Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc)

aarono · 06-28-2008, 02:28 AM

I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but to my knowledge this was the best out there.

I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I wish to spend under $1,600 and if possible I'd like it to be able to handle most of today's games. I'm not looking for cutting edge because I cannot really afford that, instead I'm looking for a laptop that can run most of today's games with good performance on high. I'm going to college this fall and I need to keep the price around $1,600.

I can do the searching myself, but if you have any recommendations for models, etc. that'd be great.

Thank You.

jumbo1990ny · 06-28-2008, 06:58 AM

try cyberpowerpc.com, buyxg, or ibuypower.com....they build computers and laptops...but in my opinion buyxg is better out of the 3.

patriothntr · 06-28-2008, 09:41 AM

Well, I just saw a Gateway with a 8800m in it selling at best buy for 1050 or so...just look for good graphics really...any of the good brands make good gaming laptops...

aarono · 06-28-2008, 01:03 PM

I looked on a few websites and became a bit worried when none of them talked about their GPU. One said Intel Accelerated Graphics and I almost puked.

**grimx133** · 06-28-2008, 01:23 PM

With any laptop, it's the GPU that is always the limiting factor as far as gaming goes. If a company doesn't make a big deal about graphics, definitely avoid them like the plague. Last time I checked, the best mobile graphics was the nVidia 8800m GTX. That'll run anything, just that pesky little problem of price.

Looking around NewEgg a bit, and there are a few with decent graphics. Price will always be the prob, you can get dual 8600m GT's in SLI, but you're looking a lot of money. The best looking one (to me) in a decent price range was this Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220308
However, it's a 15.4 inch screen, better for battery life and lugging about, but, a 17 would be nicer for gaming.
Always a tough decision, there are a lot of options out there.

aarono · 06-30-2008, 12:55 AM

Would Newegg be the best site to search on or should I look at the manufactures site first?

This is towards the higher end of what I'm willing to spend but it has the 17 inch screen. I have no clue how good the GPU is though. Read below.

I've been out of the computer market for some time. I used to know what was hot, what fit what needs, but I no longer know this stuff and for laptops it's a whole new world. To help set me straight what is top of the line for laptops GPU wise and what is the bare minimum I should want for a GPU in my laptop?

patriothntr · 06-30-2008, 07:03 AM

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....#productdetail

If the link is bad: Model: P-6860FX | SKU: 8780198

Something for a little more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114446

**magnethead** · 06-30-2008, 11:42 PM

But rmemeber you're compromising battery power for GFX, even when not gaming. my laptop is an HP 8915nr and I get right around 3 hours on an 8 cell battery with a 7800m or something like that, just browsing internet and having display backlight all the way down. Using external monitor (closing lid while plugged in and using synergy KM switch) I only get about 4 hours.

patriothntr · 07-01-2008, 08:10 AM

That's true...if you get a cheap laptop, then you get no battery life (I have a cheapo gateway laptop that I'm lucky to get 3 hrs out of). If you get a desktop replacement, no battery life (friend's old P4 laptop...yeah a desktop P4 stuck in a laptop).

But hey, it's still a heck of a lot more mobile than my desktop right?

**magnethead** · 07-02-2008, 01:39 PM

mine's a desktop replacement 17". So yea, 3-4 hours is right on target, but still, more gfx = less battery.

aarono · 08-12-2008, 01:26 AM

I'm thinking about getting that $1199 laptop from Asus (listed above). Any other recommendations before I order? I'd like to spend a tad less money so any last minute help would be awesome.

I gotta order soon as school is around the corner.

Toucan Sam · 08-12-2008, 08:08 AM

i must say i was looking at the ASUS as well. It looks beautiful. Go for it :)

aarono · 08-25-2008, 01:14 PM

Any other laptops equivalent to the Asus? The asus is now discontinued...

Toucan Sam · 08-25-2008, 01:27 PM

I was highly impressed with this one.
Another Asus, but with 9500 graphics. very cool - read the reviews. crysis and cod4 without problems on high settings.
EDIT: and it's $100+ cheaper

aarono · 08-25-2008, 09:21 PM

The new computer has a 2 ghz Intel 2 Duo Core Processor.

Is this equivelant to a much faster single core processer?

I know 2 ghz for a single core isn't too fast.

aarono · 08-25-2008, 10:03 PM

Splurge? Get an extra year out of it?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220366

Toucan Sam · 08-26-2008, 05:34 PM

It should be just fine. It will be faster than a single-core since almost all games will soon be dual core, as only a few are now, but you don't want games programmed for dual-cores running in single core. Sure, you can go for the splurge and get maybe another half a year or so (year extra is kind of stretching it) but I love that 1300$ one anyway. Doesn't hurt at all that the gfx is 9600 not a 9500, and the 260mhz faster cores are very nice as well.
Your decision, but for a truly solid compy I would personally go with the one I posted, save $300, and upgrade a little sooner than you would otherwise. Just me, but I would rather buy cheaper things more often than nicer things less often.
Sorry for making a tough decision even tougher :)

06-28-2008, 02:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but to my knowledge this was the best out there. I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I wish to spend under $1,600 and if possible I'd like it to be able to handle most of today's games. I'm not looking for cutting edge because I cannot really afford that, instead I'm looking for a laptop that can run most of today's games with good performance on high. I'm going to college this fall and I need to keep the price around $1,600. I can do the searching myself, but if you have any recommendations for models, etc. that'd be great. Thank You.

06-28-2008, 06:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
jumbo1990ny Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 59 OS: Vista	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) try cyberpowerpc.com, buyxg, or ibuypower.com....they build computers and laptops...but in my opinion buyxg is better out of the 3.

06-28-2008, 09:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
patriothntr Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 321 OS: XPsp3, PCLOS, other	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) Well, I just saw a Gateway with a 8800m in it selling at best buy for 1050 or so...just look for good graphics really...any of the good brands make good gaming laptops...

06-28-2008, 01:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) I looked on a few websites and became a bit worried when none of them talked about their GPU. One said Intel Accelerated Graphics and I almost puked.

06-28-2008, 01:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,133 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) With any laptop, it's the GPU that is always the limiting factor as far as gaming goes. If a company doesn't make a big deal about graphics, definitely avoid them like the plague. Last time I checked, the best mobile graphics was the nVidia 8800m GTX. That'll run anything, just that pesky little problem of price. Looking around NewEgg a bit, and there are a few with decent graphics. Price will always be the prob, you can get dual 8600m GT's in SLI, but you're looking a lot of money. The best looking one (to me) in a decent price range was this Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220308 However, it's a 15.4 inch screen, better for battery life and lugging about, but, a 17 would be nicer for gaming. Always a tough decision, there are a lot of options out there. Last edited by grimx133; 06-28-2008 at 01:40 PM. Reason: linkage

06-30-2008, 12:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) Would Newegg be the best site to search on or should I look at the manufactures site first? This is towards the higher end of what I'm willing to spend but it has the 17 inch screen. I have no clue how good the GPU is though. Read below. I've been out of the computer market for some time. I used to know what was hot, what fit what needs, but I no longer know this stuff and for laptops it's a whole new world. To help set me straight what is top of the line for laptops GPU wise and what is the bare minimum I should want for a GPU in my laptop? Last edited by aarono; 06-30-2008 at 01:09 AM.

06-30-2008, 07:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
patriothntr Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 321 OS: XPsp3, PCLOS, other	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....#productdetail If the link is bad: Model: P-6860FX \| SKU: 8780198 Something for a little more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834114446 Last edited by patriothntr; 06-30-2008 at 07:20 AM.

06-30-2008, 11:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) But rmemeber you're compromising battery power for GFX, even when not gaming. my laptop is an HP 8915nr and I get right around 3 hours on an 8 cell battery with a 7800m or something like that, just browsing internet and having display backlight all the way down. Using external monitor (closing lid while plugged in and using synergy KM switch) I only get about 4 hours. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

07-01-2008, 08:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
patriothntr Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 321 OS: XPsp3, PCLOS, other	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) That's true...if you get a cheap laptop, then you get no battery life (I have a cheapo gateway laptop that I'm lucky to get 3 hrs out of). If you get a desktop replacement, no battery life (friend's old P4 laptop...yeah a desktop P4 stuck in a laptop). But hey, it's still a heck of a lot more mobile than my desktop right?

07-02-2008, 01:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) mine's a desktop replacement 17". So yea, 3-4 hours is right on target, but still, more gfx = less battery. __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

08-12-2008, 01:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) I'm thinking about getting that $1199 laptop from Asus (listed above). Any other recommendations before I order? I'd like to spend a tad less money so any last minute help would be awesome. I gotta order soon as school is around the corner.

08-12-2008, 08:08 AM	#12 (permalink)
Toucan Sam Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: charlotte, nc Posts: 153 OS: vista 64-bit SP1 My System	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) i must say i was looking at the ASUS as well. It looks beautiful. Go for it :)

08-25-2008, 01:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) Any other laptops equivalent to the Asus? The asus is now discontinued...

08-25-2008, 01:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Toucan Sam Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: charlotte, nc Posts: 153 OS: vista 64-bit SP1 My System	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) I was highly impressed with this one. Another Asus, but with 9500 graphics. very cool - read the reviews. crysis and cod4 without problems on high settings. EDIT: and it's $100+ cheaper

08-25-2008, 09:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) The new computer has a 2 ghz Intel 2 Duo Core Processor. Is this equivelant to a much faster single core processer? I know 2 ghz for a single core isn't too fast.

08-25-2008, 10:03 PM	#16 (permalink)
aarono Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 38 OS: XP	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) Splurge? Get an extra year out of it? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220366

08-26-2008, 05:34 PM	#17 (permalink)
Toucan Sam Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: charlotte, nc Posts: 153 OS: vista 64-bit SP1 My System	Re: Buying new Laptop (Gaming, college, etc) It should be just fine. It will be faster than a single-core since almost all games will soon be dual core, as only a few are now, but you don't want games programmed for dual-cores running in single core. Sure, you can go for the splurge and get maybe another half a year or so (year extra is kind of stretching it) but I love that 1300$ one anyway. Doesn't hurt at all that the gfx is 9600 not a 9500, and the 260mhz faster cores are very nice as well. Your decision, but for a truly solid compy I would personally go with the one I posted, save $300, and upgrade a little sooner than you would otherwise. Just me, but I would rather buy cheaper things more often than nicer things less often. Sorry for making a tough decision even tougher :)