Need your guys' opinion

Hi laptop noob here


After looking at laptops for sometime now, i have decided to go with the iBuypower CRZ-93E notebook for gaming.

Although one of my big concerns is the Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT not being powerful enough.

But before i pull the trigger i just wanted some of your guys' opinions on this one.


Here are the specs:

Processor & Memory:

* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.5GHz)
* 800MHz front side bus speed
* 6MB L2 Cache
* 4GB DDR2-667 SDRAM memory (both slots occupied)

Drives:

* 250GB (5,400 RPM) SATA hard drive
* DVD±RW drive with dual layer capability

Graphics & Video:

* 15.4" WXGA+ widescreen TFT LCD display (1440 x 900 native resolution)
* 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT graphics

Communications:

* 802.11n WLAN mini card
* Gigabit Ethernet LAN
* 56K modem
* Built-in 2.0MP CMOS camera and microphone

Audio:

* Realtek ALC268 audio
* Built-in stereo speakers

Keyboard:

* TouchPad™ pointing device with vertical scroll up/down pad
* Built-in Fingerprint Security Reader

Expandability:

* Two main memory slots (occupied)
* ExpressCard™/54 slot
* 3-in-1 digital media card reader accepts Secure Digital, Memory Stick and MultiMediaCard

Ports:

* VGA port (monitor)
* TV-Out (S-Video) Port
* Four USB 2.0 ports
* IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port
* Microphone input
* Headphone output
* RJ-11 port (modem)
* RJ-45 port (LAN)

Operating System:

* Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium (64-bit)

Additional Software:

* Microsoft HALO 2 game
* Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial)

Power Supply:

* 9-cell Li-Ion battery pack
* AC adapter: 100-240V AC, 50-60Hz universal

Additional Information:

* Dimensions: 14.0" W x 10.1" D x 1.4"~1.5" H
* Weight (approximate): 6.3 lbs
* Warranty: One year iBUYPOWER limited warranty
* Lifetime toll-free tech support



Let me know what you guys think about this one!


Thanks in advance

 

What games will you be playing? The 8600 GT (DDR3 version) can handle games like Bioshock but won't be able to play something like Crysis.

 

Umm...it plays Crysis fine.

 

it all depends on the settings. 8600m GT can play crysis at med no problem.

 

I'm looking to play games like counterstrike source, world of warcraft, and starcraft2.


Now i am wondering if this laptop would be a good investment b/c of the graphic card and how well it would hold up to future DX10 games.


But what do you think of the system specs? Worth the 1300 dollars?

 

it is well worth $1300. sure you can play future DX10 games at med/low settings

 

Okay. I was also looking at Gateway's gaming laptop, the P-6860FX.
It has the 8800M GTS graphics card.

But i didnt think that 1.83ghz, only 2mb cache, and 667 fsb is a good trade off for the 8800. Or is it?


thanks for your input nirvana

 

if gaming is your major purpose, then you can't go wrong with p-6860. 1.83ghz is enough for now, upgrade it to t9300 when the price comes below $200. but i must remind you that the built quality is very crappy.

 

Is there any way to upgrade the gfx card?

Based on the specs on both lappys, which would you personally go with?

 

no you can't upgarde gfx on both rig. for me, since i do lot of gaming, i will go for 6860

 

knowing that i cant upgrade gfx card makes it all harder to decide..

 

You can't upgrade the GPU, but you can change the CPU. That should make it easier to decide.
Are the 512 Mb in the 8600M GT GDDR3? Or GDDR2? That could make a noticeable difference (the first being better than the latter).
Of course, choosing a notebook is more than just comparing the components' raw power...

 

i would go with the gateway, heard a lot of good talk about it and its a great price, sure you cant upgrade the graphics but at less then $1400 its still a great choice, all you will need to do is upgrade the CPU.

 

here look at this

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=217805

benchmarks and screens for the 8800m GTS

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...ay+fx&lp=3&type=product&cp=1&id=1195599780039
This is what you need to beat the crap out of the one you are looking at, and at a cheaper price,twice the performance and 17 inch screen...

 

If you are gaming enthusiast then go with nVidia 8800.

It will give you at least some ammount of future proofness. However even this card doesn't perfrom at enough level for true gaming affictionado.The latest benchmarks show that even single 8800m(non - SLI) struggles with highest settings with some of todays' games like UT3.

8600 will run those games that you have mentioned, but future games will have choppy fps or you will have to lower settings drastically.

 

im not sure if it has GDDR3 or 2, didnt specify in the specs


so the 8800 is that worth it?

 

you should email them to find out. $1200 for a 8800m machine is a steal. my np5793 cost me $2300

 

i just called ibuypower its a ddr2

 

if thats for the 8600m GT i would go for the gateway

 

Thanks for your guys' input.

 

The 8800M GTS is at least twice as fast as the 8600M GT.
DEFINITELY worth it, and at that price it`s unbeatable(I start to sound like a broken record).
My laptop costed 2300$ and it`s half as good as the gateway...

 

yes the price is unbeatable for that gfx card, but is it worth it losing 6mb cache and 800 fsb? i understand that th cpu is upgradable. Given that i am working with the program Maya, im just not sure that the gateway would last me a while except the 8800.

 

And you can always put a T8300/T9300 in the Gateway, with that processor it'll be GPU limited not CPU limited.

 

Jlbrightbill,

How does your 8600M GT perform with recent games?

 

The CPU is very easily upgradeable, there are users on the forum that can giude you through it.
The thing is that the CPU is so easily accessible, that Gateway probably knew users would upgrade the CPU

 

I OC mine and happened to luck out with a fairly high overclocker.

But I don't really play a ton of recent games, but it's more than enough to drive CoD4 at 1680x1050 at mostly high settings and even some AA/AF if I don't mind the dips into the low 30's. Stuff like TF2, which I mainly play, it handles at my max resolution just fine.

 

damn gateway...hahaha