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[twinturbo2]

The individual product pages for Alienware are down for me, is that happening to anyone else?

 

[kagete]

The individual product pages for Alienware are down for me, is that happening to anyone else?

same. I really wanted to price out a 14" too...

 

[Pixel Pete]

it works for me, but im in AUS. What do you think of the m14x? I'm seriously considering it....

 

[kagete]

Oh it works now. the m14 for the base model is OK i guess if you can live with the entry level screen. If you go up to the entry level ivy bridge quad it and upgraded screen you are suddenly starting to be way more expensive than a similar or better specced sager though.

 

[dragonflys545]

Okay I'm about to pull the trigger on Asus G75 with gtx 670m. I know clevos are better, but I want a laptop that has a good cooling system and produces less noise.

 

[injurai]

What would be the best Laptop for both a gamer and a computer science student who commutes. I want a good battery life, but also something that can play games fairly well. Atleast run Diablo 3 at 60 fps.

I had been eyeing the Lenovo Think Pad W520. Should I also be holding off until ivy bridge is out?

 

[Shadow780]

How's the new Samsung series 7 gaming laptop, seems decent.

 

[RedSwirl]

Just a hypothetical question, but if I were looking around for a work-laptop but still wanted to play a few games on it, and were entertaining the idea of a MacBook Pro, what would be a good choice? In this situation, the most demanding game I'd want to play would probably be Diablo III.

 

[SteveWD40]

Just a hypothetical question, but if I were looking around for a work-laptop but still wanted to play a few games on it, and were entertaining the idea of a MacBook Pro, what would be a good choice? In this situation, the most demanding game I'd want to play would probably be Diablo III.

Well wait for the refresh any time now for one. D3 beta ran ok on HD3000 so any current mac will run it once it's retail optimised but the new Pros will have much better GPU's.

 

[Zuly]

Just a hypothetical question, but if I were looking around for a work-laptop but still wanted to play a few games on it, and were entertaining the idea of a MacBook Pro, what would be a good choice? In this situation, the most demanding game I'd want to play would probably be Diablo III.

I played the open beta on my mid-2010 Macbook Pro and it ran great. It should work flawlessly on new/future models.

 

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Will I be able to run the first Mass Effect on a decent Framerate using the MSI CR430 w/ AMD Radeon™ HD 6320 Discrete-Class Graphics?

Thanks.

 

[Pixel Pete]

Oh it works now. the m14 for the base model is OK i guess if you can live with the entry level screen. If you go up to the entry level ivy bridge quad it and upgraded screen you are suddenly starting to be way more expensive than a similar or better specced sager though.

I don't think the m14x R2 is available in australia...

edit: nah, it is

 

[Tonner Cyn]

My friend from work is going to probably pull the trigger on ordering a 3rd gen i7 lpatop from Xotic today. About the only thing he has to have is a 17" screen. I see that Xotic offers MSI, ASUS, and Sager models that would fit his needs, though the price goes up in that order. Is Sager worth spending $130 over the MSI?

 

[XenoRaven]

Pulled the trigger on a 15.4" Sager with the 7970. I wish I didn't have to wait for it, but it'll be worth it.

 

[Akuun]

Not quite a gaming laptop question, but does anyone have a laptop with an AMD e-350 or e-450 in it? If so, how does it fare playing HD videos such as Youtube, movies, and anime?

I'm looking for a laptop around 11-13" that can play back video perfectly well, and I'm considering an e-450.

I know that most laptops have hardware acceleration these days, so I'm not too worried about stuff like Youtube, but I'm worried about performance with odd video formats that may not be hardware supported, such as 10-bit anime encodes.

 

[Loto]

Okay I'm about to pull the trigger on Asus G75 with gtx 670m. I know clevos are better, but I want a laptop that has a good cooling system and produces less noise.

I don't think you will be disappointed. Give impressions!

 

[Bentendo]

What is the main differences between a GeForce GTX 675M and a Radeon HD 7970M? The latter is one hundred dollars more.

 

[sk3tch]

What is the main differences between a GeForce GTX 675M and a Radeon HD 7970M? The latter is one hundred dollars more.

Look on page 75 of this thread. K.Jack dropped some stats. Basically, the 7970M is around 50% or faster in everything.

 

[DTKT]

What is the main differences between a GeForce GTX 675M and a Radeon HD 7970M? The latter is one hundred dollars more.

It's faster than my current desktop card. It's insane.

Though, I think the benchmark ATI provided was simulated with a desktop CPU. The basic Ivy bridge quad I think.

 

[Bentendo]

Thanks! Since I'll probably get the 7970 then, should I also bump up the processor from the standard i7 3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz) to the i7-3720QM (2.6GHz - 3.6GHz) to make use of the upped graphics, or does it really matter. I'd hate spending $160 more for the 3720, but if you could tell me what the differences would be like that'd be great.

 

[DTKT]

Thanks! Since I'll probably get the 7970 then, should I also bump up the processor from the standard i7 3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz) to the i7-3720QM (2.6GHz - 3.6GHz) to make use of the upped graphics, or does it really matter. I'd hate spending $160 more for the 3720, but if you could tell me what the differences would be like that'd be great.

I would be interested in an answer too! I'm also not sure about the 2.3 -3.3Ghz numbers. Is that idle and on load? Or is the 3.3Ghz the maximum overclocked numbers?

Nevermind, it's Turbo Boost.

 

[anddo0]

Going to hold out until after Diablo 3 is released. I'm leaning towards the Sager NP9170 / Clevo P170EM with the 7970. I was going to wait for the 680. But the 7970 is about 25% faster.

 

[sk3tch]

Thanks! Since I'll probably get the 7970 then, should I also bump up the processor from the standard i7 3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz) to the i7-3720QM (2.6GHz - 3.6GHz) to make use of the upped graphics, or does it really matter. I'd hate spending $160 more for the 3720, but if you could tell me what the differences would be like that'd be great.

The 3610 is more than enough for gaming. The only reason you would want to upgrade to the 3720 is for VT-d (for virtualization, i.e. VMware). Otherwise, spend that $100-$200 on an SSD upgrade, screen upgrade, etc.

Here's an Intel comparison page of both processors you're considering:

http://ark.intel.com/compare/64899,64891

 

[K.Jack]

Damn it I'd been locked out of my account for like a week, up until an hour ago.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: if you are spending $1400 USD or more on a gaming notebook, and are receiving any GPU other than the 7970M, you're doing it all the way wrong.

What would be the best Laptop for both a gamer and a computer science student who commutes. I want a good battery life, but also something that can play games fairly well. Atleast run Diablo 3 at 60 fps.

I had been eyeing the Lenovo Think Pad W520. Should I also be holding off until ivy bridge is out?

Budget?

Moved from new PC thread:

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy a new laptop for work/home use, but I've never really been in the laptop market so I don't know what's good value.
I work as a 3d Animator and sometimes compositor, so 64bit is a must. But mostly just for tinkering, so 3d software performance doesn't need to be stellar.
Gaming wise, it would be nice if it ran Diablo 3, other that that I don't really care much.
I was thinking an alienware m17x would be alright.
The Toshiba Tecra also looks good.
I've also heard good things about the upcoming Tegra ultrabooks.
Laptop size (thickness and weight) arent really an issue, but 13" minimum screen really...

Any suggestions?

Budget?

Will I be able to run the first Mass Effect on a decent Framerate using the MSI CR430 w/ AMD Radeon™ HD 6320 Discrete-Class Graphics?

Thanks.

At anything other than lowest settings? Probably not.

My friend from work is going to probably pull the trigger on ordering a 3rd gen i7 lpatop from Xotic today. About the only thing he has to have is a 17" screen. I see that Xotic offers MSI, ASUS, and Sager models that would fit his needs, though the price goes up in that order. Is Sager worth spending $130 over the MSI?

7970M or bust. Period.

Going to hold out until after Diablo 3 is released. I'm leaning towards the Sager NP9170 / Clevo P170EM with the 7970. I was going to wait for the 680. But the 7970 is about 25% faster.

I know that isn't true, because the real 680M hasn't been publicly tested yet.

 

[Bentendo]

K.Jack, if I buy the N9150 Sager and the 7970 GPU, should I also upgrade the Processor or is the default one okay? I really don't want to increase my budget so please tell me whether or not gaming will be acceptable with a 7970 and an i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GH). If I upgrade the CPU it's 160 more bucks.

 

[K.Jack]

The $160 would only gain ~10% performance, which I consider a pretty horrible proposition. I'd think twice about spending $50 for that, maybe. Intel's mobile CPU pricing is only second to Nvidia's GPU pricing, as far as raping the wallets of gaming laptop owners.

With Ivy Bridge, even the entry level quad core (3160QM) boosts to 3.1Ghz with all 4 cores in use, so there's no need to spend in that department anymore.

Drop those duckets on a premium screen option, if you must spend it. They're beautiful.

 

[Bentendo]

The $160 would only gain ~10% performance, which I consider a pretty horrible proposition. I'd think twice about spending $50 for that, maybe.

With Ivy Bridge, even the entry level quad core (3160QM) boosts to 3.1Ghz with all 4 cores in use, so there's no need to spend in that department anymore.

Drop those duckets on a premium screen option, if you must spend it. They're beautiful.

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad you said that honestly. BTW - I was already planning on getting a premium screen, but which one is better - matte or glossy?

 

[K.Jack]

Thanks for the reply! I'm glad you said that honestly. BTW - I was already planning on getting a premium screen, but which one is better - matte or glossy?

Well, with the basic matte vs glossy preference pros/cons aside, I've seen the datasheets and the screens are identical, outside of the glossy having a higher contrast ratio (600 vs 500).

There was a bad factory run of the matte a little while back, but that seems to have been cleared. I'd personally take the glossy.

 

[Bentendo]

Well, with the basic matte vs glossy preference pros/cons aside, I've seen the datasheets and the screens are identical, outside of the glossy having a higher contrast ratio (600 vs 500).

There was a bad factory run of the matte a little while back, but that seems to have been cleared. I'd personally take the glossy.

Alright, glossy it is! Now after a couple months of doing research I'm finally going to order the laptop.

AND HOLY SHIT it comes up to about $1,700. Oh God what am I doing (no like, seriously... what the hell am I doing?).

Does this look okay? What would you add/change/remove?

Sager NP9150 / Clevo P150EM
- FREE!! Continental (U.S. Lower 48 - UPS Ground Only) Ground Shipping on ALL Sager Laptops (Enter Coupon Code: "SAGERFREESHIP" during order process)
- 15.6" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) (SKU - S1R301)
- NO Professional Monitor Color Calibration
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU – S2R174)
- -Stock OEM Thermal Compound
- AMD Radeon HD 7970M (2048MB) GDDR5 DX11 [User Upgradeable] (ETA: Late May) (SKU - S3R155)
- No Video Adapter
- 8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4R371)
- Sager Branding
- Standard Finish
- No mSATA SSD
- 750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (SKU - S5R306)
- Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti DVDRW/CDRW Drive w/ Software (When selecting a Hard Drive in the Optical Bay, No Optical Drive is Included) (SKU - S7R455)
- No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- NO External USB Optical Drive
- Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)
- No Back Up Software
- Bluetooth Included (See “Wireless Network” Section Below)
- Sager - Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card + Bluetooth (SKU - S8R110)
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- No Spare AC Adapter
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No Headset
- No External Keyboard
- No External Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- No Thanks, Please do not Overclock my system (Overclocking will add 3-6 business days to build time)
- No Operating System Redline Boost
- ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's + Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - Included with OS Purchase
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- LIFETIME Ltd Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime -24/7 DOMESTIC Based- Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
Includes FREE Shipping Both Ways for Warranty Repairs (SKU - X9R009)
- No thanks, standard double boxed packaging is okay with my order
- No Outside of US Shipping Coverage
- No Xotic PC Gear

TOTAL: $1,714.00

 

[DTKT]

If you are ordering from Xotic, you can upgrade the RAM up to 12GB for free. It's 1333 instead of 1600 though.

 

[FLAguy954]

Can anyone show me a way to get the 7970M in a laptop that totals less than $1,100?

 

[Alibubble]

Can anyone show me a way to get the 7970M in a laptop that totals less than $1,100?

That's gonna be reeaaallll tough I think.

If you are ordering from Xotic, you can upgrade the RAM up to 12GB for free. It's 1333 instead of 1600 though.

Yea could somebody with knowledge on this weigh in here? 8gb 1600 or 12gb 1333?

 

[K.Jack]

Does this look okay? What would you add/change/remove?

1. Save another $50 by lowering the 8GB to 1333MHz, because 1600MHz doesn't mean a damn thing.

2. Do take advantage of the 3% discount, if possible.

Can anyone show me a way to get the 7970M in a laptop that totals less than $1,100?

How cool are you with the commission of felonies?

Yea could somebody with knowledge on this weigh in here? 8gb 1600 or 12gb 1333?

8GB 1333MHz

 

[Bentendo]

1. Save another $50 by lowering the 8GB to 1333MHz, because 1600MHz doesn't mean a damn thing.

Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I got it down to $1614. OKAY! Last question (seriously... probably): is the IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU worth the extra $35? I'm so sorry for all of the questions!!!

 

[DTKT]

Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I got it down to $1614. OKAY! Last question (seriously... probably): is the IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU worth the extra $35? I'm so sorry for all of the questions!!!

I'll hazard a guess.

Laptops tend to run really hot so a better performing paste might help. But, I doubt that the difference of a few degrees is worth 35$.

 

[Knux-Future]

I've been in the market for a new laptop for a year now (IIRC I made a thread and everything...it turned into a GET A DESKTOP SON thread) but things fell through and the money I had at the time went into something more important.

and so here I am again...lol.

My budget is about 800-1,100(not counting the warranty and stuff) but I am willing (perhaps not able) to go up to 1,500(this would probably take a few months to get this point tho).

My current laptop is a Sony Vaio that has ran pretty good for me but has begun to slowly die (Wifi stops working, freezes a ton, multitasking has dropped, and some buttons stopped working...) and it can't run most things and videos are pretty choppy. Now while I can ride out with this for a while, I figure I need to start looking now.

I would like to at least play D3, the Witcher and such at least at medium settings(high if possible but I'm not expecting that to be possible in my price range), it needs to have a pretty nice sized screen like 14-17 (currently I think I have a 16...really like this size and weight is no big deal to me). I also would like some HD video playback capabilities if possible.

I'm in no major rush to buy now but honestly I don't know shit about what is good or what is bad.

So any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want to see what I need to look at and how much it would cost me to get it...eventually.

(also no I do not want a desktop...I still NEED the portability of a laptop..gaming would be a good justification to upgrade from my dying one soon rather than waiting for it die and then acting).

TLDR version: Looking for a Diablo 3 playing laptop(on Medium at minimum) with a nice sized screen(14-17in) with my price range being $1,000-1,500

 

[BigDug13]

I've heard you don't need 12gb because it comes on 3 RAM chips, eliminating any advantage you would have with dual channel memory. It would actually produce worse results in a dual channel architecture than the 8GB. Not even sure why these companies are offering that RAM "upgrade" when it potentially reduces performance.

The only upgrade to consider would be 16GB using 4 chips, maintaining the dual channel architecture across all RAM.

 

[Knux-Future]

Once again total noob here...but I did some looking and came up wit 3-4 options that fit my price range and what I "think" I need(probably so wrong...lol)

Of these which is the best for my above "needs" and if there are some better/cheaper/awesomer.. options then please feel free to let this guy know.

Sony Vaio with BLURAY player (nice bonus for me)

ASUS (it has gamer in it's name...that means it has to be goo...right? I am so bad at this)

Another ASUS (cheapest find...probably crap)

Another VAIO (probably the same one...or older model...not sure..but it is cheaper)


Just let me know the pros and cons of each if possible

thanks

 

[Beast Legacy]

I’m a complete newbie to gaming laptops as well and with my friends and I all wanting to hop onto LoL and Diablo 3 and make up years of missed games from our mostly console-based beginnings I’d like some direction.

My Budget is $2000. Can go up a hundred or two if it helps.

Mostly concerned with the reliability/stability of the thing and some future proofing would be nice to squeeze in but it’s not a big deal if I can’t run Battlefield 4 or Elder Scrolls 6 in the future. As long as I can run current stuff like Diablo 3 and Witcher 2 without too much worrying or fiddling around I’m good. Friends tell me that with my budget I can splurge but I’d like to know for sure.

Suggestions on peripherals like a proper gaming mouse and such would be helpful as well.

I can wait until the end of June/early July to buy if anything new coming out is worth the wait.

Links to any suggestions for the above and just where to get educated on PC gaming in general would be appreciated. Just like Knux I need the portability of a laptop and I’m kind of lost on where to start.

 

[BigDug13]

Alright, glossy it is! Now after a couple months of doing research I'm finally going to order the laptop.

AND HOLY SHIT it comes up to about $1,700. Oh God what am I doing (no like, seriously... what the hell am I doing?).

Does this look okay? What would you add/change/remove?

Sager NP9150 / Clevo P150EM
- FREE!! Continental (U.S. Lower 48 - UPS Ground Only) Ground Shipping on ALL Sager Laptops (Enter Coupon Code: "SAGERFREESHIP" during order process)
- 15.6" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080) (SKU - S1R301)
- NO Professional Monitor Color Calibration
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU – S2R174)
- -Stock OEM Thermal Compound
- AMD Radeon HD 7970M (2048MB) GDDR5 DX11 [User Upgradeable] (ETA: Late May) (SKU - S3R155)
- No Video Adapter
- 8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS) (SKU - S4R371)
- Sager Branding
- Standard Finish
- No mSATA SSD
- 750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (SKU - S5R306)
- Combo Dual Layer SuperMulti DVDRW/CDRW Drive w/ Software (When selecting a Hard Drive in the Optical Bay, No Optical Drive is Included) (SKU - S7R455)
- No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- NO External USB Optical Drive
- Internal 9-in-1 Card Reader (MMC/RSMMC/SD/Mini SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/MS Duo)
- No Back Up Software
- Bluetooth Included (See “Wireless Network” Section Below)
- Sager - Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card + Bluetooth (SKU - S8R110)
- No Network Accessory
- Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell)
- No Car Adapter
- No Spare AC Adapter
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No Headset
- No External Keyboard
- No External Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- No Thanks, Please do not Overclock my system (Overclocking will add 3-6 business days to build time)
- No Operating System Redline Boost
- ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's + Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - Included with OS Purchase
- No Office Software
- No Software Bundle
- LIFETIME Ltd Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime -24/7 DOMESTIC Based- Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
Includes FREE Shipping Both Ways for Warranty Repairs (SKU - X9R009)
- No thanks, standard double boxed packaging is okay with my order
- No Outside of US Shipping Coverage
- No Xotic PC Gear

TOTAL: $1,714.00

This is pretty much exactly what I was going to buy. Good to know now that the 1600hz memory isn't needed which will save a little cash and push this quote to like $1665.

7970m card is that amazing and is worth the price.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

Is there any chance of any thin laptops coming out that will be capable of gaming? I'm getting a new laptop for school soon and I'm pretty sure I'm getting an "ultrabook," the bootup times and size are really, really appealing as a student. Some gaming would be cool though, and I'd be willing to wait if there's going to be some breakthrough in graphics technology in thin laptops soon. Right now it seems like they all have the same Intel 3000HD integrated graphics chip.

 

[K.Jack]

Thanks, you're a lifesaver. I got it down to $1614. OKAY! Last question (seriously... probably): is the IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU worth the extra $35? I'm so sorry for all of the questions!!!

No, because any properly applied thermal paste keeps a machine from overheating, when the cooling solution is as advanced as the one Clevo put in the NP9150.

I've been in the market for a new laptop for a year now (IIRC I made a thread and everything...it turned into a GET A DESKTOP SON thread) but things fell through and the money I had at the time went into something more important.

and so here I am again...lol.

My budget is about 800-1,100(not counting the warranty and stuff) but I am willing (perhaps not able) to go up to 1,500(this would probably take a few months to get this point tho).

My current laptop is a Sony Vaio that has ran pretty good for me but has begun to slowly die (Wifi stops working, freezes a ton, multitasking has dropped, and some buttons stopped working...) and it can't run most things and videos are pretty choppy. Now while I can ride out with this for a while, I figure I need to start looking now.

I would like to at least play D3, the Witcher and such at least at medium settings(high if possible but I'm not expecting that to be possible in my price range), it needs to have a pretty nice sized screen like 14-17 (currently I think I have a 16...really like this size and weight is no big deal to me). I also would like some HD video playback capabilities if possible.

I'm in no major rush to buy now but honestly I don't know shit about what is good or what is bad.

So any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want to see what I need to look at and how much it would cost me to get it...eventually.

(also no I do not want a desktop...I still NEED the portability of a laptop..gaming would be a good justification to upgrade from my dying one soon rather than waiting for it die and then acting).

TLDR version: Looking for a Diablo 3 playing laptop(on Medium at minimum) with a nice sized screen(14-17in) with my price range being $1,000-1,500

To me there are only price stages, and not a range.

At ~$1500, you have the 15.6" Sager NP9150 w/ Ivy Bridge + 7970M. Since you like larger screens, for an extra $100 you have the 17" model.

The 7970M is so powerful (desktop 7870), you should not spend anywhere near those prices without gaining one, if you value priceerformance. This is nearing 2.5x the speed of a GTX 670M and 660M, just to give a metric vs the other widely available cards.

Once again total noob here...but I did some looking and came up wit 3-4 options that fit my price range and what I "think" I need(probably so wrong...lol)

Of these which is the best for my above "needs" and if there are some better/cheaper/awesomer.. options then please feel free to let this guy know.

Sony Vaio with BLURAY player (nice bonus for me)

ASUS (it has gamer in it's name...that means it has to be goo...right? I am so bad at this)

Another ASUS (cheapest find...probably crap)

Another VAIO (probably the same one...or older model...not sure..but it is cheaper)


Just let me know the pros and cons of each if possible

thanks

All of those are absolute crap, except for the G53.

You'll be doing yourself a disservice to take any last-gen machine, really. In the $1k range, you can still get an Ivy Bridge quad core and the GT 650M, which is right about the same speed as the GTX 560M, at half the TDP plus utilizes Optimus to extend battery life to 4 hours while not gaming. The Sager NP6175 offers all of those things with a nice 17" screen.

I’m a complete newbie to gaming laptops as well and with my friends and I all wanting to hop onto LoL and Diablo 3 and make up years of missed games from our mostly console-based beginnings I’d like some direction.

My Budget is $2000. Can go up a hundred or two if it helps.

Mostly concerned with the reliability/stability of the thing and some future proofing would be nice to squeeze in but it’s not a big deal if I can’t run Battlefield 4 or Elder Scrolls 6 in the future. As long as I can run current stuff like Diablo 3 and Witcher 2 without too much worrying or fiddling around I’m good. Friends tell me that with my budget I can splurge but I’d like to know for sure.

Suggestions on peripherals like a proper gaming mouse and such would be helpful as well.

I can wait until the end of June/early July to buy if anything new coming out is worth the wait.

Links to any suggestions for the above and just where to get educated on PC gaming in general would be appreciated. Just like Knux I need the portability of a laptop and I’m kind of lost on where to start.

You might as well jump on the train with the rest of us. Pick an Alienware M17x R4 or either of the Sager NP9170/NP9150, with the combo of i7-3610QM and AMD 7970M.

If you want to see what Nvidia's offering for the next gen buyer, the GTX 680M is scheduled for release sometime in the June/July frame.

Is there any chance of any thin laptops coming out that will be capable of gaming? I'm getting a new laptop for school soon and I'm pretty sure I'm getting an "ultrabook," the bootup times and size are really, really appealing as a student. Some gaming would be cool though, and I'd be willing to wait if there's going to be some breakthrough in graphics technology in thin laptops soon. Right now it seems like they all have the same Intel 3000HD integrated graphics chip.

How thin is thin?

If anything, I recommend waiting for the Ultrabooks which have Ivy Bridge and thus the significantly faster HD 4000.

 

[Knux-Future]

Thanks, KJack.


Goes to show little I know...lol

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6175-clevo-w170er-p-4345.html?wconfigure=yes

so basically the above setup should give me everything I need,right?

edit: does not save my additions.

I added checked off

6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive - Special! (SKU - S7P557) ( + 80 )
750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (SKU - S5R306)
Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU - S2N224)
~Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's + Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - Included with OS Purchase


comes out to 1229.00

which is in my range.

That should be fine right?


another thing....I have never heard of Sager. So if possible is there a similar one from ASUS, Sony, HP or Samsung?

Just wondering. Like I said no rush to buy but I may have to do so in a store.

 

[Kryor]

Hey laptop-GAF, I'm going to study abroad in France for two years (I'm brazilian), I'm looking for a laptop to use at university. I'll be using it for playind Diablo 3, Dota 2 and Starcraft 2 mostly, but I would like to max them at full HD.

Here's the form from the "I need a new PC thread":

What country will you be buying this in?
Brazil or France

What size notebook do you prefer?
Desktop Replacement (17-inch + screen)

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
No

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Video Chat and Conference, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Graphic Intense 3D Gaming

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places and Will stay on desk

Will you be buying online or in store?
online or in store

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
Max Resolution (1920 x 1080)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Matte

Is the laptops design important to you?
Yes

How long do you want this laptop to last?
2 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
640 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
No

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No

 

[Kryor]

Hey laptop-GAF, I'm going to study abroad in France for two years (I'm brazilian), I'm looking for a laptop to use at university. I'll be using it for playind Diablo 3, Dota 2 and Starcraft 2 mostly, but I would like to max them at full HD.

Here's the form from the "I need a new PC thread":

What country will you be buying this in?
Brazil or France

What size notebook do you prefer?
Desktop Replacement (17-inch + screen)

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
No

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Video Chat and Conference, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Graphic Intense 3D Gaming

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places and Will stay on desk

Will you be buying online or in store?
online or in store

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
Max Resolution (1920 x 1080)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Matte

Is the laptops design important to you?
Yes

How long do you want this laptop to last?
2 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
640 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
No

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No

How does this one look for my specifications? The 15.5'' screen is fine

Full HD 15.5" screen
CPU: Intel® Core(TM) i7-2640M 2.80GHz
RAM: 6GB DDR3 SDRAM
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6470M

 

[Bentendo]

Okay, real quick one more question before I make the order. What benefits does the Intel Ultimate-N 630 offer over the default Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N network option on the Sager? It's about $35 more.

 

[lemonade]

Ok, so close to pulling the trigger on this satori laptop from malibal. Few questions...

1. Is there any difference between the 9170 and the p170em. Body styles look different; p170em seems to have a glossier finish.
2. Why in the gpu selection for the p170em does the 580 cost more than the 7950? 7950 is better correct?
3. Any chance the new MacBook sport the 7950. I love their screen, but know their might be heat issues. Thx

 

[anddo0]

I know that isn't true, because the real 680M hasn't been publicly tested yet.

Good to know. I read about the 25% gain from another forum. Should've know it was inaccurate.
Doesn't make my decision any easier though.. However, the June/July release of the 680 has me leaning towards the 7970M.

 

[lemonade]

Also, Is it worth the extra 185 for the 90% color gamut

 

[K.Jack]

Thanks, KJack.


Goes to show little I know...lol

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6175-clevo-w170er-p-4345.html?wconfigure=yes

so basically the above setup should give me everything I need,right?

edit: does not save my additions.

I added checked off

6x Blu-Ray Read/8X DVDRW Super Multi Combo Drive - Special! (SKU - S7P557) ( + 80 )
750gb 7200rpm (Serial-ATA II 300 - 16MB Cache) (SKU - S5R306)
Sager - 3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP) (SKU - S2N224)
~Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's + Microsoft Office Starter 2010 - Included with OS Purchase


comes out to 1229.00

which is in my range.

That should be fine right?


another thing....I have never heard of Sager. So if possible is there a similar one from ASUS, Sony, HP or Samsung?

Just wondering. Like I said no rush to buy but I may have to do so in a store.

If you must buy in a physical store, the Best But G75 @ $1249.99 is a pretty good deal.

How does this one look for my specifications? The 15.5'' screen is fine

Full HD 15.5" screen
CPU: Intel® Core(TM) i7-2640M 2.80GHz
RAM: 6GB DDR3 SDRAM
GPU: AMD Radeon HD 6470M

That looks horrendous. To play at 1080p, let alone max, you'll need a GT 650M at a minimum. That ups the budget to around $900.

Okay, real quick one more question before I make the order. What benefits does the Intel Ultimate-N 630 offer over the default Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N network option on the Sager? It's about $35 more.

It's a range and reliability thing. In my NP8170, I stuck with the default card, but my wifi is directly below my room. If you'll be using it across a house, you may want an upgrade.

Ok, so close to pulling the trigger on this satori laptop from malibal. Few questions...

1. Is there any difference between the 9170 and the p170em. Body styles look different; p170em seems to have a glossier finish.
2. Why in the gpu selection for the p170em does the 580 cost more than the 7950? 7950 is better correct?
3. Any chance the new MacBook sport the 7950. I love their screen, but know their might be heat issues. Thx

1. Nope, it's the same exact machine. Every single detail is identical.
2. Nvidia prices its mobile cards much higher than AMD, regardless of relative performance. Specifically, 7970M = $550, 580M = $850
3. Lol no. The 7970M is a 100W card. You may see a 7700M or 7800M though.

Also, Is it worth the extra 185 for the 90% color gamut

I have it in my NP8170, and am glad I took it.