Best Single GPU setup?

i forgot to quote u earlier, but i really appreciate these types of posts. i appreciate u actually posting from experience/knowledge and not pure speculations.

thanks alot. as for the student discounts, my GF still goes to school, but was not enrolled the last 2 semesters. she will however be gettin back into school after she takes her GMAT (masters) test. does that make any difference?

i've been hearin some good things about the intel SSD's, so that was probably goin to be my first choice. are there other SSD's that are on par, or better, than the intel SSD's?

i had a question about RJtech as well. they sell "barebone" systems. i've never really had any experience ordering a "barebone" type of system. what are the differences from a xoticpc bought sager np8850 and the clevo w880cu equivalent? is the only difference in the branding? are there any advantages of goin with a "branded" sager np8850 instead of an "unbranded" clevo w880cu? sorry for all the questions.

 

The difference between W880CU and NP8850 is who does the warranty business when your laptop breaks. Sager will if you order a Sager (except for the extended labor warranties offered by XoticPC, et al.). RJTech will do the warranty if you buy from RJTech.

You can order the W880CU barebones from RJTech, or you can have them assemble it in-house for free, so it's up to you if you prefer an operational laptop out of the box (most people do).

 

As well as if you care about the possibility that they are using refurbished parts, your parts in a retail box and assembled by yourself = you know it's new.

 

While there are faster drives out there now, the Intel 160GB is the sweet spot really for price/performance. Otherwise the Corsair C300's seem to be the new favorite.

To be honest I don't know that you'd notice between an Intel and any of the newer drives anyhow.

 

i guess i'll just order it assembled since they are about the same price.

that does kinda have a nice appeal to it. i just got done configuring my final NP8850 build. tell me what u guys think.

- 17.3" FHD LED Backlit 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1920x1080)
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- Intel® Core™ i7-840QM, 1.86-3.2GHz, (45nm, 8MB L3 cache)
- - IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
- nVidia GeForce GTX 480M 2,048MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 (User Upgradeable)
- No Video Adapter
- ~ 6,144MB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (Requires 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB)
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) - Default (i will be replacing the HDD with a 160GB intel x25-m)
- Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Intel® Ultimate-N 6300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- 11.1V Smart Li-Polymer battery pack 3800mAh, 42.18Wh
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- 3 Year Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime -24/7 DOMESTIC Based- Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
Includes FREE Shipping Both Ways for Warranty Repairs

i did a little searching around and this intel x25-m 160GB is gettin alot of praise. what do u guys think about this SSD and the final NP8850 build? hopefully all of my hardware is compatible with each other. i'm also contemplating if i should get a bluray drive as well. i'm not sure i'll even really use it, but i'm pretty sure i'll have a bluray drive by the time i check out.

 

840QM is a waste of money. You either go with a 720QM or go for a 940XM. Intel X25-M's are as good as SSD's get.

 

Awesome build, I wish I could get the same one. I'm still waiting until the end of August to see what Nvidia has in store for laptops though, but I'm pretty much like you as I want the best single GPU available atm.

If you got the cash for the 840, go for it because it's close to the 920QM and less expensive. If not, 740 will do just fine.

For the HDD, you don't have to replace the 320GB because you got 2 slots in this laptop, so keep it for data, and install Windows + Games/Programs on the SDD to fully benefit from it.

Bluray would be a nice addition - enjoying full HD movies on a 17.3 laptop is appealing, though I wouldn't go for a burner (don't see the use for now).

 

Good to see you made the right choice Houstened - go green.

 

Blu-Ray only if you intend on watching Blu-Ray movies. Otherwise standard DVD drive.

Intel X25-M FTW!

 

All things considered I say the MR5870 is the overall best single mobile GPU out right now. If you only care about FPS and nothing else, then the GTX480M is the top card, but not by that much.

Same thing goes in the desktop realm as well IMO.

 

You will surely be getting a supreme laptop, but I guess it just bows down to personal opinion. Enjoy your machine and nevermind the rest

Personally, I would be willing to get a dual card setup before paying for a 480m. Sure, it's a good performing gpu but the price just makes me cry xD.

I wish I had that much money to buy such a monster though.

 

if price isnt an issue then go for the 480m definitely. imho as driver support for the 480m matures, you will see a bigger difference in performance from the 5870. also the sub 70*c temps on stock clocks leave a lot of o/c'ing potential.
the 8850 really has some tremendous cooling.
consider an ssd if price isnt a problem. but from what ive seen in the ssd thread and from phil's comments there many more options right now than the overpriced intels, in terms of both performance and stability ( and price).
the 840xm is indeed a good processor that i myself am considering to get (however i do video editing. ) . since the 8850 comes with the 180 watt psu maybe you can consider the 920xm. afaik the price of a 920xm is not that far away from the 840. with the 180w psu and excellent cooling of the 8850 and an ssd im quite sure you could go for some serious overclock on both the gpu and cpu. now that would be as future -proof as you can get atm!

 

since some of u guys are sayin that there are other SSD's out there that are comparable with the intel x-25, in terms of price/performance. could u guys name some or give me some suggestions? i know someone mentioned something about crucial SSD's and i was wondering if this particular crucial SSD was any good. i was originally lookin at a 160GB intel x-25 m SSD for around $400 (from newegg), but this crucial one is 256GB for the same price. seems like a pretty nice deal to me as far as SSD's go. what do u guys think?

do any of u guys have any suggestions on where to shop for the best SSD prices, or know if the intel x-25's go on sale at all?

 

You probably should ask advise about ssd on big sticky, not out of its not appropriate here, but you will draw more subscribers that really know ssd there. I personally find the X25m great, specially since with my games im well over 120gb, a 128gb wont be enough for my needs, so moving into the 200/256mb of the sanforce is too expensive in my case, like crucial C300. But X25m is no longer the fastest ssd in the market, i believe the sanforce based are.

Intel might be coming with G3 before years end or at least that was the plan, i have lost track if this has change, but that what im waiting for my desktop. I had such a good experience with my x25m that ill wait till g3 is out.

 

off topic but that pic in your profile, whether it's you or your gf, she looks Gangsta, Sexy!!! lol

 

thanks for linkin me to the SSD thread. after a bit of discussion i changed my mind and am going with the 160GB corsair force SSD. i'm stoked. i can already picture my NP8850.

she's just some random chick that had some nice artwork that i liked.

 

the crucial i like is the crucial c300 128gig sata 3
Newegg.com - Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC128MAG-1G1CCA 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
good price, sata 3, but with slow random writes. still excellent value overall imho

or this if it fits your slot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148359