Gaming Laptop Final Specs: General Questions

[Karthal]

Hey, so I posted a week or so ago about getting a gaming laptop and i've finalized my specs and it has been ordered, the specs for the laptop are as follows:

Chassis & Display:
Vortex Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU):
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4710MQ (2.50GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM):
8GB KINGSTON SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card:
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 880M - 8.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
1st Hard Disk:
WD Black² Dual Drive - 120GB SSD and 1TB HDD - WD1001X06XDTL
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive:
8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
Memory Card Reader:
Internal 9 in 1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD: Mini, XC & HC/MS: Pro & Duo)
Thermal Paste:
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card:
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless/Wired Networking:
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ 1202 WIRELESS GAMING 802.11N + BLUETOOTH 4.0
USB Options:
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Firewire:
1 X 1394a FIREWIRE PORT
Battery:
Vortex Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (5,200 mAh/76.96WH)
Power Cable:
1 x UK Power Lead & 180W AC Adaptor
Operating System:
Genuine Windows 8.1 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence
DVD Recovery Media:
Windows 8.1 (64-bit) DVD with paper sleeve
Office Software:
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus:
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Browser:
Google Chrome™
Keyboard Language:
INTEGRATED BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Mouse:
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam:
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty:
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery:
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time:
Standard Build - Approximately 8 to 10 working days
Miscellaneous:
FREE £90 IN-GAME VOUCHER with GTX 650 / 750 /7000M / 8000M Series GPUs
Quantity:
1

So I was wondering a couple of things about the laptop as well as other people's experiences with their builds. First off, I've heard a lot about processing and pre-production being far longer than expected with PCS (some previous customers have apparently waited 2-4 weeks to get out of Processing and Pre-Production but that the build and testing time took no time at all) and I was wondering from people who have brought laptops recently with PCS just how long it took from them to get through processing and pre-production (I know about the fast track service but I'm broke after buying the laptop so I can't do that and I know about how the lead times at the time of this post being posted is 7-9 days but as mentioned before I've heard a lot of people saying the processing and pre-production overtake the lead times by a mile).

Secondly, I was wondering exactly what the £90 In-Game Voucher supports. I looked on the front page and it told me that it can be used for Path of Exile and two other games but I was just wondering is that all it supports?

Finally, I was wondering if any thing looks like it could be amended for a cheaper version that does the exact same just in case i'm able to get enough money from the amendations to pay for the 5 day fast track (for example, I found the kingston 8GB RAM was £6 cheaper than the Samsung one that does the exact same). Thanks in advance

 

[XplosiV]

Assuming I spec'd your above spec right based on the Vortex IV. This is how it stacks up

£1.451 as spec'd

Swap out the dual drive for a 1TB Hybrid - £1.360
Swap out the dual drive for a 750GB Scorpio Black (faster than the blues but no TB option) £1.339
Add to that a Kingston 120GB SSD £1.396
Swap out the dual drive for a 1TB Scorpio Blue (slightly slower than the black but higher capacity) £1.400

So you can easily afford the Fast 5 delivery option.

If you went with the Scorpio Black & Kingston SSD (£1.396) it would be just £14 extra for the Fast 3 day option.

I guess it comes down to preference over the size of mechanical drive

Also consider the Intel AC wifi card for future compatability with newer wifi technology £-9 and the 500GB Scorpio Black £-5

However, dropping to the 6GB graphics card will save you a further £200 which you can put into extra ram, or goto a 2.8Ghz CPU (2.8 +£110)

If it were me. Id adjust your spec from this. (my original preferred spec based on your 8GB graphics)

2.4Ghz
8GB Kingston Ram
8GB Graphics
750GB Scorpio Black
120 Kingston msata
Intel AC
3 day fast track
===£1.456

To this

2.8Ghz I7
16GB Kingston Ram
6GB graphics
750GB Scorpio Black
120GB Kingston msata
Intel ac wifi
3 day fast track
====£1.392

Hope this helps.

 

[Karthal]

Thanks, I changed the HDD and SSD and i was able to get the 5 day fast track as well as a new laptop bag +rep

 

[XplosiV]

Yeah, nice one. As long as your happy with your spec and put it to good use, it's all good.

As the Vortex laptops have 2x sata, 2x msata plus an optical bay, you really don't need to worry about the dual drive, nice if your limited on space, but you have room in these to add to later on. An easy way to save a few quid. Plus you had enough for your 5 day & a laptop bag, bonus!

 

[Karthal]

One more thing, since I ordered the 5 day fast track today, it means the laptop will be in my hands between now and the 22nd of april (5 days from now), correct?

 

[XplosiV]

It's a 5 working day dispatch fast track. Meaning depending on the time the order was placed, today may or may not count as one of the five working days.

Worst case scenario, the first working day will be Tuesday 22nd work continues until Monday 28th and is then dispatched that day. Then add one or two days for delivery. So I'd conservatively estimate you'll be holding it in your hands by Wednesday 30th

Don't forget, it's Easter weekend, friday (tomorrow) and monday are bank holidays. Hense work possibly not starting until Tuesday 22nd.

 

[Karthal]

It's a 5 working day dispatch fast track. Meaning depending on the time the order was placed, today may or may not count as one of the five working days.

Worst case scenario, the first working day will be Tuesday 22nd work continues until Monday 28th and is then dispatched that day. Then add one or two days for delivery. So I'd conservatively estimate you'll be holding it in your hands by Wednesday 30th

Don't forget, it's Easter weekend, friday (tomorrow) and monday are bank holidays. Hense work possibly not starting until Tuesday 22nd.

Good point but doesn't changing to fast tracking before mid-day (which is what I did) mean that today is a working day or am I wrong on that assumption?

 

[XplosiV]

You would have to check the PCS disclaimer for the service specifically. This may be of help to you. www.pcspecialist.co.uk/delivery/ if this page does not answer your question to your satisfaction, I would recommend you get your account / order number ready to hand and call PCS directly with your specific question.

 

[Karthal]

Just got an email about 10 minutes ago saying it's been built and is in quality control although the orders page says it's still in building...i think it's just down to a delay in the order page updating, anyways thanks for your help