>Gaming >Light >Reasonably priced - Pick one

Kold

Is this the case? I'm looking for a laptop capable of running the likes of LoL, Diablo 3 and Skyrim but I really want this thing to be light.

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=n0015z14&c=ie&l=en&s=dhs&cs=iedhs1&model_id=xps-15z&

This is what I've been looking at but it's rather pricey, and whilst I can go that high, I'd want to know that it's necessary to spend so much. The other thing that's pretty important to me is a good quality monitor.

Jarren

You don't need i7 processor to play those games.
There is a cheaper version suitable for your needs.
www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ASUS_U36SG-RX107X_1155802.html

Torqay

Jarren wrote: »

You don't need i7 processor to play those games.
There is a cheaper version suitable for your needs.
www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ASUS_U36SG-RX107X_1155802.html

A Core i5 will be fine though but the GT 610M is clearly not a gaming GPU

Look for a GT 555M or GTX 560M.

Diablo III will not be very demanding though, any old clunker can run it:

Intel Pentium® D 2.8 GHz or AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 4400+
NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800 GT or ATI Radeon™ X1950 Pro or better

As it is the tradition with this series, the graphics will be hopelessly outdated by the time of release. Neverless, they're simply the best and I'm looking forward to May 15th.

imitation

Have a look at http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html for a comparison of good notebook graphics cards.

Online games like LoL or Warcraft tend to get far more out of a better CPU. On the other hand console ports like skyrim react well to a good graphics card. I have seen peoples machines playing Lol at 20 fps, and then boot into better looking games (like Alien Swarm) and get 60 fps

I'm sure your probably aware, but desktop machines offer a good deal more value for money, and even more importantly greater comfort and tend to last longer (hot components jammed into a small body playing intensive games continuously just cant last more than a few years). I have had a few friends come back after 3 years with clapped out laptops because of the constant gaming. If I had to start from scratch tomorrow I think I would get a desktop for about 800 and afterwards get a laptop for 600-700 for occasional mobile use.

Kold

I've a pretty decent rig at home. The laptop is specifically because I'm going to be doing some travelling this year. That's why I'd love something slimline and lightweight. I figure if I insure the thing fully, it's better that I get a laptop I actually want after I'm done than get a piece of crap. I also reckon there'll be a lot of days where I won't be able to go out etc, so I think being able to watch movies on a decent screen/play games with mates back home will be a great way to spend those days.

Is that Dell ridiculously overpriced for what I want?

Torqay

Kold wrote: »

Is that Dell ridiculously overpriced for what I want?

Not exactly "ridiculously overpriced" but they're certainly not the cheapest place to buy either.

The problem with Dell ,however: you will only get a GT 540M with their laptops at best. Not exactly a gaming card. (If you want a gaming machine, Dell wants you to buy Alienware)

imitation

Maybe have a look around www.laptopsdirect.ie . They have a decent selection, and let you sort by Graphics card, I have heard people give out about them a bit, but as you deal with the manufacturer for repairs in most cases the risk should be low enough.

lemon_remon

Wait till later this year to buy if you can. AMD Trinity will basically invent gaming laptops. Will be reasonably priced, low power consumtion and really really powerful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmTDb-Mlws

Torqay

lemon_remon wrote: »

AMD Trinity will basically invent gaming laptops.

Now that remains to be seen... AMD can call their CPUs APUs (accelerated processing units) all they want but unless they hammer Intel in CPU benchmarks (and the current A8 isn't exactly a revelation) they won't sell.

_AVALANCHE_

AMD....how do they survive with their **** mobile range and their bulldozer desktop flop.

Anyone know what sorta money they make off hand?

Torqay

Credit where credit is due, every once in a blue moon, they do come up with pretty good bang-for-buck processors but their current mobile CPUs are a joke. I'm all for diverisity and competition and I hope they come up with something good or Intel will be getting lazy themselves.

_AVALANCHE_

AMD is on to a winner with the next gen consoles.

PlayStation 4 is called - or codenamed - Orbis and is set for a release in time for the 2013 holiday season.

That's according to "a reliable" Kotaku source, who told the site the console's specs will consist of an AMD x64 CPU and an AMD Southern Islands GPU, which will apparently be capable of displaying games at a resolution of up to 4096x2160, and playing 3D games in 1080p.

The site was also informed that Sony doesn't intend to offer any backwards compatibility with PS3 games, and that PS4 will feature inbuilt anti-used games measures. Games are expected to be available on Blu-ray disc or digitally, and will likely be locked to a PSN account that requires players to be online to boot them up. Second-hand buyers would have to pay an unlock fee to access the full game content. Similar claims were made about the next-gen Xbox earlier this year.


Select studios have reportedly been receiving PS4 dev kits since the beginning of the year, with more finalised units set to arrive towards the end of 2012.


Forbes also claimed in February that Sony's as yet unannounced next-generation console will use a graphics chip provided by AMD.
Around the same time, US PlayStation boss Jack Tretton played down the chances of Sony launching PS4 any time soon.