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Need opinions from the experts (College / Notebook)

R

r0bVious

Senior member
I realized lately that I would really like to replace my desktop with a notebook of some sort. My desktop is aging pretty gracefully (custom built, myself), but I'm here at school now and I've been thinking about parting out my desktop and purchasing a notebook.

I've been out of the tech loop for a while, and I'm hoping to get something as speedy (if not faster) than my desktop.

A64 3500+ (2.2ghz)
2gb (2x1024) DDR400
AGP Gainward Geforce 6800GT "Runs Like Hell" (stock OC 400/1100)
yadda yadda

Size and weight make little difference to me.

As far as budget goes, I'm a huge stickler, which is why I'm here seeing what your collective opinions are. I have the money for something wicked, but it's not going to happen. It's hard enough on my family sending me to school, let alone with me screwing around with backup money. Anyway, like I said, I plan on parting out my desktop for some cash, plus a little bit out of my spending money, and a bunch from my savings (which I plan to slowly replace through responsible actions. I try, honestly.)

I'm hoping to stay under $1500. The further under, the better.

I just checked resellerratings for ibuypower.com and cyberpowerinc.com and I see ibuypower is just terrible. Cyberpower seems to have turned it around since I last saw. What's the general concensus on these groups? They're the only two custom-building sites I can remember anymore. Any suggestions are, too, welcomed.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your time.
 
for that price....anything will do. It has seriously got to the point where a $1100 price point (even $900 if you find a deal) is good. The only thing that really sets apart a $1100 and $2000 laptop is something like a huge ass 17in LCD and a an external video card.

For teh love of god...please do not buy a 17 in laptop. I do not get the point of them. they are so big that it really does not save space at all. I got a 15.7 in laptop during my freshman year in college. It was a pain to haul around.


edit: As for where to buy....I have never tried cyberpower or any company like that. I personally like sticking to the major players like Toshiba, even if they do have the computers made from the same place.


 
Some reassuring words, Gibson. Thanks, it's necessary (I'm scared! ;D)

Any specific ideas? Keep in mind I need a mobile card that's going to either compete or spank my 6800gt.
 
Hmmm....I cannot tell you anything about todays video cards. I have not even looked at that market since 2002. What is the competing chipset that goes against a 6800? When I first went into college, I wanted a laptop with a mobility 9000. I had to have it. turns out I really did not need since all I ever played in college was Counterstrike.
 
Heh, I'm over CS ;D

I play a whole spectrum of games, from the not-demanding-at-all to the new stuff.

There's a whole line of mobile cards around the name of 7600 (on the nvidia side) and 7800 and stuff. They really jack the prices of notebooks up.
 
The 7700Go would be your best option, but the Asus A8Js is over your budget. So, I'll list a bunch of others that fall into your budget (along with their size), in order of what I think is best (based primarily on size, then speed):

Comparative video performance: 7700Go (more pixel pipes than the 7600) > 7600Go = MR X1700 (Die-shrink of the X1600) = MR X1600

Asus A8JP - 14" WXGA+, MR X1700 $1300

Asus F3JP - 15.4" WXGA or WSXGA+ (costs more - $1500), MR X1700 $1300 (WXGA+ version)

F3JV - 15.4" WXGA, 7600 Go $1300

There are a couple others from other companies on Newegg, but they don't give you as much for your money. (ie: HP/Compaq with an X1600 has only 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, $1350
 
Originally posted by: r0bVious
I'm not so into Intel, though your suggestions look pretty decent.
Click to expand...

Core 2 Duo is the best mobile processor right now and you won't get much better than those. You could always try looking for an E1705 with a 7900GS (either in the Dell Outlet or on sale), but 17" notebooks are more like monstrosities than notebooks.

Also, good luck finding an AMD based system with a good GPU in notebook form. There are a few, such as these: Text, but they cost more than the Intel ones.
 
Originally posted by: r0bVious
oh really? Maybe intel has picked it up since my day? =]
Click to expand...

They've had the best mobile processors for a while (at least since the inception of the Pentium M circa 2004 if my memory serves me correctly). This past summer, they also took the desktop performance crown with the release of the Core 2 Duo (Desktop = Conroe, Mobile = Merom), which crushes the Athlon 64 X2 in performance benchmarks.
 
Interesting. And with the price point in their favor...

As I've said in the past, I'm loyal to no brands, only to the Price😛erformance ratio.

Thanks Brainonska. You're being a fantastic help.
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
The 7700Go would be your best option, but the Asus A8Js is over your budget. So, I'll list a bunch of others that fall into your budget (along with their size), in order of what I think is best (based primarily on size, then speed):

Comparative video performance: 7700Go (more pixel pipes than the 7600) > 7600Go = MR X1700 (Die-shrink of the X1600) = MR X1600

Asus A8JP - 14" WXGA+, MR X1700 $1300

Asus F3JP - 15.4" WXGA or WSXGA+ (costs more - $1500), MR X1700 $1300 (WXGA+ version)

F3JV - 15.4" WXGA, 7600 Go $1300

There are a couple others from other companies on Newegg, but they don't give you as much for your money. (ie: HP/Compaq with an X1600 has only 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, $1350
Click to expand...

agreed with all of it. i was going to post the exact same links 😛 . i've read through the whole thread and everything brainonska's said is right so just listen to him. notice he recommended the 14.1" X1700 Asus laptop...14.1" > 15.4" when it comes to student needs (brainonska and i are both students so i'm sure we could relate to your situation)
 
What about the MR X1800? How does that fit in there? I'm assuming naming conventions still mean little in terms of performance.
 
Originally posted by: alimoalem
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
The 7700Go would be your best option, but the Asus A8Js is over your budget. So, I'll list a bunch of others that fall into your budget (along with their size), in order of what I think is best (based primarily on size, then speed):

Comparative video performance: 7700Go (more pixel pipes than the 7600) > 7600Go = MR X1700 (Die-shrink of the X1600) = MR X1600

Asus A8JP - 14" WXGA+, MR X1700 $1300

Asus F3JP - 15.4" WXGA or WSXGA+ (costs more - $1500), MR X1700 $1300 (WXGA+ version)

F3JV - 15.4" WXGA, 7600 Go $1300

There are a couple others from other companies on Newegg, but they don't give you as much for your money. (ie: HP/Compaq with an X1600 has only 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, $1350
Click to expand...

agreed with all of it. i was going to post the exact same links 😛 . i've read through the whole thread and everything brainonska's said is right so just listen to him. notice he recommended the 14.1" X1700 Asus laptop...14.1" > 15.4" when it comes to student needs (brainonska and i are both students so i'm sure we could relate to your situation)
Click to expand...

14.1 is definitely better than 15.4", but sometimes I wish I went with something even smaller. I find myself playing less games (I only play UT2004 about once a month), so I wish I could have had a notebook that was 12" with a docking station instead (which will probably happen when I one day get the computer to replace my W3J that I currently use, which is still awesome). But in the end, 14" is an excellent choice between power and portability. Plus, the keyboard/screen size are big enough so that they don't cause problems with either portability or usability on a desk.
 
Is it that big of a deal? I don't know how much I'd be carrying it around, honestly. It's more of a convience factor moreso than something for me to take everywhere with me.

I don't mean to nitpick, but you guys are being great helps and I want to take advantage of you ;D
 
Originally posted by: r0bVious
Is it that big of a deal? I don't know how much I'd be carrying it around, honestly. It's more of a convience factor moreso than something for me to take everywhere with me.

I don't mean to nitpick, but you guys are being great helps and I want to take advantage of you ;D
Click to expand...

You might not think about it now, but if you want to bring your notebook home or just go to a library (or other place to work), the pound or more that a larger notebook adds to a backpack makes a difference (especially if you are carrying some books too), even if you are not carrying it everywhere. Smaller just makes it more convenient to carry it where it needs to go.
 
yea i've been looking at a couple 13.3" laptops. personally, i think 13.3-14.1" is ideal for laptops, especially for students. 12" isn't bad but, imo, it starts to approach portable-DVD-player-sized.

r0bVious, you may think 15.4" is still the size for you but plan for the future; you said that the money is available but you do realize it doesn't go on trees so i'm assuming you'll be keeping this for a couple years, at the very least. think about what your needs will be in a year or two down the road. if you'll be using your laptop at school (which i hope you do, otherwise why do you need a laptop if it'll be home all day?), you don't want to be lugging around something heavy or something large for your desk.

about the weight, if you've lifted a 5lb and 7lb weight, you barely feel the difference. but if you have that 5 or 7lb weight in your backpack, those last 2lbs really do start to become a burden
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
F3JV - 15.4" WXGA, 7600 Go $1300
Click to expand...

This one looks nice. The system likely supports dual channel RAM but ships (supposedly) with a single 1GB module, so pop a second module in for instant 2GB dual channel goodness for an extra $100 give or take.

The 7600Go should be competitive with the 6800GT in performance. I know a desktop 7600GT beats a 6800GT, but not sure where the "Go" version is clocked since the 7600GT desktop chip is often found clocked extremely high.

For the OP, definately spend some time thinking on all the reasons you want the notebook. If it's just to save desk space, if you already have an LCD monitor then just get a SFF setup and put your CPU/RAM into it (and maybe get a small keyboard). If you figure you'd be carrying it around every day, as others suggested perhaps consider something lighter.
 
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