msi gs30

k0g3pAn

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Out but not available locally. I rather get alienware 13 than this..

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chiaRH

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The dock used on the GS30 is just plain stupid it makes the entire machine unusable without an external keyboard + mouse + display.

The Alienware 13's dock is a much more elegant design approach. Yes the GS30 dock does have that extra HDD on the inside, but I'm pretty sure most users would prefer hooking up an external USB hard drive.
 
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QQQ321

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The dock used on the GS30 is just plain stupid it makes the entire machine unusable without an external keyboard + mouse + display.

The Alienware 13's dock is a much more elegant design approach. Yes the GS30 dock does have that extra HDD on the inside, but I'm pretty sure most users would prefer hooking up an external USB hard drive.

The dock used on the GS30 is just plain stupid it makes the entire machine unusable without an external keyboard + mouse + display.

The Alienware 13's dock is a much more elegant design approach. Yes the GS30 dock does have that extra HDD on the inside, but I'm pretty sure most users would prefer hooking up an external USB hard drive.

I think nothing to compare, it's totally 2 different product

1.
The dock for Alienware 13" performance is very weak compare to a real desktop GTX 980, the performance only about the level of GTX 970M

I think you guys should really check into detail


AW 13 + 4210U @ 1.7 GHz + GTX 980, 3DMark Fire Strike : 6453
Dell Alienware 13 Notebook Review - NotebookCheck.net Reviews


While in the same time, GS30 with GTX 980, performance is almost the same
as a real desktop if you consider the test enviroment difference that the CPU
HWZ use is 3960X, much more faster than GS30's 4710HQ

GS 30 + 4710HQ @ 2.5GHz + GTX 980, 3DMark Fire Strike : 10961
Performance preview: MSI GS30 2M Shadow notebook and Gaming Dock - HardwareZone.com.sg

Desktop PC + i7 3960X @ 3.3GHz + GTX 980, 3DMark Strike : 11720
MSI GeForce GTX 980 Gaming 4G: Quiet and cool with high performance - HardwareZone.com.sg


2.
Besides, Alienware 13" weight 2kg, GS30 itsself only weights 1.2KG

3.
AW13 use ULV, GS30 use quad core i7 CPU..
This part also drag down its graphic performance.
 

chiaRH

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I think nothing to compare, it's totally 2 different product

I acknowledge that it is 2 different product I simply feel that the Alienware design idea (not necessarily the "implementation" since as you yourself have mentioned, there are limitations like being only PCIe x4 as opposed to the x16 on the Shadow) feels like a better approach.

Why do I feel that although they are different product yet they are worth comparing is because their use case is similar, i.e. a light laptop you bring around, and plug into a dock when on the desk.

i.e. what im trying to say is the dock for the MSI shadow would be better if it was implemented in a manner that still allowed you to use the laptop's keyboard and display without having to buy external ones. The point of my argument was never about comparing who has the better graphics performance or who has the lighter weight.
 

ch3ster

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For me, the deal breaker is the Intel IGP instead of discreet GPU. This is a 'gaming laptop' it should at least have a decent GPU not entirely relying to gaming dock. Just my 2 cents.
 

QQQ321

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I acknowledge that it is 2 different product I simply feel that the Alienware design idea (not necessarily the "implementation" since as you yourself have mentioned, there are limitations like being only PCIe x4 as opposed to the x16 on the Shadow) feels like a better approach.

Why do I feel that although they are different product yet they are worth comparing is because their use case is similar, i.e. a light laptop you bring around, and plug into a dock when on the desk.

i.e. what im trying to say is the dock for the MSI shadow would be better if it was implemented in a manner that still allowed you to use the laptop's keyboard and display without having to buy external ones. The point of my argument was never about comparing who has the better graphics performance or who has the lighter weight.


Personally I think MSI docking looks not good, too, they should remove the speaker and even the HDD, no use to pack all stuff together


But I think MSI GS30 really provide a different thinking.
All 13"~14" laptop with discrete graphic is heavy and can't compare with ultrabook, AW13, RAZER BLADE, AFTERSHOCK XG-13 all around 2KG, it's not as compact and ligh weight as a ultrabook at all, but many end users seldom gaming out side, that's the point.

MSI want to create a real thin and light laptop but still give you a chance to play really intensive game, it's quite like a 2-in-1 tablet concept : A tablet + docking = notebook, a GS30 ultrabook + docking = mini desktop


Which by the way, I think another good thing besides performance about GS30 docking is you could connect all cables on the docking, so when you came home, you dont need to plug everything on the laptop, it's really a mess that all cables on the desk and you need to plug-in, plug-out, plug-in, plug-out every day...


Anyway, I won't buy GS30 because I don't have the needs to carry the notebook around all day, but I still think it's too unique to compare with AW13, I dont think they're counterpart of each other, I will group AW13, RAZER BLADE, MSI GS60, XG-13 into one group and GS30 more close to SONY VAIO Z (if anyone here remember this laptop, you will know what I mean)
 

chiaRH

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Which by the way, I think another good thing besides performance about GS30 docking is you could connect all cables on the docking, so when you came home, you dont need to plug everything on the laptop, it's really a mess that all cables on the desk and you need to plug-in, plug-out, plug-in, plug-out every day...

Thats actually something any ordinary USB hub could do though... and I did that in my university days when my Aftershock X15 travels with me out, and when come home just connect it back to my USB hub where my home peripherals are all linked to.


But I think MSI GS30 really provide a different thinking.
All 13"~14" laptop with discrete graphic is heavy and can't compare with ultrabook, AW13, RAZER BLADE, AFTERSHOCK XG-13 all around 2KG, it's not as compact and ligh weight as a ultrabook at all, but many end users seldom gaming out side, that's the point.

MSI want to create a real thin and light laptop but still give you a chance to play really intensive game, it's quite like a 2-in-1 tablet concept : A tablet + docking = notebook, a GS30 ultrabook + docking = mini desktop

Gaming outside is actually more common these days now. Yes gaming laptops are not that great at gaming on battery, but in situations where you need to bring your rig to somewhere else with a power outlet, it's still a viable option, and I believe it's still the best 'sweet spot' between your performance and your portability. The GS30 cant be brought to a LAN party for instance (since you cant carry the dock).

The thing is, if you're a gamer who only games at home, would you rather swap your full desktop + separate laptop for this one laptop + dock solution? The GS30 still cant compare to a full desktop in terms of performance and upgradability so imo its only real advantage is that having only 1 machine means not needing to install software and maintain data on 2 separate machines.

Asus is an example of company that has been looking into the 2-in-1 solution concept a lot with devices like PadFone but the market has shown that it didnt really catch on as a hugely popular thing that every other company wants to follow, unlike the 'phablet' trend that Samsung started.
 
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xXshad0wXx

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Thats actually something any ordinary USB hub could do though... and I did that in my university days when my Aftershock X15 travels with me out, and when come home just connect it back to my USB hub where my home peripherals are all linked to.

may i know what hub are you using? so good can connect hi fi speaker and subwoofer, external monitor, cooling pad, mouse, keyboard all to that hub??
 

chiaRH

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may i know what hub are you using? so good can connect hi fi speaker and subwoofer, external monitor, cooling pad, mouse, keyboard all to that hub??

I dont have an external monitor or keyboard because unlike GS30 users I can still use the monitor and keyboard on the laptop.

My speakers are going through a USB soundcard that is connected to the hub (i would rely on the laptop's own speakers but they arent good). Likewise the mouse and everything else goes into the USB hub.

There is however 1 thing I cant connect to the hub and that is my ethernet cable (too lazy to look for adapters)

if youre curious the hub is an ordinary USB hub bought from Challenger.
 

QQQ321

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I dont have an external monitor or keyboard because unlike GS30 users I can still use the monitor and keyboard on the laptop.

My speakers are going through a USB soundcard that is connected to the hub (i would rely on the laptop's own speakers but they arent good). Likewise the mouse and everything else goes into the USB hub.

There is however 1 thing I cant connect to the hub and that is my ethernet cable (too lazy to look for adapters)

if youre curious the hub is an ordinary USB hub bought from Challenger.


I have one at my office before, the price is not cheap but I really like it, I remember I bought it at $149 or something, it's good to use for all the office work

Amazon.com: Plugable UD-3900 USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Universal Docking Station with Dual Video Outputs for Windows 8.1, 8, 7, XP (HDMI up to 2560x1440* and DVI / VGA to 2048x1152 / 1920x1200, Gigabit Ethernet, Audio, 2 USB 3.0 Ports, 4 USB 2.0 Ports, 20W

Yes, indeed like what you said, the function is very similar, but with the gaming graphic card put inside, it's all different. This display link docking graphic out put is not as good as a real desktop graphic and can't support surrond mode


Gaming outside is actually more common these days now. Yes gaming laptops are not that great at gaming on battery, but in situations where you need to bring your rig to somewhere else with a power outlet, it's still a viable option, and I believe it's still the best 'sweet spot' between your performance and your portability. The GS30 cant be brought to a LAN party for instance (since you cant carry the dock).


MSI have GS60, so I guess they don't need GS30 to be perfect to every situation, they use 2 models to cover different needs

If you play game a lot, then you go GS60, more powerful one. If you don't want/need/like (or whatever) to play out side, you go GS30, more portable one.


Otherwise it's just a 13" laptop compromise to all the needs and not the good to every part.


You see, all those 13" gaming laptop's performance is weaker than those 14" Razer blade or 15" GS60, yet the weight is the same, all 2kg , the adapter is very huge as those 14" and 15", it's not portable, it's still a big giantic laptop
 

liew90

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I think the idea of GS30 might actually work for some people.

I own both laptop and desktop, and i prefer gaming on a desktop, while laptop is for working purpose as well as mobility. However maintaining files on both sides are difficult, you can't really sync both sides all the time. GS30 can solve this problem, i believe the future gen of GS30 will do better after getting market feedback. Since MSI still experiment with this new idea and concept :D
 
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