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    Looking for some input

    Discussion in 'MSI' started by Nakano2k1, May 18, 2011.

  1. Nakano2k1

    Nakano2k1 Notebook Consultant

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    Hi there,

    I'm not really an MSI (mostly Asus) person, but i'm looking to purchase a new notebook and have decided to go with MSI this time.

    The issue that i'm running into is which model to buy. I currently have two options.

    1) GX660-260US
    - i5 460m
    - 1366 x 720
    - 5870 1gb DDR5
    - 4gb DDR3 1066
    - 1 x 500gb HD (space for another)

    For 999.99CDN

    2) GX740-430US
    - i7 740qm
    - 1440 x 900
    - 5870 1gb DDR5
    - 4gb DDR3 1066
    - 1 x 500GB (no space for another)

    For 999.99 CDN - $50 MIR = 949.99

    Which do you think is a better value?

    I know the GX660 has better cooling / USB 3 / Better speakers / and the ability to add another HD, but the GX740 has an i7.

    Decisions, decisions...

    I want to stay below the $1000 threshold if possible so 1200+ gaming rigs are out of the question.

    Any input you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Bearclaw

    Bearclaw Steaming

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    I would go with the 660.
    i7 doesn't make that much of a diff and I can OC my i5-430M to 3.1GHz without problems.
     
  3. BenWah

    BenWah Notebook Consultant

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    The I5 and I7 aren't very different.
    I doubt you'd use the quad aspect of I7 very often.

    I guess I'd get the gx660 but the lower resolution might be a minus depending on your usage.
     
  4. Bearclaw

    Bearclaw Steaming

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    1366x768 is not bad on 15in.

    1440x900 is terrible on 17 inch.
     
  5. Nakano2k1

    Nakano2k1 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for the input thus far!

    I would love to have the 1080p screen, but in that case I would have to get the GX660R which would tack on another 300 - 400 dollars to the price.

    I already have an SSD so I wouldn't use the raid option.

    I was thinking of upgrading the screen later on.
     
  6. Nakano2k1

    Nakano2k1 Notebook Consultant

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    So I ended up purchasing the GX660 and I was TOTALLY happy with it... Until...

    I went to add my Kingston V100 128GB SSD to the mix... The bios didn't even recognize it at all!! I thought it might be the fact that I was using the older bios so I updated to the latest bios. Still nothing...

    After searching the net, i've found a couple of people with similar issues. Either the SSD doesn't read at all, or it read intermittently.

    Apparently MSI has taken a "well it's not our fault" and "what's the problem?" stance on the issue.

    Has anybody had any luck in negotiating with MSI? I still have a week to keep the laptop, but this really could be the deal breaker...

    Please help!!