noob 4 sure - G51 from Best Buy

Whats hapnin fellas?

I have never owned a laptop nor have I gamed on one but I am giving my desktop to my little bro and Im looking for a desktop replacement.

I was at best buy the other day checking out the g51 and I loved it....

I just wanted to get some opinions on how long it would last with future games coming out. I mainly play cs 1.6 which obviously wouldnt be a problem. But I also get on some COD4 and world at war and will probably grab modern warfare 2.

$1000 is kind of a lot for a comp when you could build a beast for half the price.

I guess my question is; will the G51 last a few years in the gaming world?

I also plan on hookin up my 42" plasma via HDMI.

Thanks in advance!

 

EDIT: Im really tempted to go grab this thing from best buy right this second... really cant spend over 999 pre tax but i dont want to jump the gun!

Anything coming out soon that I should wait on?

Appreciate your time

 

well the gpu will definitly last a long time. the native resolution is not a problem for u since you will be using an external monitor. the only problem i might see is the cpu, its rather on the lower side.

 

the possibility of upgrading the cpu exists though correct? I understand it would void the warranty... This would be my first laptop. This G51 would probably last me 4 years right?

I have built my past 2 desktops but work as gobbled up my computer literacy for the past 2 years. :/

 

Sure it's upgradable

It should last quite a few years if it is well taken care of

 

i dont thing the 2.0gzh cpu that comes with it will last you 4 years, the rest of the laptop should have no problem keeping up for 4 years. You can upgrade the cpu, but it will void your warranty as you already know. The 260m gtx should have not prob with cod4 and cod5.

 

sweet. good lookin guys, im about to run to best buy.... teehee

 

cheers and good luck with your new laptop

 

Enveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
I want to buy a new laptop, it has been a really long time since I bought a laptop... at least 3 months

 

hahaha! I have never had one... But the first time i saw this thing at best buy like 3 days ago... it was gorgeous.

I just hope nothing new comes out in 2 months for the same price... which is bound to happen... but i really dont game hype that much... pretty much just some cs and cod.

 

lol GO GET IT!!

 

nice buy man

im really tempted to get one too

yeah it has been a really long time since I bought a laptop... at least 17 years (oh by the way im 17)

 

im on it right now at bestbuy... i didnt see the g71 here before but they have it now.

is the g71 worth getting for $150 for bucks vs the g51?

ty!

 

G71 is an uglier laptop (save for the cover which is nicer) and it throttles to like 2 FPS when the video card hits 82 C. So stick with the G51 for now, it's got a nicer look overall, better display IMO, backlit keyboard etc. I'm on the fence about this laptop as well. If I knew for SURE that I could replace the 720p screen later with the 1080p, I'd have bought it today.

 

You definitely get you're money's worth for the extra $150 you'll spend.

Question you really have to ask is the extra size and weight going to be an issue you can live with?

 

Uglier? Opinion.

Fix for throttling at the end of next week--bios update, or so say the online resellers.

Screen looks a little crisper, kind of. But lower resolution. (then again, I don't see much of a difference. maybe the G51 was a tad bit brighter, but it's honestly nothing you can tell)

For $150 more, the G71 blows the G51 away.

 

I disagree, I don't think you get your money's worth with the extra 150. The keyboard is garbage on the G71 compared to the G51, the palm rest isn't built as good and the display is of lower quality (based on my subjective opinion after testing both). They both have the same graphics card and with most games, the quad core won't help at all. Both have weak CPU's so it'd be a better deal to grab the G51 and upgrade the CPU.

Did you look at the viewing angles on the G71? Even a 10 degree angle washes the entire screen out and the vertical viewing angle is by far the worst I've ever seen. The colors look pale even when looking at it head on. The laptop is also heavier compared to the G51 and as I said above, aesthetically I don't think it matches up with the G51. Again like I already said, IMO it's a better idea to get the G51 and spend that extra $150 on a better CPU. Plus who knows if that new bios will really fix the problem with the G71. I wouldn't want to gamble with $1150 + tax and risk a 15% restocking fee.

 

you guys are really bustin my balls here. Im still here waiting for a rep to ask me if i need help.. im gonna try to hustle em down a hundo.

Ive got like 6 beers in me and i need to ... im feelin the g51....
possibly upgrade the cpu later on...
i really do appreciate all the help guys

 

Opinion, opinion, opinion, and quad core? You sure about that?

 

lol, again, more opinions. Keyboard isn't trash, not from what I've seen and used. In fact, I prefer it more than the Apple/Sony style keyboard, it's opinion.

I like the rubber-like palm rest more, so I agree there. However, my friend who even picked up the G51, likes the G71's more. So, rack up another for opinion.

Screen quality again, tough to tell for me like I said before. Lower res for G51, but slightly brighter? Your call.

Weak CPUs? Lol, really? The G51 has a weak CPU, the G71 does not. Is it the best? By far, no! But does it outrun the G51's by far? Yes.

I usually don't look at my computer from weird angles, but no, I still don't really see what you mean. Both the G51's and the G71's screen looked washed out when I looked at them from the sides, top, bottom.

 

Actually the Quad will help quite good in games like GTA4 and newer games coming in the not so distant future should have full support for them.

 

wow... im stuck between rock and a hard place.. i just need one to last me for around 4 years. the g71 is quite ugly.. teehee.
this is so hard.... ahhhhhh

 

GTA IV, FC2 and L4D are about the only games that I can think of which give a bit of an advantage to a quad core. Even other gaming websites recommend getting a higher clocked dual core for the forseeable future vs quad. Overall taking that $150 and putting it towards something like this is a much better idea for gaming: http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Core-2-Du...0354566QQptZAUQ5fComponentsQQsalenotsupported it will only consume 25 W vs 45 W and give you better performance overall.

 

how is it ugly? personally i would rather it look like crap, no joke, the last thing i want is a bunch up flashing blue lights on the top jsut screeming to the rest of the people in my class that "this is an expensive laptop, come steal me!"

 

QUAD CORE IS NOT included in the $1150.00 G71!

The CPU upgrade alone is worth $150.00

 

And also, I'm sure a lot of the people thinking of picking up the G51 don't want to void their warranty just to have to put in a better CPU. Buying something with already outdated parts (depending on what you're doing/playing, mind you), isn't the smartest thing you could do.

 

you guys are bustin my balls. i just got here and want to walk out with one. The g51 is lookin like the one to take... i think i can manage and update the cpu later on... of course youre buying something outdated... the g51/g71 will be outdated in a month...

 

Haha, alright, maybe outdated was a bad choice of words. I mean "really weak".

 

Lol........................thats why i said "in the future"

 

Haha yeah it really is an ugly laptop, you don't realize it until you see it in person. Just grab the G51 man, you'll be happy. As long as Asus stuck to MXM, you should be able to upgrade the GTX 260m in it as well. The CPU and ram will definitely be upgradeable as will the HDD. So it will easily last you 3-4 years.

 

In the "future" (pretty vague) the 2.0 Q9000 will be junk. Anyway, seems we were both off. The CPU isn't quad, it's the P8700 it seems which is a decent processor but still not worth getting the G71. He can still save that $150 and add in a bit more cash and get that P9600.

 

my advide is wait if you are unsure...there are more g51's sceduled to arime in the near future. Rjtech is planning on having a barebone version soon but are not releaseing an ETA, not to mention the newegg version that will be here soon.

 

What makes it look uglier though? Is it the color scheme?

 

that is exactly what i wanted to hear joker!
Going with the g51.

Thanks guys!

 

I wouldn't even bother, once someone has their mind set, they won't be open to anything else. Sad, but true.

It's just an opinion thing. I personally think the all black G71 looks way better than the corny-like robot white cover of the G51.

Only difference is I think both look great instead of being so closed-minded about it.

 

It's the entire casing that is uglier, it's had to explain unless you go see both in person. The keyboard is awful, it has this cheap grainy plastic texture to it, the palm rest is cheap looking thick plastic and overall the chasis is bulky. The G51 has a perfect balance, the chasis isn't bulky, the palm rest looks "classier" for the lack of a better word and the keyboard has that MacBook look to it with backlighting. If ASUS would've used the G71's cover on the G51, it would've been a perfect looking laptop since that transformers cover is atrocious.

 

Neither are ugly, but the asus with lightning on it is imo.

Also, I can testify that when you have a 17" screen a lighted keyboard would be unnecessary. The screen provides enough light.

Also, someone mentioned at least the g71x doesnt have blue lights on top, but it does.

 

this best buy is packed. Im walking out. $1000 is a good investment and i feel like im buying on impulse. If anything, ill come back tomorrow but right now these people are pissing me off.
AHHHHHHHHHHHH
thanks again guys.
looks like ill be doing more research @ work tomorrow, haha.

If in fact newegg comes out with a g51 and more powerful processor, its gonna be over a grand wont it?

 

I think calling either of them "totally and completely ugly" comes from 1 of 2 things:

A. You honestly think that, and that's cool, but constantly saying it can get to be annoying. Opinions are alright, but remember: they're opinions.

or

B. Reassurance for getting one model over the other; having the justify your purchase.

 

Yes, the newegg ones will range about from about $1200-$1700 like the old g50 models. I'd say just go for the Best Buy G51 model and upgrade the cpu yourself if you need more power.

 

just got home. I said it and walked out of BB empty handed. I think its for the better as I am kinda drunk...

Thats a good amount of money and dont know if i game enough to spend that loot.

ill just wait for the netbook that can play cs 1.6 and ill be a happy scampy!

hehe

 

Once you sober up, I think you'll find Joker's suggestions far less persuasive. Try reading this thread again in the morning.

 

lol, will do steelers.

btw, IMO = ?
in my opinion?

Random question... whats the cheapest asus lappy that would support COD4 and COD6?

 

^ imo = in my opinion, imho = in my high opinion

 

imho=in my humble opinion (thats what i mean when i say it)

anyway, there are better deals and better performance than the asus's. You just have to look and do some research.

 

I have always thought that it is "in my honest opinion"... lol

 

It's going to be at least 1,500. So if you want something cheap with a nice GPU it's bestbuy.

 

I am pretty much in the same boat as I believe a good amount of folks here are, that is which to choose the G51 or the G71. (I am not taking into account the 82 degree issue atm impacting the G71 as I like most believe it will be fixed shortly)

I went to BB today and a few of my observations/opinions of the two machines.

1. First, Both computers look nice in their own right and if you buy solely on the exterior look of a laptop then please choose now....If not then feel free to read on.

2. If you despise finger prints stay clear of the G71. While it has some nice inset non marking palm rests the rest of the laptop is glossy plastic and attracts finger prints like mad. The G51 with its white top-cover, matte finish sides and rubberized palms resists finger prints much easier.

3. However if you hate greasy spots stay clear of the G51. That rubberized palm rest and keyboard while neat looking will show any and all body oils (yes, you all have them). A few minutes or hours and ick. Also do not eat things like popcorn, chips, fast food etc while at the helm of the G51 you will go insane at what it looks like in the aftermath. The G71s textured palms and keys are much less susceptible and do not show nearly as quickly or easily.

3. The screens are pretty close, with the G51 slightly ahead. I believe this is because the G51 is slightly brighter (across all brightness settings). At first the G51 angle of viewing seemed to be more forgiving however the more I ran around both machines I would have to say it was the brightness and the less "glassy look of the screen" on the G51 that made it seem like it had better angles of viewing. In the end they both are about the same and really don't offer you much wiggle room, but again we are talking about a laptop not a TV. You should have no trouble setting the screen in front of you for optimal solo viewing; as opposed to a TV where multiple people are sitting at different positions and you can't turn the TV towards each person individually. The G51 seemed a tab bit sharper but not by much and again it could be an effect of the brightness difference and that the screen covering seemed to reflect glare less.

4. Both offer only 2 channel onboard sound. This is where I was slightly disappointed because I believe the G71 has 4 separate speakers (2 at the top of the keyboard and 2 at the front near the latch release) but still could only produce stereo, not multichannel sound. Both offer the same sound options and seem to have the same sound processors. I played with this for quite a while but if someone has found something different, which would surprise me please share.

5. The wireless adapters are different the G51 has the Intel 5100 and the G71 doesn't use an Intel adapter but I cannot recall the brand or model. I believe it started with an A (yeah big help there). Just know they are not the same.

6. For those wishing for an external monitor setup....I prefer the G71 setup here. The HDMI output on the G71 is at the back of the laptop while the G51 puts the HDMI output on the left side at the front, ick. Less wire mess with it coming out the back vs. side.

7. The G51 offers no "out of the box" OC'ing for the CPU. The G71 offers the standard Turbo Gear with up to a 15% user selectable OC bringing the CPU to just over 2.9Ghz. This might not be a big deal to some as they prefer SetFsb but to some who are not as "minded" having this utility out of the box is beneficial.

While the feel and ergonomic features (back-lighted keys, smaller size) seem to favor the G51 the "tech" seems to slightly favor the G71. If the G51 offered the same Duo2 not Centrino2 and 6GbRAM at lower ambient temps I think there would be less him'in and haw'in unless you absolutely needed a bigger screen. But unfortunately it doesn't. Heck I bet most would be happy with a better CPU and a little more breathing room for when you want to push it in a G51 but alas it doesn't thus the quandary.

I don't think you can go wrong with either, but I would hazard a guess one might find themselves running out of headroom faster with the G51 than with the G71.

I walked out still going "hmmm" as both had some pluses and minuses and while the best solution was to "Frankenstein" parts from both to make the "ultimate" solution it unfortunately wasn't available.

 

^ nice review. via hdmi though, the g71 has home theater and dts (according to bestbuy.com). the g51 does not list this so i assume it doesnt...

also, have you seen the gateway fx screen? if so how do these compare to it with brightness and angles?

 

Wow, a nice, well-rounded review/look into things, that's what I'm talking about.