computer help. getting a laptop soon need help with games and specks i need

[t33kyboy]

Just buy a smaller case, like a shuttle.

[Yama]

get a shuttle case like t33kyboy said, then put linux on it. It's free and 10x better than XP media center

[Jonneh]

get a shuttle case like t33kyboy said, then put linux on it. It's free and 10x better than XP media center

hahaah, free and useless!

[Glickman]

A Few Suggestions:
Black Steel ATX Mini Tower Computer Case
16.6"(H) x 7.8"(W) x 16.5"(D)
$65.00


Silver/Black Metal MicroATX Mini Tower
15" x 14" x 5.3"(HxDxW)
$32.50

Shuttle Intel Pentium 4/Celeron Barebone
$180.00

Aspire X-Qpack Green Micro ATX Tower
Front USB, FireWire & Audio Ports and 420-Watt Power Supply!

$89.99 (It comes in many colors)

CG Technology Micro ATX Tower
$49.99 (But that includes Keyboard, Mouse and Speakers)

Im actually REALLY liking the "Aspire X-Qpack Green Micro ATX Tower." It looks like a nice lan computer. But, if you have ever seen one, barely anyone uses a cube or minitower. The following comes in handy, and works with a regular sized computer.

$45.00

But yes, it is still a pain. If you wanna look around some more, check out tigerdirect.com. They have some really nice cases and barebone systems.

[Echo419]

W00t Glickman, Yah ATM listen to what glickman is saying man... My brother has 2 shuttles (Mini-ATX Hardware), there hawt... Honestly man, as you may know I spent 1700 on a really nice laptop custom built... After a month I returned it and put 1700 into a desktop..

Your thinking now you'll wanna go places with it, but if you wanna play games... you <b>will</b> need a wired connection... I have the whole Wireless-G setup throughout my house, and CS still lagged and cut out sometimes with that... But if you absolutely need a laptop for work and such get it... if you need it just for play dont, because your friends are probobly stupid like man and will be happen to put that first scratch in there... And then you'll be all oh this isnt leaving my house, dont want it to get messed up, then after the first 2 weeks, itll just stay on ur desk with that wired ethernet connection... Then you have a desktop right there... So get the Mini-ATX like Glickman suggested, contact me for me info. Or also contact me for info on just going desktop...

SO BASICALLY UNLESS YOU NEED THE LAPTOP - At the workplace everyday - At school everyday... dont get it. Dont make my mistake

[RedBeard]

I don't think anyone else mentioned this (at least I didn't notice). You said that laptop had a 128mb graphics card. For the likes of battlefield 2 that won't really cut it. If I'm not mistaken the requirements actually specify a 256 meg card.
That and I agree with everyone else. Unless you have a specific need for a laptop, get a desktop.

[Echo419]

Erm are you sure about that? I played Doom3 and CS:S Fine with my old Laptop card.. oh wait that was a 256 Radeon 9700 oops my b...

Umm yah he's prolly right, you will have to run it on a low res, and such with a 128 card.. Unless its a reallllly newer ATI card (9700, 9800)

[NJPaint]

General advice: If you are playing games, a desktop will always serve you better. It just will. No if ands or buts about it. If you go desktop, you should build it yourself, especially if you are a gamer. I just helped a guy on AO build up his computer from scratch and all I can say is that he is one happy camper now ( freakballer12) anyways.... However, there are some circumstances in which a desktop will not work. If you are splitting your time between two places, you probobly will need a laptop, which sucks and I would look into some sort of desktop solution, but sometimes these things are unavoidable. That having been said, here is my take on gaming laptops. (actually any laptops)


If you are going for value laptops, meaning the best bang for the buck, you have to go Dell. They are constantly offering "$750 off any laptop over $1500" or "$200 back plus 40% off!" They are ridiculous deals and yes, they are real, very real. Just surfing www.slickdeals.net and www.bensbargains.net will show you this. It just takes about a week and a little patience. Contrary to what someone else in this thread may have indicated, Compaq does make good laptops now. This is coming from someone who used to call them "Craptops". The got a bad rep back in the day (a well deserved bad rep mind you), but their quality is up and they are no different from Toshiba, IBM, or Dell. Alright, so what should you look for...

Ideally for gaming now, you should get an AMD64 system. The problem with this of course is that AMD64s were not meant to run on laptops, although they do exist, there aren't very many of them. A gig of good ram would serve you well as would a good solid ati or nvidia mobile card (I haven't really been up on the latest mobile cards).



The OTHER solution. And in my mind the elegant solution. I assume that you have a full setup at both your parents places (keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.) This solution is perfect for that. Get a shuttle box and build it yourself (someone else mentioned it here). They are small, light and yet powerful and much much cheaper than a laptop. Again, I can help you if you need building or purchasing advice. Heck, if you are/were local, I'd build it for you.

Here is what I would do:

Get a shuttle ST20G5 ($353 Newegg)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101470

Here is the review of it, its an amazing box to say the least

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Nzgx

Get two sticks of DDR400 PC3200 Ram ($90 Newegg)

For a CPU you have choices:

AMD64 Venice 3000+ ($146)
AMD64 Venice 3200+ ($190)
AMD64 Venice 3500+ ($265)

Hard drives, you have choices, again surfing www.slickdeals.net you will find 160gb hard drives, good ones, brand name ones for $40-$50. Heck, I sell drives all the time for about $85 a pop.

Video Card, you can get an X800 Pro for $250

That should get you started at least. I'll make another post with a gaming desktop specs.

[atm743]

General advice: If you are playing games, a desktop will always serve you better. It just will. No if ands or buts about it. If you go desktop, you should build it yourself, especially if you are a gamer. I just helped a guy on AO build up his computer from scratch and all I can say is that he is one happy camper now ( freakballer12) anyways.... However, there are some circumstances in which a desktop will not work. If you are splitting your time between two places, you probobly will need a laptop, which sucks and I would look into some sort of desktop solution, but sometimes these things are unavoidable. That having been said, here is my take on gaming laptops. (actually any laptops)


If you are going for value laptops, meaning the best bang for the buck, you have to go Dell. They are constantly offering "$750 off any laptop over $1500" or "$200 back plus 40% off!" They are ridiculous deals and yes, they are real, very real. Just surfing www.slickdeals.net and www.bensbargains.net will show you this. It just takes about a week and a little patience. Contrary to what someone else in this thread may have indicated, Compaq does make good laptops now. This is coming from someone who used to call them "Craptops". The got a bad rep back in the day (a well deserved bad rep mind you), but their quality is up and they are no different from Toshiba, IBM, or Dell. Alright, so what should you look for...

Ideally for gaming now, you should get an AMD64 system. The problem with this of course is that AMD64s were not meant to run on laptops, although they do exist, there aren't very many of them. A gig of good ram would serve you well as would a good solid ati or nvidia mobile card (I haven't really been up on the latest mobile cards).



The OTHER solution. And in my mind the elegant solution. I assume that you have a full setup at both your parents places (keyboard, mouse, monitor etc.) This solution is perfect for that. Get a shuttle box and build it yourself (someone else mentioned it here). They are small, light and yet powerful and much much cheaper than a laptop. Again, I can help you if you need building or purchasing advice. Heck, if you are/were local, I'd build it for you.

Here is what I would do:

Get a shuttle ST20G5 ($353 Newegg)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101470

Here is the review of it, its an amazing box to say the least

http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=Nzgx

Get two sticks of DDR400 PC3200 Ram ($90 Newegg)

For a CPU you have choices:

AMD64 Venice 3000+ ($146)
AMD64 Venice 3200+ ($190)
AMD64 Venice 3500+ ($265)

Hard drives, you have choices, again surfing www.slickdeals.net you will find 160gb hard drives, good ones, brand name ones for $40-$50. Heck, I sell drives all the time for about $85 a pop.

Video Card, you can get an X800 Pro for $250

That should get you started at least. I'll make another post with a gaming desktop specs.

are amd's good???

whats the difference with them aginst intel's??

are they better?

[NJPaint]

I'll make a post about it at some point. its a long discussion I can assure you. Point of fact, in terms of best bang for the buck, the AMD64 systems are much better than the Intels. Which is better over all... Is pretty debatable.

btw. Just saw this on another forum, a Dell 40% off laptops thing...

http://www.techbargains.com/dellcoupons.cfm

[atm743]

well i made a computer

i made one off of compaq.com

its basiclly the same one as the one in that link but it has a gig of ram

and lightscribe drive soo i can lable cds. it still has a dvd burner and cd burning

cant wait to get it

well i didnt order it yet but i am soon

[maxama10]

yes amd is much better.... and i agree with the linux thing... just get linux and forget it

[NJPaint]

ugh what is it with all you linux freaks? I mean I use gentoo as well. I do use it over my windows box at work, but I mean recommending it for someone who wants to game??? :-p