Need a laptop around $700 that will run Photoshop CS3 and Team Fortress 2

[Andvari]

I'm told that nearly any laptop these days will run CS3 fine, so it comes down to Team Fortress 2. Two questions:

1. I've been thinking about this one, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...4114406&Tpk=A215-S7437 but will the X1200 run TF2? I think it's integrated, and I've heard it sucks.

2. I keep reading that a Core 2 Duo is the way to go in laptops, but they are a bit pricier. That laptop I linked has a 1.9ghz AMD Turion 64 X2. Would a 1.4ghz Core 2 Duo be better, or is that too much slower?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

The lowest GPU you'd be able to get away with in TF2 is an 8400.

 

[Andvari]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. "Get away with" heh, guess I'd have to run it on somewhat low settings too. How about this Dell? I'm only worried that a 1.4ghz processor might be too slow. That's why I was wondering how it would compare to a 1.9ghz Turion X2.

http://www.auburn.edu/~goldema/dell.jpg (Dunno if I'd get Vista or not, I just picked something when configuring the specs)

 

[Rottie]

Are you a student at Auburn University? Have you thought about Apple MacBook Pro? I know CS3 works great with MBP. and you can use Bootcamp with Windows XP to run Team Fortress 2.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

I second the Macbook Pro solution. Being a student can yield some pretty great deals and the 8600GT should run TF2 just fine. Although you haven't stated a budget.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
I second the Macbook Pro solution. Being a student can yield some pretty great deals and the 8600GT should run TF2 just fine. Although you haven't stated a budget.

Topic Title: Need a laptop around $700 that will run Photoshop CS3 and Team Fortress 2

I think the apple is out of the question

OP, I noticed that you had configured your laptop with 2GB of RAM. Dell charges an unnecessary amount to upgrade this, it's cheaper to add the extra modules yourself with current RAM prices. Use the money to upgrade to a faster CPU. For ~$700 you'll be hard pressed to find a laptop with anything better than an 8400 series GPU.

 

[Andvari]

Yeah I looked up the Apple and noticed the $1799 price tag and thought, "Whoa, they must have missed the title of the thread." =)

Actually, I noticed Dell charges a boatload for upgrading RAM, but that wasn't an upgrade. It comes standard with 2gb. I don't know what monkeys designed their "configurator" that lets you customize your PC, but I made the most sense of it I could. You can set up the same computer in different ways, and get completely different prices lol. That $798 seemed to be the cheapest way I could figure out to put those specs together.

There is an instant $350 savings, is that a sale? Do I need to order ASAP?

 

[Andvari]

Oh snap, I just called Dell to see what was up with that insta-saving of $350. First of all, I got a hold of the Home (not business) department, and I told them what I was looking at and they asked if I had looked at the Insiprons, as they too are highly customizable. I said no, and he tried to set one up and eventually said, "Wow, that's a great deal. We won't be able to touch that. Let me put you through to the Business department."

LOL

Anyway, turns out it IS a promotion and is likely to run out any day now. *ohnoes* Guess I better quit procrastinating. Now to decide on XGA or SXGA.... SXGA sounds like the obvious choice, but I'm worried about the performance hit TF2 would take by running it at a higher res. I guess I could run it non-native, but that might disappoint. *shrug*

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Go for the larger resolution screen. You can always downscale a game, and you'll love the larger screen real-estate for normal tasks.

 

[Oil]

Originally posted by: Andvari
Anyway, turns out it IS a promotion and is likely to run out any day now. *ohnoes* Guess I better quit procrastinating. Now to decide on XGA or SXGA.... SXGA sounds like the obvious choice, but I'm worried about the performance hit TF2 would take by running it at a higher res. I guess I could run it non-native, but that might disappoint. *shrug*

If you want to play games at native res. with the 8400 GS get the XGA screen. I have a 8400 GS and have to turn the resolution down to 1280x800 to get 40fps on TF2

 

[Andvari]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I went with the XGA version. I decided before I saw OSx86's response, but it was because I was stretching my budget as it was, and I didn't realize you had to still pay sales tax when ordering from Dell online. Sales tax plus SXGA would have been the straw that broke the camel's back. =)

 

[narreth]

My pc specs are this

Sempron 2800+
1.5Gb
Geforce 6200

I run TF2 at 1024 x 768 with all settings on low. I think most people underestimate what low end cards can do.