Which of these laptops is the best value?

[Selithiel]

I'm getting my student loan in, and so I am intending to get a new laptop for gaming next week. I've narrowed it down to these, but from here I'm not sure what will make or break having the best performance and longest lasting product. Generally, I am looking to have an i7 processor, 750 GB HDD or more, 8 GB RAM, Windows 7, and a 2GB Dedicated Video Card. A 17" screen isn't mandatory, but it's definitely preferred. Trying to stay within $1300. Feel free to suggest anything I don't have listed.

1) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus---1...=1218621250769

2) http://www.frys.com/product/7251103?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

3) http://www.frys.com/product/7088601?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

4) http://www.frys.com/product/7148282?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

5) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230580

6) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152370

7) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230597

Windows 7 is something I can budge on if I'm really pushed, but after playing with all the demos in my electronics department in work I am finding that I'm not a fan of it when it isn't on a touch screen or tablet. I really want something that is going to be good 5 years down the road (for example, on the desktop I built I got a quad core 5 years ago and it's still pretty damn good). I bought my last laptop before I started building computers, and so I didn't even think to plan ahead and get a suped up computer to save money in the long run.

[BicycleMafioso]

Don't pick 2) or 7).
If all you're going to do is gaming with it, an i5 is more than plenty.
VRAM above 1GiB has little effect in resolutions at 1920x1080 or lower, unless you mod the bejizzle out of the textures, or is Battlefield 3.

[Selithiel]

I probably should have been much more specific on my use, my apologies!

Mostly it will be gaming. I do tend to mod my rpgs. My most played games on there would be WoW, RIFT, Skyrim (modded), The Sims 3 (which can be irritatingly slow on any computer). Other than that I don't do much else that is intensive - word processing for college, Tumblr and the likes. Only aiming so high just for the chance that I may get into something like photo processing or whatever at some point.

[chazus]

Those systems look almost identical. They're all i7's with a 660, except for the 650 (#2) and 635 (#7)

So I guess the cheapest of all of those that isnt #2 or #7.

Of course, as stated above, there are places you can probably find an i5, with a 660, for cheaper.

EDIT: I actually looked around... and I honestly can't seem to even FIND a laptop with a good video card and an i5. It seems like i7 is forced on gaming laptops. =/

[Selithiel]

Those systems look almost identical. They're all i7's with a 660, except for the 650 (#2) and 635 (#7)

So I guess the cheapest of all of those that isnt #2 or #7.

Of course, as stated above, there are places you can probably find an i5, with a 660, for cheaper.

Thanks much I was wondering if maybe there was something I was missing, because I narrowed it down on the specs about as much as possible. I'll probably avoid best Buy just because of how utterly overpriced their protection plans tend to be (shame they don't have it at my work - it'd be tax free there).

[Taotaisei]

I own a G74SX-BBK8 and can tell you, for what it is, I absolutely love it. No heating issues even with a slight soft overclock on the gpu. It does have an annoying issue with asus live update that after a windows re-install on it, it constantly says I need to re-flash my bios. The speakers are also a bit sub-par. But other than that, it's been a rather enjoyable purchase.

On the other hand, my friend's MSI has had various driver issues, as well as a screen that, when touched in any way, turns off. His speakers all rattle and the sub woofer doesn't even work anymore. This is of course just my personal experiences and isn't really indicative of the normal person. Just the reason I would choose the Asus over the MSI GE70-033US

All in all they're both very nice laptops. Personal choice would be for the G75VW-BBK5, and if you don't mind, the refurbished version certainly cuts off a large chunk of that price tag. My 2 cents.

[Selithiel]

I own a G74SX-BBK8 and can tell you, for what it is, I absolutely love it. No heating issues even with a slight soft overclock on the gpu. It does have an annoying issue with asus live update that after a windows re-install on it, it constantly says I need to re-flash my bios. The speakers are also a bit sub-par. But other than that, it's been a rather enjoyable purchase.

On the other hand, my friend's MSI has had various driver issues, as well as a screen that, when touched in any way, turns off. His speakers all rattle and the sub woofer doesn't even work anymore. This is of course just my personal experiences and isn't really indicative of the normal person. Just the reason I would choose the Asus over the MSI GE70-033US

All in all they're both very nice laptops. Personal choice would be for the G75VW-BBK5, and if you don't mind, the refurbished version certainly cuts off a large chunk of that price tag. My 2 cents.

Nice to hear that - I've already owned an Asus so I'm a little partial to Asus already. The G75 is the one I've had my heart set on, so chances are I'm going to end up going that way. I know it'll last and that I'll be happy with it.

[Asics]

Sorry but didn't check the links =( Asus G75VW with a i7 3630, 660m here for $1200 new and I'm enjoying every moment. BF3 at mostly high settings at 40fps.

Worth it imo. Windows 8 is a little strange but you will figure it out.