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Good gaming laptop

D

dimsum

Senior member
I am looking for a gaming laptop, whats good out there?
I live in a small apartment so there is no room for a full blown tower.
Also, I am in Hong Kong so most likely be looking at IBM, DELL and the like.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
At the mobile front there are very few adequate GPUs for modern games. So whatever laptop you choose make sure it has one of the following:

ATI Mobile Radeon 9000 64 MB. 32 MB version uses slower memory, avoid it. This is the first mobile graphic chip that can handle new games. The other one is from nVidia, Geforce 4 4200 Go, with _two_ zeroes. Pretty much the same as the ATI's chip, performance-wise.

In addition ATI recently annouced three new chips for notebooks: Radeon 9100 IGP (intergrated solution, adequate at the best), 9200 supposedly a faster version of 9000 and the ultimate 9600 with all the latest and greatest features. It's just that as far as I know, there's no laptop shipping with either 9200 or 9600. And when there are, the price can be rather high.

nVidia has also new chips almost ready to ship, Geforce FX Go 5200 and 5600.

For example, a nice (gaming) laptop would be Dell Latitude D800. On the other hand, much praised IBM ThinkPad T40 isn't that good gaming computer at all.
 
"3DMark2001 at default settings (1024x768x32) and got 4937 3dmarks"

T40 Impressions

It is a great notebook. Lightweight, good battery life and decent gaming.

Toshibia 5205

" 3dmark01 se - 8587
3dmark03 - 2123"

? Model first available: June 3, 2003
? Processor manufacturer and model: Intel Mobile Pentium 4-M
? Processor clock speed: 2.4GHz
? Display diagonal size: 15 in.
? System memory installed: 512MB
? Rated hard disk capacity: 60GB
? System weight: 7.7 lbs.
? Dimensions (HWD in inches): 1.8x13.1x11.6
? Drive bay 1: DVD-Multi drive
? Graphics memory and chipset: 64MB Nvidia GeForce FX Go5600

 
From Powernotebooks.com:
15.7 SXGA TFT Active Matrix w/ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 w/128MB DDR
3.06GHz Hyper-Threading Intel Pentium® 4 Processor w/512k L2 Cache - 533MHz System Bus Speed
40.0GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive at 4,200 RPM (5,400 RPM is Available)
1,024MB (2 DIMMS) PC2100 DDR Memory
Combo 8X DVD/24x10x24 CD-RW w/Softwares
Built-in TV Tuner w/Remote (NTSC)
Built-in 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive
Built-in 56k V.90 Data/Fax Modem
Built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet w/RJ-45 Jack
Built-in IEEE 1394 (Firewire)
Standard Carrying Case
Free Ultimate 3-CD Bundle - $389 Value
Smart Li-ion Battery
Cash Discounted Price
$2,025.00

 
When getting a gaming laptop it is better to find a "costum" build, so no HP, Dell, IBM (just like with desktop pc's).

Radeon9000 64MB is a great card, it can run UT2003 with no problems (1024x768 and high to medium settings).
256 MB of RAM is sufficient, but can be 512
and a P4M (not Pentium M), or simply desktop P4 will save money.

You can find such laptops from less known manufacturers at a very good price (compared to Alienware), I'm sure it will be no problem in Hong Kong.
 
Originally posted by: Wiktor
When getting a gaming laptop it is better to find a "costum" build, so no HP, Dell, IBM (just like with desktop pc's).

Radeon9000 64MB is a great card, it can run UT2003 with no problems (1024x768 and high to medium settings).
256 MB of RAM is sufficient, but can be 512
and a P4M (not Pentium M), or simply desktop P4 will save money.

You can find such laptops from less known manufacturers at a very good price (compared to Alienware), I'm sure it will be no problem in Hong Kong.
Click to expand...

I see flaws in your method.

1.) You can't really find a custom "built" ( home made ) notebook. IBM and Dells are not that bad. IBM being the better of the two IMO
2.) A desktop P4 reduces battery life a bit. If it is going to be on a desk, than I see no problem with it. But if you are not going to be mobile at all buy a SFF and an lcd monitor.
3.) Buying from a reputable manufacturer ensures you that you have a better warranty and service. Notebooks are more likely to be broken than desktop PCs. Hinges, lcd screens, keyboards... dropping on accident, scratches, etc... . Plus build quality is usually better with reputable Manufacturers.

 
By no means was I talking about a home made laptop 🙂, these don't exist I know. But there are manufactureres that use the standard parts (which will be the same as for any laptop save the drivers and case - lcd and keyboard) and sell the same performance laptops for a lot cheaper. So basicly they do the costum build for you.

Let me show what I'm talking about looks familiar ?
Compare to this.
Same laptop, but mine is not Alienware and cost significantly less (I mean a LOT less).
How much would an IBM laptop with:
Pentium4 2,4GHz
256 DDR RAM
ATi Radeon9000 64MB
15" LCD
DVD/CD-RW
and all the rest (firewire, flash card slot, audio panel, FDD)
cost? I'd rather not think, but they don't have these, instead they propose Centrino, and that's good, just not what you need for games and desktop performance.

So as a desktop replacement and for games, such laptops are perfect, just not popular...
At least that's my opinion, the money is the deciding factor for me.
 
A friend of mine ordered an Alienware laptop from Best Buy with a 3Ghz desktop processor in it, and the best graphics card option available at the time. It plays current games very well, and you can also use the fan exhaust on the side to cook your food! He's been using that laptop regularly for a couple months now, and it has held up well. Great for LAN parties.
 
Originally posted by: XBoxLPU
Originally posted by: Wiktor
When getting a gaming laptop it is better to find a "costum" build, so no HP, Dell, IBM (just like with desktop pc's).

Radeon9000 64MB is a great card, it can run UT2003 with no problems (1024x768 and high to medium settings).
256 MB of RAM is sufficient, but can be 512
and a P4M (not Pentium M), or simply desktop P4 will save money.

You can find such laptops from less known manufacturers at a very good price (compared to Alienware), I'm sure it will be no problem in Hong Kong.
Click to expand...

I see flaws in your method.

1.) You can't really find a custom "built" ( home made ) notebook. IBM and Dells are not that bad. IBM being the better of the two IMO
2.) A desktop P4 reduces battery life a bit. If it is going to be on a desk, than I see no problem with it. But if you are not going to be mobile at all buy a SFF and an lcd monitor.
3.) Buying from a reputable manufacturer ensures you that you have a better warranty and service. Notebooks are more likely to be broken than desktop PCs. Hinges, lcd screens, keyboards... dropping on accident, scratches, etc... . Plus build quality is usually better with reputable Manufacturers.
Click to expand...

2 & 3 are really good advices. You should consider these, especially 2. It's not that much fun to play an online fps on a laptop.

But if you do want a gaming laptop. Look at the Dell Inpiron 8500 and Latitude D800. Or the Tosh XBoxLPU linked to.
 
Let me show what I'm talking about looks familiar ?
Compare to this.
Same laptop, but mine is not Alienware and cost significantly less (I mean a LOT less).
How much would an IBM laptop with:
Pentium4 2,4GHz
256 DDR RAM
ATi Radeon9000 64MB
15" LCD
DVD/CD-RW
and all the rest (firewire, flash card slot, audio panel, FDD)
cost? I'd rather not think, but they don't have these, instead they propose Centrino, and that's good, just not what you need for games and desktop performance.

So as a desktop replacement and for games, such laptops are perfect, just not popular...
At least that's my opinion, the money is the deciding factor for me[/L] ?
Click to expand...

Good for you! What brand is your notebook ?

I have heard Sager sells similar looking Alienware notebooks for about the same price. AT's review of Sager NP88886 . The InspironTM 8500 was faster in most benchmarks even though having 2ghz CPU compared to 2.8ghz.
Although the desktop features are there, not all of them are up to par. The internal TV-tuner, while interesting in concept, proved to be more a novelty than a useable feature thanks to buggy software and poor video display. The internal MP3 player is a neat concept but it is far from ideal. The simple player is really limited in functionality by incorporating such a small LCD panel and the inability to read MP3 tags or filenames.
Click to expand...
( I was replying to Mutilator's )





Centrino is not so slow as you think. A 1.6-1.7ghz is equal to about a 2.2-2.4ghz desktop chip.

 
Thanks all,

I was really looking at the Dell Inpiron 8500 and T40 when i posted the question.
but is pretty set on the dell now
the graphic card for the dell is much better then ibm, dollar to dollar

I will place my dell order soon, after i make my finally trip around the local stores.

thanks everyone!
 
I have bought 3 laptops from this company and will buy my next when the time comes. Because I am a gamer and I need the most powerful laptop out there with the most power in the video subsystem. These are it. 128mb or ram on the ATI 9000 is more then enough for any game and the configurations you can get in their laptops you cannot get anywhere else. They are some of the fastest and most reliable I have seen. I have the 5660, 8887 and the new 8890 when it comes out. Check them out and see if you can find a 3.06ghz with any other laptop. And if you can, do the comparrison where you configure Powernotebooks and the other and see if you do not get more for your money. I have done it. I was going to buy a Dell Inspirion 8200 but decided after seeing what power had decided to go with them.
I guess the most important part of buying anything that has a high dollar value is customer service. Powernotebooks has a 9.8 out of 10 on Resellerrating.com. Check it out. The exceed normal customer satisfaction by leaps and bounds. If I was going to drop over 1500-3000 dollars on a computer I would check out all my options, and see who gives the most for the money and the best customer satisfaction. www.powernotebooks.com
 
If your a gamer why bother with a Laptop. For saving space, just by one of those microATX cubes and a LCD panel. The cube is small and can take a much more powerfull video card, its cheaper, and upgradeable. Micro ATX motherboards are great for small spaces and ASUS even makes a good afforadble one using the Nforce2. (Not to mention many other mobo makers) It's small enough, you could fit the whole contraption in your sock drawer if u want (if ventilation wasnt a problem).
 
my 600m is pretty decent, it'd be better with a radeon 9600 but theres something wrong between pentium-m and the 9600.

if the 9600 comes out by the end july for pentium-m i might have to return this system. or maybe they'd let me exchange just the video.
 
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