MSI GT725-074US is it a good laptop?

Hi i have bin offered is laptop for $800 can anyone tell me if its a good gaming system and over all good laptop? here is the add below:

MSI GT725-074US NoteBook Intel Core 2 Duo P8600(2.40GHz) 17.0" Wide SXGA+ 4GB Memory 320GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850

This laptop comes with a swiss gear backpack, 16 GB USB key, Logitech NX80 laser mouse, and a 6ft ethernet cable. Comes with the factory recovery discs that can return it to how it was out of the box (Windows Vista) if you prefer. Included: -Microsoft Office Home and Student installed -Updated with the latest windows updates and drivers -2 years remaining of the 3 year manufacturer's warranty -retail box This machine can handle several news games including Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and Napoleon Total War. Reason for selling: I have finished my course at Fanshawe for which the laptop was purchased. I have a desktop gaming machine and no longer have a use for this laptop. Notables: Yes it does have a core i7 sticker on the back of the machine, but no core i7 inside the machine. Also, I'm a drummer and a bit of a music nerd, so there is a Pearl sticker and an illScarlett sticker on the back. I can remove these upon request.

Model
Brand MSI
Model GT725-074US
Part# 9S7-172234-074
General
Operating System Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4G
Screen 17" WSXGA+
Memory Size 4GB DDR2
Hard Disk 320GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
Video Memory 512MB DDR3 VRAM
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot 1 x Express Card
Dimensions 15.56" x 10.95" x 1.04-1.38"
Weight 7.35 lbs.
Tech Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology
CPU
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed P8600(2.40GHz)
CPU FSB 1066MHz
CPU L2 Cache 3MB
Chipset
Chipset Intel PM45
Display
Screen Size 17.0"
Wide Screen Support Yes
Display Type Wide SXGA+
Resolution 1680 x 1050
LCD Features Glare
Operating Systems
Operating System Windows 7 Professional 64bit
Graphics
GPU/VPU ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4850
Video Memory 512MB DDR3 VRAM
Graphic Type Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HDD 320GB
HDD RPM 7200rpm
HDD Interface SATA
Memory
Memory 4GB
Memory Spec 2GB x 2
Max Memory Supported 4GB
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated
Communications
Modem 56K
LAN 10/100/1000Mbps
WLAN 802.11a/g/n Wireless LAN
Bluetooth Yes
Ports
Card Slot 1 x Express Card
USB 3
IEEE 1394 1
Video Port 1 x VGA
HDMI 1
Other port 1 x ESATA/USB Combo
Audio Ports Yes
Audio
Audio HD Audio quality, Dolby Digital Live
Speaker 4 speakers + 1 subwoofer
Input Device
Touchpad Yes
Keyboard Standard
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader 4-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro)
Webcam 2.0MP
Power
AC Adapter Output: 19V DC, 120W
Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
Battery 9-cell lithium ion
Physical spec
Dimensions 15.56" x 10.95" x 1.04-1.38"
Weight 7.35 lbs.
Manufacturer Warranty
Parts 3 years limited
Labor 3 years limited

 

I have two laptops in my town that im looking at im going to get one of them but i dont know what one here is the second one this is his add also selling for $800 but im going to try and talk im down as i have looked into it already and its a great laptop but i know what it cost when it came out.

Gateway P-7805u
Specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo [email protected]
GPU: NVIDIA 9800GTS with 1GB of dedicated video RAM
RAM: 4GB DDR3 PC-8500
HDD: 320GB 7200RPM Drive with second empty drive bay
Display: 17" WUXGA 1920x1200 Full HD
Optical: 8xDVD±RW with LabelFlash
Wi-Fi: Intel 5100AGN

Other: 1.3MP Webcam
HDMI Out,
3x USB 2.0 Ports
e-Sata Port
Firewire Port
Gigabit Ethernet Port
Built-in 56K Modem
Headphone Jack
Microphone Jack

 

All I can say that the MSI GT725 is a really good machine and has a really fantastic upgrade path which allows you to match if not beat the current newer high end laptops in the market.

I think the Gateway one has a weaker proccy as well as a weaker graphic card, but DDR3 ram, but then that ram is not going to fill the gap made by a weaker CPU and GPU. And the Full HD is only taxing and not a addon as most games will suffer on that res and lowering a res on laptop lcd's will make it blurry and almost unenjoyable if not unplayable.

 

So you say even with the gateways 1gig video card its weaker than the MSI 512 card? i just have'n a hard time one picking one and its bin a long time to get to this point on buying one so this will be my first and lst time getting one so i want to make the right choice.

 

Frame buffer is simply a marketing gimmick, and I'll stick to it regardless how many oppose it. And I say coz I have seen HD4850's with 512MB and then with 1gig and there was not even a difference of 1 fps, atleast in the res we are talking. The Full HD and Ultra HD is a different story.

The thing is that you get pre-set OC options with MSI, your P8600 can be with a touch of a button be Overclocked to 2.88 Ghz (20% OC) and then there is always a upgrade option to a Quad Core, since MSI has BIOS supporting Quads, but I dont know about Gateway.

 

The MSI can overclock with setfsb as much as you want. You can upgrade it to a quad core CPU (I believe).
The 4850 is much better than the 9800m GTS. (probably runs cooler too).
The MSI has an MXM slot so you can change your GPU.

It's a much better notebook IMO.


(also the chassis is the same as the new 17" MSI gaming model (MSI 1727) has (I think).

 

Nice thanks guys i didnt know that go i love this forum do you think its worth $800 read the add above he is tossing in games to like For gaming, I have an extra copy of Battlefield 2 you may have for free.
and some old ones, some include:
Empire Total War
Supreme Commander
Battlefield Vietnam
1701 A.D


I also have hours of TV shows and movies downloaded, say the word and I can copy some of those on there to. No extra charge of course.

 

If it's in perfect condition, yes I think $800 is about the right price.
If you can see the notebook before you buy it, just make sure it's not damaged in any way. Also you might want to check for dead pixels and check the battery wear (use HWmon).

Check for any hairline cracks around the screen, not sure if the 17" models are affected, but the 15" ones (e.g. my GT627) did tend to develop small cracks in that area.

 

That's 556.85 in British pounds which is a very good price for what you getting. It seems like it will come with w7 pro 64 instead of the crappy vista which is another +.

The bad about this notebook is , the lack of brightness (mine is grainy too) which is only noticeable when browsing & small directional keys. As moral said , have a look at it IF possible .. most 725 seems to be rock solid though.

Gaming performance is awesome , it will play anything you throw at it (except GTA4 ) My latest acquisition is Dirt2 which runs on ultra at native res fluently.

 

Thanks again guys i think i will go with the MSI or the gateway as MsI in a better name brand and like you sead it will outperform the gateway in gaming and thats what it is all about right

 

First the brightness, if you play in a pitch dark room, Like I do, with pitch dark, I mean you cant even see the table, then the brightness seems good.

Then GTA IV, first of all, its a stupid PORT, second those settings were never ment to be maxed, If you compare with Xbox or PS3 settings and then set yours a tad higher (Upto 10%) then the game fluctuates b/w 40-30 fps, which is quite good I suppose.

 

GTA4 stutters with everything on low , and we all know it's because of patch #6. And yes it's a bad port.

As I said , it's only noticeable when browsing ... in movies and games it's decent. You can't expect too much at that price anyway

 

So silicon Chip or anyone you play any FPS thats all i like to play if so what ones and how do they run also what drivers for your video card are you running?

 

FPS? Counter Strike anyone ?
Call of Duty and such are very smooth, and just like Death said you can run anything you ever will be throwing at this beast.

For drivers, I am running the Latest official 10.4 drivers which can be easily downloaded from AMD website, while there are few 8.74 unofficial drivers floating, which I havent tried.

 

Yeah this MSI kills the gateway hands down to be fair take it.

 

Very True.