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Old Feb 17, 2010, 08:14 PM // 20:14   #1
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Default Buying a laptop

Many times in the past I have come to this community seeking advice Guild Wars related. Today, however, I am seeking advice on laptops. Recently my laptop finally took a fatal blow to its harddrive, after already having sustained injuries to its disc drive and having completely lost its “up key.”

My question is this: what is the best laptop I can get with a price range of around $400 to $800? Where can I find such a laptop (website?), and what should I look for specifically as far as laptop brand (HP, Compaq, Alienware, Dell (just kidding about Dell)), brand of mother board, etc…

I am hopeful this laptop will be for gaming, so there are a few things I know to look out for, such as a NON-intergrated graphics card, and at least 4 GB of RAM, is there anything else? Or with this price range, don’t bother?

Any and all advice is helpful in this time of distress, and I look forward to responding to said advice on my new laptop in the coming week. Thank you all in advance.
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Old Feb 17, 2010, 08:49 PM // 20:49   #2
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I just got an ASUS from best buy for $699

It had 4mbDDR3 ram and a Invidia Graphics card with 512mb ram on board. I had to do a system restore like first thing for it to pick up the card, but once did that via a phone call for an hour to support it was done.

It also has a HDMI out connexfction so I played GWs on my 32" flat screen TV the other day.

It gets the same FPS as my desk top gets

1.3 dual processors I think and 500 gig hard drive.

Plus it has a "Num pad" which alot of laptops don't, so I can use those Hero skills and other shit there still like on my desk top.

I loved the inside because its some kind of silicone so no fingerprints, the outside though fingerprints like there is no tomorrow.

Here it is ont he site
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B2+D uo+Processor+-+Black/9701931.p?id=1218153002507&skuId=9701931

I love it, I like windows 7 too.

Last edited by Orange Milk; Feb 17, 2010 at 08:57 PM // 20:57..
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Old Feb 17, 2010, 09:27 PM // 21:27   #3
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I am looking EXACLY for what you are

my previous first choice was

http://www.compusa.com/applications/...472&CatId=4938

but it seems http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+L...&skuId=9701931

Is better..what do you think?Thanks to the guy above me for giving link ^_^
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Old Feb 17, 2010, 10:31 PM // 22:31   #4
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gah! Best Buy sux....

ok, no that I have my prejudices taken care of I will say that the laptop linked too would be ok for GW1, I would not try to play much else on it.

better gaming laptop right here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115675

pretty good bang for the buck at $650

read this to find out more about the graphics potential of this laptop:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.13789.0.html
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Old Feb 17, 2010, 10:35 PM // 22:35   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elder III View Post
gah! Best Buy sux....

ok, no that I have my prejudices taken care of I will say that the laptop linked too would be ok for GW1, I would not try to play much else on it.

better gaming laptop right here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115675

pretty good bang for the buck at $650

read this to find out more about the graphics potential of this laptop:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-...M.13789.0.html

I agree with him...best buy sucks so much.

Long story short of why,is I bought a Dell desktop,pretty good nvidia video card memory..guess what?model was from 2004.Could return it with ALOT of trouble and bought at newegg an Ibuypower.Problem is,i cannot buy much online since i have to pay CASH....

Anyways,i find all 3 pcs to be good,tho dont expect besbuy support to be more than 2/5...Would like if OP pms me with his desicion or replies or something,so i can base mine of his :P
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Old Feb 18, 2010, 03:02 AM // 03:02   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elder III View Post
better gaming laptop right here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115675

pretty good bang for the buck at $650

From reading the reviews on NewEgg, even the great reviews complain about either sound quality, wireless issues, or other problems. I am getting the feeling that Acer isn't a quality company... More research is required, but it made me lose a lot of confidence.

This sucks... I need a laptop to research buying a new laptop.

After checking notebookcheck, found this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...sus%20UL50V t

Similar to OrangeMilk's suggestion, but slightly different.

The above laptop's competition it seems (so says notebookcheck.com) is

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-016-_-Product

Last edited by iToasterHD; Feb 18, 2010 at 03:29 AM // 03:29..
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Old Feb 18, 2010, 06:56 PM // 18:56   #7
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Well Elder it also runs Left 4 Dead just fine, I don't have the second Left 4 Dead or I would tell you that that game runs just fine too.

Got to love elitist know-it-all's that think they are above places like Best Buy who will spend months pooring over internet sites to find a deal just so they can tell people they did.

ANYWAY......

The Acer has a better Graphics card 1024MB memory, and a faster CPU but a much, much shorter battery time as well as less warranty coverage.

The Sony, is a Sony which is nice, but no Number Pad(important for gaming) and less memory on the graphics card 256Mb, shorter warranty aswell. But a terrifically faster CPU.

I'm sure any of them will do what you need to do. You already mentioned the important parts, 4MB memory and the Graphic card. Like Zarion said, when you decide I'd like to know too.

Edited out of respect for Snograt

Last edited by Orange Milk; Feb 18, 2010 at 07:24 PM // 19:24..
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Old Feb 18, 2010, 07:15 PM // 19:15   #8
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Keep it civil, OM. Read Elder's post again - he stated his opinion and nothing else. There were no "insults" so your personal attack was uncalled for.

The most important part was "BestBuy sucks", which is hardly controversial. Everybody knows that NewEgg is the place to go to for online computery goodness, even me and I live in the UK.

Play nice
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Old Feb 18, 2010, 07:37 PM // 19:37   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snograt View Post
Keep it civil, OM. Read Elder's post again - he stated his opinion and nothing else. There were no "insults" so your personal attack was uncalled for.

The most important part was "BestBuy sucks", which is hardly controversial. Everybody knows that NewEgg is the place to go to for online computery goodness, even me and I live in the UK.

Play nice
I also bought my desktop at newegg and i am very happy with it.I dont want to make my own thread about it since its just a short question.What do you think is better?that acer or the bestbuy asus?TBH i find the Acer better,but i have heard Acer support sucks and ASUS rules for gaming...tho i realize the only things that matter are the things inside and not who puts em in (usually ;p),id like a company that has awesome support...thanks

still would like op to tell us his desicion when he makes it ^_^
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Old Feb 19, 2010, 01:49 AM // 01:49   #10
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220706

^ Beastly notebook. Has nVidia Optimus technology, meaning battery life will be amazing. 900 dollars for that is a steal, and it will last you a long time.
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Old Feb 19, 2010, 03:47 AM // 03:47   #11
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I am really too nervous to do Acer, I was really really unimpressed and heard a lot of bad things... I really love Asus, and making a relatively determined decision to buy from Asus. as far as the Asus I linked, one of the comments said that the laptop will be updated soon, so I am hesitant to buy it. When I bought my Macbook, 2 months later they updated the graphics card and mine quickly became obsolete... I do not want a repeat of that. The one Rahja linked to is really really nice and he has House as his avatar so I completely trust him.

After some research, the processor seems to be equivalent or better then previous suggestions, however I am finding it difficult to understand the graphics card. Notebookcheck didn't throw a fit over it, and the benchmarks were lacking compared to previous suggestions. Bah...

Last edited by iToasterHD; Feb 19, 2010 at 04:51 AM // 04:51..
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Old Feb 19, 2010, 08:21 AM // 08:21   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iToasterHD View Post
I am really too nervous to do Acer, I was really really unimpressed and heard a lot of bad things... I really love Asus, and making a relatively determined decision to buy from Asus. as far as the Asus I linked, one of the comments said that the laptop will be updated soon, so I am hesitant to buy it. When I bought my Macbook, 2 months later they updated the graphics card and mine quickly became obsolete... I do not want a repeat of that. The one Rahja linked to is really really nice and he has House as his avatar so I completely trust him.

After some research, the processor seems to be equivalent or better then previous suggestions, however I am finding it difficult to understand the graphics card. Notebookcheck didn't throw a fit over it, and the benchmarks were lacking compared to previous suggestions. Bah...
The ASUS I linked is the most up to date notebook you can buy. It features the newest Intel dual core CPU with integrated graphics and a very respectable nVidia mobile GPU. nVidia Optimus technology is also the new GPU load balancing API that really just blows away everything before it. It gives you the best possible battery life while allowing the notebook to really give some serious horsepower when needed. Very impressive tech from big green.
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Old Feb 20, 2010, 08:24 PM // 20:24   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief View Post
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220706

^ Beastly notebook. Has nVidia Optimus technology, meaning battery life will be amazing. 900 dollars for that is a steal, and it will last you a long time.
For 200ish bucks more this blows all of the other laptops here in this thread.OP,me too am scared of Acer..anyways,once again please post your desicion and if your happy/unhappy with it.
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Old Feb 21, 2010, 01:19 AM // 01:19   #14
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I actually went with the Asus Rahja suggested. I will be getting it in 3 to 4 days, and will let you know how it goes.

Wish me luck!
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Old Feb 21, 2010, 01:46 AM // 01:46   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iToasterHD View Post
I actually went with the Asus Rahja suggested. I will be getting it in 3 to 4 days, and will let you know how it goes.

Wish me luck!
Good.newegg is awsum...nice choice ^^

reply with review
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Old Feb 21, 2010, 10:12 AM // 10:12   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief View Post
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834220706

^ Beastly notebook. Has nVidia Optimus technology, meaning battery life will be amazing. 900 dollars for that is a steal, and it will last you a long time.
As Newegg doesn't ship to anywhere outside of America, does anyone know if it's possible and from where I could get an equivalent laptop in the UK? Budget up to £800. My current old laptop has started giving me blue screen grief, and unfortunately I don't have the space for a desktop. I've been looking at the Samsung R780, and I know that Samsung are great at monitors but I don't know if their laptops are any good.
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Old Feb 21, 2010, 04:38 PM // 16:38   #17
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There's www.asuslaptop.co.uk but I have no idea what the company is like.
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