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Well basically I'm look to get a new laptop for the coming school year that could hopefully last me til college (start next year '10).

My budget is about 1000.

Needs to be good at word processing

and good at gaming with coming games like ShW 1.0 and Civ IV

any suggestions?

Respek

Dell XPS 1530 with a Nvidia 8600 card
Dell Studio 15 the 999$ version
and if you want something really cheap then get a Dell Inspiron 14.1 because that has an option for a Geforce 8400 card
you can check them all out on dells website.
Also check daily because dell gives awesome deals that change daily.

Edit: Personally the Dell Studio offers the best value for money.

If you want something reliable, get a refurbished MacBook Pro from store.apple.com. Mac OS X has everything you need included (iLife et al) and you can install windows as well.
Edited by markintellect, 24 July 2008 - 20:39.

I'd consider this little kicker as well:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16834117792

Similar to the Studio 15 that POTP reccomended to you, except, larger hard drive, faster proccessor (it's a new line, the montevinas) which also saves a bit of energy. Faster graphics card as well (3470 vs. 3450). It's only .3 pounds heavier, and it's a 16.4" screen instead of 15.4". Also, higher resolution (1600x900).

Did I mention that it's free shipping (free three day shipping actually ).

Anyways, basically any ocmputer will be good enough for word processing lol. If you want a decent gaming computer (like ones that are capable of running high-spec games like World in Conflict or Crysis at just maybe low/medium settings lol) you'll be wanting at least a nvidia 8600M GT or a HD3650. But, seeing as how civ 4 doesn't have high requirements, and generals zero hour is what.... 5 years old now? (you could probably run it with the current integrated graphics chipsets), I wouldn't worry too much about it.

markintellect, on 24 Jul 2008, 14:23, said:

You are kidding me right? Name one freaking mac with equal configuration o9f a studio 15 and has a good graphics card and not the intel integrated shit. Macs are ok but seriously suggesting a mac for gaming is just being delusional.

AFAIK macs can't run most games at all, even if the graphic card works with it.

Prophet of the Pimps, on 24 Jul 2008, 19:03, said:

It's called a MacBook Pro, and Boot Camp. The MacBook Pro was named the fasted Vista laptop by PC World or another tech website, I can't remember which...
Edited by markintellect, 24 July 2008 - 20:42.

But then it costs twice as much as a Windows laptop in the same configuration nowadays. The review in PC World is almost a year ago mind you.

markintellect, on 25 Jul 2008, 3:09, said:

A macbook pro is not even in the equation because its cost almost double the budget that Basilisk set. I know you apple fans love your mac but please keep some perspective sometime. The mac in no shape or form fit the requirement of OP.

Thank you very much for all your help guys!

Did you pick one yet?

If not, I recommend an Acer aspire 7520, which is the one I'm using.

It's got An AMD turion 64x2 At 2.0 Ghz, GeForce 8400M, 2gigs of ram, 250 gig HDD, and a 17" screen, and I paid a little over a thousand for it.

It runs shockwave and civ4 just fine for me.
Edited by ~Doomsday~, 28 July 2008 - 04:44.

I will buy laptop too.

But I think it will be Asus M51KR-AS025C. I don't want spend more than 1000 Euros on it. It costs here around 800 (670 net of VAT). Better I found on e-shops costs more than 1042. And I don't feel to buy something from the USA (because of some extra taxes or sales return complications).
I have also talk with one friend of mine and he told me to not buying Acer (it's about luck, many Acers aren't quality laptops, many are great). He recommended me Asus, MSI (but they are quickly discharged), Dell, Toshiba or Fujitsu-Siemens. HP is overpriced.

No, I have not purchased one yet... But this has narrowed it down a ton.

Now its been a couple of weeks and I still don't have one :(...

Budget changes...oh well.


So, I thought I'd ask what kind of things do I need to be looking for in a decent gaming capable computer.

I've been looking at anything at 2 GHz or more and as much RAM as possible but I don't even know if I'm on the right track...

Help! lol

Thanks-

T_B

Generally you should be more worried about the graphics card, for a decent gaming computer, nothing less than a HD3650 or 8600GT is decent

Thanks. I've heard something about "dedicated" memory for a video card and that it was important. What exactly is it?

If your video card does not have dedicated memory it will instead borrow some fo your RAM, thus it slows down the PC and uses RAM not specifically designed for video memory, neither prospect please.

Dedicated is like having separate RAM on the card itself, a much better option.

What dauth said is right for the dedicated memory. You will need more memory in order to run higher texture settings in games for the most part.

Anyways, if you really want to be gaming (like playing new graphically demanding games like World in Conflict or Crysis) you really need at least an 8600GT or HD3650 or better (in their respective manufacturer lines).

I may have found the laptop of my dreams. Now I just gotta convince the parents

any opinions welcome!!

http://www.xoticpc.c...der-p-2479.html

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...customerreviews

I was wondering if anyone could tell if this computer will still be "competitive" in a couple of years. I mean I understand computing power is advancing by leaps and bounds but for someone who like computer gaming enough to get a new game every once in a while and even if the future the games have to run a little lower settings. This should be the icing on the cake if I can convince them (and not lie, that is) that it will still be good in 4ish years!!

Thank you so much for all of your support!!!

TB

I was wondering if anyone could tell if this computer will still be "competitive" in a couple of years. I mean I understand computing power is advancing by leaps and bounds but for someone who like computer gaming enough to get a new game every once in a while and even if the future the games have to run a little lower settings. This should be the icing on the cake if I can convince them (and not lie, that is) that it will still be good in 4ish years!!

Thank you so much for all of your support!!!

TB

sorry for the double post... i was gonna delete this but i'm not 1337 enough to find the delete button... sorry again.
Edited by Dauth, 26 August 2008 - 07:04.

Posts merged, btw only moderators+ can delete posts.

Great bang for your buck.

That is an amazing computer sir .

Do you know if sony has any student discounts or the like?

Notice that that was the same laptop i posted up on the like third post...

Even better deal: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16834117780

This one doesn't have blu-ray, but i dunno if you would care about that, however, this one has a faster CPU, and a better screen.

Plus, the model he posted was from sonystyle canada.... Canadian dollars>>>USD in global value
Edited by Eddy01741, 26 August 2008 - 15:34.

Quote

Not Really.
I think they will ship to the US but they may charge a litte extra.
Also that one on Newegg has 3 gigs of memory compared to the 4gigs in the one I showed. Plus Blu-ray = futureproof.
Edited by Scopejim, 26 August 2008 - 15:38.

So what I'm gathering is that a FW series Vaio is the way to go? Also is the computer I posted just a piece of crap or what, I just need to know because I thought it was good but by trial and error I'll learn. Any comments on the Asus?