Looking for a laptop for me...

[Furyline]

Hello,

I'm looking for a laptop. Something in the way of a desktop replacement. Right now my desktop has a GF3 ti200 in it. I would like the laptop to perform at least as well as my desktop. I just would like to hear any suggestions you have, and if you know about any new mobile graphics chips that are coming in the next 6 months. Any response is welcome!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[trilks]

Maybe check out powernotebooks.com... They have a 10.00 rating at reseller ratings after almost 300 votes. Don't know if they have what you are looking for, but its probably worth a look.

 

[BuddyAtBzboyz]

Originally posted by: Furyline
Hello,

I'm looking for a laptop. Something in the way of a desktop replacement. Right now my desktop has a GF3 ti200 in it. I would like the laptop to perform at least as well as my desktop. I just would like to hear any suggestions you have, and if you know about any new mobile graphics chips that are coming in the next 6 months. Any response is welcome!

Thanks,
Mike

The short of it is you will not get a laptop to perform at least as well as your desktop. The current best video card for a laptop would not be very close to the ti200. The best you can get is a ATI radeon 7500 mobile or a Nvidia Geforce 4 Go. I believe though that a mobile version of the Radeon 9000 is coming in the next 6 months which may be as good as your ti200.

 

[MWink]

I'm not sure it will be as fast as your desktop but the Dell Inspiron 8200 is currently your best bet. It is currently the fastest laptop. I have one and I think it does a very good job of replacing my desktop. There is nothing my desktop can do that it can't do. I also like the fact that almost everything in it is upgradeable (CPU, video card, etc.).

 

[Furyline]

Thanks for the reply's, It is looking like I'm going to end up waiting for the next gen of laptop video cards, but I'll check out the Dell and that website and see if anything looks good.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[ElFenix]

mobile radeon 9000 might be nice, i bet ati is bringing one out in a couple months.

 

[corkyg]

Something else to look for in a laptop, and that is, - does it come with a Restore CD or OEM OS CD? The trend nowadays seems to be to simply provide that on a HDD partition that can be accessed on boot to Restore the laptop to factory condition. In ther event of a hard disk crash, that option seems to be of limited value. Just something to check on. Also - what components are in removable bays. Most have the DVD/CD/CD/rw in one, but some have the floppy drive in one that can also accommodate a second HDD or battery. Lastly, can the touchpad be disabled - they are a huge PITA if they can't be.

 

[MWink]

Something else to look for in a laptop, and that is, - does it come with a Restore CD or OEM OS CD? The trend nowadays seems to be to simply provide that on a HDD partition that can be accessed on boot to Restore the laptop to factory condition. In ther event of a hard disk crash, that option seems to be of limited value. Just something to check on. Also - what components are in removable bays. Most have the DVD/CD/CD/rw in one, but some have the floppy drive in one that can also accommodate a second HDD or battery. Lastly, can the touchpad be disabled - they are a huge PITA if they can't be.

I can answer those for the Inspiron 8200. It came with the actual software discs, NOT a restore disc. I have a REAL Windows XP, Win DVD, MS Works, and Dell Utilities disc.

As for bays, it has one media bay that you can put anything in (CD/DVD drive, hard disk, floppy, zip, or a second standard battery). The CD/DVD drive gets its own non-removable bay (though it is easy to remove it if you want to upgrade).

I think you can disable the touch pad/pointing stick in the BIOS but I'm not 100% sure. I don't see any reason why you would want to disable it. I've never had a problem with hitting it accidentally.

Thanks for the reply's, It is looking like I'm going to end up waiting for the next gen of laptop video cards, but I'll check out the Dell and that website and see if anything looks good.

Why would you wait for next generation video cards? What do you need to do that a GeForce 4 Go 64MB can't do??? I think the performance is very good. I get 7200 in 3D Mark 2000 and 4700 in 3D Mark 2001SE.

 

[Furyline]

Originally posted by: MWink


Why would you wait for next generation video cards? What do you need to do that a GeForce 4 Go 64MB can't do??? I think the performance is very good. I get 7200 in 3D Mark 2000 and 4700 in 3D Mark 2001SE.

Yeah, you're right about that. And if I wait for the next generation, there's going to be something new coming out after that too. Those are good 3D Mark scores, can I ask what CPU you got with it? Just because the faster processors they are offering for the 8200 cost more money of course and money starts to become an issue. They are having a $200 rebate now too, which is really tempting for me. You said something earlier about being to upgrade the CPU and such. If you do this, does it void any warrantees or stuff like that? Will Dell do it themselves? I haven't found anything about this on their website.

Corky, I know about the touchpad thing, I played counterstrike on my brother's laptop before and i kept hitting the touchpad on accident and it would fire the gun. I'm sure I could get used to it if I couldn't disable it, but it is a pain.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[BuddyAtBzboyz]

Isn't the Geforce 4 mobile based on the mx core? If it is then there is quite a bit that it can't do. The 7500 mobility can don almost anything you need it to though.

 

[MWink]

Yeah, you're right about that. And if I wait for the next generation, there's going to be something new coming out after that too. Those are good 3D Mark scores, can I ask what CPU you got with it? Just because the faster processors they are offering for the 8200 cost more money of course and money starts to become an issue. They are having a $200 rebate now too, which is really tempting for me. You said something earlier about being to upgrade the CPU and such. If you do this, does it void any warrantees or stuff like that? Will Dell do it themselves? I haven't found anything about this on their website.

I got mine with a P4-M 1.4GHz. If you want to see any of the other specs, look in my sig. I'm not sure if upgrading the CPU will void your warranty. Though if you break something while upgrading it they probably won't fix it for free. I'm quite sure Dell will not do this for you (they want you to buy a whole new laptop).

Isn't the Geforce 4 mobile based on the mx core? If it is then there is quite a bit that it can't do. The 7500 mobility can don almost anything you need it to though.

Yes I think it is similar to the GeForce 4 MX core. I'm also pretty sure it can do almost anything the ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 can do. From what I've heard the Mobility Radeon 7500 is not nearly as fast in some programs.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: trilks
They have a 10.00 rating at reseller ratings after almost 300 votes.

Dang!

Some nice laptops there...decent prices too.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: IgoByte

Originally posted by: trilks
They have a 10.00 rating at reseller ratings after almost 300 votes.

Dang!

Some nice laptops there...decent prices too.

I do not recommend Sager laptops. I know someone who bought one from Powernotebooks.com and it was nothing but trouble from day 1. Powernotebooks did try to fix it every time the sent it in under warranty but the warranty eventually ran out and it continued to have problems.

Powernotebooks does their part as good as possible. That's why they have the excellent rating. The quality of the laptops OTOH is another story.

 

[TLScrappy]

Just purchased a DELL Inspiron 8200. It will be here next week. a loaded P4-1.9GHZ.

 

[Furyline]

Yeah the AnandTech article about the GF4 go showed the max performance mode of the GF4 Go beating the Mobile Radeon 7500 in almost all areas i believe. Since most of my gaming will be near an outlet, I am not worried about battery life. I am going to go with the Dell Inspiron 8200, and I think a 1.7 Ghz CPU. I think that will suit me nicely. Only thing I don't like is that Dell's $200 rebate and free shipping ended Thursday so I need to spend that much more.

Thanks for the replys,
Mike

 

[BuddyAtBzboyz]

I did some research on the 8200 to see what it was all about. I must say I am slighly impressed. I looked at the options and there is a 15" UltraSharp UXGA display available. It has a 25ms response time and a 1600x1200 resolution which is pretty damn good for an lcd. If I were to get an lcd the 8200 is what I would get. I would also make sure to get the 5400 rpm hard drive instead of the 4200 rpm one.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: BuddyAtBzboyz
I did some research on the 8200 to see what it was all about. I must say I am slighly impressed. I looked at the options and there is a 15" UltraSharp UXGA display available. It has a 25ms response time and a 1600x1200 resolution which is pretty damn good for an lcd. If I were to get an lcd the 8200 is what I would get. I would also make sure to get the 5400 rpm hard drive instead of the 4200 rpm one.

I just thought I should warn you that there is a flaw in the UXGA and US-UXGA screens. For some reason some of them flicker when certain colors/patterns are on the screen. I don't believe many (if any) SXGA+ LCD's have this problem. I know my Samsung SXGA+ does not have this problem.

As for the HD. I would just get it with the smallest/slowest you can get, then upgrade it to what you want after you have the system. Dell usually charges way too much for hard disks (and memory). I got mine with a 20GB HD and replaced it with a 40GB for less than Dell wanted to upgrade from the 20 to the 40. Also I'm not sure if 5400RPM is worth it. I've never tried a 5400RPM laptop drive but my 4200RPM IBM Travelstar seems fast enough IMO.