budget laptop gaming under 900

[jesh462]

Like the title says. I found the acer on newegg with the phenom II and hd6550 for 679 I believe but I'd like a better build quality or a faster cpu or a faster gpu.. which would probably mean intel. 16" is the absolute highest I will go for screen size but 15 is what I would rather. Any ideas guys?

 

[Ns1]

dell XPS

you can get a ridiculously powered dell xps 17 for 908 + tax today.

 

[jesh462]

Budget updated to 1200 ish. I also need switchable graphics.

 

[mnewsham]

I also need switchable graphics.

That is a bit of an issue.

The highest end GPU with optimus is the GT540m (Not a "gaming" GPU)

 

[jesh462]

Hmm crap. I'll have to talk to my wife about it. What is battery life like on a non switchable cpu with no sound and screen brightness down a bit? Just an estimate? The computer will have to have battery life for college but she is an avid gamer..

 

[mnewsham]

2 hours tops.

 

[jesh462]

I asked my wife and completely discreet graphics are what she prefers. That being said I'd like to stay away from dell.

 

[Ns1]

Nm

 

[mnewsham]

So a low battery life is fine? I carry my laptop around with me everywhere (sig rig), and i find i am almost always by an electrical outlet anyway.

If this is the case, i recommend going with, this, or this.

 

[jesh462]

I was acually looking at the sager this morning. How is build quality on these? Love the option to install your own os. Is it a chicklet style kb? How hot do they run? To clarify yes two hours is fine. She'd rather better gaming performance. I am def leaning towards a sandy bridge laptop now that I have a larger budget unless I can get a substantially better vid card than the 460 .

 

[mnewsham]

If The build quality is good, not sure about the KB they run fairly well, i'v owned one and it was very good, had to sell it after about a year and it kept up very nicely.

 

[jesh462]

Awesome looks like this is it then! Thanks so much for your help everyone.