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Main Forums => Off-topic Discussion => Topic started by: Nickless on January 25, 2010, 05:27:39 AM

Title: Looking for a laptop
Post by: Nickless on January 25, 2010, 05:27:39 AM
Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a laptop for gaming. I really know very little about computer capabilities, but I want one that can at least run demanding games for the next two years. My budget is around $900-$1400 US. I welcome any advice from anyone who knows anything about anything.

Thanks!
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Post by: Relinquish on January 25, 2010, 05:55:20 AM
I got mine from Dell. Was ~$1300. Made it on their website with the tell us what you want it for. No complaints really.
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Post by: Snoteye on January 25, 2010, 06:32:25 AM
Stay away from brands. There are lots of online dealers that let you select a base model and customize it, this is usually what you want. I don't know any, of course, because strangely enough I don't buy my toys in USA. Other than that, about the only concrete thing I can help with is that, if you want powerful wireless, Centrino 2.0 is highly recommendable.
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Post by: Semli on January 25, 2010, 06:48:16 AM
(http://blogs.clarin.com/blogfiles/saturn-in-rain/korgoth036ix.jpg)
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME MAKING FUCK BERSERKER
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Post by: Box on January 25, 2010, 07:26:07 AM
I have already bestowed my nerd wisdom upon him.
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Post by: Nickless on January 25, 2010, 07:32:18 AM
Snoteye's suggestion sounds intriguing. Does anyone know of any USA sites that meet his specifications?
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Post by: ExileStrife on January 25, 2010, 07:34:11 AM
Man, what are you smoking Snoteye?  Unbranded laptops are terrible, because (and among many other reasons) laptops are just about the only thing you want a good manufacturer's warranty for as they have a higher failure rate across the board.  Non-brand laptops are hacked together with excessive corner cutting and shoddy testing  because there is very little profit margin to be gained in the first place -- you can get lucky and get a unit that lasts you awhile, but it isn't a bet I'd take again (I knowingly bet against the odds awhile ago and regretted it tremendously).  Getting laptops off of the Dell Refurbished site and Dell Auction site is by far the best thing a common person with no industry connections can do.  The better thing is talking to someone who can get an employee discount at Lenovo or Dell *cough* like me *cough* and reap in the savings.
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Post by: Snoteye on January 25, 2010, 07:46:14 AM
Quote from: ExileStrife;163905Unbranded laptops are terrible, because (and among many other reasons) laptops are just about the only thing you want a good manufacturer's warranty for as they have a higher failure rate across the board.

You can get just as good, separate warranties elsewhere (at least, I can). But by that, I didn't really mean go with unbranded as much as stay away from manufacturers like Alienware. Lenovos are fairly good for what they do, but do they do gaming at all? When I replaced my laptop a little over a year ago they definitely didn't (not at my budget, anyway).
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Post by: Paha on January 25, 2010, 08:22:05 AM
If you want gaming laptop and good brand, I suggest Dells alienware laptops. Lots of room to customize it to your liking, and on the lowest ones (which are still kickass for laptops), you should be able to just barely fit in to your price range.

On other hand , like Snot said, you may be able to get just as good customer support and warranties anyway. Also, if you are able to avoid purchasing a brand you avoid paying from the name. Trust me as experienced PC meddler and buyer, if you buy are able to get them build rather than buy ready packages from a brand, you save a lot of money. That money you can on other hand use to get even more powerful machine.
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Post by: UnholyWon on January 25, 2010, 01:59:15 PM
The HP model: dv6 2190us seems like a pretty good model for low end gaming, Sony puts out a laptop with about the same specs. The brand Asus is putting out decent gaming laptop for bottom of the barrel prices.

After doing some major laptop research over the weekend, I got the a friend of mine a dv6 2155 model. If you really want to shell out the cash, try Alienware through Dell. Alienware has been top notch for gaming machines.

Good luck!
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Post by: derfo on January 25, 2010, 04:26:19 PM
uh people still pay like $1000~ + for laptops?
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Post by: IxTheSpeedy on January 28, 2010, 12:24:45 AM
For laptops I would go name brand.  Especially if you aren't all that savvy with hardware.  Just get a Dell or an HP, make sure it's got a good mobile vid card.  You'll be fine.  Feel free to post or PM a link to ones you are looking at if you want, i'm happy to take a look.
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Post by: Junketeer on January 28, 2010, 04:27:54 AM
There have been issues with HP wireless cards, so I would be wary of those.  We had an HP laptop whose internal wireless died, and after reading into it, many people have complained about the support service and trouble getting it repaired.  HP desktops fair much better than their laptops.  My 2001 HP desktop is doing quite fine and can handle many things I throw at it.
The IT staff at my company recommend Toshiba or Asus as quality laptops with few issues.  Dell has the company laptop market and they bought the Alienware to get a stronger position in the gaming market.  You might want to check out the Alienware specs, as they are focused on gaming, and use that as a base for other builds you look at.
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Post by: derfo on January 28, 2010, 04:42:04 AM
please don't buy alienware or spend over like a thousand dollars on a laptop
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Post by: Dagam on January 28, 2010, 07:46:21 AM
lol that's an oxymoron
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Post by: Dagam on January 28, 2010, 07:49:44 AM
you can get a gaming desktop and a laptop for school for the same price as a gaming laptop if the reason you want one is for school and gaming
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Post by: Sternhund on January 31, 2010, 06:12:52 AM
Don't buy Alienware. It's overpriced.

If you're in a major company or in a university you can oftentimes reap massive discounts. That or talk to Strife.
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Post by: Garem on January 31, 2010, 09:53:29 AM
you can also get msoft word and shit for cheap being a student. check online and at school book shops.

(god, i feel like one of those automated sales things that have been plaguing us recently.)
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Post by: Sternhund on January 31, 2010, 09:57:40 AM
Can also buy Windows 7 for $30 if you have a .edu e-mail address.
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Post by: derfo on February 01, 2010, 06:21:11 AM
can also pirate windows xp for free
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Post by: repplanet on February 01, 2010, 11:46:40 AM
I have Compaq notebook which is dead now a days because its mother board is dead due to fluid I have drank him in last days. I am looking for its mother board now. If you are looking for the notebook I would suggest you to buy the dell notebook which is always good in any case.
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Post by: derfo on February 01, 2010, 05:34:39 PM
dat fluid
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Post by: Portal Rat on February 02, 2010, 12:31:30 AM
Quote from: repplanet;165058I have Compaq notebook which is dead now a days because its mother board is dead due to fluid I have drank him in last days. I am looking for its mother board now. If you are looking for the notebook I would suggest you to buy the dell notebook which is always good in any case.

Dude, when are you going to quit spamming us, buy a copy of Neverwinter Nights, and come play?
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Post by: Nickless on February 04, 2010, 04:57:46 AM
So I now am considering a desktop, I was looking at the Gamer or Enthusiast build here. http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/269162-31-recommended-builds-usage
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Post by: VanillaPudding on February 04, 2010, 06:01:27 AM
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

This site is decent for price and product.
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Post by: Nickless on February 04, 2010, 06:45:23 AM
Hm, VP's link seems to have cheaper computers than the homebuilt option. Does anyone have an opinion on cyberpowerpc?
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Post by: VanillaPudding on February 04, 2010, 06:58:23 AM
I used to build and repair computers for a living. Their downfall is that their brand names aren't 'top-end', although they typically use midrange products. (EVGA for example)
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Post by: sylvyrdragon on February 04, 2010, 02:39:14 PM
Usually has good prices :

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=17&name=Laptops,Notebooks
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Post by: Nickless on February 07, 2010, 12:53:57 AM
Okay, so this is the build I'm considering

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138&cm_re=cosmos_case-_-11-119-138-_-Product

179.99

Graphics
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102857

$299.99

Harddrive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

$89.99

AMD Phenom Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

$179.99

ASUS Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

$139.99

RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145236

$169.99

DVD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129051
$26.99

Power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194030
$129.99
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Post by: Paha on February 07, 2010, 01:51:17 AM
I'd say you have a rather decent build up there. All parts seem good and fine to go. I might myself go for intel chip. It's a matter of preference really, but Intel is slightly better in many areas, though AMD gives more for it's money-worth - ratio.
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Post by: Sternhund on February 07, 2010, 03:24:54 AM
Looks good!