13.3" Optimus V Gaming Laptop

[SGeanie]

Hi!

I'm looking to replace my current laptop which is a few years old and not performing as well as I'd like it too. I want to do some gaming with reasonably good graphics, I also like having a second 1080p monitor plugged into my laptop and playing videos on that. Here is the spec I've come up with so far:

Chassis & Display: Optimus Series: 13.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU): Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-4700MQ (2.40GHz) 6MB
Memory (RAM): 8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 765M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - Hard Disk: 500GB SEAGATE HYBRID SSHD Drive, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (5400 rpm)
Memory Card Reader: Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
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 & WIRELESS INTEL® N135 802.11N (150Mbps) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options: 3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT AS STANDARD
Battery: 13.3" Optimus Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (62.16WH)
Power Lead & Adaptor: 1 x UK Power Lead & 120W AC Adaptor
Operating System: Genuine Windows 8 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software: NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus: BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Keyboard Language: 13.3" OPTIMUS SERIES BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Notebook Mouse: INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam: INTEGRATED 2.0 MEGAPIXEL WEBCAM
Warranty: 3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
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 9 to 11 working days

Price: £852.00 including VAT and delivery.

Link to reconfigure: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/quotes/optimusV-13/RH5ZXoCyHo/

Questions:

1. Graphics:

i) Will the selected card be able to render a HD videos (from youtube) on a second 1080p monitor while using the first one? This has been a rather annoying problem with my current laptop (intel m380 with integrated graphics) and I want to make sure that the card selected will be able to do this

ii) I plan to replace the laptop in 2-3 years (or perhaps longer) will the card be able to handle gaming on good(ish) setting for this period of time without struggling too much?

2. Cooling: What range of temperatures can I expect from this laptop when doing activities such as web browsing, playing HD videos, and gaming?

3. Size: I've not seen many threads on the forum which discuss the smaller form factor laptops, I want to go for this size due to the added portability and I find my current 15.6" laptop is too big and bulky. I know the chassis does not have room for a DVD drive and I plan to get an external one to compensate for this (most things can be downloaded these days so I don't see it as a necessity). It also does not have room for an second HD, but I think 500GB will probably be enough and I do have a 1TB external drive that will be used if I really run out of space.

Are there any other obvious disadvantages to getting the 13.3" Optimus model instead of the 15.6" version?

4. Am I making a terrible mistake opting for Windows 8 instead of 7?

5. The only upgrade to the spec I'd like to make is changing the RAM from 1333 MHz to 1600 MHz, but since this is really at the top end of my budget will the extra £9 give me any kind of noticeable performance increase?

Thanks in advance for any assistance

 

[mantadog]

1. When you say render, do you mean playing a video? if so then yes it will do this very easily.

1.1 yes the laptop should last 2-3 years at 'decent' settings. Nobody can say for sure obviously but medium/medium-high seems realistic for newer games with that GPU that will drop lower and lower over the next few years. I would put an upper limit of 3 years before it's time to upgrade.

2. Web browsing with a bit of youtube/HD video you can expect (depending on room temps) about 40-45 degrees, gaming could push them up to 70's or 80's. The CPU and GPU will be fine at those temps, the fan might kick in to stop them getting any higher bit the equipment will be fine. Web browsing etc everything should be very quiet.

3. The only real advantage comes from the portability aspect. As far as disadvantages go, I would get fed up with such a small screen but its a persona preference so hard to judge what someone else needs, if you want portability over all else then a smaller laptop is for you.

4. Possibly for a while you will be lost. It IS a better OS, it performs faster and while it might take a bit of learning for a start, I think in the end it will grow on you. Some of it's features need to be better thought out but you can mostly download apps to solve the problems.

5. No you will never notice, and I mean if you had both 1333MHz and 1600Mhz in 2 laptops beside you, you wouldn't notice a thing. If you can do something better with that £9 then keep it.