Would you game on a gaming laptop?

[iv-tecman]

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..

 

[iv-tecman]

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..

 

[iv-tecman]

So what we can take from all this, is the succcess and rise of the gaming laptop can directly be attributed to moaning women, who dictate what their men should do and where they should be sitting

My Desktop is in my lounge, so my Mrs doesnt mind me gaming while she watches all her rubbish TV programs.

lol well for me that is most certainly correct... I'd not even dare ask to put a desktop in the living room.. lol I would need to work out a way to pack it away when finished - I'd need some type of toy box, like when I child has to put their toys away when finished lol ..

 

[iv-tecman]

My friend bought a laptop (around £800), we play dayz pretty much every other night. It runs that and ARMA 2 fine but Kerbal Space Program runs very slow, around 10 fps.

I love my desktop so I'd never trade it for a laptop, but I would like one on the side for journeys and such.

That is the problem with laptops, I’ve found some games run just fine but I had a bit of a nightmare with Metro 2033, that’s one game where I do wish I had a desktop. Well, actually still got a desktop but don’t use it… Metro 2033 ran much better with the desktop 5870 I was gaming with before I moved over to a laptop. The Studio cried when trying to play Metro 2033, Samsung faired a little better..

 

[iv-tecman]

If i didnt have my laptop i wouldnt have been able to game. We did live in a small cottage so having a desktop wasnt an option. Even though weve now moved into a much bigger house i still use a laptop and have recently just bought a new one. I game mostly in the dinning room while my wife bakes in the kitchen. I love my laptop it weighs a tonne looks nice and runs everything at max, and i can also trot around the house and hook it up to the tv and play a game from the comfort of the couch.

Also my wife hates clutter especially cables. One power cable and brick and im good to go.

Yes, you've got a very good laptop... that is actually a very nice laptop if its the one in your sig..

I'm thinking of updating to a 680M, got around £1500 so I'd need to sell the Samsung 700G first, I'm with you. without my laptop I'd have prety much stopped PC gaming as without it I'd have not been able to continue..

Heck, I reckon I've kept the Studio just so its a reminder that even modest hardware saved my hobby from the evil eye of doom from the missus.. lol

 

[iv-tecman]

If there was a choice between gaming on a laptop and not gaming at all then I would just give up gaming altogether tbh. If you cant do it properly (and by properly I mean on a big desk with lots of space, big screen and good ergonomics) then I do not see how I could enjoy it. For those that have bought a laptop to be 'sociable' with the misses then I feel your pain but in those instances I just watch the TV. If she insists on watching drivel like the Only way is Essex or the Kardashians then I tell her I am off to my man cave unless she puts something decent on. Harsh, but fair I feel.

Wow, yeah I can see your point... But I guess I've just accepted that using a 17" laptop screen with a decent GPU is enough for me to enjoy playing PC games.

I've tried the "put something on we can both watch" but it just ends up in resentment, she misses her telly, I miss the gaming time.. No one wins, we argue so laptop it is in the same room, both win.. she gets the telly. I get to enjoy some gaming time..

So appears no one would be willing to give up their desktop unless they have a reason, and mostly its down to the missus and sitting on the same room..!!

So, yep the reason for expensive gamng laptops is down to women..!! Cool.. lol

 

[iv-tecman]

I know i know haha. I know exactly what she's like and to be fair, i too dont exactly want to be in another room 90% of the time. Actually, i just done the stupid thing of telling her this idea and she agrees. Looks like i've already lost my 'spot' haha.

You'll get a heck of lot more gaming done without being moaned at if you sit in the same room as the missus whilst they watch junk telly... You can just put the laptop on your lap (I do however recommend you get a laptop tray unless you want to cook your legs) and enjoy a game and know you'll not get moaned at lol

Seems a few are saying no way, but I wonder if they got married, had kids, missus complained etc etc... Would they really pass up the chance to game still if it meant using a laptop with, lets face it in most cases not a lot of difference for a lot of PC games then what you'd get on a desktop if you kit out a right spec laptop.

I'd rather be able to play a new PC game even if it means slightly less detail, less AA at sub 60fps, or even 30fps then not at all..

I played, and completed Batman Arkham city on a Dell Studio, just meant I ran the game at 30fps most of the time instead of 60fps.. didn't bother me, still got to play it..

 

[iv-tecman]

Well ive nothing to gain from lieing?
It plays the latest M payne maxxed out, smooth as butter.
Skyrim modded that to the hilt, no problems apart from the odd mod conflict.
Although the 3D is very impressive especially on Skyrim, its not really my thing.
Im currently playing Borderlands 2 ,and Dishonored

The machine never overheats, and of course you have the built in overclock utility, which im a bit wary of using.
And is very quiet.

Got the same gaming laptop, whilst I don't have benchmarks to hand, I tend to go with 'it feels fine to me' anyhow approach nothing much I've ran on my 700G has stuttered to failed to run at native provided I don't got OTT with the AA.

Metro 2033 still has issues if you crank up the details, Batman Arkham City struggles with DX11 - but then what system doesn't..??

Good laptop, highly recommended.

 

[iv-tecman]

not upgraded since the 5850 and to be honest dont game as hardcore as I used to with the growing family a good laptop is probably the next purchase. one question do they get too hot for use on your actual lap?

Yes, yes they do which is why I recommend a laptop tray. Argos sells one for around £10 which is big enough for a 17" laptop and a mouse with a mouse pad.

Its said, although I don't know how true this is, that extended use of a laptop on your lap can effect your fertilely…

Now, I don’t know if that is totally true, but whenever I game on my laptop without my tray, my legs get really hot, and the missus is always saying ‘get that tray out if you’re going to play on that silly thing’ etc or something to those words..

 

[iv-tecman]

Exactly, the way I see it, if I'm happy to game on the xbox(very rarely), then I'd be happy with gaming on low settings.

Yes.. If you ever play a PS3 version of Batman Arkham City or F1 2011 and then play the same games on decent laptop, even on my now aging Dell Studio... Even at 1280 x 720, 2 x AA and high details both these games run above 30fps and not a single screen tear to be seen..

Know which one i'd prefer to game on truth told.. Samsung 700G obliterates the PS3, I never even bother with the PS3 anymore unless it’s a PS3 exclusive or only available on 360 /PS3.

Some are hung up on must have 120fps, MAX everything..!!

 

[iv-tecman]

I didn't even know you could do that!! This is sounding better and better!!!(on about plugging in a console)

Yes the Alienware laptops have a HDMI in port as well as HDMI out port, quite a handy feature if you intend to use your laptops built in display with your games console or external blu ray player if the laptop doesn’t have an internal blu ray.

Laptops are also upgradable if they have an MXM style GPU, but I’d always recommend buying the quickest GPU you can afford at the time of buying a laptop.

Alienware laptops are really expensive for stuff like SSD and HD’s etc… My advice is to skip and get a base Alienware M17x with a 680M or 7970M with a 500GB drive, and lowest spec memory and upgrade the memory and slap SSD and bigger harddisk in using off the shelf components from overclockers or something..

 

[iv-tecman]

plug your ps3 into the laptop hmm that's quite handy can you do that with the Samsung one ocuk sell?

Its a feature of Alienware only I think.. My 700G doesn't have this feature, which is a shame, as I'd use it if I had it... Think thats another reason I don't play my PS3... Missus always got junk on the telly..

I tell ya.. Women have a lot to answer for when it comes to dedicated gamers... They ruin all the fun

 

[iv-tecman]

I've opened up an older Alienware laptop before and that didn't have a sticker. Was just unsure if the newer ones had something like this. Wouldn't think they would. Got a feeling I might order a new laptop tonight haha

ensure you search for the 10% off vouchers + free shipping in google, D M X you need to type into google to get the coupons, worth getting.

Just buy a M17x if thats what you want with a 500GB HD, add a SSD + MSATA later on... Apparently the 7970M is pretty good in the M17x and a lot cheaper then a 680M.

 

[iv-tecman]

Yeah that's why I think I should see about ordering tonight. £205 off plus 10% then the shipping too.

I'll need to have a good look tonight, as on one Page The m17 only had 2 nvidia cards, but the other had loads more. But from what I've been reading the 7970M isn't far off a 680m, plus the new driver ers are meant to make it better?

Cheers for the confirmation dinks!

The Alienware didn't suffer the performance issues as much as others using a 7970M as with the Alienware you can turn the power features off, meaning it doesn't suffer if I got this right. However there is now a driver fix to the enduro issues.

the 680M is a lot of money, thedinks has gone all out with 680M SLI which is a dream laptop, me I'd perhaps now go for a 7970M...