@K9 said:

Do not go with ASUS laptops. I am currently using one and I am not at all happy with its build quality. The only reason I didn't return my laptop (N61JQ) was because at the time it was $120 cheaper on Amazon than its usual retail price and the specs of all other machines around its price point were considerably lower.

Unless you are able to go to a store and check out build quality of both of these laptops by yourself I would suggest staying away from ASUS.

That's their old multimedia laptop line which weren't that great. Their last N series were pretty decent - particularly the speakers and the displays on the N53. Meanwhile the GX3 series are well received. Good specs, great cooling system, and decent screens.

To the OP, I just checked their site and saw that they released the G74. My guess is that a G54 variant isn't far off. If you can hold off and you're set on getting an ASUS, then you might want to wait for that.

Don't buy as ASUS laptop. I cannot stress that enough. Do. Fucking. Not.

Do not go with ASUS laptops. I am currently using one and I am not at all happy with its build quality. The only reason I didn't return my laptop (N61JQ) was because at the time it was $120 cheaper on Amazon than its usual retail price and the specs of all other machines around its price point were considerably lower.

Unless you are able to go to a store and check out build quality of both of these laptops by yourself I would suggest staying away from ASUS.

MSI have sub-par building compared to ASUS. My advice though is that unless you are using your laptop to run demanding programs at school (e.g. CAD), you're better off getting some cheap laptop and build your own desktop. If you are dead set on getting an all-in-one laptop, then get the ASUS. If gaming is what the laptop will prominently be used for, than go get a Sager laptop from a reseller. Depending on who you buy it from, you will get a better video card and a much better screen, although the speakers are just average and the battery life is below average.

[edit] As an added argument for getting a cheap laptop and building a desktop, during college I had a gaming laptop that I carried around campus for class. Fucking terrible. The only thing worse than lugging around a 7lbs.+ notebook with you all day is having a huge laptop in lecture that doesn't sit well on those small-style lecture hall-style desks.

Well, it seems to me that if you say "Both are the same, but one is a bit better", you probably have your answer.

Need a new laptop duo to school and home for gaming, i'm having hard time to decide between MSI GT683R or ASUS GX53SX.

Both have the same power but MSI i a bit louder and have better sound.