Overall overview and HDD/SDD question

omaal

Member
Greetings everyone,
I've been reading in the forum and I've seen how helpful your comments could be, I ask for your experience :)
Below are the specs of the laptop i'm planning to get.
I'm concerned about the storage options I've considered.
would getting the hybrid HDD be useful considering that I added mSATA drive of 120 GB? what do you think is the best option to get for an storage unit to keep a good speed of the system along with a relatively acceptable space.
awaiting your response and thank you in advance.

Omar


Chassis & Display
Vortex Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4700MQ (2.40GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM)
16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
AMD® Radeon® HD 8970M - 4GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - Hard Disk
1TB SEAGATE HYBRID GEN3 SSHD Drive, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (5400 rpm)
mSATA SSD Cache / Storage Drives
120GB Kingston SSDNow mS200 mSATA (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
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 (£9)
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & KILLER™ 1103 WIRELESS GAMING 802.11N NETWORK CARD
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 Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 180W AC Adaptor
Operating System
Genuine Windows 8 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Keyboard Language
INTEGRATED BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Intel Anti-Theft Technology
FREE 90 Day Intel Anti-Theft Trial - Prevent Data Access upon Theft
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 11 to 13 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £1,470.00 including VAT and delivery.
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
would getting the hybrid HDD be useful considering that I added mSATA drive of 120 GB?
Not really, if you are having the OS on the SSD then you won't get many benefits from a hybrid drive.
what do you think is the best option to get for an storage unit to keep a good speed of the system along with a relatively acceptable space.
If the cd drive is not essential, an SSD as the main drive and a scorpio black as the secondary drive.
You can get a cheaper spec with almost identical components for a cheaper price and better GPU on the review section:
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews/
 

omaal

Member
Thanks

Not really, if you are having the OS on the SSD then you won't get many benefits from a hybrid drive.

If the cd drive is not essential, an SSD as the main drive and a scorpio black as the secondary drive.
You can get a cheaper spec with almost identical components for a cheaper price and better GPU on the review section:
http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/reviews/


Thank you, Then I better not get a hybrid one, but what would be the use of the mSATA drive then? I mean if I add an mSATA is it like adding an SSD drive? Can I install the system on mSATA and use the first HDD as scorpio black 750 GB?
I've checked the Review link you thankfully gave me, but I can only buy a 17in laptop which is quite problematic in terms of portability, I'm trying to get a 15in one. can i find such size in the reviews? or shall i wait for it?
 
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omaal

Member
I found an option with 17in screen size that is a bit cheaper than my option and with the GTX 780 and a BlueRay Drive.
But can't I find an option with 15in screen that is cheaper than mine as well?! I mean 15in has to be cheaper hasn't it?!

And if I went for the 15in one, can the mSATA be used as a primary drive for the OS? if not then I won't gain much use for it right?

Please answer these remaining point as I'm planning to proceed with the purchased based on the outcome of this conversation :)
Thank you very much.
 

Rakk

The Awesome
Moderator
I found an option with 17in screen size that is a bit cheaper than my option and with the GTX 780 and a BlueRay Drive.
But can't I find an option with 15in screen that is cheaper than mine as well?! I mean 15in has to be cheaper hasn't it?!
The review machines have a hefty discount since they were done as reviews in certain places, but there are only a limited number of specs that get reviews and review discounts - there is no 15" Vortex review machine, only the 17"
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
I found an option with 17in screen size that is a bit cheaper than my option and with the GTX 780 and a BlueRay Drive.
But can't I find an option with 15in screen that is cheaper than mine as well?! I mean 15in has to be cheaper hasn't it?!

And if I went for the 15in one, can the mSATA be used as a primary drive for the OS? if not then I won't gain much use for it right?

Please answer these remaining point as I'm planning to proceed with the purchased based on the outcome of this conversation :)
Thank you very much.

From the review section only the 17 inches is available. The mSATA could be used for the OS but for an official response please contact PCS directly.
I mean 15in has to be cheaper hasn't it?!
It is a different chassis, has you chosen exactly the same components when comparing the price of both laptops?
 

omaal

Member
I think because its a reviewed one it is much cheaper as if you go for the 15in with same specs the price will be insanely higher :)
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
I think because its a reviewed one it is much cheaper as if you go for the 15in with same specs the price will be insanely higher :)

Well you can't compare a review with a non-review spec then :) I don't think there will be a massive difference in portability with 17inches laptop and considering how much money you are saving I would go with the 17inches review vortex iv.
 

omaal

Member
Well you can't compare a review with a non-review spec then :) I don't think there will be a massive difference in portability with 17inches laptop and considering how much money you are saving I would go with the 17inches review vortex iv.

Yeah, sounds like the perfect way to go. but the thermal paste they use is not the Arctic MX-4 compound, do u think it would make any difference?
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
Yeah, sounds like the perfect way to go. but the thermal paste they use is not the Arctic MX-4 compound, do u think it would make any difference?

I can't really tell, it should but not sure how significant. You can either request better thermal paste once you complete your order or do it yourself. You can get decent thermal paste for around £5.
 

omaal

Member
Thanks alot mate, you've been (with Rakk ofcourse :)) a great help indeed.
Even though its about 1KG heavier and wider but it makes much sense to get the reviewed 17in rather than customising one myself :)
Case Closed
 
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