Question:
Gaming for around $1,500
General Questions
1) What is your budget?
1,500-1,800
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Mostly gaming but some light school and work work. Also general multimedia things.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
It's coming with me
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
CS 1.6, CSS, BF2, WC3 DotA
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
Asus, Sony, Dell
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
n/a
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
no
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
wide
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
Standard
anything but "a"
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
doesn't matter
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
not so much I guess cuz i'm thinking of buying a dell
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
after x-mas '06, as long as possible
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB?
80-100 GB 7,200 rpm
16) Do you need an optical drive? DVD-CD/RW
I also want/need 2GB RAM
I have been browsing these forums hard for the past week or so, and have read many opinions and all the reviews of potential notebooks. After seeing what everyone has to say here the main notebooks that have caught my eye are the ASUS A8Js and the G1p.
I have also seen the Compal HGL30 but due to unfamiliarity and no 512mb GPU I'm not sure.
I am only considering a loaded Dell E1505 because I have stackable coupons and could get it cheaper, but it doesn't seem too bad for gaming.
The A8Js looks pretty good. Wish it came with 2gb RAM standard. The GPU and size are the biggest draws for me.
love the G1 but as was stated in another thread its not good for "quiet" gaming. Which ASUS 15.4" screen is comparable?
My wants are somewhat similar to that of the college gamer thread. I guess I'd rather hear some of the bad about these systems since I've seen almost all of the good about them from the reviews/threads. Also, do prices generally drop @ ASUS or DELL after Christmas?
Sorry there is a lot to sift through in my post but,
Thanks in advance for your help! :D
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
The Asus G1 and A8Js are excellent for what you're looking to do. A8Js doesn't come with 2 GB of RAM though.
Other options are what you've probably already looked at: Asus Z96J, Compal HEL80 & HGL30, and HP nc8430. I think you may enjoy the extra GPU power (about two times) these systems have compared to the x1400/go 7400 level you are considering.
As far as having a 512 MB GPU goes, for the level of GPU you're looking at--it won't really make much difference. Neither go 7600/7700 or x1600/x1700 can effectively utilize the extra 256 MB of VRAM. It may dip into it from time to time, but the cards are not fast enough to really benefit from the extra VRAM.
Don't expect Asus' prices to drop any time soon. And I think Dell will be making its biggest push right around this time of year.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
A 512mb gpu is not important. The extra 256mb over most gpus is just a gimmick, adding more cheap ram and upping the price. As has been said, the cards can't use anywhere near all of the 512mb of vram, 256 being around the top. I'd say 2Gb system ram is far more important than a 512mb GPU and the level of GPU is more important than the amount of ram on it.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
I'd look at the nc8430 myself. Twice as powerful as the E1505 in the gaming department, better (if not excellent) build quality, and business support.
And yes, anything more than 256MB (unless it is a 7900GS or GTX which might use a little more than 256MB effectively) is a marketing scam.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
512mb video ram=usless on anything besides the top end video cards in a notebook ie 7900/7950 so don't bother, the extra ram is there to try and justify the extra cost. Asus is a good choice, as are the Hel80.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
I'd look at the nc8430 myself. Twice as powerful as the E1505 in the gaming department, better (if not excellent) build quality, and business support.
And yes, anything more than 256MB (unless it is a 7900GS or GTX which might use a little more than 256MB effectively) is a marketing scam.
What is it that allows these cards to use more than 256Mb of video ram? Is it the 256 bit bus?
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
256 bit bus, faster clock frequency and ofcourse the major one, the number of Pixel and vertex piplines, all these added together allow a 7900/7950 to use more than 256mb of ram.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
Look, on some games such as Doom 3, Quake 4 and GRAW, some of the super hi-res textures can take up around 500mb graphics memory (the 256bit bus doesn't really limit it, as some games require raw SPACE. GRAW on high and GRAW on not high is really different, the 7700 can appreciate it, though not as well as a 7950gtx), though it is NOT a gimmick. what you need is not the extra 256mb memory, but an extra gig of RAM as BF2 will need it, unless you don't mind extreme lag right after you load a map. BF2 will need the ram, though the other games, well won't need it.
I would recommend the nc8430 or the HEL80 as it is a lot more powerful than the e1505 in gaming performance and quality (BF2 for sure), even though the e1505 can be cheaper. The HEL80 is also easily customized, with heaps of configs, sort of like Dell.
EDIT: Look, don't worry about higher clocks speeds, pxiel, vertex shaders etc. The 7700 is a lot more powerful than the X1600 and the 7600, and this is not just because of the extra memory. You also won't be able to find an under 17" 7900(whatever model). The A8Js comes with 512mb dedicated whether you like it or not. You won't be saving money as you can't drop it down to 256mb, and the 512mb, though not utilized to its full potential can be handy in the future. Also, the 512mb memory in the 7700/7600/X1600 (hypermemory) all use a 256bit bus. 512bit bus don't exist yet, so, well, most of the time most high end cards don't even effectively use the memory, it's just a bonus (in GRAW again).
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
not so much I guess cuz i'm thinking of buying a dell
If your budget was around $1,000, then I would be recommending Dell, but for $1,500 - $1,800, you can do better.
If better is available, then good is not enough. ;)
The HP nc8430 as mentioned is a nice choice; very thin and light for its size.
One thing to note is that 15.4" notebooks are large - it is the size that makes them cumbersome to travel with, not the weight. The Asus A8Js is one of your best options. For something a bit cheaper, take a look at the Compal HGL30, which offers excellent build quality and a long battery life.
Answer:
Re: Gaming for around $1,500
If he could just step up to a 17" then a E1705 with 7900gs would be good. But for the 14-16 inch, I say asus A8j or something along those lines.
As for I'm Confused? post, have you ever taken time to consider that Doom 3 at MAX res can take up 500mb BUT how the heck can a 7700 run Doom 3 at at res that the laptop LCD can't support? Not to mention he will get FPS in probably the single digit range. To run Doom 3 or Quake 4 at the highest res possible with a playable frame rate you need more than a 7700 thats for sure, more like a 7950 or 8800. That said a 7700 or 7600 with 512 Mb of ram is nothing more than a scam to rip people off.