XoticPC options, questions

[Perturabo]

Hey everyone, like some others I'm looking for a laptop. I've checked out a bunch of posts and some other websites, and many people like suggesting the XoticPC website for a semi-custom, high quality laptop. I like the idea of customer service, too.

I've just got some questions, hopefully I can get some input.

I'm basically looking for a laptop that isn't superhuge, and that has at least a 6 hour battery life. I'm going to be using it mostly for schoolwork/programming, but I'd also like to be able to play some games/watch videos etc. I'm not going to be doing hardcore gaming, I have a desktop for that. I'd probably just be playing things like Terraria, maybe Diablo 3 when it comes out (I don't imagine the specs for that game will be very high), some other low-resource intensive games on Steam.

This is the one I'm currently considering: http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-u36jcb1-p-2945.html?wconfigure=yes

I like that it's smallish and is listed as 8 hour battery life, but it's still an i5 and has a discrete graphics card, so it has a bit of power too.

I guess one question I have is the wireless card. I can't really find any reviews about the cards themselves. Is it worth it to spend the $30-40 on an upgrade?

Also, has anyone used/seen their custom skin process? Just curious.

Thanks for any help, other suggestions welcome!

 

[dma0991]

You would hardly feel any difference with an 'upgraded' wireless card. I would pay a little bit more for this instead.

 

[Perturabo]

Oh wow, I didn't notice that one, thanks! Nearly the same but newer processor and a much better graphics card. It's listed as the same battery life, I hope that's accurate. I was under the assumption that the gpu was the greatest drain on these laptops.

 

[rabbitz]

Actually, an upgraded wireless card can be quite useful if you know what you're doing.

First, here is a review of the bigfoot killer-n card http://www.anandtech.com/show/4590/bigfoots-killern-1102-wireless-networking-vs-the-world

Secondly, do some research into what 1x1, 2x2, 3x3 mimo, etc.... mean. I did some light research a while ago, but it was after I had already bought my laptop so I didn't follow up on it any further.

Basically, to full take advantage of a better wireless card, you will need:

1) wireless card capable of multiple input/ouput streams
2) enough antennas on your laptop for handling multiple streams, I assume. Not too clear on this point
3) router capable of broadcasting multiple streams (e.g. those advertising 'simultaneous 2.4 and 5ghz')

If you are really interested in increasing wireless transmission speeds and know how to fully take advantage of it, then I think it is worth your time to do some reading.

Otherwise, if you are not going to be using your own routers often or if you just use it doing average everyday stuff, you will probably be safe to just go with the cheapest wireless N card you can pick.

 

[dma0991]

Oh wow, I didn't notice that one, thanks! Nearly the same but newer processor and a much better graphics card. It's listed as the same battery life, I hope that's accurate. I was under the assumption that the gpu was the greatest drain on these laptops.

GPU does take quite a chunk out of the battery life. The improved version should always offer more performance for the same amount of power or less than its predecessor. The HD3000 IGP is an improvement over the HD graphics and you could save battery life by using the IGP via Nvidia Optimus whenever you're not doing anything graphically intensive.

Basically, to full take advantage of a better wireless card, you will need:

1) wireless card capable of multiple input/ouput streams
2) enough antennas on your laptop for handling multiple streams, I assume. Not too clear on this point
3) router capable of broadcasting multiple streams (e.g. those advertising 'simultaneous 2.4 and 5ghz')

We would always have to overcome the bottleneck somewhere. Adding in a better card would probably require a better antenna and/or better router.

My laptop used to have a crappy antenna and I tried changing the Atheros card to an Intel card and the difference is non existent. In the end I modded the laptop to use an external SMA port that I salvaged from a D-Link router. Signal strength went from 1 bar from 1 feet from away the router to full bar 10 meters away.

 

[Perturabo]

Thanks for the input, guys, it's been a big help. If anyone has any other suggestions I'd be happy to hear them.

 

[jacktesterson]

I'd go with the Bigfoot