New tower or laptop?

[Winin]

My PC is from 2007, so that should give you an idea about how cutting edge I need to be. I've been planning to get a new one this year, but maybe I should get a gaming-level laptop instead, so I'm not tied to my desk anymore.

How are gaming laptops? Who makes them? How much do they run? I've done no research. Are they decent for modernish games?

Thanks!

[Vejuz]

Almost all gaming laptops have overheating issues (including mine, which is an Alienware). You're likely better off getting a new tower, unless you travel a lot. A new tower will give you better power, reliability and ease of maintenance and upgrade at lower price point.

My Alienware runs most modern games just fine on middling to high settings, but tends to run extremely hot while doing so. Without my cooler, it overheats and shuts off in after about half an hour of play. (I'm very happy with my cooler pad though. It works great, and was relatively cheap.)

If you do decide to get a gaming laptop, you absolutely must use it in conjunction with an external cooling pad, as most gaming laptops are actually designed with external cooling in mind. (Although the manufacturers will never admit this.)

Before you buy a gaming branded laptop though, look at non-gaming laptops. Many of them, while slightly less powerful than a gaming laptop, are a much better deal for your money.

[trapsinger]

i got a sony vaio c series laptop earlier this year. it's not a "gaming" laptop, but it's got a radeon hd 6630m with a gig of dedicated video memory, and 8 gigs of ram, which seems to handle most games just fine. i could play swtor on high settings at about 20 to 30 fps, or medium at 60 fps, and guild wars 2 looks fine on medium settings. i know that's lower performance than the gaming systems, but i've never managed to overheat this system doing anything, even playing in 90 degree weather in southern california, with no external cooling. also it runs right around 1000 dollars, depending on options (my wife paid 860 for hers which is a bit more stripped down, and i paid more like 1200 for a bigger hard drive, faster processor, and higher res screen).

so, cheap, doesn't over heat, and very portable at 15 inches. not super high performance, but very good for the price.

[pandalishus]

With a laptop, you always have the option of hooking up to an external monitor if you want a bigger picture. Still, Vejuz is right. For your buck, you're going to get far, far more punch with a desktop than a lappy, and you can upgrade for a long time to come.

Might consider a desktop and a tablet...

[Rer]

I was in the exact same situation as you Winin (though my tower was from 2008-9ish)

Anyways, I decidedly went tower without even considering a laptop. NO REGRETS.

Though you do travel a lot don't you? :< I should also note I had a budget of $1400 and thanks to Newegg deals and a friend with manufacturing hookups, got a really kickass computer for my pricetag.

[wrewdinge]

I have an Dell XPS 17 and am very satisfied with it. It runs most games I come across on the highest setting without any real difficulty. My only complaint is that the graphics card is to the left of the numpad (where I rest my hand for WASD) and it can get hot - incredibly so.

If you do go with a laptop I would suggest getting a cooler master as your laptop cooler. I wouldn't say it is necessary with the XPS 17. I have never experienced really experienced what Vejuz described when I have been without the cooler pad. That said, it is still a good investment.

Cooler Master Link:
www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-Configurable-R9-NBC-8PBK-GP/dp/B002NU5V4A/

[Rer]

Thanks for the Cooler Pad links btw guys, my brother has been having massive overheat issues and these would really come in handy for him.

[Winin]

One of those ultra thin laptops might be good. But I'm leaning towards a tower.

Sent from my DROIDX using proboards

[Slurm]

But I'm leaning towards a tower.

[pandalishus]

Challenge accepted

[Winin]

Long story short, Southwest screwed me over and left me stranded. Then had to pay me $830 in refund & penalty. Now I can get a new PC. Huzzah! Time to get serious about what to get.

[pandalishus]

Woohoo!