Gaming Need help buying a laptop

[abaddon41_80]

I know that someone creates a topic like this almost every day so I hate to bother everyone again but this board has the highest collective computer knowledge of any place on the internet that I frequent. I am looking to get rid of my current laptop because I now have the money to buy a better one. It is not that the one I have now is bad or anything but I just want to upgrade to one that can play newer games if I want to and has better battery life. My current laptop's specs are,

Acer Aspire 4730Z
Intel Premium Dual-Core processor T3400(2.16 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 1 MB L2 cache)
Mobile Intel Graphics Accelerator 4500M
4 GB (2 x 2GB) PC2 6400 RAM
250 GB HDD

It actually works fantastic for what I bought it for, schoolwork and going on the internet, and the price ($450) but the problem is the graphics card. As most of you know, it sucks. What I am looking for is a laptop with very good processing speed, very good battery life, a decent gaming computer, and good portability. I am willing to spend up to around $1100 but if someone knows of a laptop that can do everything I want for cheaper then please tell me.

Things I am looking for (in order of importance)

1. Battery life - I currently get 2-2.5 hours while on the internet but I would like to improve upon that.
2. Processing speed - The laptop I have right now has great speed and I don't want to downgrade.
3. Decent gaming computer - I know I will never play something like Crysis, though.
4. Portability - I am not looking for anything that is bigger than 15.4'' because I will be lugging this around along with books every day.

I have found a couple that seem pretty good to me.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16834220519 - Seems pretty good for $900

Dell Studio 15 with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.4GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache), 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 video card, and a free upgrade to a 9-cell battery for $929

 

[Devion]

Wel I recently bought a Asus laptop that work's awesome
I installed the sims 3 and stuff and it still WILL work the specs

Asus K50IN
CPU = DUO T6500
Wireless = 802.11N
Display = 15,6 HD(led saves battery)
Hard drive = 320GB
Memory = 4GB

512MB NVIDIA GEFORC
Intel core duo.....
Battery wil last on the high performance mode for 3 hours (playing sims 3)

And of course it uses vista home premium

It also got a nice touch pad that is very sensitieve.....

(strange language but you can see the computer...)

other things:
1 SD card slot
4 usb
1 external screen output
mic and earphone output
build in webcam
build in microphone
1 cd/dvd reader/burner

If u need more info just tell me...

Good Luck

 

[Lodis]

Look for the NP8660 or NP8662. You are unlikely to get really good battery life on any laptop that games really well but you could always undervolt the CPU to increase this.

I suggest you post your question here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16

 

[abaddon41_80]

Thanks guys. From what you said, Devion, I guess Asus gets good battery life, which is the main thing I am looking for. I posted my questions on that forum you suggested, lodis.

 

[benjaminlibl]

Using a laptop to play games is hopeless, really.

 

[Devion]

Why hopeless i can play game on vacation, Can you take your desktop computer on vacation that easily? I don't Think so....

 

[benjaminlibl]

Playing computer games while on vacation seems like a waste man. But what I mean is, it'll get outdated so fast it's not even funny.

 

[Saywhatjj4]

I bought A Dell XPS M1730, its a gaming laptop but Very Pricey indeed
Anyway, here are the specs

XPS M1730
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8100
Single 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8700m GT graphics card
2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
160GB Hard Drive

and the Good thing is Windows Vista ULITMATE

 

[UltraMagnus]

Using a laptop to play games is hopeless, really.

my macbook pro can play oblivion on max settings, not really that hopeless.

 

[abaddon41_80]

These are pretty much the 4 I have narrowed it down to.

A) Levono Thinkpad T400 - $998

Spoiler

*Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor P8700 (2.53GHz 1066MHz 3MBL2)
*Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
*ATI Mobility Radeon 3470 with 256MB
*2GB DDR3 1067MHz
*250 GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
*9 cell Li-Ion Battery

B) Dell Studio 15 - $929

Spoiler

*Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.4GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
*Windows Vista Home Premium US 64-bit
*512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
*4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
*320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
*85 WHr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

C) Asus N81Vg-X1 - $899.99 (after rebate)

Spoiler

*Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz/1066 FSB/3MB cache
*Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit
*NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M 1GB
*4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
*320GB HDD (7200 RPM)
*6-cell battery

D) HP dv4t - $975

Spoiler

*Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P7550 (2.26GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
*Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
*512MB NVIDIA GeForce G 105M
*3GB DDR2 RAM
*320GB HDD (5400 RPM)
*One 6 Cell and One 12 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries

I am currently leaning towards the Studio 15 but 12 cell battery that comes with the dv4t is tempting.

 

[Lodis]

Playing computer games while on vacation seems like a waste man. But what I mean is, it'll get outdated so fast it's not even funny.

You definitely have a point but still, if you get a really decent gaming laptop, it will last you quite a good while. I know of some one who got a Sager NP9262 that has a 2.5 Ghz Quad Core, 3 HDD's and Dual SLI GPU 8800M X 2. They are still playing games just fine.

 

[DSGamer64]

Don't buy an Acer whatever you do. Laptops already have heating issues when playing games, Acer machines naturally run hot and you can damn near burn yourself sometimes, take it from someone who owns one.

HP seems to have a track record around here of poor quality laptops, my brother has a dv2000 and it's junk, the motherboards were horribly designed and he has had it overhauled twice since he got it just over a year ago.

 

[benjaminlibl]

DSGamer64, that's the exact same one I'm using right now. I've sent it in for repairs 4-5 times because of a faulty fan. The only games I can expect to play on here are 2D games.

 

[abaddon41_80]

Don't buy an Acer whatever you do. Laptops already have heating issues when playing games, Acer machines naturally run hot and you can damn near burn yourself sometimes, take it from someone who owns one.

HP seems to have a track record around here of poor quality laptops, my brother has a dv2000 and it's junk, the motherboards were horribly designed and he has had it overhauled twice since he got it just over a year ago.

Yeah, both of my first two laptops have been Acers so I know what you mean. My first one ran terribly hot even on flat surfaces and I sometimes had to hold it up while using it. The one I have now is not that bad, though. Another thing I have noticed about Acers is that the battery life starts to deteriorate faster than other laptops. Is this true for you too?

 

[DSGamer64]

Well mine is 3 years old now and the battery only lasts for about 40 minutes, it used to last 3 hours when I got it, depends on the battery pack I think.

I am disappointed in HP's quality too considering I have a desktop that is going on 6 years old or so and it still runs fine, a bit slow cause it needs a nice hard drive clean up but otherwise it's fine. Sad to hear that their laptops are so shitty these days, I know some people swear by their computers.

 

[abaddon41_80]

Last post I am going to make because I know I am annoying people. I have narrowed my choices down to 2 and I need help deciding.

1) Dell Studio 15 - $1045.66 (including tax)

Spoiler

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8600 (2.4GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz
15.6” High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife™ and Camera
512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570
500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
8X Slot Load Super Multi (DL DVD+/-R Drive + RAM support)
Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini-Card
McAfee 15 month
85 WHr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)

2) HP dv4t - $989.73 (including tax)

Spoiler

Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
Intel Core™2 Duo Processor P7550 (2.26GHz, 3 MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (1 Dimm)
FREE Upgrade to 320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
512MB NVIDIA GeForce G 105M
14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
LghtScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
Webcam Only
Wireless-G Card
50% OFF!! One 6 Cell and One 12 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries

 

[abaddon41_80]

Never mind. I found a $250 off for the HP so I am definitely going with that.

 

[Lodis]

Never mind. I found a $250 off for the HP so I am definitely going with that.

If you want anywhere near decent gaming performance, you will save your money and not bother with that HP. If you are going to get a laptop, you should get the best one your money can buy. That $250 off might translate into much more later on when you become annoyed at the poor gaming performance, especially in newer titles.

 

[DSGamer64]

Dell's are overpriced compared to Asus for gaming laptops, the only luxury is customization but their graphics options suck to be honest.

 

[UltraMagnus]

asus suck in build quality.

remember with dell if you order by phone you can usually barter them down by at least 10% and maybe get free upgrades