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Gamer-approved laptop recommendation thread

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K.Jack said:
But are they still using the mediocre screen which can't display reds? Look into that.
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HP has actually moved to the revised screens which can display red. If that is a concern, the Envy 15 is a better option. Sony has not, as far as anyone can tell. It's not terribly likely that LG is still manufacturing the older revision screens so it's just a matter of when Sony uses up their allocation of the old screens.
 
Hey gaf, is a laptop with a Intel Core i5-3210M, 8GB of RAM and a NVIDIA GT650M 2GB DDR5 decent for gaming?

I don't know a lot about Notebooks parts, so I wanted a few opinions about this. Is the i5-3210M good enough?

Thanks in advance.
 
I'm thinking about picking up a laptop just for Diablo 3 and Dota 2 while I travel. I wonder what I could get with the horsepower to run those well at an acceptable price.
 
Nephix said:
Well, I usually play the latest games; Battlefield 3, Skyrim and Max Payne 3 for example, as well as some emulated games through Dolphin. Usually in 2-3 hour sessions at most.

I currently live in Sweden, so I guess importing from Germany or the UK is a possibility.
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Well, strictly talking Clevo, the only shop I know in Sweden is pc-konsulten.se, but they don't appear to have updated to the newest models.

Check out mySN.de, notebookguru.de, and pcspecialist.co.uk
Madrugador said:
Hey gaf, is a laptop with a Intel Core i5-3210M, 8GB of RAM and a NVIDIA GT650M 2GB DDR5 decent for gaming?

I don't know a lot about Notebooks parts, so I wanted a few opinions about this. Is the i5-3210M good enough?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

How much more is the upgrade to an i7 quad core. I'd pay that price.

Proelite said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215410

I noticed my laptop has SATA for HDD interface. Does this mean that I can't use SSDs?
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All laptop HDDs and SSDs connect via SATA.

Blast Processing said:
I'm thinking about picking up a laptop just for Diablo 3 and Dota 2 while I travel. I wonder what I could get with the horsepower to run those well at an acceptable price.
Click to expand...

What do you deem as "acceptable"?
 
What's the best option for the most powerful gaming laptop? I'm helping a friend who recently joined the military pick out something to buy, and I'm trying to find a good recommendation for him. Performance is more important than price, and he was even considering the Razer Blade, but that would probably be the top end price-wise (<$3000!)

I don't think he's interested in the Alienware m17x since a friend of ours had one and he didn't like the size. So, 15" or 17" screen as long as the laptop itself isn't as bulky as the m17x.
 
Finally placed an order with XoticPC. Got a Sager NP6175

17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen (1920x1080)

3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core&#8482; i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP)

nVidia GT 650M 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 with Optimus&#8482; Technology

8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS)

Pretty stoked. Going from a Intel Core Quad 3.0 with 4gb ram and a 896mb GTX 260. Only bummer is that the build time is from 9-16 days for some reason. I guess Sager is backed up with orders because those ATI 7970 cards were on back order. Now they're scrambling.
 
DrBo42 said:
Finally placed an order with XoticPC. Got a Sager NP6175

17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen (1920x1080)

3rd Generation Intel® Ivy Bridge Core™ i7-3610QM (2.3GHz - 3.3GHz, 6MB Intel® Smart Cache, 45W Max TDP)

nVidia GT 650M 1024MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 with Optimus™ Technology

8GB - DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 SODIMMS)

Pretty stoked. Going from a Intel Core Quad 3.0 with 4gb ram and a 896mb GTX 260. Only bummer is that the build time is from 9-16 days for some reason. I guess Sager is backed up with orders because those ATI 7970 cards were on back order. Now they're scrambling.
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Let me know when you get it how hot it runs/how loud it is. It's why I passed, but if it's acceptable on both of those ends I'll get it.
 
Nephix said:
Well, I usually play the latest games; Battlefield 3, Skyrim and Max Payne 3 for example, as well as some emulated games through Dolphin. Usually in 2-3 hour sessions at most.

I currently live in Sweden, so I guess importing from Germany or the UK is a possibility.
Click to expand...

Ask at sweclockers.com or just read their forum. I'm sure you will find a great deal in here in Sweden.
 
Mairu said:
What's the best option for the most powerful gaming laptop? I'm helping a friend who recently joined the military pick out something to buy, and I'm trying to find a good recommendation for him. Performance is more important than price, and he was even considering the Razer Blade, but that would probably be the top end price-wise (<$3000!)

I don't think he's interested in the Alienware m17x since a friend of ours had one and he didn't like the size. So, 15" or 17" screen as long as the laptop itself isn't as bulky as the m17x.
Click to expand...

Hardcore gamer laptops will inevitably be bulky. If he wants something more slim and light he will have to live with a less powerful CPU and GPU. The heat generated has to first be dissipated and then exit somewhere after all.
 
Hey all.

I posted a few months ago looking for a reasonably priced laptop for game development. We aren't making a crazy processor or graphics intensive game, so I'm almost to the point where the only thing I care about is a reasonable resolution for the monitor. I'm amazed how hard it is to find anything that isn't that 13xx x 7xx resolution for less than $100.

So I just want something that's 1920 x 1080 and not terribly expensive. Does that exist yet?
 
Mairu said:
What's the best option for the most powerful gaming laptop? I'm helping a friend who recently joined the military pick out something to buy, and I'm trying to find a good recommendation for him. Performance is more important than price, and he was even considering the Razer Blade, but that would probably be the top end price-wise (<$3000!)

I don't think he's interested in the Alienware m17x since a friend of ours had one and he didn't like the size. So, 15" or 17" screen as long as the laptop itself isn't as bulky as the m17x.
Click to expand...

The 15.6" Sager NP9150 is a good but significantly less bulkier choice, for top tier performance.

Fodder76 said:
Hey all.

I posted a few months ago looking for a reasonably priced laptop for game development. We aren't making a crazy processor or graphics intensive game, so I'm almost to the point where the only thing I care about is a reasonable resolution for the monitor. I'm amazed how hard it is to find anything that isn't that 13xx x 7xx resolution for less than $100.

So I just want something that's 1920 x 1080 and not terribly expensive. Does that exist yet?
Click to expand...

You need to define "terribly expensive".

But did I not recommend you this, back then? It's still the best choice at $1k.
 
K.Jack said:
Well, strictly talking Clevo, the only shop I know in Sweden is pc-konsulten.se, but they don't appear to have updated to the newest models.

Check out mySN.de, notebookguru.de, and pcspecialist.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links!

Paertan said:
Ask at sweclockers.com or just read their forum. I'm sure you will find a great deal in here in Sweden.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been to sweclockers a few times over the years, but mostly to sell stuff as they have a great buy/sell section. Maybe I'll try asking around over there as well.
 
K.Jack said:
You need to define "terribly expensive".

But did I not recommend you this, back then? It's still the best choice at $1k.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I'd be fine with even some of these $400 laptops I see, if it wasn't for the low resolution monitors. I really feel like I'm having to pay an extra $600 - $700 just to get a decent resolution.

Something in the $700 - $800 range would make me feel a lot better.
 
clashfan said:
Anyone has the new Aspire V3? There's a review on engadget. Looks promising...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/02/acer-aspire-v3-review/
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Another one shipped with that shitty screen. The 640M will fly on it though.

Fodder76 said:
Honestly, I'd be fine with even some of these $400 laptops I see, if it wasn't for the low resolution monitors. I really feel like I'm having to pay an extra $600 - $700 just to get a decent resolution.

Something in the $700 - $800 range would make me feel a lot better.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the industry is literally designed that way. Everywhere you look, from every manufacturer, $899 is the base price for 1080p. And with that, I recommend the Inspiron 15R Special Edition. It's $899, with everything included.
 
I knew ASUS g-series laptops were tanks but I had just put my g74 on a shelf while cleaning and moving stuff and somehow it got snagged on something and fell to the ground from like 7ft and not a scratch on the thing lol
 
Fodder76 said:
Sigh ok thanks. But in this situation, I'm guessing you'd recommend I drop the extra $100 and go with your previous recommendation?
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No, not unless you actually need the Sager's heavier GPU horsepower.

Blast Processing said:
Somewhere between $500 and $1000, the actual price is flexible as long as I feel like I'm getting a good power/dollar ratio. It doesn't need to be a beast; just to run those (and other) relatively light games at a minimum of 30 fps.
Click to expand...
This 15.6" Acer V3 with i7-3610QM and GT 640M is the entry level. You'd be fine with that, as long as the 1368x768 screen resolution suits you fine.

skinnyrattler said:
I have the one above it, the 9170. Dat Bulk can be intimidating. But I wanted a top tier laptop that will last 4-5 years, if not more.
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Oh yeah, I know, as I own its predecessor the NP8170. Things built like a tank though. My dad let it fall like 5 feet onto concrete, and it shook it off like nothing.

I want that 9170's backlit keyboard so badly. I'm salty.

DTKT said:
How heavy is the 9170?

Or by chance, does anyone own a 9150? How annoying/heavy is it to carry around?
Click to expand...

Well the 9150 weighs 6.8lbs, versus the 9170's 8.6lbs, to the M17x R4's 9.39lbs.

I'll edit in all of their dimensions, once I find them.

EDIT:

M17x = 16.14" (w) x 11.97" (d) x 1.75" (h)
9170 = 16.22" (w) x 10.87" (d) x 1.65"-1.79" (h)
9150 = 14.80" (w) x 10.08" (d) x 1.38"-1.69" (h)
 
I still need a suggestion for a program that does hardcore drive wipes so nobody knows of my hentai collection.

Free is preferable so I can take my old notebook out to pasture quickly.
 
I currently have a 3 year old Asus G71V with a intel T9400 cpu, 4GB ram, bluray, and a 9700M GT GPU with 512MB with an 1920 x 1200 17,3" Screen.

It was quite expensive when I bought it but now I'm thinking of replacing it with a new laptop that is cheaper and probably faster.

I haven't checked in a long time, so I don't know what is the current mobile GPU equivalent for the 9700M GT and which ones are better, I'd like something with at least a similar GPU and a nice screen ( if possible a 1080p screen )

Any recommendations?
 
I have a friend (UK) looking to spend £300-350 on a laptop. He's just after something for general use - internet, word processing etc but will occassionally be watching or streaming hd content. Hard drive space isn't an issue as he has a large portable usb drive

Any suggestions for this? Is there a more suitable thread for this sort of question? Thanks in advance
 
Vect said:
So I've received my Dell laptop today, and much to my dismay I have 1 stuck pixel. :/
Click to expand...

Damn, sorry I know that sucks. I always take a deep breath before turning on a new laptop for the first time, because it's like stuck/dead pixel roulette. No one is safe.

OniShiro said:
I currently have a 3 year old Asus G71V with a intel T9400 cpu, 4GB ram, bluray, and a 9700M GT GPU with 512MB with an 1920 x 1200 17,3" Screen.

It was quite expensive when I bought it but now I'm thinking of replacing it with a new laptop that is cheaper and probably faster.

I haven't checked in a long time, so I don't know what is the current mobile GPU equivalent for the 9700M GT and which ones are better, I'd like something with at least a similar GPU and a nice screen ( if possible a 1080p screen )

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
The GTX 660M fits that bill too perfectly. Like the 9700M GT, it's just the highest binned version of a bunch of cards which are all the same exact core (9700M GT -> 9600M GT -> 9600M GS; GTX 660M -> GT 650M -> GT 640M), and Asus happens to have chosen it for their now modern day G series.

These 600Ms are easily four to five times faster than your 9700M GT, and can comfortably game at 1080p.

There literally isn't a dedicated GPU from 2012 tech which is anywhere near as slow as your current card.
chunk3rvd said:
I have a friend (UK) looking to spend £300-350 on a laptop. He's just after something for general use - internet, word processing etc but will occassionally be watching or streaming hd content. Hard drive space isn't an issue as he has a large portable usb drive

Any suggestions for this? Is there a more suitable thread for this sort of question? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Including VAC?

Spec-wise I don't see it getting better than this.
 
After four years of service my SAGER NP2092 appears to have finally died. Well, its videocard anyway. It has been working for about four months after I baked it the first time it died and now after trying the procedure a second time it stopped being able to power the built-in screen. Which is funny because the notebook still works with an external monitor after Windows boots up.

Anyway, I was looking at different notebooks as a replacement, and right now the Sager NP9130 looks like the best choice.

The upgrades to the base model I have in mind are as follows:
  • .6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080)
  • i7-3610QM processor
  • IC Diamond Thermal Compound
  • Intel® Advanced-N 6235 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module + Bluetooth

If I purchase it within the next couple of days, I'm also getting a 16gb ram for the price of 8 and a 750 hdd for the price of a 500 one.

It looks like a pretty decent system, and I hope it will last for at least another four years. Anybody care to comment on that choice?
 
O.DOGG said:
After four years of service my SAGER NP2092 appears to have finally died. Well, its videocard anyway. It has been working for about four months after I baked it the first time it died and now after trying the procedure a second time it stopped being able to power the built-in screen. Which is funny because the notebook still works with an external monitor after Windows boots up.

Anyway, I was looking at different notebooks as a replacement, and right now the Sager NP9130 looks like the best choice.

The upgrades to the base model I have in mind are as follows:
  • .6" FHD 16:9 "Matte Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Anti-Glare Screen w/ 95% NTSC Color Gamut (1920x1080)
  • i7-3610QM processor
  • IC Diamond Thermal Compound
  • Intel® Advanced-N 6235 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module + Bluetooth

If I purchase it within the next couple of days, I'm also getting a 16gb ram for the price of 8 and a 750 hdd for the price of a 500 one.

It looks like a pretty decent system, and I hope it will last for at least another four years. Anybody care to comment on that choice?
Click to expand...
Your story makes me nostalgic. The 8600M GT was my first "real" gaming GPU.... First game I played was Mass Effect, and I couldn't believe it ran and looked better than the 360 version.

Anyway, I see no faults in your config. Though, four years is a long life to ask of any notebook, so I'd at least spend $79 for the 2 Year Warranty, so you're covered for half of it. That way, if the need arises, you can send it in close to the end of covered year, maximizing its lifetime.
 
Proper application matters much more, in most cases. There are tests out there, where they ran through like 40 different compounds, and toothpaste almost always ranks in the top 10.

Toothpaste. That said, I do find that some last longer than others.

My only beef with paying $30-40 for someone to put ICD7 on for you, is that buying a tube for yourself only costs $8 shipped, and DIY with Clevos is extremely straightforward, like a 10 to 15 minute job.

So only pay if you just don't want to bother with it.
 
After disassembling and reassembling my now-dead notebook twice, I'm quite confident I can apply thermal paste myself. Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't be paying for this. It'll save me a few bucks.
 
What is the general consensus on the IdeaPad Y580? Friend is getting serious about buying a new laptop now that his is almost dead, but was kinda set on not spending more than $800. I think I could get him to jump up to $900 or maybe even $950 if needed, but that puts him under budget for most Xotic/Sager systems.
 
K.Jack said:
Oh yeah, I know, as I own its predecessor the NP8170. Things built like a tank though. My dad let it fall like 5 feet onto concrete, and it shook it off like nothing.

I want that 9170's backlit keyboard so badly. I'm salty.



Well the 9150 weighs 6.8lbs, versus the 9170's 8.6lbs, to the M17x R4's 9.39lbs.
Click to expand...

:0

Dat keyboard is great at night, watching TV with the lights off.
 
rhfb said:
What is the general consensus on the IdeaPad Y580? Friend is getting serious about buying a new laptop now that his is almost dead, but was kinda set on not spending more than $800. I think I could get him to jump up to $900 or maybe even $950 if needed, but that puts him under budget for most Xotic/Sager systems.
Click to expand...

Reviews seem solid.
 
K.Jack said:
How much more is the upgrade to an i7 quad core. I'd pay that price.
Click to expand...

The retailer here doesn't let me upgrade components. It sucks, I know :/

I was also looking at this HP notebook with a 7690m XT 2GB, but I just read It has a shitty driver support and a lot of people are having problems with the card. Thank god I saw all this stuff because I was going to buy it...
 
So I've got the Sager 6165 coming in a week or so. Is it a reasonable idea to upgrade the card (it's a 650m GDDR5 1GB) at some point? Or is it better to just buy a new laptop after I get as much as I can out of it?
 
I know there is a buy/sell thread but I figure Ill drop this here once. I have an XPS Laptop that is gathering dust that Im trying to sell.

I7-2720QM quad core processor
6GB DDR3 Ram
15.6 1920x1080 LED screen
Blu-ray/DVD-RW drive
NVidia 540M 2GB
2 USB 3.0
HDMI
E-sata
Backlit Keyboard
750 GB hard drive
Wi-Fi built in

I just installed a fresh copy of Windows Home Premium, minus the Dell bloatware.

Comes with all original software, including Windows Install disk

Has a ding on the back of the monitor that doesn't affect anything and the speakers and one(it has two) headphone jack doesn't work. Still capable of plugging a set of speakers into.

Little over a year old

Asking $650 OBO

PM me for pictures
 
Madrugador said:
The retailer here doesn't let me upgrade components. It sucks, I know :/
Click to expand...

The i5 + 650M combo will be fine in the majority of games. I'd definitely take that combo over an i7 quad with a much slower GPU like the 7690M.

DrBo42 said:
So I've got the Sager 6165 coming in a week or so. Is it a reasonable idea to upgrade the card (it's a 650m GDDR5 1GB) at some point? Or is it better to just buy a new laptop after I get as much as I can out of it?
Click to expand...

The 650M is soldered to the mobo, so the choice is out of your hands.
 
rhfb said:
What is the general consensus on the IdeaPad Y580? Friend is getting serious about buying a new laptop now that his is almost dead, but was kinda set on not spending more than $800. I think I could get him to jump up to $900 or maybe even $950 if needed, but that puts him under budget for most Xotic/Sager systems.
Click to expand...

The IdeaPads are Lenovo's consumer-grade laptops. As long as you realize you aren't getting a ThinkPad or anything remotely close, then you'll be okay. Make sure you upgrade the screen, DO NOT get the mindbreakingly awful default 1366x768 panel on these laptops.
 
Hi guys just got and insurance payout for my old laptop (cracked screen) and I have specced this clevo laptop.

15.6" 1080p screen

i7-3610QM

8 gig 1600mhz DDR3

1gig DDR5 GT 650m


Just want to know if this is a balanced spec that can play games (BF3, Diablo 3 etc) at decent framerate and also have enough grunt to last for a few years?
 
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