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Looking at gaming laptops

H

Hostile

Gawd
Joined
Feb 24, 2004
Messages
694
I'm looking for a gaming laptop. I play WoW pretty much 24x7...the problem is that my wife doesn't. My computers are up in the loft in our apartment which means that I'm holed up there all the time.

Basically I need a gaming machine that I can use in front of the tv so I spend time with my wife. The laptop will also be pulling double-duty when I go to LAN parties, so while WoW is my first priority it would be nice if I can play more demanding games on it as well.

I was looking at the Dell XPS M170, I can get it for $2100 through the EPP program with the following:

Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2GHz/2MB Cache 533fsb)
WinXP Media Center
1GB DDR2
17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife (1920x1200)
60GB 7200rpm HD
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 GTX

The GTX is a free upgrade from the 6800 Ultra, the upgrade normally costs $350. I also get free shipping, discounted 3yr support and warranty and since I'm in the EPP I get even better support and warranty then the average joe.

I've been really jonesin' for a new MacBook Pro...but from what I'm reading it plays WoW acceptably (ie nothing like my desktop) and I won't be doing any other gaming on it. This laptop has a faster GPU then my desktop, which has a 7800GT.

Dell is also offering 0% interest for 18 months, so basically I only have to pay a minimum until September of 2007. I just got $550 for my birthday and was planning on buying a MacBook in December with Christmas cash and some of my annual bonus. So, basically the laptop will be paid off by December anyway.

So...what do you guys think?
 
Get a job and save to buy it all at once you'll be hating yourself come December when you have to use christmas money to pay off a 10 month old laptop. Debt is the devil.
 
I would say get off of WoW and spend some real time with your wife. If you can't do that, get her to play.
 
How about not playing WoW and pay attention to your wife? That's pretty horrendus if a game is more important to you then your own wife.
 
I have had a Dell XPS M170 notebook since October. This is my take on the XPS "experience".

When I first recieved the notebook, there was a lot of bloatware as described in the article. Another thing that I noticed was the highest resolution was 1680x1050. It said that it was 1920x1200 in Display Prop., but it really was only 1680x1050. After these two things, I decided to do a clean install. My notebook was provided with a clean XP MCE CD at no extra charge. I still don't understand how Dell didn't provide you guys with one. That upsets me. Another thing is the 7800 GTX comes clocked at 400/1.06 instead of Nvidia's 400/1.1.

After I reinstalled, everything has gone smoothly until recently. There is a "buzzing" noise now that is being emitted from the 7800 GTX. (It's from the power coil as we have found on the notebookforums). I contacted Dell. This is where I became upset. I have heard that with the Gen 1. XPS computers, you had a seperate line for XPS tech. support with a certified technician. When I got hold to one of the Dell reps, I could barely understand what he was saying. He was talking too quickly and too softly. I had to ask him to repeat himself numerous times. It was a real annoyance. After going through basic trouble shooting, he said that he couldn't do anything and he hung up.

I called again today with another Rep that I could barely understand. When I told him my problem in full detail, he asked if the 7800 GTX was an add on card. This blew me away. I paid this much for a notebook that was "supposed" to have great XPS support. Well, if he doesn't know what the component is of the computer that he's specifically supposed to help consumers on, I sort of feel robbed. Well, later the call was disconnected somehow and I called again.

I was greated with the same response (fast, quiet, hard to understand Rep) but seemed to have a little more experience. He was able to set a time up with a technician to replace my card so that was all good.

Well, the technician came. He only had a fan. I was really upset. I was promised to have the video card replaced, but only the fan was replaced. Well, he replaced the fan (while doing so, scratched my LCD, LCD case and the table that he was working on.) and after he was finished, my laptop was very unstable. I would reboot randomly.

Off to call Dell again. I called about 6 times, being hung up or disconnected from them. Well, one told me to do these tests on the HDD, but it currupted my System32 files, so I had to use the installer disk to fix that. (Not a big deal but a pain).

I finally get someone that will allow me to ship my XPS to their depot and have the LCD, DVD rom drive, video card, LCD casiing replaced.

I got it 2 days later. I was already doubting they fixed anything. Well, I was right. They didn't replace the video card, (it now artifacts in games) the LCD casing was still scratched and the LCD had huge backlighting issues.

So I called again, (this time taking 2 hours). I am honestly pissed. The only thing they use to test the video card was a stupid diagnostic test. Not even a 3D benchmark or a game. I mean how can they test a video card that has a specific problem in an intense 3D application and they don't even do that. It said it passed and that they weren't going to replace it. I was livid. I was promised TWICE that they would replace and fix it. I still have no results. THey're going to pick it up again to fix it and they promised that it would be fixed. Same thing as last time. :rolleyes:

I'll let you know what happens.

There are some things that I'm dissappointed in:

1. The expanding of the XPS line
~ There were only 2 versions, the highest desktop and the highest laptop. Now there is midway and low end. If this is "supposed" to be top of the line, I hate how Dell rebadges their products that can barely play games with their XPS logo. It truely pisses me off. I feel like I'm every other Dell consumer now that is just being pushed away instead of having superior support like I paid for.

2. Dell Reps.
~ If I pay for XPS, I think I should have something like Overdrive, Alienware or NW-Falcon has, their own technician that understands the consumer of the specific product. When I called India, I felt like I was every other customer, especially when he didn't know what the 7800 GTX when he was SUPPOSED to be a specialized technician. This truely made me even more angry. I would like someone that I could understand and have someone that is knowledgable with the product line and parts. Also someone that would call me back. Dell needs to add a specific XPS line for actual XPS technicians, instead of the normal Customer Support. (Someone that would call me by my first name, understand my computer and problem, just little things that could make it so much better) Not some other person for normal buyers.

I honestly feel cheated. I payed extra for this support and I get shafted. Maybe I was expecting too much but I don't know. This will probably be my first and last Dell. Unless they drop the other lines, fix their support and remove the bloatware, I'm going to stay away. Dell has a great product, the M170, but their Support and company views are hurting themselves. They need to look at the consumer instead of looking at themselves.

To sum it up, I'd go with someone else.
 
If it was me I'd go Sager if money is no object then Falcon Northwest, Voodoo PC or Alienware.
 
Anyways, back to the topic.

Don't buy a gaming laptop, it's a stupid idea and a stupid purchase you WILL 100% REGRET.

Don't buy a gaming laptop.
 
I'll have to disagree. Buy a gaming laptop but not one that costs any more then $2500+

You can even get top performance for under $2000. LINK featuring a 7800GTX Go for under $2000. This is a must have. The only thing it lacks is some more ram which are easy upgrades. If I were you I would jump on this ASAP. You wont be disappointed. Take this to a lan party and be ready to go in a minute and laugh at everyone hooking up their cables and wires and carrying their 40 pount beasts around.

If you wait a while longer when the newer 7900 line of cards comes out (if they do) this will be even cheaper. But otherwise with this 7800GTX go you will have absolutely no trouble running any game!

Unless your worried about battery life or extreme portability you wont be disappointed.
 
Goran said:
If you wait a while longer when the newer 7900 line of cards comes out (if they do) this will be even cheaper. But otherwise with this 7800GTX go you will have absolutely no trouble running any game!
Click to expand...

The 7900 GTX Go cards were supported in a Nvidia driver not too long ago so I can see them on the horizon.
 
rcf1987 said:
Get a job and save to buy it all at once you'll be hating yourself come December when you have to use christmas money to pay off a 10 month old laptop. Debt is the devil.
Click to expand...

Get a job? What makes you think I don't have a job? I'm 28 with a college education and work for one of the largest law firms in the country. As for my salary I do pretty well for myself and my stay-at-home wife.

0% financing is free financing. Why should I pay it all up front when the money can be sitting in the bank earning me interest for the time period? A person would have to be an idiot to not take advantage of it.

===============
Now, for all the retards who are accusing me of treating my wife like crap...mind your own fucking business. I didn't ask for your two-bit, ignorant opinions on my relationship with my wife, I asked for info on a gaming laptop. Either keep it on topic by adding some constructive information or take a hike. Asses. :mad:

For those of you that added useful posts, thank you.
 
Gob said:
Anyways, back to the topic.

Don't buy a gaming laptop, it's a stupid idea and a stupid purchase you WILL 100% REGRET.

Don't buy a gaming laptop.
Click to expand...

as usual, another completely unsubstantiated and useless post.

edit: I've got a 9300, and it's the best laptop I've ever had. First one I'm keeping past a year too.
 
Whomever tells you not to buy a gaming laptop is a fool.
When I got my laptop it was for gaming. An Emachines M6805, and only just now am
I really having problems playing games on it. The newest games generally won;t run now unless I have all options turned off. But I must say the 64 meg 9800 pro in this laptop
has outperformed the 256 meg 9600 in one of my gaming towers.

So do buy a gaming laptop, but givent he fact that the video card is rarely upgradeable, while the RAM, HD and CPU all usually ARE upgradeable, buy one with the biggest baddest video car you can find. It will last you longer :)
 
the perfect thing for you would be the e1705 with the go7800 it's not a gtx but it will be good enough. The duel core will help with anything else you have to do also. Its also much cheaper you can get a good one for like $1750
 
andrew911tt said:
the perfect thing for you would be the e1705 with the go7800 it's not a gtx but it will be good enough. The duel core will help with anything else you have to do also. Its also much cheaper you can get a good one for like $1750
Click to expand...

I second that... I just got a Inspiron 9400 (same as e1705). It's got a T2500 Core Duo that keeps up with a 4200/4400 X2, 2gb of ram, 7800go, 80gb hd, dvd burner, wifi, & a 17" screen for under $1600 out the door. I can play BF2, FEAR, COD2, Q4, etc with all the settings maxed. Some times I have to lower the res from native (1440x900 on mine), but it's still a killer laptop. It games, renders, photoshops, encodes video & audio, and just about everything else rediculously fast.
 
A good SLI laptop with dual core and enough memory plus upgradable is all you need. :D
 
Hostile said:
Get a job? What makes you think I don't have a job? I'm 28 with a college education and work for one of the largest law firms in the country. As for my salary I do pretty well for myself and my stay-at-home wife.

0% financing is free financing. Why should I pay it all up front when the money can be sitting in the bank earning me interest for the time period? A person would have to be an idiot to not take advantage of it.

===============
Now, for all the retards who are accusing me of treating my wife like crap...mind your own fucking business. I didn't ask for your two-bit, ignorant opinions on my relationship with my wife, I asked for info on a gaming laptop. Either keep it on topic by adding some constructive information or take a hike. Asses. :mad:

For those of you that added useful posts, thank you.
Click to expand...

Sorry about the job crack its just usually the 0% interest thing is a gimmic if you don't pay it all off by a deadline than all the interest that you would have accumulated is added so it is not 0% interest unless you pay it off by there deadline.
 
rcf1987 said:
Sorry about the job crack its just usually the 0% interest thing is a gimmic if you don't pay it all off by a deadline than all the interest that you would have accumulated is added so it is not 0% interest unless you pay it off by there deadline.
Click to expand...

I didn't take offense to your post, that's generally good advice.
;)
 
andrew911tt said:
the perfect thing for you would be the e1705 with the go7800 it's not a gtx but it will be good enough. The duel core will help with anything else you have to do also. Its also much cheaper you can get a good one for like $1750
Click to expand...

The only video option for that laptop is the 256MB ATi X1400. :/

I configured the most expensive model they had.
 
Hostile said:
The only video option for that laptop is the 256MB ATi X1400. :/

I configured the most expensive model they had.
Click to expand...

The 7800go is currently in high demand and low supply :( Word from other forums is that they are on backorder, and 20+ days out right now.
 
hey,

I was in your shoes. I had a pretty good gaming desktop that i had sworn to keep forevor. Then I got a job as a web-designer, and i needed my work with me wherever i was. But I also needed mobility and i DEFINITELY wanted to game. So I sold my desktop and bought a dell XPS M170 w/7800GTX (i ordered it the first day it came out).

I've never been happier. Those who tell you that you'll regret it, they don't know what they're talking about. You'll LOVE IT.

There are always bad apples out there. You hear more from the people that have problems because the people that don't have problems have NO REASON TO COMPLAIN!

Overall, the XPS M170 is the finest PC purchase I've ever made. I'm happy.

now the wife wants a laptop, and my roommate switched to a thinkpad T40 because he saw what I had done. It's a whole different life after you go mobile.
 
Hostile said:
I'm looking for a gaming laptop. I play WoW pretty much 24x7...the problem is that my wife doesn't. My computers are up in the loft in our apartment which means that I'm holed up there all the time.

Basically I need a gaming machine that I can use in front of the tv so I spend time with my wife. The laptop will also be pulling double-duty when I go to LAN parties, so while WoW is my first priority it would be nice if I can play more demanding games on it as well.

I was looking at the Dell XPS M170, I can get it for $2100 through the EPP program with the following:

Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2GHz/2MB Cache 533fsb)
WinXP Media Center
1GB DDR2
17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife (1920x1200)
60GB 7200rpm HD
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7800 GTX

The GTX is a free upgrade from the 6800 Ultra, the upgrade normally costs $350. I also get free shipping, discounted 3yr support and warranty and since I'm in the EPP I get even better support and warranty then the average joe.

I've been really jonesin' for a new MacBook Pro...but from what I'm reading it plays WoW acceptably (ie nothing like my desktop) and I won't be doing any other gaming on it. This laptop has a faster GPU then my desktop, which has a 7800GT.

Dell is also offering 0% interest for 18 months, so basically I only have to pay a minimum until September of 2007. I just got $550 for my birthday and was planning on buying a MacBook in December with Christmas cash and some of my annual bonus. So, basically the laptop will be paid off by December anyway.

So...what do you guys think?
Click to expand...

What about a core duo powered mac? mobility x1600 and the coming ability to run winxp....depends on your budget I guess. $2k gets you 1.86ghz duo with 128mb x1600, $3k gets you 2.16ghz duo with x1600 256mb, 2gb ram, 120gb hd...
 
bobzdar said:
What about a core duo powered mac? mobility x1600 and the coming ability to run winxp....depends on your budget I guess. $2k gets you 1.86ghz duo with 128mb x1600, $3k gets you 2.16ghz duo with x1600 256mb, 2gb ram, 120gb hd...
Click to expand...

I was actually looking at the $2500 MacBook Pro...but the videocard is just not up to snuff in comparison to PC offerings.
 
I'd say wait to see if Dell can get their hands on the video card or maybe a better one... That's just my 2-cents
 
People who say that laptop gaming sucks are idiots, and will remain so until they try it for themselves. I'm using a 9300 with a 6800go in it, and I'm playing all the games I want with 0 problems.

I would wait until later this year when the better dual core processors come out with Dell if you really want to go with them. Its also nice to keep an eye out for a Dell coupon, I got my 9300 with a $750 off deal, which is hard to beat. Paid $1250 for a $2000 machine, and don't regret it at all.

I would advise against getting one of the SLI models right now, as the technology in laptops is still being developed, plus a 19" laptop is an all-in-one desktop really.
 
Krig said:
People who say that laptop gaming sucks are idiots, and will remain so until they try it for themselves. I'm using a 9300 with a 6800go in it, and I'm playing all the games I want with 0 problems.

I would wait until later this year when the better dual core processors come out with Dell if you really want to go with them. Its also nice to keep an eye out for a Dell coupon, I got my 9300 with a $750 off deal, which is hard to beat. Paid $1250 for a $2000 machine, and don't regret it at all.

I would advise against getting one of the SLI models right now, as the technology in laptops is still being developed, plus a 19" laptop is an all-in-one desktop really.
Click to expand...

why wait? latest reports are that you can upgrade from yonah to the 1st rev of merom easily. Both will use the same socket :D

i agree with you on the coupon thing. I can't believe some of the people on other forums that are paying $2400+ for the same configuration I got for $1600. Dell offers new deals every month or so...you can't go wrong if you wait a bit.

Right now you can order a 1505 (15" version of the 1705) for under 700 bucks with a core duo. That's a damn good deal for a dual core 15" laptop. Budget price for not so budget features (integrated video at the moment, but that's supposed to change too)
 
If you aren't the type that must have every setting maxed out in every game, don't worry too much about chasing down a 7800Go. The lower-end cards in the 6xxx line will do fine (or the X600 from ATI). For WoW (and nearly any other game at mainstream settings), the 7800Go is a little too much.

And no matter which card you get, at least it'll be faster than my 64MB X300 Mobility. My friends and I regularly play AoE III, R:TW, and CS:Source flawlessly at LANs with that card (of course except for the one lucky SOB with his X600 :D). So don't sweat it if you can't get your hands on the 7800Go -- a 6xxx card is already (quite) powerful. ;
 
Regarding my first post about a system I have been reading more on Sager and the 5720 is going to be upgrded in April.

So its gonna have the dual core intel processor which some mid range notebooks are starting to get. This is pretty good news because it performs like the pentium m but now theres 2 cores :)

So if you can wait you'll have a little better pc. Not sure when the 7900 will be out but I did read that it might be around June. And who knows whats gonna come out after that so either get it now, or get it with the dual core processor and be happy or wait forever lol
 
You nay-sayers would be surprised with how good gaming laptops have gotten over the last couple of years. Laptops aren't as far behind desktops as you may think. The 7800 Go series is very fast and with a good processor and 1+GB of memory it will happily play any game you think is limited to only a desktop. A good gaming laptop is a very viable and in my opinion preferable alternative to lugging a full PC around to LAN parties. I used to bring my Dell I9100 laptop to work and play Final Fantasy XI all night. It was great.

I'm a little depressed that the 15" form factor has been pretty much abandoned for gaming. I think 17" laptops are great and all but they are just too big. I'd love to get a new laptop with a 15-15.4" screen, 2ghz P-M, a gig of ram and a 7800 (or an ATI if they would EVER make a high-end laptop chipset any vendor wants to actually use).
 
a laptop is for portability. buying a gaming laptop is a mistake. you may like it for a year or so... but after that it won't play any newer games and you're left with a heavy typewriter when you could have saved a thousand dollars, and gotten a word processor/instant message/email checker that's 8 pounds lighter.
desktops are for gaming
keep laptops for their own purpose.
 
Mysticcal said:
gaming laptop is an oxymoron.
Click to expand...
You kidding right?

Solitare is game!
That runs on anything that boots windows

Warcraft 3 is a game!
That will run on an x300 with out any problems at all.

Unreal Tournament 2004 is a game!
That runs on pretty much any laptop graphics card with 64mb.
Actually UT2004 is a hell'uva game

------------------------
So hey! what's the big idea... sayin' a laptop can't game! It's silly talk.
 
tim-x said:
a laptop is for portability. buying a gaming laptop is a mistake. you may like it for a year or so... but after that it won't play any newer games and you're left with a heavy typewriter when you could have saved a thousand dollars, and gotten a word processor/instant message/email checker that's 8 pounds lighter.
desktops are for gaming
keep laptops for their own purpose.
Click to expand...

So your desktop is a gaming rig (in your sig)?

What's the purpose of a laptop? Portable computing. Since when does portable computing have to be limited to a "word processor/instant message/email checker"?
 
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