Last minute help please...

Ok, so I have already decided that I want a Sager NP8760. My budget only allows for these core features on the NP8760:

Sager NP8760 - XoticPC

• 17.3" FHD LED Backlit 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1920x1080)
• Intel® Core™ i7-720QM, 1.60-2.80GHz, (45nm, 6MB L3 cache)
• nVidia GeForce GTX 280M 1,024MB PCI-Express GDDR3 DX10 (User Upgradeable)
• 4,096MB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (Requires Vista 64-Bit to utilize Full 4GB) (+55)
• Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
• 320GB 7200RPM (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (+20)
• Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's (+130)

TOTAL : $2134​

However, I made the mistake of doing some "harmless" last minute browsing around to check out other systems. I came across an ASUS system at XoticPC that has some nice features also. These features are outlined below:

ASUS G72GX-A1 – XoticPC

• 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright Glossy Screen (1920x1080)
  [*]Intel® T9600 45nm "Montevina" Core™2 Duo 2.8GHz w/6MB L2 On-die cache - 1066MHz FSB 35 watt (+337)
• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU (+30)
• nVidia GeForce GTX 260M 1,024MB PCI-Express GDDR3 DX10
• 6,144MB (6GB) DDR2 800MHz Dual Channel Memory (3x2GB)
  [*]2X Blu-Ray Reader / 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
  [*]500GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Default
  [*]500GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Default
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - Standard

TOTAL: $2045​

The ASUS comes with a BD, and two Hard Disk Drives, also a different processor (still powerful though). When I configure a similar Sager NP 8760 to the ASUS described above, the bottom line ends up at $2429.

I am still fairly certain that I am going to purchase the 8760. But, can you guys give some general reasons there is such a price difference? Is it because of the difference in processors mainly? I am trying to figure out if I really should get the Sager.
Is it safe to say that the NP8760 is more future-proof than the ASUS?

Bottom line, I need major reasons why the Sager is such a clear-cut winner when comparing the Sager in my budget and the ASUS described.

Thanks in advance.

 

Well, first of all, yes, the primary difference is the 2 CPUs. The T9600 C2D is Intel's last generation CPU, while the i7 is their current generation. Depending on your usage, however, the C2D may be more than enough for your purposes, but Intel is unlikely to make any more C2D models, and thus you'll be limited in terms of what you can upgrade CPU-wise.

Also note that the G72GX uses a GTX 260M as opposed to the NP8760's GTX 280M. I think the difference between the 2 is usually quoted as being around 10%, but the 260M is still a pretty capable card if you want it.

The G72GX also uses DDR2 memory, which, while not a large difference performance-wise from DDR3 memory, is, again, last generation technology, and prices on that are likely to rise, as fewer and fewer companies continue making it.