Want a new laptop

I might be in the market for a new laptop very soon if I find out I got a new job. I want to make sure I take a system that will be decent for about a year. I've been eying a couple laptops that should meet some of my requirements, but none of them really have everything I want. I have a couple questions for you guys.

Must have - In no particular order:

1. 1080p and a decent screen

2. Good Sound Quality/Speakers - This is very important because I will use this to watch movies, shows, listen to music, and won't be lugging speakers with me.

3. High end video card for gaming - I am thinking 580m GTX, 6990m/6970m

4. Decent touch pad/keyboard - Does not have to be backlit

5. VERY VERY good cooling system

6. 15" - might be willing to consider a 17" especially since I won't be using my external anymore

7. Good webcam quality! - Important because I will need to skype with the family and gf on a regular basis.

8. Wireless card that has good range/signal quality

9. Decent battery life - I am thinking 2.5hrs at least

Currently I am using the laptop in my sig, and for now I think it is still a very good gaming/media laptop. Also I love this laptop.. The cooling is great, the sound is the best I've ever heard on any laptop, but I just want something to last me through the next year or so. I considered just throwing in a 6970m, but after the price of that upgrade, I would be close to a new sandy bridge laptop.

I've been looking at 3 options:

MSI GT-683DX/R - but watching videos of the performance, I don't see it being a huge upgrade over my current laptop setup. Is the 570m really that much better than my current card? A couple videos I watched, I was able to get close to the FPS on same settings with my card OC. But I know the speakers are boss, good screen reports, good cooling, and great webcam.

Sager 8150 with 6990m or 580m - read that the sound quality sucks, and users are reporting crazy high temps on 6990m. Maybe the GTX 580m isn't as hot? Also what is the webcam quality like? 2.0MP seems bad.

Alienware M17x R3 - 17" is a downside. Not into the flashy looks/gamer looks. I like it to look professional and reserved but a bad under the hood. Would get the 6990m or GTX 580m.

Anyone have any other suggestions? I know this should maybe be posted in the suggest me a laptop thread, but I have an MSI, and want MSI users opinions on the new DXR versions.

Price around $2,000 is good. I am looking to sell my current laptop for around $750-800, and pay the difference for the new laptop.

 

sager 8150 is about as powerful as u can get with a 15. id say go with sager from xoticpc or gentech.

personally recomend gentech. great costumer service from ken lee and ease of customization

EDIT: HD external webcam will do it for u in case of the sager. sacrifise having an external cam over the huge performance.

 

MSI will give you the best sound quality. If speakers are important to you then there's nothing better then MSI. The GTX 570M will be an excellent card. In actual game play you'd probably not notice the difference between that card and the 6990/580M gpus. No doubt those other cards are faster but again will be hard to actually see the difference.

Cooling on Sager is going to be slightly better then the MSI models and as previously mentioned they have the higher gpu options. The 6990 has been running warmer then the Nvidia cards, if cooling is important the 580M will be your best bet.

 

Having an 920xm with your machine already gives you awesome performance. Specially when using throttlestop which makes your CPU top of the line.

Only MSI has currently the best speakers/sound, so aside from your machine, I can only recommend what Hausty said, since the GTX570m is indeed a step up (a bit faster than your OC'd card) and has enough bandwidth for 1080 res.

You could always go for the sager, for higher end gpus, but you would trade the great sound and depending on model, even webcam? Dunno.

 

For the price and config options I give the edge to MSI

 

go for msi

 

You can get a alienware m17x with 6970M for $1699 at bestbuy

 

Alienware is a joke.

I would go with the GT780DX .... & if you have the money add SSD.

 

I think I may wait and see what next offerings come out from the different brands. I really do like my current laptop, just want to make sure that it can handle all new games that come out.. I'm going to need something to keep me occupied in my spare time. Too bad I can't find a place to buy a 570m and heatsink. I could just do the upgrade myself.

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll be sticking with MSI due to sound quality and the great webcam quality. I've been looking at the xotic pc website, and like the fact that I can upgrade items, but I also like my newegg preferred account for large purchases.