Which bells and whistles are worth it?

I'm looking at this configuration screen: custom gaming laptops - Welcome to Sager Notebooks

There are some real choices, like what kind of hard drive and how much RAM you want. Then there are some borderline cases. My question is, which of these addons are really worth it? Basically, which ones will I regret not having chosen.

I'm particularly curious whether the thermal compound does anything at all, and whether a better network card is a worthwhile investment, but also any sleeper options that are must-haves.

 

I would try ordering from Ultimate Clevo, Sager, Gaming Laptops, 2nd Generation Intel Core i7 - LPC Digital or Gaming Laptops - XOTIC PC - Gaming Notebooks - Custom Laptops - Custom Notebooks, they are both Sager resellers and offer better prices.

 

Alright this is my thought process:

Processor: I chose the 3610QM since it was the base model on my laptop. I wish I knew about the power of the 3210QM, but I'd bet it would be a great processor, being Ivy Bridge

RAM: 8GB is standard for a new computer these days, and you would be fine sticking with it. I chose 16GB anyways, knowing that one day I may just need the extra for a CAD program or some thing. If you don't see yourself using pro applications like graphic design 8GB is good to go and should last you quite a while for normal stuff and gaming as well. RAM is always upgradeable too.

Thermal paste: If you want to upgrade the thermal paste, don't do it here; spend $12 on Gelid GC Extreme on newegg. It beats Arctic Silver 5 and Noctua:
Thermal Interfaces Roundup: Retail Products. Page 12 - X-bit labs

hard drive: 500GB is fine, but in this case $20 for $150 more GB is a good deal. I went with the 750GB just because of how cheap it was, and as time goes by, you may need the extra space anyways.

Network card: I can't speak for the performance of the network cards since my laptop has not arrived yet, but definitely upgrade to the 6235 or 6300 if you know range may be an issue for you. I upgraded to the 6300 since I have range problems here.

Screen: Matte screen is fine. Comparison images show the 95% looks better and more vibrant, but the normal still looks brilliant. Never seen it in person, so I guess don't take my word as 100% truth.

I agree with Tyranids in buying from a reseller. They offer the $50 discount for notebookreview members and 3% off for wire transfer payments.

 

I would also get an i7 3610QM instead of the stock i5. The i7 are a quad core vs a dual core i5 which help with multi tasking and many programs/games that take advantage of multi cores.
I would also suggest getting an SSD for the primary drive instead of a HDD. They are much much faster at read/write times so things like boot up and program start up are drastically cut down. You do lose the storage space but to me the difference is worth it to have the faster computer. If you need more room you can get a hard drive in the optical bay if you dont plan on using it much or an external hard drive.
IC Diamond typically lowers your CPU/GPU temps by 2-5C under load. If you plan on gaming on the computer then you shoudl get it. Either by adding it or doing it yourself if you're comfortable doing so.
A better wireless card like the Bigfoot 1103 or Intel 6300 will pick up weaker signals better and hold them better because they use 3 antenna. If you're a student or travel much it will help there. They also transfer faster within your network as long as your router can transfer that faster but wont increase internet speeds. The Bigfoot 1103 does show to have the best connections for gaming as well.

 

I was told by a tech specialist at Powernotebooks that the mSATA 80GB is an amazing buy so I went with it. It truly has made an EXTREMELY big difference.

 

I didn't get the SSD drive mainly because I don't want to take risk that it might break down. Will probably invest one in the near future however.

I don't know what i'm missing but a SSD drive would be one of those component that is worth it @ OP

 

Well... for consumer purposes, SSDs are more "reliable" than HDDs because for 1, no moving parts, you can drop a SSD and no problem. Can't say the same for HDD's.

 

I just got my p150em and I the screen is brilliant! (went with the 95 percent glossy) Def recommend this upgrade
I got 16 ram because it was so cheap but its not really a necessary upgrade.
I also got an ocz vertex III ssd which I love, it boots and shuts down extremely quickly.
I got free color calibration as compensation but the color profile doesnt differ too much from the default, def not worth paying the fee imo.
I also opted for the killer 1103 which has been the only disappointment. I get huge lag spikes fairly frequently but its a driver issue affecting a lot of people so hopefully they get it sorted soon.

 

I went with the SSD. After installing one in my desktop and seeing how much faster it made my system, I couldn't go without one in my Satori. I think the SSD is one of the most significant upgrades in the last 10 years in terms of performance gain over older technology.

Another thing was that, since I would be staring at this monitor for the next five or so years (knock on wood), I went with the 90% gamut glossy screen with calibration. I'm telling you this thing is beautiful.

Customers on the MALIBAL forum also convinced me that the upgrade to the i7-3720QM was worth it because you can overclock it to 4ghz. I'm hoping this speed increase will help with the longevity of my notebook.

Anyway, a lot of this is just personal preference. You could always go with an SSD later in the future when they're cheaper or if you find one cheaper in store now.

Also, GET WARRANTY!!