Buying a new gaming laptop

[olli576]

(budget is around $1,200-1,300AUD)
So i've been looking around for a new laptop for gaming for a bit now and i've come across two that i really like:

Asus G73JH - ($1,045 AUD)
CPU - I7-720QM 2.8GHz
GPU - 5870M 1G Vram
Memory - DDR3 8gig
HDD - x1 500gig 7200rpm
Display - 17.3" 1600x900

or

Asus G74SX - ($1,185 AUD)
CPU - 2nd Gen i7-2630QM 2.9GHz
GPU - 560M 2gig of vram
Memory - DDR 8gig
HDD - x2 500gig 7200rpm
Display 17.3" 1600x900
(also bluetooth, g73jh does not i believe)

Now before you say you can't compare them the g74 is of course going to be better because it's a newer model, i could use the spare money to buy a Corsair Force 3 120gb SSD for the G73 +200AUD)

Games i'm wanting to play are bf3 on at least medium but hoping for high, wow and skyrim.
Appreciate the feedback and help

[OhpUldum]

When it comes to laptops you always want the newer model, especially since you can't just swap the CPU / GPU at will. From a gaming perspective the CPU / GPU directly impact your FPS whereas a SSD does not. Go with the G74 and enjoy your high / ultra graphics for the next couple years.

[olli576]

ah okay yep, alright thanks for that man

[Incoda]

Get a desktop because laptop overheats to much my man, you would love desktop more, I know its easier to use a laptop but it wont compare to a desktop

[Deleted]

G74 is by far the better choice.

Since your screen is limited to a 1600x900 resolution it should be able to play BF3@ high as well.

[olli576]

The g73/74 series has one of the best cooling solutions ever made for laptops, from what i've read the g74 with no overclocking doesn't reach 70C

My best mates live next door to me and i think it would get quite annoying carrying a tower, monitor, keyboard and mouse + all the cables with me whenever i went compared to just a simple bag + a mouse don't you think?

[olli576]

i'm kinda stuck a bit here now, would there be much difference between say medium settings at 1080p vs high-ultra settings in 1600x900?

it costs $300 more for the full hd 1920x1080 version of the g74sx :S i've looked around at reviews etc and can't seem to find anyone mentioning the difference between the resolutions on this laptop

[Milkshake86]

i'm kinda stuck a bit here now, would there be much difference between say medium settings at 1080p vs high-ultra settings in 1600x900?

it costs $300 more for the full hd 1920x1080 version of the g74sx :S i've looked around at reviews etc and can't seem to find anyone mentioning the difference between the resolutions on this laptop

1600x900 will look fine but it will not look like 1920x1080, make sure the model your getting if it has Nvidia that optimus is not enabled.

[olli576]

1600x900 will look fine but it will not look like 1920x1080, make sure the model your getting if it has Nvidia that optimus is not enabled.

It has an Nvidia 560m if that's what you were asking for, and i'm not really sure what you mean by optimus not enabled? sorry i'm not very good with this.