ASUS G73JH-BST7

Hi, does anyone own the ASUS G73JH-BST7 (Best Buy model)? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

It looks like it has an excellent processor along with a powerful GPU for a good price. I bet to make it this cheap they would have had to traded off some features like Blu-ray, 7200RPM, and Bluetooth.

It weighs about 8 lbs. and is 17.3", do you think that it would be too much to fit in, for example, a school backpack?

Even at 8 lbs. people still manage to bring it around along with their textbooks and everything!

I believe it does have an LED keyboard but the one model I'm looking at has a 5400 RPM harddrive, no 1080p (900p) only, no Bluray and no Bluetooth but those are all upgradable/installable anyway. Also, it has a 1 year warranty but can be upgraded to Best Buy's plan of which I have no experience with.

It sounds like it's a good deal at $1,199 because of the specs with i7-740qm and ATI 5870m, though, I'm still contemplating whether I should get it because of the warranty upgrade pricing, and other cheaper laptops in the high-performance range. The other laptops I'm looking at have a way slower GPU.

Also, what's going on with this Sandy Bridge release on Jan. 9 next year? Will these laptops become cheaper quickly? Should I wait until then to buy a laptop?

Interesting. If I wait until Sandy Bridge comes out next month, then will laptops with the SB processors be over $2000? If so, then I guess it's not worth the wait.

I heard there are many problems with 720qm and have been told to get the G73JH with the 740qm. Best Buy is selling both the BST-7 and the factory refurbished model (720qm, 7200RPM 500gb):

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+F...73jh&cp=1&lp=2

Is it worth it? I think it would save a couple hundred (after sales tax) so I can ask Best Buy for a warranty upgrade. The BST-7 has a 1 year included warranty and the 2 year upgrade is $200.

That's weird, works for me. I'm not sure but that's what I've been told.

I've been doing even more research and calculating the numbers. BST-7 with the 2-year warranty plan is about $1495. Best Buy models are dumbed down which means they removed Bluetooth, lowered harddrive speed, 1.3mp webcam, USB3.0, RAM, etc.

I've been looking at the G73JW-BT1 and G53JW-A1 (awesome 15" screen size, less of a workstation and more portable/less flashy) at XoticPC. They have free UPS ground shipping now.

I configured both laptops with IC Diamond thermal compound upgrade (+$75). G73JW-BT1 with upgrade to 2-yr warranty and it comes with 1-year accidental damage and 30-day bright dot guarantee is $1561.70. It also comes with a free 8GB RAM upgrade and 500GB 7200RPM harddrive.

The G53JW-A1 comes with 750GB 7200RPM and already includes 2yr global warranty and 1 yr accidental damage. This one comes with the backpack and mouse. I like the smaller screen size for portability and the free 8gb RAM upgrade and ends up being $1502.

Both laptops from XoticPC comes with 1080p screen ($100 to replace the 900p one on BST-7), 7200RPM harddrives, i7-740qm, Bluetooth, 2.0mp webcam, better warranty, 1 USB 3.0 and NVIDIA 460m. I don't know if the 460m is better or not.

I might get the XoticPC G53JW-A1 instead after all of this research, more features (all of them don't have Bluray though ), better screen and so on. Ends up being a little more than the Best Buy's price but ends up saving me way more money than buying all the missing components for the BB model.

Is there really much difference between the 460m or 5870m? Do you guys think I should get the G53JW-A1 or is there another laptop like a Sager or Dell that's around the same price and better and do you guys know if XoticPC charges sales tax?

I've always thought NVIDIA was the best but I see that AMD has finally done good, but I might as well get the 460m since they are so similar in performance based on the price of the laptop.

Thank you, I didn't know that. I've been looking at other specials on their sites. The
Sager NP8690-S1 (and many others) is about $1540 and it has 3 years labor. I have not got any experience with Sager though so I don't know if they're better than the ASUS G53JW with almost similar specs. There's so many to choose from!

I agree. I really like the ASUS G53JW-A1 from GenTechPC. I can get a free 8GB ram upgrade, with two 500GB harddrives and a GTX460m for around $1600 USD. I heard that ASUS was awarded for their best notebook support last year. Yeah, and I heard the Sandy Core laptops won't come until February.

Have you've had any experience with Alienwares? I really like the design and build quality, and supposedly better service from Dell (from what I've heard). I'm looking at the M15x. It does look bulky and heavy and the 8-cell does cost a lot. I don't know if the 460m is worth it or if I really need it, but they also have a ATI 5850 and NVIDIA 260m.

I can config the Alienware M15x with one 500GB HDD, 6GB RAM, i7-740qm, (GTX 460m), 3-year basic warranty (there's no 2-year... is it really worth it?), 1080p, normal slot load DVD player (no bluray upgrade) and end up around $1718.

With just 1-year warranty I can get about $1479.2 which is cheaper than the ASUS I was looking at from GenTechPC without the harddrive and Bluray and free 8GB ram basically.

I'm sure all of us can't wait that long for a nice Sandy Bridge upgrade! If only if it came around Christmas time. :P

True, seems like they force people to go to 3-years instead of 2-years. I mean the new XPS 15 has 2-years I think. GenTech does have good support too, but Dell is definitely a big bad boy and ASUS support really stinks nowadays from what I've heard.

Good support and warranty are very important things. It's enough to throw off the bulkiness of the M15x. It only weighs about 1 lb. more than that ASUS I believe - just thicker in build quality - and in a backpack it doesn't really matter.

I'm not sure what to pick. */me keeps on researching. No rush! Sandy Bridge better haul butt!*

They handed them off to the wolves? Maybe. The people at GenTechPC seem nice. Do they help people with laptops out of warranty?

Me too, I can't wait for the Sandy Bridge. With the ASUS from GTPC, I get more from my buck, but with the Alienware I get better build quality and better support. Laptops always die quickly for me in my experience so I'm not sure which is the better choice. 6GB RAM is plenty enough, it's just that the Alienware only comes with 1 HDD and the warranty plans are a little weird.

Ditto. What I realized is that the M15x uses a standard MXM 3.0 slot like the Clevos. I could definitely wait for a Sandy Bridge laptop to come out and by then I would have to get the Sager because I would be able to upgrade the CPU to the new Intel lineups. I just don't know the exact release date of the Sandy Bridge laptops - most likely late Jan / early Feb. ASUS G53JW now = more bang for the buck. Sager = more upgradable (CPU + GPU? PSU?), less warranty (or more way expensive)!

It's a tough choice. To wait or not to wait. To get ASUS or Sager. I can only be a little more patient and see what other people have to say in their opinions.