Budget Gaming Laptop

[UsiGX]

Thankyou guys for all the replies. Ill be moving back and forth a lot and most times, on a bus.

I appreciate the idea of a separate laptop for notes, but I had already taken this idea into consideration and well it just doesn't fit in. Besides the ease of portability I dont want to spend hours stuck in a small room and I'm just an enthusiast gamer, not a hardcore.

Most probably, in the near future, my gaming hours will also apparently decline SHARPLY ( I may not even game )... so yea I'm favouring an all in one package currently since future proof regarding gfx card is not a big issue.

The $900 model is out of stock and might never be restocked if a clouseout.

The $1100 model with i7 quad-core and 2 x 755m GPU seems like a decent choice if you must have a laptop.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&leaderboard=1

That is a decent deal since it has an i7 and sli gt 755m BUT I live in Canada...

 

[UsiGX]

I would like to end this thread by appreciating everyone's views and suggestions.

Found fantastic deals on the lenovo 510p one on the i5 version here on

http://www.vendio.com/stores/starga...s/lenovo-ideapad-y510p-15-6-inch/lid=40741837 $650 US :S

and the i7 version here on

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...26-340921020-2 $999 CAD

 

[gothamhunter]

I would like to end this thread by appreciating everyone's views and suggestions.

Found fantastic deals on the lenovo 510p one on the i5 version here on

http://www.vendio.com/stores/starga...s/lenovo-ideapad-y510p-15-6-inch/lid=40741837 $650 US :S

and the i7 version here on

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...26-340921020-2 $999 CAD

Intel Core i5 4200M (2.5GHz)
6GB Memory 1TB SSD HD
Dual NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M SLI 2GB GDDR5
1920 x 1080
Windows 8.1
MS Office home installed

I'm guessing this is a hybrid HHD/SSD, otherwise WTF?

 

[toughtrasher]

I would like to end this thread by appreciating everyone's views and suggestions.

Found fantastic deals on the lenovo 510p one on the i5 version here on

http://www.vendio.com/stores/starga...s/lenovo-ideapad-y510p-15-6-inch/lid=40741837 $650 US :S

and the i7 version here on

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...26-340921020-2 $999 CAD

Holy cow, $350 for an i5 -> i7 upgrade?

 

[DaveSimmons]

"Star Gamer Paradise" and a price that seems too good to be true? I'd do some serious googling of the company before choosing them over a known company like Tiger Direct. Make sure it really is new with a full Lenovo warranty, and make sure you use a credit card where you can reverse the charges if things go wrong. Paypal, check or debit would be too risky for me.

The Tiger Direct price is good for the i7 model -- $100 cheaper than Newegg.

 

[UsiGX]

lol something is fishy about this site. I mean the price being too good to be true AND no shipping/handling/tax charges to a canadian adress, DAFUQ ? !

I did a googling but don't know for some reason showing as trusted.... Anyways, yees I'm most probably going with tigerdirect for the i7 , CHEERS !

 

[desura]

I have a gaming desktop but I'm thinking of moving to a gaming laptop because --

1. Gaming laptops are less trouble. I had to RMA a motherboard recently. Overall I tend to have significantly more problems with built-systems.

2. They can be put away. For smaller living spaces it is nicer to be able to put it away after use.

3. You can play anywhere. If you want, you could play the thing while in bed lying on your stomach, instead of slouched at a chair like you do with a PC. Or sitting on a couch. This is much more relaxing and immersive.

4. They're pretty fast now and price is pretty low. 860m is about the same speed as my old nvidia gtx 570. If I put it together today my desktop probably would cost around the $700-$800 range, so the $1k for the MSI Apache with about the same performance is appealing.

 

[Liberator21]

I went the gaming laptop route when I went back to school a couple years ago. Regretted it after week 1. They are heavy to lug around and even though you get used to it, it's still a pain. But the main problem I had was the poor battery life for a whole day of class use. So I was always fighting for one of the coveted seats next to an outlet and it got old fast. I just stopped bringing it. Finally I sold it and went with, like others have suggested, an affordable ultrabook and a moderate gaming machine. The ultrabook lasts all day on a full charge if I don't waste time on Facebook and crap. Anyhow, just my two cents. I love gaming laptops for portability but I only ever gamed at home anyway. On the weekends when I visited family I didn't feel the need to have a 5 hour gaming session so it wasn't a problem.

 

[ElFenix]

Holy cow, $350 for an i5 -> i7 upgrade?

that's a quad core i7, while mobile i5s are all hyperthreaded/turbo dual core.

edit: and the cheaper store was so fishy it's no longer listed

 

[s44]

But the main problem I had was the poor battery life for a whole day of class use. So I was always fighting for one of the coveted seats next to an outlet and it got old fast. I just stopped bringing it.

Actually, research shows students learn better when they take notes by hand and don't use laptops in class:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/

I agree a desktop and Chromebook or the like are a better solution, but I'd use the portable only for browsing/writing remotely, not notes.

 

[Puppies04]

I have a gaming desktop but I'm thinking of moving to a gaming laptop because --

1. Gaming laptops are less trouble. I had to RMA a motherboard recently. Overall I tend to have significantly more problems with built-systems.

2. They can be put away. For smaller living spaces it is nicer to be able to put it away after use.

3. You can play anywhere. If you want, you could play the thing while in bed lying on your stomach, instead of slouched at a chair like you do with a PC. Or sitting on a couch. This is much more relaxing and immersive.

4. They're pretty fast now and price is pretty low. 860m is about the same speed as my old nvidia gtx 570. If I put it together today my desktop probably would cost around the $700-$800 range, so the $1k for the MSI Apache with about the same performance is appealing.

I used to game exclusivly on gaming laptops, that said I think you might be over exaggerating the power of mobile GPUs. Yes they have got a lot faster than they used to be but the 860m is a 60W part and I can't see it holding a candle to a 570 especially when you consider any CPU you pair it up with will be slower than any comparable desktop part.

Gaming laptops have their uses (I own 1) but you can't beat a desktop for the ability to crank everything up to 11 without the fan hitting full speed and things starting to throttle.

P.S If you find you have more trouble with "built" systems perhaps you need to look at the person doing the builing.

Lastly a few counter arguements to your pros list.

1. They cost a lot more for less performance

2. They are pretty much not upgradable in the CPU/GPU department

3. They eat batteries whilst gaming so you still have to be near a power outlet.

4. The cooling system tend to clog up with dust way quicker than a desktop meaning you have to strip them down which can be a pain in the arse depending on the make/model.

5. The screens are generally a lot poorer than even a moderatly priced desktop screen and the keyboards suck compared to any mid level gaming keyboard.

All in all I find that you have to have a very good reason to replace a gaming desktop with a laptop, that said they are miles better than they used to be even a few years ago.

 

[Raduque]

All in all I find that you have to have a very good reason to replace a gaming desktop with a laptop, that said they are miles better than they used to be even a few years ago.

My reason for downsizing to a laptop capable of gaming (and later, I will get a true gaming laptop) is that it will NEVER draw as much power, or produce as much heat as a gaming desktop.

My desktop had a significant impact on my electricity bills to run it 24/7, as it was my only PC. My room, without that Core2duo/GTX460 space heater running, is now comfortable at all hours, and much easier to cool.

I have an 1155 mobo waiting for me to stop being cheap and buy a 3000 series Intel Core CPU, but I doubt that even that CPU will be capable of the low power draw and heat output of a gaming laptop.