need help buying a laptop

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Guitar Gamer

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I'm searching for a gaming laptop but since it will be my first I'll need some help finding it.
I'd like to have a camera in it but it's not at all necessary. My preferred price would be about $1000 but not a lot more since my income is kinda slow these days. I wont go on a rant or anything but I want to make it absolutely clear that I DO NOT WANT A MAC!
I realize that there may have been some threads like this before but we all have our wants in a computer, so please help me with some suggestions!
[sup]This is also my first thread if that means anything[/sup]
 

razer17

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alienware. if they have anything in there range for $1000.
although i agree with the guy above, a desktop would be much better for gaming. in fact you could buy a much better desktop than you could laptop (if you self build, that is) and have enough money for a laptop used only for internet and word.
 

Guitar Gamer

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RAKtheUndead said:
I've said this several times before, and I emphasise it:

I remain convinced that there isn't such a creature as an efficient gaming laptop. The graphics cards in even the most expensive laptops are poor and inefficient versus those in desktops.

I suggest that you purchase a gaming desktop; if you already have one, I wouldn't spend any more than $750 on a laptop, full stop. Frankly, you're talking about poor performance, crap battery life and back-crippling weight after all that. They also heat up a lot, making it rather uncomfortable to use for long periods.
I realize that they are futile to desktops but we frankly don't have the space for one since the rest of my family uses the only place for one and if I buy a desktop and replace it with a gaming one it will get just plain messed up wit my families inability to reconize problems in a computer
 

Insomniac Gamer

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RAKtheUndead said:
razer17 said:
alienware. if they have anything in there range for $1000.
although i agree with the guy above, a desktop would be much better for gaming. in fact you could buy a much better desktop than you could laptop (if you self build, that is) and have enough money for a laptop used only for internet and word.
NEVER buy Alienware. You're buying the brand, and I've demonstrated this many, many times before.

Guitar Gamer said:
RAKtheUndead said:
I've said this several times before, and I emphasise it:

I remain convinced that there isn't such a creature as an efficient gaming laptop. The graphics cards in even the most expensive laptops are poor and inefficient versus those in desktops.

I suggest that you purchase a gaming desktop; if you already have one, I wouldn't spend any more than $750 on a laptop, full stop. Frankly, you're talking about poor performance, crap battery life and back-crippling weight after all that. They also heat up a lot, making it rather uncomfortable to use for long periods.
I realize that they are futile to desktops but we frankly don't have the space for one since the rest of my family uses the only place for one and if I buy a desktop and replace it with a gaming one it will get just plain messed up wit my families inability to reconize problems in a computer
Considering you could get a gaming desktop for about $600-750 that could flatten laptops that cost three times the price, I'd say that finding any space would be better than spending the money on a computer which is bound to become obsolete very quickly.
Agreed. You're buying the alien badge when you could build it cheaper yourself.
If you absolutely MUST have a laptop then check out Dell's XPS range. But it won't last you very long
 

Gruthar

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I actually like ASUS for gaming laptops, since they tend to have decent dedicated graphics cards on them at that price range. Check out:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220518
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220489
 

Guitar Gamer

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alright so the: ASUS N50 Series N50Vn-X5A
or the: XPS M1530
I realize that desktops may be better but their really not a option here. Excuse me as I'm not totally smart computer wize but Is there any modifacations that I can/should out in?
 

Neonbob

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If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
 

Guitar Gamer

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ok............................thanks neon I'll see to that but I'd like to emphasize the "not totally smart at computers" but I think I got that part
 

Neonbob

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Guitar Gamer said:
ok............................thanks neon I'll see to that but I'd like to emphasize the "not totally smart at computers" but I think I got that part
You're welcome! Oh, for the truly drool-worthy ones, look at the Sagers...they are godlike.
 

Guitar Gamer

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Neonbob said:
Guitar Gamer said:
ok............................thanks neon I'll see to that but I'd like to emphasize the "not totally smart at computers" but I think I got that part
You're welcome! Oh, for the truly drool-worthy ones, look at the Sagers...they are godlike.
Sagers.................................................................right I'll write that down
 

Insomniac Gamer

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Neonbob said:
If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
Its incredibly hard to modify/change the GPU in a laptop as they're usually soldered on to the motherboard. Ram upgrades are always good though.
 

Neonbob

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Insomniac Gamer said:
Neonbob said:
If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
Its incredibly hard to modify/change the GPU in a laptop as they're usually soldered on to the motherboard. Ram upgrades are always good though.
Oh, I know that. I meant that when I ordered my laptop, Dell gave me two graphics card options to pick from.
 

Guitar Gamer

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Neonbob said:
Insomniac Gamer said:
Neonbob said:
If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
Its incredibly hard to modify/change the GPU in a laptop as they're usually soldered on to the motherboard. Ram upgrades are always good though.
Oh, I know that. I meant that when I ordered my laptop, Dell gave me two graphics card options to pick from.
I also plan on buying from a store if that is also relevant
 

Insomniac Gamer

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Neonbob said:
Insomniac Gamer said:
Neonbob said:
If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
Its incredibly hard to modify/change the GPU in a laptop as they're usually soldered on to the motherboard. Ram upgrades are always good though.
Oh, I know that. I meant that when I ordered my laptop, Dell gave me two graphics card options to pick from.
Ah ok.
Guitar Gamer said:
Neonbob said:
Insomniac Gamer said:
Neonbob said:
If you can, adding additional RAM is always a great thing. Also, upgrading the graphics card (if available) is a good choice. I think mine has a 256MB GeForce 8600M GT in it, with 3GB of RAM, and I can run Crysis on high settings without slowdown in most places.
Its incredibly hard to modify/change the GPU in a laptop as they're usually soldered on to the motherboard. Ram upgrades are always good though.
Oh, I know that. I meant that when I ordered my laptop, Dell gave me two graphics card options to pick from.
I also plan on buying from a store if that is also relevant
Store's rip you off as they need to make a profit. The upgrade options are also usually slim to none from a store.
 

Guitar Gamer

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exusse me for being "teh newbz" but I actually never orderd somthing online yet so I'll need some tips on that as well
 

Neonbob

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Guitar Gamer said:
exusse me for being "teh newbz" but I actually never orderd somthing online yet so I'll need some tips on that as well
Dell's online store is fairly straightforward to use and customize your computer, so go mess around on there for a bit. As Insomniac said, don't trust the stores. They're usually filled with asshats who don't know what the hell they're doing.
And I suppose I can excuse you...but I need a bribe to completely forgive you.
*taps foot and waits expectantly*
 

Insomniac Gamer

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well use a credit card or paypal. Why? It's more protection (not much but still). The site itself usually has a fairly straightforward way to order.
 

Guitar Gamer

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[sup]alright neon *gives note which shows all info needed to pown me at everything*[/sup] how about payment? is just a debit or what? (for the laptop)
edit: nevermind thanks
 

Neonbob

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Sah-weeet. And if you order from Dell's store, it's straightforward payment via credit card over a secured site. Outside of that, I don't really know that much about individual site's policies on payment, so going with Insomniac's suggestion is a good idea.