Buying Pre-Built Gaming Laptop

[ForToday14]

I Play Mostly Steam Games, WoW, all that good stuff..
I'm currently in the military and my schedule doesn't really allow for taking time to shop around to build a custom laptop, nor would I have the time to assemble it if I could...
I have around a $1200 +/- $100 budget.

In my very uneducated research I came across this:
http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Battalion_101_W170HR_Gaming_Laptop

I'm looking to be able to run all of my games on highest/HD settings, and possibly connect to an external monitor. I'm just wondering if this would fufill my expectations or if there is more bang for my buck elsewhere.

Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[thescreensavers]

That is built on the Clevo 170HR

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np5175-clevo-w170hr-p-3000.html

They have few more options which could makes things cheaper.

Here is some info on the GPU http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-555M.41933.0.html

WoW is a CPU intensive game, it should not have any issues with that. Older Steam Games no problem. On the notebookcheck site scroll down there are in game benchmarks.

 

[ed29a]

That is built on the Clevo 170HR

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np5175-clevo-w170hr-p-3000.html

They have few more options which could makes things cheaper.

Here is some info on the GPU http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-555M.41933.0.html

WoW is a CPU intensive game, it should not have any issues with that. Older Steam Games no problem. On the notebookcheck site scroll down there are in game benchmarks.

From OP: I'm looking to be able to run all of my games on highest/HD settings. Sager NP5175 won't be able to do that since it has a 1080p screen and the GT 555M doesn't have enough horsepower, GT 555M is a little bit above Radeon HD 5670 level performance.

Even on my NP8130 (GTX 460M) I can't play most modern games with maximum settings.

@OP: With your budget, I'd look into a Sager NP8130 or NP8150 if you can stretch your budget a bit.

 

[ieatdonuts]

A Sager NP8130 won't even be quite good enough to run at maximum settings flawlessly for some games like Crysis 2 DX11 or Metro 2033.

1200 is about 200 short of the budget you would need for an 8130 anyways.

Mobile GPUs aren't the greatest.

 

[ForToday14]

My main priority is running WoW at awesome settings, being able to PvP/Raid at them, experience the whole HD side of gaming...

I don't play anything like Crysis, but I want a laptop that will also be able to run Diablo 3 very well

For around $1200 what's my absolute best bet?

 

[mnewsham]

OP the MSI 16F2 from xotic PC looks to be your best bang for buck at your price range.

 

[ForToday14]

what upgrades to it would you recommend with the approx. $200 ?

 

[mnewsham]

what upgrades to it would you recommend with the approx. $200 ?

I would actually get 8 GB of RAM, upgrade to a 750GB 7200 RPM drive (for both HDD's) and add windows 7 Home premium 64bit. total should be about 1172.

Or you can spend all the money on windows 7 and the 80GB intel SSD. (puts you 25 bucks over)

 

[ForToday14]

Would I be better off going the desktop route? I mean like drastically better machine for the price

 

[mnewsham]

Why yes, yes you would.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

That is why you should post on the General Hardware Forum "1200 Dollar Build, HELP" and people like me and mnewsham and nfenn will help you

 

[Axon]

My NP 8130 (GTX 560m) runs most games flawlessly, though not necessarily on max settings. But so close you can't even tell. A desktop will be better bang for your buck though, no question.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Why exactly do you want it to be a laptop?

A $1,000 desktop will utterly dominate a $2,000+ laptop in gaming, because the quad-core i5 is cheap and the CPU clocks are higher, , and desktop GPUs are several steps above the laptop versions.

 

[mnewsham]

Here is my suggested budget build based on your needs. If you need a monitor then I can shave off a couple bucks to fit that in too (or go up to your 1300 "MAX")

Case
HDD
2x GPU
PSU
RAM
Motherboard
CPU
OS
HSF
SSD

Total: $1,196.85

 

[ForToday14]

I simply do not have the space for a desktop sadly.... I've had 3 models of laptop pitched at me.

http://pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainp...id=20074690&ramid=80117617&batteryid=10140101

http://www.xoticpc.com/force-16f2-msi-16f2-p-3078.html

http://www.ibuypower.com/Store/Battalion_101_W170HR_Gaming_Laptop


I can't completely sell myself on one over the other, my main focus is WoW right now, want to reach around 60 fps on hd settings...

Thanks so far for all the feedback!

 

[mnewsham]

The MSI from Xotixpc is the best bang for buck.

 

[ForToday14]

1x FORCE 16F2 / MSI 16F2

- Xotic Gear: No Xotic PC Gear
- Warranty: 1 Year Complete Care Warranty - 1 Year Parts with Ground Shipping, 24/7 Telephone Tech Support & Lifetime Labor Warranty
- Software Bundle (Not Installed): No Software Bundle
- Microsoft Office Software: No Office Software
- Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium - 64-Bit
- XOTIC PC Redline Boost™ Extreme Performance: No Thanks, Please do not Overclock my system
- Notebook Cooler: No Notebook Cooler
- Mouse / Keyboard Accessories: No External Keyboard or Mouse
- Fingerprint Reader: No Fingerprint Reader
- Port Replicator / Dock / Adapters: No Dock/Hub/Adapter
- Spare AC Adapter: None Standard*
- Car Adapter: No Car Adapter
- Battery: Smart Li-ion Battery (9-Cell)
- Case: No Carrying Case
- Sound Card: Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included
- TV Tuner: No TV Tuner
- Camera: Integrated Digital Video Camera
- Wireless Network Accessories: No Network Accessory
- Wireless Network: Built-in 802.11 Wireless B/G/N - Stock Wireless Card
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth + EDR
- Back Up Software: No Back Up Software
- Memory Card Reader: Internal 7-in-1 Card Reader (MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo/SD/Mini-SD/MMC/RS)
- Floppy Drive: Stock OEM Thermal Compound ( IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU Provided FREE with Processor Upgrade!)
- External USB Optical Drive: NO External USB Optical Drive
- External Hard Drive (Back Up): No Back Up Hard Drive
- Optical Drive Bay Hard Drive Caddy: No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy
- Optical Drive Bay: 4X Blu-Ray Reader + 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive
- Raid: HDD Raid Settings - OFF
- Second Hard Drive: - 640GB 5400RPM 8MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Default-
- Primary Hard Drive: - 750GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s)-
- Exterior Finish: Standard Finish
- Ram: 8,192MB (8GB) DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2GBx4)
- External Display Video Adapters: No Video Adapter
- Graphics Video Card: nVidia GeForce GTX 560M 1,536MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11
- Thermal Compound: Stock OEM Thermal Compound ( IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU Provided FREE with Processor Upgrade!)
- Processor: 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M, 2.3-2.9GHz, (32nm, 3MB L3 cache) - Default (Does not support DDR3 1600MHz Ram)
- Dead Pixel Warranty: Contact us about our Significant Savings on our 30-Day No Dead Pixel Warranty. Heavily Discounted!
- Display: 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Glare Type Screen

This is everything I got for it.. If there are any other recommendations on stuff I should consider please let me know... Ordering at 9:30 est

 

[mnewsham]

Throw in the "Matte" type screen if that is your thing. Besides that looks fine.

 

[ForToday14]

I know you guys (especially mnewsham) are going to hate me.. but my buddy on base just got put on med hold (basically all the free time in the world) and he said he'd build my desktop for me if I got the parts...

My friend has a desktop he spent maybe $700 on and can run Crysis 2 on ultra settings on a like 36" 720p tv..

I still have the same budget... Gonna need about $300 for a monitor, so $900 for construction.. I don't know if this is adequate but I am hoping to order the parts tonight so I can get them before Friday! Need your help...again!

 

[mnewsham]

Case
HDD
GPU
PSU
RAM
Motherboard
CPU
OS
HSF
SSD
Monitor

Total: $1,206.85


Use promo code: EMCKBKA24


You dont need 300 bucks for a monitor...you can upgrade that later on the base system should be the largest chunk of change.

 

[ForToday14]

what kind of performance can i expect from this?
and does this not include a cd drive?

 

[mnewsham]

what kind of performance can i expect from this?
and does this not include a cd drive?

CD drive is your choice they are about 20 bucks so i dont consider that in the price D:

Here is one though.

Performance can be found here.

With your GPU rebate you will make up the price of the DVD drive.

 

[ForToday14]

and id also need a wireless network connection correct?

 

[mnewsham]

I would never suggest a wireless card for a gaming computer unless you need it. Ethernet is really the only good connection.

 

[ForToday14]

id still need a modem though correct?
or some form of network card?