Gaming Laptop question

[BattleCircle]

Personally I am a fan of the Gateway FX systems, been running one for a couple years now, and no problems what so ever.

Edit; I would not recommend Tiger. It's a **** shoot as to whether or not you get a good system. And unless things have changed, customer support SUX

[donfilibuster]

Also keep an eye on the caches and bus speeds since sometimes pc's on sale come with low-cost parts.
Usually not an issue, but one can overlook when seeking low price.
Maybe happens more on mini-laptops which then may not perform the same as a full laptop with the same cpu and ram.

[KwaiLoCDN]

I have an Acer Aspire 8920. It is now 1.5 years old, but still runs very well. Cost me around $1000CDN.

DuoCore @2GHz
8 GB RAM
64 Bit Vista
GForce 9500M GS

I have the main graphical settings maxxed, with some of the ones I can't even pronounce on the default setting. No chugging from the computer, only time I have an issue is if my wife is torrenting something, or the ISP is baffed. Which, it is Rogers, so fellow Canucks know what I mean....

[ezgoezit]

Someone just sent me this link this morning. I wouldn't go for it personally, but this link is showing a sub-1k Alienware gaming laptop that they promised to come out with a while back. The graphics card is looking like it will be good to go, but the "M11x" seems to suggest to me that the screen size will be 11 inches and I can't see how anyone can game comfotably with that.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Ali...book,9540.html

Ez

[Almerel]

Someone just sent me this link this morning. I wouldn't go for it personally, but this link is showing a sub-1k Alienware gaming laptop that they promised to come out with a while back. The graphics card is looking like it will be good to go, but the "M11x" seems to suggest to me that the screen size will be 11 inches and I can't see how anyone can game comfotably with that.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Ali...book,9540.html

Ez

I know I couldn't do all of my gaming on a 11 inch screen. If it was a secondary gaming computer than maybe.

[Tyrande]

Update 2

I decided to go with the ASUS G73JH-A1 http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jha1-order-p-2731.html. The wife said 1.5 was enough since we already jumped $500. Well as I was going through the custom option there was a -89 to drop the Blue ray player and with the 3% off promotion I was able to get it down enough so the wife wouldn't kill me.


ASUS G73JH-A1 - PRE ORDER
- Warranty: 2 Year ASUS GLOBAL Warranty, 24/
- Software Bundle (Not Installed): No Software Bundle
- Microsoft Office Software (Media: No Office Software
- Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit -
- Mouse / Keyboard Accessories: Asus G Series Razor Gaming Mouse
- Fingerprint Reader: No Fingerprint Reader
- Port Replicator / Dock / Adapter: No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Spare AC Adapter: None Standard*
- Car Adapter: No Car Adapter
- Battery: Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
- Case: Asus G Series Matching Backpack
- Sound Card: Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audi
- TV Tuner: No TV Tuner
- Camera: Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- Wireless Network Accessories: No Network Accessory
- Wireless Network: Built-in 802.11 Wireless A/B/G/N
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Memory Card Reader: Internal 8-in-1 Card Reader: MM
- Floppy Drive: No Floppy Drive
- External Hard Drive (Back Up): No Back Up Hard Drive
- Raid: HDD Raid Settings - OFF
- Second Hard Drive: - 500GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Buffer
- Primary Hard Drive: - 500GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache Buffer
- Optical Drive: - Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti 8X
- Exterior Finish: Standard Finish
- Ram: 8,192MB (8GB) DDR3 1066MHz Dual
- External Monitor Video Adapter: No Video Adapter
- Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD5870 1024
- Thermal Compound: Stock OEM Thermal Compound
- Processor: - Intel® Core™ i7-720QM, 1.60-2.
- Dead Pixel Policy: ASUS Zero Bright Dot (ZBD) 30 Da
- Display: 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Supe
- Current Promotion: !! FREE !! UPS GROUND SHIPPING

Not sure why but they charged for ground shipping. I'm going to call them tomorrow and find out way.

I have a HP dv6t quad laptop with similar specs, except only 15.6" screen, 1x 500GB hard drive and a NVIDIA 230M GT 1GB video instead of an ATI HD5870, 4GB of DDR3 1066 RAM instead of 8GB for only $900 USD; got it from Christmas 2009. The laptop also only weighs 6.34lbs. I believe a $500 coupon was used to get it down to around $900.

BTW, got DDO:EU to play in ultra high settings at 1920x1200 resolution with around 40FPS in towns, and 15 to 30FPS in dungeons depending on lag, etc.

If I got lag, I switch to very high or high.

[Almerel]

I believe a $500 coupon was used to get it down to around $900.

The key to the statement lol. If I were to find a laptop with similar specs for $900 I would have to rethink my pre order. Although I am loving the specs for the price. Every other machine I have looked at was less of a computer than the ASUS and the pricing was close.

[Tyrande]

The key to the statement lol. If I were to find a laptop with similar specs for $900 I would have to rethink my pre order. Although I am loving the specs for the price. Every other machine I have looked at was less of a computer than the ASUS and the pricing was close.

The coupon for the dv6t quad expired, but the dv7t quad has a different coupon:

NBWT54217

for the following config, $1089.99 after instant rebate and coupon and free shipping.

HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC

WM838AV


* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
* 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M - For i7-720QM and i7-820QM Processors
* 17.3" diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900)
* SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
* Webcam Only
* Intel Wireless-N Card
* No TV Tuner w/remote control
* HP Color Matching Keyboard
* 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* No Modem
* Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Estimated build date: February 12, 2010 <---- Just in time for Valentine's and Lunar (Chinese) New Year

[Ellyll]

I'm looking at an HP myself, they seem to make good computers for the money.

[Almerel]

The coupon for the dv6t quad expired, but the dv7t quad has a different coupon:

NBWT54217

for the following config, $1089.99 after instant rebate and coupon and free shipping.

HP Pavilion dv7t Quad Edition customizable Notebook PC

WM838AV


* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 1333MHz FSB) w/Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
* 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M - For i7-720QM and i7-820QM Processors
* 17.3" diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900)
* SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
* Webcam Only
* Intel Wireless-N Card
* No TV Tuner w/remote control
* HP Color Matching Keyboard
* 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* No Modem
* Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Estimated build date: February 12, 2010 <---- Just in time for Valentine's and Lunar (Chinese) New Year

That is definitely a nice machine but once I added the ram to the 8 gigs the ASUS will have and I gave upgraded the hard drives to the 500x2 I was already over what I am paying for the ASUS. Now I'm sitting with a lesser GC and no bonuses like free 1yr warranty, back pack and mouse.

I know the ASUS may have some over kill in it but that's what future proofs it (as much as you can with a laptop).