NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm planning to replace my HP/Compaq Evo N1000C.
I'm not totally broke so I can afford a decent one for work and gaming.

HP/Compaq Evo N1000C
* 1.7Ghz Pentium Mobile
* 30Gb HDD
* 256Mb RAM
* DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive
* ATI Radeon 7500 32Mb (not Shared Memory)
* 15.4" screen (no dead pixels yet)
* No Wifi or PC Card Express
* 2 x USB 2.0

As you see, it's not bad for OLD 3D games like RTCW and DFBHD, but Doom3 and Farcry are definitely out. I'm keeping the old laptop for my Linux experiments.

Any recommendations on a gaming laptop with 3 year support where the support is good in Australia. Looking at a Dell 9300 or Alienware Area 51 7700. I have read on the blogs, Alienware support is pretty bad.

Cheers :)

I wouldnt suggest a laptop for gaming; it would almost be better to buy a cheap laptop(or use your current) for work, and buy a desktop much cheaper than an equal level laptop.

But hey, alienware is fine, if you want to dish out the cash. I also suggest http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/

I wouldnt suggest a laptop for gaming; it would almost be better to buy a cheap laptop(or use your current) for work, and buy a desktop much cheaper than an equal level laptop.

But hey, alienware is fine, if you want to dish out the cash. I also suggest http://www.cyberpowersystem.com/

I've got the desktop too ...
Athlon 64 3000+ (Socket 939)
1Gb of PC3200/400Mhz RAM
PowerColour X700 256Mb Bravo
160Gb SATA HDD (7200 RPM)
Surround sound speakers
ASUS A8V-E Deluxe mobo
17" Acer CRT screen

:)

I've got the desktop too ...
Athlon 64 3000+ (Socket 939)
1Gb of PC3200/400Mhz RAM
PowerColour X700 256Mb Bravo
160Gb SATA HDD (7200 RPM)
Surround sound speakers
ASUS A8V-E Deluxe mobo
17" Acer CRT screen

:)

Not bad, except the card. What'd it set you back?

Not bad, except the card. What'd it set you back?

$AU1850 excluding monitor which was part of my old PC. The X700 cost $350 - custom build from a local company. I forgot to mention the Logitech MX510 mouse.

I suggest if you want a laptop to have high-speed and clear sounds etc, you will need a laptop with a 60kbps connection rate. thats what i got :cool:

I built my own PC that I'm using atm:

* 2.4 Ghz Intel Pentium 4
* 60Gb HDD
* 1Gb RAM
* DVD-ROM
* CD-RW drive
* Can't recall the Mobo offhand - would have to find paperwork to remember exactly
* 17" flat screen
* Wireless Keyboard/Mouse

Works pretty nicely - but I play a game called Dark Age of Camelot - and I'm normally playing with two accounts active at once...recently realised that my RAM isn't enough so I've just spent £50 to buy some new RAM, so will have 2GB in about a day or so...But you should always make sure your MoBo can support that much RAM, some can't...

A good site for buying cheap, decent components (either packaged or OEM) is

www.ebuyer.com

That's where I got all my components from :-)

Jeruselem, I'm looking at ( finally ) getting one myself soon, AND I live in Au :p

I'm looking at something with these (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/42eca8fc02d452e0273fc0a87f9c074e/Product/View/XC3553) specs myself, but I've also heard that Toshiba (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/42eca8fc02d452e0273fc0a87f9c074e/Product/View/XC3595) is a good buy, brand-wise. Of course, the prices here (www.dse.com.au) are a bit ... yeah, and if not for my getting some cash this year I wouldn't even be looking at them myself. I'm going to be shopping around, anyway.

I think 3 years support is something you'd need to arrange in-store, really.

* Could you link me to the Dell you're looking at, ?

Jeruselem, I'm looking at ( finally ) getting one myself soon, AND I live in Au :p

I'm looking at something with these (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/42eca8fc02d452e0273fc0a87f9c074e/Product/View/XC3553) specs myself, but I've also heard that Toshiba (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/42eca8fc02d452e0273fc0a87f9c074e/Product/View/XC3595) is a good buy, brand-wise. Of course, the prices here (www.dse.com.au) are a bit ... yeah, and if not for my getting some cash this year I wouldn't even be looking at them myself. I'm going to be shopping around, anyway.

I think 3 years support is something you'd need to arrange in-store, really.

* Could you link me to the Dell you're looking at, ?

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx?c=au&id=inspn_au&l=en&s=dhs

Look for the Dell 9300 (the pricey one)

Those aren't too bad, but the DSE where I am does not sell the good stuff (just the crappy stuff).

the best gaming laptop around is the Dell Inspiron XPS Gen2, no questions - its beaten the shit out of the competition in every review and group test i've read... and i did my research (cos i now own one, and it freakin rules!)
Half life 2 on maximum....everything. max quality, max resolution, in widescreen, running about 60fps :D
it also has a brilliant (allbeit glossy) screen
GeForce Go FX6800 Ultra, 2.1 ghz P-M

and it has those nifty LCD lights too;)


http://www.hardwareluxx.de/andreas/News/Dell_InspironXPS_3_resize.jpg

heartily gets my reccomendation

it won Gold Award and Best Kit in the latest group test of gaming laptops in this month's PCFormat, as it happens

the best gaming laptop around is the Dell Inspiron XPS Gen2, no questions - its beaten the shit out of the competition in every review and group test i've read... and i did my research (cos i now own one, and it freakin rules!)
Half life 2 on maximum....everything. max quality, max resolution, in widescreen, running about 60fps :D
it also has a brilliant (allbeit glossy) screen
GeForce Go FX6800 Ultra, 2.1 ghz P-M

and it has those nifty LCD lights too;)


http://www.hardwareluxx.de/andreas/News/Dell_InspironXPS_3_resize.jpg

heartily gets my reccomendation

it won Gold Award and Best Kit in the latest group test of gaming laptops in this month's PCFormat, as it happens

Thanks. I might stick with a real brand name like Dell - hopefully they do sell the XPS in Australia. The current one still works, but I'll see if there's any other super-duper ones available. Nothing matching the XPS or Alienware so far.

PS - The ATI Radeon 7500 doesn't play RTCW too bad on 1024x768 16bit with 32Mb VRAM.

Thanks. I might stick with a real brand name like Dell - hopefully they do sell the XPS in Australia. The current one still works, but I'll see if there's any other super-duper ones available. Nothing matching the XPS or Alienware so far.

PS - The ATI Radeon 7500 doesn't play RTCW too bad on 1024x768 16bit with 32Mb VRAM.

I used to have a Radeon 7500. Had to get rid of it, once I got Star Wars Galaxies(I wish I hadnt bought galaxies, and spent the money on a better card than my current 9000 :P)

I'm planning to replace my HP/Compaq Evo N1000C.
I'm not totally broke so I can afford a decent one for work and gaming.

HP/Compaq Evo N1000C
* 1.7Ghz Pentium Mobile
* 30Gb HDD
* 256Mb RAM
* DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive
* ATI Radeon 7500 32Mb (not Shared Memory)
* 15.4" screen (no dead pixels yet)
* No Wifi or PC Card Express
* 2 x USB 2.0

As you see, it's not bad for OLD 3D games like RTCW and DFBHD, but Doom3 and Farcry are definitely out. I'm keeping the old laptop for my Linux experiments.

Any recommendations on a gaming laptop with 3 year support where the support is good in Australia. Looking at a Dell 9300 or Alienware Area 51 7700. I have read on the blogs, Alienware support is pretty bad.

Cheers :)


Now staying in the hp range look at the zv6000 range

Can get amd processors ... decent ati card (128 if I remember right)

and a lot of options for cheep

REMEMBER you want a better the 64 meg card if you plan to run windows vista (at least thats what windows site is recomending)

Now staying in the hp range look at the zv6000 range

Can get amd processors ... decent ati card (128 if I remember right)

and a lot of options for cheep

REMEMBER you want a better the 64 meg card if you plan to run windows vista (at least thats what windows site is recomending)

My home PC is Vista and x64 Pro ready, but guess my old laptop is 32-bit and well ready for Linux :)

The zv6000 isn't too bad. Any opinions about the nVidia Quadro FX GO1400 mobile PCI-Express - only good for OpenGL?

My home PC is Vista and x64 Pro ready, but guess my old laptop is 32-bit and well ready for Linux :)

The zv6000 isn't too bad. Any opinions about the nVidia Quadro FX GO1400 mobile PCI-Express - only good for OpenGL?
No personal experience with the mobile card :) sorry

And I got the beta vista as well … but if you ever want your laptop to go up smoothly that it was they are recommending lol

Get the Alienware MC12

http://image.alienware.com/Images/product_detail_page_images/mj-12m_7700/back.jpg

No personal experience with the mobile card :) sorry

And I got the beta vista as well … but if you ever want your laptop to go up smoothly that it was they are recommending lol

Yep, no crappy 128Mb video cards for me. 256 or 512 - ATI or nVidia.
Can't get hold of Windows XP x64 (OEM) or Vista beta at the moment - I'd even pay for the postage for the Beta of Vista.

Get the Alienware MC12

http://image.alienware.com/Images/product_detail_page_images/mj-12m_7700/back.jpg

I've heard Alienware outsourced their tech support to ... not India ... not China, but Costa Rica. Wa?

Yep, no crappy 128Mb video cards for me. 256 or 512 - ATI or nVidia.
Can't get hold of Windows XP x64 (OEM) or Vista beta at the moment - I'd even pay for the postage for the Beta of Vista.
I managed a copy of the beta but have not tried it yet with my work schedule
I have the windows xp 64 trial version but have not spent the time upgrading my pro version


Anything that will take advantage of the differance I do in FreeBSD anyways ... better with my dual processors