GX640 questions

A few questions about the MSI GX 640. I decided to put the answered questions in bold.

- Will the GPU be user upgradable (say from 5850 to a 6850).
-If the next generation cards conform to the same MXM slot standards it would be plausible.

-What is the cooling system like? Will it still work to an acceptable level if I'm in bed with it? (I usually dont cover the entire bottom, but about 50% of the rear might be blocked)
-The exhaust port is probably on the right side. While one should definitely keep an eye on temps while using it in bed, it would probably be fine most of the time. No one actually has one yet though, so take this with a grain of salt.


-How will the FPS compare VS. a 5870m / i7-720 / 1920x1080 (thinking of the Asus G73 in particular here) I imagine that the lower screen res would put them close together.
-Potentially better frames per second due to less actual pixels being rendered. Would still like more voices on this one though!

-What is the build quality expected to be like? I noticed it will use aluminum, which I have found to be a great material through my MBP.
-The aluminum is not actually a part of the frame in any way, it's more for appearance. It should still be a decent build quality.

-What kind of quality is to be expected from the screen? Is it LED or CCFL backlit? And finally, what kind of color saturation can I expect? (will it be on par with my 2 1/2 year old MBP?)

-Are the WASD keys red backlit, and is there a dedicated subwoofer? I think I saw both in a video but it's hard to tell.
-No, in some MSI models the WASD keys may be painted red, but there is no backlight. no woofer

-Does anyone know what the back-order lines look like at XoticPC, gentechPC etc. ?

-Is that the PSU input in the rear? I hate rear power plugs personally, so this would be a (small) con for me. I like the nice clean back of my MBP. Pic: http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/images/Notebook/MSI/GX640/11.jpg

I'm hoping to buy this with base specs from Xotic, or mayb gentech if I decide to get AC MX-2, or ICD7.

 

Is any of the keyboard backlit? That would be awesome if it was. The 5850 (especially with GDDR5) should compare quite well with the 5870. It's already just a downclocked 5870. Same number of shader cores and everything in it, as with the 5830. The only differences in the 5800 series of ATI chips are in the clocks and the memory. It will likely get a few FPS less than the 5870, but it's a fair bit physically smaller machine, too.

 

You're getting this plus the g73?

 

I haven't ordered the g73 since I learned this has gddr5.

 

No , none of the MSI Gseries are backlit. Just some red paint on the WASD keys.

The GPU is upgradable but if whether it can house a 6series , no one can answer that.. It will depends on the MXM connector they will use for future cards.

Built quality is good , strong chassis. The Alu is here just for the looks ..

As long as you don't game in bed it should live

 

Yep, dont suffocate it, thats for certain!

 

Well, 1920x1080 is ~17.5% more pixels than 1680x1050. On the other hand, with GDDR5 on the HD 5850, the only difference between it and the 5870 seems to be clock speeds, and only ~12% at that (625MHz vs 700MHz). Consequently, I'd actually expect the MSI GX640 to get slightly higher framerates at native res than the G73.

 

Aye, it'l definately be on equal footing thats for sure, if anything, the CPU will contribute as a "Possible" bottleneck, i say that very lightly.

 

I get the feeling that the base i5 will be fine for any shooters.

On another note, does anyone know if the air exhaust is rear or side? And I assume intake is bottom?

If it's on the side I won't block any vents laying down, and gaming might be plausible.

 

Well, the i5-430M might struggle somewhat in dodgy unoptimized console ports like GTA IV - though looking here it's still good enough - but otherwise it's quite a solid CPU for gaming.

 

The air exhaust is on the right side i believe

 

Keeps the mouse hand warm while gaming in cold New England winters

 

This shows the vents in the rear corner. Are they both exhaust? Hard to tell when no one owns one.

 

That's correct , both exhaust.

The design and chassis are pretty much the same as the previous MSI systems.

 

Combine a CPU under-volt, and some ICD7 and I think they might as well have labeled this a 5870.

 

So does anyone know how much of it is aluminum? And has anyone preordered/KNOW when they will get it?

 

It looks like the pictures I have been linking from Gentech are actually from another similar MSI model. I presume it's from the model that came before the GX640. Notice how the GX640 has less of the red trim. Now I'm again going to have to look for pictures of the cooling solution.

edit *read post below before you take this as fact*

From XoticPC:



From gentech.



Also, the GX640 doesn't look like it has the front speakers, and likely no 'woofer either. I'll continue digging.

 

OK Big find here. Xotic definitely has an old pic. Notice the NVIDEA sticker on the front.

Edit: *Xotic is probably showing the old GT627.

 

On top of the lid and wrist rest only.

Have you ever heard of the terms "for illustration purposes only" ? Nothing alarming here , as most of the MSI notebooks looks the same. Only the interior has changed.

 

look on the msi global site. those are more accurate pictures.

 

I wasn't worried, I was just noticing that those pictures wouldn't give away any system specifics. ill take a look at MSI's site though, retarded me here forgot about that.

*edit* OK, well I saw the pics on MSI's usa site. They are different from the ones shown on both Xotic and Gentech. So any pricture I've linked so far is NOT the exact gx640. The exhaust will be right side only.

 

The chassis for the GX640 Branded notebook is EXACTLY the same as the previous 15.4" gaming chassis. The only change is the touch-panel above the keyboard as the GX640 does not have the "Turbo" button as the previous models did.

 

hey rob, have you guys started shipping yet? any chance of a review anytime soon?

 

Is RKcomputers as reliable as the famed xoticpc or gentech?

 

At least the same, if not better.

 

hmm, why strip out the turbo?

 

Because it's useless

 

You see, when your overclocking, you wana go all the way,

Not just that measly 20%, you see dead over there, he likes his 400% overclocks, why?? because he can damit...

haha

 

haha of course, I just liked the built in turbo so if you melt the thing overclocking it then its technically "normal usage"

 

That
And don't forget the lack of support for quads.

i5/i7 don't really need it as they got the turbo boost.

 

Which would be better to buy the GX from ? (Pricing, shipping, tax to California).

Thanks for your help

 

gentech -> xotic -> rk
in order from lowest price to highest except gentech is in caliso you'll have to pay taxes if you buy there. Xotic which is in nebraska would be your next best choice for cheaper shipping (rk is in new york).

 

So Gentech always charges the Californian tax (8.25% ?), or is that just because dookie is also in California?
I guess Xotic looks best for me since I'm in Wyoming at the moment.

 

it's cause he's in california. you don't have to pay taxes from gen tech. (however after filling out my tax form, i realised your state might charge you tax at the end of the year.)

 

That means the price for gentech for me would be $1242.65 (1099+tax+16recyclingfee+15shipping).

Anyone know what xotic charges for shipping, and whether they'll make me pay the $16 governator fee?

 

Sad to say...

Of all the retailers...

I found XoticPC's shipping to be the most expensive........

 

shipping is $30 from xotic for a 15 lb package. (i imagine laptop + backpack + power Adapter + anything else + packaging will equal about 15 lbs.)

 

they might not charge taxes up front and might make you pay upon delivery so have some cash handy just in case

 

So, GenTech would probably be cheaper for most interstate purchases then, due to an already cheaper price and cheaper shipping. Do both GenTech and XoticPC have the backpack?
It's true though; when sales tax isn't charged, most states expect you to pay "use tax".

 

I know gentech doesn't have the backpack (or at least that's what Ken Lee told me a couple weeks ago). Xotic says they're still offering it but you'll have to email them to double check.

 

Wait what do you mean "up front"? What what?

Also, @lackofcheese, does Cali require us to pay "use tax"? Whatever that means?

 

From ca.gov:

 

So then how does that work for us? how are we "responsible" for paying it? WHAAAAA

 

Depending where you live and the location of the reseller you may not be charged tax by the reseller itself upon transaction. Instead your region may charge you tax upon delivery that you must pay before they release your package to you.

i.e. - if you live in canada depending on your province there may be a 15% import tax. If this is the case when the package arrives at your door the delivery person will demand 15% tax on the value of your package before they'll give it to you and if you don't have the money at the time they store it at a post office until they get it.

 

So for California, I assume that wouldn't occur, right?

Anyone have any experience with this? Especially experience with buying from 1toppc(gentech) or xoticpc?