Help with Gaming Laptop

[jam1e1]

Hi

This will be my second PCS laptop/PC, just looking for some advice before i buy. Looking to do gaming (Red Dead 2, MW2 etc) and have spec out the PC below. I have an Asus 28" GSync monitor so want to be able to use this too.

Couple questions on the below:
1) Could heat be a problem with this build and intensive gaming?
2) Ive read about potential power limitations, how could this affect performance in games?
3) Could i be better going for a small form factor gaming PC of similar spec, ie would there be significant performance improvement? (Can live with not having a laptop)
thanks Jamie
Chassis & Display
Octane Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080) + G-Sync
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-9700K (3.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2666MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2070 - 8.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
2TB Samsung 860 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
External DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
8x Slim USB 2.0 External DVD-RW
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 330W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Octane Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (82WH)
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 M.2 GAMING + BLUETOOTH 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
4 x USB 3.0 Ports + 2 x USB 3.1 Type C Ports
Keyboard Language
OCTANE SERIES BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MP FULL HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
Clevo P775TM1-G (8GB RTX-2070, 144Hz, G-Sync)

 

[Oussebon]

What is the actual model of your monitor?

If you don't need a laptop for gaming you should absolutely go with a desktop. Since you can upgrade the GPU without needing to replace the entire system.

Don't go with a "small form factor" PC but rather with a "normal" PC in one of the smaller cases on offer. Because they're actually not much larger than the "mini" cases, while they don't have the limitations (expansion slots, restricted space inside e.g. for cables).

 

[jam1e1]

Thanks, monitor is xb270h

Acer Predator XB270H 27" 1920x1080 TN 144hz Gaming Widescreen LED Monitor - Black/Red

XB270HBbmjdprz, 1920x1080 Resolution, 10,000,000:1 Contrast Ratio, 1ms Response Time, 300 cd/m2 Brightness, 1x Display Port, 1x DVi Port, 1x HDMI Port, 1x Analogue Port, USB3.0 Hub, 2yr Warranty.

www.overclockers.co.uk

 

[Scott]

If it must be a laptop then that's a fair spec but I wholeheartedly agree that a desktop is a much better solution. Your chosen specs will smash 1080P, and then some, so you could consider a 1440p monitor if that was something you fancied. If you wanted to save some cash the 2060 would absolutely handle what you are looking for but since you cannot upgrade the GPU (easily at least, or sound financially) down the line it's often better to aim for overkill when it is within the budget.

 

[jam1e1]

Thanks for advice, so ive spec a conventional system as below, few questions:
1) assume this will have g-sync and work well with monitor
2) is case and power supply sufficient (case in terms cooling), or do i need more fans
3) is motherboard good enough/right choice
4) plan to have OS on the M2, store games on SSD - assuming i only game couple days a week for few hours, assume not too much wear on SSD and will last ages
5) any further pointers

for same price as laptop get much better card and system it appears
thanks again

Case
PCS GENESIS G1B CASE + SD CARD READER
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-9700K (3.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB ASUS ROG STRIX GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, DP

Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
2TB Samsung 860 QVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
ASUS 24x DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
USB 3.0 EXTERNAL SD/MICRO SD CARD READER
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H60 2018 Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
COOLER MASTER MASTERGEL MAKER THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
Asus Xonar SE 5.1-Channel Gaming Audio Card
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

 

[Oussebon]

Buy a better case! One with decent airflow and more and decent quality installed fans! If you're putting, what, £2000's worth of hardware in it.

if you want a reasonably compact case, try the NZXT H500, or the Corsair iCUE 220T if you like your RGB. Corsair Crystal 460X is great and a similar size to the Genesis.

I wouldn't bother at all with the Strix GPUs. £110 premium for.. well.. nothing really, performance wise. Aka the 'Asus tax'. You may have ended up with that through speccing the PC up in a special 'Asus' configurator PCS have.

Don't bother with a sound card. Motherboard audio is actually pretty good. Buy with only the onboard audio, and audition it. If you find it wanting, it's probably not a gamer-marketed sound card you want anyway.

I'm not convinced by the storage arrangements i.e. 970 Evo for OS + programs, and SSD for games and files.

I'd just go with a 1TB NVMe SSD for OS, programs, and games. And an HDD for mass storage. Depends if you plan to have 2TB's worth of games all installed at the same time (I keep games I wanted installed/backed up but am not playing right now on a fast 8TB HDD).

The H100x CPU cooler is better than the H60 and near enough the same price.

Case
NZXT H500 MID-TOWER GAMING CASE (BLACK)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-9700K (3.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - RTX VR Ready!

Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
6TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 5400RPM, 256MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NOT REQUIRED
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100x Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days
Price: £2,183.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z370-pc/882kb8NKwH/

Storage needs to fit your needs ofc, I only suggest the above as an option. In general, fast 1TB SSD for OS, programs, games, and HDD for the rest, including archived games you don't play right now but don't wanna have to redownload.

You really don't need to worry about SSD wear. Any component - HDD, SSD, mobo, CPU - could pop it without (obvious) warning. But in terms of specifically wearing out the SSD they take a lot of killing these days, The 970 Evo Plus is warrantied for 600 TBW, but even small and older drives can take a lot more than they are rated for in reality...

The other changes like case, cooler, GPU, etc I'd strongly recommend.

And yes, the RTX 2080 Super will work with an nvidia Gsync monitor.

Mobo is more than fine. The AORUS Pro is also a great board,

 

[jam1e1]

Many thanks for your help - been really useful. Made a couple of minor changes, also went for bigger case and added one case fan to hopefully ensure good cooling. Let me know if any other amendments suggested.

Just put order in - cannot wait!

thanks again
Jamie
Case
CORSAIR OBSIDIAN SERIES™ 750D FULL TOWER CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor i7-9700K (3.6GHz) 12MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z390-F GAMING: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2080 SUPER - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - RTX VR Ready!

Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs!
1st Storage Drive
4TB SEAGATE IRONWOLF PRO 3.5", 7200 RPM 128MB CACHE
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3300MB/W)

Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
USB 3.0 EXTERNAL SD/MICRO SD CARD READER
Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
Corsair H100x Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Extra Case Fans
1x 120mm Black Case Fan (configured to extract from rear/roof)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
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 10 to 12 working days
Promotional Item
Get Ghost Recon: Breakpoint with select SAMSUNG SSDs!

 

[Oussebon]

The Ironwolf HDDs aren't remotely worth the price premium - save yourself some cash there!

Spec looks nice. It'll serve you brilliantly

Are you sure about the 750D? It's fine, it's just very big and you don't need something that big if you don't want to (it doesn't cool any better than smaller options).

 

[jam1e1]

Ah ok fair call, helps when you know what your doing 🙂 really appreciate all the help!