Gaming Laptop Advice

[dmw16]

I have just accepted a job with 100% travel. I will be in a hotel all week and then home on weekends.

So my first question is:

Can I find a laptop that will play Left4Dead and Counter-Strike: Source for under $1200? If so, which one(s) would you recommend?

Second, can I really game over hotel wifi or an AT&T aircard? If the performance isn't there I'll get a "regular" laptop instead.

Thanks.

 

[clipperfixer]

You might try the Gateway P-7805u for 1149.00 here at Best Buy. I guess it goes on sale from time to time. I don't know about left for dead, but I bet it will run it.
The larger issue for hotel gaming is the connection you get. I find that hotel wifi is not great, if they have a lan connection it is better. It is definately hit and miss. Even if you get a decent connection it is still only decent. But better than sitting in bars if you ask me.....I drag my E1705 all over the place with me for the same reason.

 

[dmw16]

Yeah, the network connection speed is the one question mark. I could always take up single player games...

 

[CurseTheSky]

Just FYI:

I'm using a laptop with a 9650M GT. The performance is so-so - don't expect to game at "high" resolutions with eye-candy turned up. It runs everything I want to play acceptably through. I heard it's about equal to a desktop 9500GT.

 

[Dewey]

Originally posted by: clipperfixer
You might try the Gateway P-7805u for 1149.00 here at Best Buy. I guess it goes on sale from time to time. I don't know about left for dead, but I bet it will run it.
The larger issue for hotel gaming is the connection you get. I find that hotel wifi is not great, if they have a lan connection it is better. It is definately hit and miss. Even if you get a decent connection it is still only decent. But better than sitting in bars if you ask me.....I drag my E1705 all over the place with me for the same reason.

That 7805 looks to be a good value. I'm having a hard time finding anything close to it.

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Just FYI:

I'm using a laptop with a 9650M GT. The performance is so-so - don't expect to game at "high" resolutions with eye-candy turned up. It runs everything I want to play acceptably through. I heard it's about equal to a desktop 9500GT.

You do know the Gateway FX laptops have a video card that's at least twice as poweful as that, right? My P-6831FX runs L4D at the highest settings easily.

Here's another vote for the Gateway laptops.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: hans030390

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Just FYI:

I'm using a laptop with a 9650M GT. The performance is so-so - don't expect to game at "high" resolutions with eye-candy turned up. It runs everything I want to play acceptably through. I heard it's about equal to a desktop 9500GT.

You do know the Gateway FX laptops have a video card that's at least twice as poweful as that, right? My P-6831FX runs L4D at the highest settings easily.

Here's another vote for the Gateway laptops.

Yep. My post was more or less to say that mid-range mobile graphics are capable of playing the games, but they definitely don't excel at it. Many people would expect a 9650M GT to perform on par (or likely better than) a desktop 9600GT, and that's certainly not the case.

 

[clipperfixer]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Yeah, the network connection speed is the one question mark. I could always take up single player games...

Yeah, if I get bad connections I just play single player games, or if my friends are playing I just spec them and visit. A lot of the people I game with use xfire and that is a good way to stay in touch.
On a different note, I was going to buy a Gateway 7805 for myself, but after doing some research I bought a used p-6831fx with an upgraded processor. The video card is a 8800gts so I hope it handles cod5 better for me. Anyway that is another thought, saved some cash too.

 

[clipperfixer]

Originally posted by: Dewey

Originally posted by: clipperfixer
You might try the Gateway P-7805u for 1149.00 here at Best Buy. I guess it goes on sale from time to time. I don't know about left for dead, but I bet it will run it.
The larger issue for hotel gaming is the connection you get. I find that hotel wifi is not great, if they have a lan connection it is better. It is definately hit and miss. Even if you get a decent connection it is still only decent. But better than sitting in bars if you ask me.....I drag my E1705 all over the place with me for the same reason.

That 7805 looks to be a good value. I'm having a hard time finding anything close to it.

For something cost effective, and very fast I see a lot of people picking up the P6831's and upgrading to a t9300 processor, that is supposed to be very fast and run very cool. A lot of info on Gateways at www.notebookreview. Huge threads on them there.