PLease help choosing a laptop and related topics

[pytum]

Well, yes... im gonna get a laptop for christmas and i would like that you could share some of your knowledge about this subject...

you know, i want a balance between being portable and good for gaming, also that it can run smoothly and fast, and good for internet and for good for daily use...

But theres a range of prices, around 700 dollars... yeah, that could be a lil bit lame but... i hope you can help :), you know, telling me about some specs that the lap must have and stuff like that

And the last thing, which is better, shared memory video card or dedicated memory video card?

the laptop must be a 13.3 inches or a 12.1 inches

[Zerg_eater]

try going to jimmyr.com/deals
f
They sell awesome laptops and other stuff for a half price

[Anoiktos]

I would assume a shared memory video card would be better for nonvideo-related processes and a dedicated one for video-related processes. So if you plan on playing graphics-intensive games, you'll want dedicated, but either way you're going to want an interesting amount of RAM.

I currently play with an overkill desktop I made for a little less than 1kUSD, quad-core2.4ghz/2gbram/8800GT, but this kind of thing is totally unnecessary for most games. (only Crysis and Supreme Commander can even begin to give it a run for its money).

So I would recommend that you tell us what games you're looking to be playing, and what you're likely to use your computer for, so that we can make a better decision.

Also, why do you need it to be portable? What situations are you going to be using it in, and what for, that it will require portability?

[pytum]

well, actually, my dad wants that the laptop be portable because he will use it too, but the laptop will be mine, and im taking advantage of this situation to get a laptop that could serve as a gaming machine (not too powerful) and a daily-use for common aplications laptop (internet, chat, downloads, word, etc)

The screen must be 12.1!! :P and im looking for SC2! yeah

and yeah, i havent seen laptops with video card that have dedicated memory, all of them have shared !!, that sucks

[Thedutchjelle]

Is it even possible to buy a good computer for 700 dollars?

[Basan]

'DutchJelle, I'd say it's fairly possible. One of the good "core 2 duo" laptops n' dedicated graphic card that was looking around (before the bills began to mount up :P) was around the 800 € mark. And since the U.S. Dollar is near the same value as the Euro it wasn't that much more expensive I'd wager.

[Neo]

Is it even possible to buy a good computer for 700 dollars?

I'd say more then possible. We could probably even rebuild that computer mentioned earlier @ 1000 for 700 now.

Computers really aren't that expensive until you venture into Notebooks and Apple land.

-Neo

[Toucan]

I recommend looking for one that is highly upgradeable. Expandable RAM slots and interchangeable or expandable graphics. This way, even though it's not all you hoped for straight away, you can maybe improve on it for your birthday.

[DoctorZettabyte]

And since the U.S. Dollar is near the same value as the Euro it wasn't that much more expensive I'd wager.

Last I heard, it was 2 to 1, Euro favor. USD even slips behind CND now.

Also, I've heard HP puts their processors in close proximity to their Hard Drives. Not good, but it may be just a rumor.

-DocTera

[Wehrmacht]

Dell's XPS series of gaming laptops is good...

[Wehrmacht]

first of all, you're living in AmericA?
2nd.. 700 dollars for a gaming laptop is very very difficult to achieve......... you would be better looking at $900-1000 range for a gaming laptop that could support SC2 and some of the other games you play. 700 dollar laptop will be useless for any new games in about 6 weeks, the technology for that price just isnt worth it.
the current exchange rate is 1 EUR to 1.4 USD, so 800 euro is like $1,145

[Faiien]

ya but dell xps's are a little pricey
i would recommend a dell just not an xps at your price budget

[pytum]

first of all, you're living in AmericA?
the continent or the US?

Yes, im in America and im close to the US

And i havent seen laptops with dedicated memory in their video card!

And, about gaming, what specs do you think starcraft will need?

[Neo]

It's doubtful you will find a notebook for under $700 that will run SC2 at playable levels, but again, we don't know what the SC2 requirements will be.

-Neo

[DoctorZettabyte]

Yes, im in America and im close to the US

...What?

Also, laptops in general aren't the best machines for gaming, in my experience. Sure, they have the parts, but the video doesn't ever seem to be up to snuff.

-DocTera

[TranquilNightElf]

$700 is going to be difficult for a gaming laptop.
You can configure a Dell Inspiron 15" with a (rather low compared to current games requirement) NVidia 8400M GS 128MB ram and T5250 1.5GHz processor. But even with that and a coupon of $300 it comes to around $1000 + tax.
Of course you can go for the Vostro for shaving off a significant amount, but you won't get the aesthetics of the Inspirons


Try http://www.ibuypower.com/mall/lobby.htm
It might have good deals like
this one (http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/configurator.aspx?mid=188) from the front page. It has 256MB NVidia 7600 though so will not support DX10.1. Listed price is like $749.

~TNE

[pytum]

it doesnt say that if that video card is dedicated or shared... anyways tnx for you find :)

although i want a 12.1- 13.3 inches screen

i found one at walmart.com (i know, im worried about the brand :P) $648 dollars dude!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7080421#Specifications

[TranquilNightElf]

I think the 7600 GeForce would be a discrete assembly, you might want to call them up and make sure i.e if you do decide that might be a good buy.
Also,the one that you picked out has an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator.

If you can forgo the styling, the Vostro series from dell can give you a good deal, but remember , integrated graphics cards are not going to be enough for games like CoD4.
Check out Dell Small and Medium Business site here (http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~ck=mn)


With Christmas around, you might even get a better than usual deal at other vendors as well.

~TNE

[Moser]

ya but dell xps's are a little pricey
i would recommend a dell just not an xps at your price budget

I would highly recommend not getting a Dell laptop. I've known plenty of people who have gotten Dell laptops and for about 6 months they run perfect, then after that it's like Dell has a little button they push that will turn your computer into a piece of crap. I've had this experience myself, and it's no fun.

[Polkaman]

You should get a Toshiba. They're reliable, have the ATI Radeon Graphics, perfect for gaming. Most of them come with a 1 or 2 Gig Ram or higher. 4 USB drives, Windows Vista Home Premium. Comes with DVD Reader/Burner, and Accesories are very cheap. Also, may i ask why you need that size screen? Cause if it's money issues, I got my Toshiba Sattelite laptop at Office Depot/Max for about $799.99, 15.4 in. (With Mail-In Rebate) Their Really good deals, and small outlet stores arent a bad place to look.
I reccoment Toshiba Sattelite laptops, if that gets through :D
IF you want the graphics and other info just message me and ill be happy to give them to you...

[Thedutchjelle]

...What?

Also, laptops in general aren't the best machines for gaming, in my experience. Sure, they have the parts, but the video doesn't ever seem to be up to snuff.

-DocTera
America =/= US.

Laptors are fine for gaming imo, so long you usea mouse and not the touchpad.

[Neo]

dutch, I think he's talking more about the specifications of a notebook.

For instance, to get one to run something recent, you'd have to have, easily, a 3k notebook.

-Neo

[TranquilNightElf]

Not necessarily,
You can configure a pretty decent dell , with coupons to just something over USD 2000.


Note that I've never bought a Clevo myself, so I don't have any precise details,but the Alienware laptops, as you might be aware , are rebranded Clevo laptops which can go for a lot less if you approach other resellers like RJTech.

~TNE

[Neo]

Really? I didn't know that was Alienware's deal. That's really interesting.

-Neo

[Basan]

I was under the general impression that Alienware's PC's were more expensive due to their usual pimped up looks. :confused: Not exactly my idea of picking up a relatively cheap PC since I (usually) prefer functionality over the good looks.

[TranquilNightElf]

Really? I didn't know that was Alienware's deal. That's really interesting.

-Neo

Yeah, Clevo is a Taiwanese company whose products are rebranded for several OEMs including Sager,Voodoo PC and Alienware.You can really get a great deal if you hunt around at other lesser known resellers.



I was under the general impression that Alienware's PC's were more expensive due to their usual pimped up looks.

Yes, It does seem like a chunk of the cost of Alienware laptops is for the brand. But heck, for those who have money to spare, they do look awesome. ;).


~TNE

[Neo]

They do look really awesome.

The case itself is almost reason enough, heh. Especially the notebooks.

-Neo

[Basan]

Although I acknowledge that their products rock house in the design department I was under the impression that the OP wanted a fairly cheap and still good reliable product. Thus, and much as myself admittedly, I prefer it cheaper n' good than to spend that extra dough just for sheer bad ass looks.

[TranquilNightElf]

Well yes, unless one has a lot of "spare cash", over-stretching yourself and spending a lot of money for a brand wouldn't be great idea.
Of course, building a desktop would be a lot cheaper though,
but $700 quoted for a gaming laptop is difficult to achieve and if the budget is expanded to like $1100 (quite a jump, true), you can get a decent Clevo which is what Alienware also use.
I tried this site for a reseller www.rjtech.com (http://www.rjtech.com). Seems decent and looks like you can bargain as well through their price matching query form.They might have good deals.


~TNE

[Twitch6000]

Im surprised noone has suggested custimizing your current laptop.With 700$ that would be alot cheaper :/.

[BlackStealth]

Its...uhhh... after Christmas guys. Didn't he want this to be a Christmas gift to himself?

[pytum]

well... since i bought the ps3, i dont have money for a laptop so... i think that this thread has to be closed, although i will copy all your opinnions for the future, because i might get a laptop in summer or something like that