Laptop

[phantomdesign]

I always build my computers, but I don't think that's quite possible with a laptop . . . as most of what I've heard of comes pre-built & you can't opt-out of hardware (hardrives, memory, CPU, etc) to just build it yourself (or can you).

I have a kick-ass computer (check my signature), so the laptop doesn't have to be the latest and greatest. I would like it to be powerful enough to play games well enough (not Crysis at full settings) & do some 3D applications (modeling and rendering). Anyway, I have a budget of about $800 but I can increase the budget if the increase in performance is worth it.

I figure at minimum dual-core, 2gb ram, 256mb video card DX9, 300GB harddrive, DVD burner. I might go touch-screen (or one that uses a stylis) for no more than $125 extra.

So, suggestions? Recommendations?

 

[theotherguy]

You will not, no cannot, get the laptop you desire for that price

I just spent $1000 for an HP with a crappy 64MB video card, 2GB ram, Athalon X2 processor, 250 GB harddrive. It plays portal at 15 FPS on all low settings at 800x600

Getting a laptop with more than 128MB of dedicated video card memory will be close to impossible for your price range. Think more $1200-1500

 

[Ennui]

my laptop was $1400 or $1500 and has 160gb HDD, EE6600, 256mb video memory and 2gb of RAM... to give you an idea of what you can get for price. It's a thinkpad btw

 

[joule]

Go with Dell's Inspiron or XPS series notebooks. I have one and it serves me well.

 

[Eejit]

Fujitsu-Siemens also do nice reliable notebooks. But I can't see you getting those specs for that price.

 

[phantomdesign]

Hmmm, seems I have to invest more for less, lol. Spent $1500 building my PC, seems I'd get half as much in a laptop for the same price. Maybe I should just get a used one for around $500 and just save the rest of my money for later PC upgrades.

 

[phantomdesign]

I could probably run old games like morrowind and descent on an older laptop, probably photoshop, light 3D aps, and stuff like that on an older laptop. I think a second desktop at work might be a bit much & the portability would be nice for files and stuff.

 

[Eejit]

I find my gaming laptop pretty handy. But that's because I move between 'home' and Uni several times a year for weeks/months at a time. And it would suck balls to have to do that with a desktop.