Origin computers

Has anyone ever heard of or have experience with Origin laptops/computers? http://www.originpc.com/Laptops/Compare/?COMPARE=GAMINGLAPTOPS

I'm just wondering about quality, customer service, etc. I've never heard of them and noticed the company when I was doing some research.

 

Nope, pretty expensive. Seem to be geared toward gaming rigs. I have had trouble with some high end machines due to how far they modify them. I have a 2 year old Gateway that cost as much as my last year Alienware that just didnt seem to pay off especially since the Gateway is almost 3 now and playing all my games fine. Really depends what your after.

 

They are definitely pricey, but I was looking at the components, which seem pretty hefty. I like the idea of a gaming-type rig for my next laptop since I use Photoshop and other photo editing software which is very memory, etc intensive. Basically I like the idea of using it and not slowing my machine down after I've been going for a while.

But yeah, on looking, there's a lot of comparisons to Alienware. Origin is apparently the people who originally owned Alienware before selling to Dell.

 

Owned 2 Alienwares. One about 5 years ago and one recently to see how they are doing. In the long run I am not impressed. The OS seems to do some weird things and while I obviously have not benchmarked it, my Gateway runs my games at the same frame rates for about 800 bucks via Tiger Direct.

I think you might be going overkill. You want an overkill of memory, a HUGE hard drive and the fastest processor available for what your doing. I would consider Orgin if you want to drop the cash but I won't buy another Alienware.

Oh and they called to sell me an extended warranty after a year. Don't like being called.

 

HI Laura

I'm with MA on the direction that these laptops and PCs are taking as in the gaming market as I guess as the Original team from Alienware and not the ones sucked into DELL, the team do know how to build and markey PCs, that said, they are a concidered purchase as they are not cheap.

Also on reading a few reviews they are not thin and light laptops likely due to the higher end hardware and from one reviewer the battery life is not great, they ran out in 55mins from charging fully.

I would think that a laptop with a dual or better quad core cpu, a dedicated GFX card with its own ram (never go for on-board GFX) and at least 4GB ram and if possible and SSD (a series III type SSD) would do you quite well. Sometimes you just pay for a up-market name over actual bets bang for buck.

One thing I was thinking of the other day was USB3.0 and if motherboard had this and even more on on a laptop you could possibly use a USB3.0 pen drive as a Scratch Disk, thus freeing up the IO (data transfer) on HDD/SSD.

 

Yeah, I haven't seen great reviews (for the cost) on Alienware machines, which is why I was wondering about Origin.

This would definitely be overkill, but I'm huge on get the best I can at the time. I also don't want to over pay just for a brand name. That's just stupid. The gaming machines just seem to have killer specs.

Yeah, I would expect they wouldn't be, which is a pain, but not really a surprise. The high battery life laptops aren't going to have nearly the power I'd be looking for. I guess it's a tradeoff?

Now that's the question I have...SSD. My current one doesn't have one...or a USB3.0. So I"m running PS on my primary hdd.

I'm thinking SSD is what I want for a Scratch Disk, correct?

k...thanks. I will definitely keep that in mind.



This isn't an immediate purchase, just preliminary. I'm just trying to get an idea of what brand, etc will offer me the specs and quality I want.

I have an HP right now and have to say I do like it.

 

Yes and I guess high end laptops are more a replacement for a desktop over something wildly portable as you'd need a U-Haul to move them any distance.

Yes and no.... committal am I today!

I guess where I was going is that SSD for the primary drive as they are really quick, but a large-ish USB Pen drive as a scratch disk as I have seen them transfer data and they are pretty quick compaired to USB2.0 (in some real world tests twice as quick but the USB device needs to be USB3.0 as does the USB Port on the PC, will not get the same speeds plugging USB2.0 drive into USB3.0 and vice versa).

I would wait for Windows 8, while the GUI is not to everyones taste at all and thats a different topic, the speed of the OS is impressive and I'm judging this from an underpowered netbook that in real world usage is much quicker than a few of the quicker Pcs in work.

Boot time is much quicker, speed of data transfers are visably quicker (not scientific proceedure used, just my eyeball)... and preception of speed and does a PC work to your standard is what I know I judge a PC or OS or Application on.... espcially when compairing it to a different OS and 8 is quicker than 7 IMHO but I would need to test on a few more PCs in reality.

So maybe just worth waiting for October 26th and Windows 8 release and even if you do not wish to go Windows 8 just think of the amount of Windows 7 based laptops the shops will want to shift, so disconting will likely get you a high end Laptop for Mid price money.

 

To be honest, my computer runs PS with pretty much zero delay....including noise reduction (btw, if you want an awesome Noise reduction software, you should try this: http://www.imagenomic.com/nw.aspx Its pretty awesome. I make sure I create a layer when using it so I have more control, but usually its very good as is). I have a pretty good dedicated video card...and works well for my games too. :-D My main issue is PS and Adobe Bridge's cache and scratch disk. It starts to bog down other apps some...or I feel like I'm pushing my laptop more than I should be.

Okay...well, I'm clueless then. :-D I thought people had SSD for a secondary drive. When I've looked up the best place for PS scratch disk, it's on their support area as being a good place for doing that...away from your primary harddrive.

That's good advice as far as pricing. I don't see myself getting a Windows 8 system.

 

Guys need to stay current on your software information. Adobe slimmed down a long time ago. Next thing your going to tell us is you use Firefox to be "safer". Lets get back on topic answering her questions. This is how it starts.

 

Personally I'm not a fan of Bridge as it doesnt add much that you couldnt do by opening a folder and double clicking a pic, its a sort of add-in Explorer manager for PS.

I'm still on PS5 BTW as dont know if I can manage to aquire PS6 licence via work or

Not thread days they are now more finding themselves being used as main drives, I use two in Raid0 for my main drives in my desktop and then HDDs as secondary drives, I have a WD Raptor installed being used as a scratch drive for PS (I do not list the main C: for PS Scratch).

Was a few years back power users of PS where using RAM drives for the scratch disk, but as MA said Abobe have slimmed and speeded up many of their apps these days and with many users of PS and their PCs having 4GB plus of ram then just a good speed 7200rpm drive is good enough.

Some tips HERE on Scratch disks and optomisation in PS


I know your PC is going to be used for PS hence mentioning USB3.0 and the speed they have as it "may" be a slightly cheaper way to have a secondary drive allocated to PS for a SD

Not put PS on a Win8 system yet as my netbook would not be a best test of it and not going to use my current desktop yet, until RTM is out for Win8, but yes you tend to see price discounts comin on new release of not only hardware but software, so older Win7 PCs could be discounted very well, and with Thanksgiving and Xmas not far away also the discounts could be very good.

 

HI gloozit

Nope not found much else I'd want to expressly use it for, that would warrant opening it up, yes it would be RAM as well as HDD dependant as it will cache up thumbnails, so in effect I can imagine you would have Windows caching up thumbnails and then Bridge doing the same job!

RAM and more RAM is what PS loves as its a power app and when you are using filters etc it not only needs a fair CPU, but GPU and RAM to make things lightening quick, if you're prepaired to wait then lower specs are fine.

I would agree PS is an app you need to go through the manual of and work out best settings for each option 64bit PS is good if you have 64bit OS.

I think these days we are more and more seeing laptops coming with v good GPUs dedicated and at least 6GB+ of good speed RAM, only thing with more RAM is that an Laptop OEM maker doesnt normally give you wiggle room (extra slot) to add more RAM.

@Laura, indeed a USB3.0 SSD drive is a good option, just they are expensive at present, which is why I was thinking more of USB3.0 Pens as they are in some cases using the controller chips from SSDs

Cool site for USB info http://www.everythingusb.com/

 

Okay...a lot of info here...thanks all!

Dave, I've never had to even think about an extra built in harddrive before, or anything else for cache and Scratch disk. In research before, I did, to your point, see that the 3.0usb is a great alternative to having a seperate hdd. Unfortunately, my current laptop does not have 3.0. 2.0USB are not fast enough from what I've read.

I currently have 6GB of RAM, so I'm pretty good there. Like I said to gloozit, I am really not having issue running PS or Bridge (and I actually love Bridge...it's far better than windows folders. I like the organizational options. I love being able to set my views so I can see all my metadata. I love being able to categorize my pictures easily. It interfaces very well with PS. I shoot exclusively RAW, so a click on a photo brings me straight to Camera RAW in bridge. Also, depending on what I want to do with multiple pictures; hdr, combine for panorama, etc. So yeah, I love it.).

Anyway....for my next computer, even though 3.0usb is a good option, I want a built in second harddrive so I don't have to worry about thinking about using a pen drive. I'll pay for that.

So, my next question is can you readily get that. I noticed it in the Origin laptops. If you did, would you get two SDDs?

lmao...okay, I'm officially clueless. I need to read up on this!

(btw, does anyone buy 32 bit OS's anymore?)




@David....great link on optimizing PS.

 

Hi Laura

Not checked the likes of HP or other mainstream makes as yet, I know ASUS do dual HDD machines but HERE is one I quickly searched for which can have a combination of HDD and SSD (has 2 drive slots) but kinda expensive at present.

Although its something to think about in SSDs for a laptop, but I know you'll do alot of research before deciding what to do and you just as always need to float any questions by us all.

 

There is not, but the perception of a new PC with Window 8 pre-installed seems to at times outweigh the buyers thought of getting a pre-installed Windows 7 one, even if it does come with a free upgrade.

OEMs will be releasing newer model PCs and Laptops at Windows 8 launch so older models pre-installed with Windows 7 do tend to become cheaper, plus the market is stagnated so there "maybe" a tendancy for retailers to discount older Win7 machines and have Win8 ones at premium prices.

I maybe completly wrong and we will know come Oct-Dec if the scenario above happens.