Best Gaming Laptop / Notebook 15.4" and less (semi-portable)

[Frugal1ty]

I found that for the semi-portable range the best video card available is the x1600; there are a few brands that offer notebooks with this card. I wanted to know what everybody thought was the best all around deal (I'll end up makin whatever it costs over the summer so the price doesn't matter up to 2000), taking in consideration the brand reputation warrenties, etc. . . all that good stuff.
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the laptops

Acer Aspire AS5672WLMi *****
> 1,069.99
Intel Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz 2MB cache
15.4" WXGA 1280 × 800
1GB DDR2 533
100GB 5400rpm SATA
DVD Super Multi
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 128MB DDR, VGA, DVI, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 1394, 1.3 megapixel CMOS 225° rot.
3.5 hours
14.3" x 10.8" x 1.4" 6.6 lbs.
1 year

MSI MS1039 *****
> 1,380.00
Mobile AMD Turion?64 MT-37 2.0GHz 1MB cache 25w
15.4" WXGA Glossy 1280 x 800
1GB DDR400
80BG 7200rpm Ultra ATA
DVD Super Multi
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 256MB, DDR DVI, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, IEEE 1394, 1.3 megapixel CMOS 225° rot.
- - hours
14.1" x 10.2" x 1.3" 7 lbs.
1 year

HP Compaq nc8430 Config1 *****
> 1,499.99
Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz 2MB cache
15.4" WXGA 1280 × 800
512MB DDR2 533
60GB 5400rpm SATA
CD-RW / DVD
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 256MB DDR, VGA, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, Bluetooth, IEEE 1394
4 hours
14.1" x 10.2" x 1.1" 6 lbs.
3 years

ASUS W3J-H017P *****
> 1,799.00
Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz 2MB cache
14? WXGA Glossy 1280 x 768
1GB DDR2 677
100GB 5400rpm SATA
DVD Super Multi
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 256MB DDR, VGA, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, Bluetooth, IEEE 1394
4 hours
13" x 9.7" x 1.3" 4.8 lbs.
1 year

HP Compaq nc8430 Config2 *****
> 1,899.99
Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0GHz 2MB cache
15.4" WXGA 1680 x 1050
1GB DDR2 533
80GB 5400rpm SATA
DVD Super Multi
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 256MB DDR, VGA, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, Bluetooth, IEEE 1394
4 hours
14.1" x 10.2" x 1.1" 6 lbs
3 years

Acer TravelMate TM8204WLMi *****
> 1,998.99
Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz 2MB cache
15.4" WXGA 1680 x 1050
2GB DDR2 533
120GB 5400rpm SATA
DVD Super Multi
ATI MOBILITY Radeon X1600, 128MB DDR, VGA, DVI, S-Video
Modem, Gigabit LAN, WLAN, IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 1394, 1.3 megapixel CMOS 225° rot.
3.5 hours
14.3" x 10.7" x 1.0" 6.6 lbs.
1 year

one thing about the travelmate 8200, i see most places it's listed at 1.0in. thick, but a couple have listed it at 1.4in.; that's a pretty big difference, does anybody know how thick it really is?

. . . a can't believe i'm about to go portable with the gaming thing. . . i'll never get any schoolwork done

 

[Looney]

The Acer Asipre is decent... a guy at work has it. I don't like the screen resolution, but if you're going to do primarily gaming, it's fine. If you go up to 17" though, you'll find better GPUs.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Not sure on the build quailty these days but back a few years acer was not very well build. HP are solid and I think they know it by offering a 3 year gar

 

[acegazda]

if you have massive amounts of $$ to drop, go to voodoopc.com and get this. For over $2500 its a lot... A LOT, but its got a UXGA screen and wieghs only 6 lbs for a 15.4 inch widescreen.

 

[Frugal1ty]

i'd rather not go to 17", i've seen the 7900 in 17" but the thing is just too big. . . but that does bring up another question though, how good will a x1600 be in a laptop?

and that 2500 dollar laptop IS expensive, especially since it's only packin a x700 with 128. . . WUXGA res is no good if your video card can't handle it.

 

[Ionizer86]

Ahh, but the X700 is faster than the X1400, and likely the X1600 as well. It might be the fastest ATi mobile offering at the moment (there's no MR X1800, is there?)

 

[Looney]

Voodoo's are just rebranded Clevo's... if you want laptops like Falcon, Alienware, and Voodoo... look for Sagers. They're all rebranded Clevo's.

If you're getting it FOR gaming, X1600 and 6600 are 'fine' for now, but they're really going to be quickly outdated. I would go with a 7800 or 7900 personally. Unfortunately, it seems you can only get them in 17" atm.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
Ahh, but the X700 is faster than the X1400, and likely the X1600 as well. It might be the fastest ATi mobile offering at the moment (there's no MR X1800, is there?)

X700 is not as fast as the X1600....

I love my Travelmate 8200. 4200 in 3dmark 05, HL2 @ 1680x1050 max settings 2x AA.

The X1600 256MB is ATI's fastest mobile right now. (unfortunantly)

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Looney
Voodoo's are just rebranded Clevo's... if you want laptops like Falcon, Alienware, and Voodoo... look for Sagers. They're all rebranded Clevo's.

If you're getting it FOR gaming, X1600 and 6600 are 'fine' for now, but they're really going to be quickly outdated. I would go with a 7800 or 7900 personally. Unfortunately, it seems you can only get them in 17" atm.

I honestly don't think you will be finding a 7x00 in a 15.4 setup. I think they just create too much heat. it would have to be like 2 inches thick.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Hyperlite

Originally posted by: Looney
Voodoo's are just rebranded Clevo's... if you want laptops like Falcon, Alienware, and Voodoo... look for Sagers. They're all rebranded Clevo's.

If you're getting it FOR gaming, X1600 and 6600 are 'fine' for now, but they're really going to be quickly outdated. I would go with a 7800 or 7900 personally. Unfortunately, it seems you can only get them in 17" atm.

I honestly don't think you will be finding a 7x00 in a 15.4 setup. I think they just create too much heat. it would have to be like 2 inches thick.

I think i mentioned that. 😕

And you can find 7400 and 7300 in as little as 12" laptops (like Dell)

 

[Frugal1ty]

well i just did a quick search on newegg for 15.4 laptops with x700's and five came up, as this as 1.18 in.

but i doubt it would be faster than the x1600, especially since it come in the 256mb variety

 

[Frugal1ty]

but back on topic: build quality of laptops; Acre vs. ASUS vs. MSI vs. HP (compaq)