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I think all the above suggestions are good. I would add if you look at the Sager's consider XoticPC. Asus offers world Wide 2 year warranty service. Best Buy I am not sure if those Asus do I think not but bet you could maybe set up if important to you.
If gaming needs are not that high...
ThinkPads for business class.
Sager/Clevo for absolute performance.
Asus for value performance. Very wide selection.
MSI budget high performance.
Gateway has the FX line gaming on a budget.
I too am also caught in utter shit. You are correct that HDD is only important in loading games is 100% correct. I only ask why you must jump to CPU? It is GPU for games. I agree you are thinking but how and why? What do you want to do? OK game? CPU does Jack for that. Just as you said about...
Sadly I have read on Xotic site from members the screen is dim, Kind of a dud. All are cool so cannot be that bad but those are the comments. Things like "I checked to make sure I was not on battery" you know? We are talking 9262? If I had the money and wanted would not stop me but sounds like...
Are you looking for a place to store the old DIMM's? Remove the 2X1 and put the 2X2 in. You will still have "dual channel" and it will be symmetric. I really only know notebooks but do know installing 4GB's on a 32bit OS does not stop DC. And no it will not slow system if all installed just make...
The netbooks are perfect for you except smaller than you ask. I like the Asus eee's or whatever they call themselves. If not what you want look at NewEgg I think you might like what they offer. XoticPC.com and PowerNotebooks.com also might help? Good luck. Best wishes and happy holidays.