Building A New Beast

[whs8360]

I want to have a laptop that can play just about anything that's going to be coming out in the next year or two. I work on projects all over the country and live out of hotels, so I don't want to lug a desktop around, but I want to play games newer than Morrowind (seriously, I can't even install Oblivion, much less Civ 5). It makes me sad to watch game commercials and then look at my Media Center 2002 edition.

What am I looking for if I want to stay ahead of the curve with a laptop? You can get technical, I think I'd be able to translate.

Thanks!!!

 

[Maverick6969]

I want to have a laptop that can play just about anything that's going to be coming out in the next year or two. I work on projects all over the country and live out of hotels, so I don't want to lug a desktop around, but I want to play games newer than Morrowind (seriously, I can't even install Oblivion, much less Civ 5). It makes me sad to watch game commercials and then look at my Media Center 2002 edition.

What am I looking for if I want to stay ahead of the curve with a laptop? You can get technical, I think I'd be able to translate.

Thanks!!!

Uh...what you're asking for is sort of impossible dude. In your thread title you say "building a beast". you say don't want to lug around a desktop. What in the world does that mean? Do you or do you not want a heavy duty laptop for gaming?

In my experience, laptops designed for gaming are substantially beefier and larger than regularly every-day use laptops and will therefore, weigh more.

I would look at some of the Alienware models to start.

 

[whs8360]

I always understood a desktop to be a computer with a separate monitor and keyboard. Let me elaborate: I want a portable computer that can perform the duties of a good desktop (my definition of "laptop"). And I've looked at Alienware and would assume the participants of a forum such as this would be able to give me the necessary specifications I'm looking for.

I apologize for my apparent obtuseness.

 

[Maverick6969]

I always understood a desktop to be a computer with a separate monitor and keyboard.

Um...well, that is really not the definition of a desktop computer. You can still hook up an external monitor & keyboard to a laptop. Usually when people talk about "desktop" computers, it's computers built upon the standard ATX specifications. (Macs would obviously be an exception to that rule).

Let me elaborate: I want a portable computer that can perform the duties of a good desktop (my definition of "laptop").

So if I understand your post correctly, you're looking for a laptop that has the processing power of a desktop specifically geared for gaming?
As far as hardware specs like video, memory, etc.... you haven't told us anything about the price range or budget you have in mind.

 

[whs8360]

Um...well, that is really not the definition of a desktop computer. You can still hook up an external monitor & keyboard to a laptop. Usually when people talk about "desktop" computers, it's computers built upon the standard ATX specifications. (Macs would obviously be an exception to that rule).




So if I understand your post correctly, you're looking for a laptop that has the processing power of a desktop specifically geared for gaming?
As far as hardware specs like video, memory, etc.... you haven't told us anything about the price range or budget you have in mind.

Well, knowing is half the battle. What I mean is a portable computer with built-in keyboard, monitor, mouse, etc.

As for money that really isn't an object, so go crazy with your suggestions.

 

[RebateMonger]

Kaypro?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Kaypro_in_Israel_1984.jpg

Seriously, I'm not aware of any products like that. Certainly, there are no common build-it-yourself components that I'm aware of.

Gateway had an all-in-one media-center PC around 2000. But they kinda' died out. And even that had a separate keyboard and mouse. In the PC world, it's pretty much laptop OR desktop, and never the twain shall meet.

 

[daw123]

If you are looking for a high-end laptop, then Alienware (they are owned by Dell) is probably your best bet, maybe something like this:
http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-m17x/pd?refid=laptop-alienware-m17x&~ck=mn

btw Alienware laptops are not cheap.

You have to understand, and I think RebateMonger was alluding to this in his previous post, that a current high end laptop will not match the gaming performance of a current high end desktop. You will also pay a much higher premium for laptop performance.

There also is no such thing as 'future-proofing' in computing because the technology is being improved and new products are being released all the time.

 

[SparhawkJC]

Sager is also an option, they're usually more up to date than alienware with regards to putting the best components into their laptops. However they are limited to the same Clevo chassis and are unable to control the speed that they put those out. With Alienware and Sager you'll have some options with upgrading. Though you will likely be limited to current generation since Sandy Bridge and the next generation ATI/Nvidia GPUs may require a totally new motherboard.

You can find them at resellers such as xoticpc.com and gentechpc.com

Cheaper than both of these are Asus' line of G laptops, good bang for the buck and also sold at the above resellers. Check out the G73 and G53. However these laptops are not as capable of being upgraded by the user.

 

[daw123]

Sager is also an option, they're usually more up to date than alienware with regards to putting the best components into their laptops. However they are limited to the same Clevo chassis and are unable to control the speed that they put those out. With Alienware and Sager you'll have some options with upgrading. Though you will likely be limited to current generation since Sandy Bridge and the next generation ATI/Nvidia GPUs may require a totally new motherboard.

You can find them at resellers such as xoticpc.com and gentechpc.com

Cheaper than both of these are Asus' line of G laptops, good bang for the buck and also sold at the above resellers. Check out the G73 and G53. However these laptops are not as capable of being upgraded by the user.

This is the one I would go for if cash was no issue and I had money to burn ($5,708.00):

Sager NP7280 Custom Laptop (Built on the Clevo X7200)
- Student Promotions! Ask us about our Cash Discounts or FREE Promotional Items & Accessory Bundles for Students - Up to 50% OFF! - Student Verification Required for Promotion
- 17.3" FHD 16:9 "Glare Type" Super Clear Ultra Bright LED Glossy Screen (1920x1080)-
- Standard Dead Pixel Policy
- Intel® Core™ i7-980X Exreme Edition (3.33-3.6GHz) 12MB L3 Cache, 6.4GT/sec QPI, LGA 1366 6 Cores/12 Threads
- Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU
- SLi ENABLED DUAL (2) 2048MB PCI-Express nVIDIA GTX 480M's (4096MB Total) w/GDDR5 DX11 Video Cards (User Upgradeable)
- Matrox DualHead2Go External Monitor Video Controller (2 External Monitors)
- ~ 12,288MB DDR3 1333MHz Memory (3 SODIMMS) (w/ i7 980 CPU Only)
- Standard Finish
- ~Combo 8x8x6x4x Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW 5x DVD-RAM 24x CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares
- ~ 160GB Intel X25-M Solid State Drive (SSD2 Serial-ATA II)
- ~ 500GB (w/ 4GB SSD Memory) Seagate XT 7200RPM NCQ Hybrid (Serial-ATA II 300 - 32MB Cache)-
- ~ 500GB (w/ 4GB SSD Memory) Seagate XT 7200RPM NCQ Hybrid (Serial-ATA II 300 - 32MB Cache)-
- HDD Raid Settings - OFF
- No Back Up Hard Drive
- No Back Up Software
- No Floppy Drive
- Internal 3-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS)
- Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Intel® Ultimate-N 6300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Linksys - WRT54G 802.11G Wireless Router
- Integrated Digital Video Camera
- No TV Tuner
- Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xmod Wired/Wireless Sound Card System (Broadcast Xtreme Fidelity Audio from PC to other audio devices wirelessly)
- Basic Black Business Case - Included
- Sager NP7280 Spare 78.44WH Polymer Smart Lithium-Ion Battery
- None Standard*
- No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Integrated Fingerprint Reader
- No External Keyboard or Mouse
- No Notebook Cooler
- ~Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Installed (64&32-Bit CD Included) w/ Drivers & Utilities CD's
- - Microsoft Office 2010 Home & Business Edition - Word/Outlook/Excel/PowerPoint/OneNote
- No Software Bundle
- 3 Year Labor* 1 Year Parts Warranty Lifetime -24/7 DOMESTIC Based- Toll Free Telephone Tech Support (Labor Warranty through Xotic PC)
Includes FREE Shipping Both Ways for Warranty Repairs
- No Xotic PC Gear