Gaming laptops

BaconShelf · January 06, 2016, 04:29:47 AM

I'm considering getting a good laptop right now. Not to play stuff like Battlefield, just old-ish games like Fallout 3/ Vegas, Skyrim, the old Battlefronts and some smaller indie titles I've missed out on. Not massively intensive stuff, not like modern AAA's or anything.

Anyway, what kind of price range am I looking at for something like this? Google hasn't been very conclusive for me.

Oh yeah. I'm getting a laptop for a few reasons. Mainly I don't have the space for a desktop right now, so eh. Plus, laptops are portable.

Elai · January 06, 2016, 04:34:03 AM

Pretty expensive, even to only play old games. Not sure on the details, though. I'd say someone north of $1200 if I were to guess.

Laptops are designed to only last a few years so it's best not to spend too much on one, anyways.

BaconShelf · January 06, 2016, 04:39:41 AM

Quote from: Eliab on January 06, 2016, 04:34:03 AM

Pretty expensive, even to only play old games. Not sure on the details, though. I'd say someone north of $1200 if I were to guess.

Laptops are designed to only last a few years so it's best not to spend too much on one, anyways.

Well, there's a guy in my college group who spent £300 and he's running New Vegas more or less the same (If not slightly better than) the X360. I figure that, looking a couple hundred (£400-£500) might be enough to get a solid 60fps, even if it's the cost of downgrading texture quality. But I don't know much about this stuff.

Plus, I have a terabyte external HDD already so I wouldn't be as concerned with a larger hard drive.

big sponge · January 06, 2016, 05:01:37 AM

That's an oxymoron.

The power needed to play modern games will negate the laptops advantage of being mobile. Might as well build a good desktop with that money.

BaconShelf · January 06, 2016, 05:17:31 AM

Quote from: LC on January 06, 2016, 05:01:37 AM

That's an oxymoron.

The power needed to play modern games will negate the laptops advantage of being mobile. Might as well build a good desktop with that money.

I said I didn't want to play new releases. The most modern game I want to play on PC is skyrim. And I don't have room for a desk right now, let alone a desktop.

Super Irish · January 06, 2016, 05:35:11 AM

My HP Pavillion plays those on med settings (around the same level as '360, with better distance rendering) at around 40fps, cost £400 last year.

The Pavillion line has a load of different models but I can give you the specs:

Intel Iris 5100
8GB RAM
1TB HDD
Intel i5 processor.

GAMERG0D · January 06, 2016, 10:00:10 AM

Do not play games on a laptop especially at high settings. It's not so much the specs, it's the cooling in that form factor that will result in high temperatures.

DAS B00T x2 · January 06, 2016, 10:20:27 AM

Quote from: LC on January 06, 2016, 05:01:37 AM

That's an oxymoron.

The power needed to play modern games will negate the laptops advantage of being mobile. Might as well build a good desktop with that money.

Yeah but I can just slip my laptop and power cord into a backpack and play games when I'm away for a long while at a relative's house or in the barracks for the weekend.

So It's still more mobile than a full PC, even if you're immobile while gaming.

Coco · January 06, 2016, 12:33:36 PM

The only good gaming laptop I've seen so far is my roommate's, which cost around $2500. It still turns into a miniature sun while playing just about anything, needs to be constantly plugged into something, and runs as well as a $1200 desktop.

Save your money and build a micro-atx + use a controller or something.

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Mr. Psychologist · January 06, 2016, 12:58:26 PM

Mine ran Skyrim, Fallout and the like fine for a good few years but lately it's not doing so well with them.

I'd say get a decent one that'll last a few years, but long term you'll need a desktop for any serious gaming. Don't waste money on a super MLG hulk laptop because it will become obsolete and it's stupidly hard/nigh on impossible to upgrade a laptop from it's components because of the design <_<

£600 was what I spent on mine 4 or so years ago, I forget, so spending the same amount nowadays would probably net you a more powerful machine.

Dietrich Six · January 06, 2016, 01:45:27 PM

Go to wal Mart, grab one for $500.

My two year old lap top can run older games no problem and it was the low end model.

Kiwicake · January 06, 2016, 03:01:57 PM

I bought an expensive laptop for "Using CAD programs" at uni

*cough*

It'll run any game that came out in 2014-2013 and before, and GTA V at medium specs

but of course it was $2000 nzd and you dont need a laptop that powerful

You could probably get one that'll run most older games for like $500-$600

Luis · January 06, 2016, 03:05:08 PM

Mines can run skyrim and i got it for like $350

Sprungli · January 06, 2016, 04:19:51 PM

If you want to play 2010 games at medium settings you can pick up a 360 for peanuts, seeing as the whole mobile aspect of the laptop is negated regardless.

Or just get a decent desktop

nosejob · January 06, 2016, 04:24:53 PM

Yeah gaming laptops are pretty shit, I wouldn't do that. You can build a micro atx computer if space is a serious issue.

BaconShelf · January 07, 2016, 05:13:53 AM

Quote from: Sprungli on January 06, 2016, 04:19:51 PM

If you want to play 2010 games at medium settings you can pick up a 360 for peanuts, seeing as the whole mobile aspect of the laptop is negated regardless.

Or just get a decent desktop

Except I can't take a 360 into college, and I don't have space for a desktop.

BaconShelf · January 07, 2016, 05:14:37 AM

Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 06, 2016, 04:24:53 PM

Yeah gaming laptops are pretty shit, I wouldn't do that. You can build a micro atx computer if space is a serious issue.

Is that portable? As in, I can walk to and from college with that?

nosejob · January 07, 2016, 05:34:41 AM

Quote from: TR8Rshelf on January 07, 2016, 05:14:37 AM

Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 06, 2016, 04:24:53 PM
Yeah gaming laptops are pretty shit, I wouldn't do that. You can build a micro atx computer if space is a serious issue.

Is that portable? As in, I can walk to and from college with that?

Yes mini atx cases are very portable. You wouldn't be able to use it in class or anything but you could probably carry it around pretty easily.

BaconShelf · January 07, 2016, 06:04:49 AM

Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 07, 2016, 05:34:41 AM

Quote from: TR8Rshelf on January 07, 2016, 05:14:37 AM
Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 06, 2016, 04:24:53 PM
Yeah gaming laptops are pretty shit, I wouldn't do that. You can build a micro atx computer if space is a serious issue.

Is that portable? As in, I can walk to and from college with that?

Yes mini atx cases are very portable. You wouldn't be able to use it in class or anything but you could probably carry it around pretty easily.

Yeah, I want to get something reasonably powerful for doing graphics stuff in college as well as games, so I'd want something I can use in class.

I do plan o getting a desktop when I move out, but it isn't feasible for me right now, sadly.

Casper · January 07, 2016, 10:52:14 AM

Don't buy from Dell.

Coco · January 07, 2016, 01:41:32 PM

Ignore what I said before. Get a MacBook Air.

BaconShelf · January 07, 2016, 02:10:31 PM

Quote from: Coco on January 07, 2016, 01:41:32 PM

Ignore what I said before. Get a MacBook Air.

Ewwwwww

nosejob · January 07, 2016, 05:15:42 PM

Quote from: TR8Rshelf on January 07, 2016, 06:04:49 AM

Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 07, 2016, 05:34:41 AM

Quote from: TR8Rshelf on January 07, 2016, 05:14:37 AM
Quote from: Mistanosejob on January 06, 2016, 04:24:53 PM
Yeah gaming laptops are pretty shit, I wouldn't do that. You can build a micro atx computer if space is a serious issue.

Is that portable? As in, I can walk to and from college with that?

Yes mini atx cases are very portable. You wouldn't be able to use it in class or anything but you could probably carry it around pretty easily.

Yeah, I want to get something reasonably powerful for doing graphics stuff in college as well as games, so I'd want something I can use in class.

I do plan o getting a desktop when I move out, but it isn't feasible for me right now, sadly.

Fair enough.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016PY3SLC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1452207877&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=acer+aspire+gaming&dpPl=1&dpID=514gpHxxfCL&ref=plSrch
This could play skyrim pretty decently on medium. It looks pretty solid. I've had 3 acer laptops in the past and I'm happy with them. Good build quality and performance for price.

If you're doing serious graphic design at school then you might want to spend more.

Girl of Mystery · January 07, 2016, 05:18:53 PM

Acer<