I appreciate the comparison video. Is there anything showing off a comparison between 2015 models however? Because there were some changes made to alienwares 2015 models and I am curious if the temperature was affected positively or negatively because of it.
Last I checked mechanical keyboard was available for 1 model and that cost a fortune in comparison to the usual 1800 € price point where laptops with 980M start around.
Cooling on MSI is almost as good as that of Asus (at least when it comes to GT72 vs G750).
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Yeah, I was just noting it because I don't believe (could be wrong) that any other laptop maker has a mechanical keyboard, and to me, that's a really nice feature that is extremely noteworthy, even if it's not available in a more affordable model.
Build quality is pretty close I feel between all 3, having used 3 recent versions from each company in the last 3 years (which makes comparisons tough as it is, and many comparisons don't look at their absolute latest models). The only reason I really gave Asus the top build wasn't necessarily due to comfortability or portability, or even style (as the video you linked talks about the style). It was just due to experience. I had an older asus that held up for almost 8 years. The hinges worked perfectly, and if you didn't know the laptop was old, you would have no idea that it was, despite very heavy use. My newer Asus laptop (3 years old now) felt like a similar quality of build, and the general opinion when I looked at reviews and comparisons seemed to agree that Asus still has a very slight edge on the overall quality of the build, while MSI and Alienware aren't necessarily WAY behind, but that Alienware takes the edge at times if you want to count overall style.
I too read and have experience that the speakers in the MSI I used at my last job were indeed way better than any other laptop I have used, including my brand new alienware 15 2015 model. As I stated however, I just don't view speakers as really a big selling point - it's one of the things I am willing to sacrifice in a laptop model. That and, around half the time using it, it is hooked up to a desktop setup where I have a much better sound system anyways. Again though, this is all personal preference.
Honestly, the comparison between Asus, MSI, and Alienware is like comparing strawberries to rasberries to watermelon. No matter which one you go with, you are likely to be extremely pleased. The differences between the 3 often come down to preference or price when folks decide between them. They are all similar but for the same price you can get better speakers? MSi. Just as an example. You like more style and uniqueness in your laptops look? Alienware (or in my case, the graphics amplifier port). Etc. There are reasons to go with each one when they have all similar or identical specs. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of the 3 brands at these top end gaming models.
I just personally feel MSi is behind Asus and Alienware in a few ways based on my own experiences that make me prefer the other two brands. That being said, this wasn't based on the most up to date machines (outside of the alienware 15 I am using now) and I can admit that things change over time and MSi may very well be neck and neck, if not ahead, of Asus. I don't say Alienware only because of that port. It just... it's a deal breaker for me now that it exists.
I feel like I am mostly outdated, basing my knowledge on personal experience from a two year old MSi. I used that, an 8 year old Asus, a 3 year old Asus, and now my Alienware 15. Thus, when I am comparing based on personal experience combined with researched reviews and comparison videos, it's not an exact science. All 3 brands I feel are so close in so many areas that you can't go wrong with any of them.
I am not saying speakers can't matter. I am saying they don't matter to me. Of course, my Alienware 15 has really good speakers and the ones in my old MSi were probably among the best I have seen in person, so I am being a bit ironic in my statements because I know that my two experiences with Asus laptops gave me worse speaker quality. I just don't value speakers as a selling point. Some might, and that's great! I just simply don't. I also don't count speakers as part of the build quality - it's a hardware component. Build quality to me involves the case (hinges), design for comfortability, how things are organized inside, sturdyness, etc etc. If you value your speaker quality, of course you don't go with Asus as that is where they cheap out on their higher end models. They fool you with included subs and blah blah, but MSi leads in speakers, with alienware right behind them (I COULD be wrong there. I haven't used the top end laptops from alienware or msi, so for all I know they quality may be the exact same. Just basing this on comparison of older, less beefier, models).
My last MSi had my 860m hit 78c under load, while my asus with the same card hit 68c. My Alienware clocks around 68 to 70c. But even then, that's not a good basus since my alienware has the 970m. That being said, this is still based on my knowledge of older models versus todays. As of the middle of 2014, it appears most of MSi's laptops have seen a good bump in the cooling department. I don't know if it was just due to more vents, a better design, etc. So, my comparison is always faulty and I admit that openly. But to me, the best comparison is personal experience. I've seen several comparisons of most recent models come up with different winners on temp, so i add my own experience to it.
Either way, all 3 brands have certainly got good enough cooling that it shouldn't end up being a huge differentiator.
In general, I wasn't really trying to "bash" MSi. We're really talking about 3 of the top end laptop manufactures that all provide a little something different for very similar prices. Just personally, I feel like MSi is a bit behind in the things I care about, so assuming the exact same specced laptops are available at the exact same price, I'd probably go Alienware - Asus - MSi, but the margin between all 3 of them is so close that I don't care.
At least no one is trying to convince me that a sager or even lenovo should be up there. Really sorry about the TL;DR. Maybe we should get back to suggesting computers for people.Thanks for all the help and clarifications everyone!
