Nvidia GTX 1060 based 1080p gaming laptop - MSI vs. Azom (Clevo) vs. any other option?

[itsane]

Hi all,
first the questionnaire, and then my questions:

1) What is your budget? (INR or USD)
INR 1,40,000 (approx)

2) What size & weight consideration (if any) would you prefer?
Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen

3) What are the primary tasks you will be performing with this notebook?
Photo editing (Photoshop and Lightroom) and Gaming (replacement for PS3 with intention to play most current or recent titles at 1080p with atleast high settings). Should be good for next 4-5 years.


5) Any typical configuration in your mind you're eying for ?
i5/i7 quad core, 16GB RAM, 128GB or more SSD + 1 TB HDD, 15.6 inch 1080p screen.


4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
a. Like: Nothing in particular, though I have short listd MSI and Azom already...
b. Dislike: Probably Lenovo as my last Lenovo Ideapad gave up on its hinges (and consequently the screen) in about 2 years!


6) Anything else you would like to say?
Screen resolution: 1080p (Full HD)
Battery back up: normal (3-4hrs)
Purchase place: Online (eg - flipkart, infibeam) or Local

Hi all,

New on this forum and have been going through the existing threads.

I am looking for a new laptop - primary purpose is gaming (e.g. Rise of the Tomb Raider, Gost Recon Wildlands etc.) and photo editing (Photoshop and Lightroom). Portability is not too big of an issue as I intend to use it around home mainly with need to occasionally take it out, but then I would also prefer not to be tied to a adapter always for casual tasks like browsing and video watching.

I have shortlisted the following two models:

MSI GE62VR 7RF Apache Pro
3.5 GHz Intel 7th Gen Core i7-7700HQ
16GB DDR4 RAM (max upto 32GB)
256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB SATA 7200rpm hard drive
15.6-inch 1920x1080 screen (no GSync)
GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics Card
Full RGB backlit keyboard
Extra slot of 1 more HDD and one more M.2 SDD
2 Years Warranty
Win 10 Home
Price : INR 1,37,000

AZOM Exigo (Clevo Barebone - P750DM2)
Intel Kabylake Desktop Grade i5-7500
16GB DDR4 RAM (max upto 64GB)
128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB SATA 7200rpm hard drive
15.6-inch 1920x1080 screen (no GSync) - this is probabaly same as MSI one.
GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Graphics Card
Full RGB backlit keyboard
2 Years Warranty
Win 10 Pro
Price: INR 1,42,000

Pros of MSI model:
Seventh Gen i7 - HyperThreading may benefit some apps, though not games.
SteelSeries keyboard typically has good reviews based on reviews I have seen
Warranty/service in local city
Not sure of any of the MSI technology or software like the Dragon Center or Nahimic Sound are actually and practically useful
lighter and sleeker
Looks better than Clevo/AZOM one - or atleast that's what appears from photos

Cons of MSI model:
No Thunderbolt 3
Can only drive 4K display at 30Hz via HDMI. But I am not sure of the DisplayPort - it has one, but does not mention the version.
No future upgradibility

Pros of Clevo P750DM2 Barebones based model:
Future upgradibility option for CPU/GPU - though I am not sure if it is practically useful?
Desktop grade processor, though its an i5 - again, not sure if it will be better overall than 7th gen i7 laptop processor on MSI GE62VR.
Extra slots for HDD and SDD
Thunderbolt-3! and 4K at 60Hz

Cons of the Clevo based model:
Heavier and thicker (3.8 KG and 38mm vs MSI's 2.4 KG and 28mm)
Only one reseller in India - for any warranty or service, laptop needs to be couriered to out of city and hence may be time consuming.
Did not see many reviews of this barebone based models on the net - finding drivers etc. may be an issue!?
Cannot see or try it in a shop. For MSI, I can look at it at the local authorised dealer.

I would like to keep whatever laptop I buy for at least 3-4 years.

It would be really helpful if I can get to hear some owner reviews and suggestion on the above model to help me choose. Which one is better and more reliable? Which features look good on paper but are practically not really useful? Is there any other GTX 1060 based model in similar price range that I am missing and may be better?

Thanks!

 

[SaiyanGoku]

Get a GTX 1070 laptop from USA. Recently a member bought a gigabyte one which has international warranty.

MSI India has garbage pricing.

 

[Gauravs90]

I brought MSI GE62VR 7RF Recently for Rs 1,35,000 from offline store. It's good for 1080P gaming at ultra high settings, DisplayPort is supported for 4K 60Hz. GTX 1060 is not futuerproof for even 1080p gaming, may be it can last for two years more for 1080p gaming at around 50 fps to 60 fps at ultra high settings.

It doesn't have thunderbolt 3 but has USB 3.1 Gen 2, USB type C port that supports upto 10gbps bandwidth.

 

[itsane]

Get a GTX 1070 laptop from USA. Recently a member bought a gigabyte one which has international warranty.

MSI India has garbage pricing.

Thanks for your suggestion... Most manufacturers have a garbage pricing in India unfortunately!

Having said that, I actually did not find a better priced Nvidia GTX 1060 based laptop here apart from MSI GE62VR 7RF Apache Pro! I do not have the option to get it from USA. Neither do I want to have it shipped from a an online shop like HIDevolution due to the fear of customs, and all the effort involved in shipping back and forth in case of an issue - though I have heard from multiple sources that HIDevoution with its global warranty is highly recommended!

I also recently got informed by Azom that they have upgraded their base configuration to 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM from the earlier 2133 MHz RAM - that increases the price further by about INR 5000, to approximately 1,47,000. This is tilting things more in favor of MSI, but I would definately want to hear of any better option in India that I may have missed...

- - - Updated - - -

I brought MSI GE62VR 7RF Recently for Rs 1,35,000 from offline store. It's good for 1080P gaming at ultra high settings, DisplayPort is supported for 4K 60Hz. GTX 1060 is not futuerproof for even 1080p gaming, may be it can last for two years more for 1080p gaming at around 50 fps to 60 fps at ultra high settings.

It doesn't have thunderbolt 3 but has USB 3.1 Gen 2, USB type C port that supports upto 10gbps bandwidth.

Thanks for the inputs [MENTION=55019]Gauravs90[/MENTION]! Good to know that it can play at Ultra high at 1080p. Agree that it may not be future-proof, but I would assume that it will still play titles at medium to high settings at 1080p for the next 3-4 years! I do wish though that they had included the Thunderbolt 3 at that price!
How do you find the overall build quality, the keyboard and the trackpad, as well as the display based on your personal usage? And what kind of battery life do you get under casual usage when not gaming? Lastly, how is the speaker quality and volume for casual movie/video watching?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gauravs90]

Overall build quality is good not best, screen is a bit flexible

Steel series keyboard has good RGB lighting and build quality, keys feel softer. Trackpad has no issues.

IPS display is best, has best viewing angles, and highly customizable with true colour to your liking.

Battery life when not gaming is between 3 to 4 hrs only as battery is not big.

It has 4 speakers and a small woofer, so good sound quality then most laptops and highly customizable with Nahimic software.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[itsane]

Overall build quality is good not best, screen is a bit flexible

Steel series keyboard has good RGB lighting and build quality, keys feel softer. Trackpad has no issues.

IPS display is best, has best viewing angles, and highly customizable with true colour to your liking.

Battery life when not gaming is between 3 to 4 hrs only as battery is not big.

It has 4 speakers and a small woofer, so good sound quality then most laptops and highly customizable with Nahimic software.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Thanks for those inputs [MENTION=55019]Gauravs90[/MENTION] - that is quite helpful!

 

[itsane]

I brought MSI GE62VR 7RF Recently for Rs 1,35,000 from offline store. It's good for 1080P gaming at ultra high settings, DisplayPort is supported for 4K 60Hz. GTX 1060 is not futuerproof for even 1080p gaming, may be it can last for two years more for 1080p gaming at around 50 fps to 60 fps at ultra high settings.

It doesn't have thunderbolt 3 but has USB 3.1 Gen 2, USB type C port that supports upto 10gbps bandwidth.

[MENTION=55019]Gauravs90[/MENTION] - Can you please confirm if the laptop comes with a backpack or any other bag? Were there any other offers or freebies that were included with it as well?

Thanks!

 

[Gauravs90]

Backpack is included in the box itself. There were no freebies when I brought the laptop [MENTION=326954]itsane[/MENTION]

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[itsane]

Backpack is included in the box itself. There were no freebies when I brought the laptop [MENTION=326954]itsane[/MENTION]

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Thanks [MENTION=55019]Gauravs90[/MENTION] .

I finally picked up this laptop a couple of days ago! Overall quite nice, though I do find that the bottom left area next to the touchpad tends to get warmer probably due to the HDD there.

Secondly, have you been able to get the code for redeeming 'For Honor' or 'Ghost Recon Wildlands' game under the Nvidia/MSI/Ubisoft promotion ongoing currently? When I long onto MSI's site and register my laptop, I only see the option to redeem Ghost Recon Wildlands Seasons Pass, but no option to choose either of the two games!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Gauravs90]

Thanks [MENTION=55019]Gauravs90[/MENTION] .

I finally picked up this laptop a couple of days ago! Overall quite nice, though I do find that the bottom left area next to the touchpad tends to get warmer probably due to the HDD there.

Secondly, have you been able to get the code for redeeming 'For Honor' or 'Ghost Recon Wildlands' game under the Nvidia/MSI/Ubisoft promotion ongoing currently? When I long onto MSI's site and register my laptop, I only see the option to redeem Ghost Recon Wildlands Seasons Pass, but no option to choose either of the two games!

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Congrats!!! When I registered, I only got three months extra warranty and subscription to a ping enhancing software which I didn't subscribed.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

 

[itsane]

Thanks @Gauravs90 ! I have finally been able to also claim and download the Ghost Recon Wildlands game via Nvidia's site. Must say that it is a fantastic laptop and the game plays beautifully even on Very High to Ultra (with some selective settings brought down)! And the fact that MSI/Nvidia have bundled this game (worth Rs. 3500 as of now) is even better!