Help! A tough choice!

[Megas Methuselah]

Ok, forget my last topic. This one is far more important. I'm about to buy a new laptop, and I've settled between these two. I intend to use them for gameplay purposes, and I'd appreciate it if you guys could point me in the right direction between the two.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 (2.1 GHz)
4 GB DDR2 667 SDRAM
320 GB Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce 9500M GS graphics (512mb)

OR

Intel Centrino Core 2 Duo P8900 (2.27 GHz)
4 GB DDR2 667 SDRAM
500 GB Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce 9600GT graphics (512mb)

The price doesn't matter. In my eyes, these just look like a confusing bunch of numbers and specifications, but I believe the 2nd one(bottom one) is the better one, right? I'm kind of concerned about which video card is superior to the other.

[Martok]

At least on paper, yes the second laptop *ought* to be superior. However, I don't know enough about the Centrino dual-cores to say whether they're an improvement or not (to say nothing of the video cards, of which I'm completely ignorant).

Out of curiosity, are both laptops from the same manufacturer?

[TevashSzat]

Yeah, it would be better if you could specify some more information like the manufacture, screen size and resolution, the rpms the hard drives are at, and battery length/weight if you're really concerned about it (probably not if you're using it for gaming purposes)

Though, unless there is a huge discrepancy in these areas, option 2 looks to be better

[Lemur]

It's hard to picture option two not being better. Would you be willing to consider an ATI-powered laptop? This looks like a sweet machine ...

[KukriKhan]

Number 2 reads better.

That said, you know a laptop will be useless (gaming-wise) in about 18 months, yes? It will still plod along and do fine work non-gaming-wise, and play your older game inventory.

But come March 2010, you'll be looking desperately for a gaming replacement. If money is truely no object, then fine. I just say: consider where you'll be, and what you'll be doing then (and who will be supporting you), when making your choice.

I "went" laptop in 2001, for form-factor and portability. I type this to you on the third laptop I've bought since then. At roughly $2.5K per machine, on average, I've managed to play most games adequately, but that adds up to almost eight thousand dollars over seven years, not counting broadband costs. Or: about $875 a year ($73 a month) for the priviledge of playing the latest and greatest games - for hardware alone. Games cost upwards of $70 today, and broadband can be $40+ a month.

Back in the day, when Lemur and I were whippersnappers, PC's were exorbitantly expensive. Just buying a modem (which you had to personally code the application for, to install) could easily run you 3 month's pay. That has changed now, and almost anybody with an income above $10K can and does have a computer.

Sorry. Ranted there.

Back on-point: if you're in love with a lappy, and are independently wealthy, choose Door 2.

If not; think twice - consider the heat and upgrade problems - and get a desktop, cumbersome, but upgradeable though they be.

My 19 ninety-nine.

[drone]

It's hard to picture option two not being better. Would you be willing to consider an ATI-powered laptop? This looks like a sweet machine ...

That's a nice looking laptop, it's even available in XP. Never looked at WidowPC, seems a bit expensive but that particular laptop has a lot of features I've been looking for. Most of the mainstream laptop companies only offer XP in their business models, and the configurability is somewhat lacking on those. What's WidowPC's rep on reliability and service? ATI video, XP, decent processor, any one know if MTW runs on the ATI HD3870? Might be just what I'm looking for.

[Whacker]

Every time I see these threads, I gotta keep asking, why do you want laptop for GAMING? Do you have a real, legitimate need for a laptop? If you don't, then you're far better off getting a desktop for gaming. Laptops are more expensive, smaller screens, significantly inferior performance, higher cost, AND they can grow legs much easier than a desktop again.

[Megas Methuselah]

Lol, be quiet, Whacker. Thx for the advice, guys. I was goin to buy one yesterday, but unfortunate circumstances got in the way. Early next week, maybe. Anyways, I'm sure these systems could easily run M2TW, and I'm also hoping it'll suffice quite well for ETW. Do you guys think it will be enough?

[Martok]

Lol, be quiet, Whacker. Thx for the advice, guys. I was goin to buy one yesterday, but unfortunate circumstances got in the way. Early next week, maybe. Anyways, I'm sure these systems could easily run M2TW, and I'm also hoping it'll suffice quite well for ETW. Do you guys think it will be enough?

Oh, without a doubt. Either one should be able to run both games no problem.

[caravel]

Every time I see these threads, I gotta keep asking, why do you want laptop for GAMING? Do you have a real, legitimate need for a laptop? If you don't, then you're far better off getting a desktop for gaming. Laptops are more expensive, smaller screens, significantly inferior performance, higher cost, AND they can grow legs much easier than a desktop again.

+1

[Megas Methuselah]

Thanks a lot, guys!

Oh, without a doubt. Either one should be able to run both games no problem.

GREAT!!! THX! To all of you, your guidance was invaluable!

[LeftEyeNine]

One thing I've learned about laptops through observations on owner's.

Heating should one of the most important concerns while buying one. That said, #2 is better. The clock frequency difference between the two must cause a looser bottleneck than the one the gfx chipsets of each one will.