast.  SABRE audio is present, along with impressive speakers for a laptop.  Cherry MX switches are on the keyboard.  Thunderbolt III is present but GSync ISNT.  Very very odd at this price range.  (Owner's lounge here)

 

Upcoming - Asus GX800 watercooled, and Acer 21X Predator with ultrawide display.

 

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Portable:

 

No budget but you need it to be thin and portable?  Look here:

 

The New Razer Blade - The Razer Blade is a .71" 1060 equipped laptop that's 4.1 lbs.  This thing is thin and powerful.  It also looks sexy as hell, and feels just as good as a Macbook Pro with very impressive build quality.  Your paying quite a premium for it though.  It is not well cooled and will throttle (perhaps heavily) under load.  Razer support is also awful which is why I linked to HIDEvolution's site, as they'll protect you from Razer's awfulness.  (Also check out the Microsoft Store)  Of note is the awesome Razer Chroma keyboard with individual backlighting, and the thunderbolt III support for the Razer Core eGPU.  No upgrade-able ram, and 1 drive slot are also large negatives.  (Owner's lounger here)

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Gigabyte P35X V6 - The thinnest 15" 1070 laptop out there at .81" and 5.3lbs  Almost stupid thin this thing will definitely throttle, but if you need a 1070 this is the thinnest option out there easily.  Build quality is alright, not fantastic.  3 storage bays and 2 ram slots.  4K display available.  (Owner's lounger here)

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Gigabyte Aero 15 - Kicking the Aorus X3 off the throne until it can get its screen updated, the Gigagbyte Aero 15 is one of the new kings of portables. Picture a black XPS 15, but with a 1060. A 15" machine in a 14" chassis. i7 7700HQ, GTX 1060, 2 m.2 slots, and 2 ram slots. This thing is a pretty machine. Performs pretty well too. Build quality isn't up to the XPS, but it's still more than good enough. This is quite the compelling option if you've got the funds. RGB keyboard included with individual lighting too. For now Newegg seems to have the best pricing at 1900 with a 500GB ssd. (Owner's lounge here)

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Aorus X5 - 15" laptop with a 1070 and 6820hk.  .9" thick and 5.5lbs.  A whooping 3 nvme drives are present plus a normal hard drive bay + 4 ram slots.  Build quality is solid.  Has an RGB Fusion keyboard for individual backlighting.  Also won't throttle as bad as the Gigabyte P35X.  Weirdest screen resolution of all time at 2880x1620.  I would recommend the 120Hz option instead, the 1620p one has PWM.  (Owner's lounge here)

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Aorus X7 - A 17" laptop at .9" thick at 7 lbs.  Equipped with a 6820hk and up to a GTX 1080 (though that's the DT variant not yet thermal tested).  1440p 120Hz display is another awesome spec on this bad boy.  Build quality is solid.  Same drives available as the X5 and 4 ram slots.  This is easily the thinnest GTX 1080 laptop out, its not even close.  Also has an RGB Fusion keyboard.  (Owner's lounge here)

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Clevo P950HP6 - .73" thick and housing a 1060 this is a great new portable option from Clevo. 2 ram slots, and 1 m.2 + 1 sata slot give it decent option while staying thin. Cooling is solid as well as build quality. RGB keyboard and a reasonable price.

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(WARNING: AW has been having heat issues.  This is a risk)

Alienware 13 - The new king of real 13" laptops (Aorus X3 is barely 13").  It has a quad core cpu now, GTX 1060 , and a 1440p OLED display!  I really recommend upgrading to that display because it's a rare awesome option.  2 ram slots, and 2 m.2 bays are a bit limited (it literally can't take an HDD) and the price competes with the Razer Blade when specced out.  RGB keyboard, RGB trackpad, RGB everything.  Built like a tank.  This is a great small option, though it is deceptively heavy.

 

There are other more budget thin laptops like the MSI GS series I have mentioned in cheaper categories, but these are the best if money is no object.  Note the P37X is .01 inches thinner than the Aorus X7, so its really not better at all unless you want to save...  Well like a grand...  So its worth considering if budget is tight and you want a 1070 at 17".  Will run warm.

 

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Well there you have it.  That's my current guide to gaming laptops.  It will be updated as more stuff comes out most likely.

 

For Clevo laptops I'd recommend a Prema partner like HIDEvolution in the U.S.  If they cost too much find a cheaper option like LPC-Ditigal (Larry is awesome there) or Prostar, XoticPC, or Eurocom.

 

HID, Prostar, and Xotic are also good for other brands as they sell a ton.  HID is the only reseller I'm aware of with Razer though.

 

There are of course other gaming laptops that could be right for you, but in general these are the best of the best machines out there.

 

I have tried nearly all of my recommendations in person (plus the not recommendable).  I make some assumptions based on reviews of the machines and if it's just a screen variant (i.e. the P670 is similar to the P650).  Notable exceptions are I have not tried a Eurocom Tornado, Aorus X3/X7, MSI GT83VR, or Clevo P775DM.

 

Good luck shopping!

Would you recommend a 2060 Max-Q equipped Dell XPS 17 for moderate gaming [to handle AAA games (Resident Evil 8, Doom Eternal, Minecraft) at 1080p, 60 fps)? I was mainly interested in the XPS because I want an all-rounder laptop for college that can handle all my engineering programs, handle decent gaming, and overall looks professional/ sleek and not "gamer-like" with most laptops that have NVIDIA 20- and 30-series graphics. In addition, I probably wouldn't play these demanding games on the go, and will probably play them when connected to an external monitor, possibly with an eGPU, too (in other words, I've got money to spend). 

 

I've also heard that the 2021 XPS 17 will get NVIDIA 3050 and 3060 graphics and will come "summer 2021," and if this is the case, I may want to get this. (and also, please send an opinion on the 2021 model)

[Galm]

On 5/12/2021 at 2:24 PM, mt123 said:

Would you recommend a 2060 Max-Q equipped Dell XPS 17 for moderate gaming [to handle AAA games (Resident Evil 8, Doom Eternal, Minecraft) at 1080p, 60 fps)? I was mainly interested in the XPS because I want an all-rounder laptop for college that can handle all my engineering programs, handle decent gaming, and overall looks professional/ sleek and not "gamer-like" with most laptops that have NVIDIA 20- and 30-series graphics. In addition, I probably wouldn't play these demanding games on the go, and will probably play them when connected to an external monitor, possibly with an eGPU, too (in other words, I've got money to spend). 

 

I've also heard that the 2021 XPS 17 will get NVIDIA 3050 and 3060 graphics and will come "summer 2021," and if this is the case, I may want to get this. (and also, please send an opinion on the 2021 model)

If you've got money to spare it's usually better spent putting it into one machine.  Grabbing something like a Razer Blade, maybe putting a DBrand on it to make it more subtle.  Or getting a dedicated class machine + gaming desktop.  

 

The XPS 17 would be able to handle moderate gaming, although temps will likely be hot if you're really pushing it.  It may also have underwhelming CPU performance when pushed.

[dorkiusmx01]

Hello, can anyone recommend me a laptop? My budget is around $2k, can go higher if it's worth it.  I want a 15" or bigger screen. It's going to be used for school, gaming, video editing and some creative work. I'm not really concerned with weight as I'm accustomed to bigger thicker laptops. But I do need it to last me 5 years minimum. The last time I bought one, was a Fujitsu that lasted me 8 years. Any help will be appreciated. 

[dorkiusmx01]

Hello, can anyone recommend me a laptop? My budget is around $2k, can go higher if it's worth it.  I want a 15" or bigger screen. It's going to be used for school, gaming, video editing and some creative work. I'm not really concerned with weight as I'm accustomed to bigger thicker laptops. But I do need it to last me 5 years minimum. The last time I bought one, was a Fujitsu that lasted me 8 years. Any help will be appreciated. 

[mt123]

On 5/21/2021 at 1:54 PM, dorkiusmx01 said:

Hello, can anyone recommend me a laptop? My budget is around $2k, can go higher if it's worth it.  I want a 15" or bigger screen. It's going to be used for school, gaming, video editing and some creative work. I'm not really concerned with weight as I'm accustomed to bigger thicker laptops. But I do need it to last me 5 years minimum. The last time I bought one, was a Fujitsu that lasted me 8 years. Any help will be appreciated. 

(Take the following advice with a grain of salt, as I'm not a laptop expert, but a fellow consumer in a similar situation as you).

 

TLDR: XPS 15 and 17 is you're leaning more towards creative work/ video editing (though, high spec XPS 17's can handling intense AAA games decently), ASUS Zephyrus G14 or G15 if you're leaning more towards gaming and need it now, ASUS Zephyrus M16 if you're leaning towards gaming and can wait a little (hasn't come out yet)

 

I recently purchased a Dell XPS 17 and I've been loving it so far. The keyboard is great for long typing sessions, and compared with dedicated gaming laptops, I thoroughly enjoy using the keyboard for playing games (so far I've been playing Minecraft and Resident Evil Village). Depending on what type of work you'll be doing, there is a lack of a trackpad on the XPS 15 and 17, so if you typically use a trackpad, and is a necessity, look elsewhere. I ordered mine directly through Dell because at the time of ordering my product, I had a very competitive discount, bringing down the price of my laptop from $2,800 to ~$2,150. Mine is equipped with a 10th gen i9, 32 GB of ram, a 1 TB SSD, a 1920 * 1200p display, and an NVIDIA 2060 Max-Q GPU. I also got a ~$55 1-year damage/ accident warranty on top of the basic 1-year warranty that comes with all Dell XPS's, so look out for that, too (this price is given before my discount)

 

Now it should be said that mine is definitely a higher spec model of the XPS, though you can get XPS 15 and 17's with NVIDIA 1650 Ti GPU's (cannot get an XPS 15 with the 2060 Max-Q), and these models will come somewhere in the $1,300 to $2,000 range, depending on how you spec it. However, it sounds like Dell will be coming with a refresh of the XPS 15 and 17 for the second half of 2021, where 15 models can spec up to NVIDIA 3050 and 3050 Ti GPUs, while the 17 can be specced all the way up to a 3060. Take note that as far as I know, these are rumors at least, but I swear I've seen in an official NVIDIA video/ screenshot that XPS 15 and 17 would be getting NVIDIA 30-series graphics, along with other laptops. 

 

If you're more concerned about gaming, you should really look elsewhere unless you're willing to spend for a 2060 Max-Q equipped XPS 17, though it seems like the cheapest you can get into one is for $2,449.99 (which has a 10th gen i7, 16 GB of ram, and all other same specs as mine). As I said before, I've been satisfied with the performance I've been getting from playing Resident Evil Village and Minecraft, running at 60 fps and 90+, respectively on 1920 * 1200p medium/ high-ish. However, because all XPS displays are at 60 Hz, you won't be able to experience anything more than 60 FPS, which is why I plan to buy a monitor, and maybe even an eGPU (because I'm just like that :') )

 

I'd only recommend the XPS 17 if you're leaning more towards the creative/ video editing side, as the XPS has good ram and CPU power, while 2060 Max-Q models also pack enough gaming potential (at least, imo) to last a couple more years, maybe less than your targeted 5. Though, those 2060 equipped models come above $2,000, and I'm not sure how flexible your budget is. 

 

 

However, if you're leaning more towards gaming, and maybe want something small, look into ASUS Zephyrus G14 and G15. Even though you said you want something at least 15 inches or bigger, the G14 seems like an amazing deal considering you can find them at most Best Buys nowadays (I saw one at each of the three stores I visited while on my laptop search). They're equipped with Ryzen CPUs, and a variation of NVIDIA and Ryzen GPU's - the Ryzen CPUs of this generation (a.k.a., from last year) significantly outperformed 10th gen intel CPUs, especially in gaming, and you can even get 30-series graphics in the little G14. It is a little harder to find G15's, but trust me, these are true gamer laptops, as they have high refresh rate displays at 1080p and 1440p, dedicated graphics, and great processing power.

 

Imo, this 2060 Max-Q equipped G14 seems like a steal at $1149.99 (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-2060-max-q-1tb-ssd-moonlight-white/6403816.p?skuId=6403816)

Though, this 3060 equipped G14 seems like an even better deal (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-14-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-1tb-ssd-moonlight-white-moonlight-white/6452913.p?skuId=6452913)

Then, I think this will fall best in your ballpark, as it's a G15 with a 3070, and is within your $2,000 budget at $1,849.99 (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-15-6-qhd-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3070-1tb-ssd-eclipse-grey-eclipse-grey/6448848.p?skuId=6448848) 

 

Then - again, if leaning towards gaming - ASUS will be releasing an updated version of the G15 called the M16, which basically fixes all the issues with the G15 and includes intel's 11th generation processors + 30-series graphics. Dave2D just made a video on this, here's the link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZezzz6tY3o)

[TechnoLawyer]

On 5/22/2021 at 9:37 PM, mt123 said:

(Take the following advice with a grain of salt, as I'm not a laptop expert, but a fellow consumer in a similar situation as you).

 

TLDR: XPS 15 and 17 is you're leaning more towards creative work/ video editing (though, high spec XPS 17's can handling intense AAA games decently), ASUS Zephyrus G14 or G15 if you're leaning more towards gaming and need it now, ASUS Zephyrus M16 if you're leaning towards gaming and can wait a little (hasn't come out yet)

 

I recently purchased a Dell XPS 17 and I've been loving it so far. The keyboard is great for long typing sessions, and compared with dedicated gaming laptops, I thoroughly enjoy using the keyboard for playing games (so far I've been playing Minecraft and Resident Evil Village). Depending on what type of work you'll be doing, there is a lack of a trackpad on the XPS 15 and 17, so if you typically use a trackpad, and is a necessity, look elsewhere. I ordered mine directly through Dell because at the time of ordering my product, I had a very competitive discount, bringing down the price of my laptop from $2,800 to ~$2,150. Mine is equipped with a 10th gen i9, 32 GB of ram, a 1 TB SSD, a 1920 * 1200p display, and an NVIDIA 2060 Max-Q GPU. I also got a ~$55 1-year damage/ accident warranty on top of the basic 1-year warranty that comes with all Dell XPS's, so look out for that, too (this price is given before my discount)

 

Now it should be said that mine is definitely a higher spec model of the XPS, though you can get XPS 15 and 17's with NVIDIA 1650 Ti GPU's (cannot get an XPS 15 with the 2060 Max-Q), and these models will come somewhere in the $1,300 to $2,000 range, depending on how you spec it. However, it sounds like Dell will be coming with a refresh of the XPS 15 and 17 for the second half of 2021, where 15 models can spec up to NVIDIA 3050 and 3050 Ti GPUs, while the 17 can be specced all the way up to a 3060. Take note that as far as I know, these are rumors at least, but I swear I've seen in an official NVIDIA video/ screenshot that XPS 15 and 17 would be getting NVIDIA 30-series graphics, along with other laptops. 

 

If you're more concerned about gaming, you should really look elsewhere unless you're willing to spend for a 2060 Max-Q equipped XPS 17, though it seems like the cheapest you can get into one is for $2,449.99 (which has a 10th gen i7, 16 GB of ram, and all other same specs as mine). As I said before, I've been satisfied with the performance I've been getting from playing Resident Evil Village and Minecraft, running at 60 fps and 90+, respectively on 1920 * 1200p medium/ high-ish. However, because all XPS displays are at 60 Hz, you won't be able to experience anything more than 60 FPS, which is why I plan to buy a monitor, and maybe even an eGPU (because I'm just like that :') )

 

I'd only recommend the XPS 17 if you're leaning more towards the creative/ video editing side, as the XPS has good ram and CPU power, while 2060 Max-Q models also pack enough gaming potential (at least, imo) to last a couple more years, maybe less than your targeted 5. Though, those 2060 equipped models come above $2,000, and I'm not sure how flexible your budget is. 

 

 

However, if you're leaning more towards gaming, and maybe want something small, look into ASUS Zephyrus G14 and G15. Even though you said you want something at least 15 inches or bigger, the G14 seems like an amazing deal considering you can find them at most Best Buys nowadays (I saw one at each of the three stores I visited while on my laptop search). They're equipped with Ryzen CPUs, and a variation of NVIDIA and Ryzen GPU's - the Ryzen CPUs of this generation (a.k.a., from last year) significantly outperformed 10th gen intel CPUs, especially in gaming, and you can even get 30-series graphics in the little G14. It is a little harder to find G15's, but trust me, these are true gamer laptops, as they have high refresh rate displays at 1080p and 1440p, dedicated graphics, and great processing power.

 

Imo, this 2060 Max-Q equipped G14 seems like a steal at $1149.99 (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-14-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-2060-max-q-1tb-ssd-moonlight-white/6403816.p?skuId=6403816)

Though, this 3060 equipped G14 seems like an even better deal (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-14-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3060-1tb-ssd-moonlight-white-moonlight-white/6452913.p?skuId=6452913)

Then, I think this will fall best in your ballpark, as it's a G15 with a 3070, and is within your $2,000 budget at $1,849.99 (https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-zephyrus-15-6-qhd-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-9-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3070-1tb-ssd-eclipse-grey-eclipse-grey/6448848.p?skuId=6448848) 

 

Then - again, if leaning towards gaming - ASUS will be releasing an updated version of the G15 called the M16, which basically fixes all the issues with the G15 and includes intel's 11th generation processors + 30-series graphics. Dave2D just made a video on this, here's the link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZezzz6tY3o)

I walked in a Best Buy and out with a Ryzen9/RTX3060 zephryus G14 in about 10 minutes a couple weeks ago. They had a shelf full of them. +1 for anything with a decent GPU, that you can actually get.

 

For a gaming laptop, the G14 is tiny and light. Pretty much ultrabook sized. For whatever that's worth (I could see that maybe being a negative long term over a concern about thermals). 

[IRMacGuyver]

So a couple days late on this since I wont be able to get the tax free savings but I've been having trouble finding what I need.  I want a laptop for gaming that still has left and right click buttons, a high refresh rate 1440p screen that's not OLED, and a 3070ish level of performance GPU.  I want that level GPU mostly cause I plan to dumb down the graphics to keep the heat low and reduce the fan use.

The Zephyrus I saw with the price to performance I liked has a 6800m and a Ryzen 9 5900hx CPU.  Do I really need to go Ryzen 9 for decent gaming?

Last I checked HP was the only one still doing physical buttons. Is anyone else or do I just have to look for older models? 

 

 

I'd like a bluray drive but i know that will never happen because apparently I'm the only person on earth that uses my laptop to watch movies while camping.  

[genexis_x]

3 hours ago, IRMacGuyver said:

3070ish level of performance GPU

U mean 3070 desktop?

[IRMacGuyver]

11 hours ago, genexis_x said:

U mean 3070 desktop?

No 3070 mobile.  I thought since I was talking about laptops that would have been clear without specifying that one tiny detail.  

[genexis_x]

6 hours ago, IRMacGuyver said:

No 3070 mobile.  I thought since I was talking about laptops that would have been clear without specifying that one tiny detail.  

just note that not every 3070 laptop performs the same, get 140W TGP and with MUX

 

something like Legion 5 Pro

[MouseWurX]

23 hours ago, genexis_x said:

...

something like Legion 5 Pro

So you think the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a good choice?

 

 

1st things first I'm Canadian, and I live in the subarctic (northern Alberta), keep that in consideration. Availability is not so great up here.

 

I'm in a bit of a pickle.  I need a new computer, when i moved to Alberta years ago from New Brunswick my gaming PC died... so now that I want one again I'm looking for something that'll last me a while.

 

I don't really have a budget but i don't want to drop 5k on a laptop either.  Something 2-3k, looking for lots of power, I have a Jakery powerbank so I'm not terribly concerned with power consumption on the go, nice screen, 4k capable would be nice but not needed.

 

(I want something nice, I've got by with just a raspberry pi, my phone, and a nexdock touch for a while now but that'll only get you so far.)

[IRMacGuyver]

On 8/2/2021 at 9:53 PM, genexis_x said:

just note that not every 3070 laptop performs the same, get 140W TGP and with MUX

 

something like Legion 5 Pro

I know that but the buttons for the track pad are more important to me anyway.  Hence why I said 3070ish.  It's just not that much of an issue to me. 

 

However that does bring me back to my question about i9/Ryzen 9 vs i7/Ryzen 7.  Is the expense worth it if I don't plan to push it hard?  Like with it be "more future proof"? 

 

I don't see physical buttons on the Legion 5 pro though so that's a huge negative. 

So surfing around newegg it seems there are literally no 1440p laptops in the 15 inch range and I don't want 17 inches.  I'm starting to think manufacturers just don't want to take my money.  No mouse buttons, no optical drives, no mid range screens.

[genexis_x]

57 minutes ago, IRMacGuyver said:

However that does bring me back to my question about i9/Ryzen 9 vs i7/Ryzen 7.  Is the expense worth it if I don't plan to push it hard?  Like with it be "more future proof"? 

i9/R9 in laptops are not worth

things like GPU TGP and MUX are far more important IMO

58 minutes ago, IRMacGuyver said:

physical buttons

Just curious, why is this so important to you?

[IRMacGuyver]

1 hour ago, genexis_x said:

 

Just curious, why is this so important to you?

Because my hands are too jittery for touchpads to replace real buttons.  It just doesn't work for me.  I'd dare say it's damn near a violation of ADA compliance cause I'm sure people with diagnosed parkinson's have an even worse time with it than me. 

 

My grandmother's condition is bad enough that smartphones are damn near useless to her cause half the time she tries to use it she just ends up dragging icons around the screen and dropping them in random places usually ending up deleting them off the screen. 

[IRMacGuyver]

So Clevo laptops still come with buttons on the track pad I'm thinking about custom ordering one of those.  It's either that or buy a two year old laptop with a 2070.

[genexis_x]

2 hours ago, IRMacGuyver said:

Clevo laptops

Unfortunately their stuffs aren't that good lately

[jre84]

idk i owned a sager....bought it from reflex it never overheated and was fsat and reliable great laptop so yeah thumbs up here

[xThaaAlex]

Hello Guys! I am currently thinking about buying myself a XMG Core 15 (E21) with an Ryzen 7 4800H and 32GB Ram (Since i need it for virtualization) a 240HZ Full HD IPS Display and a RTX 3060 (115W + 15W Dynamic) for 1300€(Since i am from Germany, XMG is the best option). But there is an upgrade for 200 to an 7 5800H is it worth it paying the 200 more just for the newer CPU?

[ManArt]

Hello there!

 

I need to buy a laptop and have settled upon the ASUS Zephyrus M16, problem is: it is not available in my country yet (Mexico), but I need to be able to buy it soon, so I will fly to Texas (Houston probably) to buy it. I would very much appreciate if you guys could help me with some guidance on the following matters: 

 

.- Which store would you recommend? Preferably one that has a good website/customer care

.-Do you guys know if laptops are elegible for tax refunds for a tourist? 

 

 

Thank you in advance! 

 

[acarchaser]

Hello all, can anyone suggest some of the highest spec laptops available? I am looking to run Reality Capture and Leica Cyclone to scan and process large 3D environment so very high spec CPU and GPU would work best. 

Hopefully this is the correct place to ask about this, thank you for any help.

[GamerDude]

Just a post to comment on my recent experience with a gaming capable laptop I'd recently acquired, a Lenovo Legion 5 Pro with an R7 5800H + RTX 3070 combo. I've always, before this, thought that gaming on laptops would be a crap experience, small screen, less than desktop level CPU/GPU = bad experience. I'm glad to report that I've gravely underestimated what modern laptops are capable of these days.

 

You gotta understand that before my Legion 5 Pro purchase, my last laptop was years ago, and it was an AMD Turion based unit that struggled with UT3. I'm in the process of getting necessary peripherals for my new used laptop (like light weight laptop stands with dual cooling fans, speakers, wireless keyboard+mouse), bought it used but it comes with about 23 months (then) left of Premium Care warranty, this mean that should anything go wrong with it, I need only get Lenovo to send a technician over to handle it. Like recently, I saw that CPU/GPU temps were hitting 102C/~90C respectively. Got the technician to come over, he'd determined the fans were damaged due to very bad dust build up. He then replaced the entire cooling assembly which was just awesome!

 

I've been playing games like Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem and Serious Sam 4, as well as Metro Exodus PC Enhanced with ingame settings just about maxed out @ 2560x1600 and the game runs amazingly well. Temps hit about mid 80s (CPU) with GPU hitting mid-high 70s. Now, I'm a changed man, or a laptop convert, laptop can be pretty darn awesome for gaming, though that doesn't mean I'm giving up on my first loves, my desktops.

[Noamazia]

will this thread be updated for 30 series and AMD gpus?

[ThorSaysWeJack]

Could anyone possibly help me out and tell me which of the two is the better deal? Are the CPUs and gpus at par with each other?