Thinking of a new gaming laptop...

[Charlie22911]

I currently have an Alienware M18x R1 that I bought over 6 years or so ago that is down to one functional GTX 580M.
This laptop is just too massive for its performance these days, being that I’m about to start traveling regularly for work again next year I think it’s time for an upgrade.

I’ve been looking at what’s out and I’ve narrowed my search to one of two laptops that I just can’t decide between. I’m going back and forth for almost two weeks now, so I’d like to open a dialogue with you guys to help me pick one.


Gigabyte Aorus x9 DT v8:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-725-057
- GTX 1080 (non max q)
- Intel i9 8950HK
- 32GB DDR4 2666
- 1TB NVME SSD
- 4TB SATA SSD (self upgrade)

The major pros of the X9 DT for me are:
- Doesn’t thermal throttle when running out-of-box clocks and can even be overclocked.
- Lots of internal storage options.
- Thin for a laptop in its class.

Cons:
- $$$.
- Size (somewhat).



ASUS Zephyrus GM501:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-234-953
- GTX 1070 (non max q)
- Intel i7 8750H
- 16GB DDR4 2666 (single channel, WHY?!)
- 256GB NVME SSD
- 4TB SATA SSD (self upgrade)
- Second 16GB stick of matching ram (self upgrade)

Major pros of the GM501 for me:
- Size.
- Display seems to be better.
- Switchable between optimus and gsync modes.

Cons:
- Runs hot, throttles under certain workloads.
- Battery life isn’t great compared with its competition (MSI GS65, Gigabyte Aero 15x).


Thoughts?

 

[jana519]

Well, if the size of the GM501 is a pro for you, it's a no-brainer for me. The only reason I chose a 17" laptop was for the extra screen size. If you prefer a 15" screen then definitely get that one. That seems to be your criteria for a decision to me. I don't see you having a strong preference for a 1080 GPU over a 1070.

Running hot isn't a deal breaker for me, I've had many laptops run hot under load. It doesn't bother me. I don't think artificial loads which cause throttling represent typical gaming sessions.

 

[lakedude]

I don't think artificial loads which cause throttling represent typical gaming sessions.

I certainly think this can be the situation. I've been told that my "gaming" laptop (GTX 1050 ti) with a single fan cooling solution throttles. I don't notice any issues in game however. I'm sure it does throttle and I'm sure the cooling could be better but I like the little thing anyhow.

 

[Charlie22911]

Well, if the size of the GM501 is a pro for you, it's a no-brainer for me. The only reason I chose a 17" laptop was for the extra screen size. If you prefer a 15" screen then definitely get that one. That seems to be your criteria for a decision to me. I don't see you having a strong preference for a 1080 GPU over a 1070.

Running hot isn't a deal breaker for me, I've had many laptops run hot under load. It doesn't bother me. I don't think artificial loads which cause throttling represent typical gaming sessions.

Both would be a nice shrink down from the 18" behemoth that I have now. My main consideration is that when I'm traveling the laptop will be my only PC for extended periods (months). When I game I like to turn everything up, but I will also be doing work in Blender and transcoding video. Sustained performance is important, but so is portability.
The ASUS GM501 has the MSI GS65 and Gigabyte Aero 15x pretty well beat thermally, but it still throttles during sustained CPU workloads and is pretty loud (But so is the Aorus).
The Aorus also has a nicer keyboard and track pad, which is a big plus since I use a Corsair K65 with Cherry MX Brown switches. I just cant decide if these things are worth its marginally larger size.

Pulling the dimensions for each from these two reviews shows that the Aorus isn't massively bigger than the ASUS, so I might actually be leaning toward the Aorus now...
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Aorus-X9-DT-i9-8950HK-GTX-1080-FHD-Laptop-Review.299340.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-...-GTX-1070-Full-HD-Laptop-Review.293956.0.html

Aorus is green, ASUS is red:

 

[lakedude]

Those 2 laptops are really not direct competitors. Obviously the one that is twice as expensive is "better", but it cost twice as much so it should be. I once had a big heavy laptop with an i7 and a huge power brick. Don't miss it. The little 15 inch with an i5 and the 1050 ti is plenty for me, especially at $650!

I'd be nervous hauling a $4k machine around, constantly worried someone would snatch it on the 5 finger discount plan.

 

[lakedude]

It looks to me that both laptops have 1080p screens correct? Are you planning on driving an external monitor or VR? As I understand it a GTX 1060 is about all you need at 1080p so a GTX 1070 would be overkill and a GTX 1080 would be massive overkill. I Mean the GTX 1080 system is very nice but it just seems like too much at 1080p.

 

[jana519]

Both would be a nice shrink down from the 18" behemoth that I have now. My main consideration is that when I'm traveling the laptop will be my only PC for extended periods (months). When I game I like to turn everything up, but I will also be doing work in Blender and transcoding video. Sustained performance is important, but so is portability.
The ASUS GM501 has the MSI GS65 and Gigabyte Aero 15x pretty well beat thermally, but it still throttles during sustained CPU workloads and is pretty loud (But so is the Aorus).
The Aorus also has a nicer keyboard and track pad, which is a big plus since I use a Corsair K65 with Cherry MX Brown switches. I just cant decide if these things are worth its marginally larger size.

Pulling the dimensions for each from these two reviews shows that the Aorus isn't massively bigger than the ASUS, so I might actually be leaning toward the Aorus now...
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Aorus-X9-DT-i9-8950HK-GTX-1080-FHD-Laptop-Review.299340.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-...-GTX-1070-Full-HD-Laptop-Review.293956.0.html

Aorus is green, ASUS is red:

Out of curiosity I searched Notebookcheck for more reviews on the Coffee Lake 6 core i7 laptops. There's only one review for 17" i7 Coffee Lake laptops.

Personally, if it were me I'd like to wait until more 17" laptops came out before making a decision. Seems like you don't have many options at this point beyond one 17" and a bunch of thin and light 15" models. For desktop replacements, I've never been a fan of "thin and light". I want proper cooling and that means heavy copper heatsinks. I don't mind the weight since it's intended for desktop use not portability. Plus if you waited the price on the Aorus X6 would likely come down.

Just my 2c.

 

[Charlie22911]

It looks to me that both laptops have 1080p screens correct? Are you planning on driving an external monitor or VR? As I understand it a GTX 1060 is about all you need at 1080p so a GTX 1070 would be overkill and a GTX 1080 would be massive overkill. I Mean the GTX 1080 system is very nice but it just seems like too much at 1080p.

1080p, yes. I keep systems for quite a while so the added performance of the 1080 would be nice, I own an HTC Vive that I may occasionally use with it occasionally. I had considered the GTX 1060 version of the GM501 but I think I've debated my way away from it.

Out of curiosity I searched Notebookcheck for more reviews on the Coffee Lake 6 core i7 laptops. There's only one review for 17" i7 Coffee Lake laptops.

Personally, if it were me I'd like to wait until more 17" laptops came out before making a decision. Seems like you don't have many options at this point beyond one 17" and a bunch of thin and light 15" models. For desktop replacements, I've never been a fan of "thin and light". I want proper cooling and that means heavy copper heatsinks. I don't mind the weight since it's intended for desktop use not portability. Plus if you waited the price on the Aorus X6 would likely come down.

Just my 2c.

This is along the same line of thought I have, I won't be pulling the trigger for another couple months or so though. I'd also considered the Aorus x7, but ended up circling back the the x9 DT.
Cost isn't much of a determining factor in all this though, I've known for a couple years now that my old Alienware M18x was on the way out so I've planned accordingly.

 

[Charlie22911]

Ok, so I realized that my "mock up" using the notebook check images was wildly off, so I re did it with some tools in gimp and digital calipers in real life as a sanity check; this should be accurate +/- a few mm.

Aorus - Green | Asus - Red

That is actually a larger difference than I thought it would be for some reason, so I think I've settled on the ASUS GM501 with GTX 1070. It doesn't look like they will be in stock anywhere until the end of the month though.
I'll also likely repaste it with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, I have silicon modified conformal coating so if I'm not satisfied I may even do a liquid metal job instead (Conductonaut).

 

[jana519]

Ok, so I realized that my "mock up" using the notebook check images was wildly off, so I re did it with some tools in gimp and digital calipers in real life as a sanity check; this should be accurate +/- a few mm.

Aorus - Green | Asus - Red

That is actually a larger difference than I thought it would be for some reason, so I think I've settled on the ASUS GM501 with GTX 1070. It doesn't look like they will be in stock anywhere until the end of the month though.
I'll also likely repaste it with Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, I have silicon modified conformal coating so if I'm not satisfied I may even do a liquid metal job instead (Conductonaut).

Looks way more accurate to me. Good choice.

 

[Charlie22911]

So I've flip-flopped again... I've been bouncing between reviews of the GM501 and Aero 15x v8 and I think I'm leaning toward the latter now. The battery life on the Aero is pretty crazy for the hardware it packs.

I wish I could make up my mind...

 

[Charlie22911]

So I got the Aero 15x in a couple days ago so I've had some time to get to know the ins and outs.
First off I added a 970 EVO 2TB and a 32GB kit of G.Skill 2666 cas 18 since I couldn't be sure what was in it already. Turned out to be a single stick 16GB G.Skill 2666 cas 18. Nice.
Second, the included gigabyte software is buggy, it is of dubious value and settings aren't persistent between reboots. The downside is that this software is required for the function keys to be operable, and this software has a gaudy OSD that is especially annoying if auto brightness is enabled. Fortunately this is remedied by replacing a .dll file.

The build quality is very good though, it is simultaneously thin but substantial at the same time (in a good way); tolerances in all of the body seams are very tight with virtually no flex.
The screen has some backlight bleed at the bottom, but this seems to be common across all of the Aero 15x units and not unique to mine. It is disappointing for a premium laptop in 2018.

Thermals are as expected for this form factor, but don't impact performance nearly as much as I'd imagined. I'm used to gaming on the PCs in my sig, and I don't feel like I am giving up much with this laptop. I think that is saying something, it really is amazing how much performance we can cram in these things.

Battery life is pretty impressive, I can't imagine a scenario that would see me untethered for the better part of 7 hours; more in lighter "work" loads like internet browsing.

I won't bother to post photos, it looks like every other Aero 15x on the internet. Overall I'm very happy with this thing.

 

[lakedude]

Very nice. I think you made a good choice by not going with the huge "lug-gable". As you say, it is amazing what they can cram in there these days. My new $650 laptop with a GTX 1050ti is nothing compared to yours yet I'm still very happy with it.

 

[you2]

I'm considering the MSI GS65 Stealth THIN-054; mostly because it is 'light' and has good battery life but this might not be a fair comparison given the price point.