Get a gx660 now or wait for the gt680s???

Well, i've been looking at notebooks so long my head is spinning a bit, I've ruled out the asus due to keyboard issues. I like the new sagers and qosmio but seems like it will be forever and a day before their available.

I really like the gx660r although ive read some bad reviews of its screen with make we worry a bit. The gt680 looks like its coming, but sooner or later is the big question there.

So my dilemma, the gx660s are discounted now but since the new sandybridge notebooks usually run cheaper its not that great of an incentive to buy 'last gen' with this gen just about there.

So, anyone have any thoughts or info to sway me to just buying a 660 or holding out for the 680 series?

 

I'm waiting.

 

So far I am too but can see the benefit of waiting or not...

They both have their merits, the 680 has a faster CPU, 16gb max ram, larger hard drives and may or may not have a better screen.

The 660 has a faster video card (5870 faster than 460 or 6870), system34/54 expansion slot (which the 680 loses) is available now and is a bit cheaper.

If I knew the screen was better id definitely wait, but not so sure with what i know now.

 

really the screen is not a problem.
un less u watch your screen from strange angles .
id reccomnd u try and see it first but seriously the screen is fine

 

Probably not an option to see it first, I've never seen an MSI at any local shop. The screen looks fine in all the reviews ive watched on youtube but ive read reviews about its bad viewing angles which has me cautious. Looking at the Xoticpc 680 review they say the screen looks like its better but its really subjective so it could be the same screen... I asked the folks at xoticpc and they said its probably the same screen like 80% chance... which calls their review comments into question. lol.

 

wht country do u live in?

serioussly tho unlees your planning on more then 3 people to be lookin at your screen then nothing 2 worry about

 

Im located in the USA, St. Louis, MO. Lots of computer shops, best buys even a microcenter but no MSI notebooks to be seen except the wind.

The review that got me worried was one guy in the forums saying the vertical angles were so bad that looking straight at the the screen either the top edge or bottom edge would be fading out. Sounds nuts from what ive seen in videos but stuck in my head. lol.

 

That sounds like that guy hasn't properly tilted his screen. The nice thing about notebooks is that you just tilt your screen until it's directly facing your height. Vertical angles should never be the problem. Horizontal angles are a legit complaint, but not vertical.

 

Besides, an old GX660 with a 920/940xm and throttlestop will be faster than a GX680 in anything unless you equip the later with a 2920, then they will be on par

also, the 680 uses the same screen. Can't let you know why I know, but I know haha.

 

I'd just like to know where you can even find a gx660 or gt660 barebones at a reasonable price.

 

You cant find a gt/gx660 in a bare bone offer. The resellers that sell those notebooks have options for you to upgrade the basic notebook as how they receive it from MSI.

 

Intel Core i7 2630QM Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Intel Core i7 940XM Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Intel Core i7 2920XM Notebook Processor - Notebookcheck.net Tech

Stock config the 2630qm isnt all that bad compaired to the 940xm. It is only lacking behind alittle bit stock vs stock. But to be honest, the 2920xm is going to blow away the 940xm, with or with out throttlestop.

 

As for choosing which one to get here is alittle bit of info I found for you to look over and choose.

Overclock3D :: Review :: MSI GX660R Laptop Review :: 3D Benchmarks

MSI GT680 Sandy Bridge Gaming Laptop Review - HotHardware

 

Battery life is gonna take a hit in the new GT680 model?

 

If anything batterylife should be better... the CPU (sandybridge) and GPU (460m vs 5870) both have lower power draws than what they are replacing, everything else is the same except for a extra memory slot. My guess is it will be slightly better or more or less the same on battery life.

 

It really all depends. If MSI does use the Optimus, it would increase the battery life by 75% or more. Alienware is already bragging about getting 4 plus hours out of there M17x R3 with the 460M. Because they are using the optimus in there notebooks for that card. Best Buy is also stating 4 plus hours for there G73SW in stock. Maybe the GT680 will get aleast 3 hrs without gaming if they dont use the optimus.

 

That could be cool, I didnt think optimus was being used with highend cards, I know none of the new sagers are using optimus with anything faster than a 540.

Any idea if either the 660 or 680 support multiple montors... like the VGA, HDMI and notebook screen active at once? I know you can setup duals with some DVI equipped machines but no DVI port on the MSIs.

 

Well, with throttlestop, having all cores running at 3.2ghz will stomp all sandy bridges except the 2920, which most probably be able to unlock all cores and likely curbstomp the 940xm.

But the thing is, I can find a 920xm es for 300dlrs, whereas upgrading to a sandy bridge is a bit more expensive, and unless I get the 2920 I won't be getting any performance increase.

 

True. New stuff always cost more. I'm happy with my little i5-460m at the moment. If I did upgrade it would be to a i7-640m since I dont really run any thing that requires a quad core. But the new Sandy bridge chips are looking very tempting with there lower heat and higher scores compared to the 1st gen i chips. Now, if we could talk MSI into using Optimus in there gaming laptops with the Sandy bridge chips and to at least compete with Alienware and Sager with a offering of a true performance power house GPU, like a 485m or the 6970m. But if the truth about the so much waited 560m and 6870m are true, then thats going to be a big disappointment for both Nvidia and ATI/AMD fans. Seeing as the 485m is new as of this year, seems like Nvidia would at least compare there 500 series off that card. And since the 5870m was such a big hit, why cant the 6870 at least beat its older brother? You move forward when you come out with new products. Moving back will break a company.

 

I've been looking at the GX660r, with the i5, I just don't know if I should wait for a sandy bridge laptops with the same GPU performance (the 5870 just seems to beat down some of the newer GPU's for fun). Will I regret getting an i5-460m? Although Lurch has already said he's happy with his.

 

I've been wondering about the same thing, even the 6870 successor to the 5870 isn't as fast. The 460m is a nice chip, probably better on the newest games that are shader dependent but not as good at raw graphics power as the 5870.

Also, if your looking at the i5 series, it might be a while before sandybridge i5s are out in the 680 series, the only announced model is the new i7, and there are some good i5 660 deals out there now.

The SB processors are significantly faster though, and the 680 has more ram slots too though.

 

I'm not all crazy about having a 1080p screen. I know you can adjust you screen res if you get a 1080p screen and make it run at 1600x900 or 1366x768 or what not. I would like to have one for when I'm browsing over the net, but I most of the time hook it to a monitor anyways when I'm home. As for the games I play, COD MW2 and Black Ops and COD4 is all I really play on mine. So I dont need the quad core CPU. And the 5870 is a beast when playing those games is why I jump to buying a GX660-260US. It was priced right and had what I needed to play the games I play. I almost bought the GT660 with the 285m in it. But Newegg sold out before I made my mine up. To be honest, 8GB of RAM is more than enough. I havent made that upgrade yet, but I honestly dont think I will use all of that RAM at one time. I am getting a SSD for it though. Thats going to be my first upgrade along with the IC7 paste on the CPU and GPU. Then I'll worry about the RAM and CPU up grade. I was looking at the new i7 2620m thats replacing the i7-640m, its clocked alittle bit slower, and scores alittle higher in benches. Maybe in a year or two when Intel has worked out all the bugs in those chips I would buy one. I don't like buying new stuff that still has bugs to be worked out and you get down time on your computer because of it. Either Laptop you choose is going to have its perks. GX660= 5870 that plays games like no tomorrow at good frame rates. GT680= i7-2630qm that runs cooler and had good over all scores in benches, plus the 16gb of RAM if needed. 460m has its perks to in some games. So you need to weigh the pros and cons of each machine and decide which one will be the best for you.

 

I think now the only hold up on buying a gt680 is the keyboard flex mentioned in some 660 reviews. Hows the keyboard for typing on your gx660-260? I've read theres a flexy spot by the ASDF keys.

 

Yeah there flex there. Most people just used double sided tape on the under side of the keyboard there to fix there problem. To my thinking it has a little bit of flex due to MSI knowing that are is going to great deal of heavy stress from playing games on that area. And a ridged keyboard might fail after a period of time. But who knows. Every brand has there flaws.

 

How does it feel after the doublestick tape? and does it really effect things that much otherwise? I type alot (programmer)

 

I havent placed the double stick tape on mine. I type doing home work for college and it doesnt bother me with the flex. But I'm not as picky as some people.

 

The 460m is faster at tessalation, but not at other DX11 features. HD5870/HD6870 are faster in DX9, DX10 and several DX11 capabilities. And since the new DX11 drivers allow for manual control of tessalation, I guess they match the performance now.

460m does not trail behind that much though, so it is one of the best nvidia gpus for now (pricewise). 470m and up are just too pricey for the little performance gain.

New sandy bridges processors are a better option for new buyers in the end, even if there are no Core i5 yet. But still, current i4,5,7 are decent processors so I don't think "upgrading" is necesary.

however, if you are getting a new computer, might as well wait a bit and get a SB machine, it will last a bit longer for general use, and the HD6870 is, for all intents and purposes, exactly the same as HD5870m. 25mhz core clock won't even reach beyond 1% performance difference. And chances are, they will still be able to overclock near or over 900mhz range so it won't matter.

I say wait for 680 if the price is right and you are getting a new computer. If you have a current GX660 or similar, it will be a worthless upgrade mostly. Specially with older Core i7 chips which should come down in price for a bit.

 

MSI GT680R-008US Review - A Review of the MSI GT680R-008US