Advice welcomed on potential custom built laptop

[tnm]

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-3230M (2.60GHz) 3MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 (2 x 4GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - Hard Disk
120GB KINGSTON HYPERX 3K SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 555MB/sR | 510MB/sW)

These are the main components I will be using for a laptop custom built at a local shop.

It is 17 inch with FULL HD resolution.

I am quoted £779

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I would consider a minimum of a 256 gb SSD but a 500 gb woud be best if affordable. Does the rig have room for two 2.5" drives? Also consider the Samsung 840 Pro series SSD. The ram is great unless it can handle 2x8gb modules?

 

[tnm]

No chance of affording that amount of storage on the SSD front. Why 256gb min? There will only be the OS and perhaps one game and a few programmes installed.

The hard drive details state the following: 2 x 9.5mm 2.5" S-ATA Hard Drive Support

RAM: It supports 2x8gb if needed.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Well I would say past experiences starting with a 64gb ssd then jumping to 128gb and now 256gb. Prices have fallen to under 100.00 usd for 128gb so why not? Don't you plan to have music, photos/videos, actual data like word/excel doc's?
Go with one 8gb ram module and you can double it later. Go with a 1tb spinner now and partition your OS install. Later you can clone it to the 256gb SSD and place the spinner in a external enclosure via usb 3.0.

 

[tnm]

Well I would say past experiences starting with a 64gb ssd then jumping to 128gb and now 256gb. Prices have fallen to under 100.00 usd for 128gb so why not? Don't you plan to have music, photos/videos, actual data like word/excel doc's?
Go with one 8gb ram module and you can double it later. Go with a 1tb spinner now and partition your OS install. Later you can clone it to the 256gb SSD and place the spinner in a external enclosure via usb 3.0.

Trust me, I won't need anywhere near that amount. Will add in a spinner if needed. So here is an update with the 1x8gb ram advice:

Chassis & Display
Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Dual Core Mobile Processor i5-3230M (2.60GHz) 3MB
Memory (RAM)
8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (1 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 11
Memory - Hard Disk
120GB KINGSTON HYPERX 3K SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 555MB/sR | 510MB/sW)

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Nice and you can always add a huge 128gb sd card for additional storage later.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Also as a phase two of the build get a gaming wired mouse and keyboard plus a 24" LED screen and power it off the lappy.

 

[tnm]

Also as a phase two of the build get a gaming wired mouse and keyboard plus a 24" LED screen and power it off the lappy.

Sounds good

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Oh it's better then good as two screens are killer for productivity and the larger screen for gaming and video's well it's just the bomb! Enjoy your rig it should run like a scalded ape !

 

[kbrady1979]

Try to get another stick of RAM so you are at least running in dual channel. Also, I would get rid of the Kingston SSD because it has a Sandforce controller and instead get a Samsung 840/840 Pro/840 Evo.

 

[tnm]

Took the plunge now bro. Got options for ram and extra storage.

Kingston SSD from my own scan on't old web says its decent so tha knows

 

[madcratebuilder]

Try to get another stick of RAM so you are at least running in dual channel. Also, I would get rid of the Kingston SSD because it has a Sandforce controller and instead get a Samsung 840/840 Pro/840 Evo.

That applied to old Kingston ssd's two generations ago, the current ones are GTG.

 

[tnm]

Try to get another stick of RAM so you are at least running in dual channel. Also, I would get rid of the Kingston SSD because it has a Sandforce controller and instead get a Samsung 840/840 Pro/840 Evo.

That applied to old Kingston ssd's two generations ago, the current ones are GTG.

Hopefully this is positive.