Gaming laptop, G75 or something with 7970M?

[CharlesF]

I'm currently in the market for a gaming laptop, which will be used as a secondary gaming computer, and I do mean secondary, as I already have a sufficiently powerful desktop PC. I'll mostly be using it weekends while at work. I'm on call, so most of the time I'm just sitting around and could be in need of some entertainment to pass the time (+ I tend to miss out on things like beta weekends so it'd be a great thing to have).

For the limited time it will be used, I don't think it's that necessary for me to buy a 2500 dollar laptop (I'm from Europe so I'll have to convert from local prices, but I guess the price difference between models will be roughly the same). The Asus G75 would be of pretty good price/performance value, and it's looking like I'll be getting that one. It's about 1800 dollars here.

There's just one thing holding me back, and it's the 7970M. I'm well aware that it's about 2 times faster than the 670M in the G75, and would naturally wait it out if there was a laptop on the way that sported the 7970M and wasn't much more expensive. However, I've got a feeling that laptop manufacturers who include the 7970M wouldn't necessarily sell their laptops with a similar price point to the currently inferior ones, but instead will hike the prices up closer to 2500 dollars.

So, does anyone who's been following the laptop market closely (I'm just getting my first laptop here) have experience on how these things usually progress? Will the 7970M laptops realistically be significiantly more expensive than a G75 (including roughly the same parts otherwise)? Currently, there are no 7970M-models where I live and no access to custom laptop companies like Sager, Xoticpc or any Alienware models.

Thanks!

 

[KevinH]

What's the price difference? That 7970M is roughly equivalent to a desktop 7870 I believe.

It's unbelievable really. The line between desktop and laptop performance hasn't just blurred at this point, it's pretty much gone except at the absolute top end video cards (7970/GTX 670 +).

If I played anything that required that sort of horsepower I'd be stoked by the state of the industry.

 

[mnewsham]

Looking at US prices for alienware M18x with a single GTX 660m is $1999.00

However upgrading to TWO HD 7970m GPUS (yes TWO) is $2,466.50 for some reason there is no option for a SINGLE HD 7970m

Looking at sager a single 7970m is $200 more than a single GTX 670m

 

[Zeeboguy]

I too am looking closely at the market

I feel that if you go nVidia, anything that isnt Keplar is a waste, but if you buy today... then the AMD 7970m is the way to go. Thing has some seriously impressive benchmark scores.

I personally am waiting until the 680m is announced on June 5th to make a final decision... The 'speculation' behind it is showing that it is slower than the AMD, but that is all it is until we have real benchmarks... Speculation...

Best case scenario... Its competitive with the 7970m, bringing prices down... otherwise, it will just confirm that the 7970m is the best choice overall (as long as battery life isnt a concern of course =-D)

 

[CharlesF]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to wait for the 7970M, I'm not in such a hurry, and a local retailer tells me Asus might be coming out with some models during the summer. Fingers crossed...

 

[CharlesF]

Looking at US prices for alienware M18x with a single GTX 660m is $1999.00

However upgrading to TWO HD 7970m GPUS (yes TWO) is $2,466.50 for some reason there is no option for a SINGLE HD 7970m

Looking at sager a single 7970m is $200 more than a single GTX 670m

Thanks for this comparison, really helps out with the specifics. 200$ is not a lot more considering the power you get from the 7970m. It's really insane how the 7970m can be clearly above the 6950 I bought less than a year ago. Hard to believe it's above even the GTX 690 (Passmark scores)! How is this even possible?

 

[Olikan]

Thanks for this comparison, really helps out with the specifics. 200$ is not a lot more considering the power you get from the 7970m. It's really insane how the 7970m can be clearly above the 6950 I bought less than a year ago. Hard to believe it's above even the GTX 690 (Passmark scores)! How is this even possible?

it's not based on tahiti, but pitcairn... so far, it's the best perf/watt gpu

 

[Ventanni]

What games do you intend on playing?

 

[CharlesF]

What games do you intend on playing?

Pretty much anything, Tribes: Ascend, GW2, Deus Ex: HR etc, and a 7970m would last much longer so I can use it for future games as well. I'm sure it's worth the extra couple hundred.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Pretty much anything, Tribes: Ascend, GW2, Deus Ex: HR etc, and a 7970m would last much longer so I can use it for future games as well. I'm sure it's worth the extra couple hundred.

I doubt it'll last longer because graphic cards keep getting better each generation

 

[CharlesF]

Well, I meant longer than the 670m, and since it's about twice as fast, it'll play future games much better than the 670 would.