G73SW-BST6 vs G73SW-A1/G73JW-A1

Hello, I was wondering if I could get some advice on which computer to settle on. I had a Toshiba from Best Buy that qualified for a replacement due to numerous repairs. I got a G73SW-BST6 in exchange.

My question is am I good with that computer or should I sell it and buy a JW-A1 or SW-A1? I play Star Trek Online a lot. I can't find any info on the BST6 I guess because it is pre-release. My old comptuer did not have 1080 display and was fine but had sli. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Post the specs please.

 

What is the screen resolution that came with it?

 

I will post the specs tomorrow. I have to go back to Best Buy and get them as I had assumed they would be online somewhere but are not. I don't want to open the box in case I want to sell it. So I will get back to you on that. Thanks.

 

Intel core i7-230QM processor
6MB L3 cache. Intel turbo boost technology
8GB DDR3 memory
Multiformat DVD=RW/CD-RW drive with double layer support
17.3 LED-backlit high-definition widescreen display
750GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 rpm)
Built-in-facial recognition
Nvidia GTX 460M graphics
2.0MP weebcam
8-in-1 media reader
4 high speed USB 2.0 Ports
Embedded 4G WiMAX mobile broadband
Intergrated 10/100/1000 Mbps fast Ethernet LAN
7.5 lbs: 2.2" thin
4 hours 37 min battery life
Microsoft 7 Premium 64-bit
3D audio with EAX Advanced HD 4.0

I am not sure what the screen resolution is then if it is LED backlit high def? It doesn't give a number ratio. What do you think? Also not sure if it has an HDMI port.

Hope that helps.

 

Looks like a nice laptop from best buy. The things you might be missing from the jw-a1 or sw-a1 is usb 3.0 and the 1920X1080 screen. Also this will have a better CPU than the JW.

 

I think you're good with that. The only things that you will get from the A1 models are the backpack,mouse,1tb hybrid hdd. And yes, It has a hdmi port.

This is weird, I think there is a typo on the usb info. The sw's include one USB 3.0 port.

 

There's a sticker on the box with all the specs, including screen size.

 

Did you see the price for it also?

 

Yeah but this is a best buy model. They probably didn't include it to keep the price down.

 

Oh. That's weird that bestbuy would config the mobo just to replace the 3.0 port. Do you think it will still have the 1600x900 screen with bad viewing angles?

 

I would think so. Can always upgrade the screen later if needed.

 

Best Buy already have the G73SW watered down versions? All I see is G73JH-BST7....

 

They still havent released it to market yet.

 

At least the HD is 7200 rpm so this is good.

I hope it is around $1,200 and it includes usb 3.0 and bluetooth.

 

Saw this last night at best buy. They just got the floor model in and it was available. It was $1299 US.

 

My box doesn't have much but the model and make numbers on it. No specs, but I will check again.

The price was $1299. Luckily I did not have to pay anything for the replacement.

Thanks to all who responded. I appreciate it. I am going to keep the computer.

 

can you check your usb ports, if one of them is a color blue one then it is 3.0, also check if you have bluetooth if you can.

Thanks

 

Yup that is what I love about best buy.

 

More information about this model would be great! I am wanting to grab the g73sw and the more info we can get on it the better.

 

There is one blue USB port. I have not found that it has Bluetooth yet. I am waiting to try it out until I get some DVD+R's to backup the system. The display is indeed not 1080 but 900 but looks good so far without gaming yet.
Does anyone know if the user manual for ASus is online or was I supposed to get one. Which key do I use to backlight the keyboard?

 

Nice that blue USB port should be USB 3.0. fn+f3/f4 for keyboard lights.

 

Damn I was really really hoping it was a 1080p screen on this version, I would have picked it up in a heartbeat. Guess I will have to look towards an online buyer for it. Maybe I will get lucky and newegg will have a decent version of the SW in april.

 

sorry but I thought g73sw had the new intel chipset which is kinda faulty
so why would any one wanna buy a device with this chipset in it?

 

@mht220 please see: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...ing-updated-intel-sandy-bridge-notebooks.html

 

It has the 1tb hdd, 1920x1080 screen and blueray! http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174;+Core%26%23153;+i7+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+8GB+Memory+/+1TB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/2043099.p?id=1218306950115&skuId=2043099&st=g73&cp=1&lp=5

 

That is the BST8, and it costs $1500. He has the BST6 and paid $1300. Looks like $200 more gets you 1080p an extra hdd, and blu ray. Not bad for $200, too bad you have to pay tax.

 

Oh. Sorry for the misleading info. Yeah. for $1600+ aftertax, they should just consider getting the A1 from xoticpc for about $50 more. +backpack, mouse, hybrid hdd, bluetooth, 2year global warranty and 1 year accidental.

 

It's fixed. Sandy Bridge was released in early January, flaw found Jan. 31st, and now fixed relaunched versions of G73SWs are available. Hence why everyone has been impatiently waiting (including myself).

 

Thanks I will return it and get the BST8 when I get paid.

 

YES!!! THANK YOU LORD!! IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!

Omg I am so excited, I am going to go pick up the bst8 tomorrow after doing just a tad more research on prices from other companies!! WOOT places are finally getting them!!

 

Sure thing. Please update us if it includes bluetooth or other things. Thanks.

 

i've looked, but maybe i've overlooked and didnt see, but does anyone know the refresh rate? is it 60hz or 120hz?

 

I would be definitely 60Hz, 120Hz are for 3d ready laptops.

 

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Notebooks - ASUS G73SW

last one shows that its an option i'm guessing. wonder what that would cost.

 

It is for the g73sw-3de.

 

*doh* that would make sense

i was hoping to run 3d on this model. could i do it without having to upgrade my screen? I wonder how much that would cost anyways.

 

3D isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Frame rates drop drastically, it gives you a headache after awhile and it doesn't look all that good. Plus who wants to wear glasses all the time?

 

too bad a bought a G73JW about 10 day ago, I didn't think asus would be this fast
and Sandy Bridge really does make a difference

 

Curious to know how much of a difference. Anyone have any benchmark reviews of the 2620qm vs the i720?

 

The cpu it self is faster, much MUCH faster:

PassMark - CPU Mark
High End CPUs - Updated 7th of March 2011

Intel Core i7 720QM @ 1.60GHz 3,266 rank=160
Intel Core i7 740QM @ 1.73GHz 3,578 rank=133
Intel Core i7 920XM @ 2.00GHz 4,419 rank=84
Intel Core i7-2630QM @ 2.00GHz 4,615 rank=75

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

 

is the best buy version 1920x1080 rest? I saw the ads on their websites, and it seem it is 1920x1080. Can someone confirm this?

 

Looks like the BST8 version is 1920x1080, which also seems to be part of there online assortment, meaning it wont be available in to many if any stores..

The BST6 which the OP has is only 1600x900 but is available in stores just not advertised online as of yet..

 

Here is a great article comparing the G73SW to the G73JW.

G73SW Anandtech

To sum it up the the i7-2630 is up to 50% faster than a i7-740 for CPU tasks. Unfortunately since they both have the same GPU gaming performance will be nearly identical ( see these benchmarks). The only real exception to this was Star Craft 2 which is more CPU intensive and is optimized for multi-thread CPUs, here it improved FPS 40%, but only at 1600x900, at 1080p it was the same as the G73JW.

In conclusion, big CPU increase, but no difference in gaming vs a G73JW.

 

compared to my BST7 at a price of 1199:
Asus - Laptop / Intel® Core™ i7 Processor / 17.3" Display / 6GB Memory / 640GB Hard Drive - Black - G73JH-BST7

to the new BST8 at 1499:
Asus - Laptop / Intel® Core™ i7 Processor / 17.3" Display / 8GB Memory / 1TB Hard Drive - Black - G73SW-BST8

a differance of 300 plus tax they really seem to give you alot.....makes me a little jelious but I am comfortable knowing I still have a beast...lol....I wouldn't mind the blueray and USB 3.

when you comare the 2 you get:

blueray
usb3
extra 2 gigs of ram
full HD display
1 TB 7200 rpm drive
much better cpu
2.0 camera
better sound it looks like
and a much better battery it looks like...up too 5 hours on the BST8 compared to the BST7

when you add it all up they are giving you alot for 300.....makes me wonder now why they couldn't of added a few of those to the BST7.....I still perfer my ATI card to the nvidia in the BST8...

 

After reading the review that ValkerieFire posted it made me do a little digging on the 485m pricing in the sager/clevo notebooks. I want your guys opinion on this.

The g73sw bst8 from bestbuy is 1500. The g73sw-a1 with 1 hard drive and lowest specs is 1502.53.

Now the sager/clevo 8170 with the 485m and 4gigs of ram, 1 hard drive is 1827.48 with 8gigs of ram it jumps to 1914.78.

So the question is 1500 vs 1900 gains you the 485m, is the 400 dollar upgrade worth it? Everything else appears to be identical in the two systems so why not?

Also either system I get will have a ssd card so I am picking the lowest priced option on hard drives generally.

 

If youre going for the G73SW, Go for the Xoticpc.com version rather than the one on bestbuy. Bestbuy charges tax, So you spend more for less. On the 485m in sager, It depends if you are really into higher fps games. For $400, You get the Best mobile video card dated.

 

Or you can get a Sager/Clevo/Eurocom/whatever with a 6970m, which has the same performance as the 485m for 400$ less.

 

G73SW-A1 in xoticpc is at $1745.

 

if u minus the BD-rom, the SSD hdds, you can bring the price down to $1590/1542 with cash discount. If you minus the 2nd hdd, u can bring the price down to 1550/1504.

Pretty much either one would be a bit cheaper than the bestbuy after taxes.

For me, I'm kinda hoping i can score the BST6 for cheaper, just gotta hope the price doesnt stay 1299, as I was honestly expecting a $1199 price.