Gaming computer/laptop.

[A Weary Exile]

I've been haing some trouble recently with my laptop and I've given some thought to either buying a gaming laptop or desktop and I have a few questions for those of you who are a little more PC savy than I. So here goes:

1. If I were to get my Toshiba laptop repaired what would you say might be an average cost if I were to use a service such as Geek Squad (The warranty is expired)? I think it's a problem with the cooling system because it keeps turning off from overheating.

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Many thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions.

 

[Blackadder51]

its overheating blow the dust out

 

[Layz92]

Desktops are generally cheaper than laptops. They generally have better cooling (depends on how many fans are put in etc). Not much point in getting a premade desktop (as a brand name one would probably be) unless you are after an office computer. Desktops are generally better because parts can be swapped out. Alienware make pretty high quality stuff but the way computer technology goes they just become left behind after maybe 6 years instead of 4. If you really want a laptop I would suggest Asus (good quality for average prices).

 

[RicoADF]

I've been haing some trouble recently with my laptop and I've given some thought to either buying a gaming laptop or desktop and I have a few questions for those of you who are a little more PC savy than I. So here goes:

1. If I were to get my Toshiba laptop repaired what would you say might be an average cost if I were to use a service such as Geek Squad (The warranty is expired)? I think it's a problem with the cooling system because it keeps turning off from overheating.

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Many thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions.

Desktops are always more value for money then a laptop for gaming, with laptops it costs more since they need to cram the hardware into less space and more often then not the laptop doesnt run as efficently as a desktop equivalant.

 

[Wicky_42]

If you're wanting to game, you're going to have problems with a laptop. Laptop graphics cards are sometimes not supported randomly, and they have heat issues that would be exacerbated by a gaming session. Heck, they can have heat issues anyway - a friend's struggled to merely play music when we had a heatwave last week!

Obviously laptops have the advantage of being able to take them with you, but again gaming is going to eat their battery life for breakfast.

Personally I've gone with an awesome desktop, then got a standard spec laptop for Uni work at a later date. Seems to work for me

 

[A Weary Exile]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

For everyone else, I'm not going to be playing that many games on it, just Medieval II: Total War, but that game requires some serious computing power and I want to be able to run it on something other than low setting for once. A desktop would also be quite cumbersome because the place that I'm going to be staying at during college is very small, I don't even think a desktop would fit in there. So can anyone suggest a good gaming laptop (Maybe cheaper than $1500) that would be able to run Medieval II: Total War on medium/high settings?

System requirements for Medieval [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/tech_info.html]

Also, I'm going to college for game design so I'm going to be doing a lot of school work on my laptop, I think the program the representitive mentioned that we'll be using is called Maya. It would have to be able to run that program.

 

[Blackadder51]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

Thats one way, or you could use an air compressor. It damage the laptop thats what i did to mine. Save you money or buy a bottle of "Compressed Air" ie Air in a can

Also for your laptop i find Toshiba are the best not only in terms of quality but power, go with an i5 or i7 core.

 

[Destal]

I bought this for $1600 and it is a monster of a laptop.

http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=8je5Ot4HBnKOdT81

It runs extremely fast and the equivalent alienware would be around 2700. It never runs above 35C because of the the cooling system Asus designed.

 

[Dys]

I've been haing some trouble recently with my laptop and I've given some thought to either buying a gaming laptop or desktop and I have a few questions for those of you who are a little more PC savy than I. So here goes:

1. If I were to get my Toshiba laptop repaired what would you say might be an average cost if I were to use a service such as Geek Squad (The warranty is expired)? I think it's a problem with the cooling system because it keeps turning off from overheating.

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Many thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions.

Alienware look to be very expensive and not worth a whole lot, I'd recommend checking out the asus gaming range (the asus g73JH has high spec for relatively low price) or, if you want to go higher end, the guys that originally started alienware have started a new company called origin. A desktop will be considerably cheaper, basically go to any computer store and either buy parts or have them assemble it for you, avoid the big chains as they are comparatively hugely expensive.

 

[A Weary Exile]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

Thats one way, or you could use an air compressor. It damage the laptop thats what i did to mine. Save you money or buy a bottle of "Compressed Air" ie Air in a can

Also for your laptop i find Toshiba are the best not only in terms of quality but power, go with an i5 or i7 core.

I may have a can lying around somehwere. Do you really think that would work? I don't even see any dust in the vent, I doubt that the can of air is that strong. :/

Right now I have an A215, it can barely run Medieval II on low settings. Can I get my graphics card replaced by something stronger?

 

[secretsantaone]

I've been haing some trouble recently with my laptop and I've given some thought to either buying a gaming laptop or desktop and I have a few questions for those of you who are a little more PC savy than I. So here goes:

1. If I were to get my Toshiba laptop repaired what would you say might be an average cost if I were to use a service such as Geek Squad (The warranty is expired)? I think it's a problem with the cooling system because it keeps turning off from overheating.

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Many thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions.

A few things.

If you build your own desktop it's going to be a LOT cheaper than buying pre-made.

Gaming laptops are not really worth the money, for the same price ($1500) you could build a fantastic PC AND buy a decent laptop.

The geek squad is a waste of money, what they actually do is so easy it's not worth paying for.

 

[Hashime]

I've been haing some trouble recently with my laptop and I've given some thought to either buying a gaming laptop or desktop and I have a few questions for those of you who are a little more PC savy than I. So here goes:

1. If I were to get my Toshiba laptop repaired what would you say might be an average cost if I were to use a service such as Geek Squad (The warranty is expired)? I think it's a problem with the cooling system because it keeps turning off from overheating.

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Many thanks to whoever takes the time to answer my questions.

1. Probably dust, open the back plate and clean. If the fan is buggered it might cost you $100.00 or so to get is fixed. (You might need to replace the thermal gel on the processor, which is easy)
2.A gaming laptop is expensive and impractical. Alienware is good if you go that route, but check out tiger direct and newegg as well, a google search will tell you if that specific computer is good.
3. A gaming desktop will outclass a laptop in every way, except of portability. The parts are cheaper, so $1500 will get you (if you build it or buy it) a higher end rig. My $1000 rig runs modern games at full settings, restricted only by my monitor. You also have a choice in screen, keyboard, and mouse. You may also want to consider a shuttle case if you want more portability.

 

[Blackadder51]

I may have a can lying around somehwere. Do you really think that would work? I don't even see any dust in the vent, I doubt that the can of air is that strong. :/

Right now I have an A215, it can barely run Medieval II on low settings. Can I get my graphics card replaced by something stronger?

Try an air compressor then, but a can shouldn't be to bad.

Uh about your card thing, i have no idea but i doubt it on a laptop you could change it.

However a Toshiba Sat A500 should easily do it what you are after.

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/A500

Good you are American you can get it cheap then compared to us Aussies.

 

[Blackadder51]

snip

Also http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=468639

will be more then enough and its like a grand-ish us

EDIT shit double post sorry mate

 

[A Weary Exile]

I may have a can lying around somehwere. Do you really think that would work? I don't even see any dust in the vent, I doubt that the can of air is that strong. :/

Right now I have an A215, it can barely run Medieval II on low settings. Can I get my graphics card replaced by something stronger?

Try an air compressor then, but a can shouldn't be to bad.

Uh about your card thing, i have no idea but i doubt it on a laptop you could change it.

However a Toshiba Sat A500 should easily do it what you are after.

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/A500

Good you are American you can get it cheap then compared to us Aussies.

Thank you very much. I'll try the compressed air thing and if that doesn't work I'll look into that A500 thing.

 

[mew4ever23]

Alienware machines can get very expensive, very quickly. With that budget, you're better off building your own.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

2. I gave some thought to buying an alienware laptop once I saved up enough money (around $1500). Are they worth it? What other brand would you suggest?

In a word, no. Alienware laptops are not worth the money they ask for them. You end up paying a few hundred dollars just for the fancy-schmancy case. No 'gaming' laptop is really worth what they ask for them but if you really must have one, look at an Asus.

3. Are gaming desktops better compared to gaming laptops in your opinion? Are they cheaper? If so, what brand would you suggest that I buy?

Desktops are either cheaper or more powerful than laptops (often both but not often enough to say its always the case). As for brand, I suggest no brand. Either build it yourself, get a mate who knows their shit to build it or get a local tech shop to put one together for you.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

For everyone else, I'm not going to be playing that many games on it, just Medieval II: Total War, but that game requires some serious computing power and I want to be able to run it on something other than low setting for once. A desktop would also be quite cumbersome because the place that I'm going to be staying at during college is very small, I don't even think a desktop would fit in there. So can anyone suggest a good gaming laptop (Maybe cheaper than $1500) that would be able to run Medieval II: Total War on medium/high settings?

System requirements for Medieval [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/tech_info.html]

Also, I'm going to college for game design so I'm going to be doing a lot of school work on my laptop, I think the program the representitive mentioned that we'll be using is called Maya. It would have to be able to run that program.

Has anyone else read the system requirements? They look pretty low even by 2006 standards. Just about any decent laptop today should run it; just make sure it doesn't have an intel graphics card.

 

[A Weary Exile]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

For everyone else, I'm not going to be playing that many games on it, just Medieval II: Total War, but that game requires some serious computing power and I want to be able to run it on something other than low setting for once. A desktop would also be quite cumbersome because the place that I'm going to be staying at during college is very small, I don't even think a desktop would fit in there. So can anyone suggest a good gaming laptop (Maybe cheaper than $1500) that would be able to run Medieval II: Total War on medium/high settings?

System requirements for Medieval [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/tech_info.html]

Also, I'm going to college for game design so I'm going to be doing a lot of school work on my laptop, I think the program the representitive mentioned that we'll be using is called Maya. It would have to be able to run that program.

Has anyone else read the system requirements? They look pretty low even by 2006 standards. Just about any decent laptop today should run it; just make sure it doesn't have an intel graphics card.

I've had this laptop for three, maybe four, years. I asked the guy for a laptop that could play games well...that dickhead swindled me.

I've downloaded the driver for my particular graphics card, defragged my hardrive, and it still runs slower than a quadraplegic turtle.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

its overheating blow the dust out

I checked the tech support section on their site and it says that I have to disasseble it in order to get the dust out, I'd much rather pay a few hundred dollars than risk breaking my laptop.

For everyone else, I'm not going to be playing that many games on it, just Medieval II: Total War, but that game requires some serious computing power and I want to be able to run it on something other than low setting for once. A desktop would also be quite cumbersome because the place that I'm going to be staying at during college is very small, I don't even think a desktop would fit in there. So can anyone suggest a good gaming laptop (Maybe cheaper than $1500) that would be able to run Medieval II: Total War on medium/high settings?

System requirements for Medieval [http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/tech_info.html]

Also, I'm going to college for game design so I'm going to be doing a lot of school work on my laptop, I think the program the representitive mentioned that we'll be using is called Maya. It would have to be able to run that program.

Has anyone else read the system requirements? They look pretty low even by 2006 standards. Just about any decent laptop today should run it; just make sure it doesn't have an intel graphics card.

I've had this laptop for three, maybe four, years. I asked the guy for a laptop that could play games well...that dickhead swindled me.

I've downloaded the driver for my particular graphics card, defragged my hardrive, and it still runs slower than a quadraplegic turtle.

Well, I'm not sure how strong the average laptop was at the time, just that the system requirements for that game are lower than most of the ones from the same time period. Your laptop may have been decent for the day, but games are usually aimed at desktops. When I said current laptop, I meant the new one you were planning on buying. By all means, get the most powerful you can afford, but that specific game is a little bit low by modern standards to be the benchmark for what you can run.