ASUS G Series G71Gx-X2 what do you guys think?

What do you guys think about this system for about $1500 USD/$1600 CAD?

ASUS G Series G71Gx-X2 NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8700(2.53GHz) 17.0" Wide UXGA 6GB Memory 640GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M - Retail

Do you think its worth waiting for Christmas because it might come down? Right now I'm getting a deal where its about 160 off effectively cancelling out shipping and taxes so its just about 1600 CAD.

I just wish I could get the all black version. I don't like the red stuff on the keyboard area.

Anything to watch out for?

 

Spend a few hundred more and get a Sager 8690 instead.

 

5150Joker first of all I just had my 5793 fry, so I think im kinda done with Sager. I know you have a hard on for sager and they can be solid systems but they are not immune to frying or getting destroyed.

Also Asus has a very solid warranty and also Im in Canada so being able to RMA to Canada (locally) is very appealing to me. With my current fried sager I would have to RMA to cali and I don't want to do that because I can't even insure it for how much its worth (and my parts warranty is 4 months old) so I'll have to pay quite a bit depending on what part is gone which I'm still trying to determine.

Also I don't want to spend anymore then about 1500 or so. My 5793 was like 2300 and its potentially 2+ grand wasted. So anyways dont think Sager is the saviour of laptop gaming... are they nice and good yes... are they without any downsides or flaws... no.

 

I recommended the 8690 to you because it offers a better solution for slightly more money, not because I have a "hard on" for Sager. The G72x has a decent display (unlike the G51) but the viewing angles are still limited. There is a large amount of wasted space on the palm rest and the new trackpad is functionally difficult to use. The upgrade path is also very limited (due to a proprietary mxm) so you will be stuck with the 260m. You cannot change the thermal paste while under warranty either because of a little sticker Asus has on the CPU heatsink--if you break it by mistake, goodbye warranty.
If all of that is inconsequential to you, then by all means get the G72x. Personally I like the G51J better because of the track pad and smaller form factor.

 

The price sounds about right for that kind of laptop. I'm an Asus convert myself after my Sager NP2090 died.
Personally, I would just stalk it from now till Christmas for a good deal. Never buy a laptop full price if you can afford to wait, you'll just kick yourself in the next week or two.

 

Well its not really full price now. I'm getting a 10% off deal, so Im saving about 160 bucks, the real price after tax and shipping is about 1800 and change, as I said these saving neutralize those extra fees. What do you think?

Regarding the G72GX I cannot get that in canada because its not offered here. I wish it was. Upgrading is not important to me but I like the idea of opening the system to clean it out but all that is useless to me if my sager has a problem and I have RMA it to the states because shipping costs are expensive and I cannot even insure this system for what its worth sending it to the states for repair if its needed, so if its lost in the mail I get about half of what its worth.

 

My G51vx-A1 went down about $400 here in canada in exactly 2 months with the arrival of the G51j. I kind of wish I had waited. No need for win7 upgrade, no hassle for $100 rebate which I still have not seen and missed out on the i7 mobile. But I'm still actually very very happy with this laptop and don't mind its hardware at all. Just would have been nice to save $400.

Isn't there new G72gx with the same backlit keyboard as the g51's. I really recommend it.

 

It might do you well Dune, to read the post directly above yours.

 

And EIement's forum 'rank/message' proves its usefulness even when unintentional.

 

lol, umm dont listen to the KGB, they are silent kidnappers in the shadows. also regarding upgrading your video card, umm im pretty sure it cost like >500usd to upgrade LAPTOP video cards, i mean 8800m gt from M1730s are being sold for 500-700. when u DO want to upgrade a gpu in a laptop, which is very uncommon, you dish out ~700USD just for a gpu when most likely at the time you wanna upgrade, a system is available @ 1000-1400 that is MUCH better. it will have new mb= new cpu architecture, WARRANTY, better components possibly usb 3.0 etc.

when looking at laptops, i find it highly unlikely that ppl will upgrade video cards down the road. you're better off buying a new notebook. what you get is what you get, gpu wise. if you wanna upgrade, buy a desktop...

 

Sach you newb, the GT200 + 5800 series are due out Q1 2010. I'll be upgrading to it with my Clevo. I'll sell the 280m for $150-$200 and get the new one for $500. Problem solved and no need to buy a new system. Have fun selling the A1 and buying yet another $1500 system. BTW Sach, I'll be retiring as the G51 3dmark06 champ..bahaha!

Edit: Smood, are you set on a 17"? I personally think the G51J might be a better deal for you than the G71 at that price. Or you could save >$400 and buy my X2A

Signed,
A member of the KGB

 

gt200? that already out...and gl trying to sell/upgrade. im just stating what a normal consumer does. you said urself that your an enthuaist...so go upgrade your laptop gpu for 500USD. im not selling my G51, im happy with it. i know if i want better performance i will be building my desktop. ive only put in my battery once into the laptop to check that it works and the percent wear. it still in the bubble wrap -_-...shoudlve goddam got that 400USD desktop that one of the members were selling. that thing would RAPE any notebook released to date. crap now im feeling bad dammit.

 

Yes GT200 as in the die shrunk true 200 series and not the rehashed g92. Well unless nVidia really delivers and gives us the GT 300 fermi (unlikely). Someone somewhere on eBay will buy the 280M GTX for $150-$200. There's always demand for spare parts.

If you never use your notebook as a mobile solution then sell it and get a proper desktop. Seems that's what you really need.

 

Not in this space-time continuum.

17 inch is a must.

 

yea i really needa desktop, moar power to run crysis! nahh but i like my laptop, i can take it around the house, to my game room with my plasma/bose/xbox and hook it up easily. next year when gtx 300 series drops prices i'll get the 360 (gtx, not micro$) and build an i7 rig. got monitor, speakers (newly bought klipsch, AWESOME!!!!!), keyboard (two from clubbing!!, microsoft ergonomic 7000, entertainment 7000), mamba/copperhead. so really 1000USD just for the desktop alone should be good enuf...hopefully.

nice to know that the real GT series is coming, i thought they would be giving a GT 300 series that would be = the GT200 series lol. they are 1 series backwards in pcs...imo, i think the highest performing card that will arrive on notebooks will be ati 5870 mobile that would be = 5770 desktop or something. maybe a OCed 5770. who knows wth nvidia is doing with their mobile series, we hardly have clues on their desktop

 

Then get the 1080p version of G71 if you're going that route. The lesser resolution panel is really subpar in quality. I'm sure BB will eventually offer the G72x in Canada. Maybe you should just wait a little longer.

 

Ya I can wait until christmas time. I just hope I get good deals because if I buy now I can take advantage of newegg's 10% off sale and save $160.

The other thing is the G71 red colour around the keyboard really pisses me off. The black is so much nicer and so it would be nice to have that. But I have a feeling we won't get the G72 up here because they never have gaming laptops in Canadian BB or Futureshop.

 

While at first seems the same, it has some difference, like the enter is big 2 row style, not a big deal, but the keyboards are not identical.

 

Do you think the G71 is going to drop in price a lot during Christmas time? Or will there be something else worth getting by then?

 

G71 is a discontinued model. It probably won't be around much longer.

 

Is it the same as far as backlighting goes, chiklet style kb and the hand rest area? I've really taken to this design and would like to upgrade to a more powerful 17" in the future with similar design.

 

If its discontinued then it has to:

1. Drop more to liquidate the last of the stock.
2. Result in new G72's coming out into the non-best buy market? Because something has to replace it in terms of Asus's gaming series 17 incher?

 

Usually the Reseller G71 was a Quad, pretty expensive if i recall correctly. My guess is that asus will be replacing it with an i7 version for etailers, but this is just a guess.