Powerful Laptop for Uni

[TommyLie]

Hey guys, I'm looking into buying a laptop sometime in the next couple of weeks which I can take to uni this year, and I just wanted some opinions on what I'm considering buying. So here is the system:

MSI GT70 0ND-612AU ($1992) - http://www.mln.com.au/product/?itemID=4287

Processor: 3rd generation Intel® Core i7-3630QM Processor 2.4Ghz (Turbo 3.4G)/6M
Memory: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz
Storage: 1TB SATA HDD
Operating System: Genuine Windows® 8 64Bit
Video Chip: nVIDIA Geforce GTX675MX 3D Graphic Card GDDR5 4GB
Screen: 17.3inch Anti glare full HD 1920x1080
Audio: Audio Boost, 2 Speakers, 1 subwoofer, sound by Dynaudio , THX True Studio Pro
Connectivity: LAN :10/100/1000 Bigfoot Killer E2200 series, Wireless LAN:802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Built-In Devices: SD(XC/HC)/MMC/MS(PRO)/xD Card Reader, HD Webcam, HDMI, 3xUSB3.0, eSATA/USB Combo, Line-in, LED Backlight Keyboard
Webcam: Yes
Optical Drive: Blu-Ray Combo
Battery: 9 cells
Dimensions: 428 x 288 x 55mm
Warranty: 2 Years Pickup & Return Warranty

I'll also add a 256GB SSD for an additional $229

So why do I need all that power? Essentially I want a laptop that will be able to run games at high settings as well as be portable. However, I don't often play 'games' as such, the thing I would be using it for the most would be to play Microsoft Flight Simulator X with a lot of addons (with is over 100GB in size). For those that don't know, FSX is one of the most glitched and under-optimized programs on the planet, and is essentially entirely CPU bound when it comes to FPS. You could have two GTX280 GPUs in SLI and a moderate CPU and get less FPS that a PC with a powerful CPU and a GT640 - no exaggeration there.

So, basically what are your thoughts on the value for money of this system? As far as I can see it is easily the best laptop around for $2000. If anyone knows of any similarly priced laptops with at least a CPU the speed of this one I would love to know

Edit: Also, I'm hopefully doing Aero/Sci at Monash, how much would I be using my laptop for this, and doing what exactly?

[Russ]

Buy a $1000 desktop for games and a $1000 ultrabook for uni and you'll be way happier than with a laptop that's suboptimal for both.

The number 1 and 2 criteria for a laptop to take to uni are weight and battery life, neither of which that laptop will do well in.

[JinXi]

Edit: Also, I'm hopefully doing Aero/Sci at Monash, how much would I be using my laptop for this, and doing what exactly?

Try 0 to 0% for the first two years of uni. (Can't speak for 3/4th year units but I believe that if the computers in the comp labs can run all the necessary engineering programs, you won't need anything better than an average laptop since the specs for those comps aren't exactly great - they do lag and take some time to run long scripts though.)

[HighLatency]

Buy a $1000 desktop for games and a $1000 ultrabook for uni and you'll be way happier than with a laptop that's suboptimal for both.

The number 1 and 2 criteria for a laptop to take to uni are weight and battery life, neither of which that laptop will do well in.

What russ said, that msi laptop that was mentioned is 3.9kg, which is ridiculously heavy when most laptops are around 2.4kg.
If you travel a lot you will feel the burn of the weight. I just got a asus zenbook prime today and it is 1.3kg which is perfect for carrying for ~$1200,
If you want to game, get a decent desktop computer at home.

[JellyDonut]

Just play flight sim at home

[SenriAkane]

I wouldn't bring a 3.9kg laptop to uni either.

[excal]

I did what you did and dropped $4k on a laptop. It got too heavy by the end of it and I more or less stopped using it by the end of 1st year.

That said, it came in great use for LANs

Russ' suggestion of a $1k desktop (though if you're FSXing, you may want to invest a bit more in peripherals and perhaps some specs) and a netbook (even a 'transformer' tablet) for a few hundred bucks, if all you're doing is essentially note taking. Where you need more grunt, the university computer labs are generally more than sufficient. 

[TommyLie]

I will be living in the Monash Residential flats, so I will be nearby. Also, if I'm apparently not going to be using my laptop for my degree that much, then I guess the weight isn't that much of a problem as I wont be carrying it around very often? Also, it has an Intel integrated graphics chip set (4000 series) which it switches to using nVIDIA Optimus when no 3D applications are being used so battery life can be preserved.

I live in Warrnambool, 4 hours away from Monash, so I wont be going home every weekend and hence be able to 'play FSX at home' as you said JellyDonut - and I like to have a fly every now and then for a bit of relaxation, in fact this is the whole reason for getting a decent laptop which can do it all. And as for buying a desktop and laptop for a sum total of $2000-ish, first is it even possible to get a $1000 desktop that runs battlefield 3 on ultra in full HD constantly above 30 FPS (the MSI laptop can btw, this is why I bring it up). Not that I'm going to be playing BF3 as I don't own it, but I want to future proof, and by my standards I want it to be able to play the latest games out now at decent FPS and decent graphics settings, so if something I want comes out, I know I can play it without problems. If it is possible to get a decent desktop like this, won't two computers in my small room be a bit much? along with textbooks and work etc..

[HighLatency]

I will be living in the Monash Residential flats, so I will be nearby. Also, if I'm apparently not going to be using my laptop for my degree that much, then I guess the weight isn't that much of a problem as I wont be carrying it around very often? Also, it has an Intel integrated graphics chip set (4000 series) which it switches to using nVIDIA Optimus when no 3D applications are being used so battery life can be preserved.

I live in Warrnambool, 4 hours away from Monash, so I wont be going home every weekend and hence be able to 'play FSX at home' as you said JellyDonut - and I like to have a fly every now and then for a bit of relaxation, in fact this is the whole reason for getting a decent laptop which can do it all. And as for buying a desktop and laptop for a sum total of $2000-ish, first is it even possible to get a $1000 desktop that runs battlefield 3 on ultra in full HD constantly above 30 FPS (the MSI laptop can btw, this is why I bring it up). Not that I'm going to be playing BF3 as I don't own it, but I want to future proof, and by my standards I want it to be able to play the latest games out now at decent FPS and decent graphics settings, so if something I want comes out, I know I can play it without problems. If it is possible to get a decent desktop like this, won't two computers in my small room be a bit much? along with textbooks and work etc..

Well in that case then by all means, get that laptop if you arent going to be doing much walking.

A $1000 desktop can absolutely destroy a $2000 laptop in terms of power though. My brother can play crysis 2 on maxed settings with a computer made from $800 worth of parts

[Russ]

Your i7 will still chew through battery life and you'll still get way less than the ~6 hours you can get with an ultrabook.

Don't future proof, it's a bad idea. Yeah you can get a 1k desktop that will run bf3 at those stats (I did). I have a desktop and a laptop and it's not too crowded. I usually cloud-sync my uni docs to my desktop if i need to work on them at night. You might not want to take a desktop to halls if you won't have much room though, idk.

[TommyLie]

What do you think about this one: http://www.dell.com/au/p/inspiron-17r-se-7720/fs for $1000 it still has a bit of grunt in the GPU and the same CPU?

[vcestudent94]

And as for buying a desktop and laptop for a sum total of $2000-ish, first is it even possible to get a $1000 desktop that runs battlefield 3 on ultra in full HD constantly above 30 FPS (the MSI laptop can btw, this is why I bring it up). Not that I'm going to be playing BF3 as I don't own it, but I want to future proof, and by my standards I want it to be able to play the latest games out now at decent FPS and decent graphics settings, so if something I want comes out, I know I can play it without problems.

I've recently built a $980 pc that can run FarCry 3 Maxed out at 60 FPS so yeah it's definitely possible. I agree with the others, a laptop-as tempting as those high end ones are-arnt really made for gaming. They can get really hot and annoying with their compact keyboards. As well as the fact that you can't really upgrade much other than the memory, hdd, etc. (all things that don't improve gaming performance). Your better off with a pc and a portable laptop, you'll be grateful in the the long run.

[Mao]

I want to future proof, and by my standards I want it to be able to play the latest games out now at decent FPS and decent graphics settings, so if something I want comes out, I know I can play it without problems.

Don't kid yourself, it's a computer, not a building. It all gets outdated within 1 year.

If you want to 'future proof', the only way is to continuously upgrade to stay at the edge, or learn your usage habits and buy the most reliable system that suits your usage.

[TommyLie]

By 'future proof', I mean I just want it to last a few years, not become entirely obsolete and still perform well in the years after purchasing it on the programs I use now. I realize that in a years time it probably wont be able to run the latest games at ultra anymore, but I just want stuff to be playable if there is something I like. Also, seeing as I will be using it predominantly for a program that came out in 2006 and as well as general usage and not hardcore gaming, to me this still seems to be a logical way to go. I don't want to have to be fiddling around with two computers keeping them up to date and clean ect.. I don't want to have to pack up an entire desktop when I move out over the holidays just so I can enjoy FSX elsewhere..

Look, I realize that I could be getting a much more powerful desktop for half the price, but the portability, size and 'all in one' nature of the laptop seems just so much more appealing to me. Btw, if this laptop can handle BF3 in ultra then, lets be honest, its not in anyway a simple low or mid range set up, do I really need a more powerful system in desktop form anyway given what I'm using it for? (Yes I know desktops are upgradable and hence more 'future proof', but I really doubt I will need to be upgrading it as I'm not that into gaming or programing or anything that really requires the latest stuff). To me, getting a laptop and a desktop is just not that appealing, I feel like I'm only getting a half full cup in each case, whereas in the case of the MSI system I'm getting basically one of the most powerful laptops available to a normal person which can do it all...

[Russ]

You're actually getting two full cups if you buy both, but if you feel that way, sure.
If you want to play FSX and not worry about a desktop, then yeah you're going to have to shell out extra money for a big laptop and the one you've found seems like it'll do the job reasonably well.