Replacing desktop with laptop

[Guest2]

I have always toyed with the idea of replacing my Desktop machine with a laptop but never put a great deal of thought into it.

My current desktop is the following;

Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 7
i7 4790k @ 4.7 ghz
16GB ram
EVGA GTX 780 Ti
Samsung 850 Evo 120gb SSD OS drive
Crucial M4 SSD games drive
WD Velociraptor 150gb OS backup
WD Black 1TB
WD Green 3TB
Asus Xonar Essense ST soundcard

The thing is I only really use it for browsing, music and the odd game. The last time I played a 'proper' game was GTA V about 2 months ago.

Do you think an good Dell laptop would suit my needs better or maybe an Alienware? Do any laptop have good sound cards now-a-days?

I do have it connected to a good hi-fi system (Nad C370, B&W 603s) so don't want it to sound cack or don't really want to spend £200-300 on equipment like a DAC.

Another possible problem is my monitor is a hazro hz27wc which only has
DVI-D input - Is this even possible to connect a laptop to this?

There there is the storage space - I guess I would need to buy external an external caddy or caddies

Whilst I do not really game much any more I would like the ability to play the odd game in future, even if details has to be dropped a bit

Thanks

 

[olivier renault]

I see a few options here :

1) Do nothing. Seems your system works OK for you at present.
2) Sell old system, buy a 'portable desktop', plus NAS / enclosures. Relatively powerful CPU, a decent GPU, big, bulky, still chained to the mains, and expensive. Can do gaming, and potentially better sound options than the average notebook.
2) Same, with a less capable, more portable laptop. Gaming will be severely limited.
3) Buy a cheap notebook / tablet to lounge around. Keep old desktop for the occasional gaming session and whatnot.
4) Buy a cheap notebook / tablet to lounge around, NAS / enclosures, sell the desktop. No gaming at all. Sound options limited. Use HDMI->DVI cable.
5) Buy a cheap notebook / tablet to lounge around, NAS / enclosures, sell the desktop. buy a console (PS4 / XONE). Use HDMI->DVI cable.

I'm not in your shoes, but I know personally that I cannot get away from a gaming desktop. So I have a gaming desktop and a cheap notebook for my travels. Gives me the best of both worlds.

From what I can see, a bulky 'gaming laptop' really isn't what you are looking for. These are usually aimed at gamers who want to be able to play their games on the go (LAN party / travel, ect...). They don't care about how hot and loud they get, how heavy, how obsolete they become, and how impractical they are for travelling (still better than a tower).

A decent notebook / tablet would be around £400-£600. Now, that's quite an expense. Selling your PC and buying something else (good gaming laptop, or notebook + console combo) would be around that range, even saving a little bit of money (not sure how much you'd get for your tower, £650?). You'll take a big hit going second hand, even with a system such as yours.

my $0.02.

 

[Guest2]

Thanks.

I think one of the reasons for me using my desktop less and less is my iphone 6. Like now, im posting this on my phone whilst watching TV at the same time.

I wish i could connect my iphone to dvi-d on my monitor, use windows os and connect it to a DAC and usb storage that would be perfect. Yes, hardly any gaming power but it should do for the most part.

I thought about getting an ipad but then i either wouldnt use my phone or wouldnt use the ipad!