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Laptop purchase for son

Post Date: 2013-02-16
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Caymus View Drop Down
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Posts: 287 		  Quote Caymus Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: Laptop purchase for son
    Posted: 16 Feb 2013 at 7:38am
Thinking of getting this build for my son. Ideas from the crowd?
In question the wireless card ... thermal compound, other aspects?
 
Chassis Model: Digital Storm x17 Laptop (Model: 9170)
Display: 17.3 Inch (16:9) (Resolution: 1920 x 1080) (Matte Surface) LED-Backlit Display
Processor: Intel Core i7 3840QM (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode to 3.8Ghz) (Quad Core) (8MB Cache)
Thermal Compound: Stock CPU and GPU Thermal Compound
Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz (4x4GB Sticks)
Primary Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM (SATA 3Gb/s)
Secondary Hard Drive: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD/CD 8x Multi-Drive (Writes and Reads DVDs, CDs)
Wireless Card: Bigfoot Networks Killer Wireless-N 1202 (Reduces Latency for Online Gaming)
Video Card(s): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX 4GB with NVIDIA Optimus
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Warranty Plan: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
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HockeyBuck View Drop Down
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Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Feb 2013 at 9:28am
Hello Caymus... What a lucky kid!

Biggest issue to my eye would be not using an SSD boot drive + a 7200 rpm HHD.   Makes quite a difference in speeds if the budget can do it Caymus.

The IC Diamond thermal compound would be an inexpensive improvement in heat transfer.

My choice would be the Intel Ultimate-N 6300 Wireless LAN Module.... The other two wi-fi cards run up to a max 300 Mbps... The Intel Ultimate runs up to 450 Mbps.

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Caymus View Drop Down
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Posts: 287 		  Quote Caymus Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Feb 2013 at 9:56am
Will swap out wi-fi card, also have been thinking of changing HD's. Would like some info on cpu/gpu choices. Example, better to use 680 board and drop cpu to i7 3630QM?
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HockeyBuck View Drop Down
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Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 16 Feb 2013 at 10:16am
I think dropping to the 3740QM to help pay for boosting the GPU to the 680m would be a better idea...   Less difference (-100 mhz and - 2 MB cashe) between those two CPU's.    That would be a good $200 trade off that would improve how long he could game at the top levels on the stronger 680m.       
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Caymus View Drop Down
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Posts: 287 		  Quote Caymus Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Feb 2013 at 9:18am
Another question, I noticed different chassis on the x17, x17e and x17d. Each build limits some of the options. The difference being in cooling, fans and venting. Does DS allow one to put the build into a different case, can I choose the x17d case but not the build associated with said case/pricing? I'll call DS Monday, just wondering if any of you have done or seen this.
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HockeyBuck View Drop Down
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Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Feb 2013 at 1:41pm
Not sure Caymus... I know the D model uses the X79 Express chipset mobo and can do quad channel memory... Guess DS will have to answer that one for ya....   
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DomTheBomb View Drop Down
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Posts: 314 		  Quote DomTheBomb Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 17 Feb 2013 at 3:47pm
Caymus,
I'm pretty certain that you cannot put the same build in the x17D chassis. The reason being that each of the models has its own distinct motherboard, which isn't compatible with another chassis design.

I can assure you though that the main difference between the chassis models isn't cooling, but primarily chipset and number of video cards. For example, the main difference between the x17 and the x17E is that the x17E can hold two video cards.

I can also assure you that the cooling on the x17 is very very good for a laptop. All the heat is exhausted out of the back, and I've never had a problem with temps. The x17 is also significantly thinner, lighter, and less bulky than the other two models, so for a single GPU laptop it's best to stick with the x17 or x15E in my opinion.

Hope this helped! I can also try to answer any other questions about the x17 that you may have.
DS x17, 1 Year 5 Months
i7 3720QM (2.6GHz/3.6GHz)
16GB 1600MHz DDR3
Nvidia GTX 680M 4GB
240GB Intel 520 SSD
Windows 8.1 Pro
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Caymus View Drop Down
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Posts: 287 		  Quote Caymus Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 12:37pm
These are the two configurations I have settled on. Keep in mind the free upgrade making both configurations 16g mem. What do you all think between the two for a gaming laptop? Any changes feel free to chime in. Thinking the budget is within $200. of where I would like to keep it. Thanks again
 
Chuck
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Caymus View Drop Down
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Posts: 287 		  Quote Caymus Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 12:37pm
Sorry forgot to add the builds .....
 
Chassis Model: Digital Storm x17 Laptop (Model: 9170)
Display: 17.3 Inch (16:9) (Resolution: 1920 x 1080) (Matte Surface) LED-Backlit Display
Processor: Intel Core i7 3740QM (2.7 GHz Turbo Mode to 3.7Ghz) (Quad Core) (6MB Cache)
Thermal Compound: Premium IC Diamond CPU and GPU Thermal Compound (Reduces Thermal & Laptop Noise)
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz (2x4GB Sticks)
Primary Hard Drive: 750GB 7200RPM (SATA 3Gb/s)
Secondary Hard Drive: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: DVD/CD 8x Multi-Drive (Writes and Reads DVDs, CDs)
Wireless Card: Intel Ultimate-N 6300 Wireless LAN Module
Video Card(s): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M 4GB with NVIDIA Optimus Technology
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Warranty Plan: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
***********************************************
Chassis Model: Digital Storm x17 Laptop (Model: 9170)
Display: 17.3 Inch (16:9) (Resolution: 1920 x 1080) (Matte Surface) LED-Backlit Display
Processor: Intel Core i7 3840QM (2.8 GHz Turbo Mode to 3.8Ghz) (Quad Core) (8MB Cache)
Thermal Compound: Premium IC Diamond CPU and GPU Thermal Compound (Reduces Thermal & Laptop Noise)
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz (2x4GB Sticks)
Primary Hard Drive: 1TB 5400RPM (SATA 3Gb/s)
Secondary Hard Drive: - No Thanks
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Player (Blu-Ray 6x) & DVD/CD Writer
Wireless Card: Intel Ultimate-N 6300 Wireless LAN Module
Video Card(s): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX 4GB with NVIDIA Optimus
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit Edition)
Warranty Plan: Life-time Expert Customer Care with 3 Year Limited Warranty
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HockeyBuck View Drop Down
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Posts: 1608 		  Quote HockeyBuck Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 12:52pm
The build with the 680M and the 7200 rpm HDD would game better.    
In desktops the 670 and 680 are very close...in laptops they are not as close in performance...   
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DomTheBomb View Drop Down
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Posts: 314 		  Quote DomTheBomb Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 18 Feb 2013 at 2:31pm
I agree with HockeyBuck, the difference in performance between the 680M and the 675MX is greater than between the two CPUs.
DS x17, 1 Year 5 Months
i7 3720QM (2.6GHz/3.6GHz)
16GB 1600MHz DDR3
Nvidia GTX 680M 4GB
240GB Intel 520 SSD
Windows 8.1 Pro
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