Gaming Laptop BB Deals?

bob101910

bob101910

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I'm looking to buy a new laptop for school, but I will also be using it for Lotro. I would like it to play on the highest graphics (close to xbox 360 if not the same compared to some games). Right now, I use a really old laptop that plays it on the lowest graphics with some slowdown in big fights or large groups.

Somebody suggested this one over at the Lotro Forums
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...lack/2712579.p?id=1218346639131&skuId=2712579

I plan on buying it at Best Buy. I will ask more questions when I get to the store, but it will probably be similar to this one. Do they have any deals or promotions going on for back to school or whatever else?

Also, I've never heard of Asus. Do they make good machines and have good tech support?
 
Asus is good. U do know that games wont be able to run like xbox 360? What games are u plan on playing on pc? My year old labtop ATI HD4570 512MB card can play Batman AA, Resident evil 4 and 5, fallout 3 on high settings. Dont expect too much on a labtop. If u really want to game, then get a desktop. Its cheaper and u can upgrade it.
 
Just Lotro. The graphics aren't Crysis 2 or even Call of Duty good. Maybe Halo 2 or Halo 3ish when they are maxed out. I already have a great desktop in the house (StarCraft2 Highest Graphics no slowdown), but somebody is usually on it and I can't play MMORPGs without playing xbox or watching a movie.

I'm going to BB now. Was hoping to hear about a deal before going. Maybe they will let me know of any once I am there.
 
[quote name='The Punisher']Asus is good. U do know that games wont be able to run like xbox 360? What games are u plan on playing on pc? My year old labtop ATI HD4570 512MB card can play Batman AA, Resident evil 4 and 5, fallout 3 on high settings. Dont expect too much on a labtop. If u really want to game, then get a desktop. Its cheaper and u can upgrade it.[/QUOTE]

Ended up getting this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+IdeaPad+V570+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+6GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Silver+Gray/2731265.p?id=1218347164819&skuId=2731265

The Asus was huge! Would've been better off getting a desktop than the Asus Laptop. Lotro is probably close to Fallout 3 high settings, so if the one I got is similar or better than the one you have, then I'll be happy :D

There were some deals but they kind of sucked. Like $60 off a printer. Don't need a printer, so didn't get one.
 
Looking over the specs of that Lenovo, I think the video card is going to be an issue unless you consider 18 fps on medium settings at 1024x768 for a game like COD Black Ops running great. Just google the Intel HD 3000 graphics card and look for benchmarks with games and you will see it is not very good. That is the reason that other Asus is so much more as it has a lot better CPU and a video card that could actually play most games on the high settings. You may be able to get games to look like Xbox 360 graphics on the Lenovo but it will also probably play like a slide show.

The videocard Punisher listed is way better then the Intel HD 3000 graphics card as you want a decent ATI or Nvidia card to play games. Most Best Buy sales people will tell you want to here as they will be pretty clueless. Your best bet is to just do some research about the video cards that are in the laptops and look at their gaming benchmarks as there will be a lot.
 
[quote name='Owen']Looking over the specs of that Lenovo, I think the video card is going to be an issue unless you consider 18 fps on medium settings at 1024x768 for a game like COD Black Ops running great. Just google the Intel HD 3000 graphics card and look for benchmarks with games and you will see it is not very good. That is the reason that other Asus is so much more as it has a lot better CPU and a video card that could actually play most games on the high settings. You may be able to get games to look like Xbox 360 graphics on the Lenovo but it will also probably play like a slide show.

The videocard Punisher listed is way better then the Intel HD 3000 graphics card as you want a decent ATI or Nvidia card to play games. Most Best Buy sales people will tell you want to here as they will be pretty clueless. Your best bet is to just do some research about the video cards that are in the laptops and look at their gaming benchmarks as there will be a lot.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. Not a great card, but good enough(on highest settings) back then for the games i wanted to play: Batman AA, resident evil 5, resident evil 4 (wih mod), fallout 3. I wasnt sure about fallout new vegas, but heard u needed a account to play? end up getting vegas on the 360.

True about best buy. They dont know jack. They try to sell me a crap labtop. They looked online and did processor and graphic card reviews and determined that it was good enough for the price. (Decent gaming labtop cost $700-$1500+)

I would exchange the HD3000 labtop and pay a bit more since labtop cant be upgrade like desktops. Pay more and the labtop should be good for 2+ years unless u the type that like to keep updated on PC games.
 
Guess the new question is, how much better is the Lenovo than the one I'm using now (waiting for BB to get it shipped to store)?

The one I'm on now can play games fine, but there is often lag when there is too many things on screen and I need to play games on the lowest setting. I'm fine with not being able to play with the best. Medium to low is ok, as long as it's not the lowest. Maybe be able to raise it for screenshots every now and then.

I know it is old. Was told Dual Core and 1.0 USB slots (which it has) are really old.

Specs from http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/ Scanned on the Intel site and they are a little different, so if those are more helpful, I can post those.

CPU: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2080 @ 1.73GHz
CPU Speed: 1.7 GHz Performance Rated at: 2.38 GHz
RAM: 2.0 GB
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Video Card: Intel(R) GMA 950
- Card Details
Video RAM: 224.0 MB
3D: Yes
Hardware T&L: No
Pixel Shader Version: 2.0
Vertex Shader Version: 0.0
-
DirectX Version: 9.0c
Sound Card: Realtek High Definition Audio
Free Space: 48.4 GB


Thanks for all the information guys.
 
The easiest thing for you to do would be to compare the Intel GMA 950 video card to the Intel HD 3000 card in video game benchmarks as the other specs will not make as big of a difference as a bad video card on gaming. Intel integrated video cards suck in general and that is why there is usually $100-$200 difference in a comparable laptop with an ATI or nVidia card. There are some low end ATI and nVidia laptop cards as well so just make sure to do your research as Google is your friend.
 
If you have about $1200 to spend, the best gaming laptop for the price and performance is Sager/Clevo.

Not only do they have a user friendly design where you can pop open the bottom easily to swap/clean parts like a desktop. But you can even make upgrades down the road to a faster CPU or GPU.

The model I got is the Clevo P151HM1. You definatley won't find these at Best Buy, and will have to go with an online reseller.

Check out the Notebook Review Forum to see what the rave is all about. Plus you can get free shipping and have it tax free if you are qualified too.

**Keep in mind, Sager/Clevo are the same manufacturer under a different name. They also sell their same machines in other names to boutique stores. But they are all the same.**

Always check notebookcheck.net to compare the GPU parts of one computer to another. Also it helps since the naming convention done by Nvidia and Ati make it very confusing and misleading on whether a higher number and such is actually a better GPU.

An example is an Nvidia 485m is much faster than an Nvidia 560m. However, an Nvidia 560m is slightly faster than an Nvidia 480m. See how things can get a bit crazy? Use that website so you can understand the best GPU for your needs at the best price. That is important since usually most gaming laptops, the GPU is the bottle-neck in performance and are either unfriendly to upgradable (e.g. full disassembly required) or not upgradable (GPU is solder on).
 
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Thanks to both replies.

The only problem with the "best" and "good" gaming laptops is that they are huge (at least the ones I've seen). I only went to Best Buy because I don't have to fully pay for 2 years haha.

Owen I will look up the benchmarks. Google hasn't been my friend :( Likes to use big computer words/terms.
 
Update: Looks like google was being nice tonight. Found this.

"Our performance tests with the high clocked mainstream version of the HD Graphics 3000 in quad-core processors showed a performance level on par with the current entry level generations from NVIDIA (e.g. GeForce 310M) and AMD (HD 5450). Some games even ran faster "

"In their benchmarks, the Intel GPU was on a level with a desktop HD 5450 in Left 4 Dead 2, Civilization 5, and Star Craft 2. Far Cray 2, Mass Effect 2, Dirt 2, CoD Black Ops and Bad Company 2 even ran faster on the HD3000. Hawx2 and NBA 2K11 ran slower and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 did not run."

Not as bad as I was expecting. Still seems kind of weird Far "Cray" 2 and a few other good ones worked fine, but not NBA 2K11. Far "Cray" 1 is a game I've never played on PC, so I might check that one out. Then again, other websites say it's worse, others say it's better. Google needs to make up it's mind.

My current laptop bunchmarks were all about Call of Duty 1 and a bunch of other old games lol. Thanks for the help.
 
You also need to see what resolution they are running those tests on and what game settings. You might get real high benchmarks at 640x480 but really low at 1280x800 or higher resolution of the new HD laptops.
 
[quote name='bob101910']Thanks to both replies.

The only problem with the "best" and "good" gaming laptops is that they are huge (at least the ones I've seen). I only went to Best Buy because I don't have to fully pay for 2 years haha.

Owen I will look up the benchmarks. Google hasn't been my friend :( Likes to use big computer words/terms.[/QUOTE]

If u dont have to pay fully and can do payments in 2 years, why not go with
the best labtop ($1500+) that u can find. If u looking for gaming labtop u will have to stop being cheap.

Also consider notebookcheck reviews. The processor, resolution,etc plays a key role. not just the graphic card. Make sure u get a decent processor along with the graphic card.
 
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