ASUS G74SX-XR1 from Xotic

Hello guys,
This is my very first time to buy a laptop and I don't have much background on laptops so bear with me.

I was first getting the Asus G53SX-A1 but a friend of mine who got the G73Jh convinced me that a bigger screen is the way to go. Now I noticed that the G74 looks a bit uglier than the G73 (that's just my opinion) but I still decided to go for it. The best deal that I've found till now is this:
ASUS G74SX-XR1 - Gaming Laptop

with changing the following:
Ram from 12-14GB ($0)
Primary Hard Drive: 90GB OCZ Vertex 2 Sandforce SSD (+ $219)
Second Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM (+$89)
Total Price after discount: $1654


Do you think its a good deal keeping in mind that I don't live in the US or Canada? Do you think its worth it to spend $150 more for the G74SX-A1 model with the same specs and 1 year additional global warranty (total 2yrs global) and a gaming mouse? Or is there no differences between those two models?

Also, if you have any suggestions regarding my preference of G74 to G73 or regarding the G74 model in general, please don't hesitate to post them.

I am fully open for suggestions or constructive criticism.

PS.I hope this is the right place to post this.

 

In this combination there is only one important thing GPU !!! 128bit or 192 bit !!!

Actually 560M series have two different type 128 bit 2GB and 192 bit 1.5 GB and 192 bit version of course better. This 3 GB seems also as 192 bit so it means that it will be the best but it is better to ask before purchase.

90 Gb Vertex just depends on you , main thing is GPU here mostly rest of them later on can be updated anyway.

And also if is there any other combination that if you can find in the market, GTX 485M something really different

 

First off, thank you for your kind reply. I believe they're both 192 but its better to be sure as you said. I am more inclined to get the G74SX-A1 tbh because one extra year global warranty is important for me, and they also provide the Asus G series backpack. Price wise, it costs the same as this (after the hard drive customization):
Configurator
which confuses me even more, especially after watching this:
MSI 780R & ASUS G74SX-A1 Shootout - YouTube

 

the g53sx-a1 have the gimped gpu, so go for the g74

AFAIK all g53sx have gimped gpu's, they all 2gb models.

 

192 bit is best with 3GB, and actually my personel choise will be the asus again

 

For a config like that with $1600+, I'd look at the G74SX-A2 config with the 160GB SSD + a 750GB HDD already included .

 

It will cost me extra $150 from xoticpc, and powernotebooks doesn't even have the A2 model yet. Unfortunately I am already way beyond my original budget ($1200-1500), otherwise I would've definitely took your suggestion because the A2 model also has 16GB included in the price and a bigger SSD primary drive.

 

The A1 as you mentioned is also a good choice. Besides the extra year warranty it will also have a backpack, mouse, blu ray drive and also the second hard drive (750gb) already installed.

 

Yes that's the reason I'm going for the A1 model.