Right now, I'm looking to either buy a new gaming laptop or build my own rig. The thing is, my old laptop is falling apart and I desperately need a new one. At the same time, I want a good gaming rig that I can use at home. I can't decide what to do about this and that's the issue. If I make my own rig, I can make a super high tier computer that can pretty much run everything on the market right now for around 1500 bucks. At the same time, if I want a laptop capable of doing the same thing... well, I can't get a laptop capable of doing the same. The closest I get to it is spending 2300 bucks on the Alienware M17x/M18x, which, at this point, I'm seriously considering. The perks of having a laptop are obvious, I can carry it around and stuff and rig it to my TV with an HDMI if needed. A wireless keyboard and mouse in hand, I can effectively do what I wanted with the gaming rig I would make myself.
What do you guys think I should do about my problem?
New Rig
Started by
Dion
, Dec 07 2012 05:20 PM
16 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 07 December 2012 - 06:47 PM
Go Desktop or go home. A desktop is much easier to manage and keep up to date over a laptop, which I feel is a hell of a lot harder to upgrade and update over time (which if you're serious about PeeCee Gamming you'll wanna do). You can pick up a normal run of the mill laptop for college work and look into making a nicer desktop computer for srs biznizz gamming.
If it made sense for me to do so, I'd do this as well. laptops are great and all, but if you want a serious computer, you'd wanna go desktop.
If it made sense for me to do so, I'd do this as well. laptops are great and all, but if you want a serious computer, you'd wanna go desktop.
#3
Posted 07 December 2012 - 08:29 PM
Go Desktop or go home.
Pretty much what I know and have been told by people who know much more about computers than me. Laptops are nice for a few easy casual games but if you want to play some serious PC games you might as well throw some money at a desktop. It'd be a waste of money just making a laptop with lots of high grade pricey stuff when you know you'd have to update it a lot over time. Yeah you have to update a desktop too but I recon you have less updates to worry about with desktops. Desktops can also take on more things compared to a laptop, which is obvious enough >_>
Anyway, I thought I would throw in some info I keep in mind from advice I've gotten over the years. :x
Gif not by me
A little one
#4
Posted 07 December 2012 - 08:48 PM
Go Desktop or go home. A desktop is much easier to manage and keep up to date over a laptop, which I feel is a hell of a lot harder to upgrade and update over time (which if you're serious about PeeCee Gamming you'll wanna do). You can pick up a normal run of the mill laptop for college work and look into making a nicer desktop computer for srs biznizz gamming.
If it made sense for me to do so, I'd do this as well. laptops are great and all, but if you want a serious computer, you'd wanna go desktop.
The thing is, with a M17x I get these specs:
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3630QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
8GB1 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
1TB RAID 0 (2x 500GB SATA 3B/s 7,200 RPM)
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M
Now, if you're gonna tell me that isn't spanking, idk what is. dat processor. That'll last a good amount of time as far as running games on ultra etc goes. Plus, there's always the added perk of gaming on the go/in college is a HUGE perk, especially considering I spend a large amount of time in school. Plus, if I get my own rig with a separate laptop, that'll be ~$1500 with another 900 or so for a good casual laptop, which is the same as the gaming laptop minus the gaming on the go perk... M17x also has 3D output, something I lack with the TV in my room. Plus... backlight keyboard and mouse... need I say more...?
As you can see, I'm leaning towards the Alienware. >__>;
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#5
Posted 07 December 2012 - 10:27 PM
I don't know a lot about technical mumbo jumbo about processors and shit, and I don't claim to. But.
http://en.wikipedia...._Core#Core_i7_2
It's good, and it'll last a while.
What I'm saying is that it does matter what you want to do with your gaming. If you want to have a decent rig for a while, going laptop is kind of silly because they're a lot harder to upgrade than a desktop is.
You need to worry more about cooling and other sort of crap.
Is it really that important to have mobile gaming? Is it really that much of a perk? Is it really worth 2000 dollars to be able to game on the go for the next four/five years? You'll end up dropping more money on a desktop or something by then instead of just simply upgrading a desktop rig.
Then again, that's just my opinion. You seem to have made up your mind already about the alienware.
http://en.wikipedia...._Core#Core_i7_2
It's good, and it'll last a while.
What I'm saying is that it does matter what you want to do with your gaming. If you want to have a decent rig for a while, going laptop is kind of silly because they're a lot harder to upgrade than a desktop is.
You need to worry more about cooling and other sort of crap.
Is it really that important to have mobile gaming? Is it really that much of a perk? Is it really worth 2000 dollars to be able to game on the go for the next four/five years? You'll end up dropping more money on a desktop or something by then instead of just simply upgrading a desktop rig.
Then again, that's just my opinion. You seem to have made up your mind already about the alienware.
#6
Posted 08 December 2012 - 01:02 AM
Link
Here's what I'm looking at building right now. It's a pretty nice build and it falls well below the 1.5k budget I had set. I can afford to get a nice laptop with that and be well below 2k bucks, still less than what I would have paid for a gaming laptop. Any feedback, guise?
Here's what I'm looking at building right now. It's a pretty nice build and it falls well below the 1.5k budget I had set. I can afford to get a nice laptop with that and be well below 2k bucks, still less than what I would have paid for a gaming laptop. Any feedback, guise?
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#7
Posted 08 December 2012 - 04:03 AM
>i7-3630QMThe thing is, with a M17x I get these specs:
3rd Generation Intel® Core™ i7-3630QM (6MB Cache, up to 3.4GHz w/ Turbo Boost 2.0)
Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit
17.3-inch WideFHD 1920 x 1080 60Hz WLED
8GB1 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1600MHz
1TB RAID 0 (2x 500GB SATA 3B/s 7,200 RPM)
2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680M
Now, if you're gonna tell me that isn't spanking, idk what is. dat processor. That'll last a good amount of time as far as running games on ultra etc goes. Plus, there's always the added perk of gaming on the go/in college is a HUGE perk, especially considering I spend a large amount of time in school. Plus, if I get my own rig with a separate laptop, that'll be ~$1500 with another 900 or so for a good casual laptop, which is the same as the gaming laptop minus the gaming on the go perk... M17x also has 3D output, something I lack with the TV in my room. Plus... backlight keyboard and mouse... need I say more...?
As you can see, I'm leaning towards the Alienware. >__>;
>"dat" processor
Look for the mobile equivalent of the i7-3770K and you shall get "dat processor"
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."
— Mark Twain
“I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!”
— General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
#8
Posted 08 December 2012 - 04:42 AM
From what you said in the shoutbox, I'd say a laptop is better suited for you. I mean... you are away from home more often then not correct? With 5 hours to burn between classes? I desktop wont do you any good there you know what I mean? But with a laptop you can take it with you and get your game on wherever. Of course, you can get the desktop then get a somewhat good laptop and play on low settings. That would solve both problems really.
#9
Lexaeus
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Posted 08 December 2012 - 04:47 AM
If you get a laptop, spend little. Wait for a huge sale and spend $200. Laptops are nice for their portability.
Desktop for anything above the basics. Remember, make sure to get the main parts that will be supported for a long time and won't go old on you anytime soon. (ex. motherboard, case, powers supply)
memory, hard drive, even processors are easier to update and you might even end up replacing them for better stuff. Remember though, motherboards have a factor in your end spend. fiber optic to dial up to fiber optic is going to give you dial up speeds.
ill look at your stuff in more detail later.
Desktop for anything above the basics. Remember, make sure to get the main parts that will be supported for a long time and won't go old on you anytime soon. (ex. motherboard, case, powers supply)
memory, hard drive, even processors are easier to update and you might even end up replacing them for better stuff. Remember though, motherboards have a factor in your end spend. fiber optic to dial up to fiber optic is going to give you dial up speeds.
ill look at your stuff in more detail later.
“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.” - Saint Thomas Aquinas
#10
Posted 08 December 2012 - 10:56 AM
>i7-3630QM
>"dat" processor
Look for the mobile equivalent of the i7-3770K and you shall get "dat processor"
It's quite a pretty for a laptop, you have to admit. Look at my new rig on my old post to see what I have now.
From what you said in the shoutbox, I'd say a laptop is better suited for you. I mean... you are away from home more often then not correct? With 5 hours to burn between classes? I desktop wont do you any good there you know what I mean? But with a laptop you can take it with you and get your game on wherever. Of course, you can get the desktop then get a somewhat good laptop and play on low settings. That would solve both problems really.
Yeah. Which is why Im gonna spend ~900 on a laptop and build my own gaming rig to hook up to my 42'' at home. I'll be well below the expenditure for a gaming laptop and I can still get some moderate gaming in with the medium setting laptop. The total cost comes around ~2000 and it's win win for me. O: Especially with this build: http://i48.tinypic.com/2w69wcy.png
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#11
Posted 08 December 2012 - 03:54 PM
Pretty good cpu and video card. Here are some things:Especially with this build: http://i48.tinypic.com/2w69wcy.png
That 3570 is good against the 3770k for the price
http://rbt.asia/boar...54338826388.gif
http://rbt.asia/boar...54340738558.gif
And if you want something other than the GTX 660 Ti, there are the HD 7870 and if you can spend a little more money the HD 7950:
Benchmark comparisons:
HD 7870 vs GTX 660 Ti
http://www.anandtech...duct/548?vs=647
HD 7950 vs GTX 660 Ti
http://www.anandtech...duct/550?vs=647
Some threads from archived /g/ on the two against the 660:
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/29301280
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/28562108
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/28259904
Good memory too. 1600 MHz should be the minimum in this era.
mfw http://rbt.asia/boar...35414924053.gif
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."
— Mark Twain
“I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!”
— General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
#12
Posted 08 December 2012 - 07:53 PM
Pretty good cpu and video card. Here are some things:
That 3570 is good against the 3770k for the price
http://rbt.asia/boar...54338826388.gif
http://rbt.asia/boar...54340738558.gif
And if you want something other than the GTX 660 Ti, there are the HD 7870 and if you can spend a little more money the HD 7950:
Benchmark comparisons:
HD 7870 vs GTX 660 Ti
http://www.anandtech...duct/548?vs=647
HD 7950 vs GTX 660 Ti
http://www.anandtech...duct/550?vs=647
Some threads from archived /g/ on the two against the 660:
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/29301280
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/28562108
http://rbt.asia/g/thread/28259904
Good memory too. 1600 MHz should be the minimum in this era.
mfw http://rbt.asia/boar...35414924053.gif
I was working on a budget of 1100 bucks, and I think that build does it quite nicely. The hardest part of the build is getting the money for it. xP
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#13
Posted 08 December 2012 - 08:10 PM
Oh, you don't really need more than 450W for the PSU. max probably at 500W. You really only need 750+ when you've got gpus in SLI or Crossfire. like 3-4 of them.
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."
— Mark Twain
“I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!”
— General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
#14
Posted 08 December 2012 - 08:16 PM
I threw in the 750 because I felt like if I upgrade later on, I might need to buy a new one. So a good, high watt PSU would be a better investment than a low powered PSU. I dont see the computer needing more then ~400, but you never know, right?
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#15
Posted 08 December 2012 - 09:17 PM
You could use the saved money on a 7950 or 3770k, get performance now, i dunno.
"Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it."
— Mark Twain
“I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!”
— General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
#16
Posted 08 December 2012 - 09:41 PM
Well, I wanted to go with a modular PSU to begin with. Mostly because it helps me keep cables etc organized. I can't find anything by Corsair that's below 750W and modular, and I'm pretty sure I want a Corsair in my build.
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#17
Posted 09 December 2012 - 02:15 PM
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/rB6q
I finalized my build with all of that. I changed the case/PSU and added an SSD for windows so boot times will be ~5s. Everything else goes on the Seagate. The case is really nice looking and feels like it's out of Portal, which is why I chose it. O: Should benchmark pretty high, but I can't know till I actually build it :/
I finalized my build with all of that. I changed the case/PSU and added an SSD for windows so boot times will be ~5s. Everything else goes on the Seagate. The case is really nice looking and feels like it's out of Portal, which is why I chose it. O: Should benchmark pretty high, but I can't know till I actually build it :/
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