Gaming Laptops

[mALX]

I have a Dell XPS M1530.

Its a good laptop although not a chart topper, plays most games that I like but it does tend to heat up a lot. That and the not so awesome battery life are the weak points.

But I play games for atmost an hour so m happy with it. But yeah I haven't had any trouble....yet.

I like that: .....yet at the end of that. Were you knocking on wood while you typed that? (just kidding. Dell had some problems with recalls a few years back and they were not really forthcoming at first, hence their merge with Alienware to buy back their good image).

 

[Legendel]

all I would say it go for atleast 4gb ram, shouldn't be too hard to find. Also the latest graphics card wouldn't be too bad ^^ oblivion is a monster in that respect and must be "fed". Laptops FTW! =P

 

[mALX]

I just checked the Alienware website and...
15.4" 1440x900 screen
512 MB 9800M GT
Intel T8100 2.1 GHz
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
4 GB DDR2 667 MHz
160 GB 7,200 RPM drive with an 8MB cache
8x DVD burner
$1,599 Subtotal

Did you notice all the cut prices on their laptops? They must have a new one coming out, they always cut the prices of last years models right before bringing out the new one just to clear out their inventory.

 

[mALX]

Bah, the PC Nazi's are idiots anyways.

The big downside is that for a good gaming laptop you end up paying at least twice what a desktop is going to run you. So look at paying at least $1500, if not quite a bit more.

What you want is a decent processor (dual core, 2.1ghz) and at least 3 gig of ram (which means yur gonna be running Vista, 4 is going to be better for you). Look for a laptop that is using either an ATI or an nVidia chipset (not an intel or some other type) for the video, and has _dedicated_ ram for the card. Your sound won't matter too much, if you really need better sound pick up an external USB soundcard or something.

Gateway makes reliable laptops, as does HP. Dell seems to have partnered with Alienware, and those are some pretty nice gamer laptops. The Lenova laptops seem pretty reliable also.

Okay, so here are the problems with a gaming laptop:
*Small screen (usually you get a 15 - 17" screen, but they are good screens)
*Heat (laptops get very hot, so playing for a long time could be a bad thing)
*Control (you will need to buy an external mouse, period. Trackpads are worthless for gaming)
*Longivity (gaming laptops seem to have lower battery life, probably because they have more power than a normal laptop)
*Repairs (you can't repair a laptop yourself generally. Should _anything_ break you are without a PC for awhile)

Now the gaming laptops are not too bad for portability really, what with how nicely things are getting condensed. Basically check one of the major manufacturers and see what they have under gaming laptop. 6 to 15 pounds isn't too bad.. I take my desktop machine to PAX every year.. the first year it was still in a big heavy full tower case and weighed in, just for the main box, at close to 60 pounds.

I answered this, but it posted in the middle of the page, sorry. What I tried to say was: Lots of info here, Thanks !!

 

[mALX]

Dell seems to have partnered with Alienware

I'm pretty sure Dell owns Alienware.

EDIT: Yep. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6146435.html

They got "married"

 

[mALX]

Spoiler

Operating System: Windows Vista? Ultimate (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.080917-1612)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: LENOVO
System Model: 6457B64
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLx
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9300 @ 2.50GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 3054MB RAM
Page File: 1807MB used, 4504MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10

Card name: NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M

Description: Speakers (2- SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio)

Description: Microphone (2- SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio)

My top's stripped-down specs (DxDiag). Runs as well as you request...all on Vista!

Holy Cow, look at your page file stats!

 

[mALX]

if your looking for one avoid laptops with Intel processors and chipsets. they have this problem of having their graphic drivers stopping and resulting in your game crashing. also gaming laptops are going to cost you around $800-$1500 for a good one.

Lies, lies and deceit. There is nothing wrong with Intel parts. I just want to say that I go with whoever makes the fastest parts at the time. Intel makes the fastest parts right now and there is nothing wrong with them. I use Intel processors in both my laptop and my desktop and they both run Oblivion and Fallout well.

Can you tell me about your laptop? (make, stats, etc.)

Alienware M-15x With 2GB of RAM, an 8600GTS, and a 2.1 GHz Intel CPU. If you get the 1440x900 screen it will work, but why a laptop? A desktop is much better for gaming. If you were playing LAN party games, I could understand, but these are single player RPG's. So why?

Forgot to mention Vista Home Premium 32-bit, add in the Blu-ray drive, and upgrade the screen and you have my laptop. It can run those games, but I use it as a Blu-ray player for on the road.

Alienware just dropped the prices on the M-15x

 

[mALX]

dude, i was just looking at this myself the gateway p-7805, it has almost the same specs as a modded alienware, except this has twice the ram and costs around 1000 bucks cheaper. when you buy an alienware you are buying a great computer and spending extra for the brand, the gateway, you are just buying a great computer, here is a link
http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668231.php

hope that helps

Wow, only 1,225. Someone earlier said the Gateway did really well on games too.

 

[DavisJ3608]

I'm honestly about to say this. I know it's near blasphemy, but I will anyway...

My friend dual-boots Vista on a MacBook Pro, and it can run Far Cry 2 at max settings with a pretty beautiful framerate. Of course, one of those pieces of Mac will cost you $4k, but hey? What's a few thousand dollars for performance, am I right?

 

[mALX]

all I would say it go for atleast 4gb ram, shouldn't be too hard to find. Also the latest graphics card wouldn't be too bad ^^ oblivion is a monster in that respect and must be "fed". Laptops FTW! =P

I know, I got the best graphics they had at the time I bought my desktop, and still have to put the AI on med or the game lags so badly you can't stand it.

 

[mALX]

I'm honestly about to say this. I know it's near blasphemy, but I will anyway...

My friend dual-boots Vista on a MacBook Pro, and it can run Far Cry 2 at max settings with a pretty beautiful framerate. Of course, one of those pieces of Mac will cost you $4k, but hey? What's a few thousand dollars for performance, am I right?

Mac has a new gaming laptop out, when the Dell/Alienware merge took place, some of the Awesome Alienware geeks went to work for Mac I guess. I've heard good things about it, but have never used a Mac before.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I'm honestly about to say this. I know it's near blasphemy, but I will anyway...

My friend dual-boots Vista on a MacBook Pro, and it can run Far Cry 2 at max settings with a pretty beautiful framerate. Of course, one of those pieces of Mac will cost you $4k, but hey? What's a few thousand dollars for performance, am I right?

Mac has a new gaming laptop out, when the Dell/Alienware merge took place, some of the Awesome Alienware geeks went to work for Mac I guess. I've heard good things about it, but have never used a Mac before.

I don't quite know, but I'll think you'll have to buy the Windows operating system separate for the Mac and you'll have to because Mac OS sucks for gaming.

 

[SatuMitsumi]

I have a gaming laptop, but it's a freakin' monster. ._.

It's an Alienware 9750.

 

[AlphaTM]

I can play FO3 on high with my Qosmio, made by Toshiba.

 

[mALX]

I have a gaming laptop, but it's a freakin' monster. ._.

It's an Alienware 9750.

I like the 9750. Is it better or less than the M-17x? Have you played Oblivion or Fallout 3 on it?

 

[Comic Sans]

I have an HP Pavilion DV5z (I forget the exact model stuff), and it runs things fairly well. Has an integrated ATI Radeon 3200 video card, and can run pretty much anything you want it to. I can play Dead Space and Mass Effect on max settings while experiencing negligible slowdown, and it can handle Fallout 3 and Oblivion with settings on medium/high. While it has trouble with newer games, as long as you turn the settings down to medium/low you're good to go. It has trouble with water and particle effects mostly, but can still run Bioshock with high settings pretty well except in very smoke/effect heavy areas. It heats quickly, though, and playing games sucks the battery dry quickly if it's not plugged in.

I got mine last July for $799.99, so it's a pretty good deal.

 

[ke7eha]

My HP does very well for itself in terms of gaming. I can run Fallout 3 without problems, which is really the only big-name recent title that I have on it currently.

HP HDX-16t
P8400 processor
4GB RAM
9600GT-M

various other sundries

on my battery profile [which I have most everything turned off to save power] it can last about 2 hours or so before needing a recharge. It cost me around $1300

 

[mALX]

I have an HP Pavilion DV5z (I forget the exact model stuff), and it runs things fairly well. Has an integrated ATI Radeon 3200 video card, and can run pretty much anything you want it to. I can play Dead Space and Mass Effect on max settings while experiencing negligible slowdown, and it can handle Fallout 3 and Oblivion with settings on medium/high. While it has trouble with newer games, as long as you turn the settings down to medium/low you're good to go. It has trouble with water and particle effects mostly, but can still run Bioshock with high settings pretty well except in very smoke/effect heavy areas. It heats quickly, though, and playing games sucks the battery dry quickly if it's not plugged in.

I got mine last July for $799.99, so it's a pretty good deal.

How did you manage to get a good graphics card in an HP? HP called my laptop a gaming laptop, but stuck the lowest available NVidia in it.

 

[mALX]

My HP does very well for itself in terms of gaming. I can run Fallout 3 without problems, which is really the only big-name recent title that I have on it currently.

HP HDX-16t
P8400 processor
4GB RAM
9600GT-M

various other sundries

on my battery profile [which I have most everything turned off to save power] it can last about 2 hours or so before needing a recharge. It cost me around $1300

So I must have just gotten a crummy HP, but they do make good ones? Because if it plays Fallout 3, it should play Oblivion easily. Did you have to customize it when you bought it to get the better graphics, etc?

 

[mALX]

I'm honestly about to say this. I know it's near blasphemy, but I will anyway...

My friend dual-boots Vista on a MacBook Pro, and it can run Far Cry 2 at max settings with a pretty beautiful framerate. Of course, one of those pieces of Mac will cost you $4k, but hey? What's a few thousand dollars for performance, am I right?

Mac has a new gaming laptop out, when the Dell/Alienware merge took place, some of the Awesome Alienware geeks went to work for Mac I guess. I've heard good things about it, but have never used a Mac before.

I don't quite know, but I'll think you'll have to buy the Windows operating system separate for the Mac and you'll have to because Mac OS sucks for gaming.

Hmmm. That doesn't sound good!