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thermal compound/wifi card upgrade+other laptop Qs

T

tsarnicky

Junior Member
HI forum-goers
I'm looking to buy a gaming notebook, and settled on the sager np9150 as the most cost-effective choice in the sub $1800 range.
I"ve settled on a cpu/gpu, but I wasn't sure whether upgrading the wireless networking card/ thermal compound would be worth it?
for thermal...: I have the option to get IC dia thermal compound
for wifi: I have the option to upgrade to bigfoot killer/centrino advanced and ultimate
also, based on other commentary I've gathered RAM/HDD upgrades will not effect game quality relative to the impact of cpu/gpu: if that is true, am I ok with the cheapest option: 8GB DDR3 1600mHz, 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA 300 no mSATA SSD
thanks!
(if anyone has time I'd love you to look over my cpu/gpu decisions for usefulness / cost-effectiveness on cpu etc: AMD HD 7970, 3rd gen 3720 QM)
 
8GB RAM is fine for gaming. For drives, you can upgrade your own in the future if you feel the need.

IMO paying extra for better TIM is not worth it. You will get better results if you keep your fans/grills dust free, and if you prop up the back end of the notebook by an inch when you are gaming. BITD I tested a Clevo gaming notebook and found just propping it up (by maybe 3/4") knocked off 5ºC from CPU temperatures. Wasn't even using a "notebook cooler" with a fan or anything - just propped the back up so that the fans underneath weren't trying to suck in air through a ¼" gap between it and the desk.

WiFi? What's the default choice?
 
thanks for the answers!

these are the choices (1st one is default):

Internal 802.11 B+G+N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module
Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN + Bluetooth Combo Module [+$25.00]
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module [+$35.00]
Bigfoot Networks Killer™ Wireless-N 1103 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module [+$60.00]
 
Looks as if the 6235 gives 5GHz as an option if your wireless router supports that feature, while the 6300 gives 5GHz plus 3x3 antenna 450Mbps performance if your wireless router supports that feature at the expense of no integrated Bluetooth.

Review of older Bigfoot 1102

The 1102 is a 2v2 antenna setup, while the 1103 is 3x3. Basically the 1102 is to the Intel 6235 as the 1103 is to the Intel 6300.

Of course Bigfoot Networks (now Qualcomm Atheros) has their "secret sauce" that makes them better, and reviews seem to show it. While it mattered little with their old hardwired NICs, the vagrancies of WiFi seem to really benefit from whatever network magic firmware Bigfoot has cooked up.

  • If you usually have a decent signal where you use your notebook, and you mostly web browse, then you probably won't benefit over the standard option.
  • If your environment has a lot of interference (all your neighbors have WiFi) then you may benefit from any of the upgrades since they all support 5GHz (as long as your wireless router supports it).
  • If you do heavy duty file transfers over WiFi, then you will benefit from 3x3 antenna setups (as long as your wireless router supports it).
  • If you often stream HD or are hardcore gaming over WiFi, then you may benefit from the Bigfoot module.

Note that hardwired still trumps the Bigfoot in all ways except not having a physical cable.
 
thanks!
can you point me to a suitable router / where I could find one?
Also is the Comtrend CT-5072T an ok modem? any chance it will bottleneck my internet connection?
 
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