Business laptop w/ graphics (i.e. gaming) capability?

[JuffoWup]

My work has decided that I need some kind of "high powered" laptop and have asked me to choose something I'd like. At the same time I'll also be able to use the work laptop for personal things like movies and games. So keeping in mind that cost is not a strong constraint (as long as it's not outrageous), are there any laptops that are decent for gaming but still look like professional business laptops (i.e. no alienware-style cases)? Any recommendations you have are appreciated; thanks!

 

[IlllI]

XPS M1530

 

[TheStu]

MacBook Pro

And I think that some Thinkpads can be configured with gaming as opposed to workstation cards.

 

[waffleironhead]

This looks real business like to me.

toshiba qosimo

 

[JuffoWup]

I checked out the XPS M1530 and like that option so far. Is there anywhere where I can check what the CPU options mean in terms of performance/battery life? Also, are there any downsides to a solid state hard drive other than cost/size? Thanks again.

 

[IlllI]

if you are running vista and on battery power, its really easy to set up power management. just a few clicks from what i remember.
you can set for max battery performance, or balanced, or max power etc

cost and size is the largest downside. it saves maybe 30 min or less of battery life from what i've seen. doesnt seem worth it imo considering how astronomical the price is



edit: good god.. that toshiba qosimo is the most horrific thing i've ever seen

 

[996GT2]

Thinkpad T400 with Hybrid Intel X4500/ATI HD3470 for battery life when you need it and 3D power when you want it. Thinkpad build quality is legendary, and the performance/battery life of the T400 is simply amazing.

If you equip a T400 with the 2.4 GHz, 25w Core 2 Duo CPU, hybrid graphics option, and LED backlit screen, it can pull off 10 hours of battery life with the wifi on when you are just casually browsing the internet (using the 9 cell battery). Even the 6 cell battery manages 6 hours in casual internet browsing with WiFi on.

The ATI HD3470 graphics chip is no slouch either; it's about as fast as an NVidia 8600M GS. If you need more gaming performance and don't quite need 10 hours of battery life, there is always the similar Thinkpad T500 with X4500/ATI HD3650. The HD3650 is faster than the NVidia 8600M GT that you can get on the Dell XPS M1530...and the Thinkpad gets much better battery life than the Dell.

Notebookreview describes the battery life as "insane", and also gave the T400 their Editor's Choice award

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: 996GT2


If you equip a T400 with the 2.4 GHz, 25w Core 2 Duo CPU, hybrid graphics option, and LED backlit screen, it can pull off 10 hours of battery life with the wifi on when you are just casually browsing the internet (using the 9 cell battery). Even the 6 cell battery manages 6 hours in casual internet browsing with WiFi on.

I'm not sure how much I beleive those.

Our t-400's with 6 cells and the 35watt 2.8Ghz only get about 3hrs (according to lenovo software) using wifi and built graphics.

The new ULV cpu's ought to do pretty good though.

 

[FleshLight]

Thinkpad T400
Latitude E6400
Elitebook 6930P

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: TheStu
MacBook Pro

And I think that some Thinkpads can be configured with gaming as opposed to workstation cards.

I think he wants to play more games than just browser based flash garbage

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: 996GT2


If you equip a T400 with the 2.4 GHz, 25w Core 2 Duo CPU, hybrid graphics option, and LED backlit screen, it can pull off 10 hours of battery life with the wifi on when you are just casually browsing the internet (using the 9 cell battery). Even the 6 cell battery manages 6 hours in casual internet browsing with WiFi on.

I'm not sure how much I beleive those.

Our t-400's with 6 cells and the 35watt 2.8Ghz only get about 3hrs (according to lenovo software) using wifi and built graphics.

The new ULV cpu's ought to do pretty good though.

Are the Thinkpads you guys use equipped with LED backlit screens? The 25w CPUs improve battery life quite a bit compared to the 35w ones, but the LED screen is another important part in the equation. With the 25w CPU, LED screen, and hybrid graphics, the new model supposedly doesn't draw more than around 10w during casual use. Supposedly, the newer Intel wireless chipsets also reduce power consumption.

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: TheStu
MacBook Pro

And I think that some Thinkpads can be configured with gaming as opposed to workstation cards.

I think he wants to play more games than just browser based flash garbage

That's what Boot Camp is for...but I still think the Thinkpad T400/T500 is a better option for battery life AND gaming performance, since the Macbooks only come with one battery option that's quite low in capacity compared to the Thinkpad's available 9 cell, 84 WHr battery

 

[imported_Woody]

If you want a high powered notebook there is nothing more high powered than the Sager NP9262. You can configure it with any modern Core 2 Duo desktop CPU all the way up to the QUAD Q9650 3.0GHz w/ 12MB L2 Cache on a 1333MHz FSB and it will be faster in just about everything than any other notebook out there. It is expensive but not outrageously expensive and that mostly depends on if you configure it with SLI graphics and quad core CPUs. It will also handle the E8500 or E8600 dual core desktop CPU at 3.16GHz or 3.33GHz respectively. Because they are actual off the shelf desktop socket LGA 775 CPUs running on a 1333MHz FSB they are faster than any current mobile chips you can buy.

It's spartan in appearance and although large and heavy and specifically designed for gaming it doesn't necessarily look like a gaming or niche computer. It will fit easily into any carrying case designed for 17" notebooks. It has internal bays for up to three 2.5" hard drives and two mobile 9800M GTX graphics cards. It has a high quality 17" display at either WUXGA 1920x1200 or WSXGA 1080x1050.

http://www.sagernotebook.com/p...customed.php?pid=29175

I'm not sure what you need to do for your work but if you really need a "high powered" laptop for work this is true desktop power and indisputably the most powerful 17" notebook you can buy. Keep in mind battery life is not good and it's heavy.

This notebook is a Clevo D901C and is sold under many other brand names. Sager is one of the better known and most competitively priced brands.

You can read my full review here: http://www.notebookforums.com/thread220194.html