Ordering first serious gaming laptop, need some advice

Hey all,

I'm ordering my first serious laptop from HIDevolution and I have some questions.

I think I want to go with the MSI GP73-8RE that they have on sale for $1099, but I have some questions about the add-on options. http://www.hidevolution.com/msi-gp73-leopard-609.html

For background, the most intensive games I play are PUBG, LOL, and COD. I do CAD work as well as web development. I'd say that 80% of my time on the laptop will be doing web development using programs such as Postman, XAMPP, FTP software, etc. 20% of the time will be casual gaming, no streaming my gaming either.

I will have HIDevolution put an SSD in. So, that being said, I need to know a couple things.

1) Is the pixel warranty worth the $35 for no dead pixels? They already warranty it up to 3 unlit pixels. My current laptop is a cheapo HP with a SSD thrown in, so not a quality screen at all. Should I bother with the $35?

2) Thermal management. Is it worth the $95 for them to do all the bells and whistles to the cooling system, considering my casual gaming? Will my CAD/web dev performance see improvement due to the cooling upgrades?

3) Clean install of Windows. I've read @Ultra Male post (#4) in http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/hidevolution-build-time-review.810479. He details how he can clean up all the bloatware as well as customize all of Windows' tracking/updating crap. Is that kind of thing included in the clean install? If not, is it stuff that has a tutorial out there?

The last thing is whether or not I even need a setup like this? For my needs, can I happily use the MSI GL73 with the same processor, but with a GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB RAM vs the GTX 1060 with 6GB RAM?

With the lower spec GPU, will I need to spring for the $95 cooling upgrade to make it perform acceptably? I have no idea.

http://www.hidevolution.com/msi-gl73-8rc-282.html

As far as I know, the only difference between the GL and GP series is the keyboard backlighting and chassis "plasticky-ness".

 

1) Yes, the last thing you want is to wait for your laptop to ship/arrive, only to discover an issue with the screen and have to go through the hassle of shipping it back and waiting more. Time is money.

2) Heck yes, that's one of the best selling point about HIDevolution is their quality control and cooling mods. Like I know how to change the thermal paste myself but I can't be bothered really I have no patience for that anymore and would rather buy a laptop with the cooling mods like upgraded Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Thermal Paste + Fujipoly Thermal Pads rather than do it myself.

3) A Clean install from HIDevolution simply means that they won't give you the laptop with the OEM Factory Image which is usually bloated and rather install a clean copy of Windows but that is not the tweaks that I do. It is a simple stock install of Windows with the drivers only and no bloatware.

What I do as a favor to the HIDevolution Gaming Team members goes far and beyond and I don't recommend anyone who values their privacy and performance to use Windows 10 in its stock form.

These are the Ultra Male Tweaks:

1- Uninstallation of all the Windows Store Garbage Apps like 3D Paint, Print 3D, Alarms & Clock, Feedback Hub, Maps, Groove Music, News, Weather, etc.
2- Removing all Windows 10 Privacy Invasion stuff like Telemetry, sending your keystrokes to Microsoft, automatically installing suggested apps in the background, allowing Microsoft to conduct experiments on your laptop, disabling automatic driver updates through Windows updates, disabling Windows 10 ads, disabling Cortana, Cloud Search etc.
3- Disabling Microsoft Edge from starting up automatically in the background upon reboot.
4- Adjusting a lot of options in PC Settings like disabling Windows Tablet Mode (you have a laptop not a tablet), disabling suggestions appearing in the start menu, disabling automatically connecting to Paid WiFi Hotspots, disabling Game DVR which reduced performance in games, and a lot more.
5- Replacing Cortana with a much better search tool that finds results instantly called Everything which finds any file you want as soon as you start typing even a few letters of its name and it doesn't even rely on the Windows Indexing Service to do this!
6- Restoring the classic Windows Photo Viewer
7- Restoring the Classic Windows 7 Start Menu
8- Removal of the new and useless 3D Objects Folder that appears when you open "Computer"
9- Completely disabling Windows Defender from its roots (including all scheduled tasks and startup files) for those who want to install their own AV. ESET NOD32 Antivirus is highly recommended if you want the utmost security with the least system performance impact.
10- Updating all drivers to the latest versions in case they weren't up to date.
11- Disabling the performance hit that is caused by the Meltdown and Spectre patches recently released by Microsoft (optional, only if you don't mind having this security vulnerability and would rather have your CPU's full performance back)
12- Overprovisioning your SSD anywhere between 10-20% depending on how much space you can spare to ensure optimal and consistent performance at all times.
13- Blocking the Google Chrome Software Reporter Tool (which causes a high system load when it is scanning files)
14- Preventing Microsoft Edge from running on startup in the background
15- Creating a system restoration image using Macrium Reflect



With regards to your final concern, what is your max budget? I think the GP73 is a steal at the discounted price that HIDevolution has listed it for. You can't get any better for a new laptop for this money.

Don't forget to email [email protected] before you order if you want the NBR Forum discount

 

I'll go with the thermal modifications then for sure.

Can I delete the bloatware from the OEM factory image myself? Or would that require me to wipe the factory image and start from scratch? Sounds like it's worth the $15.

What is required to become a HIDevolution Gaming Team member? I understand the time and effort it takes to put into what you're doing, so thanks for being so helpful to the community!

My max budget is pretty much $1000, but I'm willing to spend the ~$1400 to trick out the GP73 because it will be a mobile workstation and sweet gaming setup for years to come, vs the cheaper GL73.

 

you don't need to pay anything or do anything to be part of the team, when you have an HIDevolution Machine, you're automatically an HIDevolution Gaming Team member so once you get your laptop, you can simply tag me with the @ Ultra Male (without the space after the @ sign) and I would then send you a private message so we can setup a time to do the magic on your machine over a program called TeamViewer which is a secure remote assistance program.

Secondly, you don't need to pay or even have them do a clean install, I will remove any bloatware for you and their leftovers so you wouldn't know that they were there and will also update your drivers so your machine is ready to go in the smoothest way possible.

Be smart....be like Ultra Male...

 

That's amazing! I really appreciate the offer and will certainly take you up on that!

If I could steal a bit more of your time, what difference will I see between the MSI Approved Standard 8GB DDR4/2666MHz (1 x 8GB) vs the HIDevolution Approved Standard 16GB Dual Channel DDR4/2400MHz (2 x 8GB)?

And for that matter, whats the difference 2400MHz and 2666MHz as far as practical, real-world application? Am I gonna notice the difference in my casual gaming/web dev usage?

I've read a lot of your posts as I've been researching this laptop. I've got a long way to get as smart as you, but I'm looking forward to learning.

 

When running a single stick of RAM, it will run at Single Data Rate speeds but when you add to matching pairs like 2x8 for a total of 16GB, since they are 2 identical RAM chips, they will run at DDR speeds (Double Data Rate)

How will this affect you in the real world? Not by much but it will matter to a small degree. Take a look at this article and benchmarks: https://techguided.com/single-channel-vs-dual-channel-vs-quad-channel/


Would I order a laptop with a single RAM chip? Heck no! my OCD would not allow me to NOT have DDR when I could.

As for 2666 MHz vs 2400 MHz. You won't notice a difference other than in synthetic benchmarks which I'm sure you're least bothered about. I've had machines with 3200MHz. RAM before and now I have only 2400 MHz. I can't tell a difference in terms of program loading speed or overall OS snappiness. Again, it's nice for bragging right but I'd take Dual Channel RAM (2 RAM chips everytime) over a faster single RAM chip

 

Alright, I just tacked on two 8GB sticks of 2400MHz RAM. DDR, here we come, I suppose. I also included the PCIe SSD for $10 over the SATA SSD. I figure that's the right call, yes?

Here's the final specs as I add it to my cart:

30 Days Zero Defective Pixel Warranty (perfect panel guarantee) - $35.00

Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut on CPU + GPU, and Fujipoly Extreme Thermal Pads on heat sensitive surfaces – BEST PERFORMANCE – installed by HIDevolution - $95.00

HIDevolution Approved Standard 16GB Dual Channel DDR4/2400MHz (2 x 8GB) - installed by HIDevolution - $60.00

HIDevolution Approved 128GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD - installed by HIDevolution - $70.00

$1,359.00 out the door. Not bad for a rig that's going to curb-stomp my old laptop in every imaginable way. And hang with some of the higher end rigs out there. Thanks for all the help Ultra Male! Once my GF lets me out of the doghouse, I'll put it on order!

 

Perfect!

Perfect!

Once you get it, when you first turn it on and get the initial Windows 10 Setup Wizard, it will prompt you to connect to a Wireless Network, click on SKIP on the bottom right otherwise you will be forced to login with a Microsoft account which I strongly advice against.


Also, when it prompts you to enter a password, leave the blank for now as during our tweaking session, we will need to reboot a lot and that will just slow us down.


First thing I want you to do to save us time is to right click on your start menu button, then choose SYSTEM, from there, hit Rename This PC and choose a name for your computer. (ie. I name mine TITAN). The name should be in capital letter. Some of the tweaks are tied to the PC name and thus, you want to name it properly from the get go rather than keeping the default random name which Windows assigns it ( DESKTOP-999-BLABLABLA)


Next, go to PC Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and perform all the Windows updates. After rebooting, check for updates again just to make sure there aren’t any more updates


Then download and install TeamViewer then run it, it will give you an ID/Password which you could pass on to me via a PM so I can connect to you.


You won't be able to PM me unless I PM you first so what you want to do is, when you get it, just tag me by using the @ sign then type my username right after it with no spaces and I will PM you then

 

Sounds like a plan! I'll let you know when it gets here and when I get all that done. HIDevolution is about a two week turnaround right?

 

That I cannot answer, it depends on the machine whether they have it in stock or not and/or the components (ie. RAM/SSD). It's best to email [email protected] both to get your NBR Discount and to ask him about this.

 

I found a question that Ultra Male can't answer! I should get a medal or something.

 

LOL

 

" Thank you for your purchase!
Your order # is: XXXXXXXXX"

Ummm, anybody got a spare bedroom? When that cute girl in my avatar pic finds out I'm gonna need a bed for a few days. Can pay for room in board in home-cooking and pocket lint?

 

Awesome man! Welcome to the HIDevolution Gaming Team!

 

Thanks! Answering all my dumb questions plus the offer of helping me with tweaking; I'm so sending you enough to cover your favorite 12 pack of brew. I ended up spending less than I originally had configured it, and I'm more excited for it!

 

@Ultra Male I just saw this post, and was wondering if you could take a look at my MSI GP63 and suggest some ways to optimize it further? I have done some things, but I feel that it's possible to do more.

Thanks.

 

I can't help anyone or recommend HIDevolution as per the new forum rules. Sorry.

New Vendor Recommendation Restrictions Forum Rule

 

I didn't read all the way down to point #3. Sorry.

 

But my asking for help optimizing the laptop software-wise actually has nothing to do with the retailer I have bought my laptop from. I just need some advice/help about all the bloatware and possible solutions to make the machine faster by removing/disabling software/features. I don't believe that violates the forum rules you posted the link to. It's just a general request for help.

 

NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide
Windows 10 Tweaks and Fixes (Index post #1)
O&O ShutUp10 - Do not use Windows 10 without it!
Macrium Reflect Installation/Usage Guide
The best and fastest way to backup your data!

 

Thank you.
I am actually currently running through these as you posted. But some of the things are a bit outdated, but I'm doing my best to find a workaround for everything.

 

Sorry, buddy, but this is nonsense!

The new rule aims to protect members from other members who stealthily promote a vendor with whom they have an undisclosed relationship: Compensation, commission, free/discounted equipment, or any other consideration or special friendship. This is so-called shilling, and it undermines the credibility of forums because members (new ones in particular) are effectively misled if they think they are receiving objective advice (from experienced members in particular).

Nothing in these rules say that members cannot help each other with their computers. For Heaven's sake, this is NBR!

Just understand the spirit of the anti-shilling rule, and why we have it, and everything will be fine.

 

The new rule is basically, "Don't recommend anyone, don't talk about anyone, don't post vendor purchase experiences."

Yikes. Well, I really appreciate the help that you were able to give to me as it certainly changed the world of high performance laptops for me. I would never have been as happy with my laptop as I am now without your help.

 

No, that is not what the rule is about and you are clearly exaggerating the point of it. This rule does not affect any user that gives an honest recommendation nor does not affect anyone helping the community.

If you do not understand the difference between a user giving an honest recommendation, and unwarranted advertisement, something is wrong. Read Dannemand's post again. This rule has no bearing on user's capacity to help others, and the community itself consistently thrives thanks to user help and interaction.

But it is easy to dismiss rules when they are not understood nor tested in different scenarios.

Also, read the forum rules. Profanity is not needed to discuss.

 

Only saw this now. I thought this nonsense was put to rest with my earlier clarification.

@ryzeki nails it: If some choose to exaggerate or misread the anti-shilling rule, no amount of clarification will help. But I thought it might be useful to emphasize what the main (underlined) paragraph of the anti-shilling rule really says:

Using/encouraging users to advertise manufacturers and/or resellers is prohibited. There is nothing wrong with an honest recommendation or having preference, but there is a difference between that and advertising/vendor shilling. All users are encouraged to report this behavior to a moderator.

The observant reader will notice that it is actually aimed at manufacturers and resellers, not individual members. And it doesn't prohibit making honest recommendations, and certainly not helping each other.

Imagine you come to a new site looking for answers, and all the top posters have the same manufacturer or store logo in their avatars and signatures, and they are all busy recommending the same products from the same store. As a visitor you'll feel you've come to The Lego Movie where everybody has the same favorite song and favorite TV show. You'll conclude that the site is a disguised front for that store, and you are not likely to register there and ask your questions.

We like having constructive and helpful resellers here, who use NBR as a platform to support their customers. They contribute to the very thing that makes NBR great: a place to discuss computers and help each other. In return they gain some exposure for their business, which is perfectly fine. But to the extent it starts looking like that Lego Movie, a store window for one or a few select manufacturers/resellers, it will hurt the credibility of the site and gradually cut into new member registrations and traffic. (Interestingly, this will in turn hurt those vendors/resellers too, but not all marketeers have the foresight of such long term considerations. There are some interesting parallels in virology, but I shouldn't go there...)

The anti-shilling rule is merely meant to make sure it doesn't come to that. That's all.

So what do regular members do? They keep doing what they've always been doing: Posting good content and helping each other. Some may discover that they had unwittingly become shills for their favorite vendor/reseller. Not to worry, just be aware of it. You can still make recommendations when it is relevant. But surely you have more (and more interesting) things to post about on NBR than convincing new members to buy a certain computer from a certain specific store.

Feel free to ask a moderator if you have questions about this or feel you have a grey area. We are very serious about this rule, but we are not jerks. We just want to protect NBR as the best place on the internet for in-depth computer knowledge and honest discussion.