Need help selecting a new computer

[Prussian to the Iron]

So, as my current laptop gets on in age, gets slower and less capable of running more high-end games, I am seeking a replacement. Since I'm going off to college soon, it will have to be a laptop, and definitely with windows (vista is preferable, but 7 probably comes standard on most now). Needs built-in webcam and integrated microphone with it. Screen should be at least 16 inches diagonally, with 1440x900 resolution obviously. I need it to be able to run TESV:Skyrim and Shogun 2 on very high settings, and be worth keeping for at least several years.

Any suggestions? We usually like to stick to HP, but if it's necessary I'd be willing to get another brand.

[Montmorency]

Since I'm going off to college soon...

Aren't you 16?

[Prussian to the Iron]

Aren't you 16?

Yeah, but this is my last year of high school. I'll actually only be 17 and 5 months when I start college.

[Centurion1]

So, as my current laptop gets on in age, gets slower and less capable of running more high-end games, I am seeking a replacement. Since I'm going off to college soon, it will have to be a laptop, and definitely with windows (vista is preferable, but 7 probably comes standard on most now). Needs built-in webcam and integrated microphone with it. Screen should be at least 16 inches diagonally, with 1440x900 resolution obviously. I need it to be able to run TESV:Skyrim and Shogun 2 on very high settings, and be worth keeping for at least several years.

Any suggestions? We usually like to stick to HP, but if it's necessary I'd be willing to get another brand.

lol how much money do you have to throw around.

[Prussian to the Iron]

lol how much money do you have to throw around.

A pretty fair amount, though probably not more than $2000

[Lemur]

I'm not a big fan of gaming laptops -- too many compromises to get them working within the thermal constraints -- but Sager has a good rep and doesn't seem to charge overmuch. Something else to consider would be going with an AMD fusion notebook for now, with a plan to supplement/replace it with a real gaming rig somewhere down the line. Might save money and heartbreak all around.

[Prussian to the Iron]

I'm not a big fan of gaming laptops -- too many compromises to get them working within the thermal constraints

Don't even get me started. I have to have mine constantly in an elevated position (I got a stand) because if I don't, the back gets extremely hot, and then turns off the screen and leaves me only being able to turn off the whole thing.



BTW what sort of graphics card would you guys suggest? I unfortunately don't know really anything about graphics card specifications, but AFAIK ATI is better than Nvidia. But I could be totally wrong, I just have no idea.

[Lemur]

AFAIK ATI is better than Nvidia. But I could be totally wrong, I just have no idea.

Totally depends. My understanding, which may be out of date, is that AMD holds the lead for heat/power savings, but Nvidia holds the crown for things like GPU compute. Seems like a wash to me. No idea who's stronger in notebook parts.

[Prussian to the Iron]

Totally depends. My understanding, which may be out of date, is that AMD holds the lead for heat/power savings, but Nvidia holds the crown for things like GPU compute. Seems like a wash to me. No idea who's stronger in notebook parts.

Well heat and power isn't really an issue; if I need to cool it down i can always just buy a little fan to put next to it. High caliber performance is what matters as far as graphics cards go. I was looking at some of those Sager notebooks you mentioned and they had options for either an ATI or an Nvidia so I just wasn't sure; I think I've always had Nvidia so I know nothing about ATI

[Lemur]

it will have to be a laptop

heat and power isn't really an issue

[Drunk Clown]

Don't think it matters that much. ATI or Nvidia, just go with one with decent performance and a nice cooling.

Wasn't there something with PhysX and Nvidia?

[Prussian to the Iron]

If the power is what you think is facepalm worthy, I have it constantly hooked up to the charger so it really isn't an issue. If it's the heat it's because I can put a fan next to it for that.

[Drunk Clown]

If the power is what you think is facepalm worthy, I have it constantly hooked up to the charger so it really isn't an issue. If it's the heat it's because I can put a fan next to it for that.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

vista is preferable

no it isn't

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well you could, but an external fan isn't going to do your laptop much good. The components getting hot being inside the laptop case, and the fan being well outside it with no conductor between the two, for your fan to make a difference it has to be capable of generating very large amounts of air flow which would not be very healthy for you and probably still not deliver sufficient cooling anyway.

TL;DR: putting power hungry equipment inside a laptop case is not a good idea.

[Prussian to the Iron]

Sorry I'm not computer savvy

no it isn't

Preferable to 7. I've used both and cannot stand 7; I love Vista. As far as Windows goes, getting a new computer will mean either 7 or Vista. XP isn't going to come with anything new, and Vista is doubtful to come with it at best. But if I had a choice, I would want Vista.

[Centurion1]

Sorry I'm not computer savvy




Preferable to 7. I've used both and cannot stand 7; I love Vista. As far as Windows goes, getting a new computer will mean either 7 or Vista. XP isn't going to come with anything new, and Vista is doubtful to come with it at best. But if I had a choice, I would want Vista.

once you pick a graphics card you may be stuck with it so don't go cheap. standard practice is to integrate graphics cards and solder them to the motherboard.

however, i imagine gaming laptops like alienware or sager to be a whole nother ball game.

[Drunk Clown]

Just a tip.

Having your laptop constantly hooked up to the charger will destroy your battery (at least its recharge capability).

And I do believe Windows 7 (64 bit) is the way to go, with lots of RAM (8GB). Makes it faster.
Oh, and Vista sucks.

[Prussian to the Iron]

Just a tip.

Having your laptop constantly hooked up to the charger will destroy your battery (at least its recharge capability).

And I do believe Windows 7 (64 bit) is the way to go, with lots of RAM (8GB). Makes it faster.
Oh, and Vista sucks.

I cannot take it off of the charger for more than 5 minutes without it shutting down. This issue has been persistent since pretty much I've had it. Not that it matters much; I don't take it anywhere without a place to charge it anyway.

7 sucks to me. It's harder to use than Vista.


Thanks Cent for the tip, I'll make sure I get something good the first go-around.

[Drunk Clown]

I cannot take it off of the charger for more than 5 minutes without it shutting down. This issue has been persistent since pretty much I've had it. Not that it matters much; I don't take it anywhere without a place to charge it anyway.

So you bought a laptop with power supply problems? And you didn't send it back?

Anyways, if you charge it only when the battery is empty you can only win. You said you only use your laptop when there's an outlet? Well, imagine this, if you recharge it properly you can even go to places where there are no outlets! SCORE!

7 sucks to me. It's harder to use than Vista.

Why.

You switched from XP to Vista right? That's a bigger leap than Vista to 7. Add to that that 7 is better in any way.
What do you do on your laptop which makes 7 that hard. I don't get it AFAIK you have toolbar, desktop etc. in both OS.

[naut]

7 sucks to me. It's harder to use than Vista.

Vista is up to 15% slower on the same hardware than Win7. On a laptop, which doesn't have the same level of components as a desktop this can make a HUGE difference.