Is my spec ready to go? Or can I get more for my money? (15.6" Recoil III GTX)

Hello readers! This is my first time writing in the forum and I'm simply looking for some community advice. I have spoken to someone from PC Specialist already about a couple of things, but I'm curious to see what people think of my laptop configuration: my own 15.6" Recoil III GTX.

Let me know if you think I could get a little more for my money here, or even if I could save a little. My budget is £1000 - £1100, but the closer to the former, the better. I plan on waiting until November 18th to buy, as I understand PC Specialist will be rolling out Black Friday deals from that date. I already have £70 off with a promotion; I think it's worth the wait nonetheless.

I should also mention that, after extensive research, this is my first time configuring my own setup.
I plan on using the laptop for mid/high-tier gaming (involving modding), with a couple of VR games in a year or two, as well as music production and video-editing.

Here's the spec:

Promotional Discount
Special Offer - Save Now On Intel Core i7/i9 Powered Laptops!
Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 8750H (2.2GHz, 4.1GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 - 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
NOT REQUIRED
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB ADATA SX6000 Pro PCIe M.2 2280 (2100 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 2 in 1 Memory Card Reader (SD, MMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Recoil II Series 46WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
COOLER MASTER MASTERGEL MAKER THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-9260 M.2 (1.73Gbps, 802.11AC) +BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
PER-KEY RGB BACKLIT UK MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
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
Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee
1 Year Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Chassis
TongFang GK5CN6Z (6GB GTX-1060, i7-8750H, 144Hz)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days

Price: £1,082.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/recoil-III-gtx-15/jGwDmPjnAh/

Any questions? Please ask! :D
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
You can get better hardware for the money - a 1660 ti instead of a 1060 via the Optimus chassis. It's ~30% more powerful, or more, and has a newer architecture.

Promotional Discount
Special Offer - Save Now On Intel Core i7/i9 Powered Laptops!
Chassis & Display
Optimus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD 120Hz 45% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 9750H (2.6GHz, 4.5GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
NOT REQUIRED
1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB ADATA SX6000 Pro PCIe M.2 2280 (2100 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 150W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Optimus X Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
MULTI COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
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)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee
1 Year Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Chassis
Clevo NH55RCQ (6GB GTX-1660 Ti, i7-9750H, 120Hz N4)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 4 to 6 working days
Price: £1,083.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/optimusX-15/4!FQmrySbG/

Optimus used to be much more expensive with the new GPUs like 1660 ti but the price seems to have come down of late.

I swapped the RAM to 2 x 8gb so that it's dual channel. For gaming you will not need more than 16gb, whereas some games can benefit from having the RAM as dual channel.

Only go with 1 x 16gb over 2 x 8gb if you are absolutely certain you will add more RAM specifically for video editing.
 
That's all really useful, thank you!

I noticed that the thermal paste in the Optimus configuration was left as standard - what are your thoughts on getting the Cooler Master compound for the extra £9? Worth it or nah? (I'd like my laptop to stay as cool as possible, but I'm completely aware of how tricky that can be with such a small space to work with.)

As well, I see that the Optimus display has a 45% NTSC as opposed to the Recoil's 72%. My research wasn't ultra-thorough with this but I gathered that the higher percentage was better? (Particularly regarding photo/video editing.)
And, whilst a more minor feature, I do prefer the Recoil's built-in mechanical keyboard and would prefer not to pick up an external one. Guess I'll just have to decide on that compromise for myself.

I don't know the difference between dual channel RAM and single, so I'll take your word for it :)

Thanks for pointing out the Optimus to me though! That gives me something to think about before those deals get here ^^
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
I'd probably get the better paste, although PCS's paste jobs can be a bit hit and miss going by accounts on the forums so you may choose to repaste anyway.

The %NTSC means the recoil would have more accurate colours. Potentially useful for video editing, moreso for photo editing, but it's likely the screen qill be adequate.

The main point I'd make is that for gaming, and for a lot of video editing work for that matter, a powerful GPU is essential. And you can't upgrade the GPU in the laptop - you want an upgrade, you buy a new laptop. So buying the best GPU possible for the money is what I usually argue as being the top priority. If you use the laptop often in a single place - your home, your office, whatever - you can potentially look to getting an external monitor. And/or external keyboard for that matter. But the GPU, you can't do anything about.

So the sooner the system goes out of date, the sooner you're spending another £1000-£1200.

If you are playing modded games and looking to keep VR open as an option, the GTX 1660 ti is strongly preferable to the GTX 1060. Remember that both the GTX 1060 and 1660 ti in laptops are weaker than their desktop counterparts by a significant margin. And a desktop 1060 is generally considered rather entry level for VR.
 
Alright. How important would that be for someone who probably won't repaste unless absolutely necessary? (And at that point, I'd have someone else carry out the task.) I gather it's still worth it, unless external cooling solutions - cooling pads, vacuum coolers, etc. - would be sufficient enough without the better paste?

As for everything else, yeah I can agree with the points you're making. Whilst I'll miss the better colours of the Recoil (and it's keyboard), it is - as you said - much easier to get myself a better display than to upgrade the GPU. Based on this, I think I'll get the Optimus since the price is pretty much the same and in budget - unless there's a ridiculously good sale on something else, but we'll see 👀

Anything in particular I might want to know about the Optimus (and anything in comparison to the Recoil)? Any cons that a lot of people tend to bring up? Better yet, any advantages it has?

Thanks for all your advice, and your quick responses. I appreciate it :)
 

Oussebon

Multiverse Poster
You might as well get the better paste - I probably world.

As for Optimus advantages. Better, more modern hardware for the money. It's a Clevo chassis rather than Tongfang. Clevo control centre is more mature and you can get updates and chassis drivers direct from Clevo or via your PCS account, whereas Tongfang chassis stuff is via PCS only. As Clevo it's also easier to get all the bits working under Linux as I understand it.

The big advantage is the hardware inside, which it delivers for the same price by not bothering with a per-key RGB keyboard, or the (presumably) more expensive screen. The GTX 1660 ti for the same money is the advantage.

If you really like the Recoil, note that the GTX 1660 ti + 9000 series i7 (the 1660 ti only comes with the newer i7) is "only" £120 or so more, at around £1207. If you drop the RAM to 8gb (1x8gb - with the intention of adding 1x8gb later) it's £1173.

Versus the Recoil with the 1060, you get a slightly faster CPU, and a GPU 30% (nearing 50% in some of those game benchmarks) for a relatively small % increase in cost.

So stretching the budget is an option to look at if you love the Recoil, but want to maximise value from the purchase.
 
Okay, noted!

Nice, thanks for all the info. Time will tell what I end up choosing, but the better GPU around the same price has certainly tempted me. I'll be sure to keep in mind the points you've made about getting the best value for my money. Thanks again :)
 
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