Gaming Laptops (Your Experience & Recommendations)

[Tactic Master]

Basically, i'm looking for a laptop that can easily run Football Manager 2012 with as many leagues and players loaded as I want, but also for other games. I'm looking to see what Laptops you guys use (Not Computers) and your experience with them and also some recommendations. I've personally been looking at the Alienware laptops, a customised G11X and a normal G18x. The difference between the 2 is the G11X will cost around £1,200 and the G18X will cost around £1,800.

My budget all depends on finance options.

My Current Laptop & Problems

Acer Aspire 7738G
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (2.2GHzm 800MHz FSB)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 240M Up to 2815 MB TurboCache
17.3" HD+ LED LCD Screen
4GB DDR3 Memory
1TB Hard Drive

Problems: Despite it having the ability to run many top games and easily running FM with a decent amount of leagues and players loaded, it tends to overheat which is apparently very common with Acer Laptops

Already have a laptop cooler - waste of money.

[rich10]

Alienwares are overpriced.

Your budget should be enough for a high-end desktop replacement laptop.

I use the Asus G73jh, they have newer models, but offer better value-for-money that Alienwares (and pretty much everything else out there), especially if you buy from the USA.

Have a look here: http://www.gentechpc.com/ and convert into £s

[Tactic Master]

Alienwares are overpriced.

Your budget should be enough for a high-end desktop replacement laptop.

I use the Asus G73jh, they have newer models, but offer better value-for-money that Alienwares (and pretty much everything else out there), especially if you buy from the USA.

Have a look here: http://www.gentechpc.com/ and convert into £s

Do these tend to overheat?

[Eugene Tyson]

Get yourself a laptop cooler from Amazon. They're great.

Be careful when buying the new batch of processors from Intel, the i7-3xxx are overheating, apparently intel are using a low-grade thermal paste. A company in japan/china has used a better thermal paste and they aren't overheating - something like 18-24% cooler now.

Perhaps wait a bit to buy a new computer until Intel has addressed the issue with the new processors overheating.


I'd say a laptop cooler and you'll be sorted for now.

[Tactic Master]

Get yourself a laptop cooler from Amazon. They're great.

Be careful when buying the new batch of processors from Intel, the i7-3xxx are overheating, apparently intel are using a low-grade thermal paste. A company in japan/china has used a better thermal paste and they aren't overheating - something like 18-24% cooler now.

Perhaps wait a bit to buy a new computer until Intel has addressed the issue with the new processors overheating.


I'd say a laptop cooler and you'll be sorted for now.

I already have a laptop cooler with 2 fans and unfortunately this only makes the laptop last about 10 minutes longer before it overheats.

I have to say, it was a waste of £58...

[Martvb60]

Hi Tactic Master you could do worse than look at the PC Specialist.co.uk website if you are looking for a high end laptop. Higher specced than Alienware and cheaper, faster delivery and excellent customer support before and after purchasing.

[Tactic Master]

Hi Tactic Master you could do worse than look at the PC Specialist.co.uk website if you are looking for a high end laptop. Higher specced than Alienware and cheaper, faster delivery and excellent customer support before and after purchasing.

Thanks Mart, i'll take a look

[x42bn6]

Don't go for Alienware (except perhaps if it's the m14x - not sure why you would want one, though - portability + gaming laptop? ). Rip-off. Much like the entire Alienware series...

[Scab]

Overpriced, loud, heavy, ugly ("gaming" designs). That about sums up my thoughts on "gaming laptops." Honestly, if you're going to game in any serious way, get a normal computer. If you want portability, get a laptop. There is no good sweet spot in the middle. Not as long as we're talking more demanding games than FM (read: most of them).

[davehanson]

I would say look at pcspecialist as well. Very good company to use. Also, Alienware are excellent. Yes, like everyone else has said, they are expensive. But, there is a reason for that. I had an Alienware desktop that I paid over 2k for. Didn't have anything, not a single issue with it for nearly 7 years. As said though they are really expensive and you can get a better deal at pcspecialist.

[Tactic Master]

@ Scab: I have to get a laptop due to the fact I have nowhere In my living room to put a computer. If it wasn't for my massive corner sofa and my 42" TV then I would have...

@Davehanson: Thats the reason I was looking at Alienware. My previous purchase before this Acer laptop was a Sony Vaio and maybe I paid over the odds a bit for it than I could have elsewhere, but I never had any real issues with it. I then bought this Acer and from nearly day 1 i've had problems, I wish i'd picked the other laptop I was looking at which was only slightly cheaper and not as good. I'll pay that extra money if it means i'm going to get reliability.

[davehanson]

I have had a Sony Vaio, Toshiba and a Dell XPS M1730 laptop's that I used for purely gaming for FM. I did use the XPS to run Total War as well, and as long as I turned the graphics down it ran it fine. I personally wouldn't have a toshiba again as I, like you, had crap with it all the way through.

[x42bn6]

@ Scab: I have to get a laptop due to the fact I have nowhere In my living room to put a computer. If it wasn't for my massive corner sofa and my 42" TV then I would have...

@Davehanson: Thats the reason I was looking at Alienware. My previous purchase before this Acer laptop was a Sony Vaio and maybe I paid over the odds a bit for it than I could have elsewhere, but I never had any real issues with it. I then bought this Acer and from nearly day 1 i've had problems, I wish i'd picked the other laptop I was looking at which was only slightly cheaper and not as good. I'll pay that extra money if it means i'm going to get reliability.

It's still not really worth it. The Dell M17x adds around 50% to the price of the PC Specialist 17" laptop (17.3" Vortex III). If reliability/security is an issue, get the maximum warranty and dead pixel guarantee, and insure the PC Specialist one - it will still be cheaper!

[Tactic Master]

It's still not really worth it. The Dell M17x adds around 50% to the price of the PC Specialist 17" laptop (17.3" Vortex III). If reliability/security is an issue, get the maximum warranty and dead pixel guarantee, and insure the PC Specialist one - it will still be cheaper!

I've just looked at the Finance Options on this site and they are extortionate to say the least... If I had the £1,500 I want for this laptop on PC Specialist then yeah it's a cheap site, but when it comes to Finance, asking for £700 more is stupid...

[Tactic Master]

The Alienware Finance Options are actually very reasonable, including the standard 5% deposit.

PC Specialist Finance Options are unreasonable and demand a 10% deposit.

[rich10]

Do these tend to overheat?

Not the G73 series, and they come with the i7 processors (no over-heating as far as I am aware).

It runs Batman: Arkham City, Skyrim, Battlefield 3, Civ V, Witcher 2 and of course FM all on high detail.

[thomit]

Are you in the UK?
PCSpecialist
PwnPCs
Wired2Fire
NovaTech
CyberpowerSystem

Most of these sell custom buildt laptops on platforms (barebones) from Clevo. Alienware performance but not Alienware prices.
I have a Clevo build myself, the D900F, now discontinued - Intel Core i7 920 desktop processor, X58 desktop motherboard and chipset, 1920x1200 screen resolution, Intel SSD, Nvidia GTX 280M graphic card. It's now nearly 3 years old, but still play any games with ease. yes, it's a laptop with some desktop hardware in it. Extreme performance, lousy battery time, heavy weight and bulky - but I love it.
These shops that I have linked to will have the newest version of my laptop (Clevo P270), + several more "normal" Clevo gaming laptop builds, the P150 and the P170, as well as more allrounder models, the W150 and the W170. These are Clevo's own model names - but the brand and model names will be different for every vendor - see below for explanation.

Other than these, I will recommend you look at the new Asus G55/G75, with the new Ivy bridge processors and Kepler (GTX 660M) graphic card. These Asus'es are particularly known for being quiet (for a gaming laptop), and they also are very good at getting rid of all the heat that's generated with such powerful hardware.

The Clevo builds offer graphic cards that are twice the power of the Asus'es (AMD HD 7970M, and soon the new Nvidia GTX 680M). They are also very good at getting rid of the heat, but tend to be louder when under heavy load.

If you're interrested in learning more about Clevo laptops, go to this forum. A good listing of European based Clevo re-sellers, you have here.
Clevo's are often referred to as Sager's in the US - it's the brand name of the biggest US Clevo re-seller (as they call Clevo vendors).
Clevo is a Taiwanese laptop designer and manufacturer, but you hardly ever see a Clevo sold under it's own name. Most of the re-sellers put their own brands and model names on them.
Clevo was the manufacturer that made the earlier Alienware laptops (The Area 51 line, for those that remember)

And no, I'm not a Clevo representative - just a happy customer

Edit: Also MSI and Toshiba make a few laptops that are good for gaming, but I don't rate these as highly as the Asus'es, Clevo's or Alienware's.

[Sid12345]

Can anyone reccomend any decent websites that let you buy a laptop if you have bad credit history.

[thomit]

Your opinion, and you're entitled to it - but not necessarily true.
Your point 1 is ridiculous. My laptop's fans cools both the processor and the graphic card more than sufficient. I can even overclock both.
Your point 2: Yes, laptop processors are not as powerful as their desktop brothers or sisters. This is because they need to draw less power and emit less heat. Nothing to do with fans.
3: The power supplies need only to be sufficient for their use. The power consumption in laptop hardware is much lower than desktop hardware, so you don't need as big a power supply. Your point is indeed pointless.
4: Graphic cards for laptops are indeed less powerful than it's desktop brothers. Again, they consume far less power than desktop cards, don't emit nearly as much heat, and as a result need lesser cooling systems. Your claim about cooling fans being the reason they are less powerful, is not correct. They are less powerful because they need to draw less power, and make less heat, and take up lesser space.

And lastly - people choose laptops because they want laptops. Desktops are not as handy if you want to move your pc anywhere - didn't you know this? And yes, you pay more for a laptop than you do a desktop with similar performance. Much more. That is the price of mobility.

I want a pc I can play any game on, but I also want to be able to easily move my PC to other locations when needed. Desktops are therefore out of the question, and I'm prepared to pay for the mobility. And I think you'll find that this is excatly the case for other potential laptop buyers as well. Not for you? That's ok - but no need to troll. Laptops is a trade-off between price and convenience. But as long as you can find laptops that takes care of your every need - what is your agenda excactly?
"I think desktops are best, therefore it's best for you too!" ? To quote you, "come on" ...

[mkjellander]

I'll just chime in to echo the Clevo/Sager sentiment. Just received my brand new Sager P9130 (Clevo P151EM1 base) from a US reseller on Monday - Ivy Bridge, 670M GPU, 16GB ram, on a 15.6" model all for a reasonable price of $1300. I did replace the stock thermal paste since it was an option. So far, so good. No fuss getting it started, and it runs like a dream. FM life is so much better compared to the old Core 2 Duo and on-board chip that I've been on for the last few months =) I obviously can't say too much about longevity at this point, but I chose to go with the Clevo system on recommendation of a lot of people online. This system is definitely overkill for FM, but will run all games that are out comfortably. For some benchmarks for similar systems (or for any system with any graphics card you'd be looking at), check out http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.72197.0.html. There are no shiny LEDs or other glitzy decorations, but the system feels sturdy and well-built.

If that is not an option, ASUS makes very solid and dependable machines. The G Series has fantastic cooling, probably the best on the market. As a result the laptop is a bit bulky and supposedly doesn't quite fit in a normal carrying case for their screen size. ASUS would have been my second choice after the Clevo.

Also a small shoutout to the Dell XPS line, simply because I had an XPS15 for 5 years without a hitch. I replaced the power supply and the battery, but otherwise it was flawless until a fan died and the GPU chip followed suit. I've heard bad things about their customer support, however. I just never had a need for them so I can't confirm on deny that.

[thomit]

Laptops are good for gaming. Stop this nonsense. I can play nearly every game at max settings on mine, without it overheating.
Laptops don't need to downclock, or downthrottle because of over-heating. Good designed gaming laptops don't have this problem.
I repeat: Mobile processors and graphic cards are less powerful than desktop ones, by necessity. This is not a problem, as long as they perform good enough. Get it?
I have a desktop Core i7 processor in my laptop. It runs exactly as fast as the same processor in a desktop.
Q.P.R - you clearly is on some kind of "crusade" against gaming laptops. Carry on if you want, but you make no sense. As I said, don't presume that what you think is best, is best for everyone. Very immature of you.
I don't intend to comment any further - but please carry on if you want - only, don't destroy this thread with your personal agenda, please.

[x42bn6]

I have a desktop Core i7 processor in my laptop. It runs exactly as fast as the same processor in a desktop.

Does anyone actually do this? It would generate a ridiculous amount of heat to stick a desktop processor in a laptop. The TDP of a desktop processor is around 80-100% higher than a laptop's.

It's just worse value for money in terms of performance (the additional price being the "price" of portability).

Gaming laptops are viable - it is just that high-end gaming laptops don't make sense when you can get a desktop PC that performs miles better for the same price, and a high-end gaming laptop would likely be heavy and would become very hot, which would arguably defeat the "price" you pay for additional portability.

[Tactic Master]

@ Q.P.R

This is about laptops and for a good reason. I don't have any space to put a computer and I also can't move the computer up 2 flights of steps or to Newcastle when I go there. I used to have a computer and your 100% correct in saying they are better, but since I bought my new sofa, I had to move my 42" tv across the room and put the sofa where the tv was because its a corner sofa. There is nowhere else to put the sofa and considering I have other furniture, there is simply nowhere for a pc.

[thomit]

@ QPR Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, I have already acknowledged that. But you carry on with this "what is good for me is good for you" nonsense. Your example of a desktop build above, is fine - except one thing: I wouldn't want to carry it with me. That's why I, and others, prefers laptops, no matter what you say We can't build a laptop that is as powerful as a really high spec'ed desktop, that is true - but that is fine. We are prepared to pay for mobility instead. I cant understand what is so hard to get about that? You are already quite off-topic in this thread; leave it alone now, please. We don't agree, and that is that. Ok?

@x42 etc: The same applies to you, really. You don't feel gaming laptops are worth the cost. Fine. But I do, and I am prepared to pay the extra cost. And i'm not alone, as you clearly must have noticed. Now - in a thread that is clearly about gaming laptops - you have vented your opinions, now leave it alone, please. And yes, I have a laptop with a desktop processor in it. Because my needs are beyond gaming: I need big processing power in different locations. Mobile processing power. That is my need. Not yours. That is fine for me - why isn't that fine for you? Again: Desktops are not a viable option for people who need mobility.

[Wakers]

Buying anything that is specifically marked as a "gaming laptop" adds about £400 onto the price regardless. Avoid. Do not buy alienware, they are massively overpriced.

PC Specialist is the best way to go, mess around with all of the options until you find value for money.

Do not buy anything that is marked as a gaming laptop.

[thomit]

A gaming laptop is a laptop that has a graphics card that is good enough to play games on, with decent resolution and graphic settings. Whether it's tagged "gaming" or not is irrelevant.

[Tactic Master]

@ QPR Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, I have already acknowledged that. But you carry on with this "what is good for me is good for you" nonsense. Your example of a desktop build above, is fine - except one thing: I wouldn't want to carry it with me. That's why I, and others, prefers laptops, no matter what you say We can't build a laptop that is as powerful as a really high spec'ed desktop, that is true - but that is fine. We are prepared to pay for mobility instead. I cant understand what is so hard to get about that? You are already quite off-topic in this thread; leave it alone now, please. We don't agree, and that is that. Ok?

@x42 etc: The same applies to you, really. You don't feel gaming laptops are worth the cost. Fine. But I do, and I am prepared to pay the extra cost. And i'm not alone, as you clearly must have noticed. Now - in a thread that is clearly about gaming laptops - you have vented your opinions, now leave it alone, please. And yes, I have a laptop with a desktop processor in it. Because my needs are beyond gaming: I need big processing power in different locations. Mobile processing power. That is my need. Not yours. That is fine for me - why isn't that fine for you? Again: Desktops are not a viable option for people who need mobility.

Best post yet in terms of the arguments.

(On topic) The problem with these sites is their ability to give good value, but when it comes to Finance buying a laptop, the prices are rediculous. A laptop worth 1,500 and they want 2,200 spread over monthly repayments. A laptop from Alienware worth 1,500 and they want just 1,650 spread over monthly repayments. Maybe they are overpriced at first, but in terms of finance they are excellent prices.

[davehanson]

QPR, in your 'build', where is the monitor, keyboard, speakers and mouse? People forget this. To get a decent (good) set up with these extra's you can expect to pay another £500 easily.

[Tactic Master]

Buying anything that is specifically marked as a "gaming laptop" adds about £400 onto the price regardless. Avoid. Do not buy alienware, they are massively overpriced.

PC Specialist is the best way to go, mess around with all of the options until you find value for money.

Do not buy anything that is marked as a gaming laptop.

PC Specialist as i've already said is over priced. I can only get on finance so they aren't the place to go.

[thomit]

Tactic Master - you could look into the other European sites I provided a link to. Most are within the EU, so if you're a brit it should be quite easy to get a laptop from one of them as well, even if you need financing. Or find a site with good financing options that sells one of the Asus'es - they are really good machines.

[Tactic Master]

@ Thomit

I'll take a look at their finance options, thanks.

[Tactic Master]

I'll just chime in to echo the Clevo/Sager sentiment. Just received my brand new Sager P9130 (Clevo P151EM1 base) from a US reseller on Monday - Ivy Bridge, 670M GPU, 16GB ram, on a 15.6" model all for a reasonable price of $1300. I did replace the stock thermal paste since it was an option. So far, so good. No fuss getting it started, and it runs like a dream. FM life is so much better compared to the old Core 2 Duo and on-board chip that I've been on for the last few months =) I obviously can't say too much about longevity at this point, but I chose to go with the Clevo system on recommendation of a lot of people online. This system is definitely overkill for FM, but will run all games that are out comfortably. For some benchmarks for similar systems (or for any system with any graphics card you'd be looking at), check out http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.72197.0.html. There are no shiny LEDs or other glitzy decorations, but the system feels sturdy and well-built.

If that is not an option, ASUS makes very solid and dependable machines. The G Series has fantastic cooling, probably the best on the market. As a result the laptop is a bit bulky and supposedly doesn't quite fit in a normal carrying case for their screen size. ASUS would have been my second choice after the Clevo.

Also a small shoutout to the Dell XPS line, simply because I had an XPS15 for 5 years without a hitch. I replaced the power supply and the battery, but otherwise it was flawless until a fan died and the GPU chip followed suit. I've heard bad things about their customer support, however. I just never had a need for them so I can't confirm on deny that.

Thanks for this comment, I've heard good things about Clevo.

[Tactic Master]

PwnPC's looked really good, but they don't do finance

[Tactic Master]

Are you in the UK?
PCSpecialist
PwnPCs
Wired2Fire
NovaTech
CyberpowerSystem

Most of these sell custom buildt laptops on platforms (barebones) from Clevo. Alienware performance but not Alienware prices.
I have a Clevo build myself, the D900F, now discontinued - Intel Core i7 920 desktop processor, X58 desktop motherboard and chipset, 1920x1200 screen resolution, Intel SSD, Nvidia GTX 280M graphic card. It's now nearly 3 years old, but still play any games with ease. yes, it's a laptop with some desktop hardware in it. Extreme performance, lousy battery time, heavy weight and bulky - but I love it.
These shops that I have linked to will have the newest version of my laptop (Clevo P270), + several more "normal" Clevo gaming laptop builds, the P150 and the P170, as well as more allrounder models, the W150 and the W170. These are Clevo's own model names - but the brand and model names will be different for every vendor - see below for explanation.

Other than these, I will recommend you look at the new Asus G55/G75, with the new Ivy bridge processors and Kepler (GTX 660M) graphic card. These Asus'es are particularly known for being quiet (for a gaming laptop), and they also are very good at getting rid of all the heat that's generated with such powerful hardware.

The Clevo builds offer graphic cards that are twice the power of the Asus'es (AMD HD 7970M, and soon the new Nvidia GTX 680M). They are also very good at getting rid of the heat, but tend to be louder when under heavy load.

If you're interrested in learning more about Clevo laptops, go to this forum. A good listing of European based Clevo re-sellers, you have here.
Clevo's are often referred to as Sager's in the US - it's the brand name of the biggest US Clevo re-seller (as they call Clevo vendors).
Clevo is a Taiwanese laptop designer and manufacturer, but you hardly ever see a Clevo sold under it's own name. Most of the re-sellers put their own brands and model names on them.
Clevo was the manufacturer that made the earlier Alienware laptops (The Area 51 line, for those that remember)

And no, I'm not a Clevo representative - just a happy customer

Edit: Also MSI and Toshiba make a few laptops that are good for gaming, but I don't rate these as highly as the Asus'es, Clevo's or Alienware's.

Looked through your websites mentioned and Alienware. Here's what I found out.

Laptops worth approx. 1,300

PCSpecialist.co.uk - Full Payment 2,100
Cyberpowersystem - Full Payment 1,650

Others don't have finance options so they are no good...

Alienware.co.uk - Full Payment 1,500

[thomit]

Are they equipped with exactly the same hardware though? (Spec'd). I have never seen a Clevo build with similar hardware as an Alienware come out more expensive. Quite the contrary, and usually by a large margin. If you want to compare prices, you have to compare exactly the same hardware and screen sizes. That is the price of the laptops themselves though; how much you have to pay for financing, between these shops and Dell (Alienware), I have no idea.

[Wes_Coulam]

I have a Alienware M11XR2 i7/8gb Ram/1 gb Graphics card , they are overpriced true (look very pretty though) I can run pretty much any league setup i want. But they still get really hot my gpu sometime's hit's like 80 degrees so you kind of have to edge the left handside of the laptop up (put it on a book or something) & the fan kicks in & goes mental sometimes. I think these problems are solved in the R3. But if you want a Alienware & the finance is good id reccemond one, cost me a lot of money but im yet to have any problem with it (i dont think steam counts). Nice & quick and looks like Megan Fox.

[thomit]

Looks pretty .... Megan Fox ... well, that is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I can't stand the Alienware design. Maybe if I was 14 ... but that was a long. long time ago

[PPPPPPPPPPPP10]

I used to be a desktop user until early 2000s when I started using gaming laptop for "portability" reason. A couple of things I learned

- There's no such thing as a "gaming" laptop if you're a gamer , the best gaming laptop can barely scratch what a proper gaming desktop can do. Heat will be the biggest reason... even if a gaming laptop is equipped with the best graphic card that graphic card will NEVER reach it's maximum potential since that kind of card generate a huge amount of heat and at least for now there's no cooler for laptop that can compensate that... the graphic card will throttle down because of the heating problem using only a fraction of what it could do in desktop.

- portability in gaming laptop is a silly idea since they're usually bulky and heavy and on batteries alone will last 1-2 hours typically when you're playing game... unless you want to bring your adapter around xD... which make it even heavier and messy and... ugh forget it

[thomit]

Here we go again ...

[Wakers]

Here we go again ...

If you're trying to argue that gaming laptops are in any way value for money, you'll be in the minority.

They just aren't.

[thomit]

That is a matter of opinion, Wakers - it's not for you to decide. (On behalf of everyone else)

[Wakers]

Oh please, do we have to start stating what is an opinion and what isn't now? Every post on the bloody forum is an opinion.

Like I said, you'll be in the minority.

~£1000 or more for a laptop that will nearly always have over heating issues, struggle running games on max settings a year or less down the line with no upgrade options? 2-3 hour battery life for a mobile device that will also be very clunky? Pointless.

Laptops are not cutting edge gaming machines, they never have been nor will they ever be. "Gaming laptops" are all marketing.

[Erimus1876]

@ Scab: I have to get a laptop due to the fact I have nowhere In my living room to put a computer. If it wasn't for my massive corner sofa and my 42" TV then I would have...

I was thinking of upgrading soon to something that'll run the latest games but like you I really don't have room for a desktop PC at the moment. What about mini PC's or all-in-ones as a compromise between laptop and desktop? Have you thought about those?

[thomit]

Oh please, do we have to start stating what is an opinion and what isn't now? Every post on the bloody forum is an opinion.

Like I said, you'll be in the minority.

~£1000 or more for a laptop that will nearly always have over heating issues, struggle running games on max settings a year or less down the line with no upgrade options? 2-3 hour battery life for a mobile device that will also be very clunky? Pointless.

Laptops are not cutting edge gaming machines, they never have been nor will they ever be. "Gaming laptops" are all marketing.

So you feel a desktop is good value for money for someone who wants the convenience of a laptop then?

- Good gaming laptops won't always struggle with overheating, That statement is false. Neither do they struggle with running games om high resolutions and/or high graphic settings. That statement is also false. I know of about 3 or 4 games that I can't max on mine - then it's just a matter of lowering the graphic settings a little. I have no problem with that. The points you made about upgradeability and battery life is for the most part true.
- Laptops are not cutting edge gaming machines. Who's argued that? Do a machine that can play games need to be cutting edge? Or for that matter - do you need to be a hardcore gamer in order to enjoy games?
You presume a lot on the behalf of others, my friend.

Again, this is poluting the thread with opinions that really isn't necessary to put forward in a thread like this - and the OP does not want it, so can we get back on track again, please?

[Wakers]

So you feel a desktop is good value for money for someone who wants the convenience of a laptop then?

Obviously not, that would be daft. But if you want the convenience of a laptop, a gaming laptop is almost as stupid.

Battery life is amazingly poor, they weigh twice as much as a regular laptop and they get so hot you can't put them anywhere other than a desk or portable surface.

Ultrabooks? More sensible if you absolutely must have portability.

[thomit]

Edit away, double post

[Wakers]

You have no problems now, running games on high/max settings. Wait a year - what do you do then when you get annoyed at a lack of performance?

[Erimus1876]

I bought my 'gaming laptop' about 4 or 5 years ago, it cost £550 and it ran pretty much all the games I liked playing at the time amazingly well. Looking at gaming laptops in 2012 and the specs needed to run todays games, you're looking at £1200 minimum, with a similar spec desktop £300-£400 cheaper. So I sort of agree that for gaming these days, laptops are a bad idea. Purely for playing low spec games like FM though, I'm pretty sure the OP can get something relatively cheap.

Anyone got any experience with mini-PC's? Are they worth it for those stuck for space?

[thomit]

You have no problems now, running games on high/max settings. Wait a year - what do you do then when you get annoyed at a lack of performance?

My laptop is 3 years old in a couple of months. Not annoyed yet. When I do get annoyed, I'll buy a better one. Please, stop this bickering - have respect for what the thread is about.

[Craglyboy]

MSI gaming series is good. Mine is 5 years old now and still going strong and runs FM easily and diablo 3 averagely. Only cost 800 which wasnt too painful.

[Tactic Master]

Are they equipped with exactly the same hardware though? (Spec'd). I have never seen a Clevo build with similar hardware as an Alienware come out more expensive. Quite the contrary, and usually by a large margin. If you want to compare prices, you have to compare exactly the same hardware and screen sizes. That is the price of the laptops themselves though; how much you have to pay for financing, between these shops and Dell (Alienware), I have no idea.

My point was that a laptop that costs 1,300 on each particular website is overpriced, except for Alienware. I'm thinking that if I spend 2,100 on Alienware then I would get the same as I would for the one on PCSpecialist.

[Tactic Master]

I used to be a desktop user until early 2000s when I started using gaming laptop for "portability" reason. A couple of things I learned

- There's no such thing as a "gaming" laptop if you're a gamer , the best gaming laptop can barely scratch what a proper gaming desktop can do. Heat will be the biggest reason... even if a gaming laptop is equipped with the best graphic card that graphic card will NEVER reach it's maximum potential since that kind of card generate a huge amount of heat and at least for now there's no cooler for laptop that can compensate that... the graphic card will throttle down because of the heating problem using only a fraction of what it could do in desktop.

- portability in gaming laptop is a silly idea since they're usually bulky and heavy and on batteries alone will last 1-2 hours typically when you're playing game... unless you want to bring your adapter around xD... which make it even heavier and messy and... ugh forget it

As i've already said, I can't get a desktop computer and your opinion on gaming laptops is null and void. The fact is I can only get a laptop and i'm looking for the best one to get, but so far I haven't found one.

[Padders]

Instead of paying such high interest rates on the finance through the websites, why don't you get a credit card with a lot lower APR?

[Wakers]

Might I suggest looking into ultrabooks rather than gaming laptops?

[thomit]

Do you know any ultrabooks that can play games properly, Wakers? Because I think that is exactly what the OP is after - a laptop that is good for playing games on.

Of small(ish) laptops, I'm aware of the Alienware 14-incher, their now defunct 11-incher, and Clevo's 11-incher (I'm not sure any brit dealer is going to stock that one).
These can play games quite ok, but ultrabooks? Hmm ...

Link Like this one, the Clevo W110ER. The Nvidia GT 650M card is as good as it gets at this size. Too bad it's not the GDDR5 version, which is even better.

[Validicus]

Didn't see any merit in creating a new topic when I could bump this one.

In terms of the HDD's relevance to overall performance, is there a blatant difference between a 500GB at 5200RPM and 500GB at 7200RPM?

Similarly to above, how significant a deficit is there between 8GB of RAM at 1333MHz and 8GB of RAM at 1600 MHz?

If a dual core processor and a quad core processor have the same GHz, is it true that the quad core isn't necessarily quicker?

Would a modern video card such as GeForce GTX 670M function on old games, such as Total War, Age Of Empire, Civilization, etc. games from the past decade or so?

Are all high spec / "gaming laptops" prone to overheating? If so, what is the magnitude of it? Are you only able to play something for a couple of hours before the laptop overheats? Might such a machine crash and burn if, whether by accident or negligence, it is left running all day? Might less rpm in the HDD be a factor here?

How long do these laptops last? Not how long until they're obsolete, as I understand that even the best models don't stay on top for long, but roughly how long until they might stop functioning? A few years? Several years? Up to a decade? Depends (and if so, on what)?

Last but not least, might there be anyone out there who has picked up a Vortex III from http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk, and if so, how has it been for you?

Would be very grateful for any clarity. Thank you!

[Full Time Legend]

I have the Dell Inspiron N5050 and FM runs brilliantly

I load these leagues

England - League 2 and above
Scotland - Third Division and above
France - Ligue 2 and above
Spain - Liga Adelante and above
Germany - 2.Bundesliga and above
Italy - Serie B and above
Portugal - Liga Portugesa
Russia - Russian Premier
Brazil - Liga do Brasil
Argentina - Premier Division
USA - MLS

Large Database

Runs very smoothly

you can get for under £400

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...0&stkt=generic

[x42bn6]

Didn't see any merit in creating a new topic when I could bump this one.

In terms of the HDD's relevance to overall performance, is there a blatant difference between a 500GB at 5200RPM and 500GB at 7200RPM?

Generally, 7,200 rpm drives are quicker but not that much quicker. You do need to look at the underlying specification of the drives, though. If the two drives are advertised as being the same price, alarm bells should ring as it implies the 7,200 rpm drive is rubbish. Like a processor's clock speed, the number of rotations per minute is not the only thing you need to look at.

But generally speaking, 7,200 rpm drives are quicker (especially for small files), but come at the expense of higher power consumption and more heat dissipation. I'd personally get 7,200 rpm or and SSD if budget allows, and 5,400 rpm only if I need to be on the move a lot.

Similarly to above, how significant a deficit is there between 8GB of RAM at 1333MHz and 8GBof RAM 1600 MHz?

Generally speaking this doesn't really add much of a boost - with Sandy Bridge, it's something like a 2% difference: http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/s...he-best-ddr3/5

That being said, it's usually a small price difference so it might be worth getting 1,600 MHz. But I wouldn't lose my head over 1,333 MHz.

If you are getting less than 8 GB, it might be better getting 1,600 MHz as you can upgrade to 8 GB in a few years and the difference in price between the two speeds will be less (i.e. if you have 4 GB 1,333 MHz, then the price difference between 8 GB 1,600 MHz and 8 GB 1,333 MHz in the future will be very little, but you will have to sell your 4 GB module(s) first).

If a dual core processor and a quad core processor have the same GHz, is it true that the quad core isn't necessarily quicker?

Generally-speaking, unless it's an Intel dual-core vs AMD quad-core, the quad-core will generally always be quicker because dual-core processors are budget options nowadays - not because of the number of cores. The Intel-AMD comparison exists because AMD generally has more cores (their latest chip has 8 cores, but doesn't outperform Intel's quad-core processors).

You should get a quad-core nowadays.

Would a modern video card such as GeForce GTX 670M function on old games, such Total War, Age Of Empire, Civilization, etc. games from the past decade or so?

It might struggle on Total War and possibly Civilization V on high/ultra-settings.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.72197.0.html

Are all high spec / "gaming laptops" prone to overheating? If so, what is the magnitude of it? Are you only able to play something for a couple of hours before the laptop overheats? Might such a machine crash and burn if, whether by accident or negligence, it is left running all day? Might less rpm in the HDD be a factor here?

Most computers nowadays never allow it to get to the crash-and-burn stage, as they shut down before it gets that far. Prone to overheating? You'll need to look at the build quality, really, and keep your laptop clean.

[Chris21]

I've just bought this laptop http://www.laskys.com/computing/lapt...sd_sx189v.html

Hoping it will run FM like a dream well can't be worse than my last laptop that could barely handle one league. I think I done the best I could for my budget really.

[Validicus]

Thank you very much for the clarity, x42bn6!

I'm still undecided about the processor. I'm just wondering what exactly it means if the quad core is "not supported" by an application. e.g. With something like Football Manager only supporting dual core, which of these two processors would run it better? Quad core i7-3720QM 2.60GHz with 6MB cache, or dual core i7-2640M 2.80GHz with 4MB cache? Genuine question, I'm oblivious.

[x42bn6]

Thank you very much for the feedback, x42bn6!

I'm still undecided about the processor. I'm just wondering what exactly it means if the quad core is "not supported" by an application. e.g. With something like Football Manager only supporting dual core, which of these two processors would run it better? Quad core i7-3720QM 2.60GHz with 6MB cache, or dual core i7-2640M 2.80GHz with 4MB cache? Genuine question, I'm oblivious.

Remember that your operating system runs alongside Football Manager. So there is no point in getting a dual-core "just for Football Manager". Windows 7 appreciates the additional cores, even if Football Manager doesn't.

The i7-3720QM is much quicker. Much, much quicker. It doesn't mean you should get it, though. You need to shop around.

http://www.notebookcheck.net does benchmarks for mobile CPUs and GPUs, so you can use those to gauge.

i.e. http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-C...r.73455.0.html

[Validicus]

So in lay terms, by virtue of the fact that Windows 7 appreciates it, it should be better than the aforementioned dual core even for FM / any application which doesn't support it? Or at the very least, would it not be worse? I think that's my main worry. I understand that it's a vastly superior processor and would be much better for the future / for games which will support quad core, but what about for the things that don't (and what exactly does it mean if a processor type is "not supported")?

Cheers again.

[x42bn6]

So in lay terms, by virtue of the fact that Windows 7 appreciates it, it should be better than the aforementioned dual core even for FM / any application which doesn't support it? Or at the very least, would it not be worse? I think that's my main worry. I understand that it's a vastly superior processor and would be much better for the future / for games which will support quad core, but what about for the things that don't (and what exactly does it mean if a processor type is "not supported")?

Cheers again.

In layman-terms, it means you should get a good computer and not just a computer that meets Football Manager's requirements. Of course, the minimum specification would be to meet Football Manager's requirements but don't expect it to blow you away with its speed.

I don't see anything needing a quad-core processor any time soon (and even the definition of "core" is blurred with AMD's processors) so I wouldn't worry about that. However, quad-core processors will generally be better than dual-core processors at multi-tasking, and you will be doing that a lot. Even having that option to do so is good.

[Scab]

In terms of the HDD's relevance to overall performance, is there a blatant difference between a 500GB at 5200RPM and 500GB at 7200RPM?

There is a difference. Generally speaking, these days 7200RPM drives are performance disks while 5400RPM are green/low-power designs. In a build favoring mobility and battery life, the latter can make more sense. Either way, if your budget allows it I'd say get an SSD. Faster, cooler, quieter and more durable, but considerably more expensive per GB.

Similarly to above, how significant a deficit is there between 8GB of RAM at 1333MHz and 8GB of RAM at 1600 MHz?

Practically none.

If a dual core processor and a quad core processor have the same GHz, is it true that the quad core isn't necessarily quicker?

Yes. It depends on how the application is question handles threading (i.e. splits up its workload over multiple cores). You're probably better off comparing specific CPU's in specific price ranges than thinking in these general terms though; there's no good rule of thumb to go by that isn't going to be full of exceptions when it comes down to comparing actual products.

Would a modern video card such as GeForce GTX 670M function on old games, such as Total War, Age Of Empire, Civilization, etc. games from the past decade or so?

Sure. Google for benchmarks if you're curious about specific performance levels. Backwards compatibility is a non-issue in terms of hardware.

Are all high spec / "gaming laptops" prone to overheating? If so, what is the magnitude of it? Are you only able to play something for a couple of hours before the laptop overheats? Might such a machine crash and burn if, whether by accident or negligence, it is left running all day? Might less rpm in the HDD be a factor here?

If used on a hard surface with working fans and unblocked exhausts, they really won't overheat. They just get hot and loud. Overheating usually only becomes an issue some ways down the line when effective ventilation can become an issue (bad fans, dust build-up) or when people put them on soft pillows/whatever that absorb heat and/or cover exhaust cut-outs.

How long do these laptops last? Not how long until they're obsolete, as I understand that even the best models don't stay on top for long, but roughly how long until they might stop functioning? A few years? Several years? Up to a decade? Depends (and if so, on what)?

Batteries tend to go first, within a few years commonly. You'll see gradually degrading performance over that time in terms of how long their charge will last. Apart from that, they're really not going to break from pure component wear for a long time, longer than you'll want to keep using them. At worst you may run into a failing fan. Handling damages are going to be the real worry, especially if it's kind of a plasticky, cheap build quality to the chassis. Pressure to the lid damaging the screen is a common problem. Good laptop reviews will rate this aspect.

[Spurs_Q8]

depends on:
1- your budget ?
2- which screen size you want, 13.3 or 14 or 15.6 ? ( Mobility reasons )
3- if you like better battery life or not ? ( Mobility reasons )

if you kindly provide me these answer, i could help.

but my first recommendation, avoid very cheap lap-tops, you hardly get quality with it, a huge gamble. I've already used about 7-8 laptops in last ten years

[Validicus]

depends on:
1- your budget ?
2- which screen size you want, 13.3 or 14 or 15.6 ? ( Mobility reasons )
3- if you like better battery life or not ? ( Mobility reasons )

if you kindly provide me these answer, i could help.

If you're around and still willing to make any suggestions:

but my first recommendation, avoid very cheap lap-tops, you hardly get quality with it, a huge gamble. I've already used about 7-8 laptops in last ten years

1) £2k.
2) Not too fussed / I'm rarely going to be taking it anywhere at any point.
3) As above.

Cheers.

[hkdavey]

@ Scab: I have to get a laptop due to the fact I have nowhere In my living room to put a computer. If it wasn't for my massive corner sofa and my 42" TV then I would have...

Just get a decent desktop and connect to tv, that's what i did and on plus point desktops are lot easier to upgrade

[Wakers]

If you don't have room for a computer because of a TV, why have you spent all that money on a 42" TV? You're likely not sat far enough away to get the best quality out of it.

[kccircle]

Pretty much certain i'd rather have a 42" TV and a laptop than a desktop whilst watching a handheld tv. Sometimes you post without thinking

[Wakers]

Pretty much certain i'd rather have a 42" TV and a laptop than a desktop whilst watching a handheld tv.

What sort of leap in logic is that?

I didn't say he should get a handheld tv you numpty, I said he should consider getting one that is appropriate to his room. I.e. if he sits less than two metres away it probably shouldn't be over 34".

[Tactic Master]

If you don't have room for a computer because of a TV, why have you spent all that money on a 42" TV? You're likely not sat far enough away to get the best quality out of it.

I inherited this house, including the tv after my dad died? The tv is across the room, so yes I am sat far enough away!

[Wakers]

I inherited this house, including the tv after my dad died? The tv is across the room, so yes I am sat far enough away!

That's fair enough then!

It wouldn't have been the first time someone has a small living room with a giant TV that looks like a pixeled mess unless you watch it from outside

[Tactic Master]

@ Scab: I have to get a laptop due to the fact I have nowhere In my living room to put a computer. If it wasn't for my massive corner sofa and my 42" TV then I would have...

Just get a decent desktop and connect to tv, that's what i did and on plus point desktops are lot easier to upgrade

I have thought about this, but my tv stand doesn't have room for one I don't think, unless I got a really small tower.

[CWR15]

I have an Asus N55sf my last laptop was an Asus, my next laptop will be an asus. Anyone that asks, i'll recommend an Asus.

Asus aren't the cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive either. The build quality is good (just make sure you get the MATT screen, as the do like glossy screens sometimes which aren't great)

My laptop came with a dual graphics Intel HD3000 and Nvidia Geforce 2gb card and when programmes switch between the two, it is seemless (although you may need to download the ;latest drivers)

[Validicus]

Are there any 3610QM or 3720QM users out there who are willing to comment on how well these processors run on a CPU demanding application like FM?

Would love to hear from anyone who runs high 3d settings on their laptops - what GPU & CPU do you use?

Cheers!

[mike-rs]

i recently bought a refurbed dell inspiron 15r 5110 from the dell outlet website for £370

spec-

i5 2450m processor
geforce gt525m graphics
15.6" screen
3gb ram
350gb hdd

i plan on upgrading the ram and hardrive soon but the current is seems good enough for fm2012, fifa11, sid meiers pirates, sims 3, fable and psx emulator, their the games i have installed.

[Wakers]

are you sure you can upgrade the HDD on that model?

[mike-rs]

not sure tbh im sure i can find a way

[Martvb60]

Hi Validicus i havent got anything that high but i run fm 12 on this;

Chassis & Display Viper III: 18.4" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-2760QM (2.40GHz) 6MB

Memory (RAM) 8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)

Graphics Card 2 x 1.5GB nVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M - DirectX® 11 (SLI)

Memory - 1st Hard Disk 500GB SEAGATE MOMENTUS XT HYBRID, SATA 3 Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (7200 rpm)
2nd Hard Disk 500GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD5000BPKT, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)

it runs fairly fast with 3D on full. had it about 8 months good machine.

[stevio11]

I run FM12on my Acer Aspire 5536 which I brought about 2-3years ago and have no probs at all,even run 26 leagues with medium database,only cost me £350from PCworld and had no probs with it at all so its not always the expensive laptops are always the best.

[JojoVillaHursty]

I will be buying this in a couple of weeks not a gaming laptop as such but will do the job http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-dm4...932032&sr=8-10.

[Wakers]

I will be buying this in a couple of weeks not a gaming laptop as such but will do the job http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-dm4...932032&sr=8-10.

Just an FYI, that's not really any better than the machine someone else is buying for £500 in the general laptop thread. Check it out.

[magicmastermind124]

I would suggest Novatech but they don't have any financing methods. I'd suggest you take out a credit card if you wanted to follow such a route, they are generally much better as long as you are wise enough about using it. There are many that offer 0% interest over a period of time.

[Validicus]

Does the processor's cache make much difference on FM? i.e. Would there be any noticeable benefits between 8MB cache and 6MB cache?

Hi Validicus i havent got anything that high but i run fm 12 on this;

Chassis & Display Viper III: 18.4" Glossy Full HD LED Widescreen (1920x1080)

Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Quad Core Mobile Processor i7-2760QM (2.40GHz) 6MB

Memory (RAM) 8GB SAMSUNG 1333MHz SODIMM DDR3 MEMORY (2 x 4GB)

Graphics Card 2 x 1.5GB nVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560M - DirectX® 11 (SLI)

Memory - 1st Hard Disk 500GB SEAGATE MOMENTUS XT HYBRID, SATA 3 Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (7200 rpm)
2nd Hard Disk 500GB WD SCORPIO BLACK WD5000BPKT, SATA 3 Gb/s, 16MB CACHE (7200 rpm)

it runs fairly fast with 3D on full. had it about 8 months good machine.

Cheers, this was a big help.

[Wakers]

Very tiny difference.

[lfc7]

Hi am looking on buying a laptop and would just like to be able to run fm in 3d decent enough, also i only ever load 1 or 2 leagues up, what specs should i be looking for thanks

[welshace]

again... depends on budget lfc...

[natyd]

looking at this laptop but not sure if it will handle fm smoothly i want one that will be able to run the next 2-3 versions if possible http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/enigmaIII-520/
what do you guys think of this

[lfc7]

again... depends on budget lfc...

Sorry about £300-500 any of these be ok

Toshiba L750-20R Core i3, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, 15.6 inch Laptop - Silver

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Intel Core i3 processor
4Gb RAM
320Gb hard drive
15.6 inch HD LED-backlit (1366 x 768) display
DVD Super Multi drive
802.11 b/g WiFi
Built-in webcam
HDMI, 3x USB, multi-card reader
Toshiba L750D-20R laptop

Asus K53E Intel® Core™ i3 Processor 4Gb, 320Gb 15.6 inch Laptop - Red

Intel® Core™ i3-2350 processor
4Gb RAM
320Gb hard drive
15.6 inch HD LED-backlit display (1366 x 768)
DVD Super Multi drive
802.11 b/g/n WiFi
Webcam
Altec Lansing speakers
4-in-1 card reader
3x USB 2.0
HDMI
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Also is there any laptop below a i3 that would run fm fine in 3d with just one or two leagues ?

Thanks

[lfc7]

Or how about this one

Samsung RV515-S01UK AMD Dual Core Processor 4GB, 500GB 15.6 inch Laptop

Microsoft Windows® 7 Home Premium (64bit)
AMD Dual Core E450 (1.6Ghz, 1Mb) processor
4Gb DDR3 1333Mhz RAM
500Gb (5400rpm SATA) hard drive
15.6 inch LED HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 gloss Display
DVD (S-ATA) / Super Multi Dual Layer (S-ATA) drive
AMD Radeon HD6470m Integrated Graphics
802.11bg/n WiFi
Bluetooth V3.0 High Speed
0.3 Mp webcam

or

Samsung NP305VA-A05UK AMD A8 Processor 8Gb, 750Gb 15.6 inch Laptop

AMD A8-3530MX Quad-Core Processor.
8Gb DDR3 RAM.
750Gb S-ATAII Hard Drive.
15.6 inch HD LED Display (1366 x 768), Anti-Reflective.
DVD-R Drive.
AMD Radeon. HD6620G (APU) Shared Graphics.
802.11 bg/n WiFi, (up to 150Mbps / support Bluetooth V3.0 High Speed).
1.3 megapixel Webcam.
VGA, HDMI, Headphone-out, Mic-in, Internal Mic, 3 x USB 2.0.
Multi Card Slot 4-in-1 (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC), RJ45 (LAN), DC-In (Power Port).
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

or

Samsung NP300E5A-A0GUK Intel® Core™ i3 Processor 6Gb, 750Gb

Intel® Core i3- 2350m processor (2.40Ghz, 3Mb L3 cache)
6Gb DDR3 RAM
750Gb SATA hard drive
15.6in HD (1366 x 768) LED Anti-reflective Display
Super Multi Dual Layer drive
Integrated Intel graphics
802.11 b/g/n WiFi
Bluetooth 3.0
0.3Mp webcam
VGA, HDMI, 3 x USB 2.0 ports
6 Cell Battery
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium.

[lfc7]

Anyone please ?

[AlexLightsaber]

I would go for this one:

Brand: ASUS
Colour: Black
Screen Size: 15.6 inches
Processor: Intel Core i7
Processor Model: i7-2670
Memory (RAM): 4 GB
Storage (hard drive): 500 GB
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium

http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy...-Laptop/779709

[welshace]

that is a silly good spec for the price...

or for the <£500 budget...

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_...08/version.asp

brilliant lappy for the price

and you could run any leagues you like

[lfc7]

Cheers lads thanks for the replies

[cruiseee]

I've just bought an Asus G74SX with 16gb ram, it's unbelievably quick, getting through a season so quick now, never envisioned I could play the game so fast.

You could probably get one a bit cheaper now as they're about to release/just released (not sure which) the G75SX.

[kingrobbo]

I went all out for this----what a machine! but get a solid state intel hard drive(wow makes a massive difference it now boots from cold in 4 seconds desktop loaded/windows and I'm online)
I ;play with most nations no probs ram never goes above 30% and processor does job never at max use,and no need to overclock

Products
1x	ASUS G53SX-RH71 - Back Up Software: No Back Up Software - Battery: Smart Li-ion Battery (8-Cell) - Bluetooth: Bluetooth Included (See “Wireless Network” Section Below) - Build Time: Standard Production Time - Camera: Built in 2.0 Megapixel Camera - Car Adapter: No Car Adapter - Case: No Carrying Case - Dead Pixel Warranty: ASUS Zero Bright Dot (ZBD) 30 Day Pixel Guarantee - (Included on ASUS Standard NON-Upgraded Displays) - Display: 15.6” FHD 16:9 LED Backlit Wide screen (1920x1080) Super Clear Matte Type Screen (SKU - X1R354) - Exterior Finish: Standard Finish - External Display Video Adapters: No Video Adapter - External Hard Drive (Back Up): No Back Up Hard Drive - External USB Optical Drive: NO External USB Optical Drive - Fingerprint Reader: No Fingerprint Reader - Floppy Drive: No Floppy Drive - Free Shipping: FREE!! UPS GROUND SHIPPING (Use Coupon Code "FREESHIP" in Checkout - U.S. Only, Not Available to Alaska and Hawaii) - Graphics Video Card: nVidia GeForce GTX 560M 2,048MB PCI-Express GDDR5 DX11 (SKU - X3R504) - Headsets: No Headset - Memory Card Reader: Internal 8-in-1 Card Reader: MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS Pro Duo - Microsoft Office Software: No Office Software - Monitor Calibration: NO Professional Monitor Color Calibration - Mouse / Keyboard Accessories: No External Keyboard or Mouse - Notebook Cooler: No Notebook Cooler - Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit Pre-Installed + Drivers & Utilities Disk - Operating System - Clean Installation Option: Keep factory installed operating system - Optical Drive Bay: 4X Blu-Ray Reader + 8X DVDRW/CDRW Super Multi Combo Drive (SKU - X7R502) - Optical Drive Bay Hard Drive Caddy: No Extra Optical Bay Hard Drive Caddy - OS Redline Boost: No Operating System Redline Boost - Port Replicator / Dock / Adapters: No Dock/Hub/Adapter - Primary Hard Drive: 1,000GB (1TB) 5400RPM (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) (SKU - X5R351) - Processor: 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-2860QM, 2.5-3.6GHz, (32nm, 8MB L3 cache) (SKU - X2R209) - Ram: 24GB DDR3 1333MHz Dual Channel Memory (2x4GB + 2x8GB SODIMMS) (SKU - X4N375) - Second Hard Drive: 500GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache Buffer (Serial-ATA II 3GB/s) - Default (SKU - X5R205) - Software Bundle (Not Installed): System bundled with Digital Creativity Suite 2012 - Sound Card: Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio - Included - Spare AC Adapter: No Spare AC Adapter - System Recovery Backup Disks: Yes, please create backup recovery DVD - Thermal Compound: Stock OEM Thermal Compound ( IC Diamond Thermal Compound - CPU + GPU Provided FREE with Processor Upgrade!) - TV Tuner: No TV Tuner - Warranty: 1 Year ASUS GLOBAL OEM Warranty 24/7 Support / 1 Year North America (N.A.) Accidental Coverage (Accidental Requires Registration) (SKU - A9R101) - Wireless Network: Intel® Ultimate-N 6300 - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module (Includes 3rd Antenna) (SKU - X8R108) - Wireless Network Accessories: No Network Accessory - Xotic Gear: No Xotic PC Gear - XOTIC PC Redline Boost™ Extreme Performance: No Thanks, Please do not Overclock my system	$2,161.00

[welshace]

US only king robbo?

[welshace]

and still.. paying anything over £500 for a laptop thats intended for FM use is overkill and a little bit vulgar

and yes... i am jealous

[Wakers]

That laptop makes me cry. So much needless gimmick

[kingrobbo]

US only king robbo?

yep but import worth it still loads cheaper than anything uk/nz(i'm based nz at mo and your average units are same price!)........saved for ages and wanted something top end for streaming online