Gaming Laptops

Hi, I am a college bound student and I'm looking for a laptop that will last through my college life and also be used for gaming.
I am planning to buy the Gateway p-7815 fx edition. I know gaming laptops are notorious for breaking down much faster than regular laptops so my question is will it be able to last very long and if its worth the purchase and if there are any other alternatives (Price range 700-1000).

I plan to play games like CSS and SC2 at medium graphics.

Specs - Gateway P-7815u FX LX.W4302.010 Laptop Computer - Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 2.0GHz, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, DVDRW, 17 WXGA+, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit at TigerDirect.com

 

My gateway is two years old and still going strong. If you take care of your laptop it should last a very long time.

The p7350 CPU will hold you back in both games you posted.

 

Is CSS counter strike source? that game will play on a cell phone.. lol. starcraft 2 should be fine as well. The processor in the 7815u does hold back the GPU though. Gaming laptops dont last as long probably because they produce a lot more heat. take extra care where you are gaming -- make sure the vents are not blocked. I highly recommend a notebook cooler because it does two things.

If you game on your lap, it keeps your legs from sweating and no matter where your laptop is it keeps cool air rushing into the bottom vents. i got my coolermaster for $19.99 shipped after $10 rebate from the newegg. it does the job but i wish it was 2 inches wider.

I got my 7815u for $709 after bing cashback but i kicked myself for not getting the other one. compusa had two FX one had P8700 and a 260M GTX video card. The reviews I read the 260m gtx wasnt really faster then a 9800m gts but i think it runs cooler/more efficient. might also have some more features. I think the P8700 would be a much better match to keep up with the video card then a P7350.

Even if you decide to get the cheaper model with P7350 you can always upgrade it pretty cheap. I got my X9100 for $220 shipped after bing cashback and the T9400 was $110shipped (2.53ghz 6m cache, 1066mhz fsb)

 

notebook coolers wont be of much use if they are resting on your lap. the air intake vents are essentially impeded by the meat of one's thighs.

who would want to rest a 17" notebook cooler like a Cryo LX/Zalman NC2000/NC3000 or Coolermaster Infinity on their laps anyways?!

 

MooCop, this line of computers is really great, and highly recommended.
I'm actually taking my Gateway FX P7805u to college as well, but Im also taking a netbook with me to use in the classroom.

While the computer is great and all, it is really big, and kind of annoying to carry around everywhere, and will not fit on college desks. You would have to use it on your lap.

 

I have a less gaming-oriented Gateway, an NV5925u, which absolutely runs CSS on maxed-everything and runs the SC2 beta on medium settings at native resolution just fine.

It's a lot smaller than a 17" gaming laptop and a hell of a lot easier to carry. Doesn't need a laptop cooler at all--and I've OC'd the hell out of the 5650 in this thing. Of course, the GPU isn't in the same league as a GTX 260M... but that's the price you pay for smaller, lighter and better battery life.

Specs in my sig. It was $800 brand new from TigerDirect.

 

Maybe the original CS but CS:S is very CPU dependent. After they released it on the orange box engine it can finally do multicore but still loves CPU over GPU. CS:S was one of the games that made me upgrade my CPU.

 

My notebook cooler is very comfortable and its vents are not under it but behind it (Coolermaster notepal). It keeps my lap cool and it keeps the bottom of my laptop cool. I got it mostly so i wouldnt get sweaty ball syndrome from gaming on the couch. in hinesight sweaty balls is a good form of birth control (low sperm count) i cant afford anymore kids...

Its the whole reason laptop gaming works out for me. i can play my favorite games while my wife watches boring reality TV shows but we are together so shes happy. when she is happy im happy.

 

I dont want to call anyone a liar, but that game plays on any craptastic computer ive ever put it on with ease. I cannot imagine any FX series gateways struggling to get 60fps+

It even played on a gateway 450rog which was a 1.5ghz pentium m with some awful old but horrible integrated graphics. It was choppy but playable. I was sarcastic about the cell phone bit, but im sure it wont be long before cell phones could play it with a decent frame rate.

 

Mine BARELY fits in my laptop bag. i have to stretch the edges to get it to zip. also its to big for class, it would be horrible to get out and use. on a desk in my opinion. Its ideal for someone looking for a mobile desktop. great for lan parties, great for gaming on the couch...

Still as a college student id consider it, there has been very few classes that required you have a laptop with you. in fact most of the times i brought my laptop i never got the chance to get it out. Professors find it distracting when your playing call of duty during lecture anyway

 

Thanks for all the help.
I do have to agree that 17in is probably too large for me to bring around to classes and such.

Currently Im deciding on these 4
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Aspire-5740G-6395.30392.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Aspire-5625G-P924G50Mn.33255.0.html
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Packard-Bell-Easynote-TJ75-JO-070GE.27539.0.html
And the Gateway NV5925u

 

Has gateway revealed a roadmap replacement yet for the fx series?