Have a few MSI Questions

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy my first real gaming laptop within the next month (unless CES tells me to wait for something). I've narrowed it down to Sager/Clevo and MSI, which other than overpriced Alienware, seem to be the top of the line choices.

I'm looking for a 15" most likely, may go for the 17".

In configuring on different sites, I've noticed that nobody offers an AMD card (6990M), and everything is ATI. Is there a reseller/builder who offers the 6990M? If not, I'll go with the 580M.

What kind of a build quality should I expect from MSI? Are there any problems that normally rear their head (laptop hinges, keyboard flex, frame flex, etc) under normal use?

Gaming wise, are the Sager and MSI comparable in performance, heat clearing, noise?

I'll probably come up with more, but that's what I have right now. Hopefully some of you MSI guys can chime in here.

Also, who's the preferred MSI carrier for the US?

 

I have only owned the GT780 DX for about 4 days but have owned various Laptops (Dell, HP,Acer,Sony,ASUS) for over 10 years l 'll offer over some opinions to get ya started (use search and read the Lounge thread lots of good info in there)

1. I was also debating the 15.6 vs. 17.3 - I still own a Dell XPS M1730 and was leery on the portability of a 17.3. (My Dell is a beast well over 12lbs witht the power brick and brick is the right word) However the MSI GTX780 DX will actually fit in my 15" back pack. It is much lighter than the Dell. Choose the 17.3 as the extra screen space is nice and my eyes are not what the use to be. Matte screen is a bonus as well after several years of glossy.

2. Don't know mine is the 570 seems great although I edit photos and video more so than being a gamer.

3. Seems solid - one thing I really like is the power connector in the back. I use my laptop on a chair a lot and having the connector on the side is a PIA. Lots of reviews here range from rock solid to a POS. From my initial look I am leaning more towards the former. I think the optical drive could be a little more solid – seems to make a bit of noise at times.

4. Not a gamer and never owned a Sager. I do notice the fans noise if I am burning DVD's or some resource intense activity not the quietest laptop I have owned but the noise is not that bad.

5. I am a Canadian eh - but I do know there are some very reputable and helpful US dealers that frequent this forum. Email / call them to check it out.

I have not owned it long enough to answer what some would call the definiitive question (Would you recommend it to a friend) but so far so good.

 

I'm lookin' into becoming an MSi owner myself. It's down to that or an Asus. I'm kinda torn between the 15" & 17" (MSi) but I dont like the fact that the 15" keyboard isn't backlit...needless to say the multi-colored keyboard on the 17" is epic win

 

This is just my expereince so YMMV - I have personally had issues with ACER and ASUS and will never buy them again. Some people have had great luck with these machines as I said YMMV - This is just my opinion.

My ASUS (G53S 15.6in) I had for a little over 6 months. Was relativley happy with it until the USB ports starting acting up, the power pin never connected quite snuggly and eventually broke off rendering the Laptop useless unless you had an never ending supply of batteries. (from sitting in the chair and it rubbing I hate power connectors on the side , it was my fault for sure). It fried a new battery (we had a power outage) so I just cut my losses and bought the MSI.

I am not a gamer however I do a lot of photo editing and some video, so I am always looking at gaming machines. Then spend a couple of days getting it up to 'work / editing specs' with all the software.

MSI looked good from the specs - I think the 17.3 inch is small and portable enough to be my travel laptop. I don't do a lot of travel 2 -3 times a year did a bunch of research here and google figured I would give it a chance. When I get back (on a trip next week) I will put in an SSD drive and another 8 gig RAM to max it out.

I like it better than the ASUS and as much as any other Laptop I have owned. Then again this a 4 day review haha. If I can get 2 - 3 good years out of this one , I'll be a happy camper.

 

Yeah I've been reading many reviews on Asus laptops and see plenty of negative feedback regarding DOAs, units going bad after a few weeks/months, then subsequently, extremely poor customer support (hence the reason why I'm leaving Dell/Alienware). I find the laptop lack of quality surprising considering Asus' reputation in the PC hardware department. My dad swears by them and built his most recent PC almost entirely with Asus hardware.

I was looking at iBuyPower (specifically their Battalion 15" units) but I'm not really smitten by their lack of available options when it comes to hard drive capacity and video card configurations. MSi is my current front runner for the next laptop I buy.

 

Yeah it all boils down to personal experience. I have owned a few Dells and the only issue I had was taken care via warrenty - My original Circa 2000 Latitude would still be working had my son not dropped it and broke the power connector My 3+ year old XPS M1730 Tank still working fine. I likley would have bought another Dell had I not needed a Laptop within 5 days. Dell did not offer any kind of express shipping (where they could guarentee it), seems very strange I mean pass that on to the consumer ?? Anyway Dell's loss and MSI gain and so far so good.

 

Weird. Took me forever to get Dell to take back my M17R3 and send a replacement but when they did, it was sent 2nd day air.

 

I know I mean what do they care pass that cost on + some mark up >> Maybe becuase I am in Canada and isn't one of Dell's major centers in Texas ? It was strange I was willing to pay for it - and the online person I was chatting with could not guarentee it so , I did not 'add to cart'.

Getting somewhat off topic here ! So wterrell there are lots of satisfied customers with MSI and most other markers as well. There is no guarentee on anything that is mass produced however so buy what you are commfortable with and from a retailer you can work with in the event of issues

 

Besides the lack of backlit keyboard, the 15.6" models are nice as far as I can tell. Actually, unless something happens, I am going to put together a Force 16F2 from Xotic in a few months. GTX580m, intel i7 2670, 128gb Crucial SSD + 500gb 7200rpm HD, 8gb of 1600 RAM, 1080P matte screen, yeah, this thing would be a monster.

 

What's Xotic's price for that config?

 

Specs for Force 16F2:

standard matte screen
i7 2670
GTX580m
1600 2x4gb ram
Bigfoot 1103 wireless card
500gb 7200rpm HD and 128gb SATA 3 Crucial SSD
spare battery included
no Windows 7

$1930 before 3% cash discount, $1872.10 after

IMO this is a steal

I would not have included the SSD and cut the cost by $209, but the Microcenter near me has it for the same exact price and you wouldn't have to deal with sticking it in yourself. If you don't want the SSD and have a 750gb 7200 RPM instead it comes to $1758 or $1705.26. I might actually skip the SSD and do that. That way I can still get a warranty upgrade so my parents are happy with it.

Edit: oh crud, I forgot to add Windows 7 in the prices. Add $105 to whatever I said before.

 

That's definitely an attractive price. Never dealt with Xotic before but they seem pricey on stuff...I read the barebones kits don't come with warranties - how are you swingin a warranty?

 

Barebones come with a 1 year limited warranty

Some resellers do offer thier own extended warraty as well.

 

I appreciate the responses fellas, those that are on topic, haha.

I'm really liking what the MSI brings to the table, and their aesthetics vs the Sager/Clevo. I don't like that I can't get a 6990M, and really a 580M in an actual MSI 15" notebook yet. I don't like the bland look of the barebones... may like it more if I saw it in person though.

 

^^^^^^This

 

Well Xotic systems have a 1 year standard warranty at least. For $100 you can make that a 3 year warranty through Xotic. I don't care who the warranty comes from as long as if something breaks that isn't my fault, I don't have to pay for getting it fixed. I think I will probably drop the SSD idea entirely so I can get Windows 7 and maybe a backpack. This means though that I would have an empty HD slot adding weight to the computer that I don't need. It is still a better deal then Sager though, even with the $100 sale the NP8150 is $100 more for the same parts.