Can This Configuration Play Games?

I am new to this site and I am looking for a laptop that can play games at a high level of detail, primarily CoD4, CSS, etc. I am on a budget of no more than $1200 unless it is within reason. I seen this Sager 2096 for a pretty good price I was wondering if this will be sufficient enough to play games. Thank you.



- Display: 15.4" WXGA LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1280X800)
- Processor: 45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor P9600 / 6MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz,
1066MHz FSB[+$265.00]
- Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT Graphics with 512MB DDR2
Video Memory
- Operating System: Genuine MS Windows® VISTA Home Premium 32/64-Bit Edition
- Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 X 2048MB
- Primary Hard Disk Drive: 320GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive
- Optical Drive: 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
- Wireless Network Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN
Module
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR Module
- Primary Battery: Smart Li-ION Battery Pack (9 Cells)
- Integrated Security Device: Fingerprint Reader
- Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office Ready with Free 60-Day Trial
- Warranty: Sager 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty with Three-Day Shipping
Both Ways Paid


Price: $1,164

 

If you don't mind turning down the games' graphics settings then it'll serve you well... for the time being that is.

 

NP8662
Display: 15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) Glossy LCD ~ Standard 15.4"
Modular Video Card: nVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M w/1GB GDDR3 ~ nVIDIA
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo P8600 2.4GHz Processor w/3MB L2 Cache (25W) - 1066MHz FSB ~
4GB (2 SODIMMS) DDR3/1066 Dual Channel Memory (64bit Vista needed to use >3GB) ~ $50.00 6GB (1x2GB + 1x4GB) DDR3/1066 Dual Channel Memory - (
~ Standard 250GB SATA II 3Gb/s 7,200 RPM Hard Drive (16MB Cache Buffer) ~ $25.00
CD/DVD Read/Writer: Combo Dual Layer DVD +/-R/RW CD-R/RW Drive w/Softwares ~
Memory Card Reader: 7-in-1 Memory Card Reader (All versions of MS + SD/MMC)
Wireless Networking: Built-in Intel® PRO/Wireless 5300 802.11a/g/n
Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth Wireless
Battery: 8-cell Smart Li-ion Battery

$ 1422.99 with no OS, but like 100 bucks with vista. This is only $260 bucks or 360 bucks more than your config and worth the additonal $$$$$ IMHO

the reason why I think it would be worth it is the shelf life of your laptop would extend at least 1-2 years beyond your existing config in terms of the games you will be able to play at decent settings. That makes the additional money a good investment I think.

 

You got a link? - that looks like a pretty good system I might want to check out

 

I'm in the market for a laptop myself. I'm currently debating getting midrange np8662 to keep the costs down since a middle weight 17inch laptop by Clevo using an MXM3.0 motherboard / new NVidia 40nm gpu's is still 8-12 months away.

The two sites I will potentially use and that seem to have gotten the best word of mouth around here are:

www.xoticpc.com
http://www.powernotebooks.com

Fragilexx - I just noticed your location...there's a 3rd vendor that is Euro based that is similar to the two I linked above...let me see if i can dig it up.

 

www.rockdirect.com not sure they're selling the np8662's but that was the vendor one of the main moderators had listed in another thread. There's a reseller list stickied at the top of the forum which you can also check.

Best of luck

 

Great thanks GypsyDRB. Doesn't matter if they are State side of the pond, I've got friends who come over from there maybe 4 or 5 times a year and could task the next one to bring it back. I can manage the wait if it'll save me the £££ ;o)

 

I would definitely recommend checking out a mid-range Sager NP8662. The NP2096 is good, but if you're after a gaming laptop with high graphics settings, then the NP2096 is not really the way to go.

 

you might also check http://www.kobaltcomputers.co.uk located also in UK

 

I just got done playing COD4.

I play at 1280x800. All settings max and get anywhere from 40fps to 60fps depending on the level. I am addicted to "broadcast" these days and my frames right now on that level were 59 fps...with min of 30 and max of 93.

Of course the NP8662 is better, but if you're on a budget, this laptop can play the games you mentioned with no problem, especially at the rez you're getting.

 

Pardon this question, I am pretty new into computer gaming, but if I settle for about 75-80% detail, will that make that much of a difference, if I were to keep the same setup I mentioned before.

 

The setup you've mentionned will play most games absolutely fine without having to turn down the settings. Some of the later games you will have to accept 75% or lower settings to play - i.e. GTA IV; but for the most part you'll be fine.

What yoyoman was trying to suggest was that if you are going to spend that much money, that if you spent just a hair more you'd get a much better rig.

A rule of thumb with buying computers is always buy the very best you can afford, because in less than 2 years time it will be out of date otherwise.

This does not mean there is anything wrong with your suggested machine though.

 

I'm not sure how to answer your question ALLYourBase...maybe one of the other folks can address it how you've written it.

What I CAN do is link you here:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

This gives you benchmark info for pretty much every mobile GPU out there...specifically, I'll point you to the 3DMark06 score of 5155 of the 9600 card you are considering and the approx. 10,493 score for the 260M. That 260M score was pulled from one of the review threads that's been at the top of this forum board the last few days....it may have gone higher.

 

I'm sorry guys, I am not trying to be difficult, but if I were to choose the first setup GypsyDRB suggested I should be able to play GTA IV perfectly fine. I really appreciate all of your guys' help. And also you said I could buy the system without an OS, what website are you at that gave you that option, I am using the Sager Home Page, unless I am overlooking it.

 

You're fine AllYourBase. I'm new here myself, and folks who've been here much longer and are much wiser than I have been very nice to share their knowledge.

Look at one of my posts on the 1st page. You'll see a link to xoticpc and powernotebooks.com

 

Regarding the setup that GypsyDRB suggested, it will play GTA IV but you will experience slow downs because it is Dual Core. GTA IV really needs a Quad for best performance. You might want to do a forum search on ''Quad vs Core2duo'' to understand more.

Every other game will not have any problems running with high settings on that system though. It is the same system I have ordered aside from me going with a Q9000 instead of a Core2Duo.

 

LaptopNut speaks the truth ref: GTA IV, AllYourBase.

You may find yourself a bit frustrated if you combine what he has said with my config and from a pricing perspective end up out of any budget range you may have established ($260+170)= $430 above the price of the computer you spec'ed. That $170 is the price to go from the base CPU at xoticpc or powernotebooks to the quad core.

One thing to consider, is you can go dual core initially and replace it later with a higher clocked quad core when prices come down. Quad cores with higher clock speeds beyond the q9000 will work in the np8662. The q9000 at the moment is the only quad option available pre-configured from those 2 resellers.

 

What I will probably end up doing is taking Gypsy's suggestion and upgrading to a Quad Core at a later time. And when I select an OS It gives me the option of "32/64 Bit" as one, does this mean I get both install discs. Because I was looking for V64 drivers for a PS3 Controller and all they had was V32 versions. Then I though since the Sager's come with bluetooth is there any way the controller might just sync up by itself.

 

Yes, both disks (I looked at xoticpc's site, so it's probably the same at powernotebooks as well).

No idea on the 2nd question. If you don't get an answer here, may want to re-post that question in another thread (and in the appropriate forum).

 

Do you guys know of any other sites that offer custom gaming laptops for a reasonable price, my friend told me about iBuyPower and they do have some pretty nice computers for considerably cheaper, but I was wondering if they are as good as those laptops from xoticpc and stuff.

 

Start off with the resellers listed in Gophn's sticky - the Clevo Guide - and resellerratings.com; check out those with higher reseller ratings first.

 

i've bought a couple desktops from ibuypower...and my opinion of them is neutral. Now I just build my own. I've never bought a notebook from them.

They are actually ~150 bucks more expensive on the np8662 (sager naming convention, for some reason i can never remember the clevo one) versus powernotebooks.

The Battalion 101 appears to be the M860TU which is the np8662. In fact, not only are they more expensive, but they have fewer options (cpu, blu-ray, screen).

 

By the way, does this mean I will have to install the OS myself? I didn't specify to XoticPC to install either the 32 or 64 bit [I did get the Home Premium option].

 

Your getting a gaming laptop. Get a higher res screen so you can fully utilize the power of your graphics card...

 

pctorque is a very good reseller as they pricematch xoticpc/powernotebooks and they have accidental warranty and you can shave 50 bucks by getting your laptop without a hard drive (Your usually better off getting your own HD and now the new seagate 7200.4 came out).

They shipped out my laptop super fast and gave me no problems.

As for screen resolution, WSVGA should be fine for you, as its not a huge difference in a 15.4' screen. Although I figured I mind as well go for the WUVGA because I was getting everything top notch and I mind as well not skimp out on the screen...that and it was also Matte which I really like.

IMO Xoticpc, powernotebooks, and pctorque are the way to go. They all have very good ratings and generally are very reliable.

I also recommend getting 4 GB of DDR3 ram as it really isn't that much for double the RAM, but you don't have to. The biggest upgrade you can do is simply getting the n8662. The rest of the stuff is all preference.

 

The 9600M GT is not a very good video card. It was sufficient to play Mass Effect on High settings, but all of the newer games you would have to turn down the graphics tremendously. Would recommend that you save a little bit more and go with the 5793. At least there's a $700 discount and the nVidia 9800M GTS was a bit more decent. If you want to go all out on one, here's what I ordered.

1 x NP5797

- Chassis Color: Orange Trim
- Display: 17" Wide Viewing Angles WSXGA+ LCD with Super Glossy Surface (1680 x 1050)
- Processor: 45nm Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T9550 / 6MB L2 Cache, 2.66GHz, 1066MHz FSB[+$130.00]
- Video & Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280M Graphics with 1GB DDR3 Video Memory
- Operating System: Genuine MS Windows® XP Professional[+$45.00]
- Memory: 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1066MHz - 2 X 2048MB[+$50.00]
- Primary Hard Disk Drive: 320GB 7200rpm SATA 300 Hard Drive[+$45.00]
- Optical Drive: 8X DVD±R/RW/4X +DL Super-Multi Drive & Software
- Wireless Network Card: Intel Wi-Fi Link 5300AGN - 802.11A/B/G/N Wireless LAN Module
- Bluetooth: Internal Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR Module
- Primary Battery: Smart Li-ION Battery Pack
- Integrated Security Device: Fingerprint Reader
- Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office Ready with Free 60-Day Trial
- Warranty: Sager 1 Year Limited Parts and Labor Warranty with Three-Day Shipping Both Ways Paid
- Carrying Bag: Standard Carrying Bag
$2,069.00


But for more bang for the buck, go with the 5793.