Which of these two Acer models should I buy?

[Couch Potato]

I can't decide between:

Acer Aspive V3 V3-571G-53218G1TMakk

Windows 8 - 15.6" HD LED 16:9 - Intel® Core™ i5-3210M processor (2.5GHz - 3.1GHz Turbo - 3MB L3 cache) - 8GB DDR3 RAM - NVIDIA® GeForce® GT640M 2GB - 1TB HDD - Super Multi DVD/RW DL - Midnight Black - QWERTY
http://www.acer.nl/ac/nl/NL/content/model-datasheet/NX.RZNEH.008

and

Acer Aspive V3 V3-771G-53216G75Maii

Windows 8 - 17.3" FULL HD ILED 16:9 - Intel® Core™ i5-3210M processor (2.4GHz - 3MB L3 cache) - 6GB DDR3 RAM - NVIDIA® GeForce® GT630M 1GB - 750GB HDD - Super Multi DVD/RW DL - Nightfall Gray - QWERTY
http://www.acer.nl/ac/nl/NL/content/model-datasheet/NX.M1ZEH.008

As you see, they're pretty similar, though the first one has a much(?) better GPU, more memory, but a smaller screen and lower resolution (1366 x 768).

Which one would one you choose and why? I'm really torn between these two as I don't if the bigger, full hd screen is worth. It's bigger, but also less mobile. There price is the same.

Thanks.

 

[EliteRetard]

I don't think anybody can help you here...you already know what the trade offs are.

My suggestion is go to a store and compare 15" models to 17" models even if they aren't the ones your looking for. See if the hardware to screen & size trade off is worth it to you.

Personally I wouldn't choose either one...but if they were the only 2 computers in the world and I could pick one, it would be the 15" unit. I think both units have crap screens/resolution, so the lighter unit with better hardware wins for me.

 

[Couch Potato]

Thanks, EliteRetard.

But what is wrong with the 17,3" inch screen and 1920x1080 resolution? Why is it crap?

 

[EliteRetard]

For the most part, poor screens are just the nature of laptops (bad color/uniformity/viewing angles etc). For me a low quality 1080 TN panel on a 17" isn't good. Neither is a low quality 15" 768 unit. There are some 1080 15" units and that's what I would choose if I had to deal with a cheap laptop screen...but you didn't list such an option.

But if you're going to be gaming on it (I assume so, otherwise why the video cards?) a GT640 on 768 will do MUCH better than a GT630 on 1080. The 15" is also smaller and lighter has more RAM and a bigger HDD (though both are slow and I would replace them immediately or get a laptop with a faster drive).

Personally if I were to buy a laptop I would want a high quality 14" unit with a good quality 1080 or better screen with a nice GPU (GDDR5 GTX660/HD 7850 or better) a good quad core CPU and proper cooling (and noise) with decent battery life. Though such a laptop is currently feasible, nobody has actually built such a unit...only one mediocre 11" and the rest 15"+ gaming laptops. I laugh at the pathetic Alienware M14x.

 

[DollyWitch]

^ IMO, 768 is probably the correct resolution for 15.6" in terms of readability of text. The problem is that most 768 panels are also pretty bad. You don't need to force 1080p into everything. I'm using a 24" Monitor right now and even on that some text looks a bit small.

 

[EliteRetard]

Like I said, that's my personal preference...and actually I'd prefer 4:3 but that's just not going to happen today. The best I could expect would be like an IPS 1080 (I'd want at least 1k vertical). I have a 20" monitor that I normally run 122-130 DPI (CRT). 1440x1080 on 14" would be just right compared to what I use now, but 1920x1080 is a current standard and would be fine.

 

[DollyWitch]

When I was researching budget laptops, the best one I could get was on the Samsung 5 series. It has a contrast ratio very slightly better than my Acer 6290G(and importantly, a semi-matte screen). i didn't want to get something worse.

I'd recommend looking at the more expensive models of that for gaming, though you may have to go with AMD.