Laptop Gaming Challenge

[orinb]

Ok so I have 600 bucks and I am buying a Laptop. It needs to be able to play World of Warcraft. I will be using it to get on the internet. If possible I will plug it into my hdmi tv cause my eyesight is bad. I have a couple ideas of my own but I wanted some outside opinions as well if you have time. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[DaveSimmons]

You might try the SFF & notebook forum, people there have a better idea of what's available :
http://forums.anandtech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=23

Other than that, getting the best possible graphics chip is what matters now that even $350 laptops often have dual-core processors.

With only $600 you might need to look into refurb, clearance, or off-lease deals. Dell overstocks and Dell financial sales are two options.
http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/

FYI, that would buy a much more powerful gaming desktop if you don't really need it to be a laptop.

 

[Saga]

Damn I saw this thread and was hoping it was an e-peen benchmark thread I could throw my 1GB DDR3 Graphics, 8GB 2000mhz DDR3 RAM, 3.33ghz i7 Lenovo T510 at. =(

WoW will run on a $50 ebay'd T40 from 2003-2004. I don't think you're going to have trouble finding something for less than $600 that will run it maxed, however I think the HDMI output requirement will be a defining factor in making the price point OVER $600. I haven't looked at "performance" gaming laptops lately but I have not seen any with HDMI outputs.

 

[conorvansmack]

Check out FS/FT, there are usually some pretty good deals on there.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Damn I saw this thread and was hoping it was an e-peen benchmark thread I could throw my 1GB DDR3 Graphics, 8GB 2000mhz DDR3 RAM, 3.33ghz i7 Lenovo T510 at. =(

WoW will run on a $50 ebay'd T40 from 2003-2004. I don't think you're going to have trouble finding something for less than $600 that will run it maxed, however I think the HDMI output requirement will be a defining factor in making the price point OVER $600. I haven't looked at "performance" gaming laptops lately but I have not seen any with HDMI outputs.

Yeah, i've had it run on a T42 before ... with integrated 945 express graphics, it's not too intense of a game...now if you want it to run well, that's a different story.

 

[vj8usa]

WoW will run on a $50 ebay'd T40 from 2003-2004. I don't think you're going to have trouble finding something for less than $600 that will run it maxed

I don't play WoW, but I'm pretty sure from what I've read that WoW will run like absolute shit on a laptop from 2003. The game is significantly more demanding now than it was when it came out. You're definitely going to have trouble finding a sub-$600 laptop that'll run WotLK maxed out.

I think the HDMI output requirement will be a defining factor in making the price point OVER $600. I haven't looked at "performance" gaming laptops lately but I have not seen any with HDMI outputs.

...huh? HDMI isn't a premium feature anymore. My dad's $300 HP from more than a year ago has an HDMI port, and it wasn't optional. I'm betting just about any gaming laptop sold today will have an HDMI-out.

 

[MagickMan]

If you want to run on min settings, anything built in the last 6 years will do it. If you want to run it maxed out prepare to pay out some serious cash.

 

[pontifex]

Not going to get much for $600. you need to start looking around $1000 + for a gaming laptop. You might find one for $8-900 range if you're lucky. I got a nice Asus one in that range from Best Buy of all places, but I don't think they sell it any more.

 

[Raduque]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16834220637R ?

 

[Matthiasa]

I don't play WoW, but I'm pretty sure from what I've read that WoW will run like absolute shit on a laptop from 2003. The game is significantly more demanding now than it was when it came out. You're definitely going to have trouble finding a sub-$600 laptop that'll run WotLK maxed out.



...huh? HDMI isn't a premium feature anymore. My dad's $300 HP from more than a year ago has an HDMI port, and it wasn't optional. I'm betting just about any gaming laptop sold today will have an HDMI-out.

He said run not maxed out.
To run just about anything will do in that price range.

 

[AVP]

My brother got an MSI openbox laptop from newegg with a 9600m gt and a p8400 for around $600 or so last fall. Keep your eye out on those deals, stock changes rapidly. He can play tf2 / various rts / HoN on it perfectly.

edit: like this - sweet deal http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220667R

 

[frozentundra123456]

Not going to get much for $600. you need to start looking around $1000 + for a gaming laptop. You might find one for $8-900 range if you're lucky. I got a nice Asus one in that range from Best Buy of all places, but I don't think they sell it any more.

I think I just got one of the last of the same Asus models you are talking about. It was listed on the best buy website as an outlet item, but one local store did have a few in stock, so I did not have to have it shipped. I even got 50.00 off. The specs are really good for the price (2.13 ghz Core duo, GT260m, 4gb ram). I got it for a gift for my grandson who is moving away (he is 13 BTW). I hope that it is reliable. Most of the reviews on the BB web site were favorable.
They also have an older 17" screen model with a faster processor for 999, and a really nice new model with an i5 and I believe GTS250M, but it is 11 or 12 hundred: more than I was willing to spend.

 

[Barfo]

If you want to run on min settings, anything built in the last 6 years will do it. If you want to run it maxed out prepare to pay out some serious cash.

/thread

 

[simonizor]

Look for an Acer laptop with 4gb of RAM, an ATI or nVidia graphics card, and a dual core processor. It might not run it with every setting maxed, but it should at least run it on medium. Acer laptops are usually ~$100 cheaper than their competition, and I haven't had a single problem with the two that I've had for over a year. If you don't trust Acer, remember, they make gateway (and used to make packard bell) so it's not like they're just some shady Chinese company; they've been around for a long time.

:EDIT: This is pretty much the exact laptop that I was thinking of, and it's right at your price point.\
Acer Aspire AS5542G-5281 NoteBook AMD Turion II M500(2.2GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory DDR2 667 320GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115727.

It has 4GB of ram, a 320GB hard drive, an ATI 4570 dedicated graphics card (with HDMI out), and a 2.2GHz dual core AMD Turion II. My girlfriend has an older model of the same laptop with an ATI 3200 and an older model 2.2GHz dual core AMD Turion. It runs Sims 3 maxed out just fine (the only game she plays lol). I put CS:S on it the other day and it got about 60 frames with just about everything maxed. The laptop in that link would be even faster than my gf's because of the newer CPU and a much better dedicated graphics card.

I would also like to get a laptop to runs some of my games on.. If I had the money right now, this would be the laptop that I would purchase.

: DOUBLE EDIT :
I almost forgot about this deal. Very similar specs to the one above, but it's refurbished. It's only $435, so it's a great deal. It's up to you as to whether you're comfortable buying a refurbished laptop.
Asus X83VB-X2 14.1" Laptop Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 2.0GHz, 4GB, 250GB HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9300M, Webcam, Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (Navy) - Refurbished
http://www.buy.com/prod/asus-x83vb-x...tml?adid=17653

 

[notposting]

I was thinking the same as simonizor.

Bingo, bango:Acer 5542 $599.99 with 14.83 shipping

Acer 5542, 2.2GHz AMD, Mobility Radeon 4570, 4GB DDR2-667, 320GB HD. Has HDMI (and VGA) output. The 4570 isn't too hot with only 80 shaders but that is double the amount on the ATI integrated chips, and of course it has it's own discrete memory to play with.

Get a decent little laptop mouse and you'll be all set.

And I also like this Acer 5536 I have so far (basically the same but with integrated ATI graphics), beat the heck out of it for the past 6 months and done a nice job. Bailed me out a couple weekends ago when the HTPC motherboard crapped out while we had company. Plopped it in the entertainment center, and the beauty of combining 7MC, WHS, and an HDHR were awesome in that it took about 20 minutes to have it completely replacing it. Complete with HDMI, remote control, live TV, etc.

EDIT: Hey Me and simonizor really were thinking the same haha! and I think this tab was open for awhile in my browser, heh

 

[MagickMan]

It'll run WoW at ummm... about upper-medium settings. That will still look pretty decent.

 

[xCxStylex]

For that amount of $$, you're probably looking at a used or refurb at the least.

Look at the gateway series from bestbuy. I bought my laptop in my sig for $1199 and $700 for a refurb from TD, the retail priced one for my GF months before the refurbs were available. Because this was about a year ago, you can probably find the same model or similar for your price range. 7805u fx

 

[KeypoX]

You can get a core i5 for that much. Check hot deals here or slickdeals

 

[BladeVenom]

Does it absolutely have to be a laptop? For gaming you are much better off with a desktop. You can get a much more powerful graphics card far cheaper in a desktop.

 

[frozentundra123456]

For that amount of $$, you're probably looking at a used or refurb at the least.

Look at the gateway series from bestbuy. I bought my laptop in my sig for $1199 and $700 for a refurb from TD, the retail priced one for my GF months before the refurbs were available. Because this was about a year ago, you can probably find the same model or similar for your price range. 7805u fx

Glad you had good luck with Gateway. The price is certainly right on both their laptops and desktops. However, my experience with gateway has not been good. I bought a laptop about 3 years ago and it would not boot right out of the box. I got that replaced and the replacement died about a year later. Could be just bad luck, but that is my experience with gateway.

 

[El Guaraguao]

I bought a p7805 FX laptop about a year ago from a guy on craigslist. It came with fallout 3, spore collector edition, M$oft sidewinder mouse and keyboard and a pair of gaming headphones for...are you ready for this, $750.

So far it runs everything I throw at it, even crysis is playable. Im sure this laptop wont break a sweat trying to run WoW. Even up to now, Ive had no issue with this Gateway.

 

[AndroidVageta]

I got a Gateway P-7811 laptop Ill sell to you for $600.

Specs:

Intel P8400
4GB DDR3
Nvidia 9800M GTS 512MB
2 x 200GB 7200RPM HDD in RAID0
17" 1920x1200 LCD

Its in near perfect condition...let me know!

 

[orinb]

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! I ended up getting a Dell Inspiron 15 Notebook that arrived yesterday. Picked it up in my budget and played Wow last night with some buddies. We won a battleground, ran through a dungeon, and typed crude messages to each other. Good times!

 

[xCxStylex]

I scored 5 refurbs from TD and sold them at $700 a pop :X


And for the guy selling the 7811fx, its practically the same as the p7805u, just one previous generation. It was more prone to heating issues from what I read, but as with all laptops, its always a gamble :X

I bought a p7805 FX laptop about a year ago from a guy on craigslist. It came with fallout 3, spore collector edition, M$oft sidewinder mouse and keyboard and a pair of gaming headphones for...are you ready for this, $750.

So far it runs everything I throw at it, even crysis is playable. Im sure this laptop wont break a sweat trying to run WoW. Even up to now, Ive had no issue with this Gateway.

 

[smackababy]

I am just putting this out there, but if you're into WoW, Alienware increases your DPS. Just saying...