Laptop or graphics card?

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:15

I've got a quite old Dell laptop from 2007, a Inspiron 1720. It is\was a very good machine, full HD screen, dedicated graphics (8600M GT), dual core (T7300) and only 2.5GB of memory so it's a bit old. For my PC I have a 3930k, 16GB memory, it's a very good machine that I am very pleased with that I didn't primarily get for games, but when I got it I didn't upgrade my graphics so I only have a HD4870 1GB.

Anyway, I am about to start the final year of my undergraduate cs degree. I don't really play games during the semester time that much, or more precisely I don't play games that I have been wanting to play. I was going to get a new graphics card at the start of the summer, but for various reasons I didn't. Partially due to my obsession with making the right decision, so because I was doubtful about which\when to get a new card I ended up just waiting and waiting.

I'm now thinking that it might be a better idea to get a decent quad core 17" laptop with decent graphics so that I can play games and do my work when I am not at home, and then to get a GDDR6 AMD or a GTX 8xx next year.

So, should I get a laptop or a graphics card?

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:31

if you purely want to play games, get the gpu. a new laptop, even with an ok integrated gpu won't run games very well, whilst being VERY noisy. so if you want to play games get a new gpu. or you could get a 7950 on offer AND a laptop!!

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:39

benccritchley said:
if you purely want to play games, get the gpu. a new laptop, even with an ok integrated gpu won't run games very well, whilst being VERY noisy. so if you want to play games get a new gpu. or you could get a 7950 on offer AND a laptop!!

I did mean a laptop with dedicated graphics. I am going to be doing my dissertation in graphics, so I need a decent graphics card. I was thinking something like a GTX 765.

Unicorn · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:39

Laptop with a good graphics card will set you back a good chunk of money but portable gaming is awesome

Mine does exactly that and makes my desktop look ancient when it really isnt.

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:42

Dark Light said:
I did mean a laptop with dedicated graphics. I am going to be doing my dissertation in graphics, so I need a decent graphics card. I was thinking something like a GTX 765.

well that would do you very well. in that case i would go with the laptop then. although it will be considerably more expensive than just a gpu for your rig!!!

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:43

benccritchley said:
well that would do you very well. in that case i would go with the laptop then. although it will be considerably more expensive than just a gpu for your rig!!!

But the thing is that I need a new laptop.

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:44

Dark Light said:
But the thing is that I need a new laptop.

you have kinda answered your own question

laptop it is then!!

P4Clock · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:50

if you want to play real games you need a PC,

a good gameing laptop will set you back £1000+ SO....
Buy a new GFX for around £200/£300 and just get an i5 laptop for work £400/£500

P4Clock · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:52

this will pay games fine and beat you old card to death
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-156-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2255

ppl for some reason ppl think a gaming card must be £1000 and kill ever thing in sight, that £240 will be fine.

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:58

benccritchley said:
you have kinda answered your own question laptop it is then!!

But the thing about the laptop is that the other aspects of the system will be considerably less powerful, 6 core 3.2Ghz (stock) vs 4 core 3.5Ghz. DDR3-2133 vs DDR3-1600 etc.

And then it comes down to the price, in theory I could reinstall Windows on my current laptop and get it working ok and get a graphics card for about £200. Or I could get a laptop at well over £1000. But then if I didn't get a laptop, I would have to get a new laptop one day, I am spending so much on my course that it is really worth it to get a good laptop (going to do a masters and a PhD).

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 22:58

P4Clock said:
this will pay games fine and beat you old card to death
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-156-MS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=2255

ppl for some reason ppl think a gaming card must be £1000 and kill ever thing in sight, that £240 will be fine.

he stated that he needed a new laptop too, and a gtx 765 will run most things at mid to high settings. It may stuggle with games like bf3 though, which may be something to consider, As laptop GPU's get outdated quite quickly. and then you would be stuck with the gpu in the laptop.

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:00

P4Clock said:
if you want to play real games you need a PC,

a good gameing laptop will set you back £1000+ SO....
Buy a new GFX for around £200/£300 and just get an i5 laptop for work £400/£500

I agree, but my point is that if I get a laptop it will allow me to wait for the next series of graphics cards for my PC.

Another thing that I forgot to mention, is that I do not plan on gaming on the move that much, mainly I will be hocking the laptop up to my 2560 x 1440 monitor for games.

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:01

Dark Light said:
I agree, but my point is that if I get a laptop it will allow me to wait for the next series of graphics cards for my PC.

this is true. It may be worth waiting until the new gpu release before doing anything at all, then you can see how much better they are than current gpu's

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:05

benccritchley said:
this is true. It may be worth waiting until the new gpu release before doing anything at all, then you can see how much better they are than current gpu's

But the thing is that I start my dissertation in October, and I would preferably like a new laptop for it and to complete my other assignments.

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:08

Dark Light said:
But the thing is that I start my dissertation in October, and I would preferably like a new laptop for it and to complete my other assignments.

awkward indeeeed!

I think if I were you I would get a reasonably good laptop, which could cater for all your 3d deisgn things or what ever you do, and then buy the gtx 8** or hd 8*** when they come out! or ask for it for christmas

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:11

benccritchley said:
awkward indeeeed! I think if I were you I would get a reasonably good laptop, which could cater for all your 3d deisgn things or what ever you do, and then buy the gtx 8** or hd 8*** when they come out! or ask for it for christmas

I think that might be the best thing to do, although when I got my last laptop I only regretted not getting a more expensive one. I intend to use it for at least 5 years.

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:12

I think you're being optimistic with 5 years!!! I have a retina macbook pro and I hope to upgrade after 3 or 4 years at the latest! I guess it depends on how it copes, but usually I get bored of tech after a few years!

P4Clock · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:13

are you just wanting someone to tell you to get a laptop? because ever reply saying get a GPU is met with a reply for you saying but i need a laptop.

there is no question here if you WANT and if you NEED a laptop get a laptop. but dont get a gaming laptop it's a waist of money as the GPU's or out dated VERY fast. and you will find your self tuning down setting on games sooner then you think.

you can get a nice laptop for around £600, that about £600 cheap then a gaming laptop and you have lots left for a GFX card

Cleisthenes · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:14

P4Clock said:
are you just wanting someone to tell you to get a laptop? because ever reply saying get a GPU is met with a reply for you saying but i need a laptop.

there is no question here if you WANT and if you NEED a laptop get a laptop. but dont get a gaming laptop it's a waist of money as the GPU's or out dated VERY fast. and you will find your self tuning down setting on games sooner then you think.

you can get a nice laptop for around £600, that about £600 cheap then a gaming laptop and you have lots left for a GFX card

+1

Dark Light · 4 Sep 2013 at 23:18

P4Clock said:
are you just wanting someone to tell you to get a laptop? because ever reply saying get a GPU is met with a reply for you saying but i need a laptop.

there is no question here if you WANT and if you NEED a laptop get a laptop. but dont get a gaming laptop it's a waist of money as the GPU's or out dated VERY fast. and you will find your self tuning down setting on games sooner then you think.

you can get a nice laptop for around £600, that about £600 cheap then a gaming laptop and you have lots left for a GFX card

Not looking for a massively expensive gaming laptop, I am wanting one that plays games moderately, as was the case with my 8600M GT.