Looking for new gaming laptop for OTR trucker

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

Hey guys,

I just joined the Commercial Trucking industry as an OTR flatbed driver and need to replace my aging Lenovo G570 since I will be on the road all but 4 days out of the month. I will have a max budget of $1500 and it MUST be reliable and have decent battery.

I will be playing games like Arma 3, Escape from Tarkov, and Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I highly recommend a semi-ruggedized computer for trucks but you're not really going to find a semi-ruggedized computer suitable for gaming. My dad bought a Systemax SR-15 (Gammatech-based) back in 2007 and it survived in a truck for about six years. It still works to this day and well, only complaints:
1) You can't service these things with tools you find in a garage. When I had to send it in for servicing because the left mouse button broke, I had to send it to Systemax, they had to send it to Gammatech, Gammatech had to send it back to Systemax for quality assurance, and then finally send it back to me (about a month).
2) The rubber on the lid got yucky like any old rubber does. I rubbed it clean a while ago. I'm not really sure if it even has rubber on the corners anymore or what it is. After I rubbed it off though, it still almost looks like new thanks to being mostly metal.
3) I think the fan in it is...well, not working so great anymore (realize it is a 9 year old laptop that has seen most of the lower 48 states). It's on a big ass Coolermaster cooling pad now which keeps the underside cool to the touch.
4) Battery life sucks but it always did suck. That said, I picked all of the options for performance rather than battery life. We're also talking 2007 battery tech and Windows Vista so...wasn't going to be great anyway.

Semi-ruggedized is not cheap (expect to easily spend north of $1300).

Systemax priced that laptop at I think $1550-$1600. I placed the order over the phone to them and they made it a flat $1500 shipped. Systemax was the best. A shame they stopped manufacturing computers.

If memory serves, he drove a Volvo VNL780 tractor. The computer wasn't on a stand at first but it was after a year or so. He mostly ran CoPilot Truck on it.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

Im not looking to use it while driving. But instead on my 10 hour off cycle. I will have a sleeper cab so it will be packed in my backpack till I use it. No need to worry about the ruggedized laptop. I wouldnt mind thin and light though

 

[Recon-UK]

ASUS ROG line are very well built and powerful machines.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Im not looking to use it while driving. But instead on my 10 hour off cycle. I will have a sleeper cab so it will be packed in my backpack till I use it. No need to worry about the ruggedized laptop. I wouldnt mind thin and light though

There are so many accessories available for truckers, major truck stops will have the best selection. I've installed small desktop systems in several sleepers. Powered thru "large watt" power adapters I've seen 55 inch TVs in some of larger sleepers. When it comes to trucking if you can think of it, they make it somewhere, its just a matter of finding it.

There are several "rugged" laptops by different makers. Look around you might find exactly what you want but might be a few dollars more.

Haulin' Ass has the best set of tits when chrome-plated.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

hmm. maybe I could build a mini-itx rig with a 27" display

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Im not looking to use it while driving. But instead on my 10 hour off cycle. I will have a sleeper cab so it will be packed in my backpack till I use it. No need to worry about the ruggedized laptop. I wouldnt mind thin and light though

Even when not running, you have to keep in mind the vibrations and jostling. I'd recommend a system that, if it has an HDD, make sure it is suspended in shock absorbers. Fans are also a concern. I'd also look at something that has more metal on the exterior than plastic.

hmm. maybe I could build a mini-itx rig with a 27" display

Keep in mind that everything needs to be secured while in transit (F=ma). That said, making your own system, you can not only make sure parts that need shock absorbers have it and you can also easily replace broken parts.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

hmm. maybe I could build a mini-itx rig with a 27" display

Thats the spirit!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Not cheap but metal (durable) and has shock absorbers:
http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-o5sw/

Making sure it doesn't move in the truck might be a challenge though.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Even when not running, you have to keep in mind the vibrations and jostling. I'd recommend a system that, if it has an HDD, make sure it is suspended in shock absorbers. Fans are also a concern. I'd also look at something that has more metal on the exterior than plastic.


Keep in mind that everything needs to be secured while in transit (F=ma). That said, making your own system, you can not only make sure parts that need shock absorbers have it and you can also easily replace broken parts.

A nice custom open air case? Something like Antec Skeleton or that Aerocool abortion. Then dust becomes a factor, lol.

We can talk all day about how to build a PC for trucking, the biggest concern is vibration, and there are a lot of ways to combat it.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Not only dust, but oil and grease. And dust + oil/grease (aka tar and feather).

Also need to consider the power availability/consumption. Dad had an APU installed in his truck.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Not only dust, but oil and grease. And dust + oil/grease (aka tar and feather).

Also need to consider the power availability/consumption. Dad had an APU installed in his truck.

Trucks have 4 large batteries, think car battery x2 in size and power. Alternators tend to put out 90-150 amps, larger sleepers will have 2 extra batteries to accommodate extra converters to plug in more appliances. Small sleepers dont have refrigerators or TVs. Most OTR sleepers tend to be very luxurious.

There isnt as much oil and grease in sleepers anymore, unless the driver is careless to begin with, and I have worked on sleepers that smell so bad it made people puke just opening the doors.

(I had one driver that drilled a hole under the carpet to piss out of it, then had the nerve to complain about the smell himself. Imagine dog urine smell.)

I still think of sleepers [on trucks] as a treehouse on wheels

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

all our trucks are at most 3 years old with APUs. Im still leaning towards a nice gaming laptop like maybe a Gigabyte P35v3. It has an aluminum chassis.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

all our trucks are at most 3 years old with APUs. Im still leaning towards a nice gaming laptop like maybe a Gigabyte P35v3. It has an aluminum chassis.

In your case, just remember you get what you pay for, try to budget out another $500.

 

[rruff]

hmm. maybe I could build a mini-itx rig with a 27" display

Yes! The only question is having enough battery to cover your energy consumption. No idea what trucks typically have, but if it's inadequate it wouldn't be hard to increase it.

 

[Killer_Rubber_Ducky]

Yes! The only question is having enough battery to cover your energy consumption. No idea what trucks typically have, but if it's inadequate it wouldn't be hard to increase it.

an APU in a truck is a diesel generator.

In your case, just remember you get what you pay for, try to budget out another $500.

That Gigabyte laptop is already in the $1500 range. It has good reviews. It even topped the Top 10 Gaming laptop charts for 2016. The official name is:
Gigabyte P35X v5
It retails for ~$1899

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gigabyte-p35x-v3-gaming-notebook,4040.html

http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews...-and-netbooks/gigabyte-p35x-v5-1315087/review

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Trucks have 4 large batteries, think car battery x2 in size and power. Alternators tend to put out 90-150 amps, larger sleepers will have 2 extra batteries to accommodate extra converters to plug in more appliances. Small sleepers dont have refrigerators or TVs. Most OTR sleepers tend to be very luxurious.

APU because keep hours off the big engine. Those batteries will deplete if an engine is not running.

all our trucks are at most 3 years old with APUs. Im still leaning towards a nice gaming laptop like maybe a Gigabyte P35v3. It has an aluminum chassis.

For reference, Surface, Mac Air, Gammatech use a magnesium alloy that's 22 times stronger than aluminum. Aluminum is no doubt better than plastic but I'd personally look for magnesium. It comes with a price premium but it will pay for itself in terms of durability/longevity.


Edit: I did some searching and I'm turning up blank. Gaming + magnesium must be an oxymoron. That Gigabyte may be the best available, I'd just make sure that if it has a hard drive, that it has shock absorbers (if it doesn't blatantly say it, disassembly guides will show it).

 

[rruff]

Gammatech use a magnesium alloy that's 22 times stronger than aluminum.

There is no such thing. Aluminum alloys are stronger. "Strength" of the case will depend on the actual design.

But I don't understand the obsession with strength and durability. The computer lives in the truck; not a harsh environment. When traveling you can stick it in a case.

I'd definitely go for the m-itx with a nice monitor. Cheaper for the performance, nicer to use, and easy to upgrade.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

https://www.gammatechusa.com/products/laptops/durabook-s15ab

With its magnesium alloy design, and military standards of drop, shock and spill resistance, the DURABOOK S15AB is designed to protect the system in the harshest environments.

Materials matter as much as design. Make something out of paper, it's going to be frail. Make something using a cross weave of paper and adhesive, it becomes a strong material.

Never been in a truck, have you? They're work machines above all else--even the fancy ones. In the case of tractors, the entire truck gets jarred when hooking up a trailer. In the case of a flat bed, the act of loading and unloading may jar the truck. Then there's the constant vibration from their diesel engines and uneven road surfaces. If the truck drives on gravel frequently, there's also dust to contend with. Heaven forbid the vehicle is in a crash, everything not securely strapped down also becomes a projectile. Even if the computer isn't on during these things, it is subjected to those forces. It is a harsh environment, far more so than a family vehicle.

Edit: The important facts about a semi-rugged computer:

Anti-shock mounting design protects LCD screen and hard disk drive from damage and data loss. Flexible HDD cable design absorbs shock from drops

AND

MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6, Procedure I, Category 24, Fig. 514.6E-1 (non-operating)ASTM 4169, Truck Transport, 11.5.2 Random test, Assurance Level (Operating)

 

[rruff]

Never been in a truck, have you?

Lived in a pickup for 13 years. Camped in remote areas that required bounding over rocks and ruts on 4WD trails for a couple hours each way. Stick the computer in a padded case when traveling and it will be fine. A regular monitor and desktop components will be so nice compared to a laptop.

And structural aluminum alloys are stronger than magnesium, period. Magnesium has lower density, but still loses on strength/weight against the best Al alloys.

 

[silentbogo]

Im not looking to use it while driving. But instead on my 10 hour off cycle. I will have a sleeper cab so it will be packed in my backpack till I use it. No need to worry about the ruggedized laptop. I wouldnt mind thin and light though

Thin and light is not always good. Especially on the road. Most gaming ultrabooks, or thin gaming laptops suffer from cooling problems.

Since you are not going to use it while you are driving - your biggest concern is HDD stress due to vibrations. Even with shock absorbers you can kill an unsuspecting HDD in a matter of months. (If someone thinks otherwise - tell that to 4x500GB HDDs I replaced in a car-used Samsung NP350 in a matter of 5 months). Basically all you need, is buy a regular gaming laptop with adequate cooling, and replace a HDD with a large SSD (or buy one w/o HDD in the first place).
Maybe even something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8S13MM7865

A decent gaming laptop can be purchased for under $1300, leaving a small chunk of money for a 1TB Mushkin reactor.

Also note, that "Gaming" and "Decent battery life" never go together. You cannot expect a beast with >35W CPU and gaming GPU to last more than 3-4 hours on full charge.
This is why you need to think about AC power inside the cab. If you already have an inverter - cool. If you don't : almost anything over 150W will do.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Lived in a pickup for 13 years. Camped in remote areas that required bounding over rocks and ruts on 4WD trails for a couple hours each way. Stick the computer in a padded case when traveling and it will be fine. A regular monitor and desktop components will be so nice compared to a laptop.

Pickup to me means Class 1-3. Flatbed to me means at least medium-duty (Class 4-6). It could mean heavy-duty (Class 7-8). The higher the class, the more shock resistance becomes important.

And structural aluminum alloys are stronger than magnesium, period. Magnesium has lower density, but still loses on strength/weight against the best Al alloys.

*le sigh* No one ever specifies what magnesium is alloyed with. It could be aluminum for all I know. The important thing is, as I said, the magnesium alloy is significantly stronger than aluminum (not alloyed).


@silentbogo summed it up well. The hard drive is by far the greatest concern.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

HAHA, living in a pickup, camping.... such a good laugh. You should google OTR flatbed. Would be nice if the OP clarified what exactly he was driving, maybe even some pics? I know some of the newer trucks have taken sleepers to a whole new level of comfort.

Let me say this, that while vibration is an issue, trucks have changed since late 90s, depending on the brand/model, many will drive and ride like a Caddy thanks to Air ride suspensions. Infact, air ride suspension is normal on all trucks, however having an air ride front (steer) axle has proven to be the best ride, but not all trucks come with that option. Even sleepers on trucks has an option to be on a separate air ride system (conditions apply). Even with all this shock absorption, vibration in a truck cant be totally eliminated. For those that are thinking of extreme vibration conditions, its not that bad anymore. Think of riding in a small pickup, the vibrations at the back tailgate versus vibration inside the pickup, which is worse?

Whatever the OP decides to do atleast make sure it has an SSD not a HDD.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Dad's was a 2009 with air ride. They ride smoother than non-air ride but it is still rough compared to light vehicles.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Dad's was a 2009 with air ride. They ride smoother than non-air ride but it is still rough compared to light vehicles.

What do ya get when you cross a Peterbuilt, a Kenworth, and a Freightliner? A: A Peter-worth-shaking.