Decided on GE60, three questions on config prior to ordering.

Alright, after considering many a laptop, I've settled on the MSi GE60, ordering from XoticPC (unless someone knows a better place to order it from). So, three questions now:

1. For someone who does like to game from time to time, but doesn't do it all day / night, is the thermal compound needed? $35 isn't a ton of money, but still, rather not spend it if it isn't needed.

2. I've been told the stock networking card is crap. I don't need an uber networking card (a few ping difference isn't a major issue for me) but I do like good signal strength and range. What card would you recommend upgrading to, if you feel an upgrade is worth it?

3. What SSD drive would you recommend? At the moment the 120GB options on XoticPC seem to fit the bill in terms of size and cost, specifically the 128GB Crucial and the 120 Mushkin. Thoughts? It would be for my system install. The 750GB hard drive would be for storage and media.

Laptop w/ config options here: http://www.xoticpc.com/msi-ge60-0nd042us-p-4576.html

Thanks in advance.

Q

 

1. If you don't plan on heavy usage of any kind for extended periods of time, I think you can forgo the thermal compound. If you find the need for it later on as your computer ages, you can always purchase your own paste and do it yourself for cheaper. Heat management on the GE60 shouldn't be too bad even with the stock thermal paste from what I've seen (though if you get a bad stock job you might experience higher temperatures).

2. The Intel Advanced-N 6235 is the best choice for you. It's not too expensive and its performance over the stock card is worth the price.

3. Would you consider buying an SSD off of newegg and doing it yourself? It should be cheaper that way. I like the 128GB Crucial, my personal preference.

 

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

 

I would also look at Gentech, Ken is a good person to deal with. Compare prices and options available between the two.

 

MSI uses MX-2 as the stock thermal compound in the gaming series.

It's a high quality TC.

If you can afford it,go for the Muskin Atlas 240GB for the performance gain over the 120GB or just order with the stock mechanical hard drive and get a MyDigitalSSD SMART series mSATA SSD(rebadged ADATA SX300) or the Muskin Atlas later

Newegg.com - ADATA XPG SX300 ASX300S3-256GM-C mSATA 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced Atlas Series MKNSSDAT240GB-DX mSATA 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Amazon.com: MyDigitalSSD 256GB Smart Series SATA III (6G) SandForce mSATA SSD - MDMS-SFIII-256: Computers & Accessories

I have the Killer 1103,1102 plus the Intel 6300.

I like the Killer 1103 with the 3rd antenna a little better than the Intel 6300 just because it has less lag connecting to sites I click on in my favorites and far less lag connecting after coming out of sleep mode.

Downloading files and connected signal strength are similar on my network with Netgear R6300 router.

If you're in the same room as the router most wireless cards will do a good job when paired with a decent router but as you put more distance between the notebook and the router plus going through floors and walls the stock cards start to have signal dropoffs and disconnects.

 

One thing I've noticed with the GT60 is it takes a surprisingly long time when waking from sleep. Is it seriously the network adapter that's causing this?

 

I just bought the exact same GE60 from xotic as well and mine is currently in production. I ended up deciding to install my own mSata SSD because, after speaking with xotic, they told me having them install the 256gig crucial that i wanted would add an additional week or two to the build. That's not really thier fault since that particular SSD is out of stock(or severely over priced) almost everywhere i looked https://www.insight.com/search/ppp.web?materialId=CT256M4SSD3 being the exception.

For the network card, I didn't know any better so i left the stock card in.

For the thermal paste, just get the stock paste, see how your temps are, and as suggested earlier, do the repaste yourself for cheaper.