Replacing Desktop with Notebook - Recommended?

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lloydkayak

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A while back I bought a pretty decent rig for gaming, unfortunately while on holiday it was involantarily donated to that place all stolen computers go and is being replaced by my insurance...

It was:

AMD Phenom II
Nvidia GTX 460
Blah Blah

That I bought for around R11k in August. Insurance supplier has a replacement value of around R15k (Their Supplier's must be expensive)

Anyway, I move around quite a lot and found I wasn't really using the machine all that much.

If I opted for an equivalently priced notebook would I be able to get something capable of running all current games... albeit not on full graphics?

Would also be great to replace my work laptop as I need something that handles cad type programs a bit better with a bigger screen.

Ideas?
 
lloydkayak said:
A while back I bought a pretty decent rig for gaming, unfortunately while on holiday it was involantarily donated to that place all stolen computers go and is being replaced by my insurance...

It was:

AMD Phenom II
Nvidia GTX 460
Blah Blah

That I bought for around R11k in August. Insurance supplier has a replacement value of around R15k (Their Supplier's must be expensive)

Anyway, I move around quite a lot and found I wasn't really using the machine all that much.

If I opted for an equivalently priced notebook would I be able to get something capable of running all current games... albeit not on full graphics?

Would also be great to replace my work laptop as I need something that handles cad type programs a bit better with a bigger screen.

Ideas?
Click to expand...

Add 4grand and get this:

http://www.laptopdirect.co.za/laptop_specifications.php?laptop=40080
 
How would you get the laptop from the states though. Dont think Amazon deliver laptops to SA and in addition to shipping, wont they charge duty?
 
ratty said:
How would you get the laptop from the states though. Dont think Amazon deliver laptops to SA and in addition to shipping, wont they charge duty?
Click to expand...

Yea I'm just pointing to a good option. No idea where to get it here. Just look at the specs/price ratio though - 460, sandy bridge, 1tb - it's killer.
 
These machines are all awesome and definately geared for high quality gaming... I know that R15k is not going to buy a gaming specific machine.
I am curious to know if there are machines in this price bracket that CAN handle gaming comfortably... not super high end full graphics but still enough to make it enjoyable?
 
As far as I know the MSI GX series would suit you well. Pretty much the same performance as the G73 and I've seen prices locally that range from about R13K. For the cheaper price you get less RAM and one HDD, but to be honest, the 8GB RAM on the G73 is a liiiitle bit overkill and the extra HDD is only worth it if you really need that extra space, or if you are looking at replacing the system HDD with and SSD. Note also the G73 doesn't do RAID on those two hard drives so that's no an option.
I think it was the GX460 (640?) or something like that. As long as it has the Mobility Radeon 5870 or the newer Nvidia mobile cards with an i7 processor you're set.
The only game that has lower than preferred framerates on some of the levels on my G73 is Crysis maxed out. The rest runs like butter (just remember though, the Mobility Radeon 5870 compares to a desktop Radeon 5770, so you're not going to get actual desktop 5870 performance).

As far as screen size and quality goes, the G73 is definitely it. Don't know what the MSI machine's screen looks like but I'll bet my life it looks a little bit crappier.
If warranty is also important to you I'd also recommend a G73. Asus's warranties and customer support is second to none.
 
Last edited:
lloydkayak said:
Now thats what I am talking about :) 17" making CAD easy and a decent i7 processor with a decent dedicated graphics...

http://www.computerstore.co.za/Buy-Notebooks-Laptops-MS-GX740-281ZA-MSI-GX740-Gaming-Series-lp-40091.php
Click to expand...

Excellent :)
The only thing that might suck a little is that 1440x900 screen size (just hook up an external if you need bigger, of course), but if you're able to work with that you're set. In fact, the lower native resoluton means you can run even the most demanding games at that resolution for the next 2 or 3 years... or months, depending on how much the console market is strangling the PC game innovation market :)
 
Yeah just remember the 17" is way less portable and a schlep to drag around.

I would still wait for a Sandy Bridge i7, though.
 
To be honest, size and weight on a notebook has never bothered me. I'd lug 10KG's around if it meant I could do everything with it and I didn't have to maintain a damn desktop again...
It's not like you're going camping on K2 with the thing. This is for a desktop replacement anyway so the weight shouldn't be a problem, and if it is, you're just too spoiled :D
 
I weighed up the size issue but a larger screen for work will be way more important than the inconvenience of it being a bit bigger.
I have requested quotes from a supplier for the MSI, Lenovo and Asus notebooks rigged more towards gaming...
 
I totally agree, was just pointing out the mobility issue as a potential negative, as you originally stated you move around a lot. My ideal 17" screen is 1920 X 1200. Great for the CAD stuff.
 
I like the Dells because of their great warranty... the cheaper model has a slightly slower processor but the GPU is up with the 5870... Flippin amazing screens as well.
 
Anyone know a good place to buy these machines else any views on the Dell Studios
 
If you're a student or working at one of the Universities OR working at one of the big corporate firms, then you might be able to obtain the Dell machines for much cheaper!
 
Pada said:
If you're a student or working at one of the Universities OR working at one of the big corporate firms, then you might be able to obtain the Dell machines for much cheaper!
Click to expand...

How do you do that?
 
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