New gaming laptop - advice appreciated

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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
Hi all, I am considering buying a new gaming laptop. Principle use is gaming, budget c.£2,000 and 15" screen preferred. Doesn't need to be that portable (my last gaming laptop was an X7200 lol) and wondered what you thought of the spec below?

Looking for it to last for a while and play stuff on really decent settings. Currently only have a fairly average 1080p Dell P2419HC monitor. Advice, thoughts etc gratefully received. Have posted below what I am currently considering. Went for 3080 for longevity and wasn't sure what configuration or size of HDDs to go for. thanks!

Chassis & Display
Recoil Series: 15.6" Matte QHD 165Hz sRGB 100% LED Widescreen (2560x1440)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Eight Core Processor 11800H (2.4GHz, 4.6GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2933MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 8GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 3080 - 16.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB PCS PCIe M.2 SSD (2000 MB/R, 1100 MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 3200MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 230W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Battery
Recoil Series Integrated 94WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Wireless Network Card
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.2 PORT (Type C) + 3 x USB 3.2 PORTS
Keyboard Language
PER-KEY RGB BACKLIT UK MECHANICAL KEYBOARD
Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
Microsoft® 365 Personal (12 Month Subscription - Digital Key)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge (Windows 10 Only)
Keyboard & Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Dead Pixel Guarantee
30 Day Dead Pixel Guarantee Inc. Labour & Carriage Costs
Chassis
TongFang GM5TG8W (16GB RTX-3080, i7-11800H, 165Hz QHD)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Price: £2,121.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/recoil-V-15/EMYBzcy4pu/
 
Macco26

Macco26

Expert
It's a very powerful laptop, you won't regret. The only special thing is its optomechanical keyboard. It's clicky and someone does not like it, but it should be above the others theoretically. And it's per-key RGB.
For the rest, being equipped with Intel 11th gen, it ships with Thunderbolt 4.0, PCIe 4.0 SSD compatible, can be undervolted and RAM tuned at wish.
Its 3080 might come with the VBIOS of 135W+15W = 150W or the newer (just shipped by Tongfang) 150W+15W = 165W (the maximum allowed by 3080 in the world). You shall report. I don't know if PCS likes to enable such a beefy BIOS, but if it comes from China already with it, chances are you'll get it anyway.

PS: despite all NVMe are almost equal during normal operation I think you should say them to put the OS on the faster (Samsung) one somewhere in the final process of the configurator. PS: your laptop supports also PCIe 4.0 SSD, as I told you, but barely noticeable differences. So 970EVO seems fine to me.
PS2: for gaming 16GB RAM are ok. If you want to do something more deeper, you might think of raising to 16+16. But you can also do in the future should you seek the need (laptop is easily opened and without any sort of warranty seal).
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
Worth stating that although currently with PCIe 4.0 SSD's not being noticeably faster in normal operation compared to PCIe 3 cards, with Windows 11, there is a new technology called DirectStorage which will make use of those faster speeds.

If it were me, I'd absolutely choose PCIe Gen 4 over 3 with that in mind.
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
thanks @SpyderTracks and @Macco26 - really helpful. Sorry for the perhaps dumb question but I am not sure I understand the PCIe Gen 4 or 3 comments. I.e. which of the drop down HDDs is a Gen 4 version? thanks
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
SpyderTracks said:
The Samsung 980 is a gen 4.

You can tell by the speeds, anything over 3500mbps is a gen 4
Click to expand...
thanks - doesn't seem to be offered on any of the drop downs I can see. Seems to be available on the 17" version of the Recoil but I'm keen to stick with 15"
 
Vergaro98

Vergaro98

Super Star
For gen.4 you have to choose and intel 11th gen. If you choose amd or intel 10th they doesn't support gen.4. (this is for laptop, for desktop is another story).
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
strange, it only gives me these two CPU options at config and after I select the intel one, the 980 isn't mentioned in the SSD options?

AMD Ryzen™ 9-5900HX3.3GHz, 4.6GHz Turbo16MB816N/A
Intel® Core™ i7-11800H2.4GHz, 4.6GHz Turbo24MB816N/A
 
L

LizardSoul

Active member
The 980 pro in indeed not yet available on the SSD menu, and just today I asked PCS about it.
I was told that if you send the quote of your configuration by email to pcspecialist, specifying how you would prefer to replace whatever SSD you select with the 980pro (plus the size), they may, or may not, do something about it, and send you the revised quote to complete your purchase.

I also asked if the selection menu will be updated, but no confirmation at the moment. It may be something similar to the 3200 Hz RAM sticks which are still not currently available due to being deemed unstable, but considering how the Recoil 17" does allow the selection of 980 Pro, this could indeed be just a small oversight that is going to be corrected soon.
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
Thanks @LizardSoul. One other question you or others may be able to help with - I have seen some people build and order the Recoil 15" with a Ryzen CPU and the 3080. However when I try and select that combo, it tells me I cannot combine those two. Is this just due to a lack of parts or is it something else? I am assuming a Ryzen CPU is a better option than the Intel one? Thanks
 
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LizardSoul

Active member
Dutchos said:
Thanks @LizardSoul. One other question you or others may be able to help with - I have seen some people build and order the Recoil 15" with a Ryzen CPU and the 3080. However when I try and select that combo, it tells me I cannot combine those two. Is this just due to a lack of parts or is it something else? I am assuming a Ryzen CPU is a better option than the Intel one? Thanks
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's a matter of parts availability, which is not helped by how most laptops' motherboards nowadays arrive with CPU and GPU already soldered on it.
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
Can I also ask some dumb questions about which harddrives to get and in which configuration? Is it best to get a cheaper larger 1tb SSD for the 1st M.2 SSD Drive slot and then a better branded smaller (like 500GB) SSD for the 2nd slot and put your OS and games on the smaller faster one? I noticed the 2nd SSD slot comes with fewer options (i.e. no Emotus Fuzedrive)...is there a difference between the two slots and what you put in them? I only really need enough space for the OS and games and some random pics etc. thanks
 
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Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Dutchos said:
Can I also ask some dumb questions about which harddrives to get and in which configuration? Is it best to get a cheaper larger 1tb SSD for the 1st M.2 SSD Drive slot and then a better branded smaller (like 500GB) SSD for the 2nd slot and put your OS and games on the smaller faster one? I noticed the 2nd SSD slot comes with fewer options (i.e. no Emotus Fuzedrive)...is there a difference between the two slots and what you put in them? I only really need enough space for the OS and games and some random pics etc. thanks
Click to expand...
Yeah you want it the other way about mate, the smaller drive should be for your operating system and the OS should be on the fastest drive available,

Then you use the larger but slower drive for your games, the load times will still be ultra fast but you want the OS running optimally first or it can bring down everything if that starts being sluggish

So 1st drive should be small and fast with the operating system on it. Then the second drive large for your files, the fastest the better as well of course but it doesn't have to be as quick as the OS drive
 
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Dutchos

Bronze Level Poster
thanks @Steveyg - really helpful. So would the below be sensible? Or something else?

1st M.2 SSD Drive - 500GB Samsung Evo Plus
2nd M.2 SSD Drive - 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD


Also why is there an option for Enmotus on the 1st M.2 slot and not the 2nd M.2 slot?
 
S

Steveyg

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Dutchos said:
thanks @Steveyg - really helpful. So would the below be sensible? Or something else?

1st M.2 SSD Drive - 500GB Samsung Evo Plus
2nd M.2 SSD Drive - 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD


Also why is there an option for Enmotus on the 1st M.2 slot and not the 2nd M.2 slot?
Click to expand...
First slot my be Gen 4.0 and the second slot Gen 3.0. That M.2 may only work in that particular slot is my thinking. The 980 Pro is believe is the fastest drive available currently anyways.

Also yes that set up would be good
 
Martinr36

Martinr36

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
Dutchos said:
thanks @Steveyg - really helpful. So would the below be sensible? Or something else?

1st M.2 SSD Drive - 500GB Samsung Evo Plus
2nd M.2 SSD Drive - 1TB PCIe M.2 SSD


Also why is there an option for Enmotus on the 1st M.2 slot and not the 2nd M.2 slot?
Click to expand...
That would be a really good way to go (y)

Re the different options on the 2 M.2 slots, one is probably a Gen3 slot which can't cope with the higher speeds
 
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