G73SW-BST8 From Best Buy Questions.

Hey all, long time lurker, first post here.

It's getting to be time for me to break down and pick up a new laptop.

I am currently using a Gateway 6831 FX that I upgraded to a C2Duo T7700 2.4ghz with two 150 gig 7200 RPM drives running in raid 0. I've had this machine for 3 years and it still runs most things with the 8800 GTS M, but it's not all that anymore.

I was looking at the new Asus G73SW-BST8 that they have listed at Best Buy and the specs are impressive for the price.

I am wondering if this model has bluetooth built in. It is not listed on the spec sheet from Best Buy. On the previous model (BST7) it was listed as No.

Does anyone here have any info on this yet? I would miss the bluetooth, because my Gateway has it built in, but I suppose it's not a deal breaker.

Unfortunately I have called around to a few Best Buy stores and they are telling me this won't be an item carried in stock, in store you will have to order it online and as of now it's back ordered.

Any info would be appreciated.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...=1218306950115&skuId=2043099&st=G73&cp=1&lp=5

 

Thinking of getting this one too and hopefully they wont jack up the price... Not really a deal breaker for me if it doesnt include bluetooth.

 

I can't give you a definitive answer, but my gut guess would be no bluetooth native in the BST8. For whatever reason, some of the Best Buy models end up having that feature dropped...perhaps for cost savings.

It's not a big deal to add a mini-USB bluetooth adapter for $40 or so if you need/want it. That's what I did with the G73 I had and it worked fine with my Razor Orochi.

Edit: Here's a new one that Best Buy has for a mere $16:

IOGEAR - Bluetooth USB 2.0 Micro Adapter - GBU421

Or the Rocketfish (*shudder*) branded one that I had that actually worked quite well:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Rocketfish%26%23153%3B+-+Micro+Bluetooth+USB+Adapter/8820886.p?id=1207351932175&skuId=8820886&st=bluetooth%20adapter&cp=1&lp=4

 

Internal Bluetooth is better for a cleaner base look laptop than inserting external usb bt.

 

Not debating that point...just saying there are options.

 

Does this lappy have Optimus(switchable graphics)?

 

Nope, at least from what I've read, it does not. :<

 

Dang. That's depressing. Such a sleek lappy, and only missing 1 feature that I wanted most

 

Cisco USB Bluetooth dongles cost about 8 bucks.

 

Listed is 1TB HDD, is that 2x500 GB's or a 12.5mm 1TB 7200RPM, is there even one yet? Nice spec's with FHD compared to the reduced res they had before...............

Edit; never mind, even the Seagate Constelation 2 1TB 2.5 is a 15mm drive and pricey......

 

What is the difference between this bestbuy model and the A1 model?
I can't seem to pinpoint any differences

 

Best Buy versions are watered down versions of the real ones

- Lowered resolution from 1080p to 900p or 720p
- No Bluetooth
- Only 1yr Best Buy warranty instead of the 2 year Asus Warranty & 1 yr accidental warranty
- No Bag and Mouse
- Best Buy Bloatware Softwares
- Best Buy Sales Tax

 

The BST8 has FullHD panel

 

Should I buy the G73Sw BST8 or xoticpc ->cheapest config. or the AW cheapest config M17xR3.

My budget is $ 1,500.00

Bestbuy offers G73Sw for $ 1,499.00 with:

500 GB HDD more (it has 1TB 7200rpm HDD)
Blueray reader

-> NO = Bluetooth + ASUS Targus Backpack + ASUS ROG Mouse

xoticpc offers G73Sw for $1,502.76 with

Bluetooth
ASUS Targus Backpack
ASUS ROG Mouse

-> No = Bluray reader + only 500 GB 7200rpm

Except for the things I mentioned, I believe everything else is the same.

So which do you think should it be.

I have a relative who stays in CA and she would be buying it for me.

I formerly own an MSi GX640 and Im through with its hot fan blowing in my right hand while holding an external mouse.

Plus, can anybody confirm if the G73Sw model still has its notorious, G73 Keyboard + Touchpad issues?



ORRRR Should I just buy the $1,499.00 Alienware R3

With the changing keyboard lights

HDMI in

and the bragging rights. lawl

-> but without blueray + only has 1680x900 monitor + no bag + no mouse + only has 320 GB HDD.

 

@nido23

You could get this, Amazon.com: ASUS G73SW-XA1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black): Computer & Accessories.

Says it comes with a backpack and a mouse, has BT, 1 750gb(7200rpm) hdd and the 1080p panel. I went ahead and preordered it, just hope its not much longer till it gets a shipping date. Either way, not bad for $1399.

 

Get it from either Amazon or Xoticpc. If the relative lives in Cali, you dont get taxed from those 2 sites. Bestbuy has only a short return policy, and they charge a 15% restocking fee regardless of what reason your return is. Overall, get the cheapest. You prolly won't be using Bluetooth anyways.

 

Actually bestbuy ended their restocking fees over Christmas, but you are correct anywhere is better than bestbuy since you will save on tax. BestBuy is good for trying things out now that the return fee is gone. I tried out the Logitech G35 headphones for 29 days before returning them (don't worry they were in flawless condition when I did so, the sale associate couldn't even tell I opened them).

 

Did they really get rid of that damn restocking fee? Got dang! COOL

 

yeah, i think ill be buying from amazon. i think ill be getting more, cause ill be only missing bluray if im not mistaken, which i could buy later on if ever i need it.

thanks for the info!

and also thanks for pointing out about the possibility of getting taxed(paying more than what is needed) on bestbuy, and not on xotic and amazon.

On xoticpc and amazon, are they trustworthy. I mean, I believe xoticpc does assemble laptops and they mustve had assembled and tested it before sending it right? ,. on the other hand, i am not sure about amazon. though the price for what ill be getting is very tempting.

 

just wondering, when you pre-ordered it, did they charge your card right away?

 

yeah, id like to know that too...

 

I'd buy from amazon, that way you can avoid having to wire transfer money to xotic, and you can safely pay with a cc. <-- that's if you intended to get the cash discount from xotic. Otherwise, you can pay "full price" with xotic and just pay with cc. GL!

 

Nope, they don't charge until there is a shipping date confirmed from what they told me, since I was curious as well before pre-ordering(my card hasnt been charged yet).

Amazon is great, even better than xotic as they pay for return shipping if the laptop is defective and is much easier to get a full refund. Don't get me wrong, XoticPC is not that bad, I just prefer not to go with them after they lied to me about stress testing my machine(it wasnt).

 

I'm also interested in this laptop.
But is it just me or did you guys also notice that there are no massive vents on the back of the laptop based on the photo on bestbuy's website? ---> Larger Front
I'm thinking they might just have posted the wrong photo ...

 

Nope, its there, you can see the outline, since thats from a top view angle.

 

I actually use my bluetooth. I use my laptop for work and play and my company cell phone is my wireless mobile broadband, it is so much easier when I need to connect to the internet to be able to use the bluetooth modem vs. pulling out a cable.

 

I think the amazon laptop seems a better combo, $100 cheaper (probably also save the tax), suppose to come with mouse and backpack (might be a typo from copying the specs from A1), but even then its $50 cheaper than when i bought my JW-XA1, the extra $100 saved over the Bestbuy, i would use it toward an ssd like Intel X25m, just try to get an additional bracket before, as its not that easy.

And amazon doesn't charge for preorders, they will charge it as soon as it get in stock and right before it moves to shipping soon status. You can cancel the preorder anytime without any charge, as long as it hasn't change to shipping soon.

 

haha, you are right ... it is from a top view angle ... what was i thinking ???

 

You are probably correct. The main advantage to Best Buy is the 18 months no interest financing I suppose.

 

Here is a little something to think about. I was thinking of going with the bst8, or even any type of g73sw. However it only has a 460m and later on down the line will struggle with newer games. Since the card is not upgradable, why not buy the sager np8170. WITH the 460m it's cheaper then the asus g73 and all you are losing are backlit keys. With this option you save money and you have the option of later on down the line upgrading to a 485m or something even better.

I was die hard set on the asus g73 until I started thinking about it. Why not pay a few hundred more and get a 485m in a sager np8170. Cooling is the same, its going to last MUCH longer, frame rates are drastically improved, its a win win for everyone. If you are on a really tight budget right now though and need one, simply get it with the 460 and later on down the line upgrade it to the 485m if you feel you need to.

The way I see it is you should be able to have as much headroom as possible because you never know what the next gen games are going to bring =P.


I personally decided to stray away from the g73 and towards the np8170, after more thought I have decided to simply build a gaming desktop. For the price to performance ratio it's stupid to buy laptops unless you need the mobility. Personally I play in bed on my gateway fx laptop and it wouldn't be bad to play at a desk with a desktop.

If you don't need mobility then buy a desktop

 

It's more than a few hundred more on any site I look at it , matching the g73sw on Amazon with 8GB ram , 2 year warranty , 750 gb harddrive and a 485gtx in an 8170 gets over 2100 everywhere I look - add shipping and almost 2200

so basically almost 800 dollar difference for the 460 asus g73 to a sager with 485 but exact specs on everything else

 

I wouldn't be to sure about the 2 year warranty, all X models have 1 year less warranty than the A models, so im assuming this is a typo from amazon, the bags and mouse might or not be in the XA1, idk, but the warranty is less likely.

 

shinchan, you obviously didn't look at Xotic PC. You can price a G73SW-3DE for 2542 and a Sager 8170-S1 for 2798.

 

I ended up going with the G73SW-BST6 from Best Buy. I know it doesn't have the 1080p panel or Bluray but they told me it could be up to 2 months on backorder for the BST8 and I didn't want to wait.

My suggestion though is to go with the Amazon model if you have the cash upfront. I bought the Best Buy model for the 18 months no interest. It's hard to beat that.

 

Please note that the bestbuy versions comes with 1gb vram gtx460, Not the normal 1.5gb vram that comes with the normal g73sw's.

 

... not that the 1.5gb vs 1.0gb for vram makes *any* difference.

 

yea....you won't notice any difference vs 1.5 to 1....both will act and perform the same

 

I knew that. Just informing everybody.

 

You also have to remember that a gaming laptop will not eat your electric bill like a high powered desktop will. Where the most your gaming laptop will pull is 200 watts from your plug some desktops almost require their own breaker. On the high end a 3 way SLI 580 GTX, SB 2600k all overclocked with running a 1,500 Watt PSU and large screen could pull almost 10 times the power. Even a single 580 GTX, 2600K and monitor could pull 800 watts gaming.

Even idle a desktop generally will pull more out of the electric bill. Just the monitor alone could eat more power. Even that Sager with 485m overall will be more energy efficient...............

 

Thats almost my main reason for liking gaming laptops so much. Also, while internal temps may tend to be higher than a desktop, it doesnt blow as much hot air into the room. My desktop during the summer makes my room go from 84f to about 90f on avg.

When I just use the gaming laptop my room doesnt go above 86f. So not only can you save money from the power draw of the PC, but on AC as well. Of course, it becomes a negative during the winter, but meh, its harder to get cooler than get warmer(just wear more clothes :>)

Anyways, I'm getting my G73SW-XA1 today, so I'm excited, woot!

 

the i7 is 2ghz but what does it max at with turbo

 

which I7? They're different, I think wikipedia has a list.

 

For the i7 2630QM maxes at 2.9ghz for 1 thread, 2.8ghz for 2threads,2.6ghz for 4threads, and I guess if temps stay good even with 8threads being 100% maxed with prime I stayed turbod at 2.3ghz.

 

I ordered the BST8 from Best Buy on 3-11-11 as a lemon replacement and have an estimated arrival date at the store of 3-23-11. Hope that it arrives then. Although, I am thinking of selling it and getting and Alienware 17mx R3 3D capable with a different graphics card than the NVIDIA. Decisions. . . decisions.