Best price/performance 15"

Hello guys, I am shopping for a new notebook and I’m stuck between 3 configurations from less expensive to most:
Matte, i72720QM, GTX560M, 8GB (1600), SSD 120GB /+16%/ Glare, i72720QM, HD6970M, 8GB (1600), SHDD 500GB /+2%/ Glare, i7 2630QM, GTX485M, 8GB (1333), SHDD 500GB
Is the price difference worth the performance gain? Will I actually feel the difference between these options since on the weaker GPU I would use 1600 ram and ssd. Will the GTX485 handle games much longer than the GTX560? About the AMD6970 (“weaker gpu”) and GTX485 (“weaker processor and ram”) comparison, what is the smartest choice since their price difference is minimal.
Everyone opinion is very much welcome.

 

Smartest choice for gaming performance with budget concern:
Screen(You choose), i7-2630QM, ATI 6970M, 8GB (1333), SHDD 500GB

Spend on the SSD if you want to, but it won't affect games performance in anyway except load some levels faster.

 

I'd go for the 2720Qm (1600MHz ram + can overclock 0.5ghz higher than the 2630qm across all cores) + 6970M (much more powerful than the 560M), the rest is easily upgradeable down the road.

 

From what I've heard from multiple people skip out on the 1600, and just use 1333MHz RAM. CPU wise definitely get the 2720Qm as the difference is significant from the 2630 while being not so different from the 28. GPU wise I chose the 6970 just because it was $250 cheaper and was only lower in performance by 5~10 percent in very specific games vs the 485. The 560 mind you is below both GPUs.

The rest is upto you... personally I'd risk all of those options except the cpu for an SSD though. (Also remember to get the intel 510 if you do )

 

i'd join the thoughts of the rest, and add yo opt for some nice high-gamut LCD screen for your gaming laptop. No matter what the system specs might be, i, personally, can't get full satisfaction from either work or gameplay without a high quality screen) that's why i chose 95% Gamet Matte Screen, which should arrive pretty soon... good luck)

 

Aikimox

About the turboboost (.5) it only is applied on single threaded aplications, isn't it? And isn’t the cpu and gpu upgradable on these models? I mean any MXM 3 gpu would be supported? And any cpu that the mobo supports would be supported? If I choose the 2630 + 6790 now, I could latter change to a 2920XM (or even ivy bridge if the HM65 supports it) and a GTX485 (or even a 6 series when launched)… Couldn’t I? (just minding the power adaptor)

IRIS

The only problem about 1600 as far as i know is that u must pay attetion to the part number since not all work and just use 1333 ram if choosing the 2630?

Red Line

What I read about the 95% Gamut screen is that it is too saturated for the average people and should one choose if works with video/picture editing and knows how to calibrate it. Also the standard Matte screen is 60% Gamut and everyone says it’s enough for the average?

Thanks for the replies!

 

If you're playing at high resolution (ie 1080p) with essentially the highest settings in Crysis or Metro, the 6970 will be faster than the 485m. So it is really a no-brainer.

 

The 2630 can only use 1333 RAM so buying 1600 would be a waste.

 

1333 Ram vs. 1600 Ram makes only like 1-2% difference. There are benchmarks for this.

 

Uh, what? No, I disagree....the 485M is still the performance king and is better than the 6970M by about 8%-15% depending on the benchmarks.

Mr. Mysterious

 

The Intel 320 has better random read/write, so unless your transferring VERY large files, there is no reason to get the 510. The 320 is faster for everyday computing (Windows etc.)

 

Correct, the 95% Gamet Matte Screen might be a little saturated but you can always lower brightness and ask for calibrated profiles for that screen. So nothing difficult, really... But that's your call to make) I'm sure you'd be glad with either choice!

 

Also intel 320 series has 20% more capacity and less price compared to intel 510. The're both secure and reliable, so you stay future proof for quite a long time. If you opt for only one HDD, go for 300gb version and buy some external 1Tb 2,5" HDD

 

@Red Line: None of the resellers, except for Mythlogic, is calibrating the screen for you. Who did you have in mind when you said to ask for calibrated profiles?

 

Then you need to look up the benchmarks. In Metro and Crysis (the two most demanding games, and the only games that will give you a reason to upgrade you graphics card) the 6970 leads over the 485. Comparisons in other games/lower settings are useless, as less powerful cards can get playable framerates in those games. I don't see any reason to get the 485m, unless you are a rabid nvidia fanboy.

 

Um. What? where are you getting this? The Intel 320 doesn't even come close to the speed of 510 especially at 120, and 250gb models. The Intel 320 uses G2 related controllers while 510 use Sandisks 6Gb/s read. The difference is noticeable especially with every day tools as well such as file cache check or even anti virus checks, installs and updates.

 

Lol, I'm not an NVIDIA fanboy. The fact of the matter is, different games are developed to run better on different brands.

For example, I know borderlands and batman: arkham asylum runs better on NVIDIA cards.

Mr. Mysterious