Another which gaming laptop post

[d4a2n0k]

Looking to get a smoking laptop. I"d like a system for gaming and video/photo editing. Budget is $2500- 3000.

Must haves:
17" screen
DVD Burner
2 GB RAM
100GB 7200 RPM HD (minimum size but MUST be 7200 RPM)
Bluetooth
Obviously the best video card at the moment

Ive been using my Inspiron 8500 for the past 3 years now and have been mostly happy with it. Except for the crappy keyboard that plagued these things, its been perfect. Its my second Dell laptop but I'm not opposed to other brands.

The XPS machines are nice but you can never find any coupons for them. I can get a comparable (all except video card) E1705 for about a grand less than the XPS because $650 off coupons are so common. The problem is that I do some gaming so the video card should be the best available as I'd like it to last a few years.

Dont know which processors are king right now but I would look at an AMD or Intel, doesnt bother me.

Thanks for any help.

 

[d4a2n0k]

bump

 

[w0ss]

I have the E1705 and I can say with the 7800 go it is very fast. Runs most games at highest settings.

 

[d4a2n0k]

Thanks for your reply.

Do you think the upgrade to the XPS in order to get the 7800 GTX is worth it? Is it that much better?

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

7800 Go is a 16 pipe card, the 7800GTX is a 24 IIRC.

If you are brave could get a 9300 and swap a 7800GTX into it. Can't swap one into a 9400/E1705.

 

[RajunCajun]

See my m170 specs below.

With the 6800U Go this is what I can play at. Mind you I don't do benchmarks, and individual tastes are different, but this is what I can run games smoothly at with all details maxed out, 0AA, 8AF:

1920x1200 - Half Life 2 (can apply 2xAA), Far Cry (without 64bit patch)
1650x1080 - Far Cry (with 64bit patch), Call of Duty 2 (mostly OK for me, but not everyone)
1600x1200 - Doom3, Quake4, Thief 3, everything else!
1440x900 - Call of Doty 2 is REALLY smooth here

FEAR Demo - Oddly, my system runs @ 1600x1200 very smooth with machine specs set to high and soft shadows off. I've read is unplayable above 1280x960, so I don't really understand this, but is entirely playable here.

Of course, 7800GTX would do better, especially with future games.
Best part of all, cost me $1499 shipped through AAFES.COM!

 

[JknowWhat]

haha RajunCajun I noticed the specs on your XPS was the same as mine when I got it. Did you get yours through the Dell holiday game also? I've upgraded mine since as per the sig.

EDIT: Oops I just saw the last line on your post. Silly me.