Best Gaming Laptop?

[DaMan1500]

So, I'm in the market for a gaming laptop, and know nothing about computer shopping. I'd like it to be under $1000, and preferably under $800. Any ideas?

 

[scrambledeggs]

*inb4getatower*

Actually, Get a tower.

Gaming laptops are expensive, not that good at gaming, and not portable which eliminates their use as a portable gaming device.

 

[smearyllama]

Gaming? Laptop? There is such a thing?

It's nigh impossible to get a "gaming laptop" for under $1000, if you're looking for the best.

Go with the best Toshiba you can get for your money, and have fun. From what I've seen, they're pretty solid for gaming, but aren't really designated for it.

 

[Dunvi]

HP has some nice laptops that will play games well enough for under a $1000, but actual gaming laptops are thousands for a reason. If money is that important, you'll either have to sacrifice portability (go for a tower) or gaming quality.

 

[DaMan1500]

The thing is, I'm getting a laptop because I'm taking it to college with me and need a laptop of some sort.

 

[smearyllama]

The thing is, I'm getting a laptop because I'm taking it to college with me and need a laptop of some sort.

Then I'd go with the Toshiba. Good, solid laptops, decent for gaming, as long as you aren't hoping to run Total War at max or anything. If you're willing to shell out, a Macbook Pro might work as well.

 

[Zantos]

Alienware do well, but are expensive.

I built a tower when I got to university and it's served me really well these years. Was cheaper to build a gaming tower and get a laptop to do work on than it was to get a decent gaming laptop. Plus with the amount of stuff I own an extra PC makes no difference when it's time to move.

 

[Plumerou]

well since the OP already created this thread, what about a laptop that can run decently (that means, even if it is in low settings but solid framerate) games like L4D2 and TF2? which price range would that be ?

 

[Dunvi]

The thing is, I'm getting a laptop because I'm taking it to college with me and need a laptop of some sort.

Pshaw.

1) you need a laptop much less than you think.
2) in my opinion, you'll do much better with a laptop that's very portable, has very long battery life, and is very replaceable when it gets stolen. Spend the rest on a tower - it'll be more powerful than a laptop at the price of both. Raise your price point if you're going into areas like graphic design or engineering so you can get a tower that won't twitch at the sign of CAD programs or Adobe.

 

[Dunvi]

well since the OP already created this thread, what about a laptop that can run decently (that means, even if it is in low settings but solid framerate) games like L4D2 and TF2? which price range would that be ?

I know several people with this HP laptop [http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=High+performance&series_name=dv6zse_series&jumpid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/High_performance/dv6zse_series], and most of them were more serious gamers than I am. I regularly played L4D2 and Borderlands with two others on this computer, and it works fine, although I always hosted because I have good internet and they... don't. I will say that that computer overheats very easily, though that's going to be an issue with any gaming laptop just because.

 

[DaMan1500]

As long as it can play something like Assassin's Creed on the lowest settings I'll be fine.

 

[twaddle]

lucky you all all i got is 450 to find a decent laptop that i have to do 3d modeling and make flash videos. got any ideas for me guys?

 

[Hiphophippo]

There are people in this thread telling you to nab an Alienware. Do not do this. You need an ASUS G73.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ASUS+-+Factory-Refurbished+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i7+Processor+/+17.3%22+Display+/+6GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black/2070069.p;jsessionid=B69BA22338787567870E053402E72270.bbolsp-app03-08?id=1218307909933&skuId=2070069&st=asus%20g73&cp=1&lp=2

This is the thousand dollar model but they have one that runs up to 1500 bucks and packs a 1TB Hard drive. As previously stated, you for for that mobility in terms of price to power, but for some lifestyles it's worth it. I've got the top model one myself and can assure you that nothing you're going to find from Alienware. ASUS makes beastly computers. This here is a laptop that will run Crysis on high, as well as anything else you can throw at it at the highest settings for 1000 bucks. And it's got a 17.3 inch screen. ASUS, in my experience, is untouchable.

As for the kind of specs mine gets, it's hard to say because I haven't really benchmarked it, but I can comfortably tell you that nothing I've thrown at it has given it any problems. Moreoever, those odd little fighter jet style dual fans in the back keep this thing nice and cool (not that I don't run a cooling pad too) and it has never once gotten even a little hot on me. Nice and quiet too.

The myth of laptops not being good for gaming is propagated by people that don't know any better. If mobility is that important to you, and it is for me, then there are great options out there.

 

[Radelaide]

My Dell XPS m1530 has served me pretty well and it's almost 3 years old. Currently playing DCUO pretty well and it's still going well on 2010 series of games.

Dell has fantastic customer service and the on-site repairs are fantastic. I've got a 4 year warranty on this and in the last 6 months I've had my hard drive replaced (my bad), graphics card (and they replaced the entire mobo) and keyboard (the keyboard wasn't aligned properly after the graphics card was replaced) and they've always been happy to come to work to fix my laptop or arrange something around my schedule.

OT: Anyone know how to get Java to stop crashing on Minecraft? Running an x64 bit OS (Win7) and I've got the correct version of Java but it keeps crashing out. /frustration.

 

[psicat]

ASUS are really good and have a fair price. This should be able to handle alot of what you need for $900: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7124332&CatId=4938.

 

[ENKC]

I have an m11x. Ultra portability and runs CoD at max settings. What more could you ask? Oh, you want something under a thousand? Good luck with that.

 

[allinwonder]

No offense, but for $800 you will NOT get a good gaming laptop. If you want cheap+performance just get a desktop. 'Gaming' grade laptops that WON'T be obsolete in 5 minutes will run you around $2,000-$5,000. Sorry, but as a person who builds computers for people and is constantly looking at parts and prices, that is the truth. Yes, I realize you CAN get them cheap, but they WILL NOT perform nearly as well as a true gaming laptop. If all you want is to get something that will play modern games on LOW to MEDIUM settings and perform very well (high will work but you will experience varying degrees of lag) then you're looking at $1,500. In that case take a look at newegg's laptop selection; they offer reviews, good pricing, warranties, and many, MANY brands and options. Hope this helps

You are wrong.

TC, try Asus new G53 or N53 with Sandy Bridge i7 and GT 540M. N53 is less than 1000 on Amazon.

 

[allinwonder]

I have an m11x. Ultra portability and runs CoD at max settings. What more could you ask? Oh, you want something under a thousand? Good luck with that.

Wrong.

ASUS N53SV-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Price: $899.00 & eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime
Intel Core i7-2630QM Quad-Core Processor 2.0 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz; 500GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
4GB of DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 4 slots, 16GB Max; Nvidia GT540M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM; Super-Multi Optical Disk Drive

And believe me, Sandy Bridge i7 and Nvidia GT540M is VERY powerful.

 

[Hiphophippo]

No offense, but for $800 you will NOT get a good gaming laptop. If you want cheap+performance just get a desktop. 'Gaming' grade laptops that WON'T be obsolete in 5 minutes will run you around $2,000-$5,000. Sorry, but as a person who builds computers for people and is constantly looking at parts and prices, that is the truth. Yes, I realize you CAN get them cheap, but they WILL NOT perform nearly as well as a true gaming laptop. If all you want is to get something that will play modern games on LOW to MEDIUM settings and perform very well (high will work but you will experience varying degrees of lag) then you're looking at $1,500. In that case take a look at newegg's laptop selection; they offer reviews, good pricing, warranties, and many, MANY brands and options. Hope this helps

This is 100% totally and laughably wrong. My only guess is that you've spent so much pricing and troubleshooting desktop parts over the years that you've not really followed laptops lately. Because it's either that or you're just making things up as you go.

And you wouldn't do that. Right?

I have an m11x. Ultra portability and runs CoD at max settings. What more could you ask? Oh, you want something under a thousand? Good luck with that.

What if I wanted a 17.3 inch screen on top of a laptop that outperformed and outspecced an MX11 in every way?

I'd link you to one, but it seems someone else already did. Listen, Alienware makes good computers. They do. But like Apple, you pay for the name.

 

[Hiphophippo]

No offense, but for $800 you will NOT get a good gaming laptop. If you want cheap+performance just get a desktop. 'Gaming' grade laptops that WON'T be obsolete in 5 minutes will run you around $2,000-$5,000. Sorry, but as a person who builds computers for people and is constantly looking at parts and prices, that is the truth. Yes, I realize you CAN get them cheap, but they WILL NOT perform nearly as well as a true gaming laptop. If all you want is to get something that will play modern games on LOW to MEDIUM settings and perform very well (high will work but you will experience varying degrees of lag) then you're looking at $1,500. In that case take a look at newegg's laptop selection; they offer reviews, good pricing, warranties, and many, MANY brands and options. Hope this helps

This is 100% totally and laughably wrong. My only guess is that you've spent so much pricing and troubleshooting desktop parts over the years that you've not really followed laptops lately. Because it's either that or you're just making things up as you go.

And you wouldn't do that. Right?

I have an m11x. Ultra portability and runs CoD at max settings. What more could you ask? Oh, you want something under a thousand? Good luck with that.

What if I wanted a 17.3 inch screen on top of a laptop that outperformed and outspecced an MX11 in every way?

I'd link you to one, but it seems someone else already did. Listen, Alienware makes good computers. They do. But like Apple, you pay for the name.

I own a laptop, and I've helped many people buy more. You want some proof Mr. know-it-all? For a top of the line laptop look up cyberpowerpc. YES they are famous for bad customer support, but those prices are accurate. Top of the line gaming laptops? $3,500? Oh would you look at that!. Next let's head on over to newegg. Look up the highest priced laptops there? Similar pricing? OH look at that! Do your research before you try to pretend you know anything. And anyone, ANYONE who purchases alienware and tries to talk about computers has NO right. Substandard hardware at high prices.

I advised against Alienware if you'll notice. Look into ASUS sometime. They make great machines for a fraction of the Alienware cost.

As for Proof? I don't need any of your proof. The only proof I need is the one I'm typing on.