The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Help building my first gaming computer (NP9170)

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by armyofcute, Jul 24, 2012.

  1. armyofcute

    armyofcute Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hello Internet! So I am thinking about getting a 9170 for gaming. My primary computer right now is a 2 year old HP Touchsmart, which is not really capable of playing much of anything. I have never gotten a real gaming system, so the thought of spending $2,300 on a laptop is a bit daunting. But given I would like to start playing AAA games, a top-of-the line computer seems like the way to go.

    The system I am currently looking at is as follows, which takes into account other threads on 9170 builds I found in this forum:

    90% NTSC glossy screen
    3720QM processor
    IC Diamond thermal compound
    nVidia GTX 680m
    8GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz (1)
    750GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
    128GB Crucial M4 Series SATA3 Solid State Secondary Disk Drive (2)
    8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive
    Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 (3)

    Questions I have as follows:
    (1) Research seems to indicate that 8GB is perfectly fine for gaming. Basically, there's no need to go for 12GB or 16GB even if you plan to keep the computer for a number of years because your other components will become obsolete much faster than RAM. Is this correct?
    Conversely, the upgrade to 12GB is only $40 more. Worth it?

    (2) I know I want a SSD secondary drive to install games onto. Is there a difference between Intel and Crucial? Crucial is obviously less expensive, but I was wondering if people think that Intel is better.

    (3) Is the Bigfoot actually better than the "Intel® Ultimate-N 6300"? I plan to play MMOs on this, so am definitely willing to get the best wireless card. But how much of a difference will there be?

    I am also planning to go with XoticPC because I know people who have had a good experience with them in the past. Specifically to Xotic, has anyone sprung for the copper cooling upgrade? What do people think?

    Thanks so much guys!
     
    armyofcute, Jul 24, 2012
    #1
  2. Ryan

    Ryan NBR Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,320
    Messages:
    2,512
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    56
    1. Perfectly fine. 8GB is enough for gaming.

    2. They are both quite reliable, to be honest I don't see a reason to jump to Intel with the $$$. (Go with Crucial if you have a set budget)

    3. Bigfoot is better in ping management, and is better for gaming.

    4. Copper cooling is way overpriced. No-no on the copper.
     
    Ryan, Jul 24, 2012
    #2