The Laptop Guide - Post here for questions, deals, etc.

**Vannis** · 2010-10-07 20:04

Hey I'm looking for a laptop that isn't too heavy, I'd like to carry it around with me to class and such easily along with all my books. Also needs to be able to play FFXIV no problem, and price isn't a factor, so any decent idea will help seeing as I'm completely computer illiterate. Thanks!

**Draylo** · 2010-10-08 17:31

Originally Posted by Draylo

Dropped my laptop today and its borked now... I need a new one. Looking for a decent gaming PC, doesn't have to be top notch but has to run ffxi very well at the least... and budget is 500~ish max 650 ;x. Any suggestions?

Nobody answered ;/, looking at these two, Any opinions?

#1

#2

**Gredival** · 2010-10-08 18:44

@Vannis

Define portabiliy. Anything sub-13" won't game on high settings, but the Alienware M11x and the Asus TimelineX can manage most modern games at medium settings.

If you don't mind going up to 15" and price isn't a factor there are a ton of 15" that will game hard. Tell me exactly what sort of settings you want to run on and we can go from there.

@ Draylo

Devil is in the details. Define "well." I don't know 14 reqs cuz I don't play it and I have no intention of ever playing it, but the gateway seems underpowered and the BestBuy one doesn't list any specs really. Neither of those will play the game well on high settings, I can tell you that much. You're talking about a pretty modern game here so you will need a discrete card at the least, a good discrete card to play it with nice settings. That drives a bill up.

**Draylo** · 2010-10-08 18:51

Nah I meant play ffxi well, not 14. So it should be any modern laptop or so? I really don't wanna spend too much, maybe if one can run 14 decently, not at max settings, I wouldn't mind as well.

**Vannis** · 2010-10-08 19:04

Originally Posted by Gredival

@Vannis

Define portabiliy. Anything sub-13" won't game on high settings, but the Alienware M11x and the Asus TimelineX can manage most modern games at medium settings.

If you don't mind going up to 15" and price isn't a factor there are a ton of 15" that will game hard. Tell me exactly what sort of settings you want to run on and we can go from there.

Best settings if at all possible, I looked a little more and found this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+L...&skuId=1257894
8.5 pounds isn't too bad but after a whole day at school it may weigh me down lol
Is there anything smaller that can play at the best settings?

**Gredival** · 2010-10-08 21:36

@Vannis

The G73 is one of the best bang for the buck desktop replacements out there atm and has been for a while now. Can't go wrong with it in terms of performance.

For smaller, I'm pretty sure a tricked out M15x would be able to match a G73, but it would run you a LOT more money. And I'm not sure how much lighter it would be exactly.

Boyiee just said he/she was considering selling theirs to move to a more portable laptop, might want to ask for his/her review and maybe negotiate a sale.

@Draylo

Oops sorry, must have mixed it up. I used to have a laptop that should have destroyed XI, but after a year or two it gave me terrible performance. To be on the safe side I'd probably lean towards overkill rather than be sorry. Also nvidia is shitty for XI.

With that in mind this is a pretty good laptop for XI in the 650 range

http://www.dell.com/us/p/studio-14/fs

Benchmarking for that card puts WoW on medium settings at 40+ FPS, so I'm sure XI would be fine at max settings available in the interface. If you started changing the resolution higher yourself you might start slowing down.

**Draylo** · 2010-10-14 16:52

So get a new laptop, Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...751-_-10082010

Fast forward a day later and when I turn the laptop on, theres lines everywhere and it is going crazy. Lines going up and then sideways and sometime it goes to user screen, other time it just keeps doing it. I call them and they tell me send it in and it will take 8 to 10 days..... anyone have any bad experience w/this company? Any idea why this would happen?

**Milks** · 2010-10-15 01:43

You called Newegg or Asus? I've never had an issue RMAing anything to Newegg. I simply filled the form out on the website and got a new whatever I had purchased in a little under a week. Pretty fast turnaround time.

**Gredival** · 2010-10-15 09:15

Get another laptop if possible. If your main concern is XI, nVidia drivers are shit with XI. Lots of people will tell you that ATI has a history of crappier drivers, but trust me. For this game, never trust nVidia. They don't care enough about this game. Eight months and nVidia is still unable to put out a proper fix to an FPS issue in XI.

And for what it's worth, that laptop's graphics are sort of underpowered for what it costs. Could get a 335M laptop for less than 800.

**Draylo** · 2010-10-18 16:38

Game runs fine with max settings on ffxi so the nVidia isn't really an issue.

You called Newegg or Asus? I've never had an issue RMAing anything to Newegg. I simply filled the form out on the website and got a new whatever I had purchased in a little under a week. Pretty fast turnaround time.

I called Asus, they said they would fix it. If I call Newegg they give a brand new one?

**Senji** · 2010-10-18 18:07

Originally Posted by Draylo

Game runs fine with max settings on ffxi so the nVidia isn't really an issue.

I called Asus, they said they would fix it. If I call Newegg they give a brand new one?

Yeah, within 30 days Newegg will just swap you a new one. No need to bother with Asus.

**Mayareira** · 2010-10-20 14:59

Was thinking of buying this one, what do you guys think?

http://stuarthughes.com/newdawn/prod...products_id=93

**Norellicus** · 2010-10-21 09:44

http://www.xoticpc.com/asus-g73jw-no...a1-p-2858.html

Any thoughts on this one? Looks pretty sweet, and some people I know own or have used its predecessor (G73JH) and thought it was great.

Also fucking lol Maya.

**Eldoras** · 2010-10-22 10:16

Its about the best gaming laptop from Asus or any other retailer for that matter as far as non-customized models go for. Have used that system and like the performance but it will weigh a b*tch so if its going to be treated as a desktop, for the price tag of $1,400~ I'd say just build a desktop rig. Other stock models featuring an Intel I7 w/ graphics cards tend to have a 512MB for the graphics card (ie. Sony and Toshiba). AMD will be releasing its quad~Phenoms in full steam around Christmas so you may or may not get a good deal then; I just don't know the exact configs of what they'll be releasing. On a side note, the Asus one was being offerred as a momentary refurb'ed model for $1,100 on some sites. Idk off-hand if Best Buy's online site still has it.

Another good gaming laptop that works really well for FF11 (but not FF14) is the Samsung QX410. Still comes under the weight of tons of others in the market, boasts an Intel I5 with a 512MB Nvidia chip, has a pretty frickin sweet battery life and can't go wrong @ $849.99.

**Freeko** · 2010-11-01 06:11

Wanting to buy this Laptop since my old one died on me. I was wondering how good would it be for playing games. I don't expect it to run XIV but how would it do with older ones. I mainly want to use it for browsing and watching movies and some gaming.

Spoiler: show

**Boyiee** · 2010-11-01 12:52

If anyone is looking for a high end gaming laptop/desktop replacement, I put my ASUS G73JH up for sale in the buy/sell/trade forum. Selling it with a Slappa Hardbody Pro bag. Can save yourself a few bucks.

http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/100...rdbody-Pro-bag

**Eldoras** · 2010-11-02 06:43

If I could afford it, this would be the laptop for Christmas for me:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921666248867
And yes I'd f**king whore myself out worse than duece biggalow for one......

**Boyiee** · 2010-11-03 17:32

Does it come with a fire extinguisher?

**Eldoras** · 2010-11-04 14:21

That's what chill~mats are for {sarcasm}. Surprisingly its probably not the hottest running laptop in the market I feel. I kinda want to award that title to this model:
http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/c...?idproduct=247
Given its an i7 six core and runs dual Nvdia GPUs, it could probably replace the toaster they use at Subway for heating sandwiches. That or you can use this to get those abs you've wanted since this does weigh a whopping ~17 lbs...

**lathia** · 2010-11-05 15:13

Hello!

I've been considering buying a laptop a lot for the past week or so. However, I'm completely computer illiterate as far as specs go. From what I've read here at BG and other sites, I think it pretty much boils down to ASUS being the best for gaming? I've also considered building my own since I hear you get more out of what you pay, but the laptop would be ideally passed down to a younger sibling in the future. Will basically stay in the house and rarely brought to school.

I "understand" the G73 series are about the best? Should I totally wait for the holiday season, and will they release anytime soon a new better one? Also, I've read a lot of complaints from Nvidia cards not running FF11 well at all. I don't play FF11 anymore, but I know I'd be tempted to re-install with a new mobo. Does ASUS even incorporate any ATI cards?

One too many question marks, thanks.

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