Would you game on a gaming laptop?

iv-tecman

iv-tecman

iv-tecman

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How many of you have now ditched your Desktop PC for a gaming laptop? I understand some of you could never ditch the gaming desktop as some play games like FSX which is VERY intensive and I’d doubt a laptop with multiple screens would really cut it.

But for general gaming, who has moved over to a laptop? I ask, as I’ve been laptop gaming exclusively for nearly two years and you’d be surprised with what even modest laptop hardware can perform like.

Before I upgraded to a better spec laptop, I was running a Dell Studio 17 along side my Desktop PC, but slowly as life changed, the Dell with its modest 5650 1GB GPU was being used so much more then my Desktop PC. Mainly due to the fact I simply cannot sit upstairs in front of a Desktop PC as the missus simply complained way too much…

The Dell ran many games even Crysis 2 would run if you got the settings right, in fact I played Crysis 2 from start to finish on my Dell Studio, and enjoyed it and never once felt I’d missed out.

My Samsung 700G is very capable, but I’m still surprised as I’ve got my Dell Studio that both laptops can run even a newer title dishonored, I was always amazed the Studio with what is generally regarded as a mid range GPU ran Batman Arkham City at very respectful settings, I play the entire game from start to finish using a 360 gamepad, a 7.1 virtual surround headset on my lap, in the living room in a Dell with a modest GPU. Not once did the game feel laggy…

Have to admit, if it wasn’t for laptops coming on so much in regards of being able to run games, I fear due to having a baby recently and a complaining missus who thinks I should sit with her each evening, if it wasn’t for my gaming laptops, my PC gaming hobby would be well over by now..
 
I swapped my gaming rig for a Dell XPS at the start of the year, it only has a GT540M but it's perfect for most of the games I play. Big Picture mode on Steam has been a nice addition too. :)
 
I got a 700G to replace my desktop as I was moving country and still go back and forth between the UK and Belgium. So I prefer having the "gaming laptop" as there are still PC exclusives I like to play but also games I just prefer to have a keyboard and mouse. (I do use a separate mouse though touch pads still fail !)

So for me it was "portablity" which was why I went to a gaming laptop. I did prefer my desktop. But meh what can you do. The Sammy G700 is still a beast of a machine though I've not had any issues with it at all. Great piece of kit. Although as Sleeve mentioned though the lack of component customization sucks.
 
I had to ditch my desktop when the GF and I moved in together - no room in the flat for a desk, and she likes me being in the living area being social.

In an ideal world Id have a man cave with a mean desktop PC and multiple monitors, but tbh its worked out pretty well anyway.

My Asus N55 can handle most new games at moderate settings, and I have one earphone piece in for the game sound, and one out so I can pretend to listen to the GF talk about stuff while she is watching Greys anatomy!

Id like a G55 but Asus UK are being douches and have only released the G75 here.

One drawback is TS/Vent type stuff is out, but Im playing mostly SP games these days so not much of an issue I guess.
 
What I love about PC Gaming is customisation......its what makes it stand head and shoulders over console gaming for me, this also goes hand in hand with better performance/graphics.....a laptop cant offer me that.

Also I like playing on a 24" monitor and laptop CPU's usually run at lower clock speeds due to heat issues etc.

Nothing wrong with Laptops at all, but I would never trade my Desktop for one.
 
thinking of making the switch soon. we are moving to a smaller house and I will on longer have a study until we get around to the new extension so laptop will be on the to buy list!

what is regarded is a good spec for £1000
 
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Got a new one being built for me as we speak, hopefully be here next week. The current Dell just isn't cutting it so I'll get that all cleaned up and pass it on to the Mrs.

It's just easier for me to get away with gaming if I'm sat next to her on the sofa while she watches TV or whatever. Still got a capable machine upstairs, but decided to plump for the new laptop as I can't currently play War of the Roses without disappearing to the desktop, and she doesn't like that.
 
I have both - But I bought an M11x Alienware Laptop when they where first released and it was the biggest mistake I have done. (could have got a better laptop)

Although I could have looked around for a laptop and got one which is way more better I got this and it’s now starting to get out dated. BUT When I go round my mates and have a LAN party to play LoL, WoW and games that are not too demanding it’s great.

And When I am at home I go on my desktop which is good for when I want a better experience. But you can never beat a good old desktop. Also I may be upgrading my laptop in 2013 what are the prices now for a laptop.
 
Nah don't think I could. I like my laptop being light, thin and very portable. Gaming laptops (proper ones) just can't come close. Desktop all the way.
 
I did for several years. Setup my laptop on a home made 'easy chair' table built from the base and gas height adjuster from a swivel chair. Laptop is still going strong even now its 3 years old (and was first being manufactured 5 years ago), and can handle all new games, albit not at the highest settings (ever since Witcher 2 raised the graphic requirement bar). They are not upgradable and like most pc users i like to have max settings so i went back to desktop with a 6870 and i3, which is playing everything i throw at it.

So laptops are good but only for a few years. To play games you need to fork out over a grand.
 
Agree the portability and like some have mentioned, means you can game whilst in the same room as the family or missus. My missus simply will not accept me sitting up stairs on a desktop so for me a gaming laptop is my only means of PC gaming.

I guess it’s nice to have those all singing ultra high spec GPU’s but you’d be amazed by what a modest spec laptop can do. It is a pain that you can’t upgrade them like you can a desktop, just means I have to sometimes hunt around for tweaks etc to get that extra fps if needed.

I managed to get the witcher 2 to run on my older Dell studio, now to get that game to run and be playable on a weaker GPU like a 5650 is an achievement, should be a steam achievement for that – “run the witcher 2 on a mid range GPU” lol Looked epic and enjoyed it.

Laptop track pads are all but useless. I use a Logitech G400 (MX518 basically) and it works brilliantly on the arm of the sofa lol I love Steam big picture, when missus finally goes to bed, get the 5m HDMI lead out, hook up to the telly and play 42” game of whatever I fancy..

Gaming laptops despite their cons, they have many pros and if it wasn’t for gaming laptops, like I said my PC gaming habit would be nearly over by now..

Another aspect I like.. I can tether my mobile up whilst say in a hotel room and fire up steam and play any game I like. Can’t do that with a Desktop, even a portable games console isn’t as good as a gaming laptop with a mobile phone on the go if you have somewhere to set up for a gaming session..
 
If upgrades were in the form of drivers (as it's difficult to upgrade a laptops hardware) then i could possibly see the viability for some people, however, that viability disappears when a laptop has a constricting effect where you're drawn into a small area of space to move around in, and if you want more space, then purchasing a keyboard and mouse is your only option really, same goes for if you want a bigger display, you'll need to purchase a monitor to hook up into the back of the laptop if you require a bigger sized display resolution over your laptops display.

So no, it's just not viable considering you could build a small-form factor PC that can be upgraded and carried around, plus, they're cases designed for traveling etc like the CM-Storm.

Edit: I also understand that in some cases people have no other choice than to choose a laptop, but a desktop PC is definitely (in my opinion) a much better option for gaming for the purpose of upgrading, more space to game with (most gamers require that aspect) etc.
 
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