Buying a Computer Need Some Advice

[Dhepee]

Okay, I'm starting law school full time, finally, and I am required to buy a laptop. This is fine by me, as my desktop is getting rather old.

Here are the specs on the Dell Latitude D600, which the school is offering at a deep discount.

1.8Ghz Pentium M745 Processor
512 Mb DDR SDRAM, 1 DIMM (I am going to upgrade to 1 gig of memory cause it's really cheap)
1400X1500 14.1 SXGA TFT LCD Color Monitor
32MB 64-bit ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000 video card
40GB Hard Drive

My only concern is that I am going to use this with a port replicator as a desktop replacement so I want to be able to run games on it. The only hitch is that if in a couple years my video card, which I can do nothing about, can't handle newer game graphics. Do you think it is going to last me or am I going to be
with my strategy games in a few years.

It also comes with a big software bundle, wireless networking and 3 years of free maintenance with a loaner while it is in the shop.

[lancelot]

nearly every game comes with a 'we havent tested this game on a laptop' bit in the manual.

If you are using laptop for word documents or whatever perhaps a cheap laptop and spend on another desktop is the way.

I have never used a TW game on a lap but my old lap never used to play star wars supremacy properly.

Some games have problems with the screen size and such things also.

I would advise caution and dont be suprised if a lap doesnt run MTW properly let alone RTW. But then I could be talking out of my arse

[Somebody Else]

My laptop's got a 64Mb card in it. It can handle most things, but new games coming out just make it choke and die. I'm thinking of upgrading... maybe a fancy Alienware or something...

[BDC]

That will cut it with MTW, maybe Far Cry on minimum settings, but nothing newer. Only has 8.1 pixel shaders...

But on older stuff it will be fine.

[Dhepee]

Here's a follow up question: I don't care that much about how a game looks as long as I can get it to run, so will it work for that?

[BDC]

Yeah probably.

It is 64-bit though, so it won't run well. No fps lol, but slower games would be ok.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Just a thought-do you want me to move this to the apothecary, Dhepee? If so, just ask.

[Sjakihata]

Well, the processor and gfx is not the best, nor is the RAM.

I think you should buy a cheap lap for school/work thing and buy a monster for RTW

[71-hour Ahmed]

I have something of similar spec on my laptop and it runs all my games fine, but won't cope with new ones - i.e. as in todays games. A 32 mb card is too small and the cards lack features compared to desktop ones. I.e. Thief 3 won't run on this system. (edit) - games that are 1 or more yrs old will look pretty ok though if thats any help (Jedi Academy, MTW, KOTOR).

[Cebei]

When are they going to give us exact minimum and recommended system requirements for RTW?

[BlackWatch McKenna]

Are you going to LAW SCHOOL or entering the Computer Games Olympics.

All you need is a word processor. Instead of spending the money on a Gamerz HaxXor Komputer, buy your Bar Review Books and start taking your practice exams.

A Plasma Screen won't keep you from flunking out - but taking practice Multi-States might.

//BW

[Dhepee]

Nice, yes I enrolled in Barbri law school prep course. I am finally fulltime after a lot of handwringing and two years in the paralegal trenches.

It's a moot point now since I just put the deposit on the computer. I decided to tinker with my desktop to keep it going for a couple of more years because if I don't have my games I might go nuts.

BTW...Blackwatch McKenna are you a lawyer?

[nightcrawlerblue]

Quote[/b] (Sjakihata @ June 03 2004,10:42)]Well, the processor and gfx is not the best, nor is the RAM.

I think you should buy a cheap lap for school/work thing and buy a monster for RTW

How the heck can you tell wether the RAM is good? All he says is that it's DDR...

If you want to play games on it? No that isn't a good computer (as far as desktops go anyway. I'm no expert on laptops). I'd reccommend a system for you but Dell doesn't use Athlon processors (and they only give a small selection of other stuff too).

I don't really like Dell which is kinda weird considering I have a Dell PC (It's my dad's old one).