Is a 17" laptop really worth the extra expense over a 15"?

Diablo2K

Diablo2K

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Looking at getting a Gaming laptop in the $1000 to 1200 range. I am looking at the Asus Tuf A17, I like that it has the 90wh battery but I also am thinking about the A15 which also has the 90wh battery and is cheaper for the same specs. I been kind of set on the 17" laptops but recently I have been wondering if the size difference is really worth it, I mean a 17" laptop is actually 17.3" and a 15 is actually 15.6" that's 1.7" difference. I have never even looked at a 17" laptop before, I don't know how they look/feel when using one. I have used 15" laptops before I know they feel small but that's compared to my 24" desktop.

https://xoticpc.com/collections/opt...=NVIDIA+GTX+1660+Ti&rb_snize_facet3=AMD+Ryzen
 
I would suggest you swing by a local store and take a peek at a 15" and 17" model and really consider the pros and cons of each. Does one have a full size keyboard? - Do you need a full size keyboard? Are they the same resolution just different screen sizes? Bigger screens more/less will consume more power, even if at the same resolution. If all other internal hardware components are equal then it really boils down to what you want to carry around and look at. If components vary, then consider the pros' and cons' for each component and place a weight value on each component to help narrow down its true 'value' to you.

As an example, some might value battery life at a higher value than me. If it was a gaming laptop I would always have it plugged in, since I cannot game on my lap.
Memory size and speed matter. Processor matters. Is it a Ryzen or Intel? etc etc.

144Hz will look and feel smoother than 120Hz if the graphics can render appropriate FPS in the game. I will never go below 144Hz now that I've had my primary monitor at 144Hz.
 
Diablo2K said:
Looking at getting a Gaming laptop in the $1000 to 1200 range. I am looking at the Asus Tuf A17, I like that it has the 90wh battery but I also am thinking about the A15 which also has the 90wh battery and is cheaper for the same specs. I been kind of set on the 17" laptops but recently I have been wondering if the size difference is really worth it, I mean a 17" laptop is actually 17.3" and a 15 is actually 15.6" that's 1.7" difference. I have never even looked at a 17" laptop before, I don't know how they look/feel when using one. I have used 15" laptops before I know they feel small but that's compared to my 24" desktop.

https://xoticpc.com/collections/opt...=NVIDIA+GTX+1660+Ti&rb_snize_facet3=AMD+Ryzen
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I'd say "no" for most users.

People frequently have a romanticized vision of 17-inch laptops. It's a desktop-like experience wherever you go! But they lose a lot of their appeal the moment you realize you have to find room in your bag and carry that extra weight on your shoulders. When travel is safe again, that extra screen will be a royal pain in aircraft and trains.

Some pros can certainly use a larger screen, as could gamers who expect to regularly haul a system to LAN parties. But if it's just something for typical home or work use and you'll carry it more than once in a blue Moon... grab a smaller model and roll the savings into feature upgrades.
 
17" is huuuge and more of a desktop replacement. If you don't plan to actually move the laptop often then it is a good size. However if on the other hand you do have to lug it around then a 17" will become annoying fast.
 
thesmokingman said:
17" is huuuge and more of a desktop replacement. If you don't plan to actually move the laptop often then it is a good size. However if on the other hand you do have to lug it around then a 17" will become annoying fast.
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I don't plan on it being stationary. Just about any Gaming laptop I get is going to be more powerful than my desktop but I am not looking to replace it.
 
that 1.7" is diagonal. A 17" screen is quite a bit larger than a 15" screen.

Also take into account if the 15" can have the video card or CPU upgrade in the future.. if the 17" can.
 
I've used many 15", 17", and 18.4" gaming laptops over the years. My advice is if you plan on being mobile at all, even if it's just to bring to the couch while you watch TV, get a 15" (or 14") laptop. Anything above 15" is just too unwieldy and heavy: I'm 6', 215lb guy well beyond the 1000 club and a 17" is still to big and clumsy for me to lug around. Believe me, you will NOT want to lug around a 17" laptop places, and you look a bit of a knob pulling one out on a plane (although you'll try to convince yourself otherwise)

Even if it's a true DTR, you may still want to consider getting a 15" and investing in a nice 27" monitor to plug into.
 
I'd say that the main reason to go 17" would be if you need truly "desktop replacement" class specs that tend to be out of reach on the 15" models, mostly because a 17" laptop can fit bigger heatsinks and fans to keep everything cool, sometimes even desktop socket CPUs on really high-end Clevo rebadges, and you might even get extra SO-DIMM and drive slots to go with the extra size. (Weird to realize that ZBook 15s generally have four SO-DIMM slots, but my OMEN X 2S only has two, despite both being 15" laptops from the same company.)

Otherwise, I've found that 15" really is kind of a sweet spot for portability without sacrificing too much screen size and hardware potential, especially nowadays when you can get a capable gaming laptop that isn't a total brick.

If you can, try to find a local Micro Center or some other store with a decent laptop selection, and just get hands-on with the display models, see if the size, weight, build quality, screen quality, keyboard and trackpad quality are agreeable to you.

You have to treat it a bit more like car shopping, look past the raw specs and consider the overall experience, because it's not like building a desktop where you get to choose exactly which components you want - you have to take the whole package, compromises and all, and likewise with a car, you'd at least want a test drive first, right?
 
I've gamed on both a 15" and a 17" laptop. The experience is so much better on the larger laptop.

Also, I've never found portability to be an issue with the 17" laptop. 3 lbs. weight difference and slightly larger carrying bag. Meh. No biggie.
 
15" laptops work on the couch. 17" laptops, "work" on the couch.
15" laptops suck for work w/ multiple windows and programs running
17" laptops handle multiple windows much better.
15" laptops often get hotter (depends on the model, I know) as they have less space to cool things.
17" laptops are heavier, take up more room in bags, etc.

My experience, if you want a portable desktop, get the 17". If you want a laptop portable computer you'll use everywhere, get a 15"
Also if its primarily for gaming, you'll be unhappy with 15", unless you will primarily be using it literally on your lap, in that case the 17" will be awkward.
 
If you play anything remotely competitive.. get the 17". Because when I had the 15" I couldn't see anything, was not enjoyable for competitive shooters.
 
Personally I wouldn't want to game on a screen smaller than 17"
And 17" laptops are not that heavy - in a backpack it's hardly noticeable (unless you're a small child...)

To be honest I wish companies would make more 18"+ models, for those who are more towards the desktop/workstation replacement end of the market.
Not everyone wants/cares about super thin and light.

Sounds like you're a gamer and you said 15" felt small so, go for 17.
 
I have owned both and I had trouble seeing real good on the 15 inch. I have an EVGA 17 inch now and I can see details in the games a lot better. And like was said earlier go to Best Buy or somewhere and try them out for what suits you.
 
You should make this thread a poll. I prefer 17", easier to see details and better heat management. But lots of people are happy with 15", so it is personal preference and needs.
 
I want a hot, heavy, power hungry thing that is "mobile" (like a trailer home).

IMHO, doesn't matter. Whatever size screen you want. Up to you if it's "worth it".
 
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