Laptop Purchase Advice Needed

[Darktech]

I need a laptop that is preferably around $1000 but I might be able to spend a little more but not much.
I play a lot of computer games so I need something that can be used for gaming. If anyone can offer advice on good laptop deals that can meet my needs and price range I'll greatly appreciate it.

 

[Brainonska511]

What kind of computer games?
What size screen do you want?

If you play modern games, you'll want a minimum of a MR X1600/X1650/X1700 (whatever the midrange ATI card is) or a Nvidia 7600 or 7700 Go.
Go for at least 1gig of RAM, and a dual core would be good.

All of this will probably cost you more than $1000, closer to $1500 to fulfill your requirements, unless you wanted to go with a low end card like a 7400Go or MR X1400 instead, but then you're gaming will be at a minimum.

 

[Darktech]

I don't expect to be able to play the more advanced games such as FEAR on it but at least be able to play games such as Half Life 2. My parents are actually paying for it and don't want to pay over $1000, although I might be able to convince them to pay up to $1,200. The screen size doesn't really matter much to me, I'm more interested in performance. Also advice on any websites I should go through is also appreciated.

 

[Brainonska511]

You might want to take a look at the Dell outlet. Look for the Inspiron E1705 (Inspiron 9400) with a 7900GS. You may also be able to find a coupon that would reduce its cost even further. There are usually some good deals on the outlet anyway, since a lot of them are notebooks that people returned (b/c they didn't want them).

Beyond the Dell outlet E1705s, I doubt that you'll find much that will play FEAR decently for a price of $1000 - $1200.

 

[Darktech]

This laptop costs more than I was planning to spend but if I'm able to come up with the money does this one look like a good deal for it's price?

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavil...m/oid/161288/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

 

[Zap]

That sounds pretty good. It's a monster of a notebook in a couple of ways.

Core 2 Duo 1.67GHz 2MB cache
2GB RAM
100GB 5400RPM HDD
256MB Geforce Go 7600 (I think)
DVDRW
17" widescreen

Newegg has it but OOS, for a couple hundred more but with double the HDD space.

Something closer to your budget... around $1100 can get a notebook with a Radeon X1600.

 

[Brainonska511]

These were the cheapest I found on Newegg:

You could get this for $1250AR + S&H:
IBuyPower CLX-NI
AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 (1.8GHz)
15.4" WXGA
1GB DDR2
100GB HDD
DVD Burner
GeForce Go 7600
6.4lbs

Asus F3Jm: $1300AR + S&H
Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz)
15.4" WXGA
1GB DDR2
DVD Burner
100GB HDD
GeForce Go 7600
6.51lbs

The IBuyPower is a pretty good deal. The Turion 64 X2 is a little worse than a Core 2 Duo (but not significantly) and it is the cheapest thing with a good midrange card.

 

[fbrdphreak]

The Go 7600 is a good chip, but even still won't handle high res. For some benchmarks on most of the mainstream notebook GPU's, check here:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=37

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
The Go 7600 is a good chip, but even still won't handle high res.

Remember that the OP has a stated budget of around $1000. That's pretty limiting in a notebook with "good" graphics.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
The Go 7600 is a good chip, but even still won't handle high res.

Remember that the OP has a stated budget of around $1000. That's pretty limiting in a notebook with "good" graphics.

Just pointing it out

 

[CCityInstaller]

This HP that I purchased today is a killer deal for les then $750 after rebate. It has a faster processor then the notebook you linked to, although it has a Go7400 vs the 7600. It needs a boost in system ram, but that can be had cheaply at NewEgg.

 

[weemanpow3]

I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

 

[weemanpow3]

I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

 

[weemanpow3]

I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

 

[weemanpow3]

I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: CCityInstaller
This HP that I purchased today is a killer deal for les then $750 after rebate. It has a faster processor then the notebook you linked to, although it has a Go7400 vs the 7600. It needs a boost in system ram, but that can be had cheaply at NewEgg.

The 7400Go is much slower than the 7600, so I don't know if the OP would want to go for that.

Originally posted by: weemanpow3
I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

Quadruple post! lol

The F3Jm looks nice and Asus is known for their quality laptops.

There was a poster in another laptop thread that said he picked up some HP laptop with a 7600 Go, 1GB of RAM, for $1100, but he has yet to post a link to it.

 

[Darktech]

Thanks for all the advice.

Right now I'm probably going to get the HP Pavilion dv9030us 17? Widescreen Notebook PC http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavil...m/oid/161288/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
It costs 1,400 after rebates, if anyone knows a better gaming laptop for that price or cheaper let me know.

It has:
Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 processor
Dual 5400rpm 100GB hard drives (200GB total)
2048MB DDR2 RAM
GeForce Go 7600 256MB memory
etc

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: CCityInstaller
This HP that I purchased today is a killer deal for les then $750 after rebate. It has a faster processor then the notebook you linked to, although it has a Go7400 vs the 7600. It needs a boost in system ram, but that can be had cheaply at NewEgg.

The 7400Go is much slower than the 7600, so I don't know if the OP would want to go for that.

Originally posted by: weemanpow3
I was personally looking at the Asus F3Jm. Its a good deal. you could proble get it off ebay for $900-1000

Quadruple post! lol

The F3Jm looks nice and Asus is known for their quality laptops.

There was a poster in another laptop thread that said he picked up some HP laptop with a 7600 Go, 1GB of RAM, for $1100, but he has yet to post a link to it.

check out this thread: link

this guy's looking for the same thing as you and found it for $1250 with 2gb of ram...so if you downgrade it to 1gb, it'll go for around $1150 i think. ask him for a link

my best advice is not to get a gaming laptop though. as you said, you're a student. so am i. some peer advice: limit your distractions. i'm no geek by any means but if you're going to a good university (you may be going to a community college - i don't know), definitely go with INTEGRATED graphics

if not, get at least a 7600