GX660R Configuration

I posted this in the What laptop do I buy? section but It might be more fitting here.

I finally selected my next laptop after almost a week of researching and checking out different options, learning about new technologies (which still is a bit confusing) I have finally picked the one I want.

I'm not too crazy about the lights but everything else is fine. Screen is apparently not the best but, I'm already use to having to look at a screen directly so its not a deal breaker for me. The Audio on this system really attracted me + it will fit in my current backpack even if a bit heavy.

Video if you haven't seen it.

YouTube - MSI GX660R-060 Video Review PART 1 by XoticPC

MSI GX660R-060US - Gaming Laptop
- 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare Type Screen
- - Intel® Core™ i7-740QM, 1.73-2.93GHz, (45nm, 6MB L3 cache) - Standard
- ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5870 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11
- - 6,144MB (6GB) DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2GBx3)
- - 4X Blu-Ray Reader / 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive - Standard
- - 320GB 7200RPM WD or Seagate (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Standard
- - 320GB 7200RPM WD or Seagate (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Standard
- Internal 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card (this is a Intel 5100 according to the video)
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Pre-Installed + Drivers & Utilities Disk
- 2 Year MSI US Parts & Labor 1 Year Global Warranty w/ Lifetime Tech Support
- 1 Year of Accidental Damage Protection
$1599.99

2 upgrades I am considering
80GB Intel G2 X25-M Solid State Drive (SSD Serial-ATA II) ( + 273 )
Intel® Advanced-N 6200 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module ( + 35 )

I will use the computer will be used for classes and Final Fantasy 14 MMO so main programs will be the Game, Office programs and web surfing.

So my questions for you techno gurus are these.

The standard twin 320GB 7200rpm 16mb cache in Raid 0 vs. getting a 80GB SSD and leaving the other 320GB for storage. The loss in storage does not bother me at all as I will probably never fill up 1 - 320GB anyway but the price is a big jump. As I understand it this is the fastest top of the line way to go, but is the performance worth it?

Also as a side note, I'm not worried about losing my information in RAID 0 as I back all my music and important stuff on a external HD.

2nd the Intel 5100 vs 6200 on the wireless. They both have 2 antennas and both say support 300mbps so I'm not sure what to think on here. Intel's site did not give me much info other than stats.

Thanks again for all the help guys/and or ladies.

 

That's a terrible price for a 80GB X25-M G2.

If you need the SSD, get the standard config and then purchase it aftermarket..

If you can wait around, you can possibly wait for the G3 SSD's that are just around the corner for Q4 2010.

 

Thanks Meraki , any input on the wireless card?

 

The GX660 uses the Intel Wireless N 1000, the 5100 was used in the older models.

 

Thanks RobM

 

Man, this model is gona sell like hot bread in somalia

 

Yes it is
The longer it takes ASUS to release the G53 the better it is for MSI, styling aside( love it, hate it, whatever) it's a very powerful and feature rich
laptop.I think it's only going to gain in popularity.

 

yep. ive actually decided to look past the looks or whatever and just get it. asus can go suck it im not waiting any longer

 

Smart move by MSI for being available for the back to school rush.

 

It definitely has lots of appeal. Good speakers alone will make it appeal to crowds other than the gamers.

I've always told people I was an Asus guy, but damn, this thing is nice. I can get over the aesthetics. (Hell, I owned a G50vt-X6 at one time, and that had obvious orange trim on it).

 

About the configuration,

I would like to know if the GT660R have too the Sound Blaster 3D sound card and intel N 1000 Wi-Fi ?

Tkz

BR

 

I cant believe it Forge is thinking of getting a MSI.;P
Well you can control the lighting so that's a plus, after the novelty wears off I'm sure most people will just shut them down if it starts pissing them off.
GPU's aside it has every feature that the G53 has and then some, only thing missing is the dual fan cooling and backlit keyboard.
Early tests and benchmarks show the cooling is very good with the MSI and better when you add a good thermal paste.
Wether the 460GTX will out perform the 5870 is still up in the air with a slight edge going to Nvidia in DX 11 but it's still not proven.
I say if is better it won't be by much, maybe a couple of FPS.
In any case performance wise the MSI will be one of the top in the 15"/16" category.It can match up with any laptop.

 

Also, it looks like CPU swap will be much easier. I don't have to take the whole thing apart like the G73, or probably the G53.

And I'm thinking about it because Ken emailed me the video review link. Been contemplating ever since. My true dream laptop would be the ports/components/features of the MSI in the chassis and dual-fan of the G53. That machine I would love long time.

 

I don't believe it is an actual Sound Blaster card, and I have heard both Intel N 5100 and 1000 now. I'm thinking I'm just going to get the 6200 anyway. As for getting the SSD I'm pretty sure I'm going to do it but I may actually go to the next step up which is the

128GB Crucial C300 Solid State Drive (SSD Serial-ATA III) ( + 298 )

I just need to figure out if they truly did work all the kinks out of this drive. It seems to perform better than the intel now even on SATA II.(at least from articles I have read recently)

I see you have a Intel on yours Forge any thoughts on this?

 

Well, it runs very well. I'm not an HDD benchmarker, so I can't really give hard numbers. But it's infinitely definitely better than the Seagate 320GB @ 7200rpm stock drive that I once had. I've had no problems with it so far.

I'm actually wasting it, a bit, since I only have my boot files and some random programs on it. I still have... looks like 98GB free. All gaming files are on my Hitachi.

 

Well Forge, you are not the only one that was an Asus only guy, and then was swayed by the MSI GX660.

Being an ATi fan, I as more than inclined to go the MSI route, and I can't simply dismiss the great deal it is despite the lack of backlit keyboard(which I will miss).

But well, I already went ahead and ordered the MSI. I don't regret it because I am sure the 460m will be, at best, the same thing as HD5870, so in the gaming departement, they will be the same.

And it turns out the machine comes preconfigured in Raid 0? nice.

 

im ready to buy. i really am. im like >< this close to pulling the trigger. just not sure if i want a 15" or 17" lappy. what say you guys? get the msi or wait for the new g73

 

I would have preffered a 17inch, but I am already used to 15.6 inch and I cant wait because of work reasons.

G73 will be a fine machine but I see no reason to NOT get it right now xD

 

If the MSI was competing with the G53, or if the G53 had a definitive spec list and release date not too far in the future, I'd think I'd be inclined towards the G53. But since there's no definitive information, I find myself becoming impatient. Which is funny, since before that fateful email from Ken I was content to wait until Jesus came back again or the G53 launched, whichever came first. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

I think I tend towards nVidia GPUs more, since I'm more familiar with them, but the 5870 is a known quantity while the 460m is not (even though what little info we do have suggests it will be a very nice card).

From what some resellers have told me, the [InsertColorHere]SODs that plagued the G73 are partially a result of the proprietary reverse MXM slot and format of the Asus cards. I haven't heard complaints from "standard" MXM 5870s, but then again I haven't lurked in the Clevo or Alienware boards much. But in any case, the MSI should be using a standard MXM format, so we'll see how that goes.


But again, the only little niggle I have with the GX660R is that I did like the design a bit better on the G53. Not a fan of glossy palmrests, for one. Hmm. I wonder if I could do some crazy modding to get a rubberized palmrests. HMMMMM...

 

Rhino Linings

 

I believe they also sell a really lousy cheap version of that stuff at AutoZone as well haha.