Best Graphics....

[HighHopesRC]

Push my past thread of Admins abusing their privileges to the side and lets focus on a more enjoyable topic, but still gets the blood pumping. Who has the best GPU/PC Specs... not me. Yet I get called a lia when I tell people I run BF2 maxed out using an Intel GMA 4500 (intergrated graphics) and Project Reality at med/high settings at about 25 - 35 fps. I thought it would be interesting to hear what people are using or what they have in store for 2011. I am currently looking into an Alienware M-15x laptop. Alot of people tell me their overpriced, but I have to say, $2,000 is worth it... did you know you can have your initials engraved on the bottom!?

[Pedz]

I don't see the point in 'gaming laptops' as theyre too heavy to carry round all day, and the battery lasts about an hour is its unplugged, so its basically a desktop but for twice the price. When buying gadgets, always ask yourself, do you really need it?

[BenHamish]

Gaming laptops are a pointless waste of time for yuppies and poseurs. They are also obsolete within a year and you can't upgrade (unless you're one of the WOWOMG32GB RAM !!!!11 crowd). Enjoy selling it for $600 in 10 months time and then pestering mummy and daddy again because a shinier one has come out with brighter LED's on the case.

Also, posted in the wrong area.

[Midnight_o9]

I use a laptop as well, and I have to agree with you Pedz, if you only plan to play games with it it's pointless and overpriced. But you have to be aware that some people need their PC for something else than playing.
I work on my PC, and need it everywhere I go, and sadly I cant afford to buy a laptop to work and a desktop to play, then I bought a gaming laptop to be able to play and work correctly (which cost me around 1000$ back then), and in this situation it's cheaper than buying a good laptop (cause I need good perfs to work) and a good desktop.
Anyway Alienware are overpriced and pointless.

[Skull]

my desktop including sound system, screen, keyboard, mouse, os win7:
about 1100 euros (half a year ago) -> my pr never drops below 40 fps and im on all high, 8xAA, 1920x1080, aswell as crysis on 50fps on all maxed. im sure there are people on this forums who would help you create one of those (its not hard anyways).

my laptop:
HD 5310m
9 00 euros (1.5 years ago) -> specs should be sufficient for anything you do at work, plus it runs like endless (intel something powersaving cpu) and only wighs 1.7kg, while a gaming laptop weighs something like 4kg+

therefore you have 2 seperate system:
the desktop is at least as good as the 2000euro laptop, likely even better, plus upgradeable and you have a light powersaving laptop aswell.
you can have 2 reasonably good systems down to about 1200-1400 euros.

furthermore gaming laptops may sound great, but the display is shit for gaming (glare), the keyboard aswell, you always have to carry a mouse etc..
the only thing that might be noticeable is that if you go on lans you only have to carry like one backpack while someone with a desktop has to carry a lot more.

so, everyone who knows something about computers will ALWAYS tell you that gaming laptops are the most stupid thing you could possibly buy.

regards,
skull

[usmcguy]

Alienware is way overpriced man..Just get a good desktop that you can upgrade..and not have to bother with a dying battery..

[Johncro]

Alienware

500 fro the laptop
1500 for name engraving and brand.

[Arquin]

Well, cloud computing might be the solution. If you can tap on a network of computers with your nineties Compaq, you could probably play at max settings with max fps.

+2 and a <3 to anyone who has an old compaq laptop from the 90's

[Midnight_o9]

I might agree with you skull, if I had 2000 euros I certainly didn't buy a gaming laptop but 1 desktop and 1 laptop. Fact is my budget was very limited, therefore I had no choice, or maybe the choice to get 2 crappy PCs or 1 medium laptop...
As for what I need to work, if I want to work comfortably I better have a good pc, as some poster / signs / animations I create demand some good perfs...

Anyway my laptop is more a multi-purpose laptop than a gaming one, and I'm saving to buy a desktop, but with only ~1000 euros budget, I had to buy a powerful laptop.
My point is I bought my pc mainly to work on, and not for games, I dont care if I cant play with everything on high (I play everything on medium) but I care if it crash or slowdown when I work. And as long as I cant mount a custom laptop, I chosen a powerful one.
And I know it sounds stupid, but whatever, it's what I needed.

[Tequila]

I don't see the point in 'gaming laptops' as theyre too heavy to carry round all day, and the battery lasts about an hour is its unplugged, so its basically a desktop but for twice the price. When buying gadgets, always ask yourself, do you really need it?

I bought my "gaming" laptop for school. Its a 17" hp with and ATI Mobile 5650. It handles pretty much anything I throw at it at highish settings. I didn't buy it as my main machine, but it does really well when I want to game on campus, a lan party, or at a friends place. As far as battery life? Mine lasts several hours, even gaming. Besides, who doesn't plug their laptop in when they play anyways?.. its not like we are living in the stone ages where electricity and plugs are scarce. My laptop is less than an inch thick and weighs almost nothing.

[Total_Overkill]

so, everyone who knows something about computers will ALWAYS tell you that gaming laptops are the most stupid thing you could possibly buy.

*points at oversized, dreadful white paper weight, know as a MAC*

[A_Grounded_Pilot]

I spend a LOT of nights in hotels for work, and we all know how much TV sucks. To me, it made sense to get a gaming laptop. I paid twice as much as I would have for a desktop of the same specs. But no matter where I am in the world, I can play PR to pass the time. If it also makes sense for you, google Sager notebooks. Don't buy an Alienware. Seriously.

[HighHopesRC]

Well... I spend alot of time in my living room, its my.... safe haven, its great to jus sit the laptop on top the arm rest and use the side table for the mouse pad (very comfortable). But I do understand the upgrading situation, it makes a good argument, but the new Alienware has some impressive specs, shouldn't need to upgrade for least several years, and upgrades can be done as far as GPU/Memory/Harddrive goes, I mean what else would you want to upgrade.

[Skull]

so, everyone who knows something about computers will ALWAYS tell you that gaming laptops are the most stupid thing you could possibly buy.

*points at oversized, dreadful white paper weight, know as a MAC*

i stand corrected

Well... I spend alot of time in my living room, its my.... safe haven, its great to jus sit the laptop on top the arm rest and use the side table for the mouse pad (very comfortable).

a desktop on a normal table:
- is imo much more comfortable, at least over longer times
- makes your gaming capabilities a lot better, not only cause of keyboard/screen, aswell as being free to move to find your ideal position

But I do understand the upgrading situation, it makes a good argument, but the new Alienware has some impressive specs, shouldn't need to upgrade for least several years, and upgrades can be done as far as GPU/Memory/Harddrive goes, I mean what else would you want to upgrade.

again, a normal desktop with the same specs costs a third, maybe even a fourth, of what alienware wants, plus maybe about 400euros once for exteriors (screen, keyboard etc). the upgrading itself costs at the 3 times as much and apart from the hd i wouldnt wonder if you have to take it to a computer shop to let it be upgraded, therefore would cost even more, while with a desktop you can do it yourself and taks like 10 minutes instead of several days.

regards,
skull

[A_Grounded_Pilot]

Have you actually looked into the cost of upgrading a mobile GPU? I didn't until after I bought my laptop. It's rediculous.

[Tompa]

i got a gaming laptop, works just fine on highest graph, 8x AA and max reso... expensive though

[Hitperson]

GPU/Memory/Harddrive goes, I mean what else would you want to upgrade.

Have you actually looked into the cost of upgrading a mobile GPU? I didn't until after I bought my laptop. It's rediculous.

wasn't even aware that you could upgrade mobile graphics.

[GI_Sloww]

... did you know you can have your initials engraved on the bottom!?

Go to your nearest neighborhood watch meeting and I bet you can find yourself someone with an Engraving machine.

[Tequila]

wasn't even aware that you could upgrade mobile graphics.

Most (like 9/10) laptops you cant. The ones that can are very expensive to do so. Most cases its cheaper to get a new laptop than an oem mobile card.