A notebook computer question
- Thread starter safarial
- Start date
Best for what? What do you wanna do with it? What size screen do you want..
Yeah, tell us what it is you plan to do with it. Don't say "everything." What will you use it for most? Web-surfing? Gaming? What?
Buy cheap and you'll be disappointed.
But its all subjective because what might be 'good enough' for YOU might not be good enough for the rest of us and vice-versa.... all depends on too many factors.
What specific games are you interested in playing? What upcoming games? There's a world of difference between solitaire and BioShock.
Pretty much any computer will suffice for watching videos and playing music, so that's not going to be a tough one to work in.
Pretty much any computer will suffice for watching videos and playing music, so that's not going to be a tough one to work in.
Robert Maxwell is correct.
You have to be more specific in which types of games you are interested in playing since they do differ in system requirements and whatnot.
For example ... I have a rather decent mid-range laptop ... Acer 5930G with C2D cpu (P7350 2.0Ghz), 4GB RAM and 9600mGT GDDR3 gpu (mid-range dedicated graphics card, pretty much capable of running anything within reasonable playability ... but most games I am able to max out rather easily).
I digress though, without specifics, we cannot advise you on what to get.
You have to be more specific in which types of games you are interested in playing since they do differ in system requirements and whatnot.
For example ... I have a rather decent mid-range laptop ... Acer 5930G with C2D cpu (P7350 2.0Ghz), 4GB RAM and 9600mGT GDDR3 gpu (mid-range dedicated graphics card, pretty much capable of running anything within reasonable playability ... but most games I am able to max out rather easily).
I digress though, without specifics, we cannot advise you on what to get.
I'm afraid this thread is going to become one of Microsoft's "laptop hunters" ads. 
Were our questions too daunting for safarial?
For gaming, you can get inexpensive components, but focus on a nice graphics card. A good gaming graphics card can be as expensive as the rest of the machine. Just make sure the good graphics card can fit in the case though! That is important. OH and that the power supply is strong enough to power the card.
I want to know where you buy your laptops
Yeah, laptops aren't exactly known for having modular graphics cards. And the ones that do severely limit what you can actually use.
True ... but at the same time that's a debatable issue.
Notebooks that come with MXM slots for example can swap gpu's that fit into the slot spec-wise.
Of course that also depends on what type of MXM slot you have in the notebook.
MXM II slots are primarily used these days for mid-range cards.
MXM III slots for high end gpu's.
But I digress ... not always is gpu swapping in notebooks as simple.
Plus the high costs of mobile gpu's available can be a limiting factor, since most manufacturers don't sell mobile gpu's separately but as part of the laptop for the most part.
One important thing to keep in mind for the OP is that Integrated graphic cards cannot be swapped out for dedicated gpu's in laptops, due to the fact they are soldered to the motherboard which of course in turn also physically lacks a connector to which you could connect a dedicated gpu.
Although ... there are laptops with hybrid graphics out there which include both an IGP and a dedicated gpu.
I don't know the market in US, but here in UK I haven't really seen them in high quantities, plus it can be a bit useless at times since dedicated gpu's have a tendency to downclock automatically when not in use. Then again, it could be usable for low maintenance tasks that don't require a dedicated gpu.
Finally ... where did the OP run off to anyway?
A sub-$1000 laptop for gaming will make you want to act like an ape trapped in a cage with a well-made suitcase.
Seriously, you might as well put your balls (or similar genitalia) in a bear trap.
With the right focus on components it can "probably be done" but it won't be pretty.
If you want a laptop for gaming? Be prepared to spend big bucks.
Seriously, you might as well put your balls (or similar genitalia) in a bear trap.
With the right focus on components it can "probably be done" but it won't be pretty.
If you want a laptop for gaming? Be prepared to spend big bucks.
^ It all depends on what games you want to play. Sure, if you want to play new releases, you'll need something fancy in the $2000+ range. If you mostly stick to older games, like me, you can get by with a freakin' $300 netbook. 
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