Laptop advice

[General Ludd]

I've been entertaining the thought of buying a laptop lately, and since it's been so long since I've had a computer of my own, I know pretty much nothing about what hardware - or even software - is like these days.

It'd be nice to be able to play some games if I got a laptop. I don't need anything top of the line - I'd like to be thrifty ($400 max would be nice, even if it means geting a used computer) but what's the best I can get on a budget?

Is there anything I should look for or avoid? What are good laptop videocards these days?

[Wiglaf]

A $400 laptop would not play games. TECH FORUM TAKIN IT HAAARRRRRD :B:

[Spaced Cowboy]

Disagree, most of the laptops that you'll find in the bestbuy for around $500 (you'll need to catch a sale), will play most of the games that are out today, except for the games that push the graphics envelope (like crysis, etc.)

IIRC, Ludd is more into strat games anyhow so this would work for him.

[Asher]

Laptop = consumerism. Shame on you.

[ZEE]

ya, this thread is very anti-luddish.

but turning over new leafs

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by Spaced Cowboy
Disagree, most of the laptops that you'll find in the bestbuy for around $500 (you'll need to catch a sale), will play most of the games that are out today, except for the games that push the graphics envelope (like crysis, etc.)

IIRC, Ludd is more into strat games anyhow so this would work for him.

Except the ones with integrated graphics. I have an Intel Core2 Duo E8400 with 2GB of ram and Intel X3100 integrated graphics and I doubt I could play Oblivion, Half-Life 2 or even call of Duty 2 on it. Most somewhat 3D-intensive games are probably off-limits. Most strategy games will be OK, though.

[Spaced Cowboy]

Yeah, should have made the list bigger, how old is your laptop?

My work laptop has even older integrated graphics, and I would not even attempt to play a shooter on it.

[Nostromo]

Its not a laptop. I just upgraded my desktop with a decent CPU, RAM, etc. My point was mainly about integrated graphics.

[Krill]

Buy one with a 8600GT if you want to play anything with low graphics settings...though you really do need an 8800 to run anything with decent grpahics on todays normal resolutions.

[Spaced Cowboy]

LOL, when I read your post, I was thinking that is a pretty powerful CPU for a laptop.

IIRC, you are not going to find a sub $1000 laptop with a discrete video solution.

[snoopy369]

You can find laptops with good integrated solutions for $500 - anything made by ATI or nVidia and reasonably recent will play most of what you want to play, Ludd.

Get something with >= 1GB RAM and a halfway decent CPU (newer model, at least 1.5GHz).

[General Ludd]

The local staples has a HP DV9535NR for sale at $597

Seems like a good deal...



Microprocessor 1.5 GHz Intel® Centrino® Duo processor technology featuring Intel® Core ™ 2 Duo processor T5250
Microprocessor Cache 2MB L2 Cache
Memory 2048 MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Memory Max Max supported 2048 MB
Video Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
Video Memory Up to 1023 MB, 256 MB dedicated
Hard Drive 240 GB (5400 RPM) Dual HDD - 120 GB x 2 (SATA)
Multimedia Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Display 17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition BrightView Widescreen (1440 x 900)


I feel so seedy thinking about buying something like this, though.

[DrSpike]

Give in - greed is good.

[snoopy369]

That's a quite decent computer. 17" means it will be heavyish, but if you're young and manly this is not a problem, according to our various young manly men...

[General Ludd]

Yeah, the 7.7lbs was the only down side I could see to it. But I often carry books that weigh that much or more. (I don't like to, though.)



But it's not like I have to take it everywhere I go.... hell, in some ways it might make more sense for me to get a desktop... if I had a desk... or even a table...