Razer Blade vs MSI Ghost Pro

thanks for the advice guys. Usually resolution isn't a big deal for me, but I kind of want to move up in terms of it (I think right now I'm at a 14 inch screen at1440 x 900). I do like the new Blade, but they are pretty expensive and I feel like the MSI is a decent deal at 1800. Is there anything else you guys would recommend I consider in terms of ultrabook gaming laptops?

 

If you are ok with something a little thicker, the Clevo W230SS with i7-4700MQ, GTX 860m, 1080p IPS LCD, 8GB DDR3 1600, 1TB HDD is about $1000. Add Windows 8, 128GB mSATA SSD, and bump up to the i7-4810MQ will cost you about $1200 out the door. It has a little smaller overall footprint than the Blade, but it's definitely thicker at about 1.25", and weighs about the same. Components are easy to access, includes 2 mSATA + 2.5" SATA bays, two RAM slots, and wi-fi card slot.

 

As mentioned a couple pages back, the Gigabyte P34g v2 is a good alternative as well.

 

Yes, that too!

 

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that it's a solid machine.

I do really like the razer aesthetics but they just made too many compromises for me to justify it. For people who aren't worried about storage or ethernet port, etc I'm sure the Razer Blade is a great choice but I definitely need those things.

 

Joined up here because i'm dealing with the same dilemma.

I was dead set on buying the 2013 razer blade until I read about how horrible the screen is. The screen is actually a really big deal for me. I have a 2560*1140 ips at home and I cant stand the shoddy TN panel I have at work. The only reason im not ordering the razer blade right now is because of the screen. Even though it only has ssd storage, I really want an excellent screen.

So im stuck in the same dilema. Looking at the 2014 razer blade, msi gs60, Gigabyte P34g v2, and the lenovo y 50

I dismissed the gigabyte rather quickly as the aesthetic just looks terrible imo. I plan on using this laptop for a long time and the looks would be something that would bother me.

From here it gets REALLY hard. I almost have to dismiss the 2014 razer because of how expensive it will run with any decent sized storage configuration. The lack of the ssd + hdd combo sucks. Other then that, the unibody looks great. Also the razer is heavier then the larger gs60, but that is because it gets nearly DOUBLE the battery life. Reviews i've seen ping the gs60 at anywhere between 3.5 to 5hrs on simple task and the razer at 6 to 8hrs during simple task.

So the gs60, is becoming more appealing. However, I am VERY concerned about the build quality. I just got rid of my sony vaio z2 partly becuase of the build quality. While having a feather weight laptop is great, I don't want to sacrifice build quality. Also, the fan noise and keyboard flex sound bothersome. I see many people flashing their bios in the gs60 thread to get lower fan noise and lower power consumption.

So then I look the the Lenovo y50. Everything looks great on paper, but I still dont know price. Traditionally, lenovo has been a bargain for the performance you get. ( specs here), at 23.3mm and 4.7lbs you get the 860m and optical drive. The only problem I see here is that it can only support ONE storage drive. So I am in the same boat as the razer but at least upgrade options should be a lot cheaper. The other big problem is that I worry about lenovo not updating drivers for long. With MSI and Razer being gaming companies, I see plenty of continued support for their older model with guide for upgrading and such.

With no laptop perfect, I've started looking at the bigger ones. The 2014 razer blade pro seems to pricey for me and the specs of the 2013 version should do just fine. However, the cheapest I can find a used 2013 razer blade pro is ~1600. Also it seems the 2013 razer blade pro has issues ( judging by amazon reviews).

So then i'm left with the massive 17.3" gs70. Weighing in at 5.7lbs it is not completely unwieldly (same weight as my HP Envy 14 Beats Ed. which I still have). It is also still very thin still at 21.8mm. However it will be awfully wide. Also, I still have the keyboard flex and build issues people report. ( however the reviews on amazon are really favorable.) The biggest attraction about the gs70 is price. They can be had for $1300. While I dont mind spending the 2k for the perfect laptop, as you see above there seems to be nothing perfect.

TO me the perfect laptop would:
Have a beautiful 1080p IPS screen, 765m+ graphics card, 4hrs+ battery life, excellent build quality, nice soft keyboard, but not mushy, about .7" wide, and less than 6lbs, preferably closer to 5lbs.

So yeah... I dont know....

 

I've been really having a tough time deciding, too.

I think what finally swayed me to the GS60 Pro over the RB14 was the displayport/resolution issue.

Basically, I don't really want to deal with a super high res 14" (or 15" for that matter) screen - BUT I do want a good large monitor (e.g. LG 34UM95 34" Ultra Widescreen 21:9 Monitor - My New Favourite - YouTube LG 34UM95 34" Ultra Widescreen 21:9 Monitor) and HDMI 1.4 just isn't as good as DP for high-speed output to a large external monitor. FHD is fine for a laptop IMHO.

Also, there have been a few mentions of ghosting and not wonderful viewing angles on the RB14 screen, which was surprising given how much they're emphasized it. Also like a matte screen, anyway, on a laptop.

I agree with most of what everyone's saying - just thought I'd mention my own rationale.

 

It's great to have that option, that's what PC gaming is about. There's some great thin and lights out there right now that can game well. Something for everyone. I went with the Blade, it fit what I wanted, but I know not everyone agrees. Enjoy your gs60!

 

It might be worthwhile waiting for the Lenovo Y40 and Y50

 

They have been released as of now, y40 is crap for gaming and y50 is ok but it is more a gs60 competitor not a Razer nor ghost pro IMO.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

Hmmm, weird, I thought one of them were supposed to have a higher resolution display. Oh well, GS60 Ghost Pro vs Razer Blade it is!

Edit - yeah, seems like the Lenovo Y50 is supposed to have a 4K option... http://m.techradar.com/news/mobile-...macbook-pro-retina-introduces-the-y50-1212006

 

They're probably slowly rolling out the different builds as they get parts (kinda like the MSI Gs60 series - first 860m, then 870m, now w/ 3k ~ 1 month later).

 

A few comparisons I haven't even seen mentioned on this thread:

- The 2014 Razer Blade has a touchscreen. Does the 3k GS60?
- What are the differences in refresh rate for their screens? (For a gamer, I would think that would almost be more important than a few extra pixels on that small of a screen.)

 

Good questions. The 3k Gs60 is glossy non-touch. The 1080p Gs60 is matte non-touch (i.e. all models are non-touch).

As for refresh rates, I don't know - probably both are 60Hz, but I'll see what I can find.

 

Since both use IPS displays, both the Gs60 and RB14 have max 60Hz (60 fps). I'm not sure about their respective millisecond response times, though.

 

I get a new gaming laptop every three years or so. I've gone through a few Alienware 17 inchers and several other 17" gaming rigs. I'm now at the point where I want to lesson my load so I've decided to get into the 15" class and specifically the thin and light category. I work on Navy ships so my needs are partially based on those circumstances.

I have lusted for the RB with it's unit construction, performance and good looks. A couple weeks ago I saw the MSI Ghost Pro in a store and I'm honestly blown away. The build quality felt solid and well made. There was flex in the screen when opening and closing the lid but I'm not sure why this is an issue...it didn't break or otherwise cause a malfunction. The RB lacks some features I actually need or want like an Ethernet port which is used sometimes on a Navy ship and of course the ability to upgrade or reconfigure (ie Raid 0) the M.2 storage.

As I've read, there are a few issues with the Ghost (most machines have a few).
1. Poor track pad......... I'm good with that as I always use a mouse.
2. Poor battery life while gaming..........I honestly think the only time I have ever operated on battery power is when the power cord accidentally pulled away from the brick.
3. Flexy screen.........As long as it doesn't fly around in the breeze like a flag I won't have an issue.
4. Excessive fan noise at times......Never been bothered by this but if so I've read there are software schemes that effectively deal with this.
5. Some people have issues with their wireless dropping.....could be an issue and some find resolution, otherwise I can change wireless cards.

2014 Razer Blade.
1. Does have small second display built into the base.
2. Lacks needed ports for connectivity
3. Limited storage options
4. Still...still a premium price even with new competition the same niche. Although cost is not really a factor for me.

All in all I think both machines are incredible given their high performance in such a small and light package. They both look great and are......just plain cool.

For me, and your mileage may vary, the MSI Ghost is a better fit. I need the connectivity, I want the storage options like being able to have 512 in Raid 0. I have no interest in a touch screen or a little built in display.

It took some time to consider both of these awesome rigs but in the end my specific requirements led me to purchase the Ghost this morning from the military exchange store.

Hopefully there are enough people in this niche that want thin and light gaming so we may see additional entries from other manufacturers.