Gaming laptop under $1000?

[flavio]

Anyone familiar with some laptops with decent video cards for under $1000?

I could get a Dell Studio with an 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3450 for around $800 but it seems like I should be able to do a little better than that.

I realize I'm not going to have a gaming powerhouse in this price range but just trying to do what I can.

 

[IlllI]

not really

 

[FleshLight]

Gaming under $1k = Used laptop or Asus.

 

[flavio]

I've looked at some Asus laptops because of the video cards they use. Is there any reason not to go that way?

There was a Gateway review here not so long ago that sounded right in the price range but i can't find it for sale now.

 

[Phew]

Look at Dell Outlet. They sell refurb laptops for like 30% off. You can get a refurb laptop with a 8600M GT for <$1k.

I got a refurb XPS 1530, and it had no flaws whatsoever. I'll never buy new again.

Now, the 8600M GT isn't a powerhouse video card, but it'll do for anything short of Crysis. It's about twice as fast as the 3450 you were looking at. You could wait a couple months for the mobile HD4850? That sounds like a winner.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: flavio
I've looked at some Asus laptops because of the video cards they use. Is there any reason not to go that way?

There was a Gateway review here not so long ago that sounded right in the price range but i can't find it for sale now.

well if you are lucky, you might find one on clearance http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2245994&enterthread=y

this model was released just a few months ago, but someone posted that they have a lot of issues.. which is maybe why they are getting cleared out

 

[hans030390]

You could probably find a used (or even new?) Gateway gaming laptop (the 17" FX series) for under $1000 pretty easily. That's your best bet.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: clandren

Originally posted by: flavio
I've looked at some Asus laptops because of the video cards they use. Is there any reason not to go that way?

There was a Gateway review here not so long ago that sounded right in the price range but i can't find it for sale now.

well if you are lucky, you might find one on clearance http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2245994&enterthread=y

this model was released just a few months ago, but someone posted that they have a lot of issues.. which is maybe why they are getting cleared out

No question, this is the best you can do for the price.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: clandren

Originally posted by: flavio
I've looked at some Asus laptops because of the video cards they use. Is there any reason not to go that way?

There was a Gateway review here not so long ago that sounded right in the price range but i can't find it for sale now.

well if you are lucky, you might find one on clearance http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2245994&enterthread=y

this model was released just a few months ago, but someone posted that they have a lot of issues.. which is maybe why they are getting cleared out

I have the "first version" of this laptop (slower CPU, smaller HDD, 8800m GTS), and it doesn't have a lot of issues. I use mine mainly as a desktop computer (occasionally take it somewhere), but the only issue I had was the original HDD went bad. Gateway replaced it no questions asked.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

there are quite a few laptops with 3650s and 9600m gt, 9650m gt on newegg

Text

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: hans030390
I have the "first version" of this laptop (slower CPU, smaller HDD, 8800m GTS), and it doesn't have a lot of issues. I use mine mainly as a desktop computer (occasionally take it somewhere), but the only issue I had was the original HDD went bad. Gateway replaced it no questions asked.

notice a lot of those parts are slower. slower probably means less heat. its just a guess that the issues are heat related though. why else would they be clearing them out at half price after being released just a few months ago? there *has* to be something up with them

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: clandren

Originally posted by: hans030390
I have the "first version" of this laptop (slower CPU, smaller HDD, 8800m GTS), and it doesn't have a lot of issues. I use mine mainly as a desktop computer (occasionally take it somewhere), but the only issue I had was the original HDD went bad. Gateway replaced it no questions asked.

notice a lot of those parts are slower. slower probably means less heat. its just a guess that the issues are heat related though. why else would they be clearing them out at half price after being released just a few months ago? there *has* to be something up with them

Not necessarily. I've only heard good things about any revisions. Usually they drop prices for special sales/events or for when they introduce a slightly upgraded model.