Gaming Laptop

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barman09

38 posts

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#42872 12-Oct-2009 21:36

Hey guys I've been thinking about getting a gaming laptop and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what to get? ATM looking at an Alienware M15x.

http://www1.ap.dell.com/au/en/home/notebooks/alienware-m15x/pd.aspx?refid=alienware-m15x&s=dhs&cs=audhs1&~oid=au~en~39102~laptop_alienware_mx15_s510915au~~

Thanks.

heavenlywild

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#263598 12-Oct-2009 23:00

The Alienware M15x is a pretty good gaming machine, coupled with the new Core i7 processor... only if you can afford it.

Depending on the games you play, you may also wanna consider the upcoming HP Envy 15 - 15" notebook with an ATI Mobility 4820 video card (1gb memory). It also has a Core i7 processor. It should be released as soon as Windows 7 is out.

Just a thought, would you consider having a gaming desktop PC and a cheaper but portable notebook? For $3k you can seriously get the best CPU and video card on the market with a really large LCD monitor. The other $1k can get you a netbook or a cheaper notebook for "on the go".

I used to buy gaming notebooks until I realised 6 months down the track and $4k lighter, there was something faster and better.

Ragnor

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#263610 13-Oct-2009 03:48

All gaming laptops have horrible price/performance and short lifetimes as the requirements for new games out pace the onboard GPU pretty quickly. I'd only recommend going for a gaming laptop if you are feeling extremely rich.

If you're willing to consider small form factor you can get something semi portable which much better specs way cheaper.

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#263616 13-Oct-2009 07:48

The reason I want a gaming laptop is because I recently built a desktop for my Dad which handles pretty much everything I've used it for so far (ATI 4890) but I get kicked off it half the time. I originally had a desktop build for the same cost as the m15x but Dad has said I'm not allowed to get a desktop for my room.

8d52797c436

264 posts

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#263619 13-Oct-2009 08:20

barman09: The reason I want a gaming laptop is because I recently built a desktop for my Dad which handles pretty much everything I've used it for so far (ATI 4890) but I get kicked off it half the time. I originally had a desktop build for the same cost as the m15x but Dad has said I'm not allowed to get a desktop for my room.

I would try really hard to convince him that a laptop is a waste of money for that sort of thing. The gaming laptops are incredibly expensive, and there's really no way to upgrade them. They also will have quite a short battery life, but that wont matter much if you're playing it in your room hooked up to power of course.

Recently, I moved cities, and in the time between me moving and me moving my stuff I only had my laptop to keep me entertained. I found it really annoying to try and play games on, with the limited keys (compared to a desktop keyboard) and just the fact that it was generally too compact, but that may just be my big clumsy fingers.

Saying that, I have a few friends who all play games on their laptops, but they set them up more like desktops, plugging them into speakers and keyboards and mice. Even had one mate who plugged in a screen. Think really hard before buying a laptop for high performance, it's a lot of money and once you get it you're stuck with those specs till you buy a new one.

Ragnor

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#263670 13-Oct-2009 15:11

barman09: The reason I want a gaming laptop is because I recently built a desktop for my Dad which handles pretty much everything I've used it for so far (ATI 4890) but I get kicked off it half the time. I originally had a desktop build for the same cost as the m15x but Dad has said I'm not allowed to get a desktop for my room.

No room for a 2nd desktop in the office/lounge/where ever rather than you room?

Batman

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#263673 13-Oct-2009 15:25

he's built a super modern desktop for his dad. chances are barman will be able to afford ten alienware M15x ... so go for it!

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#263681 13-Oct-2009 15:51

Hahaha I'm 15 so not much chance of being able to afford 10 M15x's...

In our house we have 2 desktops in our study (The old 1 + New one I built) and 4 Laptops (Mum Dad Mine and Brothers) so we are running out of space a bit. The idea with me getting a new laptop would be that I could give my old one, which still runs fine and has pretty decent specs, to my brother in replacement of his crappy one and because I'd have a laptop which can run games pretty well I could stop playing games on our main comp =p

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8d52797c436

264 posts

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#263688 13-Oct-2009 16:01

Sounds fair enough, and probably a good plan. I'm assuming you must have a desk or something in your room that you would be sitting the laptop on? Maybe it's just that my eyes arent too good but I really dont like trying to play games on a 15 inch screen, and it may be a good idea to consider a desktop that uses a small case.

When it comes down to it, if you think you can live with the smaller screen you could probably get away with just the laptop and a mouse, and you really wont do better than an alienware laptop for games, especially with the specs of the M15x. You have probably already seen it but here's a nice review of the laptop.

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#263694 13-Oct-2009 16:32

Yea I have a desk I could put it on and I don't mind the 15inch screen- I'm typing this on my current laptop which is 16.1" so its not a huge loss. My Dad said I'm just not allowed a desktop because of the space and the cables everywhere- even a small one- so I'm stuck with a laptop. Thanks for the review, but unfortunatley you got me a review of the older M15x- the Area 51 M15x instead of the newer version. But thanks anyway lol.

8d52797c436

264 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#263695 13-Oct-2009 16:34

Haha no worries mate, sorry about that. Just managed to find one and didnt look too closely at what model it was. Either way, Alienware is an awesome brand for gaming machines, so if you are going to be constricted to a laptop you may as well get a really good one.

barman09

38 posts

Geek

#263697 13-Oct-2009 16:37

Thanks for the input, both you Ryan and everyone else that has posted. Dw about the mistake I made the same one several times when looking for reviews...an easy one to make lol.

manburger

22 posts

Geek

#270998 8-Nov-2009 12:56

My two cents: I own a Gateway P-6831fx (http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3273) and it's the shizzle. I bought it refurbished for 700USD a year ago, and i'm running all the new games on it fine. There's also room for affordable upgrades whenever I have the cash. The problem right now would probably be finding one, as they're not in production and they sold damn fast. Look out for the deals in america! Refurbished ones are the way to go for sure.