- Sep 7, 2006
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Okay, first of all I'm looking for an inexpensive laptop to use for mobility, and some occasional gaming. My wife doesn't like me going upstairs to play on my desktop all the time. I figure with a notebook I can do email/news/blogging on the couch beside her. And, if I want to, I can fiddle with some games.
A few days back I went to Costco and purchased the following:
$649
Acer Aspire 6935-6194
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core 2 T6400
Intel 4500MHD Graphics (I know, but it's not for gaming)
1366 X 768 16" Monitor
4GB DDR3 1066Mhz RAM
320GB 5400RPM
It's a great laptop for what it is, and I really enjoy it. However, I can't even put Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars up to Medium W 1366 x 768. LOL! I know Intel's graphics suck in general, and integrated isn't any good for gaming. So I never intended this laptop as a gaming machine. However, I've found that I really wish I COULD do some kind of gaming on my laptop.
So here's another one I'm considering. Costco has a generous 90 day return policy on laptops, so I may trade-in.
$879
HP DV7-2043CL
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core 2 T6400
ATI 1GB Mobility 4650
Lightscribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+/-
4GB DDR2 (800)
17.3" Monitor 1600 x 900
500GB 5400RPM
Costco doesn't start selling this model at that price until May 11th. So I have a couple days. I've done some research online, looking through TigerDirect, NewEgg.com, etc. I really can't find a better setup for the same money. I'd LOVE to have a 1920 x 1080 display, but all of those seem to be well over $1,000. From the benchmarks I've seen, the Mobile 4650 seems to be the best GPU out there for my price range. Correct me if I'm wrong, but here's what I found.
4650 > 9600M GT > GT 120M > 9600M GS
The results I found were for the 512MB version of each of those cards. This HP laptop has a 1GB 4650 in it, which is nice albeit not a major deal I suppose.
Right now all I'm playing is Age of Conan, which performs fantastic on my desktop (Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz w/ GTX 260 Core 216). I could probably suffer through AoC on this laptop with lowered details I'm sure.
Does anyone know of any BETTER deals than this laptop? If I can get something with higher resolution for about the same price, or better performer, etc I'd be interested in looking. Most of the other inexpensive gaming laptops I've seen carry either a T6400 or P8600 Core 2 Duo. Sure the P8600 would be better, but I'm doubting it's a huge deal considering the lower end GPUs we're talking about.
Thanks for any input from anyone.
BTW: I liked the specs on this MSI laptop, but the two reviews on NewEgg were pretty poor.
MSI GX720: P8400 C2D, 9600M GT, 17" 1680 x 1050 $899 - $50 MIR
http
/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152100
A few days back I went to Costco and purchased the following:
$649
Acer Aspire 6935-6194
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core 2 T6400
Intel 4500MHD Graphics (I know, but it's not for gaming)
1366 X 768 16" Monitor
4GB DDR3 1066Mhz RAM
320GB 5400RPM
It's a great laptop for what it is, and I really enjoy it. However, I can't even put Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars up to Medium W 1366 x 768. LOL! I know Intel's graphics suck in general, and integrated isn't any good for gaming. So I never intended this laptop as a gaming machine. However, I've found that I really wish I COULD do some kind of gaming on my laptop.
So here's another one I'm considering. Costco has a generous 90 day return policy on laptops, so I may trade-in.
$879
HP DV7-2043CL
Windows Vista Home Premium 64bit
Intel Core 2 T6400
ATI 1GB Mobility 4650
Lightscribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+/-
4GB DDR2 (800)
17.3" Monitor 1600 x 900
500GB 5400RPM
Costco doesn't start selling this model at that price until May 11th. So I have a couple days. I've done some research online, looking through TigerDirect, NewEgg.com, etc. I really can't find a better setup for the same money. I'd LOVE to have a 1920 x 1080 display, but all of those seem to be well over $1,000. From the benchmarks I've seen, the Mobile 4650 seems to be the best GPU out there for my price range. Correct me if I'm wrong, but here's what I found.
4650 > 9600M GT > GT 120M > 9600M GS
The results I found were for the 512MB version of each of those cards. This HP laptop has a 1GB 4650 in it, which is nice albeit not a major deal I suppose.
Right now all I'm playing is Age of Conan, which performs fantastic on my desktop (Q6600 @ 3.2Ghz w/ GTX 260 Core 216). I could probably suffer through AoC on this laptop with lowered details I'm sure.
Does anyone know of any BETTER deals than this laptop? If I can get something with higher resolution for about the same price, or better performer, etc I'd be interested in looking. Most of the other inexpensive gaming laptops I've seen carry either a T6400 or P8600 Core 2 Duo. Sure the P8600 would be better, but I'm doubting it's a huge deal considering the lower end GPUs we're talking about.
Thanks for any input from anyone.
BTW: I liked the specs on this MSI laptop, but the two reviews on NewEgg were pretty poor.
MSI GX720: P8400 C2D, 9600M GT, 17" 1680 x 1050 $899 - $50 MIR
http
/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152100
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