Gaming laptop questions

[Versionconflict]

I've been tasked with locating a laptop for a mate. He'll basically be using it as a desktop replacement, as he has limited room - so screen size isn't an issue in fact 17" is preferable to 15.4"

It needs to fulfill the following requirements :

Reasonable games machine (Rome Total War, WOW etc) - therefore dedicated graphics
Price 550-650
Decent screen
DVD playback
wifi (etc).

The gaming element is obviously the most restrictive and defines what the laptop needs to do.

I have had a vostro 1500 on order from dell for the last 2 1/2 weeks with a an upgraded 8600 graphics card - but my patience has worn thin.......

So I was looking at the following from Novatech - slightly more pricey at about 620 without an OS though (the dell was 568)

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/nbrange.html?ALP

(the T5500)

Any thoughts for alternative 'budgety' gaming laptops?, or issues with the novatech one? (if anyone has experience of them)

Cheers,

Will

[mr mister]

If it is being used for a desktop replacement why not go for a desktop? You will get a better games machine for the £££. Its pretty difficult to get a fairly budget laptop that will play games well.

[staffsMike]

That Alpha thing looks like a pile of junk..

Try http://www.rizeon.com/notebooks.php

or www.zepto.com

Much better laptops.

[Versionconflict]

Originally Posted by staffsMike

That Alpha thing looks like a pile of junk..

Try http://www.rizeon.com/notebooks.php

or www.zepto.com

Much better laptops.

When you say 'looks like a pile of junk' - does that mean it offends your eyes or the components which it is built from are deficient in the technology department - it looked reasonably priced to me with 2 gig of ram and a 7600 Go graphics card....

The rizeons look ok, bit more pricey unfortunately - about 670 for the same spec......

similarly the 'zepto' s are about 700 quid for something similar (although these would have the 8600 instead of the 7600 graphics cards)

Thanks for looking.


Don't think the 'actual desktop' approach is going to work - he doesn't drive - and may need to 'occaisionally' move it around.

[staffsMike]

It certainly offends my eyes.. but i just couldnt bring myself to buy a laptop like that without at least using one first.

Cheap laptops are renound for being horribly unreliable and having terrible warranty service. Even medion who are supposedly well established are appalling for warranty work.

For £50 i'd take the rizeon as they pride them selves on quality after sales service.

[mr mister]

Originally Posted by staffsMike

Cheap laptops are renound for being horribly unreliable and having terrible warranty service.

I think that is a bit of a sweeping generalisation.

[staffsMike]

Every Microstar/medion/emachines which someone i know has bought has died well before its time.. i dont care if its a generalisation its from my personal experience and i have a lot with laptops.

They aren't cheap because they were well built from quality components, built under amazing scrutiny now are they?

[Versionconflict]

I'm not too worried about Novatech's after sales service. I've taken stuff in to their technical support area myself and they've taken it away to a workbench and replaced the item (motherboard, processor, ram bundle) 20 minutes later - so that doesn't worry me - just if there was anything else out there that's comparable and the same or less pricewise that would help.

(the dell I cancelled was vostro 1500 with a T5470 and 1 gig of ram with extra battery and true-life screen for 568 - i know it needs another g of ram though)

[staffsMike]

i think patience would have been a virtue as the vostros have started to ship..

I cant think of much that will compete for that price new...it wouldn't be my choice but its not my laptop lol

It certainly isn't a desktop replacement though..nothing in that budget would be

[2Cold Scorpio]

You might look at Dell's Inspiron line. I'm personally looking at the 1720 (the 17" beast). I just wish it has the Rizio's vid card. Other than that though, I rather like Dell's hardware better, but thats me. I've used their stuff for nearly 10 years; my last laptop has lasted 6 years, and the desktop before it (and old Pentium 2 y parents had) lasted even longer (It was outdated as hell, but it still worked!). If you have money to burn, look at Alienware, too. I hear they're good.

I realize your friend is on a budget, and I recommend this: save up more money and get a good system, not a midrange one. Notebooks are not near as upgradable as desktops (its getting better though). Get a beast and it'll still be a useful machine 4 years from now.

[unreal]

I cancelled an order on the Rizeon FL90 despite of the awesome customer support and service, and cheap upgrades on the laptop customization for the ridiculously cheap Vostro - I think it's a little more expensive now but I got a quote during the offer and haggled the salesman down even more to get £80 discount and free delivery! (People have got away with better but I'm not good at this sorta stuff so I'm proud)

[StoX]

I've always found laptops to slack at anything graphic intensive. I've had a couple of Dell Inspirons, Vaio, and an Alienware. I found they all got loud and toasty quite quickly!