Decent laptop

LemonSHARK · Post by **LemonSHARK** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 6:16 pm

I feel that the time has come again to upgrade, and since gaming is now possible on laptops, I want one.
I've only looked at an Alienware one (which is quite expensive) and a Dell one (which has a rubbish battery) so far.

Anyone got any suggestions?

PS don't suggest anything apple, please

Post by **mid_gen** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 9:55 am

Laptops are still rubbish for gaming. I spent an awful lot of money on an Alienware which could play games for about 3 months before it started wheezing.

Laptops are rubbish gaming machines. Period.

LemonSHARK · Post by **LemonSHARK** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:07 pm

have you got a 3ghz alienware? and it's slow?

rib? · Post by **rib?** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:12 pm

My HP NX7000's what i cansider to be a good gaming lappy, plays Vietnam well enough for my missus to beat ZeBaron to the top of the scoreboards at the last lan

1.4cent, 512ddr, radion mobile 9200 (64meg i think) 15.4inch screen etc

and its a generation old now, theres much better out for good money.

Ribbo

Post by **Kulgan** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 1:55 pm

The problem that's the same with all laptops is that they suck for upgrades - completely useless. Basically, your lappy may be great for a bit, but as soon as the GFX card runs a little slow or the CPU's a little crap you're snookered.

That, and they run rather hot when you thrash em with games too.

K

rib? · Post by **rib?** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 2:02 pm

wonder what the devaluations like after a year tho, but a new lappy flog it on after a year, rinse and repeat..

Nighted · Post by **Nighted** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:36 pm

wouldent the solution be, when you notice this happening, reinstall your operating system and it'l run smooth again?

and if, if you can fit 2 hard drives in a laptop, then save all important infomation to the second hard drive.

that's what i would do, unless i had the money

rib? · Post by **rib?** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:40 pm

after the aforementioned laptop's Hitachi Deathstar dieing at the end of the last event (under warrenty and to be fair in its short life it hasnt half had to work hard), i've learnt to cherish the manufactorers build CD's for you may never know when they come in use

Ribbo

Post by **mid_gen** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 4:48 pm

^^nightmare^^ wrote:wouldent the solution be, when you notice this happening, reinstall your operating system and it'l run smooth again?

Erm, yes, the more times you reformat your PC the faster it goes......

My 3ghz Alienware *was* blindingly fast at first, but as soon as the graphics chip starting slipping in the technology stakes it was crippled. It could play battlefield ok, most things 'ok', but it struggled with newer DX9 games, so I offloaded it before it started to lose too much value. Still took a hefty loss, but I got an absolutely bitching desktop with the money from the sale, for not much more than half the price of the laptop.....

If I do buy another laptop it'll just be for office/web/apps (probably a powerbook, cos I'm a materialistic weakling tbh)....

LemonSHARK · Post by **LemonSHARK** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 5:16 pm

A desktop would be the obvious choice for performance, upgradability and temperature but laptops almost make a fair trade with low noise and size.
I'm not too worried about the laptop keeping it's performance as I've only got a 1.6GHz Athlon atm and I only play games at lans.

mid_gen wrote:absolutely bitching desktop with the money from the sale

Out of curiousity, what desktop did you end up with?

Post by **mid_gen** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:04 am

3ghz p4, 1gb dual ddr400, ATI Radeon 9800XT 256mb, WD Raptor 10,000rpm HDD, Audigy 2, Hitachi 17" 16ms TFT, Coolermaster aluminium case.

Three times the performance for half the price....laptop really, really aren't worth it for games.

If you want a small machine you can take to LANs, get a shuttle PC and a TFT again, for half the price.

LemonSHARK · Post by **LemonSHARK** » Wed Jul 07, 2004 6:30 pm

Bit of a beast you've got there! A shuttle pc is my second choice. They can come with built-in 54 MBit wireless lan now. Cheers for the help, i'll start looking at shuttles then!

Whatever it is I get, I hope I get more than 15fps when a DC Apache chases me at the next shotgun

LazyManc · Post by **LazyManc** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:11 pm

Laptops are only worth having if you need the portability - and if you do go for low weight / long battery life above performance. The standard P4 desktop chips really aren't suitable for mobile computing... Chris used to bring the Alienware into lectures in the winter months to keep the room warm

The Pentium-M chips are very nippy for their ghz, definitely top of the list when it comes to mobile computing.

Seahorse · Post by **Seahorse** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 10:15 pm

I bought a P4 3Gig with a Radeon 9600 for gaming & DVDs in Iraq. Used to literally burn my fingers on the leyboard playing BF Vietnam, CPU gets so hot. Great for films though, 17" widescreen. BTW, finished my tour early there, so should be avilable in Sep, once I have forecast of events for new unit...