serious gaming laptops (read before you post kthx)

[GhostOfBetaTapes]

I have been in major need of a computer overhaul. I got my MacBook Pro 2.2 GHz a year and a half ago or such, and it runs well, but nothing near hardcore. It played spore a bit laggy on low settings.
Then, for school, I got an HP Pavillion dv2, which to my knowledge, in my configuration is the second fastest 12", 2/3 inch thick laptop in the world, at 1.6 GHz and ATI Radeon HD 3410. That, even though it can run Portal, Garry's Mod, and (as far as I know, with only a small amount of lag) FUEL on low settings, it's not a gaming computer.
Now, I'm on the hunt for a new desktop replacement or gaming laptop.

I have been poking around, and found some (really, REALLY) good laptops with high GHz and discrete graphics cards. All I have so far is:

Toshiba Satellite P500 (14-inch) with Radeon 4570 (pretty good for 14 inch)
and
Alienware m15X on low specs aside for RAM and graphics card (2.8 GHZ, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 250 GTX or something). I mean, I would get higher powered processors if I could. But, apparently I can't.

As of now, and this is subject to change between now and March, when my birthday is, but the current budget would be in the 1000-2000 dollar range.
...and I can't have anything larger than 15", so no Falcon Northwest laptops.

I have also decided not to get a desktop because I take my gaming computer, whichever current one it might be, anywhere that I don't need ultraportability. So no Aurora ATX desktop for me.

i WANT to get the m15x the most, because of it's amazing reviews, but the Toshiba laptops are good, too.

The M15X can go up to a 3.33GHz processor, as well. but it's a good 500 or so dollars more. :P

[Ad Bot]

[Miga]

Is there truly any reason you need a laptop besides school? Can't you just get a good desktop PC, and use your laptop entirely for school?

[Deep2]

What if he wants to bring it to the car during a trip?

[Miga]

What if he wants to bring it to the car during a trip?

Well I sure as hell wouldn't take some huge-ass 10-pound laptop with me. My parents have a 12.1 inch Sony Vaio laptop that has a 8400M inside it, and a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo, the thing kicks ass and is able to even run Fallout 3 on medium (which is awesome for a 12.1 inch laptop...) and weighs less than 4 pounds, costed about $1000.

[pocketrocket300]

been searching for a laptop aswell, thanks for starting this thread.  how much was the hp pavillion?

[MtnDew]

Is there truly any reason you need a laptop besides school? Can't you just get a good desktop PC, and use your laptop entirely for school?

[pocketrocket300]

the computer i have is shared, and my dad insists on getting me a laptop as opposed to a desktop.

[Snaily]

Never really understood gaming laptops...


If the sole purpose you need a laptop is to do gaming at school, I'd get a cheap one (because I seriously doubt you'll be doing gaming at school for more than a year).

[pocketrocket300]

i realize this is not my thread, but i dont need a "gaming laptop" so to say, just need a powerful one that runs blockland well and allows for a form of port forwarding.

[Miga]

Never really understood gaming laptops...


If the sole purpose you need a laptop is to do gaming at school, I'd get a cheap one (because I seriously doubt you'll be doing gaming at school for more than a year).

Well, gaming laptops have no use whatsoever.
The battery life is terrible (usually under an hour, maybe two if you're lucky), it's too heavy to carry around, too big to put in your backpack...
And if you're planning on playing games at school, you're just most likely to have your very expensive, heavy laptop taken away for playing games in class.

[Nick4t]

Believe me, as someone who has had to go years with only using a laptop, you WANT to get a desktop for gaming.
Reasons:
1: Can host servers effectively, and without lag

2: There is no such thing as a cheap, light weight, powerful, and actually nice looking, gaming laptop.

3: If it's portable gaming you're after, buy/build a light desktop, alternatively, you could go to the gym for a year and build super muscles and simply carry the desktop on your back!

[Miga]

3: If it's portable gaming you're after, buy/build a light desktop

THIS.
My brother built a Shuttle PC build two years ago, and he's able to pack it in his suitcase when he needs to take it somewhere/on a trip, it was able to run all of the top-of-the-line games, while being so small (and weighed only about 10 pounds).

[Kerog]

My brother built a Shuttle PC build two years ago, and he's able to pack it in his suitcase when he needs to take it somewhere/on a trip, it was able to run all of the top-of-the-line games, while being so small (and weighed only about 10 pounds).

Sounds like love.

[nickbond1]

Well, gaming laptops have no use whatsoever.
The battery life is terrible (usually under an hour, maybe two if you're lucky), it's too heavy to carry around, too big to put in your backpack...
And if you're planning on playing games at school, you're just most likely to have your very expensive, heavy laptop taken away for playing games in class.

[Nick4t]

THIS.
My brother built a Shuttle PC build two years ago, and he's able to pack it in his suitcase when he needs to take it somewhere/on a trip, it was able to run all of the top-of-the-line games, while being so small (and weighed only about 10 pounds).

Exactly, my Desktop is so light I can carry it with one hand, not that I would risk it! :P