Gaming laptop - scrap the desktop?

Petrov · 4th October 2006, 5:28 PM

I've always been an advocate of desktops for gaming, and laptops for nothing. However, I bought a laptop for mainly work and travelling a year or so ago (Toshiba Satellite M70 Pro), and I quickly found that I much preferred gaming on my laptop to sitting in my study and gaming on my far more powerful desktop. The reason is that a laptop is far more socially acceptable - I can play Civ IV or Titan's Quest while on the couch while flatmates or grifriend do their thing, I can play it if I'm travelling and have some downtime. Sitting in my study to game is the ultimate anti-social behaviour and would annoy my gf far more quickly than sittnig near her while she watches Sex and the City re-runs on a Sunday night.

I used to MMORPG/multiplayer FPS quite a bit, but I do that less now, spending more time on games that don't require a 3 hour sit-in session each time. So I am less concerned that I squeeze the extra 5% out of a desktop compared to what's now available in a 17" C2D laptop with a great GPU (the gap has closed, surely?).

On that basis that I rarely, if ever, use my desktop for gaming now, I want to upgrade my Toshiba 15.4" to a gaming-focused 17".

I am in the UK, so have some extra choices and some more limitations, but would appreciate any thoughts on the following set-up:

Evesham Voyager 720DC Plus
17" WSXGA (1680x1050 - I dont want 1900x1200 as its too high res for gaming with the laptop GPU - hence why i don't like the Dell XPS 1710)
2.16Ghz C2D
2GB 667Mhz RAM
512Mb NVidia Go 7900 GTX
80Gb 7200 RPG
Rest is fairly standard...

This comes in at about £1,700, which is about A$4,000.

Thoughts appreciated - any better gaming laptops than this?

Petrov.

SSJX · 4th October 2006, 6:54 PM

its an excellent configuration you have there
i currently have an inspiron 9400 with;
2.0ghz c2d, 7900gs go, 120gb hdd 5400, 2gb 667 ram, and 17" UXGA (1920x1200 native), 9 cell, bluetooth, winxp pro, & case for about 2.6k aussie
and it works a treat. the 1920x1200 is great but it's not that good for normal apps, as the text can appear very small

ucosty · 4th October 2006, 10:42 PM

I did the same thing and thus I have some observations to make. I checked your laptop out and it is exactly the same as mine. It is based around the Clevo M570U chassis.

Firstly, get a bigger hdd. I have a 100gig and I don't have nearly enough space on my lappy.

Secondly, my lappy has a 7900GTX and a 1920x1200 screen. Gaming is fine at native resolution. The 7900GTX is more than capable of playing all current games (that i'm aware of) at this resolution.

Thirdly, you might want to look into sound. The onboard sound card suck a lot. Unfortunately Creative have yet to release an expresscard sound card. Not particularly important but important to note.

Fourthly, lounge gaming is hard - especially when you have a heater on your lap. It can be done but gets uncomfortable. Don't let this deter you, though. Maybe some sort of portable table thing? Food for thought.

Petrov · 4th October 2006, 11:43 PM

ucosty, thanks for your thoughts.

Bigger HDD would be nice, but Evesham don't offer one, so I'm stuck there. in reality, I dnot load a heap of games on, I generally keep about 3 or so games at any one time, and most space is tied up into my music and photos - which I can always burn onto DVD or external HDD - but your point is a good one.

I understand 7900 GTX is probably fine at 1900x1200 for most current gen games, but for next gen games at full effects (AA, AF, etc), I think I'd prefer a slightly lower resolution for some limited future proofing - I guess I don't really see the upside for 1900x1200 over 1680x1050 (after all, my 22" LCD is only 1680x1050, so to have the same res on a 17" screen is by far enough for me), but I see more downside with the higher resolution in terms of future gaming performance.

Regarding soung - good point, but not sure if I have any soundcard upgrade options...I'm not really an audiophile myself.

Lounge gaming is hard, I agree - was more thinking on a table, or on the bed, or on the floor, which is what I usually do with my current cr4p laptop. That being said, sitting at a desk or using a desktop is the only way I'd go for competitive multiplayer FPS gaming - but that's not my bag these days, so it doesn't concern me overly.

Thanks again,

Petrov.

Kermalius · 5th October 2006, 1:23 AM

I bought a tecra A6 primarily for work and have barely touched my desktop since.

It's only a x1400/1280x800 graphics, but it runs WoW & SWG well over wireless at home, and while i've been away it runs everything i come across. As long as you aren't into hardcore graphics detail, it's great. I can sit out with the girlfriend or family, or watch TV during the boring bits, without problems.

However, regarding gaming in the living room:
* Get used to playing with little or no sound as that can serriously piss of people trying to watch a movie. apparently. Or just get a headset with only one ear.
* Finding a good, comfortable, mousing surface can be hard unless you want to sit at a table. wireless mice + a solid hardcover are great.
* things can get rather hot.

ice_cool · 5th October 2006, 5:09 AM

Thats a pretty damn good lappy ur about to buy, wanna send one 2 me?

Getting back to the point, i think that ur right in that its probably best to get a lower res screen for future games, however i think u should get a 7900GTX. HDD is not as important as that can be upgraded later.

SO if ur budgets tight go for the Video card and not the HDD or the RAM.

Sumomaniac · 5th October 2006, 5:21 AM

lol, heat may affect sperm count

Petrov · 6th October 2006, 5:09 PM

Ok, well I bought the laptop in my first message, but with a 100gb 7200RPM drive, not the 80gb!

Should arrive with me week after next - will let you know how it goes!

Petrov.

4th October 2006, 5:28 PM	#1
Petrov Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 339	Gaming laptop - scrap the desktop? I've always been an advocate of desktops for gaming, and laptops for nothing. However, I bought a laptop for mainly work and travelling a year or so ago (Toshiba Satellite M70 Pro), and I quickly found that I much preferred gaming on my laptop to sitting in my study and gaming on my far more powerful desktop. The reason is that a laptop is far more socially acceptable - I can play Civ IV or Titan's Quest while on the couch while flatmates or grifriend do their thing, I can play it if I'm travelling and have some downtime. Sitting in my study to game is the ultimate anti-social behaviour and would annoy my gf far more quickly than sittnig near her while she watches Sex and the City re-runs on a Sunday night. I used to MMORPG/multiplayer FPS quite a bit, but I do that less now, spending more time on games that don't require a 3 hour sit-in session each time. So I am less concerned that I squeeze the extra 5% out of a desktop compared to what's now available in a 17" C2D laptop with a great GPU (the gap has closed, surely?). On that basis that I rarely, if ever, use my desktop for gaming now, I want to upgrade my Toshiba 15.4" to a gaming-focused 17". I am in the UK, so have some extra choices and some more limitations, but would appreciate any thoughts on the following set-up: Evesham Voyager 720DC Plus 17" WSXGA (1680x1050 - I dont want 1900x1200 as its too high res for gaming with the laptop GPU - hence why i don't like the Dell XPS 1710) 2.16Ghz C2D 2GB 667Mhz RAM 512Mb NVidia Go 7900 GTX 80Gb 7200 RPG Rest is fairly standard... This comes in at about £1,700, which is about A$4,000. Thoughts appreciated - any better gaming laptops than this? Petrov.

5th October 2006, 5:09 AM	#6
ice_cool Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,303	Thats a pretty damn good lappy ur about to buy, wanna send one 2 me? Getting back to the point, i think that ur right in that its probably best to get a lower res screen for future games, however i think u should get a 7900GTX. HDD is not as important as that can be upgraded later. SO if ur budgets tight go for the Video card and not the HDD or the RAM. __________________ w3520, dfi ut x58, corsair dominator gt 6gb, HIS HD 4850, 2x250gb seagtes raid 0 DS-Lite.NINTENDO™ DS Lite Owners Club Member #0049 Successful trades: butters OC'd, Rolan, Borgod, bazadilligaf, skyline34, decksla, cracka. + many more

5th October 2006, 5:21 AM	#7
Sumomaniac Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Gunnedah NSW Posts: 419	lol, heat may affect sperm count __________________ [Shuttle Owners Club Member #12 Shuttle: SN25P]

4th October 2006, 6:54 PM	#2
SSJX Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 2,746	its an excellent configuration you have there i currently have an inspiron 9400 with; 2.0ghz c2d, 7900gs go, 120gb hdd 5400, 2gb 667 ram, and 17" UXGA (1920x1200 native), 9 cell, bluetooth, winxp pro, & case for about 2.6k aussie and it works a treat. the 1920x1200 is great but it's not that good for normal apps, as the text can appear very small

4th October 2006, 10:42 PM	#3
ucosty Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW Posts: 230	I did the same thing and thus I have some observations to make. I checked your laptop out and it is exactly the same as mine. It is based around the Clevo M570U chassis. Firstly, get a bigger hdd. I have a 100gig and I don't have nearly enough space on my lappy. Secondly, my lappy has a 7900GTX and a 1920x1200 screen. Gaming is fine at native resolution. The 7900GTX is more than capable of playing all current games (that i'm aware of) at this resolution. Thirdly, you might want to look into sound. The onboard sound card suck a lot. Unfortunately Creative have yet to release an expresscard sound card. Not particularly important but important to note. Fourthly, lounge gaming is hard - especially when you have a heater on your lap. It can be done but gets uncomfortable. Don't let this deter you, though. Maybe some sort of portable table thing? Food for thought.

4th October 2006, 11:43 PM	#4
Petrov Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 339	ucosty, thanks for your thoughts. Bigger HDD would be nice, but Evesham don't offer one, so I'm stuck there. in reality, I dnot load a heap of games on, I generally keep about 3 or so games at any one time, and most space is tied up into my music and photos - which I can always burn onto DVD or external HDD - but your point is a good one. I understand 7900 GTX is probably fine at 1900x1200 for most current gen games, but for next gen games at full effects (AA, AF, etc), I think I'd prefer a slightly lower resolution for some limited future proofing - I guess I don't really see the upside for 1900x1200 over 1680x1050 (after all, my 22" LCD is only 1680x1050, so to have the same res on a 17" screen is by far enough for me), but I see more downside with the higher resolution in terms of future gaming performance. Regarding soung - good point, but not sure if I have any soundcard upgrade options...I'm not really an audiophile myself. Lounge gaming is hard, I agree - was more thinking on a table, or on the bed, or on the floor, which is what I usually do with my current cr4p laptop. That being said, sitting at a desk or using a desktop is the only way I'd go for competitive multiplayer FPS gaming - but that's not my bag these days, so it doesn't concern me overly. Thanks again, Petrov.

5th October 2006, 1:23 AM	#5
Kermalius Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 861	I bought a tecra A6 primarily for work and have barely touched my desktop since. It's only a x1400/1280x800 graphics, but it runs WoW & SWG well over wireless at home, and while i've been away it runs everything i come across. As long as you aren't into hardcore graphics detail, it's great. I can sit out with the girlfriend or family, or watch TV during the boring bits, without problems. However, regarding gaming in the living room: * Get used to playing with little or no sound as that can serriously piss of people trying to watch a movie. apparently. Or just get a headset with only one ear. * Finding a good, comfortable, mousing surface can be hard unless you want to sit at a table. wireless mice + a solid hardcover are great. * things can get rather hot.

6th October 2006, 5:09 PM	#8
Petrov Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 339	Ok, well I bought the laptop in my first message, but with a 100gb 7200RPM drive, not the 80gb! Should arrive with me week after next - will let you know how it goes! Petrov.