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Casual gaming laptop for travel

  • 29-05-2010 12:17am
    #1
    Dacian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 812 ✭✭✭


    Currently have a 3 year old Toshiba Equium L40. Intel dual core 1.8 Ghz, 2GB RAM, 200GB Hard drive, 15.6" screen,integrated graphics card.

    Personally love it, has only has 1 minor tech fault. Runs Starcraft, C&C3, BF2, R:TW and M:TW 2 (can run DoW2 just about) which are want I want. Other than that I only use it for internet,movie watching when travelling and basic photo editing. Don't really play online shooters so don't need top end performance. Planning on using it for SC2 and Napoleon TW in the short term.
    Am looking to upgrade and going to buy in the states. I travel to NYC regularly so have been looking in person and online.

    I have read the very good sticky by Cherrryghost concerning the 'new generation' specifically the Intel i3/i5/i7 processors, DDRM3 and the upcoming ATI Danube processor.

    My needs are: a better hard drive (easy to get), better graphics, similar weight (happy with 15.6" screen,no need for >16") and reliability. My preference is to stick with Toshiba as so far I have bought 3 and have been happy with them. My budget is approx $900,with tax no more than $1000.


    Have spotted a couple of contenders and would like an opinion or two. I wouldn't be buying for another 2 months,maybe 3. So my options could change. I have ruled out 2 good Samsung laptops as I greatly dislike the mouse pad/button interface. Fickle.... I know.

    --This Alienware seemed like a great price (US$900 & tax) but then you see the small screen,the lack of optical drive and the older gen Intel Core 2 Duo 1.3 Ghz processor.

    --At US$630 & tax this Toshiba is the budget buy. It has i3 2.13Ghz processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, 16" screen, but an integrated Intel HD graphics card (which says 32-1696MB dynamically shared?).

    --This Toshiba is US$900 & tax but comes with a Netgear wireless gadget to stream direct to your HDTV using the TVs HDMI slot. It has a powerful i5 2.53Ghz processor, 4GB, 500GB, 14" 6-cell battery.......but still only has an Intel Mobile integrated graphics card.

    --I think I prefer this Toshiba with its new processor (i3 2.13Ghz), big hard drive (500GB) , 4 GB RAM, 16", 12-cell battery and discrete graphics card (512MB Geforce 310M). US$830 & tax. $200 for the graphics is the main difference to the budget buy above.

    Thanks for any opinion in advance.


Comments

  • #2
    Darwin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,695 ✭✭✭Darwin


    I can't really comment on the Toshiba's, but don't be put off by the Alienware. The CPU is not as bad as it seems - it can be overclocked to 1.73Ghz and most games are GPU dependent (though RTS titles such as Napolean TW might struggle a bit). Recent games such as Mass Effect 2 and Batman Arkham Asylum run very well on the dedicated GPU. Alienware have recently announced a CPU refresh for the M11x, so if you were thinking of this it might be worth waiting to see what they have in mind. The lack of optical drive is not a problem, I bought a slimline DVD writer which is easy to carry with the power supply. For regular travelling, I certainly wouldn't like to lug around a 15" or bigger display, but this may not be an issue for you. You might also consider something in the 13" bracket, such as this 13" Acer Timeline X - its light, has a long battery life and packs an ATI 5650.


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