laptop

[SuperKungFu]

Alright I’m about to get a laptop to play all my flight Sims on (Finally!...after 3 years of waiting and seeing crappy graphics on my current desktop) Before I make my purchase maybe sometime in the next 2 months, I want to know what kind of an fps can I get with these specs for under $2000. I’m going to get a dell xps laptop with Pentium M Processor 760 (2 GHz), 1 gig of ram, and 7800gtx. I know the cpu is going to struggle a little since it is about the same as an Athlon 3300+ or Pentium 4 3.3 GHz correct? And I don’t suppose getting duel Processor T2500 (2GHz) will help either in Lock On, maybe for F4: AF. So what’s the verdict…go for the duel core laptop E1705 or the xps with single core. Note: all the other specs are the same 1 gig or ram and 7800gtx, the price difference is about 200-300.This laptop will be used mainly for lock on but I will also play other titles and future titles like F4:AF, il-2, ms2004, or fighter ops…etc.

[Witchking]

I have a dell inspiron 9300 with a 1.86 PM, 1 gig DDR2 dual channel and a 6800 go in it. I play most of the games ..(haven't tried lomac) on it flawlessly. I would say the 7800 gtx is pretty good..about 2 times the speed of my 6800 go.

 

However, for a long term I would suggest the 9400 with dual core. I can only imagine the comfort of running lol...a movie on one....while you can be encoding a movie in lo.avi editor in the other cpu. :p...granted that lomac doesn't support dual core...but..

 

think of the possibilties...running norton av on one...while you are sitll playing ur multiplayer fps flawlessly.

 

I would be waiting a little if I were u...for the new notebooks with SLI...but yeah...the price will be high. So I guess for a overall score of good value and longeivity...I would go for the I 9400 or the I E1705 which is basically the same but a diff name.

 

The 7800 go is pretty good...but apparently underclocked. I would not suggest it ...but a lot of ppl overclock it and run it pretty well.

 

for more help check out ::

 

www.notebookforums.com go to the dell inspiron forums there.

 

cheers. :)

[SuperKungFu]

thanks, i guess ill wait a while for dell to throw in the 7800gtx into the E1705 before i make my purchase with duel 2.0ghz with 1 gig of ram. I don't think sli on a laptop would be a good idea, aside from maybe a heat issue and the size, i think the 7800gtx is pretty strong enough as it is to run most games out there. And you should try lock on on your 9300, my brother has the same model/specs as you and it runs pretty good.

[Witchking]

yeah! I know :)....But I don't play lomac here since I live in res at uni. I don't want my joystick here ....my life will be ruined :p...thats why I go back home once in a while to visit parents...thats when I play lomac on the desktop which has AMD 3200 , 1 gig DDR dual channel, 9800 pro 128 MB.

 

its starting to age now...but...meh....kinda getting sick of games...getting more into sports like squash, badmenton. :)

 

and also I am too careful about my laptop...I don't want lomac to overheat it or something...:p...thats why I also don't bother playing lo on this. :)

 

However, the only game series I play on it is LEGACY OF KAIN. I use my wireless force feedback rumblepad and wow.....sit back and enjoy some fun time. :)

[Andrew_McP]

Unless you *really* need a laptop I suggest changing to a desktop solution. I bought an expensive laptop a while back (9600Pro generation graphics) and I regret it. Partly because the screen isn't as good as a desktop LCD, but mainly because the heat generated by gaming (and even when not gaming) makes it a very noisy machine. I could have bought a much cheaper laptop for when I really needed to be mobile, and a very nice desktop setup with the same money.

 

I hope you enjoy whatever you buy, but I just thought I'd mention my experience. Laptops are lovely bits of kit (so much technology in such a small space), but they're not without their problems... especially the fact that you can't repair or upgrade them anywhere near as easily or cheaply as a desktop box.

 

Andrew McP

[SuperKungFu]

Unless you *really* need a laptop I suggest changing to a desktop solution

 

yea i hear you man, trust me i would pick a desktop any day of the week since it packs a LOT more power for a LOT less money. But...I'm going off to college and laptops seems to be a essential tool there rather than desktop. :icon_evil So i guess laptops are the only way to fly.

[hitman]

Stick to alternatives. Go to a pawnshop and see if you can find a decent laptop and just build a new desktop. Even though your getting a computer that would smoke just about any other desktop, Im building my computer for around 2500 bucks and its headed to top of the line.

[Andrew_McP]

So i guess laptops are the only way to fly.

 

I think you have to draw a distinction between a laptop for college work, and a laptop for "serious" gaming. An older, or simply cheaper laptop will do everything you need for your studies, I'm sure (unless it's a game-designing course ;-).

 

I also dislike expensive laptops for another reason... you have all your eggs in one very fragile and very steal-able basket.

 

Andrew McP

[hitman]

I think you have to draw a distinction between a laptop for college work, and a laptop for "serious" gaming. An older, or simply cheaper laptop will do everything you need for your studies, I'm sure (unless it's a game-designing course ;-).

 

I also dislike expensive laptops for another reason... you have all your eggs in one very fragile and very steal-able basket.

 

Andrew McP

agreed.

[SuperKungFu]

yea i share your views man, but parents only allow me to get one computer. they don't want me to get 1 for gaming and 1 for school work. So i guess i have to stick with that fragile egg. :icon_jook

[hitman]

invest in some handcuffs :biggrin:

[Andrew_McP]

If someone else is paying, the rules are different. :-) However if I was a parent I'd be impressed if my son was able to present a rational case for how the same money could be better spent.

 

Of course I might also think... "Mmmm... maybe we'll just get him the cheap laptop, the last thing he needs when studying is to be wasting time playing games!" ;-)

 

Andrew McP

[SuperKungFu]

see if i present your suggestion, they will know I'm in it to play games lol. For christ's sake they wont even give me a trackir. Luckly, they don't know much about computers, that is why i'm pushing it to gaming specs on the laptop. :cool: (hey i been waiting 3 years to run at a decent fps on flight sims (including falcon) so u know my pc sucks!) so if im forced to get a laptop, mind as well be a gaming one :horseback

[Witchking]

hey bud,

 

I am in the same boat here. I bought this laptop for uni. I had a choice for a small convinient 10 - 12 inch laptop...which would be soo great...all specs the same except the videocard. Even now I cannot make my mind up whether whcih was better. However there are times::

 

-- you go to a friends house for a 2 day LAN marathon,...everyone comes with big boxes needs transport...you can check in with your 17 inch beast that can rock or equal their machines anyday. ... every game that is available is compatible with a small flip box that is soo convinent for holidays and fun.

 

-- the time for projects...presentations etc...and mainy tests and other stuff...you will curse that you do not have enough room on the library private booths to fit both the laptop and your huge organic chemistry text book.

 

lol...those are my dilemmas :p if u r wondering.

 

so make the choice wisely.

 

But I will say this...its not worth spending more than 2000 on a laptop..considering computer tech is getting soo old..so soon. I spent 2000$ canadian on mine and already.. oblivion, Tomb raider legend start to stutter on mine. Imagine vista, DX 10 games etc...thats an entirely new age starting in a couple of months.

 

lol...enough of my talking :p...good luck making a choice. :D

[NEODARK]

I have a 9300/6800go combination. It runs lockon pretty well, although it definitelly doesnt compare to my desktop, but for the price these mobile solutions can't be beat.

 

Also, if buying from dell, and you are in the US, they have some pretty amazing coupons sometimes. You should look around sites like fatwallet.com, etc..

 

good luck

[Witchking]

yup...thats right dude..check out the notebookforums .. they have amazing coupons coming up once in a while as well...who knows...u might bag urself a M170 with a 7800 gtx. :)

[SuperKungFu]

yea as of now im leaning towards the xps, unless they add the 7800gtx onto the E1705 then i would get that because its cheaper with the coupon and its duel core. (not like it matters in lock on but its good for other stuff) Btw, Witchking which college/university do you go to? It will be funny if i went to the same school and we can game on with a lock on lan party. :horseback

[Witchking]

lol! yeah..that would be real wierd but fun :D

 

I go to McMaster University. VVanks is at the same school as well :D

[SuperKungFu]

aw damn, not the same school. I'm going to be at UCI, ah well maybe I'll see you in the skies when i get my new comp.

[Witchking]

rgr that dude. :)

[SuperKungFu]

damn, nvm about the xps laptops you guys, they just replaced it with a new model today. It looks better but it's also more expensive. Now its duel core and packs the 7900gtx.

[WhiskeyRomeo]

There are reviews on the new XPS laptop at

http://anandtech.com/

http://www.tomshardware.com/index.html

and cNet

http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_XPS_M1710/4505-3121_7-31789682.html