Laptop VS Desktop Gaming

Sleeve

Sleeve

Sleeve

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I'm sure this question has been done to death so apologies if so.

I am weighing up the idea of getting a gaming laptop and selling my desktop, mainly due to my PC being upstairs with no room to move it downstairs. I hardly ever get a chance to play it due to moaning from the mrs etc.

I have been having a look at a few specs and I'm tempted to go for a 670m system and intel 3110 CPU.

It was only after further reading that I've found out a 670m is not even as powerful as a 560ti (My current card) This has left me a bit shocked really, as if I do make the switch even the 2nd top Nvidia mobile GPU doesn't match my current desktop GPU.

Who games on laptops? An idea what performance I can expect and any advice on what's the best GPU to go for?
 
I'm sure this question has been done to death so apologies if so.

I am weighing up the idea of getting a gaming laptop and selling my desktop, mainly due to my PC being upstairs with no room to move it downstairs. I hardly ever get a chance to play it due to moaning from the mrs etc.

I have been having a look at a few specs and I'm tempted to go for a 670m system and intel 3110 CPU.

It was only after further reading that I've found out a 670m is not even as powerful as a 560ti (My current card) This has left me a bit shocked really, as if I do make the switch even the 2nd top Nvidia mobile GPU doesn't match my current desktop GPU.

Who games on laptops? An idea what performance I can expect and any advice on what's the best GPU to go for?
 
Sleeve88 said:
I'm sure this question has been done to death so apologies if so.

I am weighing up the idea of getting a gaming laptop and selling my desktop, mainly due to my PC being upstairs with no room to move it downstairs. I hardly ever get a chance to play it due to moaning from the mrs etc.

I have been having a look at a few specs and I'm tempted to go for a 670m system and intel 3110 CPU.

It was only after further reading that I've found out a 670m is not even as powerful as a 560ti (My current card) This has left me a bit shocked really, as if I do make the switch even the 2nd top Nvidia mobile GPU doesn't match my current desktop GPU.

Who games on laptops? An idea what performance I can expect and any advice on what's the best GPU to go for?
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Look at the size of your 560ti. Look at the size of your average laptop.

Why are you surprised?
 
You're never really going to get desktop performance out of a laptop (although there are some behemoth laptops out there, but close enough to putting a tower on your lap).

Bottom line is though you'll be able to game fine, but probably not max everything out (depending on resolution). If you're not gonna utalise the laptop for mobility though it's a lot of cash to throw down on a device that you can't really upgrade much.

What kind of space issues do you have with moving the PC downstairs? No desk or not enough room for the tower? If it's just a tower-size issue maybe look into building an ITX gaming machine.
 
Depends on how serious you are about PC gaming, if it is important to you then I definitely wouldn't go with a laptop as you have to spend a lot of money to get something that will quickly be outdated. Also if space is the reason you are doing it then I assume you won't be plugging it in to a monitor/TV which will presumably be a step down.

Take the above for example, only has 4GB RAM and a 60GB HD so by the time you've specced it up enough (8GB RAM and enough storage to actually put a few games on) you are talking over a grand for a dual core system with a gpu that from what I read is basically the equivalent of an underclocked 7870 desktop GPU. And a 2.5ghz dual core, 7850/7870 system would be regarded as midrange at best something you might buy if looking to build a system on a budget, most serious gamers would be wanting at least quadcore paired with a 7950 (which would probably cost less than the much less powerful laptop at a guess).

I know it is not a fair comparison as laptops have other advantages, but looking at it purely from a gaming perspective, laptops while more viable for gaming than they used to be are still pretty mediocre.
 
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Get a small form factor pc and(or just) wireless HDMI to stream to a screen that is more portable and get a wireless mouse, keyboard and headphones to use as then you will have more space
 
I have just tried playing BF3 on my brothers Alienware M17 R4 with a 7970M and it feels awful compared to my desktop. It's a very nice laptop don't get me wrong but it just feels like you are playing on a mid spec pc with a diddy screen.
I was considering selling up and going for a laptop and I have changed my mind. If you have the space and enjoy gaming I would stick with a desktop. If I had of sold my setup and bought one of these I would have been a bit gutted tbh.
 
neoboy said:
As above, sacrifices will be have to be made. Get rid of the Mrs.
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I think we have a winner here, votes are in.

On a serious note OP, keep the desktop and perhaps buy a laptop on interest free finance, nothing flashy. I have a lenovo Z570 with an i3 and GT520, quite low spec but good enough for RTS games and games like Trine 2 etc, does the job and complements my desktop
 
MOOGLEYS said:
I have just tried playing BF3 on my brothers Alienware M17 R4 with a 7970M and it feels awful compared to my desktop. It's a very nice laptop don't get me wrong but it just feels like you are playing on a mid spec pc with a diddy screen.
I was considering selling up and going for a laptop and I have changed my mind. If you have the space and enjoy gaming I would stick with a desktop. If I had of sold my setup and bought one of these I would have been a bit gutted tbh.
Click to expand...

Know what you mean but I'm a laptop gamer as I simply have no other alternative and I have pretty much got used to it.

As I don't have a way to enjoy desktop PC gaming anymore I find gaming laptops the only way to play games and enjoy PC in general..

My missus complains about gaming as well, but i like PC gaming and can't really get rid of her (as good as thinking as that is) so laptop gaming is what I've got.... The 7970M and 680M are VERY good GPU's and all laptops can connect to an external display and use external mouse and keyboard, when missus is in bed hook up to the telly via HDMI, keyboard and mouse in laptop tray, laptop on the floor and = win IMO.
 
if you decide to go to a laptop, i'd advise getting one that has a 720p or 768p screen rather than full HD: less pixels to push means higher frame rates. On such a small screen you wouldn't notice that much.

just my opinion.

.....also, don't buy a laptop. stick to the desktop :P
 
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