Need help in choosing a G73 model

[Skye]

I'm thinking of which G73 model to pick as a present from my family.
I was gonna go for the G74 but the local store has only 1 stock of it left and they said that someone had already got it.
So I considered getting an MSI GT780 but the store only has the i5 config.
I am primarily using the laptop for gaming (especially Star Wars: The Old Republic and probably WoW or an upcoming MMO)
I am gonna get a laptop because I will be travelling a bit within the next few years or so, which is why I picked a laptop over a desktop.

I looked for local G73 laptops for sale and I had 2 options

Option 1:
2nd Hand G73JW-A1
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 17.3-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
CPU: Intel Core i7-740QM quad-core processor (1.73 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1333 MHz RAM, 4 x SODIMM (expandable to 16GB)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth v2.1
Storage: 1TB storage (2 x 7200RPM hard drives)
Optical Drive: Blu-ray combo drive
Camera: 2.0 megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with EAX 5.0 sound
Microphone Digital Array Microphones
Card Reader: 8-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory stick/MS Pro/MS-Duo/MS-Pro Duo)
Input/ Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Kensington Lock
Battery Pack: 8 cell
Dimensions: 16.6 x 12.8 x 0.08 ~ 2.3 –inches
Weight: 8 lbs (with 8 cell battery)
Color: Black
Keyboard: Backlit

Comes With:
Republic of Gamers Backpack
AC Adapter
8 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Option 2:
Brand new G53SX-XR1
Core i7 2630QM
NVidia 2GB GTX 560M GDDR5
15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Glossy
3 x 4GB ddr3 1333
640gb 5400rpm HDD
DVD RW
WiFi N

*Specs were just quoted from the ads I saw
**Reviews of the certain unit is also appreciated
Thanks

[houndazs]

may i ask why a laptop over a desktop? do you travel often? a laptop is never meant to be a desktop replacement and should never be used as one. don't get me wrong ASUS makes some awesome laptops, but if you are not planning to travel with it i would consider buying or even better, building a desktop!

[houndazs]

Skye wrote:
I'm thinking of which G73 model to pick as a present from my family.
I was gonna go for the G74 but the local store has only 1 stock of it left and they said that someone had already got it.
So I considered getting an MSI GT780 but the store only has the i5 config.
I am primarily using the laptop for gaming (especially Star Wars: The Old Republic and probably WoW or an upcoming MMO)


I looked for local G73 laptops for sale and I had 2 options

Option 1:
2nd Hand G73JW-A1
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 17.3-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
CPU: Intel Core i7-740QM quad-core processor (1.73 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB GDDR5 VRAM
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1333 MHz RAM, 4 x SODIMM (expandable to 16GB)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth v2.1
Storage: 1TB storage (2 x 7200RPM hard drives)
Optical Drive: Blu-ray combo drive
Camera: 2.0 megapixel
Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with EAX 5.0 sound
Microphone Digital Array Microphones
Card Reader: 8-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory stick/MS Pro/MS-Duo/MS-Pro Duo)
Input/ Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Kensington Lock
Battery Pack: 8 cell
Dimensions: 16.6 x 12.8 x 0.08 ~ 2.3 –inches
Weight: 8 lbs (with 8 cell battery)
Color: Black
Keyboard: Backlit

Comes With:
Republic of Gamers Backpack
AC Adapter
8 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Option 2:
Brand new G53SX-XR1
Core i7 2630QM
NVidia 2GB GTX 560M GDDR5
15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Glossy
3 x 4GB ddr3 1333
640gb 5400rpm HDD
DVD RW
WiFi N

*Specs were just quoted from the ads I saw
**Reviews of the certain unit is also appreciated
Thanks

to answer your question i would get the MSI laptop for your needs, BUT MAKE SURE TO UPGRADE THE HARD DRIVE!!!! That hard drive wil SLOW you down! The ASUS laptop will also work for your needs, and will not require any upgrades. But like i said above, get a desktop if you don't plan to travel!

[Skye]

@houndazs
-Yes sir, I intend to travel. I will be using this laptop for more than a year (2-3 years I think), Sorry I forgot to mention it.

[houndazs]

Skye wrote:
@houndazs
-Yes sir, I intend to travel. I will be using this laptop for more than a year (2-3 years I think), Sorry I forgot to mention it.

when i say travel, i didn't mean like once or twice a year for a week at a time or less. laptops are meant for people who:

1. Travel 1-2 weeks a month for their job
2. have their own business that requires a "portable desktop."
3. have no space for a desktop.

I'm not trying to stop you from buying a laptop, just trying to help ensure that you stay "happy" with your purchase for the next 3 years. I have my own PC business, and have seen many many cases where people buy a laptop thinking that since technology is so "advanced" today that it will be fine as a desktop replacement. 9 out of 10 regret that choice. remember if you require a better GPU in the furure with any laptop for future gaming needs, it is very very difficult if not impossible with most to upgrade the GPU. the ones that you can upgrade don't usually provide enough "horsepower" from the upgrade to be sufficient in their gaming tasks. also remember heat is a electronics killer!

so out of the box the ASUS will be the best choice. if you feel comfortable upgrading a Hard Drive to a SSD and have the funds, i would buy the MSI.

[kb0sdq]

I have the G73jh -RBBX05 from bestbuy does everything I need it to.
Very good machine in my opinion.
Hope this helps
@Houndazs the g series ad says 17" lappies are a desktop replacement .
True if you are not gonna move it around then a desktop is better. My wife and I play wow together so we both have lappies and sit on the couch and play.

Happy ROG_n,
Doug

[houndazs]

kb0sdq wrote:
My wife and I play wow together so we both have lappies and sit on the couch and play

I wish my wife played games with me 😞 she can barley figure out how to add an attachment to an e-mail. i tried to get her to play WoW once and she hated it.....

[Skye]

Thread Closed*
Thanks for the replis

[ClintonD]

The best u can get in G73 series is the G73SW.