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I'm getting a laptop


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So, as the topic says, I'm getting a laptop. I want it for schoolwork and as a modest gaming rig. What are the specifications that I need, not too expensive, but as good for pc games? (also, it should at least support NWN2).

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I've got a Dell lappy that I've had going on 3 years and it can still run some of the games today at low settings. Here are the specs for a frame of reference.

 

 

Intel Centrino 1.3 GHz Pentium M

768 MB Ram

64 MB GeForce Go Mobile

40 gig hard drive

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

 

- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

 

"I have also been slowly coming to the realisation that knowledge and happiness are not necessarily coincident, and quite often mutually exclusive" - meta

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Well, first off it needs to be an AMD laptop.

I disagree. The Pentium M is way superior to any mobile processor AMD has to offer.

 

Make sure it uses a ATI or Nvidia video chip set, perferably oneof the newer onboard systems.  Also you will want to have a gig minimum for RAM.

Agreed. If you want to game on your laptop, "Centrino" just won't cut it. (Centrino = Pentium M processor + Intel's Graphics + Intel's WiFi chip).

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It should be pointed out that for the price of a decent gaming notebook you could buy an upgrade for your PC.

 

I suggest buying a notebook that meets your school needs, then go for upgrades for a computer and maybe some sort of mobile gaming device (GBA, DS, PSP, etc.) that suits you.

 

I mean, a gaming notebook is a good idea on paper, but the truth of the matter is there's very limited upgradeablity unless you're really handy with computers and even then it's almost impossible to find parts. I'm about to upgrade my Dell notebook when I can scrape the cash together, and besides the perilous monkeying around inside the tiny little notebook chassis I'm also gonna have to build a new heatsink.

DEADSIGS.jpg

RIP

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I'll let you decide, but I don't think gaming laptops are a great idea. The hardware just isn't meant for that sort of thing, and you'll eat through your battery in no time unless you're sitting at a desk plugged in...and if you are, why not just game on a beefier desktop with a better screen and probably speakers? If you need one for games, obviously stick with Windows-based machines, but if you need one for other purposes I would look into Apple's line of products. I've had no complaints.

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I'll let you decide, but I don't think gaming laptops are a great idea.  The hardware just isn't meant for that sort of thing, and you'll eat through your battery in no time unless you're sitting at a desk plugged in...and if you are, why not just game on a beefier desktop with a better screen and probably speakers?  If you need one for games, obviously stick with Windows-based machines, but if you need one for other purposes I would look into Apple's line of products.  I've had no complaints.

 

 

These are good suggestions, although No-CD h4x are practically made for laptops...and filthy, filthy pirates.

 

The suggestion about Apple products is especially good. PC laptops really aren't built all that solidly, most manufacturers just go "Oh hey, lets make a desktop PC only smaller!" and just get parts that fit in a smaller chassis without any mind for the abuse a notebook takes. Even with the utmost of care, if you're moving from class to class with it at all the poor dears rattle themselves apart. Best case scenario a couple of connectors come loose, worst case a fan busts itself. Though I've never owned one, I have a friend who's a certified tech for both Dell and Apple, and he swears by the newer (last two years-ish) Powerbooks. Says the things are nigh indestructible. Only bad thing is they're a lot more expensive. :(

 

EDIT: I realized the No-CD cracks comment wasn't that specific, what I meant was if you install these then it only eats up amounts of battery more or less comparable to normal operation.

Edited by Fenghuang

DEADSIGS.jpg

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My laptop is very good, I dont think you can get more value for your money. Its an Acer 5024WLMi

 

-AMD 64 3000+

-ATi X700 128mb

-100gig HD

( and other goodies like gigabit ethernet )

 

For only about $1200, but as I bought this in the autumn you can probably get a newer and better model for the same price. I have friends who bought Dell and LG laptops with the same or lower specs for up to $2000

Edited by Kaftan Barlast

DISCLAIMER: Do not take what I write seriously unless it is clearly and in no uncertain terms, declared by me to be meant in a serious and non-humoristic manner. If there is no clear indication, asume the post is written in jest. This notification is meant very seriously and its purpouse is to avoid misunderstandings and the consequences thereof. Furthermore; I can not be held accountable for anything I write on these forums since the idea of taking serious responsability for my unserious actions, is an oxymoron in itself.

 

Important: as the following sentence contains many naughty words I warn you not to read it under any circumstances; botty, knickers, wee, erogenous zone, psychiatrist, clitoris, stockings, bosom, poetry reading, dentist, fellatio and the department of agriculture.

 

"I suppose outright stupidity and complete lack of taste could also be considered points of view. "

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My laptop is very good, I dont think you can get more value for your money. Its an Acer 5024WLMi

 

-AMD 64 3000+

-ATi X700 128mb

-100gig HD

( and other goodies like gigabit ethernet )

 

For only about $1200, but as I bought this in the autumn you can probably get a newer and better model for the same price. I have friends who bought Dell and LG laptops with the same or lower specs for up to $2000

 

There's more to laptops than CPU speed and such. Good looking advertised specs don't always mean a fast laptop. Chipset, memory speed and hard drive speed are all still important just like in case of desktop PCs. A lot of cheap laptops have slow 4200rpm hard drives to cut costs. Size, weight and battery time, also screen size, resolution, brightness and sharpness all need to be considered. If you want to carry your laptop around a lot it better be made of sturdy material or otherwise the weak plastic cheap laptops are made of will wear out and crack eventually. Some people are sensitive to noise since you almost always sit very close to your laptop when working with it. Noisy, low quality cooling can be a pain.

 

Your Acer might be great for you but there can be plenty reasons to buy more expensive laptops that have seemingly weaker specs.

 

I'd recommend something with a Core Duo CPU and ATI x1300 or better graphics chip to the thread starter.

Edited by Ummi
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I'll let you decide, but I don't think gaming laptops are a great idea.  The hardware just isn't meant for that sort of thing, and you'll eat through your battery in no time unless you're sitting at a desk plugged in...and if you are, why not just game on a beefier desktop with a better screen and probably speakers?  If you need one for games, obviously stick with Windows-based machines, but if you need one for other purposes I would look into Apple's line of products.  I've had no complaints.

 

 

These are good suggestions, although No-CD h4x are practically made for laptops...and filthy, filthy pirates.

 

The suggestion about Apple products is especially good. PC laptops really aren't built all that solidly, most manufacturers just go "Oh hey, lets make a desktop PC only smaller!" and just get parts that fit in a smaller chassis without any mind for the abuse a notebook takes. Even with the utmost of care, if you're moving from class to class with it at all the poor dears rattle themselves apart. Best case scenario a couple of connectors come loose, worst case a fan busts itself. Though I've never owned one, I have a friend who's a certified tech for both Dell and Apple, and he swears by the newer (last two years-ish) Powerbooks. Says the things are nigh indestructible. Only bad thing is they're a lot more expensive. :)

 

EDIT: I realized the No-CD cracks comment wasn't that specific, what I meant was if you install these then it only eats up amounts of battery more or less comparable to normal operation.

 

My lappy has taken all kinds of abuse and it's still chugging along. It's almost three years old and has been drug from class to class daily. It's a Dell, btw.

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

 

- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

 

"I have also been slowly coming to the realisation that knowledge and happiness are not necessarily coincident, and quite often mutually exclusive" - meta

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I've got a Dell lappy that I've had going on 3 years and it can still run some of the games today at low settings. Here are the specs for a frame of reference.

 

 

Intel Centrino 1.3 GHz Pentium M

768 MB Ram

64 MB GeForce Go Mobile

40 gig hard drive

And that is why I don't mind getting a gaming laptop. My argument is that by 4 years, upgrading a desktop pc throughout that time would have been just as expensive as retiring the lappy in terms of gaming after 4 years and getting something new. As Arkan says, he's had his for 3 years and can still run todays games, ableit at low settings, but i don't mind that very much. I want a laptop, and I also want to play games, so instead of getting a normal laptop and a desktop gaming computer, I am just combining.

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Wow, $2600+ down the drain...

 

Didn't, by any chance, insure that beast somehow?

I had thought that some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well, for they imitated humanity so abominably. - Book of Counted Sorrows

 

'Cause I won't know the man that kills me

and I don't know these men I kill

but we all wind up on the same side

'cause ain't none of us doin' god's will.

- Everlast

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lol more like $3800.  I got the high-end version.

 

It wasn't insured, but I am getting another one.  Someday I will tell the tale of what happened to it. :(

Egad! Why on Earth would you buy anything that expensive and not list it on your homeowners' or renters' policy?

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Wow, $2600+ down the drain...

 

Didn't, by any chance, insure that beast somehow?

lol more like $3800. I got the high-end version.

 

It wasn't insured, but I am getting another one. Someday I will tell the tale of what happened to it. :)

 

 

We all know it was Ramza, in a last desperate attempt to get his hands on the design plans for Jefferson :("

DISCLAIMER: Do not take what I write seriously unless it is clearly and in no uncertain terms, declared by me to be meant in a serious and non-humoristic manner. If there is no clear indication, asume the post is written in jest. This notification is meant very seriously and its purpouse is to avoid misunderstandings and the consequences thereof. Furthermore; I can not be held accountable for anything I write on these forums since the idea of taking serious responsability for my unserious actions, is an oxymoron in itself.

 

Important: as the following sentence contains many naughty words I warn you not to read it under any circumstances; botty, knickers, wee, erogenous zone, psychiatrist, clitoris, stockings, bosom, poetry reading, dentist, fellatio and the department of agriculture.

 

"I suppose outright stupidity and complete lack of taste could also be considered points of view. "

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The question is why spend that much on a lap top, technology that will be out of date in a few months.  >_<
Samething for desktops.

Zing!

 

Anyway, I picked this one: here.

 

It is good for my budget, and I believe it meets my criteria.

 

Also, too bad about that lappy, Sawyer. We do want to hear the story though. I just don't understand why people have to go and steal things in real-life when they have RPGs in which to steal stuff ;)

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Thats pretty much exactly whats in my laptop... yours is a lot prettier though :p

DISCLAIMER: Do not take what I write seriously unless it is clearly and in no uncertain terms, declared by me to be meant in a serious and non-humoristic manner. If there is no clear indication, asume the post is written in jest. This notification is meant very seriously and its purpouse is to avoid misunderstandings and the consequences thereof. Furthermore; I can not be held accountable for anything I write on these forums since the idea of taking serious responsability for my unserious actions, is an oxymoron in itself.

 

Important: as the following sentence contains many naughty words I warn you not to read it under any circumstances; botty, knickers, wee, erogenous zone, psychiatrist, clitoris, stockings, bosom, poetry reading, dentist, fellatio and the department of agriculture.

 

"I suppose outright stupidity and complete lack of taste could also be considered points of view. "

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