G60JX or G73JH (BB)

Hey guys. Been in the market for a new laptop for a LONG time and there is a good probability I'll be getting one in about a week and a half. I'm on a budget (NO MORE THAN $1200), I plan on using the laptop for gaming, and I don't need max settings but would prefer a computer that will be 'relevant' for the next few years (I understand you can't future proof, but I want to meet sys req for the next 3-4years if possible).

My question is, would I be better off with the G60JX or the Best Buy G73? Initially, the lure of the G73 made it seem like the easy choice, but with moderately consistent problems I've begun thinking of other options. The G60 is a little cheaper, but the hardware is well below that of the G73. It also seems like the only issue with the G60 is heat problems, which wouldn't be an issue as I plan on getting a cooler regardless of model.

So what do you guys, the experts, think? Thanks in advance.

 

Haha
I would get the G73 and be ready to exchange it the moment it even looks at you wrong.
If you get a working model and are not too particular on which lcd screen the working model ends up having you will have yourself a very nice laptop.

 

What is the price difference?

I would personally go with the G60JX because it is smaller, not because it is in fact better. Everything I have read about the G73 seems great. Almost every G series laptop has had its share of problems, and they are over-represented on this forum because this is the place where people come if they have problems, not if things are running smoothly.

Since you say you have a MAX of 1200 to spend, let me make you a suggestion. You can find a G51VX for cheap these days - sure its "only" got a core 2 quad (as opposed to the i7), but it also has the GTX 260m which is more powerful than the GTS 360. You can undervolt it and optimize it to keep the heat down.

That way you can save yourself about 500 dollars - and save that money for 2 or 3 years when computers will all make the G73 / G60JX look like casio keyboards.

The BEST power is in the G73, you compromise on power with the G60JX in order to get something to carry around (I'm not sure about you, but taking a laptop to work in a backpack is simply not an option I would consider at my age). But the G73 is a couple extra hundred dollars - and those dollars are a poor investment if you consider how quickly computers are evolving.

Look at the G51VX or G60VX - a slightly less powerful CPU and no blu ray (although, it seems that people have had a lot of issues with their blu ray players, so an external blu ray might be the way to go anyways if you care enough) for around 700 bucks. If you are a tweaker and feel comfortable undervolting, its by far the most bang for the buck.

Maybe I should ask - what else are you going to use the laptop for, other than gaming? If it is just games... then I would say you would not notice the difference in CPU for a year or two anyways.

To add - I went with the G51J for the i7 not for gaming, but for low-latency live music production. THERE is an application where the i7 really shines.

 

First, I want to thank the both of you for your quick responses. Somatic, that was the initial plan. If it took too long to boot, it was going back to the store . Paperbag, thanks for the very well thought out reponse. I should have stated earlier I'm not much of a 'tweaker'. I know enough about computers to do some simple troubleshooting, updates, and general maintance but I'm not nearly comfortable enough to overclock/underclock, mess with bios settings, etc. Portability is not a dealbreaker for me. If I take it to work, backpacks are not a problem. Other than gaming, I intend to use the laptop for general use (internet, email, word) and I experiment with photo and video editing (not very good...yet ).

A little more background about me. I'm a married man with a 1 year old child and my wife is due with our second later this year. My wife and I currently 'share' our laptop (if your married, you know what the quotation is for , I'm actually typing this on my phone) and we don't have a functioning desktop. We don't have a TON of excess money and I've been saving for the laptop for over a year. Between the saving and the convincing it took to get it (wife), one could probably see the reason for my wanting longevity. Thanks again guys

 

If you want it to last longer get the G73

 

I went w/ the g60jx for the smaller footprint. So far i have been very happy with it. I have never used a laptop that is as power as a desktop.

 

From everything you have said, I think the G73 is what you want. The large screen will be nice for photo / video editing, the video card will last you a bit longer (maybe a year) in the gaming department, and in general, the laptop is cooler than the G60JX.

If you notice anything wrong with the G73, please please contact them immediately to get it fixed. I think if it is a problem early on, it is likely hardware and requires a replacement.

One more idea - since money is tight. Laptops are generally a bad deal compared with towers. They are hard to upgrade and you get less power for your dollar. If this is meant to be used at the house, you will get a better machine if you buy a tower.

The only reason I mention that is that it seems you won't be needing it to go with you. If I'm wrong about that one though, enjoy the G73 .

I think the general rule of thumb is if it last 6 months, it will likely last for years . Congrats on your purchase, its a very nice computer!

 

The g51j has great latencies ... but the g73 has even better ones

Yup! And the warranty with asus rocks!

Agreed; but if you don't have tonnes of space and you want to be able to put the computer away (from the kiddos), a laptop has its benefits. You'll spend most of your time with it plugged in, no matter what model you get ... but one thing to think about is heat dissipation. If you've got cats, dust or dogs, the g60 will need regular cleaning to keep the vents unclogged. The g73, due to the air intake probably wont ... however, it is harder to access if you do. Also, high temps have been known to happen quite frequently with the g51/g60s ... and they're a little louder for fan noise.

I've had both a g51 and a g73, and considering there isn't a huge size difference, the g73 is much nicer with only a slightly bigger footprint. (The difference between 15.6 and 17 inches on a diagonal is what, 2/8ths horizonal and vertical? Also, the g51 has a huge bezel. I think most asus laptops do, though..

ALSO, the g51/60vx has room for 2 hard drives; I'm not sure about the g60j/jx, but the g51j/jx only had room for one. Also, the g51vx overclocks like a champ. If you get the p8700, you can usually hit 2.8 ghz easy, with minimal heat increase. That's about on par with the i5 at 2.4 ghz, *and* the better (albeit only slightly) gtx260.

 

You sure about that? Both have the i7 720 QM / same FSB...