Is this barebones laptop still worth getting

MSI 1722 Gaming Barebone Laptop GX720

First of all i have several questions
what is the fastest processor i can put in it?
is the graphics card upgradable and if it is what card do you recommend me upgrading to?
I would like to run fallout 3, world of warcraft, the witcher...etc
please advise. Thank you

 

This model will support up to the QX9300 Quad.

 

It supports every Penryn out there, so it supports up to:

T9900 3.06ghz (Duo)
QX9300 2.53ghz (Quad Core)

The GPU is technically upgradable, but upgrades aren't readily available or compliant.

It will run Fallout3 and WoW, but you will have to dial down the details on both games (IE, no eye candy to max).

 

You could go for the new GT628 barebones also, way better GPU..

 

Or you could try and aquire a 4850 Someone from the GT725 or 1722 forum confirmed a fit if i recall

 

Yes that was me, all you need is the heatsink from the GT725 and the 4850. MSI sells the heat sink for $12.00 + shipping..

 

Online or threw phone order?

 

That would be ordered through the phone or email from Tom Ho. Thats how I know there $12.00, he sent me an email..

 

If you can order a heatsink, why not be able to order a video card? Give his e-mail plz?

 

+1.

I'd be satisfied with being able to just get the GT627/628's heatsink.

 

The 4850 is not available as a single purchase. I asked him and was told the same.. Here is his email:

[email protected]

 

Did you ask about any other video card? or did he say that you can't order any video cards?

 

He said you cant order just the video cards..

 

hey there. rather than just open a new thread i thought id just ask my question here as its relating to the barebones in this thread. can the video card be upgraded to GeForce GTX 280M (preferably two of them in sli)?

 

No and No.

The best card that it can be upgraded to is an ati 4850. The laptop only has 1 pci-e slot (can't have 2 video card which is needed for sli).

 

We dont know for sure if the GTX 280m will work, no one has tried it as of yet, One thing is for sure, SLi is not an option for the 1722 Barebones, Currently MSI has no SLi gaming laptops..

 

Considering the 4850 is equal to a 260 and close to a 280, I won't even bother popping a 280 in there anyhow or jumping through the hoops for a ~10% gain in performance.

 

I doubt a 280m will work because of the power requirements.

 

We are talking about a 1722/gx720 with a 9600m, so a 280m would be a massive boost.

 

Aye, a 1722, so power consumption wise, the 4850 is the logical choice.....

Now the need to locate one comes into play.

And considering a 8800gts wouldn't work, a 280M stands nearly no chance of working...

AND the fact a 4850 is the near equivalent (which is what I was pointing out) and certified to work in the 1722 chassis.

So again.....

Back to the 4850.

 

I agree 100%, the 4850 does work in the 1722, I swapped my GT725's 4850 and put it in my old 1722 with the GT725's heatsink and everything booted and worked. GPU Z read it correctly so the 4850 will work in the 1722 without any issues...

 

would 2 4850's in crossfire work as well or is that just not possible to fit inside the casing of this particular laptop?

edit: forgot about the voltage issue as well. 2 of the cards in crossfire would probably drain alot of power.

edit2: i forgot to ask one more thing. on another part of the forums, memebers where talking about a laptop which had a mobo that could not use more than 3.0ghz. i was wondering if its the same thing with the mobo on this laptop. and thanks alot for the help. appreciated

 

This laptop does not support Crossfire or SLi. Msi currently does not have any laptops that are Crossfire or SLi. Its capable of going more than 3.0GHz also..

 

With a dual core CPU, depending on the base speed, you will possibly exceed 3ghz since the BIOS supports overclocks (FSB pumping) of 16%, 20% and 24%

A Quad Core, due to the thermal budget, is limited to a mild OC of ~3%.

This does raise the question of whether other Extreme chips spec'd for 44W (X9100, X9000) will also be OC limited or is it a default issue with Quad Cores only and not the thermal budget?

 

thanks for the help guys. after narrowing it down and googling alot for information i think im ready to purchase. before i do i just need your final say on it. this is the plan:

msi 1720 (the black with red trim)
17" wuxga lcd
4gb 800mhz ddr2 ram
intel t9900
hd 4850

if you guys have any advice that would be greatly appreciated. as well as, ive been unable to find a 1720 barebones tht comes with a wuxga lcd. i found one on ebay for around 500$ but it had the wxga lcd. if someone can point me in the right direction to find one with that specific lcd around that price range that would be really helpful. as always thanks alot guys. really appreciated.

 

Alborz has the WUXGA+ barebones version pop up routinely on eBay:

http://myworld.ebay.com/alborz59/

I'm not sure where you're going to be able to track down a 4850 for the barebones, unless you buy the full WUXGA+ GT725 (MSI GT725-212US).

 

yea thts a good point. hmm, is there a specific model number for the 4850 that can go into the barebones? so far all my searching shows the 4850 for desktops. and is the gt725 available anywhere as a barebones? i saw it on rjtech but the laptop as a whole there is not to my liking. also thanks for the link. i'll keep a look out for it.

 

There is no Barebones GT725, GT729. It will be very hard to find a 4850. MSI does not sell those cards as a single purchase. If your looking to do some serious gaming then your better off going with the GT725 or the upcoming GT729.. If you manage to find a 4850 it will more than likely fit but you will need the heat sink from the GT725.

 

I agree; with what you want, I'd go with a GT725, which seems to be exactly what you're spec'n unless you track down a 4850 then you can order a heatsink assembly from MSI.

 

is it safe to buy a 1722 off of ebay or is it a problem? I've heard that some of the units were stolen from msi.

 

Yes some were stolen but MSI has wrote them off, You wont get a warranty from MSI if they are stolen. Thats why there so cheap, I just sold one and it was a great laptop, never had a problem with it. It was a great OC'er too.. Its all up to you though, If you feel secure in buying it knowing it could be stolen then go for it. Best of luck..

 

i knew that price was to cheap to be true. buying stolen property no thanks.

 

All you do is ask the ebay seller to give you the serial number and you can check and see if its stolen. If he dont give you the serial number then most likely its stolen..

You can check by emailing Tom Ho <TomH @ msicomputer. com> with out the spaces..

 

i think i'll just order a barebones from a reseller on the list even if its not as cheap. thank you for being so helpful nacr05.

 

GT729 Barebones:
http://www.msiwhitebook.com/product_spec.asp?model=MS-1722-ID3

 

Great find

 

Thank goodness MSI is going back to offering the 1722 in a BB chassis.....I'm sure they found it not nearly as profitable and/or moving as many units as offering their own config AND BB like they did with the 1722-ID1/2 and GX720.

 

excuse me but i find the bb chassis butt-ugly. I love the red-trim.

Offering both would satisfy everyone.

 

According to MSI the red and black model for barebones was discontinued so its only the black one..

 

Well I contacted him and he says that he doesn't have that heatsink, he only has these:



Does "RK Computers" sell heatsinks?

 

Picture #1 is the CPU/NB HS.
Picture #3 looks like the GPU HS
Picture #2 looks like the shared fan/exhaust system

 

I know what they are, but that gpu hs is the one we already have in the 1772. I was wanting the heatsink that came from the gt725 that fits mxm-3 cards.