----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:49 pm Gaming: Laptop vs. Desktop ----------------------------------- Okay, so my dad said that he will get me a new computer and it is my choice whether I want a laptop or desktop. Since my older computer is really outdated on video graphics, I have not been able to play many new games. Therefore, I am looking for a computer which will suit my gaming and regular needs. My budget is under $1000 but preferably at or below $900. So I was thinking, Desktop or Laptop.... A laptop would benefit me because I wouldn't have to give my sister the computer and it is portable. Here are some which I liked: [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-15-6-intel-core-i3-330m-2-13ghz-laptop-r580-red-r580/10138174.aspx?path=49dda41651528d14ace910235c80de70en02]Samsung [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/toshiba-toshiba-satellite-16-intel-core-i3-2-13ghz-laptop-l500-00f-black-l500-00f/10137332.aspx?path=ddacacd6a13c724bab959ac54377c962en02]Toshiba Satellite [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/EN-CA/product/id/10137508.aspx]Gateway [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/sony-sony-vaio-14-intel-core-i3-330m-2-13ghz-laptop-vpccw21fdl-indigo-vpccw21fdl/10138721.aspx?path=ede3a0801975a6b389a2bf4a772c574aen02]Sony VAIO [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-14-1-intel-core-i3-330m-2-13ghz-laptop-dv4-2154ca-black-dv4-2154ca/10137639.aspx?path=3bd4e54e222a541e376efa8448406bb3en02]HP Pavilion All of these have their pros and cons...I would prefer a 64-bit computer that could play the latest games such as [url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/97615-BioShock-2-System-Requirements-DRM-Revealed]Bioshock 2 or [url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Official-Modern-Warfare-2-System-Requirements-Released-20656.html]Modern Warfare 2. Any suggestions? (Please don't suggesting building my own) :) A desktop on the other hand, is better built for gaming. I like this [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-intel-core-i3-530-2-93ghz-computer-p6334f-p6334f/10137940.aspx?path=241af8777f53afd8e8c6c8465b54d4d8en02]HP computer because of its specs. However, a desktop is not portable. Please offer your suggestions as to which one I should buy and please also suggest a model if you know one. Thanks ----------------------------------- DemonWasp Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:45 pm RE:Gaming: Laptop vs. Desktop ----------------------------------- If you want to play Bioshock 2 or Modern Warfare 2 at an acceptable framerate for under $1000, you'll almost certainly need to get a desktop. You pay a premium for laptop components, which have much stricter heat, power consumption and size requirements placed on them. When reviewing laptops, remember that "integrated" under their graphics heading means "no super-recent games". You will probably not be able to play MW2 and its ilk very well on any of those laptops you linked (I'm unsure of the Intel PM55 and HM55 chipsets' performance, but I would guess it can be summarized as "not good"). I could be wrong, but I doubt it. If you want to buy a laptop, Futureshop is a terrible choice. Go to a better retailer, like [url=http://ncix.com/]NCIX.com (Canadian!) or TigerDirect.ca, among others. For example, for $1000, [url=http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=50795&vpn=NP-R580-JS02CA&manufacture=Samsung]this laptop is generally better than the laptops you linked, and that's probably not even the best choice there. Gaming laptops also have the problem that their batteries seldom outlast an hour, two at the outside. As for the desktop, that's a solid option, but remember that it comes without a screen. If you're required to give your old computer away, you'll probably be required to give away your screen with it. You would, of course, be far better off assembling the new computer yourself if that's an option, or ordering an assembled one from NCIX (use their PC Builder for a while). I found one device within a few minutes that cost $866 and has a graphics card that's probably at least twice as fast as the one in that HP box. ----------------------------------- ProgrammingFun Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:50 pm Re: Gaming: Laptop vs. Desktop ----------------------------------- Thanks for the help. However, my dad will probably only let me buy from stores (not online). What do you think about the graphics on [url=http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-17-3-intel-core-2-duo-t6600-2-2ghz-laptop-g71-351ca-black-g71-351ca/10135473.aspx?path=2b47319114d16d260b83ab5616e2e841en02]this one ( I know the processor and HDD are outdated). One other question: How come there are some i3 processors with 2.8 GHz while there are i7s with 1.8 GHz. I thought i7 was supposed to be better... :o ----------------------------------- Euphoracle Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:48 pm RE:Gaming: Laptop vs. Desktop ----------------------------------- The clockspeed isn't the only thing that is important. It's only comparable if you're dealing with the same chip at different clocks. Also, anything that isn't nvidia or ati automatically sucks for graphics. Here's the deal, if you want to game on a laptop, you'll need to get an expensive powerhouse laptop like a high-end dell XPS or alienware or something with comparable specs. If you want to game on a desktop, you can grab some mediocre parts, put them together, and play at reasonable settings for