How is this for a gaming laptop?

On a scale of 1-10, 10 being best, how would this setup be for gaming? Are there any games currently out that would struggle to run on this setup?

Win 7 Home 64-bit
Intel i5-2450M (2.5 GHz w/ 3.1 GHz turbo)
1GB AMD Radeon HD 7690M GDDR5
8GB DDR3 RAM
750GB HD at 7200 RPM
9-cell Lithium battery
SuperMulti 8x DVD drive

Also, how good of a deal would this be packaged in an HP DV6 for $750.00?

 

If you plan to primarily game on it, I don't recommend it.
Because HP dv6 is not meant for gaming.

7690M is a midrange GPU and can handle a game like Battlefield 3 at low settings.

 

What would you reccomend for a GPU then? And which HP models are meant to be for gaming?

 

not quite true. my 6630m overclocked gets 40+ fps in Battlefield 3 multiplayer with a mix of MEDIUM and HIGH settings, MSAA off, FXAA on, AO off with a custom user.cfg. 7690m is 6770m rebranded, which shares the same core with 6630m but uses GDDR5 memory instead of DDR3. therefore, it's faster and can overclock better. it might be a mid-range GPU, but it's not a bad one by any means.

 

For gaming, I give it a 6/7.

However, if your considering the Dv6, then I'm guessing your budget bound. For the price range, it's probably the best system you can get.


For gaming, the mainstream minimum suggested is the AMD 68 70m/Geforce GTX 560m; and anything above.

If you want a portable system that can do some casual gaming, then I think the HP is a great find!

I would say the ENVY line is meant for gaming, but reading a few pages in the HP-subforum has me thinking it's more of a "high-performance" machine [whatever that means]. I think the ENVY 17 comes with a AMD 68 50m [a notch lower than the 6870m]

 

FORCE 16F2-012 / MSI 16F2

Much better and only 2-3 hundred more.(if you can float that)

 

Envy is more of a Windows-based MacBook Pro than a true gaming machine. It competes more directly with the likes of the Dell XPS. HP doesn't make any "gaming" notebooks in the same vein as Alienware, Asus, MSI, or Sager/Clevo. If the OP's primary objective is gaming, and he can stretch his budget a bit, it's best to look at systems from those brands, rather than anything HP has to offer.

 

Budget allowing I would go this route.

Another factor, my dv6 3181NR runs awfully hot when I game on it. Maybe the newer generation is better?

 

everybody trying to find the best performance/price should go MSI 16F2, and as soon as possible!

 

5 out of 10.

 

Actually, it comes with a 7690m - HP was so antsy to get on the new line of GPUs that they seem to have committed to the 7xxx's before AMD told everybody that anything actually new (and not just rebranded) was gonna wait a while. Once the 28nm AMD GPUs come out you can expect it to be upgraded to something 78xx.

The Envy line is a bit weird. They're pretty, well-built, and (with some exceptions) high-end all-around machines, but they don't really excel significantly in any one aspect - i.e. battery life is good but not great, they're generally moderately compact but not actually that thin or light for their screen size (and the AC adapters are the normal bricks), GPU's are usually above average for the size but not into the realm of true gaming prowess, and HP's really hit-or-miss on supplying screens - some have been great (Envy 14 Radiance), and some have been horrible (Envy 14 Brightview). I like the line in general and I've been happy with my Envy 14 for the last couple years, but puzzling product-placement decisions abound in the annals of the HP Envy line, with the current Envy 17's GPU being significant among them.

 

LOLWUT? 7690m is definitely great for gaming especially at 1366x768. You can get 40+FPS in BF3 at med/high settings no issue. You can play most games at 1080p > 30FPS med details no issue. See my sig for 6750m performance, as it's pretty much same as 6750m. Here's link too: http://forum.notebookreview.com/gam...amd-radeon-hd-6750m-benchmarking-results.html

Ok, if you like to max detail and everything, no it's not for you, but more than adequate for gaming.

 

Everyone who wants to do some serious gaming on a budget just needs to stop what their doing now and order one of the fallowing two set ups. Both of them are the same except one has a 15" display and the other a 17" display. You would be hard pressed to find better hardware for a better price. If you call Gentech, the guy Ken will even knock off $50 of the final price for you.

GenTech PC - MSI MS-16F2 GTX570M or GTX580M (GT683DXR Barebone)

GenTech PC - MSI MS-1761 (GT780DXR Barebone) Gaming Notebook

If you just upgrade the CPU to the 2670, for less than $1200 your getting a i7 2670, Nvidia GTX 570m, 8gb Ram, 750gb HDD, 17" 1080p display and the best speakers you will ever hear in a laptop.

These laptops are rarely staying in stock so reserve yours today. You will not regret it.

 

Yep, saw these new MSI laptops today and it's a great buy. It's now officially the best bang for buck laptop with a 1k+ budget, beating the Force (560m) and +1 to GenTechPC ...Ken is A+++.

 

awesome specs for a laptop, but who designs these these ugly laptops? can't these big companies hire someone with a better sense of industrial design?

 

What kind of battery life does the 16F2 get?

 

All gaming laptops are ugly...

 

oh noooeess!!!

 

Haven't you heard there is really only ONE true gaming laptop, and it's secksy...



/sarcasm/

 

>7690M is a midrange GPU and can handle a game like Battlefield 3 at low settings.
>7690M
>low settings
Oh god what.

 

Since its a "white-box" of the MSI GT683DXR, assuming you have a 570m, I believe I read somewhere that it was tested to get just under 3 hours on battery while playing a DVD.


Here's a detailed battery-run-down test of the 560m-equipped gt683r version.

MSI GT683R Review - ComputerShopper.com

"The GT683R comes with a nine-cell battery that lasted a healthy 3 hours and 25 minutes on our DVD battery-rundown test, in which we play a DVD movie on a loop until the battery is exhausted."


If the goal is gaming, then that deal above for the 16F2 blows the HP out of the water. The 7690 is a pitiful GPU in comparison to a 570m.

 

I have the same MSI barebones built by Power Notebooks (named the PowerPro 11:36) and love it. I did a lot of research for a 15" gaming laptop and it came down to the 16F2 and the Sager 8130 as the best bang-for-your-buck systems.

 

A machine packing the 570M for just over $1100 is unbeatable.

 

That is a great deal actually. Not the prettiest or most elegant girl on the block, but hey, it looks pretty functional and not horrid. Just throw in switchable graphics, or at least 3 useable hours battery life, and I'm sold, well with an Ivy Bridge.

 

Anchor... I don't get it.

 

The Machine is a bit Bulky and Heavy.. Sorry.. my humor is sometimes a little too highbrow.

 

I think the problem isn't the humor being highbrow, but that the level of exaggeration was off-topic and foolish.

Gaming laptops have higher performance at a price of higher heat or higher weight for fans and heatsinks.

So a little real-world comparison:
16F2 = 7.7 lbs
HP DV6 is just under 6 lbs with 7690

The difference is quite frankly the cooling to handle the much more powerful GPU.

If the OP has trouble lifting more than 6lbs, then the HP is the better solution.

If the OP can handle an extra 1.7lbs and the slightly higher pricetag, and wants the almost double performance boost (assuming he flashes the 570m with the latest BIOS) the 16F2 is a better choice.

 

Tough Crowd.

 

If I have to watch one more 200+lb man cry about how "heavy" their 6-lb Latitude is in comparison to a 5.5lb Macbook Pro I will probably start a crusade to "darwin" everyone who cannot lift 10lbs without making a production over it.

I think society and our gene pool will be better for it.

 

lol...............................10 char

 

I agree weight shouldn't be that big of a deal but everyone's entitled to their opinion, we can all be friends here and have a calm discussion

I personally think if youre looking for a very portable and sleek gaming laptop machines like the DV6 and M14x cant really be beat. If you need a portable system but lots of power there's of course the old fashioned way, but I always kind of look at those more like super-ultra-portable desktops as theyre pretty hefty and thick so theyre perfect for traveling with and then just setting up somewhere. When I think of a DV6 or M14x I think of just quickly plugging in anywhere, even on your laptop, to game at any time if that makes sense.

 

dv6 is great @ 700-800
16F2 is great @ 1100

But the 16F2 remind me of the ASUS Gseries which I would never bring to school .

 

Yeah.. but you have to understand, us 300lb men have enough weight to lug around already.

Actually.. For Me, Flying Coast to Coast, and already having to pack a ProBook for work, adding an extra 2-3lbs for the machine and 2-3lbs for another power brick becomes a bit of a chore. Its not that its so heavy that you can't lug it, or that its painful.. Its just a pain in the asteroid, especially juggling at customs, TSA and the overhead bin.

So if i have to chose between lugging a 35lb bag across the Detroit Airport and a 29lb Bag/Roller.. Its one of those kind of things.

 

Last deployment I lugged around a Clevo D901C.

This deployment it's an Alienware M18x.

Not many people have traveled as much as I have with such heavy notebooks. I'll definitely take a ton more power for a couple measly pounds. I think some people just need to go to the gym more often.

 

Except it's another 1.7lbs and maybe 0.5-1lbs for the charger, so you are looking around an overall 2.5lb increase for over double the gaming performance, a better screen, better sound and better cooling (as it runs cooler than the HP).

 

We are talking a level of degree here... a 7.7lb laptop does not compare to a anchor measured in tons...

If portability is your #1 consideration, perhaps an ultra-light with an intel integrated GPU is much better suited. Yes, there are steps along the way in between...

However, the topic is about gaming laptops and the mentioned GPU (assumed Dv6) gaming potency.

The 16F2 is insanely better performance-wise, is a little heavier and more expensive, but is a MUCH better choice for the goals listed.

If someone brought up that the 16F2 was 1.7lbs heavier and maybe around2.5lbs total with adapter, I'd agree and highlight the benefits as meaker did.

The anchor just hit the wrong note for me... the concept that a 7.7lb laptop is heavy seems ludicrous.

For comparison, they let you carry up to 15lbs on a BROKEN or severely crippled shoulder.

My girlfriend's purse weighs more than 10lbs, and she's 120lbs soaking wet.

 

You are really wound up about that one.. Man.. i had no idea that would turn your world upside down for days. I'm really sorry about that, and i sincerely apologize for posting a picture of an anchor to illustrate my non-point.

Perhaps I should have posted an image of several carefully selected weights that add-up to 7.8lbs, or even 7.9lbs to give a real kick of outlandish humor to the thread. No? Think that would have also been a severe disruption to your life as well?

See, human beings can and will use exaggeration. Its a natural part of human social interaction. Now, i can see that you are having issues with the concept, i would advise seeking some counseling or even professional psycho-therapy.

You owe it to yourself to get help, it might open up some doors for you that you didn't even know where there!!

Maybe in a couple of years, you could even make some friends, attend a BBQ and learn to laugh and joke around. Perhaps you could even try an attempt at humor yourself? It could be a whole new dawn for you!!

Tell you what.. come back here in six months or a year after you get out of the mental health program and give your new-found social skills a try right here on us. We would be glad to be a spring-board to help you progress! Its the least we could do!

 

If you had used an anchor when someone mentions a M18X (which STARTS at 12lbs) then it may have been meaningful.

However jumping from notebook to anchor with something that's 20% heavier? You may as well have posted a picture of a clown spraying water in someone's face for all the context it had.

DV6:

: 37.8 x 24.68 x 3.52 cm

Weight starts at 2.91kg (so a higher spec one will weigh more)

16F2:

395.4 x 267.7 x 55.6 mm

Weight is 7.71lbs (3.5kg)

So it's a couple of CM wider and longer and a bit taller at it's thickest (it has high feet) that space buys you gaming power and a 2nd HDD.

 

Come on girls, let's play nice, no hair pulling.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and desires and it's their money to spend. I think most people will take a small weight and size increase for a decent performance boost, as that's the way most laptops are, but clearly there's a niche where people want as thin and light as it can get. I personally look at performance and battery life first, screen second, style, size, and weight last.

 

So.. i bought an M18X.. I am currently using a rolling Suitecase for a case.. You know.. the 12lb machine isnt so bad.. but damn.. that 330w power BRICK could use some lightening up.. HA!

 

I love a thin and light as just a basic machine to run around with. Smaller the better. I just don't expect much out of it. I tried with just a single machine for a while then with a netbook + laptop. Neither is ideal, although I think a 13" with reasonable gaming power would suit me just fine. If it weighs 4 lbs but can pack the punch of my current HP DV6 I'll be a happy camper. The LG P330 is near that performance but it's still expensive and hard to get ahold of.

 

I'm in the same boat. I'm in the market for a new machine right now and i'm having a hard time of it.

I am considering the Razer Blade, but that 555M is the only hold-back for me. I would really like to have a 6990M/580M in my machine, but i can't find one that feels or looks as solid as the Razer or Macbook Pro. The HP Envy 17 would be a great machine, but the 7690 just wont cut it for me.

So that leaves me looking at the 8170 Sager.. or the MSI GT783.. (Not fond of the Alienware Vents and case)

 

To be honest, for a portable computer, after having an NP8130, HP DV6, and NP8170, I don't see any real advantage to having a 17" screen unless you have poor eyesight, just like things "bigger" on the screen, or if the 17" offers SLI or CrossfireX that you want/need. Now if it's going to be a DTR where it stays put 90% of the time 17" or 18" makes sense to me, but then again, you can always get a large external monitor. Many 15" machines pack as much power and features as their 17" counterparts.

 

I agree on the 555m holding back. It seems that most of the pre-made laptop manufacturers haven't upgraded their GPUs for quite a while. I heavily caution against the 7690 or even the 555m. I have a 6770m in my current 17" HP and it can barely handle Diablo 3 at the lowest settings in solo play mode. I need to upgrade just to play four-player games on the lowest setting without massive sampling. Although the 555m is an upgrade from my 6770m, its not much of one.

One advantage of the 17" screen is the full-keyboard. Having the numpad can be very useful if you work in Excel or any other number-intensive task.

After some review I decided to upgrade to the Sager 8170 with the 6990m. Milabal/Xotic have it for a good price right now because of the winter sale.

 

That 7690 just plain ticks me off..

I ALMOST bought a laptop today;

HP ENVY 17 3D edition customizable Notebook PC
LY336AV


Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
2nd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2760QM Processor (2.4 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz)
1GB AMD Radeon(TM) HD 7690M GDDR5 Discrete Graphics(TM) [HDMI, DP]
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
1.05TB 7200 rpm Dual Hard Drive (SSD 300GB + 750GB 7200 rpm)
$40 OFF Microsoft(R) Office Home and Student 2010
6-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery
17.3-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD 3D Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920x1080)
Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
HP TrueVision HD Webcam
Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) Elements 9 & Adobe Premiere(R) Elements 9
HP Pavilion additional 120W AC Adapter
2 year limited warranty included
HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope

Price: $2,627.99
Coupon: –$394.20
Laptop instant rebate: –$250.00
Price after savings: $1,983.79

With the HP Sale, I can get that for $1983;

It has EVERYTHING i want and need, except that 7690! For the love of god.. if i could get a 6990M im it, i would buy it.. But why-oh-why can't i get an Envy with anything more potent.. Just plain sucks.

 

Because simply it's not meant for gaming, it's a great machine though.

 

Seems only the "performance" brand notebooks like Asus, MSI, Clevo/Sager tend to put in the powerful GPU's. 7690m is ~ 555m so it's not horrible, just not the best card for 1080p gaming. It's excellent for 720p gaming. It all comes down to cooling. 7690m, 555m, etc have about a 40-45W TDP. 560m, 6970m, etc have 75W TDP, pretty significant difference for cooling. It would probably have to be about half inch thicker and a pound or more heavier to get it to cool properly.

 

You forgot Alienware

 

Yeah Alienware... just was setting examples. Although if you're going to make a 17 inch gaming capable laptop why not shoot for something more substantial? You won't be using 1366x768 on a 17", 1600x900 minimum, so you'll need adequate to drive it.