Low end laptop top for gaming

Vanzagar · 04-13-12, 12:56 PM

Looking for a sub $1000 laptop that can do a bit of gaming, not looking for Skyrim maxed but would like to be able to play something like L4D1 in the laptops native resolution...

Couple I'm looking at but I have no clue bout laptop vid cards or integrated cards...

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...*78129*&topnav

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...*78129*&topnav

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineS...=2201&fid=1050

**Cylphid** · 04-13-12, 01:01 PM

Here you go.

http://www.xoticpc.com/force-16f2012...wconfigure=yes

EDIT: You didn't specify desired screen size.

EDIT EDIT

I'd recommend at least a 560m. That said, I don't know how AMD's new crop of mobile chips is doing. Here's a good place to start reading.
http://www.notebookreview.com/

Vanzagar · 04-13-12, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cylphid

Here you go.

http://www.xoticpc.com/force-16f2012...wconfigure=yes

EDIT: You didn't specify desired screen size.

wow, that's a nice vid card for that price... ya 15.6" screen is fine, 17" is my work laptop and that is kinda too big as I want it very portable...

nVidia GeForce GTX 570M 1,536MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 (SKU - X3R454)

**Cylphid** · 04-13-12, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanzagar

wow, that's a nice vid card for that price... ya 15.6" screen is fine, 17" is my work laptop and that is kinda too big as I want it very portable...

nVidia GeForce GTX 570M 1,536MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 (SKU - X3R454)

FastRedPonycar has one. His review on notebook reviews was pretty favorable. Lots of bang for the buck there.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/...re-review.html

His is a bit more than the basic model on the page I posted, but even that basic model would do what you want, and quite a bit more.

Vanzagar · 04-13-12, 01:20 PM

I bought a customized Asus laptop about 6 years ago, when it crashed after about 4 years I couldn't find a replacement mobo, apparently they used a very unique mobo in some of their laptop builds... going with a Dell I know I'd be fine but going with "Xoticpc" makes me kinda nervous... thoughts?

Are they very well known and well used?

**Cylphid** · 04-13-12, 01:25 PM

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Xotic_PC

Very favorable ratings. I only know a couple of people who've bought from there and they have no complaints, but I never have. I mainly know about it because of all the research I did before buying mine.

Maybe some other members here will speak up about it.

**jeffmd** · 04-13-12, 04:44 PM

Nice place! I may have to go there for my next laptop. I love my dell 1505 but that's because at the time I was able to put a discrete x1300 in it and upgraded the screen to the best 15.6 they had, a glossy x1050 that while not really bright, has amazing color definition. Now that dell reigned in a lot of their customization for 15.6 laptops, should mine every need replacement I was pretty stuck on finding another sub $1000 replacement.

Saddly XPC dosnt seem to start opening up the screen upgrades till the $700 models, but it looks like you get way more bang for your buck then dell.

**Cylphid** · 04-13-12, 05:09 PM

Lots of good info and expertise here as well.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/what...-should-i-buy/

If I'm not mistaken, some of Xotic's people monitor and post there as well, along with other resellers.

Hope this all helps - I spent 1.5 months just reading reviews before buying mine.

Vanzagar · 04-13-12, 05:41 PM

what did you end up buying Cylphid... or is that it in your sig?

**Cylphid** · 04-13-12, 07:35 PM

Yes, that's it in the sig. This model to be exact.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=g74sx-nh71

It was down to this or the 17" version of what I posted for you. After configuring the MSI it came out to about $350 more than this for very similar specs, except for the graphics.

The 560m in this plays Skyrim at almost all high or ultra with fps in the 30ish range, lower settings to mixed high and medium and I get a very playable 40-50 fps give or take, and it still look great. The 570m in the MSI is probably 15-20% faster, so that should give you a good idea what to expect.

Keep in mind that's with the 2670QM pushing it, nice powerful but cost effective cpu.

This laptop also required full updates on bio and drivers to fix known keypad issues, but overall I'm very happy with it today.

It was a tough decision, but I don't think I would have gone wrong either way. Both very powerful laptops with good warranties and they both look great.

04-13-12, 12:56 PM	#1
Vanzagar Bring me Amberlamps Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,167	Low end laptop top for gaming Looking for a sub $1000 laptop that can do a bit of gaming, not looking for Skyrim maxed but would like to be able to play something like L4D1 in the laptops native resolution... Couple I'm looking at but I have no clue bout laptop vid cards or integrated cards... http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...78129&topnav http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...78129&topnav http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineS...=2201&fid=1050

04-13-12, 01:01 PM	#2
Cylphid Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 444	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming Here you go. http://www.xoticpc.com/force-16f2012...wconfigure=yes EDIT: You didn't specify desired screen size. EDIT EDIT I'd recommend at least a 560m. That said, I don't know how AMD's new crop of mobile chips is doing. Here's a good place to start reading. http://www.notebookreview.com/

04-13-12, 01:20 PM	#5
Vanzagar Bring me Amberlamps Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,167	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming I bought a customized Asus laptop about 6 years ago, when it crashed after about 4 years I couldn't find a replacement mobo, apparently they used a very unique mobo in some of their laptop builds... going with a Dell I know I'd be fine but going with "Xoticpc" makes me kinda nervous... thoughts? Are they very well known and well used?

04-13-12, 01:25 PM	#6
Cylphid Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 444	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Xotic_PC Very favorable ratings. I only know a couple of people who've bought from there and they have no complaints, but I never have. I mainly know about it because of all the research I did before buying mine. Maybe some other members here will speak up about it.

04-13-12, 04:44 PM	#7
jeffmd Has a vegetation fetish Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,816	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming Nice place! I may have to go there for my next laptop. I love my dell 1505 but that's because at the time I was able to put a discrete x1300 in it and upgraded the screen to the best 15.6 they had, a glossy x1050 that while not really bright, has amazing color definition. Now that dell reigned in a lot of their customization for 15.6 laptops, should mine every need replacement I was pretty stuck on finding another sub $1000 replacement. Saddly XPC dosnt seem to start opening up the screen upgrades till the $700 models, but it looks like you get way more bang for your buck then dell. __________________ _________________________________________________ Mobo: EVGA 122-ck-nf68 680i sli, CPU: C2D Quad 6600, Video: EVGA GTX 460 1gb SC, Sound: X-fi gaming, Windows 7, Antec P180b,Thermalright Ultra-120 HSF, Antec TruPower TP3-650, 4 Gigs RAM

04-13-12, 05:09 PM	#8
Cylphid Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 444	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming Lots of good info and expertise here as well. http://forum.notebookreview.com/what...-should-i-buy/ If I'm not mistaken, some of Xotic's people monitor and post there as well, along with other resellers. Hope this all helps - I spent 1.5 months just reading reviews before buying mine.

04-13-12, 05:41 PM	#9
Vanzagar Bring me Amberlamps Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,167	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming what did you end up buying Cylphid... or is that it in your sig?

04-13-12, 07:35 PM	#10
Cylphid Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 444	Re: Low end laptop top for gaming Yes, that's it in the sig. This model to be exact. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=g74sx-nh71 It was down to this or the 17" version of what I posted for you. After configuring the MSI it came out to about $350 more than this for very similar specs, except for the graphics. The 560m in this plays Skyrim at almost all high or ultra with fps in the 30ish range, lower settings to mixed high and medium and I get a very playable 40-50 fps give or take, and it still look great. The 570m in the MSI is probably 15-20% faster, so that should give you a good idea what to expect. Keep in mind that's with the 2670QM pushing it, nice powerful but cost effective cpu. This laptop also required full updates on bio and drivers to fix known keypad issues, but overall I'm very happy with it today. It was a tough decision, but I don't think I would have gone wrong either way. Both very powerful laptops with good warranties and they both look great.