What is your opinion on the feasibility of laptop gaming? I hear most of the nVidia cards that are 7900s (except the Go GS model) are overheating... and I have no idea how SLI notebooks can keep from melting. In fact.. that 7900 Go GS model is in one of my workstations here that I could swap out at work if it is worth a damn in gaming systems.

I am merely curious if nothing else since I have been out of PC gaming in general since the days of GF4s. I may ditch my desktop for a notebook desktop replacement and I would at least like to play some new games occasionally (I don't care if it is super high res)... but I don't want the system to cook itself in the process.

I have read plenty of reviews on performance factors on some of the newer cards and the ability looks to be there... albeit nothing as powerful as a desktop gaming rig or whatever. Basically - I am not highly informed on the true capabilities of laptop graphics cards beyond some online reviews and charts... and I am looking to hear from our resident experts on what the big pros/cons are comparatively.

10/30/2006 1:38:39 PM

i have a go 7600 in my laptop, stays very cool... no overheating at all..

10/30/2006 1:55:58 PM

I got a dell e1705 with a 7900gs and a core duo 1.83 and it's way better for gaming than any desktop I ever had. my current desktop has an a64 3000+ at 2.1ghz (1:1), 1gb of ram, and a 7900gt.

10/30/2006 2:10:32 PM

I did some more homework during lunch and played with the Go 7900 GS system here a bit and I think I am going to abuse the 30% off Inspiron laptop coupon codes that were released today by Dell and put my old desktop in my workbench area. I really want to ditch the desktop entirely so this should be alright... still costly but the discount is pretty damn nice.

Inspiron 9400 17"
Core2Duo T7200
XP Pro
2GB RAM
120GB 5400RPM HD
8x CD/DVD (DVD+/-RW) w/ dbl layer
256MB GeForce Go 7900 GS
Roughly $1500 after tax

10/30/2006 3:19:45 PM

laptops are still not a good replacement for desktops when it comes to gaming. however, the 17"+ laptops that weigh a ton can pull it off very effectively. but for the premium price you'll pay, you could get a desktop that will easily double (or more) the performance of that laptop.

personally i like building and improving my own computers, so it's my own preference to have one. of course, i have a laptop for portability.

10/30/2006 3:59:58 PM

^^ i'm trying to do the same with the 30% off right now.

10/30/2006 4:05:50 PM

^^ here is my logic for the decision

I have always built my own systems.. shit.. I build servers and computers far too often for work these days but never for myself any more. My scenario is that I travel occasionally - when I travel it is a nice loooooong flight and a long stay at my destination so something portable with all of my personal entertainment and some things for work would be nice. I have a second office overseas so I don't need a "work laptop" as much as I just have to arrive at my destination to get back on the network... so I'm not just getting a work laptop that is not mine

I also have a house with a small room in which I would like to keep my computer and my 52" TV. The problem with that right now is my computer desk EATS space in this room and looks godawful out of place. Either the desk or the TV needs to go - and I'm keeping my TV

I would much prefer to just have a laptop in the room that I can sit anywhere or at least on a much smaller desk... but I also do not want to give up the ability to play games if I choose to. So that brings me to now... I have never thought about buying a laptop for gaming before... in fact... I was just going to get a much cheaper version of the 15.4" system for a personal mobile workstation and build a new gaming rig later... but the cost is considerably higher overall... plus the 2 system maintenance and eyesore of a desk in my room. If I can get by with the 7900 GS in a laptop for low-med res gaming... I will be at my happy medium (for 30% off)

10/30/2006 4:18:19 PM

if you're happy for medium-level graphics in gaming, then go for the laptop, definitely! i use my 15" laptop in the same fashion when i'm traveling. but i wouldn't suggest you get a 17" if you plan on traveling with it ... for some reason they end up feeling much heavier when you travel than even a 15". i'd suggest hitting up people that have each and personally checking the weight before making a decision, some people are just happy to have a heavy 17

[Edited on October 30, 2006 at 4:22 PM. Reason : 15"]

10/30/2006 4:22:05 PM

Just doesn't seem worth it IMO. I went that route trying to get a gaming laptop a few years ago and dropped alot of money on one. It played games well for a year or so but upgrading would be a pain in the ass. Also for a gaming laptop your probably going to have to get a monstrous laptop that isn't practical to carry around with you. I rarely brought my "gaming" laptop anywhere just because it was large and heavy.

This go around I just built myself a nice desktop and got a nice big flatpanel widescreen monitor. Been playing games at max everything for over a year now and doesn't look like its going to change anytime soon.

Just my suggestion, don't try getting something that will do everything. It usually just ends up being mediocre at everything. If your getting a laptop get something reliable, long battery life, and very portable. Thats the real point of a laptop isn't it?

10/30/2006 4:52:58 PM

thats just it - I only need mediocre in everything - and the cost and space savings make sense to me... just removing my desktop + monitor + desk and all the assorted cables will make for so much more space and less of an eyesore... I have limited space to deal with in that room with other furniture, etc... so it will be good for me to have a 17" screen as a pure desktop replacement

for my travelling... I don't consider any of those flights comfortable at all and I will be sitting the laptop on the tray or on a desk/table in the club waiting for the flight anyway - I'm not one to bitch about the weight of something I am carrying... but I definitely won't be using it as an actual "laptop" as much as a desktop replacement that I can pull out wherever I want and if I feel the need to play games - I can

10/30/2006 5:48:59 PM

Quote :

"I got a dell e1705 with a 7900gs and a core duo 1.83 and it's way better for gaming than any desktop I ever had."

+1

I got my e1705 same specs as smoothcrim for about 1420 with tax and a 3yr warranty. The laptop is hard to put on your lap as it can burn your skin, but most laptops do that anyhow. I love the 1920x1200 screen as i can do graphic art shit really easily and edit multiple documents.

The 7900GS 256mb can handle every game to date at pretty good resolutions. It can play source at 1920x1200 res on max settings and still get about 80-100fps. Battery life is a pisser on these machines, but I'm usually near a power source so it doesn't matter. I like having the power to have my good computer with me everywhere I go so I can play games, do graphic work and what not instead of only being able to play cheap java games... You can only play sudoku so much.

The 17" laptops may seem large, but they only weigh 8 pounds. They are fairly portable from one place to another and I take mine to school, work, and home everyday with no problems. My last laptop was a 14.1" dell that's like 7 yrs old and that weighed 9 pounds...

[Edited on October 30, 2006 at 9:21 PM. Reason : ]

10/30/2006 9:20:50 PM

Quote :

"but most laptops do that anyhow"

That's a dirty lie that Apple spreads to excuse their shitty laptops.

10/30/2006 9:23:54 PM