Looking for a decent gaming laptop, need ideas on where to cut costs...

[Gerr]

I want to buy a gaming laptop with my Tax return, around $1200 to $1500, and would like to know where I can do some cost cutting to get the best bang for the buck.

My first idea was to look for a laptop with a Nvidia 7900 or 7950 video card as that is cheaper and faster than the newer 8600 videocard. I play on running XP, so don't need DX10 compatable cards. Can't afford any laptops with 8800 series. Thoughts?

Second idea is to get a 15.4" screen rather than a 17" on because most laptops have a video out now, so can plug it into a nicer LCD for at home gaming. Plus that usually makes it ligher, so easier to carry around.

Third idea is to buy a mint-condition used or new closeout models as those can be found for a better price.


Any suggestions as to what to get and where to get it would be great. Thanks!

 

[TheStu]

What kind of games do you intend on playing? That will determine a lot of the rest of the system. Also, is there anything else that you are planning on doing with the laptop? Do you actually want to use it as a laptop?

 

[PClark99]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1195599780039

has an 8800m gts, will get a couple years out of it.

CPU is upgradeable so in a year when the slower cpu starts to lag you can drop a faster CPU in it.

Plus it has internal space for a 2nd hard drive.


this is what you seek.

/thread.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

As an aside, unless you're getting a Dell premium display, all laptop screens under 17" suck. Me and bro have near identical HP laptops with 15 and 17" screens. My 15" absolutely sucks with whitewash etc. compared to his display.

 

[Gerr]

Wow, that is a nice Gateway laptop. Didn't think I could get one with a 8800 series graphics card for that cheap. However, noticed it has the 5000 series dual core CPU instead of the 7000 series I was hoping for. How much faster is the 7000 series over the 5000 series? And how exactly is the CPU upgradeable? I thought all laptop CPU's were hard wired into the mobo?

Mainly playing RTS games, but that does include games like World In Conflict, Company of Heros, etc. Wont be playing any FPS games as I have a nice main system for that. And yes, will also use it as a laptop when ever the chance arises.

 

[Zap]

All "modern" notebooks have socketed CPUs, except for certain subnotebooks and ULV chips. That Gateway notebook is the KILLER DEAL for a gaming notebook. Yes, the CPU is a bit weak, but it can't be beat for that price. If you want better, buy directly from Gateway and you can get one with a T7200 thereabouts for $1600. Same 2MB cache, but faster 2GHz CPU and faster 800MHz FSB (versus 667MHz) for faster overall performance.

 

[PClark99]

If you are on a budget the gateway with the 5 series CPU is good.

Save your money and wait for the 9300 45nm based lappy CPU to come out.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: PClark99
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...oduct&id=1195599780039

has an 8800m gts, will get a couple years out of it.

CPU is upgradeable so in a year when the slower cpu starts to lag you can drop a faster CPU in it.

Plus it has internal space for a 2nd hard drive.


this is what you seek.

/thread.

:thumbsup:

OP, your looking for a gaming laptop, that processor is more than enough to play games and other random multi-tasks with. Nonetheless, down the road it's alot easier to upgrade your CPU than your GPU in a notebook anyway.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
down the road it's alot easier to upgrade your CPU than your GPU in a notebook anyway.

Translation: The difference between possible and impossible.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
down the road it's alot easier to upgrade your CPU than your GPU in a notebook anyway.

Translation: The difference between possible and impossible.

Nothing is Impossible Zap!

 

[ghost recon88]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Nonetheless, down the road it's alot easier to upgrade your CPU than your GPU in a notebook anyway.

Don't tell that to us folks over @ notebookforums.com We find a way to upgrade every laptops video card

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ghost recon88
We find a way to upgrade every laptops video card

Even if the GPU is soldered onto the mainboard PCB? Well, a notebook I used to own was a Dell Latitude D800. The GPU was a Geforce Ti 4200 Go with 64MB or something like that. It was on a removable card, but the interface was proprietary. However, a later Inspiron model (don't remember which one now) used the same proprietary interface and was available with higher end cards. People were buying the higher end cards and using them with the D800 to some success. One problem was overheating since the Inspiron had better cooling to cope with the better card option, but of course ingenuity prevails and people were developing their own solutions. Also, Dell tried to control what people purchased, so buyers would have to lie about the notebook they have so that the CSR would let them place the order, since it wasn't in their online catalog as it was a replacement part normally reserved for repair techs. "Yes I have that Inspiron model. No, don't have it in front of me so I don't have the Express Service Tag number."

Well, I ended up determining that my D800 had too many things to swap out so it was easier to just find a buyer and then buy a new notebook. I wanted more RAM (it had two 256MB), faster CPU (had a Banias 1.3GHz), faster video, faster and larger HDD (had 4200RPM 20GB), the high capacity battery. I ended up selling it for $800 and buying my current notebook, Inspiron i6000, for around $1000 with double the RAM, double the HDD space, 5400RPM HDD, Radeon Mobility x300 128MB (yes faster than the GF4ti), 9 cell battery, 1.6GHz Dothan. That was a very well spent $200 "upgrade."