Looking get a gaming laptop

[DeathxCheater]

So I'm looking to get a gaming laptop for around $1000. I have little to no knowledge of the specs that I should be looking for and I was hoping to get a general idea of what is the average and what is going to e able to run the games that are out now such as Skyrim, call of duty borderlands ect I was looking at getting this: MSI G Series GX60 3AE-216US 15.6-Inch Laptop (Black) because from the limited research I have done it looks like MSI is the best out there.

Any information on what I should be looking for would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Frag_Maniac]

This is the best deal I've seen in a gaming capable laptop. Starting price for this model is $1008

http://www.lpc-digital.com/sager-np7370-features.html

 

[Roadbandit]

Alienware is very fascinating for gaming purposes im just not so sure with the price though'
an old colleague of mine is using this kind of Laptop... maybe you can google it to know more of the features.

 

[Black Haru]

Lenovo ideapad y500. Its what I went for on the same budget. I'm very happy with it.

 

[Pehla]

im thinking to get me soon lenovo y560!! 750€ used.but in great condition!
best deal for the money!!

 

[Fourstaff]

You can look at Samsung's offerings too, and Dell's outlet store.

 

[Black Panther]

I don't want to spoil your plans but if you can go with a desktop forget the laptop, unless you really need it for travelling or because of space issues. Laptop parts are terribly expensive if you need to replace. And upgrading is near to impossible and when it is possible... have I mentioned the $$$ ?

Speaking from personal experience here...

 

[janeparker]

I do agree with the "Black Panther", if you do not travel long journey often, then go for a desktop. You will save money with a better configuration.

Still if you want to go for laptop then you can think about Lenovo y series laptops.

 

[bengraham]

well no doubt if you will get "Allienware" they are bulky, manly, stylish and very techy for gamer design... i have seen the features of this when it was launch in singapore. real cool.

 

[drdeathx]

Asus makes some kick ass gaming laptops. Give them a look too.

 

[purecain]

if you can get an AMD A10 +HD7770 in a 300pound laptop.....that would be about the best value for money....
unless you buy desktp parts... and build a small htpc that you can take with you on business trips to set up in the hotel....

I went for the MSI GT70 for 1500pounds and I was extremely impressed with the performance and upgradability...

expensive route is going to cause some serious buyers remorse if your not happy with the end product, so choose wisely...

 

[Fizban]

Alienware's are way, way, overpriced.

I paid $1,399.29 for my Toshiba, after tax.

The Alienware mx17 starts at $1,499.00 before tax, which is 1,588.94 after tax.

Not only is its starting configuration $189.65 more expensive, but it is an inferior product.

Namely:

It has a 1600x900 resolution, not 1920x1080, it has 8 GB of DDR3, not 12 GB of DDR3L, it has a GTX 765M, not a GTX 770M, it has a cd/dvd reader/burner, no blu-ray read/burn.

It has only one advantage over the Toshiba spec-wise: It comes with a 750 GB 7200 rpm HDD, not a 750 GB 5400 RPM HDD - you can buy a 7200 rpm HDD for dirt cheap, that's absolutely not a reason to choose the alienware.

For the alienware to be comparable to my Toshiba you are looking at spending $2,118.94.

At that price point it still has no blu-ray reading/burning capability, but does have 1080P, a GTX 770M, and 16 GB DDR3 (Alienware only has options for 8 GB and 16 GB, my laptop has 12 GB, so not quite a fair comparison, but I think 12 GB is closer to 16 in performance than 12 is to 8 since it's rare to use over 8, but can happen from time to time, whereas using over 12 is practically unheard of).

The Toshiba also came with a Razer Orochi Blade which sells for $79.99. The alienware all told is 51.4% more expensive and still arguably inferior (no mouse, no blu-ray vs. extra 4 GB RAM and a faster HDD - I'd rather blu-ray than faster HDD or 4 GB RAM since the difference in HDD speeds are close to negligible when either is compared to a SSD, and the 5400 RPM drives result in better battery life and an extra 4 GB RAM is unlikely to ever make any noticeable difference).

 

[bengraham]

i would really take care of any gaming laptop. Ergonomically its not fun looking at the display and the weight is usually too heave to have it really mobile. Not talking about the battery life.

Why not getting a good stationary PC instead with better hardware for less money?

At least, i would recommend an external display for your desk.

 

[Fizban]

i would really take care of any gaming laptop. Ergonomically its not fun looking at the display and the weight is usually too heave to have it really mobile. Not talking about the battery life.

When exactly did ergonomics become a measurement of fun?

As for not being mobile. I don't get that logic - at all. My gaming laptop weighs 7.6 pounds. Who really finds 7.6 pounds to be heavy?

I have always found it ridiculous that people obsess over weight and size so much. Not once have I ever been using a laptop and thought: You know what I really wish? I wish this laptop was 5 pounds lighter and 90% slower.

 

[Fourstaff]

When exactly did ergonomics become a measurement of fun?

As for not being mobile. I don't get that logic - at all. My gaming laptop weighs 7.6 pounds. Who really finds 7.6 pounds to be heavy?

I have always found it ridiculous that people obsess over weight and size so much. Not once have I ever been using a laptop and thought: You know what I really wish? I wish this laptop was 5 pounds lighter and 90% slower.

You don't study in a university and walk/cycle 40mins everyday with your laptop and other stuff like books and sports kit?

 

[Fizban]

You don't study in a university and walk/cycle 40mins everyday with your laptop and other stuff like books and sports kit?

When I was still in school I tended to carry around 50 pounds of books/supplies. Even then I'd have rather carried an extra 5 to have something more powerful than a netbook.

I've always seen the draw of mobile technology - ie. I see the benefit of a laptop over a desktop, I just tend to consider there a specific point where something is "mobile enough" and past that point I care more about performance than size/weight.

The only real benefit I see in a netbook over a desktop replacement is the longer battery life for me personally.

 

[Kantastic]

Friend just paid $849.00 + tax for a Lenovo Y410p (i7-4700QM, GT750M 2GB, 1600x900 14" display, 8GB RAM, 1TB/24GB hybrid drive). It came out of the box with a corrupt OS installation, but aside from that it was a pretty decent machine.

 

[mypg0306]

One more criteria to consider is you are buying a "Gaming" laptop is to ensure the air flow like bulky Alienware is meant for that.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

15.6 inch Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 with GTX 750m SLI, 1080p display available here for $1200.

Note that one of the GTX 750m occupies the optical device bay.

 

[Fizban]

15.6 inch Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 with GTX 750m SLI, 1080p display available here for $1200.

Note that one of the GTX 750m occupies the optical device bay.

Decent setup.

Appears to beat out my 770m, at least when running something that plays nice with SLI.

Quick glance at notebookcheck shows a lot of recent games still not doing so though.

For example: 27.1 fps on medium settings in Company of Heroes 2 with the 750M SLI, 48.8 FPS with the 770M.

37 on Metro: Last Night with 750m SLI vs. 50 on the 770m

But then on the other side, Bioshock Infinite for example gets 39 fps on Ultra with 750M SLI, and only 30 with the 770m.

For me I think the only reasons I'd have went with the laptop I have over that are: I prefer to have 2 HDD bays + an optical drive.

Actually, no, the other main reason I prefer 17.3" laptops is the keyboard. It's much easier to type on a large laptops keyboard than it is on a smaller laptop in my experience.

Still very much great bang for the buck in the Lenovo though.