New Laptop need some advice

[Enkidu]

Yeah no problem outputting 4k for applications. Not sure what's better for a laptop though, the 980 or the sli'd 980M's... I would venture a guess that the 980M sli's get better frames, but also worse minimum frames (maybe) and I would also guess that they drain the battery in like 10 seconds flat whereas you might get 15 seconds with the 980 . For the games you mention it probably doesn't matter though. The 980 will run cooler and because we're in the realm of space heaters that would probably be the deciding factor for me.

Also 16gb is pretty standard for gaming laptops now. If you want more base that on whatever applications you're using, not which games you're playing.

[Gredival]

SLI 980M beats a regular 980, but Stig was right that if the game doesn't support or isn't optimized for SLI/CrossFire then you will lose out. This should be less of an issue going forward with increasing support for DirectX 12, but one of the games explicitly mentioned is StarCraft II which I know for a fact has little dual card/chip support right now.

[Juben]

here what its looking like figure go watch a little football before hitting the purchase key.

Display Type: EON17-SLX 1920 x 1080 17.3" IPS Matte Display with G-SYNC
Graphic Cards: Dual 8GB NVIDIA GTX 980M with G-SYNC
For a 980 desktop card difference of 189 bucks
the real curious one is dual 970m is -500 bucks not sure about 4k output with this configuration

Processors: Intel Core i7 6700K Quad-Core 4.0GHz (4.2GHz TurboBoost)
over kill but difference of a 170 bucks 3.5 vs 4.0
Intel Core i5 6600K Quad-Core 3.5GHz


Memory: 32GB ORIGIN PC Approved DDR4 2133MHz (4 X 8GB)
This the funny one 16 - 150 bucks

Operating System: MS Windows 10 Professional
m.2 SSD Option: m.2 SSD OS Drive
m.2 SSD Drive: 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SATA m.2
m.2 SSD Drive Two: None
Hard Drive: 1TB Seagate Solid State Hybrid Drive

four games max on this pc (Starcraft II, FFXIV, HoMM4/5) other than that use the second drive for documents and maybe an oracle database or two and a webserver.

Opinions wanted if it is overkill or whatever definitely looking for some critical opinions or better deals. Right now closing in on 4k, but it is under 5 large.

had to go check alienware one more time and found this
Alienware 17 R3 Alienware 17 R3
Operating System Windows 10 Pro 64-bit English
Memory 16GB Dual Channel DDR4 at 2133MHz (8GBx2)
Keyboard English Backlit Keyboard, powered by AlienFX
Video Card NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 980M with 8GB GDDR5
Driver Killer N1535 Wireless Driver
Hard Drive 256GB PCIe SSD (Boot) + 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s (Storage)
Wireless Killer 1535 802.11ac 2x2 WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1
Processor Intel® Intel® Core™ i7-6820HK (Quad-Core, 8MB Cache, Dynamically Overclocked up to 4.1GHz)
Display 17.3 inch UHD (3840 x 2160) IGZO IPS Anti-Glare 400-nits Display
only around 3k but has a 4k screen which work wise I figure I could throw a lot of stuff on there but a lil doubtful because dell has there hands in Alienware which most people say has gone downhill since but they are only one with 17inch with 4k resolution i think right now but i am sure a single 980m can't out put to a 4k moniotor can it?

[Krandor]

PCIe is faster, but iirc heat can be an issue.

Heat hasn't been a huge issue from my experiences. I have both a PCIe and SATA ssd (removed it from the housing so it would fit) occupying the same space in my Asus laptop and I've never experienced any issues with heat.

[The Stig]

Yeh system integrators (vendors) will always charge a lot for extra ram, so it's normal.

Might want to keep an eye on http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/predator-17-series

A single 980m will easily output 4k to a monitor if monitor is 4k. 970m can too. Just don't expect max details. (close to max is fine)

You going with Origin? Noticed you didn't specify vendor, but desktop CPU and mobile GPU should be fine (been a while since I've seen desktop CPUs in laptops. In 2004 I had a Pentium 4 in my Alienware. It overheated massively as it aged. Times have changed now though)

[Juben]

Yeh system integrators (vendors) will always charge a lot for extra ram, so it's normal.

Might want to keep an eye on http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/predator-17-series

A single 980m will easily output 4k to a monitor if monitor is 4k. 970m can too. Just don't expect max details. (close to max is fine)

You going with Origin?

dual 970m for 500 less seems like the deal if i can out to 4k monitor. Yeah been looking at origin heavily. Someone mentioned MSI but their website i swear doesn't allow you to build. Alienware has the only 4k resolution screen. Asus I always thought they were like the poor man's best buy option like Dynex for routers. If a single 980m can let me play starcraft II and ffxiv on max settings in 1080p then i am good with just that and it can output to a 4k or 2560 monitor then I am super good. Just trying to find the verify that

[The Stig]

I am 100% outputting to 4k is fine on those tier of GPUs. However I would like to ask a second opinion from someone to back me up, as I've never personally tried.

Max 1080p is probably no prob on those games mentioned.
Max 4k probably not, might need to dial it down 2 notches.

[xElipsis]

www.lappylist.com
www.reddit.com/r/suggestalaptop

I have no money to buy a laptop right now, but I check those periodically. Might be able to find something there

[ArchDizzle]

I have the Alienware 17 R3 with the 4k screen but the 970m gpu

Everything Ive thrown at it in 1080p has ran max settings with no issues, 4k is medium settings for most games but I have the AGA with a 980ti now to run games in 4k on it maxed out. It's a fantastic laptop even w/o the AGA, and with the 980m you should have no issues with it.

[Juben]

Cyber Monday, Dell supposedly has a few coupons that I could use. Hoping, well praying Origin PC has a few as well like the custom casing paint job for 200. The games I play aren't really graphics hogs so a single 980m might, well should be able to run it if my geforce 130m on low. Hopefully Starcraft III and HoMM 7 / 8 isn't too bad in the future. ArchDizzle how is the heat? Do you have a cooler, can you set it on your lap and work / game? Are the fans loud? what is the port configuration (usb, hdmi, fingerprint scanner, etc)? Can your 970m output to a 4k monitor no problem as well? Thank you and sorry for million and one questions?

[ArchDizzle]

Noise wise I have had several 3-5hr sessions playing XIV/AC black flag/Unity/Batman AK/Witcher 3/Etc . And the laptop always remains super quit, as far as heat goes in an extended play session the only area that gets warm is up near the top of the keyboard towards the middle, I have the 17" model of the HoverX lap desk I always have it sitting on. Off the top of my head it has 2 usb 3.0 slots on the left with an hdmi out and ethernet, as well as mic and head phone jack. Right side has 1 usb 3.0, thunderbolt port and card reader. And the AGA port. The sound quality for a laptop is really good too, way better then the ASUS Rog I had. I have not tried to output to a 4k monitor so cannot answer that.

[Juben]

I ended up buying the alienware 17 r3 "gaming laptop." Was reviewing my item list for the laptop saw no ac adapter, so gave them a call and they say adapter was standard so it is not listed. Just now decided to look at the list again and saw no cd/dvd/blu-ray rom and so got on chat and they apologized and listed some very expensive external combos. When did dvd readers not become a standard for laptops? Anyone have a good external blu-ray reader - dvd writer or blu-ray and dvd writer they recommend that can sit in a backpack most of the time(rugged)? Can't believe optical drives are not a standard! Tempted to go to cancel the order and just go with origin or msi but no 4k resolution but fingerprint scanner, an actually dvd/blu-ray drive (salty about this but laughing) guess i can upload all my digital copies to second drive but swear physical media > digital download.

[Gredival]

When did dvd readers not become a standard for laptops? Anyone have a good external blu-ray reader - dvd writer or blu-ray and dvd writer they recommend that can sit in a backpack most of the time(rugged)? Can't believe optical drives are not a standard! Tempted to go to cancel the order and just go with origin or msi but no 4k resolution but fingerprint scanner, an actually dvd/blu-ray drive (salty about this but laughing) guess i can upload all my digital copies to second drive but swear physical media > digital download.

For gaming laptops? It's been like that a few years. The idea is that gamers are most likely than most to use Steam to download games or use online installers so the space for readers can be used to create better airflow or turned into room for a secondary harddrive.

[Boyiee]

Plus, external drives are like a fifth the cost of having one in the laptop, just like with hdd/ssd's you're better off getting them yourself and cheating out on certain internals.

[Enkidu]

I prefer having a drive rather then lugging around an external that will at some point be somewhere you can't access when you need too. I do a lot of dvd burning though. It doesn't really effect much of anything though, the drive bays are extremely small. When they don't include a drive bay, it's usually just to make the laptop a bit slimmer anyways.

Anyways did you go with a 980M? I checked out the alienwares at one point, but the pricing wasn't very competitive and in my opinion you're just paying for the brand.

[Senji]

Even desktop dvd drives are rarely used anymore. It's more of; for $12, why not? Been years since anyone has so much as mentioned a blu burner.

[The Stig]

Did the Alienware 17 r3 not come with a DVD/Blu Ray drive? Surprising! Sort of. The r1 did at least (which I have) lol. It's a slot loading one!

Just looked, indeed it don't. Though it's true it's rarely used nowadays I usually expect large laptops to have them just because, but I didn't anticipate them not including it for the purposes of better airflow and such.

But congrats! Just fix yourself with some usb external drive that you'll probably only need once in a while.

[Juben]

ArchDizzle or anyone who has an Alienware. Finally got mine loving it. Now dealing with configuration and installation. One thing that is driving me up a wall is how do i set up one finger vertical scrolling? I found two, three and oddly enough four, but not one. Touchpad is gigantic and lights up so loving that.

On a side note anyone know where i can get some 4k Bahamut pictures or CA: Civil War pictures?