What Gaming Laptop????

[UrbanKiwi]

I have heard that the title of this thread is considered a contradiction in terms however I have to ask the question . I am currently using an outdated (very) desktop and am looking to upgrade to a Directx 10 capable Laptop to keep up with the blasted innovations in gaming not to mention Vista. I have been doing some research and there are a lot of mixed views on the subject of gaming laptops especially the new breed using the 8 series Nvidia M cards. Some are saying that even the 8700M GT card is rubbish when games are played in Directx 10 mode with poor FPS rates etc.

What I want to know is will it be possible to play e.g. Crysis, COD 4, Bioshock on the following specs at a reasonable setting level or is it just not going to happen?


Prospective Systems (please suggest others)

Rock X770-T7500

Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz,4MB Cache, 800MHz
New Nvidia GeForce 8700M GT 512MB (DX10)
WSXGA+ X-Glass rock logo
2GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
100GB 7200rpm S-ATA
Windows Vista Home Premium

Evesham

# Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T7500 processor (2.2GHz, 800MHz, 4MB cache)
# 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 RAM 667MHz
# 160GB Serial ATA 5400rpm hard drive
# 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT graphics
# 17'' WUXGA X-Bright widescreen (1920x1200) display

Help please!!!!

[Guy]

If you want it now, id say forget the DX10 idea and go for a high level 9 card, and then id either go for an XPS or one of Rocks offerings.

If your really set on DX10 Id wait until the first actual DX10 games are released, and they bring out mor mobile cards.

[staffsMike]

how much is your budget. There is a new dell xps with SLi 8700GT's and a physix card

very expensive but an awesome machine. Best you can get in the UK at the least.

The new rock 770 is pretty good, not sure on the quality.. the peg 670 is supposed to be a bit flimsy.

Yes bioshock will run on them and Crysis has been demonstrated on an 8700GT and looked very nice..can't find the video for the life of me though.

[UrbanKiwi]

My budget is around 1,500. The XPS is going out at 1800 so it is too steep. Pity about the Crysis video, I would be interested in seeing it....

I might just build my own desktop instead!! It seems that Laptops are not competitive in price or performance at the moment.......

[aidanjt]

how much is your budget. There is a new dell xps with SLi 8700GT's and a physix card

very expensive but an awesome machine. Best you can get in the UK at the least.

The new rock 770 is pretty good, not sure on the quality.. the peg 670 is supposed to be a bit flimsy.

Yes bioshock will run on them and Crysis has been demonstrated on an 8700GT and looked very nice..can't find the video for the life of me though.

It'll also melt a hole through your floor and through the crust of the earth. Laptops aren't designed for gaming.

[aidanjt]

My budget is around 1,500. The XPS is going out at 1800 so it is too steep. Pity about the Crysis video, I would be interested in seeing it....

I might just build my own desktop instead!! It seems that Laptops are not competitive in price or performance at the moment.......

Good boy. They never will be.

[UrbanKiwi]

aidanjt

What system spec would you recommend for a self build with a budget of 1,000 ex monitor?

Advice appreciated!

[staffsMike]

£1000.. there's a lot you can do with a £1000

Hows aboot

CPU: Q6600 + scythe ninja rev B HSF
mobo: Abit IP-35pro
RAM: 4gb crucial ballistix pc6400 or this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MY-058-GL so good and sooo cheap!!
graphics card: nvidia 8800GTX
hard drives: 500GB western digital AAKS so quiet and fast
optical: samsung sata dvd writer
case: antec p182 (great for a silent build)
PSU: corsair 520w HX whisper

That's about £950's worth using rough prices from www.scan.co.uk (who will give you free delivery if you get to 25 constructive posts here on hexus)

Do you need an OS keyboard/mouse etc.. ?

The ram isn't available from scan though.

That will run pretty much anything you can think to throw at it at silly resolutions and settings. also run next to silent..just a gentle hum from the 8800GTX

[aidanjt]

If I had a grant to spend, this is what I would get:

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - OEM (£164.49)
Abit IP35 Pro (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (£123.36)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKS) (£64.61)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Black Dragon DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GB22GB6400C4DC) (£98.68) (or the memory staffsMike suggested, which would bring it under budget)
BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (£340.74)
Lian-Li PC V1000 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower - Black (£129.24)
Samsung SH-S203NBEBN 20x20 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA Lightscribe ReWriter (Black) - OEM (£19.96)
Corsair VX 450W ATX PSU (CMPSU-450VXUK) (£43.46)
Scythe Infinity/Mugen CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775) (£31.71)
Akasa SATA-2 60cm Silver Data Cable (£5.86)
Akasa SATA-2 45cm Silver Data Cable (£4.69)

Sub Total : £873.88
Shipping : £12.95
VAT : £155.20
Total : £1,042.03

A little over budget, but if you can streach it then it's a good rig. Also, if you wait till after Christmas we should see new cards from AMD and nVidia, so you might get at least a good a card or better for less money.

[staffsMike]

great minds..

antec P182 though £50 cheaper and it's awesome

question for you aidanjt. Is the black dragon stuff good? Considering it for a build.

[aidanjt]

great minds..

antec P182 though £50 cheaper and it's awesome

It's a matter of preference, but for me the Lian-Li V series is extremely cool, and solid as a rock, the side panel alone is a lethal weapon. The few extra quid is worth it for the durability imho.

question for you aidanjt. Is the black dragon stuff good? Considering it for a build.

I haven't used it personally, but it seems to get decent reviews, and given that it doesn't have a giant heatsink wrapped around it, I'm guessing they don't have chronic overheating issues.

[staffsMike]

I haven't used it personally, but it seems to get decent reviews, and given that it doesn't have a giant heatsink wrapped around it, I'm guessing they don't have chronic overheating issues.

kk will read a bit futher into it, I thought the same thing. Seems to run on a lot less power

i've had a couple of P182's grace my desk and I can't get over how good quality they are. Can't think of a better case. never had a lian li they do look ok..but not my cup of tea. As you said all down to preference.

[aidanjt]

never had a lian li they do look ok..but not my cup of tea. As you said all down to preference.

I thought the same at first, until I decided to bag a V2000 (for the room inside).. I still didn't think much when I got it, packaging wasn't much, and a bit weathered, but when I pulled it out and opened the side panel that all changed, I gave serious consideration to going on a rampage with the side panel to test how strong it was lol. Needless to say, I don't have to worry about it getting damaged by sitting on it or some other unfortunate event causing damage.

[usxhe190]

dude, how about you get some SFF going, then at least you can spend more money on performance but still have a desktop that is relatively small....

e.g. silverstone SG03 case is pretty good....very small too...

[usxhe190]

if you are going single card, you can even try SG01s and thermaltake lanbox lites etc....

[staffsMike]

SG01's and SG03's are both flawed in my opinion due to the lack of decent HSF's which fit.

the silverstone TJ-08 is a good mATX case

this is a great cube case
http://www.xcase.co.uk/p/329285/aero...ll-black-.html

should fit this nicely
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=657369