Gamer Laptops

[SOSAGES]

Good day,

anyone have any experience with laptops build round the idea people will play games on them?

any makes to look for or avoid
any components to that are a must?

was looking at this sort of thing
http://www.alienware.co.uk/product_d...de=SKU-DEFAULT

Well thats the kinda of thing you will get.You basically have to find one with a gfx card not a chip on the board and you have found one there
IMO you will need to add to the price on the cpu and the gfx 2.2 at least on the cpu and the middle option on the gfx taking the price to 1500 quid
Also add to the hdd size too go to the 80 gig sata 7200 adding another ton

[MovedGoalPosts]

Graphics and the CPU are the key areas. Cooling also a potential issue. Most GPUs were designed for PC cases with plenty of ari circulating. Bear in mind too that laptop upgrading is much harder than a case based PC, so it's harder to keep up with the times if new stuff comes out. Direct-X 10 based graphics are due very soon, and that by sometime next year will affect many new game titles.

Also you want the big screen 17", as you've found, but that isn't really that portable, but most gamers are seeking even bigger screens. Ultimately a laptop PC for gaming is a compromise. Unless you really do go for a lot of mobile gaming, personally, I'd consider a desktop.

with a HD 22 inch screen like mine

[SOSAGES]

its basically going to be used while im sitting on my sofa instead of wondering up stairs to my proper machines
so it wont get lugged around

In thats case buy a cheaper one that just plays games ok then

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indeedly do thats my thinking i would like to spend 1400 max.
any suggestions

Thats a lot really the basic alienware one would suit

[SOSAGES]

had a look round - it stared getting expensive
looking past its made by mesh what about
http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...UCT&KEY=129913
any thoughts?

[MovedGoalPosts]

If you are lowering your sights from the dual CPU options (did seem a tad OTT for a laptop), look also at the Dell lappys, either their Inspiron 9400 or the XPX1710. The Mesh Specs are OK, perhaps slightly poor on the CPU, you can probably get a faster core2 CPU for similar money. IMO intel is better than AMD for lappys - they had colling and performance sorted a long while ago - don;t try comparing to the current conroe CPUs mobile chips are completely different architecture.. I don't really know how the ATI 1600 cards compare against the nvidia ranges that will fit lappys.

I still think the scost is very high just for use when you can't be bothered to walk upstairs to your main PC.

The core duos are deffo the way to go.If you really want to spend this kinda dollar then go for it it will be find. But if you just want to play a few games then the balance on this machine is going the wrong way. Its compromising graphics for raw power and it wont cut mustard for a machine of this cost unless gaming is only secondary to more resource hungry apps.You need better gfx and an adequate cpu for just a gaming laptop

[SOSAGES]

Hi - im not an expert on mobile GPU's any models to avoid ? and is it worth SLI on a laptop?

Ok before I answer your questions I would like you to answer a few of mine

1 What is your existing tower and what do you use it for
2 What is your estimated usage of the laptop and purpose of use and estimated time in use
3 Do you have money to burn and are you loaded

The answers to these questions will define my repsonse to yours

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1. i have a few but the one i use for games is a core2 2.4 with an ati x800 (i think) 2 gb ram and the ds4 mobo.
2. id say 20 hours a week on and off the purpose to play world of warcraft.
3. nope and no so 1200-1400 is my max really.

i dont plan to use it for office apps or to have on all night downloading or to run the latest greatest games id like a decent amount of ram fast hard drive 17" screen (min) battery life is not a concern as it will run off mains - weight is not an issue i wont be lugging it around.
i wont be watching dvds or divx movies on it -
its only use will be playing some games and browsing the web and the occasional remote desktop connection to my pc upstairs

Then you simply want good gfx the cpu will not be under and real strain so the Alienware machine with the 2 gig turion and dual 7900 gs rolls in at £1455 or you could just have 1 card seeing as your used to a lowly x800 lol