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Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 01:37 AM

It’s time to replace my six year old Dell XPS. It’s beginning to have hardware issues and the repair shop suggested it was time to put her down.

I use it a lot for autocad and photoshop, which tend to be data intensive, so latest I7 processor, fast RAM, and SSD storage are on the wish list. And I need a great monitor with accurate color representation in 17 inches. UHD or 4K screen is the direction I’m going at the moment.

Gaming computers typically have the basic hardware I want. But MSI makes workstation laptops that have the gaming basic hardware, except for the graphics card.

Budget is $2500, which captures mid range MSI workstations and some Alienware options as well. Any other suggestions? No Apple products please.

One more thing. I’d like it to be reliable for 5-7 years, so the cheaper, corner cutting builds are out.

Syed117 · 22 February 2018, 01:58 AM

I'm not sure about MSI, but I've heard great things about the dell XPS 13.

You can get a fully loaded one for less than $2500.

I've had several gaming laptops over the years. They are great because you can get better hardware than the mobile version of CPUs, but they can be annoying.

Heat, noise, weight, and battery life are always issues.

With the 10 series mobile GPUs from Nvidia, they've made huge strides in making gaming laptops more portable without sacrificing power, but battery life and heat can still be problems.

If I had to choose any new laptop today, It would probably be an XPS 13.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syed117

I'm not sure about MSI, but I've heard great things about the dell XPS 13.

You can get a fully loaded one for less than $2500.

I've had several gaming laptops over the years. They are great because you can get better hardware than the mobile version of CPUs, but they can be annoying.

Heat, noise, weight, and battery life are always issues.

With the 10 series mobile GPUs from Nvidia, they've made huge strides in making gaming laptops more portable without sacrificing power, but battery life and heat can still be problems.

If I had to choose any new laptop today, It would probably be an XPS 13.

Thanks. But I need a 17.

Syed117 · 22 February 2018, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Thanks. But I need a 17.

Oh wow. I had a 17 Alienware many years ago. It was a monstrosity. I think maybe more than 10 pounds.

Will ask some nerd friends and see if they have any recommendations for something that size.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 02:19 AM

No experience with their laptops but I do have an MSI motherboard in my gaming pc and it is excellent.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

No experience with their laptops but I do have an MSI motherboard in my gaming pc and it is excellent.

The MSI reviews are pretty good, but I don’t know anyone that has a complete system from them. Component reliability is one thing, getting it all together reliably is another.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syed117

Oh wow. I had a 17 Alienware many years ago. It was a monstrosity. I think maybe more than 10 pounds.

Will ask some nerd friends and see if they have any recommendations for something that size.

Thanks.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The MSI reviews are pretty good, but I don’t know anyone that has a complete system from them. Component reliability is one thing, getting it all together reliably is another.

They are a solid manufacturer as far as I know.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

They are a solid manufacturer as far as I know.

I’m looking at WE72 workstation builds and the GS73VR Stealth Pro 4k gaming build. They are in budget and hit all the notes.

Syed117 · 22 February 2018, 02:53 AM

One friend recommended a Thinkpad P71. I guess he knows someone who knows someone who has one.

Seems like beast from what I quickly looked it.

droptopman · 22 February 2018, 03:01 AM

Like Bas, I have used MSI motherboards many times on computers I built for work. Had good luck with them. Some of the machines had mostly MSI components. No idea if MSI actually makes them or just brands them. They have been building motherboards for a long time.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droptopman

Like Bas, I have used MSI motherboards many times on computers I built for work. Had good luck with them. Some of the machines had mostly MSI components. No idea if MSI actually makes them or just brands them. They have been building motherboards for a long time.

MSI is looking better and better. From what I’ve seen, the hardware is comparable to Alienware, but cost is lower.

My reservation with Alienware, and Dell generally, is that the mother boards and other components are generally older models that they stack new components on. You don’t realize the full potential of processors and what not due to the constraints of the aging platform. If MSI is mounting new hardware onto their latest motherboard designs, it seems I would get a better machine for the money.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syed117

One friend recommended a Thinkpad P71. I guess he knows someone who knows someone who has one.

Seems like beast from what I quickly looked it.

That complicates things. Great reviews.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 03:56 AM

I would never buy alienware, they charge way too much for what they are. Only Apple can get away with that IMO.

MSI is probably your best option, definitely quality wise.

dddrees · 22 February 2018, 04:21 AM

No experience or knowledge whatsoever, however I think I would be hesitant for that amount if there weren’t some online reviews especially on where the manufacture has yet to establish themselves as a complete builder.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

I would never buy alienware, they charge way too much for what they are. Only Apple can get away with that IMO.

MSI is probably your best option, definitely quality wise.

I looked at Lenovo. The P71 looms pretty good on paper. But I can’t get a 4k monitor within budget.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

I looked at Lenovo. The P71 looms pretty good on paper. But I can’t get a 4k monitor within budget.

What kind of GPU does the MSI have? 4k gaming requires serious hardware and serious cooling as well.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

What kind of GPU does the MSI have? 4k gaming requires serious hardware and serious cooling as well.

It won’t be gaming. It will be rendering CAD files and images.

The MSI is an i7 7700hk with NVIDIA gtx 1070 for about the same money I can get the heavier Titan Pro with i7 7820hk processor.

The user gripes on these models are lockups, lost drivers upon update, and bad fans. There aren’t many user reviews, so it’s hard to know how prevalent these problems are.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

It won’t be gaming. It will be rendering CAD files and images.

The MSI is an i7 7700hk with NVIDIA gtx 1070 for about the same money I can get the heavier Titan Pro with i7 7820hk processor.

The user gripes on these models are lockups, lost drivers upon update, and bad fans. There aren’t many user reviews, so it’s hard to know how prevalent these problems are.

It's easier to find problems than it is to find good reviews... people tend to share the negative more than the positive.

Cooling is definitely my worry with any beast of a laptop, things can get hot in there and the cooling is not even close to a well built stationary PC.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SearChart

It's easier to find problems than it is to find good reviews... people tend to share the negative more than the positive.

Cooling is definitely my worry with any beast of a laptop, things can get hot in there and the cooling is not even close to a well built stationary PC.

The fan complaints are a worry. When the fans go, the thing becomes a paper weight.

SearChart · 22 February 2018, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The fan complaints are a worry. When the fans go, the thing becomes a paper weight.

Correct.
I'm afraid I can't help much, I always built my own PC's and the lack of proper cooling and the difficulty with tinkering has always scared me away from laptops.

All I can say is don't rush your purchase, research definitely pays off.

DeeTee · 22 February 2018, 06:38 AM

I have a msi gaming pc for work.
I’m not doing anything graphics heavy like playing games or autocad, but it feels good having a computer do simple things in a split second.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeTee

I have a msi gaming pc for work.
I’m not doing anything graphics heavy like playing games or autocad, but it feels good having a computer do simple things in a split second.

Which one do you have?

Raypep · 22 February 2018, 07:15 AM

I've heard a lot of good things with MSI, a few of my friends have them. If I were to get a 'gaming laptop' it would be a MSI.

For work I stick to a either HP Elitebook's or Dell Percision workstations.

droptopman · 22 February 2018, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The fan complaints are a worry. When the fans go, the thing becomes a paper weight.

Sorry brother, should have posted this earlier. May want to check these guys out. You can speck your own and upgrade the fans or whatever else you want.

https://www.avadirect.com/

I have done a lot of biz with these guys over the years.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droptopman

Sorry brother, should have posted this earlier. May want to check these guys out. You can speck your own and upgrade the fans or whatever else you want.

https://www.avadirect.com/

I have done a lot of biz with these guys over the years.

Cool link. I’ll check it out.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droptopman

Sorry brother, should have posted this earlier. May want to check these guys out. You can speck your own and upgrade the fans or whatever else you want.

https://www.avadirect.com/

I have done a lot of biz with these guys over the years.

Do you have any experience with their Clevo models?

droptopman · 22 February 2018, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Do you have any experience with their Clevo models?

I believe so. Think I did two Clevo laptops a few years ago for my IT guys. I will double check at the office tomorrow. Both are still running well. I will grab the specs in the AM.

Abdullah71601 · 22 February 2018, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by droptopman

I believe so. Think I did two Clevo laptops a few years ago for my IT guys. I will double check at the office tomorrow. Both are still running well. I will grab the specs in the AM.

Thanks. They look like the best option so far.

hdrazor251 · 22 February 2018, 02:42 PM

Not a gaming build, but I bought a MSI new about 8 or 9 years ago and have had no issues. It somehow made the minimum specs to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and my wife still uses it. I would buy the brand again in a heartbeat.

22 February 2018, 01:37 AM	#1
Abdullah71601 Banned Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Calumet Harbor Watch: ing da Bears Posts: 13,568	Any experience with MSI laptops? It’s time to replace my six year old Dell XPS. It’s beginning to have hardware issues and the repair shop suggested it was time to put her down. I use it a lot for autocad and photoshop, which tend to be data intensive, so latest I7 processor, fast RAM, and SSD storage are on the wish list. And I need a great monitor with accurate color representation in 17 inches. UHD or 4K screen is the direction I’m going at the moment. Gaming computers typically have the basic hardware I want. But MSI makes workstation laptops that have the gaming basic hardware, except for the graphics card. Budget is $2500, which captures mid range MSI workstations and some Alienware options as well. Any other suggestions? No Apple products please. One more thing. I’d like it to be reliable for 5-7 years, so the cheaper, corner cutting builds are out.

22 February 2018, 03:01 AM	#11
droptopman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Mark Location: Washington State Watch: SUBS and GMT's! Posts: 9,664	Like Bas, I have used MSI motherboards many times on computers I built for work. Had good luck with them. Some of the machines had mostly MSI components. No idea if MSI actually makes them or just brands them. They have been building motherboards for a long time. __________________ Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty: By height.

22 February 2018, 04:21 AM	#15
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,251	No experience or knowledge whatsoever, however I think I would be hesitant for that amount if there weren’t some online reviews especially on where the manufacture has yet to establish themselves as a complete builder. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

22 February 2018, 02:42 PM	#30
hdrazor251 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Real Name: Jeff Location: Arizona Watch: is recovered!! Posts: 4,250	Not a gaming build, but I bought a MSI new about 8 or 9 years ago and have had no issues. It somehow made the minimum specs to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and my wife still uses it. I would buy the brand again in a heartbeat. __________________ 16753 GMT Master, 16613 Bluesy, 16710 GMT Master II, 16570 Polar Explorer II-Stolen & Recovered!! Card Carrying Member of the Global Assoc. of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

22 February 2018, 01:58 AM	#2
Syed117 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Syed Location: The Ether Posts: 3,388	I'm not sure about MSI, but I've heard great things about the dell XPS 13. You can get a fully loaded one for less than $2500. I've had several gaming laptops over the years. They are great because you can get better hardware than the mobile version of CPUs, but they can be annoying. Heat, noise, weight, and battery life are always issues. With the 10 series mobile GPUs from Nvidia, they've made huge strides in making gaming laptops more portable without sacrificing power, but battery life and heat can still be problems. If I had to choose any new laptop today, It would probably be an XPS 13.

22 February 2018, 02:53 AM	#10
Syed117 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Real Name: Syed Location: The Ether Posts: 3,388	One friend recommended a Thinkpad P71. I guess he knows someone who knows someone who has one. Seems like beast from what I quickly looked it.

22 February 2018, 06:38 AM	#22
DeeTee "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Los Angeles Watch: Netflix Posts: 3,977	I have a msi gaming pc for work. I’m not doing anything graphics heavy like playing games or autocad, but it feels good having a computer do simple things in a split second.

22 February 2018, 07:15 AM	#24
Raypep "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Real Name: Raymond Location: Wisconsin Watch: DJ / BLNR / Sub Posts: 369	I've heard a lot of good things with MSI, a few of my friends have them. If I were to get a 'gaming laptop' it would be a MSI. For work I stick to a either HP Elitebook's or Dell Percision workstations.

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