Gateway Gaming laptop screen size question

We all know that the P-6831FX comes with the screen size of 17inch WXGA 1440 x 900 and that the 2 higher models of P-171X FX Editions will be equipped with the 17inch WUXGA 1920 x 1200. My question is how much of a difference will the screen size have on gaming and or movies, etc. ?? Is it better to have the highest resolution and the ability to go down in resolution ?? Also what if you are hooking up an external monitor capable of 1920 x 1200 ?? Just wanted to hear people's thoughts on this as I am contemplating of purchasing either the P-6831FX at Best Buy now and then just upgrading the CPU later with a faster one or purchasing the middle line P-171X FX with the WUXGA 1920 x 1200 screen and T8300 CPU for $2000. Much harder to upgrade the screen yourself once you have purchased the laptop. God Bless

 

I had that same thought when I heard about the 171X, IMO the screen size is not a problem if you have an external monitor youll be using to watch movies...etc bc thats the only way to go... but if you really want the biometrics, the slot loading disc and the t8300 with that energy consuming 8800 card you should definitely think twice about whats at hand for future reference.

 

Thanks for your thoughts coRe 2 swift. Can anyone tell me if the P-6831FX can do external resolution of 1920 x 1200 ??? Thanks again everyone. God Bless

 

I can't tell you for sure- but the general rule is usually if it can DRIVE the LCD, if can do the same for an external. For CERTAIN it can not go higher than the native LCD. A lot of people make this mistake, assuming that the GPU can do what the limits are- but they use different gpus, using the same basic designators, to run different sized LCD's. USUALLY this isn't a problem, but sometimes it can be. You'll definitely have to do more research on this one- if anyone knows yet without plugging it in to check on both (which if you're seriously the clerks ought to let you do, if you find a place that has both).

Also, you can NOT reduce the LCD resolution and still have it on par with the quality of the native- just can't be done. If you want to drop the res on a 1920x1200 to 1440x900 it will look blurred somehow or "off" from everything I've done and seen.

What MIGHT help ya is that the 1920x1200 LCD's undergo MUCH HIGHER Q&A at the plants- they're harder to make right vs, the lesser res models, which get checked and put on line in SERIOUS bulk. The 1920x1200's get the REAL Q&A still, and have higher requirements in standards of manufacturing. That means at the user end you wind up not only with a nicer LCD, but one that less prone to failures or issues down the road.

Who the HECK needs a T8300?
that's like geek-dom numbers that have no real world difference from a T7200. I mean really. you REALLY do video-compression and code compiling on your notebook for 8 hours at a time every day??? GET A DESKTOP. LOL!

As much as we need the technology to continue to improve, paying R&D on an already exorbantly overpriced laptop is silly. And for what? There is hardly anything even the richest people who use their notebooks the most IN THE WORLD would ever use an 8300 on. For that matter, most people in the world dono't even need dual core, let alone anything past a 1.3 coppermine. LOL!

A good warranty would serve almost everyone better than more cpu power- that's all marketing R&D hype.

Upgrading the LCD isn't too hard- just a few screws and back plate and such- but the 1920 LCD will cost ya $300-$400 USA new, probably even a year or two from now- naturally, unless you do Ebay with a toasted rig that has a good LCD- but then everyone will be interested in it- lol!


so many choices.
Of note- it's a gaming rig. What GPU you looking at, and what slot is it? did you know you CAN upgrade these GPU's in notebooks? Almost EVERYTHING made since 2006 is upgradeable, unless it's by intel or ATI built-in. But the SLOT style changes based on what the GPU requires. for instance a 8xxx will plug into most 76xx+ chassis slots. And a 7995GS will SERIOUSLY COOK a 8600-8800 gPU hands down, regardless of memory.

If you're serious about a game rig, get something that has an upgradeable GPU and spend your money on the RAM and GPU and LCD- skip that silly cpu. When do we need raw number crunching power? Who does code compiling on a laptop daily?


7995 GTX.
That's my opinion. JUST an opinion though, and we all have those, eh?
*grin*

(p.s. I got the XPS 1710 after a TON of research, and put in the top cards and got a middle range cpu and put in my own memory and burner and battery repack. I'm still not impressed with ANYTHING OUT THERE since the 1710's came out- simply, they're all take-offs on the same thing- using the same mobos from intel with or without a chip here or there, and the same GPU's with different cores that are no faster or better, and the SAME LCD's from the same manufacturer, and the same philips or such burners, and the same fans from the same places... all just reassembled in different cases, and given new names -just FYI).

 

^WTF?!

Yes. Yes it can.

 

seconding the ^WTF?!

you just make all that up?

 

Yeah I'd pick and chose what Tango wrote because alot of it is just bunk.

Depends on personal preference.
I like huge resolutions for 2D work, but I like being able to play games too.

The thing I like about a WUXGA screen is that it's 1/4 scale resolution with no interpolation is a reasonable one for detail. 960x600 will give you 4 display pixels per image pixel and thus a nice square 'pixel' without interpolation however of course the equivalent dot pitch now is huge, but shouldn't be 'blurry' the way interpolated resolutions would be.

Yes according to their product literature that would be well within the range @ 60hz;
http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/mobile/2007/geforce-8800m/features-lg.jpg

They are using dual-link TMDS on both the internal and the HDMI connections so right up to the 30"s 25x16 resolution would be fine @ 60hz.

Having used both resolution on laptops I would say go for the 1920x1200 over 1440x900, it's the only thing I wish Fujitsu had shipped with mine (other than XP ) and that I wished they offered when they sold the first 17" Gateways.
While you won't be able to game in most new games a max resolution without dropping some settings it should do great in older games and the option to switch down or use an external output should make it quite capable and text and web surfing will be great... as long as your eyes are up to the task.

 

Don't worry about that small resolution. My Dell displays 1400x900 pretty well on my 17" screen. If the res were any higher, I think I would be inches from my screen.

But hey, I just upgraded to a new 24" monitor (1920x1200) and that helps tremendously. I wouldn't recommend it on a 17" screen though.

 

@tango
Where's the "Post is alot of bunk" button?

 

go with the 1920x1200 for a 17" screen and 1440x900 on a 15" screen