Budget Gamers GPU

Howdy - my son will be getting a laptop for a grad present - there are restrictions in that the laptop can only be $1000 CDN... so my son is thinking that he will go for lower RAM initially and add more RAM in a month or so... he would like to play some games online - not totally sure what ones...

Can someone rate these laptops and the dual video cards for the Alienware? I think from our research that we are down to 2 laptops - Alienware one and a Compaq...

The Alienware is leading the race right now...

TIA

S Ryall

Alienware:
Technical Specifications
Operating Systems
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Edition
Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005
Processors & Chipset
Intel® Pentium® M Processor (533MHz FSB, 2MB Cache)
Intel® Celeron® M Processor (400MHz FSB, 1MB Cache)
Intel 915GM + ICH6-M chipset
Graphics & Video
NVIDIA GeForce 6600 Go up to 256MB DDR
Intel Extreme Graphics 3 swappable somehow...
Memory
Starting at 256MB and up to 2GB of PC-4200 DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
2 dedicated SO-DIMM slots for Dual-Channel DDR2 Memory
Storage
Externally accessible:
Single Optical Drive with optional DVD±R/W Support
I/O Ports
Externally accessible:
Video:One VGA connector TV-out:One S-Video out connector IEEE 1394:IEEE 1394a (4-pin) port USB:3 Hi-speed USB 2.0 ports Headphone:1 headphone jack Audio:Intel High-Definition 7.1 channel out (S/PDIF) / Line-in, Microphone in Network:Integrated Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 Modem:Integrated 56K V.92 modem RJ-11 Slots
PCMCIA Card Slot
4-in-1 Memory Card Reader (SD/MS/MSPRO/MMC)
Case & Chassis
Exclusive Alienware Design and Color
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.36” x 14.25” x 10.75”
LCD Panel
15.4” WideXGA 1280x800 LCD Display
15.4” WideSXGA+ 1680x1050 LCD Display
15.4” WideUXGA 1920x1200 LCD Display

Here are the Compaq specs:

Get mobile with Compaq Presario V2570CA laptop. This laptop features an AMD Turion ML-32 mobile processor designed for mobility with a thin and light format 14" WXGA screen with Brightview. More Info

Mfr. Part Number: ES307UA#ABL
Processor Type AMD Turion 64 ML-32
Screen Size 14.0"
RAM (Preloaded / Maximum) 512MB DDR RAM (Exp. To 2GB)
Hard Drive 60GB 4200RPM
Optical Drives DVD+/- R/RW and CD-RW Combo Drive
Graphics 128MB ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Shared
Average Battery Life 3 Hours
Product Weight 2.33 kg
Audio Type Altec Lansing
Battery Type 6-Cell Lithium-Ion
Cache 512KB L2
Fax/Modem 56K V.90
I/O Ports 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394
Included In Box AC Adapter, Battery, Manual
Network Card 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
Other Software See The Features Section
PC Card Slots 1 x Type I/II 32-Bit (Supports 16-Bit)
Pointing Device Touchpad
Preloaded Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
Processor Speed 1.8GHz
Product Dimensions 33.40(W) x 3.28(H) x 23.11(D) cm
Removable Storage No
Screen Type WXGA High-Definition BrightView
Speakers Altec Lansing
System Bus 1800MHz

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=39568

^a good review of all the different GPU's.

 

Hm . . gaming in a laptop for $1000CA is going to be really tough . . (it's roughly $856USD for those wondering) . . you'd be looking at the X200M for your graphics card, which is very limited (although good for an integrated card) when it comes to games.

Is it possible that he can get a desktop instead? You can put together a decent machine for that.

Chaz

 

I highly advise against getting alienware for two reasons:

1) They are overpriced

2) They are poor quality and have bad technical support

 

I just ordered a gaming laptop with the same budget youve mentioned! I too plan on adding ram later, and since I have 1.4TB of storage at home, I am able to save money in that respect on my laptop, heres what I picked up for $850

Dell E1505
Core Duo CPU 1.66ghz 667FSB
512MB DDR2 533Mhz RAM (1 stick)
40Gb HD 5400RPM
15.4" WXGA with TrueLife
Radeon x1400 128Mb dedicated (upto 256 with hypermemory)

None of the other specs matter in a gaming pc, but for the price, I got a hell of a deal I think, a 1.66ghz Yonah is more than enough CPU power for games, considering the will be limited by the x1400. No sense getting a faster cpu, as framerates will not noticibly increase

 

Thanks for the feedback - the Dell in Canada is called Inspirion 6400 (like we have totally different language or something eh?!) It does look good - but is priced just out of the range - not sure that the dad will budge or not...

BTW - Dell just BOUGHT Alienware - should be completed within 2 months...

This gives me good information to glean from...

With my appreciation..

S Ryall

 

i would rather buy something with a small 40gb hard drive, and 256mb ram, which i would upgrade down the line then to have a integrated video card (from a gaming perspective)

pb,out.

 

$1000 CDN is going to be a little on the low side for a good gaming laptop. Personally, I recommend looking into the Quanta KN1-PM; it's similar to the Alienware, only more well-rounded.

 

I would really try to go for the E1505. I have no idea what kind of deals Dell has for canada, but there might be something that can put it in your price range.

The x1400 would be MUCH better then the ati 200m. Im not familiar with the 6600, but if its similar to the 7400 (which im assuming it is) then the ati x1400 will be better then that too.

 

The Go6600 is considerably faster than the Go7400, and a big reason of that is because it has a faster and larger memory bus.

The X1400 is definitely a lot better than the X200M . . if you don't have enough cash to spend for a better card than X200M, then to tell the truth, just wait a bit until you have more - the X200M isn't going to deliver for gaming.

Chaz

 

Maybe you can consider Toshiba M40/45 with dedicated GeForce 6600Go 128MB.
But I'm unsure whether US version of M40 has dedicated GPU compared to Canadian version M45 instead

 

Unless your son plays a lot of FPS games then the X200M should be fine, but if he does, or just wants better graphical performance overall you'd want a dedicated GPU. I wouldn't go for Alienware seeing as you're on a rather tight budget, and what do you think your son's professor is going to think when he walks into class and flips open the laptop with an Alien's head on the back and glowing eyes? =P

He will be going to college correct?

I'd either save up a bit more money or look around a bit more though, myself.

 

Hi mom~!

It's great to see mothers on here asking about laptops to buy for sons' graduation presents.

Lucky for you I'm Canadian as well~!

For that price you will not find a gaming laptop.

Stay away from alienware. Overpriced. If you want a budget gaming laptop I would suggest the Hp, shoot, forgot which one, the 15.4 inch one with a x700 videocard. I believe it is the cheapest laptop with a x700 in it.

Acer actually has one with a x700 for a great price too.

I suggest looking at futureshop.ca, bestbuy.ca, and thesourcecc.com for Acer and Hp laptops with the x700 videocard in it.

You will find them at great prices with great bundles as well, if they still have them.

For budget gaming that's your best bet. I would suggest an Asus, but over your budget.

I think you can find an Acer with a x700 for just over 1000.

Goodluck mom~!

 

That cheap HP with the X700 is gone =/ They don't sell it anymore, which really dissapointed me...

 

Compaq has the V4000t with the x700 essentially the same as the hp but cheaper. I don't know if they are still selling it if hp took of theirs though...

 

Awwww man they got rid of ti Reize? Too bad, that thing was GREAT for budget gamers, or just budget minded people.

What a bunch of jerks, getting rid of it so fast. I was hoping it'd still be out for mom.

 

It was the best budget gaming laptop out there, I was leaning toward getting one too, but I didn't pull the trigger deciding to wait and save up a bit more as well as to see if the price dropped.

Guess I rolled the dice and lost that one...

 

Just noticed they still have the same description of the V4000T of when it had the X700, that it has 128MB of dedicated graphics memory for.. Whatever it says, but you can only configure it with the GMA900, I bet some people are going to get jipped like that...

 

Lets not forget twice the number of pipelines on the 6600go....