Laptop gaming, opinions desired...

[OCNewbie]

Just wanted to chime in to recommend you don't go with anything smaller than a 17.3". I game exclusively on my 17.3" laptop now, and I couldn't imagine using something smaller as my only means of gaming. Mine is a GTX 860M though, so I can't comment on 970 vs 980.

 

[Blue_Max]

It is not JUST for work, thanks. I run the department, with no one to answer to but the CIO, who comes to our facility 3 times a year. Good job on the assumption though. Laugh.

Some people don't understand the idea that a job may actually HAVE 'downtime' where you need to just be there in case something happens - or to just "hurry up and wait" for 1-4 hours until a large, crazy event invariably happens.

I know a number of friends and workplaces that work like this. The good ones allow some flexibility during this downtime to keep people alert and happy (as opposed to sleeping or miserable!)

 

[JTDSR]

Some people don't understand the idea that a job may actually HAVE 'downtime' where you need to just be there in case something happens - or to just "hurry up and wait" for 1-4 hours until a large, crazy event invariably happens.

I know a number of friends and workplaces that work like this. The good ones allow some flexibility during this downtime to keep people alert and happy (as opposed to sleeping or miserable!)

Indeed, I got the job simply by fixing desktops and laptops for other employees while I was running the transportation department. HR found out about it, the previous director was retiring, and they offered me the position. The title sounds fancy ( Director of IT Operations / EMR Trainer ), although all I really am, is glorified help desk support. They are however, going to be training me for my CCNA on their dime, which is a pretty good offer.

I support a 2 server, 144 workstation facility, in which the downtime is immense. All I mostly ever do is reboot machines, fix Xerox Workcentres, unlock accounts via active directory, and train incoming case managers/nurses/doctors in the medical software suite we use. The last 3 workdays, I had 4 tickets total for a total of 30 minutes spent. I spent the rest of those days surfing the web. I joked with the CIO about watching movies, and he said, "I seriously don't care what you do during downtime, as long as everything is maintained, and everyone is happy". I have my own office, downstairs away from the rest of the facility, and I keep my door locked. No one is hardly ever down there. At our main IT support center upstate, the 3 guys who work up there play PS4 during downtime.

Just wanted to chime in to recommend you don't go with anything smaller than a 17.3". I game exclusively on my 17.3" laptop now, and I couldn't imagine using something smaller as my only means of gaming. Mine is a GTX 860M though, so I can't comment on 970 vs 980.

I may actually bring this monitor from home to work to keep there ( 27", 60Hz, 1MS Samsung LED panel from about 4 years ago ), and pick up a 27" 144Hz Gsync to plug into the laptop when at home. I therefore will likely never be using the laptop screen unless away on business, or possibly on vacation, although the wife may have something to say about that.

 

[nsafreak]

This might blow the budget but it's something to consider. Since you're going to have monitors in both locations why not consider getting a laptop with a dock that has a GPU in it such as a MSI GS30? Xotic PC sells one here that comes with a 970 GPU for that dock and the dock could be upgraded in the future. Not sure how much an additional dock would run but it might be worth considering. Otherwise the options pointed out in this thread should work well for you although I'd personally lean towards a 980 over a 970.

 

[Blue_Max]

If you're going to have a permanent monitor at both locations, DEFINITELY go for a little ITX cube which can VERY easily be packed into a little bag. There are even some with handles built right in!

You could put together a great rig for ~$500 that would rival a $1500 laptop!

Something like this... no one would even question you walking in with it as it looks like a toolbox, not a computer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517035&cm_re=itx_case-_-11-517-035-_-Product

 

[JTDSR]

Interestingly enough, I was just looking at those today.

That just might do the trick. I could just swap over my parts, and absorb the minor cost it would cost me for the case and a mini ITX mobo. I would likely upgrade the card though as well. Wifey usually gets me a $250 Newegg gift card for Xmas, and the parents usually throw me $100 at Newegg.

Thanks for the heads up, and information everyone, much appreciated.

 

[Raduque]

That's a really cool case. Good option if you have monitors, keyboards and mice available at the other locations you game at. I don't, so it's still a laptop for me.

 

[Blue_Max]

That's a really cool case. Good option if you have monitors, keyboards and mice available at the other locations you game at. I don't, so it's still a laptop for me.

Most of our locations have a TV... tempting to go this route myself and just jack into the HDMI. :wub:

...boy... this is renewing my interest in building a mini-ITX setup! The case I mentioned above is not the smallest around, but its inconspicuous shape and convenient handle make it ideal for me.

 

[sweenish]

Not so much of an assumption when you all but said you'd be gaming at work.

The reasoning behind this choice, is that at work, I have several hours of downtime daily.
...
the last thing I want is the CIO coming in and seeing a full gaming rig on one of my desks. I do have two ports open that are not behind our firewall/security and latency should not be an issue
...

You even literally said you'd be gaming at work after hours. But at least that's after hours. So tell me again how I jumped so far to my conclusion.

And given the following posts, I'm not even wrong.

So, trying to jump down my throat for no good reason. Classy.

 

[JTDSR]

Oh by all means sir, I am going to be gaming at work. I thought I pretty much made that clear. That was not the point I took issue with. And I never said I would be gaming at work after hours. I head straight home after the work day is done, I can game there.

And the CIO all but said I could game if I wanted to, however, I do not want to set up a full sized tower and such, making a big display of the fact that I was gaming. I guess that part was a tad unclear on my part. It was more of a "do it if you want, but be discreet" message that I gleaned from his response.

My issue was the "that's going to go over well", part. My thoughts are, if nothing positive to say or contribution to the topic, just don't say it? That may take a modicum of class as well. Most here have been quite helpful, and I am appreciative of that. I would just prefer to keep everything upbeat, and not have this devolve rapidly. My apologies if I came off crass.

 

[JTDSR]

Most of our locations have a TV... tempting to go this route myself and just jack into the HDMI. :wub:

...boy... this is renewing my interest in building a mini-ITX setup! The case I mentioned above is not the smallest around, but its inconspicuous shape and convenient handle make it ideal for me.

I am actually looking at this one currently, $59.99 after rebate seems quite decent. I have never been a power gamer enough to see radical differences between ATI and Nvidia for the stuff that I do, so I may actually go with a Fury X inside this one down the road, unless Nvidia has a smaller form factor GPU with similar power that I have not seen yet.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139047

 

[Ichigo]

The inanity of the kind of poster suggesting that lugging around even a small ITX tower plus monitor and other peripherals around being "overall a better experience" aside...

It's really no different than coming into this thread and saying "In my opinion PC gaming is a waste of time you should read a book or something". That's about as constructive and meaningful as using this thread as an anti-gaming notebook platform.

In any case OP should just get a laptop with a 980M and Gsync monitor from any brand with a really good warranty and RMA service. Components are pretty homogenized across the industry. 980M's are all the same unless you come across a really poorly designed cooling system or something. It's really the service you're paying for if anything goes wrong.

 

[JTDSR]

The inanity of the kind of poster suggesting that lugging around even a small ITX tower plus monitor and other peripherals around being "overall a better experience" aside...

It's really no different than coming into this thread and saying "In my opinion PC gaming is a waste of time you should read a book or something". That's about as constructive and meaningful as using this thread as an anti-gaming notebook platform.

In any case OP should just get a laptop with a 980M and Gsync monitor from any brand with a really good warranty and RMA service. Components are pretty homogenized across the industry. 980M's are all the same unless you come across a really poorly designed cooling system or something. It's really the service you're paying for if anything goes wrong.

I would only be lugging around the tower. I have plenty of peripherals laying around the house to keep a second set here.

That being said, with a lot of research done today at work, I am leaning towards picking this up, although I hate having procrastinated as I missed the free Bullets and Blades bundle deal, along with the free ASUS mouse by a day, lol.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4232849&cm_re=980m_rog-_-34-232-849-_-Product

 

[Ichigo]

I'd still get something like this with Gsync. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-232-602

Unfortunately it looks like you can't get that specific model with a 980M .

 

[Aikouka]

I'd still get something like this with Gsync. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-232-602

Unfortunately it looks like you can't get that specific model with a 980M .

I was going to suggest going with a GSync-enabled laptop. That's the one bummer about my MSI GT72 Dominator. It's a nice laptop with its GTX 980M, but it's a normal screen. Nvidia announced GSync for laptops about six months later, and there's no upgrade for it. Laptops are normally stuck with whatever they're currently using with no upgrade path, so the ability to mitigate video anomalies would be nice. The one cool thing is that Xotic PC and Sager only charge $80 for the upgrade. Honestly, I was expecting it to be higher.

 

[JTDSR]

I saw that this one has come down in price, with G-Sync as opposed to my other link, although the reviews have me a tad worried.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152899

 

[Tweak155]

I always go back and forth on gaming laptops. I buy them, then sell them, then want one again... I finally just bought one this year and decided I'm not going to sell it for a long time. Pretty happy with it, similar to a previous poster. The AW17 R2... it's a nice machine for the price. I was able to get a nice config for under $1500.

The IPS matte screen is great, was my main concern before I bought it. Only thing I didn't like about it once I got it was the poor speakers, but I usually use a headset so no biggie.

 

[Blue_Max]

That's my biggest issue right now... I miss my IPS matte so bad... this machine is faster but the glossy TN is hurting my eyes. Not worth it.

 

[Aikouka]

I saw that this one has come down in price, with G-Sync as opposed to my other link, although the reviews have me a tad worried.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152899

Hm, my laptop is similar to that one, but it's a Haswell instead of Broadwell and doesn't have GSync. Honestly, I have no idea what those people are complaining about. I upgraded my GT72 to Windows 10, and I didn't have any issues with it at all. Although, that's actually a pretty sweet price. I paid close to that thing's original price for mine. Seeing that price makes me tempted to try to sell mine and upgrade to the GSync-compatible version.

One thing to note about the laptop is that it does not have Nvidia Optimus. That means it will not automatically and seamlessly swap between the 980M and the integrated graphics. To be clear, this is on purpose. I was a little concerned when I first saw that, but I did a bit of digging, and apparently, things like VR (Oculus Rift) will not work if you have Optimus. Another thing is that while the keyboard may seem to have per-key lighting (that is the "in thing" now), it's actually zone based.

Although, I do see that there's a newer model featuring Skylake processors. However, I don't know if there's really anything in those worth the upgrade -- especially considering the $500+ difference in price. Maybe the IPS panel, but that's a hefty price for that.

EDIT:

To note, there's currently a Groupon going on for Newegg Premier, which is like their equivalent to Amazon Prime. You can buy a 12-month subscription for $100, and you get a $100 credit for Newegg. The advantage to getting that isn't just the free shipping but also free returns. Honestly, I've saved quite a bit from Premier's free returns. Keep in mind that you don't need a lot of returns for it to add up. As an example, I'm returning a SSD to Amazon because I got a far better price on Newegg, and Amazon is taking $8 just to ship it back.

 

[JTDSR]

Now by free returns, does that also mean restocking fees? If the credit is immediate, I would most certainly look into that, but if it is a gift card that I would have to wait some time for, I may not take them up on their offer just yet.

 

[Aikouka]

Now by free returns, does that also mean restocking fees? If the credit is immediate, I would most certainly look into that, but if it is a gift card that I would have to wait some time for, I may not take them up on their offer just yet.

There's no restocking fee with Premier:

http://promotions.newegg.com/nepro/15-4495/index.html

Although, the deal is technically only an extra $50 credit since Premier is $50 normally ($100 for $100 + $50 Premier).

 

[Tweak155]

There is a Groupon for this where you basically get free Newegg money:

https://www.groupon.com/deals/neweg...27_0&sid=f648879698ff11e582975aec312f53aa0000

 

[Raduque]

There is a Groupon for this where you basically get free Newegg money:

https://www.groupon.com/deals/neweg...27_0&sid=f648879698ff11e582975aec312f53aa0000

It's not free, you paid face value for it. Pay $50 to get a $50 credit, or $100 to get a $100 credit.

Now, if you could sign up without paying anything and get the credit, it would be "Free" Newegg money.

 

[Tweak155]

It's not free, you paid face value for it. Pay $50 to get a $50 credit, or $100 to get a $100 credit.

Now, if you could sign up without paying anything and get the credit, it would be "Free" Newegg money.

It's 10% off so you get a free $10. Not much.

I'd argue it's same as cash since he is going to spend over $100 there anyways.

EDIT:

You did see this right?

Want to make this deal even better? Enter the code SAVE10 when checking out to receive an additional 10% off the Groupon price (valid only for this offer)