Need Advice on a Build

[Archane77]

Hello there,

Below is the spec I am considering to buy soon, so i would really appreciate your advise. There is also a spanner in the works for the decision making process, which will follow

Chassis & Display
Octane Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Processor i7-7700 (3.6GHz) 8MB Cache
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE 2400MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 - 8.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1, G-SYNC
1st Hard Disk
250GB Samsung 850 2.5" EVO SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (upto 540MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk
500GB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 2.5" SSHD - UP TO 5X FASTER THAN HDD!
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Thermal Paste
EK-TIM ECTOTHERM THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN + WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8260 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) + BLUETOOTH
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS, 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS, 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Battery
Octane Series 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (82WH)
Keyboard Language
OCTANE SERIES BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
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 2.0 MP FULL HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Quantity
1

Price €2,088.00 including VAT and delivery




I must add that I had initially made a Defiance III which I had intended to buy this week but while I was away the options for it are no longer available and now has a smaller screen. I will now end up having to spend an additional 300 or so to get what I want, granted this spec is a little better.

The spanner I had previously mentioned is a different laptop company and I know that this may not be allowed on this forum but the GIGABYTE P56XT-CF2 with specs below from an Irish based company (I'm in Ireland btw lol)


Screen 15.6" FHD, 1920*1080 wide viewing angle IPS anti-glare display LCD
Processor Intel Core i7-7700HQ 3.80GHz
Memory 16GB DDR4-2400
Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce® GTX 1070, 8GB GDDR5
Storage 256GB SSD + 2TB (SATA) 5400rpm
Optical Drive DVDRW
Wireless LAN & Bluetooth 802.11 ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth v4.2
Operating System Windows 10 Home
Battery 91Wh
Warranty 2 Years Warranty


As you can see the specs are very similar and the price is too, granted PCSpecialist is cheaper if you take away the delivery. My friend recently purchased a laptop from here and I have been wanting to do the same for some time now but I just wanna make sure I'm getting the best laptop for the money that I will be spending and I really know nothing about the Gigabyte brand and their reliability. My heart is kinda set buying from PCSpecialist and I do apologise if I have crossed any lines with mentioning another brand of laptops.

looking forward to hearing from you.

 

[Oussebon]

As you can see the specs are very similar

The octane has a desktop CPU rather than a laptop CPU. The i7 7700 is a lot more powerful than an i7 7700HQ - though whether that has any benefit to you depends on what you want to use the laptop for. You pay quite a large premium for the desktop CPU.

The Octane is also probably larger - it's really a desktop replacement

A closer PCS equivalent to the spec you've posted would be:

Chassis & Display
Proteus Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 7700HQ (2.8GHz, 3.8GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 - 8.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1[SUP]st[/SUP] Hard Disk
2TB SLIM SERIAL ATA III 2.5" HARD DRIVE WITH 128MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
M.2 SSD Drive
256GB SAMSUNG PM961 M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 2800MB/R, 1100MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x Proteus Series 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Thermal Paste
EK-TIM ECTOTHERM THERMAL COMPOUND
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8260 (867Mbps, 802.11AC) + BT 4.2
USB Options
3 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 3.1 Type C PORT AS STANDARD
Battery
Proteus V Series Lithium Ion Battery (7180mAh)
Keyboard Language
PROTEUS SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 720P 30 FPS HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
2 - 3 DAY DELIVERY TO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Quantity
1

Price €1,701.00 including VAT and delivery

Unique URL to re-configure : https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/proteusv-15/GrbH0!ueCj/

In your spec you were going for a 250gb Samsung 850 Evo and a 500gb HDD. The PM961 is a lot faster than the 850 Evo (available under the M.2 SSD Drive menu).

 

[Archane77]

Many thanks for clearing that up for me and your rapid response, i was totally unaware that the CPU was not a laptop one, I'm delighted with this information tbh cause i have, for the last year really wanted to get a new desktop but i don't have the room for one so at least if i can get the CPU of one I'll be happier with that. I think we have a winner winner chicken dinner and thanks for your help again

 

[Oussebon]

for the last year really wanted to get a new desktop but i don't have the room for one so at least if i can get the CPU of one I'll be happier with that.

Before you spend 300€ more on the Octane, do bear in mind that desktop CPU is pretty meaningless unless your main use for the PC relies strongly on CPU performance. e.g. video editing, 3D rendering...?

If it's gaming, most titles won't see much difference at all.

And unlike a desktop PC you won't be able to upgrade the components.

 

[Stephen M]

The Octane is a great machine, although at 4kg and a massive power brick not the most portable but if you do not mind that and the uses you have justify a better CPU I would go for it. As Oussebon posted go for the fast Samsung m2 for your main drive and if you get an Octane a SATA 7200rpm drive would be better than the Firecuda, plus the 1TB SATA is only a few quid dearer than the 500GB Firecuda.

Edit: Oussebon posted while i was writing my reply, I agree with all he said.