In The Market For A Desktop Replacement

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Apr 29, 2018
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Hello everyone! Starting a new job soon that will have me in various temporary lodgings for at least a year, maybe more. So, I am looking to buy one of those "desktop replacement" behemoths that will nonetheless be more portable than my desktop's Corsair 650D.

My heart is set on getting one with the GTX 1080, so will most likely be a 17.3in full-fat one. The heft and bulk and lack of "lap"-top-ness will be okay for me, because after I arrive at my next accomodation, it will just be plunked down next to a power source and remain there... until I move again.

As to why GTX 1080? My desktop is currently GTX 980 SLI 4GB, and I held off upgrading it due to the mining craze. The new laptop, as equipped, then will probably give it a run for its money... and it is my preference to let that happen, so I can play the same things at the same settings and not worry about it.

The local computer shop has the following in stock:

MSI GT75 8RG-040CA for $3500CAD (regular price)

and

Asus GL702VI for $3200CAD but now discounted to $2400CAD... however, this is while quantities last

Both have essentially the same features, so the main differentiator is now down to the MSI having the current-gen 6C/12T 2.2 -> 4.1 i7-8750H vs. the Asus being last year's model I think and so it has the 4C/8T 2.8 -> 3.8 i7-7700HQ... hence I guess the discount on the latter, but also once they sold out it will be gone.

No matter which one I decide on, I will be putting in a Samsung 970 EVO NVMe M.2 1TB to replace the boot disk, which will add $440CAD to the budget. That means, truly the only difference between the two will be down to the CPUs. My current desktop is just a 4C/8T 4.0 i7-4770K, so I think either will be adequate to ensure that I will not miss my home computer.

I am leaning towards the Asus, because the current savings will even allow me to perhaps throw in a GTX 1080 Ti for the desktop... hmm, but that is kinda dumb because I will not get to use it for awhile. Splurge for the MSI and abandon the desktop? Gah.

Please feel free to chime in if you think that I am missing something. Thanks!
 
Well if you are using this mainly for gaming the 7700HK will handle everything you want. Another laptop to look at is the Alienware 17R4/R5, reason I say that is because you can also look to utilize the Graphics Amp when are not on the go.
 
Do you care about the quality of the built in display? The MSI has wider gamut, better response times, and better contrast ratio. It also has a less agressive antiglare coating which makes reading text much nicer. The one downside is that it is a TN panel so it does have narrower viewing angles.
 
Do you care about the quality of the built in display? The MSI has wider gamut, better response times, and better contrast ratio. It also has a less agressive antiglare coating which makes reading text much nicer. The one downside is that it is a TN panel so it does have narrower viewing angles.

Asus has a G-Sync Panel, MSI does not. Not sure if that matters to you?
Good catches! I do some photography... nothing serious; I just tend to have my D-SLR on my waist when I am out driving or walking around... so I stuck to IPS for my desktop displays.

What I project to be playing most over the next year looks to be Fallout 4, which is something that I think the GTX 1080 will have no issue maintaining the 120Hz refresh rate, because both displays are... 1080p!
 
i recommend getting the Alienware r5 17Inch which has a bigger chassis than the 15 to cool 1080 properly. I had a alienware r3 15 these things are built very well like tanks.
 
I am in the same spot. I have been consider a powerful laptop with thunderbolt 3 to drive e an external gpu (razer core x). I just can't decide what kind of graphics power I need while mobile versus docked at home. Carry a heavy laptop always that can do it all or carry something much lighter that can only do the really hard work when I get home?
 
If you're gonna go the E-GPU route get something like a Dell XPS 15 or Razer blade so you can have a light and portable laptop when you travel but have thunderbolt 3 for the e-gpu when you're at home or in your hotel room.
 
I am in the same spot. I have been consider a powerful laptop with thunderbolt 3 to drive e an external gpu (razer core x). I just can't decide what kind of graphics power I need while mobile versus docked at home. Carry a heavy laptop always that can do it all or carry something much lighter that can only do the really hard work when I get home?
The GTX 1070 pairs well with a FHD 120hz+ LCD for on the go gaming. If you choose an Alienware laptop like the upcoming m15 you can use the AGA which is the best current eGPU. It does require a reboot to activate, but then gives close to 100% performance with even the 1080ti when using a directly connected external monitor. Anything Thunderbolt 3 will be worse, and the performance delta drops significantly after the GTX 1070. Many laptops also currently hang the TB3 PCIe lanes off of the PCH, further reducing performance. If you get anything with a hex core CPU, be prepared to repaste and repad a poor factory job if you want to maximize performance. There are plenty of videos out there showing the procedure for whichever model you are interested in.
 
I've had several high end M17's and M18's from Alienware as well as a GT72 Dominator from MSI and I must say my current Sager/Clevo has been the one I'm most happy with. I've been a desktop replacement guy for years now and it's a shame you aren't able to customize the new AW/MSI's like you used to. I can add a second 1080 and upgrade to an 8700K in my Sager if I wanted to. The support forums are amazing. The cpu and gpu are both overclocked 24/7 and I've never had throttling issues unlike the other two brands I have mentioned.
 
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