Gaming Laptop - DDR5 & Intel 12th Gen Worth The Wait/Extra Money in the next 2 months?

Lmattkirkey on 08/02/2022 - 11:59

Hi All,

I'm going to be travelling around a bit and am looking to get a gaming laptop so I need some advice. I'll primarily be using it to plug in an external monitor, but also for VR Gaming (Oculus Quest 2).

Pretty keen on an RTX3080+ that's got highest wattage/performance, huge battery/longest battery life and best cooling/heat management. Weight I don't really care about, but I will be flying a fair amount, so while I was thinking 17", open to hear about experiences with trying to use a 17" on an airplane. I'm intending to have the laptop for 3+ years, so I need something that's going to last.

There are a bunch of 11th gen laptops out that are getting a decent discount, but I'm curious about the benefits/advantages of DDR5 + intel's 12th gen chips - I've heard awesome things about the improvements to battery life and performance with the new gen. That said, there's not likely to be any discounts on the next gen laptops.

Also, are Ryzen/AMD anything to consider in this space?

I'm heading back to Canada for a few weeks in April so keen to claim the GST refund via TRS, so I do have a bit of a time constraint meaning I'm likely needing to get it ordered by end of Feb/early March for it to arrive before I head off. Barring that, I will also be heading to Berlin at the end of August, but not sure if I can go that long without the laptop.

I'm also hoping to luck into a cashrewards/shopback bonus cashback scenario to help.

Any advice peeps?
Any specific manufacturer or model?

Thanks!
-Matt

Computing Computer Gaming Laptop Laptop

Comments

  • raptormesh on 08/02/2022 - 12:17
    +1

    I'm in the exact same situation, just swap out the oculus for a HP Reverb and will be moving long term.

    Did a bunch of research and you're looking at around $1.5k premium for the 12th gen intel and DDR5(early ones isn't promising due to high latency) over the 11th gen everything else being equal and that's for around 10-15% performance gains if that. I ended going with an MSI 11th gen that's currently on sale. The drawback of this laptop is that it has a very small battery, but for me where it will only used when plugged in and 99% via an external monitor it's not really a big deal. The 3080 is also running on 140W TDP so one of the highest ones out there. It also has global warranty.

    Alternatively you can try getting Lenovo Legion 5 Pro or the like, they are decent. I didn't go that way because I need 32GB ram for my flight sims and it's a pain trying to find one that has it.

    Ultimately, I think if you are hoping to not upgrade for 5 years or more the premium might be worth it, since you can't really upgrade a laptop. I just wasn't comfortable paying 4.5k ish for one now and don't plan to play any Crysis games…like ever.

    • mattkirkey on 08/02/2022 - 12:30

      The Legion 5 Pro can't support more RAM? is it one of those laptops that solders the RAM on, or they just don't have the ability to customise?

      • raptormesh on 08/02/2022 - 12:32

        They definitely can, but I couldn't find one that is reasonably priced. I think you have more chance with an AMD 5800 though, I decided to go intel because it's just going to be for gaming and ML.

  • wallen on 08/02/2022 - 12:38
    +1

    I got a Legion 5 Pro in December when the maxxed out version (5800H, 3070, 32GB, 1TB) went on sale. It’s great and the screen is awesome. Better battery life than the 5i 11th gen equivalent, but still you’re only getting a few hours of media playback in quiet mode with the screen turned down. It’s playing Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5 and MS Flight Sim like a boss, both at QHD+ 165hz on the panel, and 4k60 on my 32” curved external monitor. Haven’t tried VR on it yet but planning a Reverb potentially in the future. Or maybe as I use PSVR with a PS4 Pro I may stay there until the PSVR2 for PS5 drops.

    While 12th gen is a promising from a raw power perspective, and that’s what you’ve said are your primary requirements, I’d hold out. Note you’re probably getting a better performance hike from the PCIx gen 4 SSD support than the DDR5 right now. Also, all the current laptops seem to be hit and miss on the memory timings depending what you get. There’s as much as a 5-10% performance hit if you get the wrong ones. The 32GB version I got scored the “good” RAM fortunately. Check out the details on Jarrod Tech’s YouTube channel.

    • mattkirkey on 08/02/2022 - 13:27

      RE: memory timings, does that mean there's essentially bad ram going around in the current 11 Gen/AMD versions? how is that not something that'd be covered under warranty? And is that resolved in the next gen (12th/amd) versions?

      • wallen on 09/02/2022 - 21:08

        Not so much “bad” as lower spec than the high level numbers indicate. And it’s not just AMD, but Intel laptops as well. It was prevalent in the middle of last year when the supply issues were really bad. https://youtu.be/zUbryj294Cs

        • mattkirkey on 11/02/2022 - 21:38

          @wallen how's the battery life on your legion? Thinking of pulling the trigger on the legion 5i Intel i7-11th gen rtx 3070. Can get it for nearly $2K with cash back and can't really justify paying over $5K for the i7/i9-12th gen

  • mattkirkey on 11/02/2022 - 21:35

    @wallen how's the battery life on your legion? Thinking of pulling the trigger on the legion 5i Intel i7-11th gen rtx 3070. Can get it for nearly $2K with cash back and can't really justify paying over $5K for the i7/i9-12th gen

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