Quiet gaming laptop to use on lap?

I'm an avid gamer and I've always run on desktop machines, but life has changed (kids) and I need something to use while in the family room while on the couch.

But I don't want to have a loud running system that bothers everyone. I would also like something I can keep on my lap, even if I need a cooler underneath it.

I would like to play the latest games, but I don't need to have setting all the way up. I'm not sure about resolution, my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. I can't imagine 1920x1080 on a laptop, but then again I've never experienced that.

I like bang for the buck, but money is not the biggest factor.

Ultimately I would like to have a desktop on side of couch and somehow use a monitor/ keyboard on my lap but can't find something that would work well.

 

Sager NP8130. 15" 1920x1080, GTX 560, i7-2630QM ~ $1300.

In any case, the fan would be your biggest problem, and if you're playing latest games, then you either have to sacrifice a strong GPU and/or CPU for sound.

You can pick up an Asus A53TA from TigerDirect for $529.99, it has an AMD CPU and GPU, 1366x768 screen, it's not the fastest, but it can manage newer games well, and isn't all that loud when gaming.

 

Go with the Asus G series. They don't have the fans underneath so you can play with it running cool on your lap.

Any of the 15" and 17" G53, G73, G74. They run as cool as a Clevo/Sager, but much quieter and they barely give off any heat on the bottom.

That's what sets the G series apart from all other gaming notebooks right now.

 

Highly recommend something like this (depending on the height of your sofa):

http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/PeekabooCTableClearF6?&$web_zoom$&wid=773&hei=773

You can recline on your sofa and roll this bad boy over your lap.

You might also consider using trackball mouse and something like a nostromo gamepad or NumPad instead of the keyboard.

 

i have an asus g73...they are probably the quietest gaming laptops available

For comparison purposes, with both under full load, it is much quieter than my Alienware m17x R3

 

It's all relative though. If the rest of the family is watching TV, and his fan is still making a loud hum it's not good.

 

That and if you're sitting on the couch you are going to need a mouse, which is going to be a bit awkward at best I think.

 

I have a macbook pro that I've tried on the couch and its fine with the mouse on the arm rest. But even that gets really loud when under full load.

Any recommendation on where to buy if I decide it won't work and need to return?

I personally don't like the style of the Asus after looking at it, but I guess I don't have much choice.

 

I vote for Asus g-series without doubt.
Even pushing my g53 to his limits with an overvolted bios and gaming clocks in sig is still quieter than anything else I ever owned.
This little thing is amazing, it's silent, it has power, it's small.
The couch king lol.

 

Another vote for a g53, g73 or g74 depending on your budget and needs. The Sager that HT suggested has a bit better cooling but is a bit louder, but if you don't like the looks of the g series then it is a very good choice.

as for retailers, hmm... you probably won't want to return it, but I've heard gentechpc and xoticpc deal with returns well. Got mine from gentech, no regrets at all.

 

The biggest issue is what HTWingNut already mentioned. The fans in the G series work differently than that of Alienware and Clevo. Alienware and Clevo have LARGE vents under the notebooks where the air is sucked in to cool the components. Asus has found a way where that isn't necessary.

Placing a Clevo or Alienware on your lap will do two things. #1 it will discolor your skin in the long term from the heat. This is a fact, hot laptops on your lap leads to permanent skin discolorations. #2 your laptop may overheat if you block those vents with your lap.

I play all my games an hour or two before going to bed with single player, not MP on my bed before turning off the lights on my lap. I just find it a more relaxing way to game. If I'm playing MP then yes I'm at a desk sitting up, and alert. I doubt you can do this with Alienware or Clevo with the laptop sitting directly on the blankets. 5870M still sits at 77C when I'm playing Rage I'm not fat, I run in the mornings.... I just like gaming on my bed before sleeping.

 

If you sacrifice some power the Alienware m11x is an awesome couch gamer and really quiet. When I had mine I just sat it on my lap and gamed for hours with my mouse being used on the couch armrest. Personally I didn't mind lowering some settings since the with the smaller screen it was harder to see the loss of detail

 

To avoid heat issues with lap-top gaming, a lap desk or even a simple piece of wood will provide a nice flat surface for your laptop. I personally have a piece of wood about 3/4" x 12" x 24" and it works great. I even use it if my computer's beside me on the bed (watching videos or using a drawing tablet to study Chinese) to prevent heat issues.