MSI GX60 vs Lenovo Y500 -which is better for best Civilization 5 big map game?

[ckang008]

I'm currently running a macbook pro 2010 i5 bootcamp windows 7 and needless to say it's very underpowered for this game especially when it is coming to later stage of the game.

Frequent crashes cause me to reconsider a new laptop. However I'm torned between the MSI GX60 and the Lenovo Y500

the Y500 has the Intel Core i7-3630QM + Geforce GT750M
the GX60 has the AMD A10-5750M + Radeon 7970M
Both have 8GB of ram

Y500 is more powerful in terms of CPU power
GX60 is more powerful in terms of GPU power

I run my civ 5 games on 1920x1080 when i'm out of my house and run my civ 5 games on 2650x1600 on my Dell U3011 when I'm at home.


I see the 7970m seems to meet my resolution needs but the i7-3630QM seems to meet my cpu need. I'm just afraid the game starts to lag too much in late game with the GX60 but on the other hand the Y500 can't handle the high resolution at the start of the game.

Please advise.

[_Pax_]

Let me ask you the first, inevitable question:

Why a laptop ...?

Do you actually need the mobility and portability of a laptop? Because if you don't ... you can get teh same or better "horsepower" out of a desktop, for much less money.

[Invader]

Pax is right. If all you really need is horsepower, you'll get much more bang for your buck with a desktop.

[ckang008]

I travel away from home half the time (between Asia/America) so I won't be using the desktop half the time if that's the case. Anyways, please recommend a laptop. Thanks

[_Pax_]

I travel away from home half the time (between Asia/America) so I won't be using the desktop half the time if that's the case.

Okay - see, that is a good reason to go for a laptop.

I ask mainly because I have frequently encountered peopel who just didn't realise, that they were paying an extra premium for "and make it something I can carry around all day" when they bought a laptop. They were dead-set convinced that any laptop that cost X dollars, would be exactly as powerful as a dekstop that cost the same amount.

I know, silly, right? But it means, it bears making sure someone NEEDS a laptop, first. Because if they don't, then I can give them advice that'll get them MORE computer, for the same or less money.

In your case, though, a laptop is clearly the way to go - you will need something that can travel with you, which means it can't be tied to a desk in your home.


...


WITH ALL THAT SAID ... in order to look at the stats, and compare them side by side, I went to NewEgg. I couldn't find the Y500 you listed - the ones I found had two video cards, GT650Ms in SLI.

Lenovo Y500: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834312440

MSI GX60: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834152372


Just looking at those two cards .... well, even though I'm an AMD fan myself, I'd have to say the Lenovo Y500 looks liek teh stronger gaming machine. Two cards in SLI, same amount of video memory, and a slightly stronger (albeit, identical clock speed) CPU .... coupled to a larger hard drive, which is also a hybrid with a 16GB SSD for your most-often-used files. Oh, and 50% more system memory, too.

For about the same price (before S&H; $99 cheaper, after) ...?

Lenovo Y500 all the way.

As far as graphics go, I seriously doubt a single HD7970M is going to have more horsepower than dual GT650Ms. Meanwhile, more RAM, a hybrid HDD/SSD, and a better CPU should serve you well, where late-game lag issues are concerned.

All that, AND it's 1.3 LBS lighter ...!

Really the main difference, IMO, is that the Lenovo has only 2/3 the battery that the MSI does - but if you spend most of your gaming time plugged in to a wall outlet, that won't matter. Not even the loss of one USB 2.0 port would be enough to sway me in MSI's favor.

[ckang008]

i've been looking at this: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...A012D9B20ED2FB

+ the SLI graphics

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/c...=yes#techspecs

Total with the 170w power supply is 1109 which is around the same price as the MSI GX60. Wonder if the SLI will give me the performance i require.

So far the Y500 seems to be the way to go but i hear the trackpad is quite problematic. That can be a dealbreaker for me as I like to play my games on long haul flights.

[_Pax_]

So, buy a bluetooth mouse - a small one.