Gaming Laptop

[un1x]

Ok, I'm searching for a gaming laptop, and I have a fairly decent budget of $2500 Canadian. I want to find a OEM that ships to Canada, and will allow me to do some customizing (changing video card, uping ram, etc. like alienware.com). So far only shop I have found that'll allow me to customize it how I want is alienware.com. So should I go with them or is there someone eles?

 

[Chris_Morley]

Voodoo's up there in Canada - don't know how far you'll get with $2500 Canadian...

 

[un1x]

Voodoo's up there in Canada - don't know how far you'll get with $2500 Canadian...

It's roughly 2,138.12 USD. However my budget can be upped as far as $3500 plus shipping.

 

[Chris_Morley]

It's roughly 2,138.12 USD. However my budget can be upped as far as $3500 plus shipping.

Then I'd definitely go with Voodoo if they fit your needs. Good guys, good support.

 

[un1x]

Then I'd definitely go with Voodoo if they fit your needs. Good guys, good support.

Woah just checked out their website, love their stuff but hate their prices.. I customize a machine to my likings and it came out $4540.94 CAD.

But their reviews look good, has hardocp ever had a review (couldn't find out) on them? Any other choices?

 

[1c3d0g]

http://www.maingear.com/products-notebook.shtml

Much cheaper and better.

 

[revan]

http://www.maingear.com/products-notebook.shtml

Much cheaper and better.

If someone wants that 17" they should go to www.pctorque.com same model, less money. It's the 5720 there.

 

[1c3d0g]

[H]ard|OCP should review PCTorque sometime, to see how their support is.

 

[un1x]

I totally forgot about maingear! It looks like they have the best deal so far.

 

[ATIIsBetter]

I am by no means a Dell fan.... but I have to say that their XPS notebooks are pretty good (if you format and put your own copy of XP on there). I expect that a company like them would ship to Canada.

 

[1c3d0g]

Yeah, I can agree with you. I'm also certainly no fan of Dell's deskpuke PC's, but their notebooks and LCD monitors are pretty good.

 

[un1x]

Thanks guys, their a great deal, but to me, it's still a dell. I customized a alienware system here:

[1] Area-51® m5700
Processor: Intel® Pentium® M 760 2.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache 533MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Warranty: 90-Day AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support
Display: Alienware® m5700 17" WideXGA 1280 x 800 LCD - Xeno Grey
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 915PM + ICH6 Chipset
Wireless Network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 b/g Wireless Card
Memory: 1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 533MHz - 2 x 512MB
Hard Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 60GB 5400 RPM SATA
Video Card: 256MB NVidia® GeForce™ Go 6800
Sound Card: Intel® High-Definition Audio
Optical Drive: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Ethernet NIC: Integrated High Performance Gigabit Ethernet
Modem: 56K Modem with V.90 Technology
Alienware Exclusive Offers: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial (a $20.85 value)
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager
SubTotal: $1,920.00 CAD

And then a Maingear System:

Mobile CPU: Intel Pentium M Processor 760 2MB Cache 2.0GHz 533FSB
Memory: Corsair 1GB DDR2 533 (2x512mb)
Mobile Hard Disk: Hitachi 60GB 7200RPM 8MB cache
Optical Drive One: Dual Layer DVDRW
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6600 128MB PCIe (WSXGA 1680x1050)
Modem: 56K V.90 Fax/Modem
Network Card: Integrated Gigabit Network Card
Wireless Network Adapter: Built-in Intel a/b/g Wireless Network Card
Carrying Case: Deluxe Carrying Case - Included
Security Software: FREE! eTrust™ EZ Antivirus
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Warranty: 1-Year Maingear Toll-Free Phone Support
Product Subtotal: $1,990.79 USD

With Shipping and taxes the alienware comes out to $2220.40 CAD and the Maingear $2,317.42CAD. Then I took a look at Voodoo:

Voodoo ENVY Middleweight n:532 Notebook
Voodoo Performance and Stability Re-Engineering
Voodoo Disaster Recovery System II
Voodoo EDGE Mousing Surface
Voodoo Koeskin System Binder
Free VoodooPC T-Shirt
IS09001:2000 Quality Control Standards
Voodoo ENVY Middleweight n:532 Chassis
Envy Performance Motherboard
Intel Pentium M Processor 760
1 GiG Voodoo DDR2 533MHz SODIMM Kit
Hitachi 60 gig 7200
8X DVD+-RW ENVY DVD Burner
Nvidia Geforce Go 6600 PCI Express 128MB GPU
15.4/ WSXGA+ ENVY Advanced ALS Display
Voodoo ENVY Multi-Wireless Card
Internal 56K Fax Modem
North America Shipping
Windows XP Home
FUEL Software Essentials v2.0
Voodoo GameDoctor - 1 Year Membership
Voodoo SLAM Sport Notebook Backpack
Standard Select Upgrade Assurance
Voodoo PlatinumCare 1 Year
Total: $3382.43 CAD

I love the Voodoo Laptop, but is it worth it? which I go for?

 

[Deleted member 119758]

If it were me, I'd jump all over the Maingear.

You might also give PC Club a glance.

 

[Chris_Morley]

Yup, slipped my mind that Maingear does laptops.

While we don't have an experience with their laptops, I can tell you first hand that they as a company are fantastic, and highly recommended.

 

[ScHpAnKy]

I hate dell's support, but the deals they have on their laptops are unbelievable!
Bought my laptop for $1300, and it's exactly what I wanted

 

[pre1014]

I wouldn't get a pentium m or a 6600 go
why?
I have them currently in my laptop. It works for gaming, but I would almost rather have a 360 for those purposes.
the current concensus is that AMD owns intel for gaming espically, so why would you get an intel for a gaming laptop
Also, the 6600 go is a 6600 go. It isn't a 6600 or a 6600gt. it really isn't that great. and i'm still waiting for their drivers to support h.264 acceleration (The wmv hd acceleration doesn't seem to do crap either).

My old p4 2.4 @ 2.8 and 9500 are better for gaming than my laptop. Granted only 512 of ram and the 5400rpm drive are guaranteed the problem with the lagging i experience with mine.

if you want a pentium m i would deffinately go with a 9300 with at least a 6800 go
but i would wait for the new core duo systems to see how they perform.

EDIT: both the main gear and the voodoo are the same system. look at em. ASUS z71v. i know i have one. it only cost me 1,000 american or what, 1200 CAN. plus, if you build it yourself, you can put a 400fsb processor in it and easily get a 33% overclock.

 

[un1x]

I wouldn't get a pentium m or a 6600 go
why?
I have them currently in my laptop. It works for gaming, but I would almost rather have a 360 for those purposes.
the current concensus is that AMD owns intel for gaming espically, so why would you get an intel for a gaming laptop
Also, the 6600 go is a 6600 go. It isn't a 6600 or a 6600gt. it really isn't that great. and i'm still waiting for their drivers to support h.264 acceleration (The wmv hd acceleration doesn't seem to do crap either).

My old p4 2.4 @ 2.8 and 9500 are better for gaming than my laptop. Granted only 512 of ram and the 5400rpm drive are guaranteed the problem with the lagging i experience with mine.

if you want a pentium m i would deffinately go with a 9300 with at least a 6800 go
but i would wait for the new core duo systems to see how they perform.

EDIT: both the main gear and the voodoo are the same system. look at em. ASUS z71v. i know i have one. it only cost me 1,000 american or what, 1200 CAN. plus, if you build it yourself, you can put a 400fsb processor in it and easily get a 33% overclock.

I love AMD but they aren't so battery friendly. I only use Intels for my laptops and I've loved the Centrino. From what I've read the 6600 GO is not that bad of a card, and since it's pci-e I can upgrade later down the line.

 

[Deleted member 119758]

I love AMD but they aren't so battery friendly. I only use Intels for my laptops and I've loved the Centrino. From what I've read the 6600 GO is not that bad of a card, and since it's pci-e I can upgrade later down the line.

Indeed, Pentium M's are the Motts as far as power management goes.

If you get a chassis with the graphics card built into it, they can be extremely difficult to change out. When we looked at the ABS, which had a 6600 Go in it, it looked like a real mess to get that thing out of there. My advice, don't buy the Asus Z71 chassis if your plans are to upgrade. There is a lot you can do with that chassis, but they sell the bare chassis with the 6600 already in there for a reason. The entire chassis design looks like it's based on the GPU that's in there.

 

[Chris_Morley]

Actually, clock for clock, Pentium Ms are about as fast as an A64 when it comes to gaming.

However, splurging on a better mobile video card would definitely be worth it.

 

[un1x]

Actually, clock for clock, Pentium Ms are about as fast as an A64 when it comes to gaming.

However, splurging on a better mobile video card would definitely be worth it.

I actually have a spare 7800GT so I can easily pop that in. I think I'm going for the maingear, it shouldn't be bad right?

Mobile CPU: Intel Pentium M Processor 760 2MB Cache 2.0GHz 533FSB
Memory: Corsair 1GB DDR2 533 (2x512mb)
Mobile Hard Disk: Hitachi 60GB 7200RPM 8MB cache
Optical Drive One: Dual Layer DVDRW
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce Go 6600 128MB PCIe (WSXGA 1680x1050)
Modem: 56K V.90 Fax/Modem
Network Card: Integrated Gigabit Network Card
Wireless Network Adapter: Built-in Intel a/b/g Wireless Network Card
Carrying Case: Deluxe Carrying Case - Included
Security Software: FREE! eTrust™ EZ Antivirus
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Warranty: 1-Year Maingear Toll-Free Phone Support
Total(Shipped+Tax):$2,432.15

 

[Chris_Morley]

I actually have a spare 7800GT so I can easily pop that in. I think I'm going for the maingear, it shouldn't be bad right?

Not trying to insult your intelligence, but is that 7800GT a full sized card?

 

[1c3d0g]

That's a good choice, IMHO.

 

[un1x]

Not trying to insult your intelligence, but is that 7800GT a full sized card?

Ah yes, completely blew my mind. That's fine though, I was going to use the spare 7800GT for a SLI setup on my desktop, so I'll just get another card for the laptop.