$1500 budget for a laptop

[klutch]

Hello all,

I am considering getting a laptop soon but not sure what brand or model.

The primary tasks will be writing papers/ homework/checkbook/ gamming (COD, BIA) WW2 first-person shooter games.

I am already decided on getting 1 gig memory, at least 100 gig HD, DVD burner, 17in. screen.

I have heard do not get any processor that’s lower than 2 ghz.; is that true? AMD or P4?

What would be a good video card?

What’s a good brand? HP, Acer, Dell?

My budget is around $1500.00

Thanks.

[Staren]

At that budget you're going to be cutting close for gaming. Everything else you want to do can be done on any base model, but gaming level video cards on a laptop are not cheap.

I assume that you don't plan to take this off AC power much? Because with the gaming, and 17in screen, you are looking at a desktop replacment. If you look at the laptop in my sig, I can get it to run BF2 in a pinch, and yes it's playable, but I have to turn graphics down to low-mid settings for a frame rate I can live with.

What I would do is configure a Dell 9300 with what you want and see how much it's going to cost. That will give you a pretty good number to work with.

[LaptopExtreme]

Yeah, it's going to be difficult to find a 17", 2.0ghz+, with a good graphics card on there for only $1500. You can probably find some 17" Pentium 4's with high processor speeds with a some what good dedicated graphics. Such as the Acer Aspire 1804WSMi, it's an x600 where you can probably play those games at medium settings. If you lowered your screen size, you'd find more available options for your price range or go lower on the processor speed, you may be able to get some good 1.7 or 1.8 Pentium M's.

[FireByyrd]

Umm.. this is 1479, free shipping. 6600 256MB graphics card laptop, and its has a 2.0 760M.

http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/store/c...r.aspx?mid=156

[LaptopExtreme]

Yeah, it's not bad, but like I said, if he brought the screen requirement lower, he'd see a lot more choices.

[Staren]

The system FireByrd posted is not bad and meets the listed wants, but two things:

1. its 15.4in screen. I find that more then good enough, but the orginal post wanted 17in.

2. and this is the big one, its IBuyPower... I would watch what you buy from them. Their rep is hit or miss. Sometimes they send great systems, and sometimes you get an awful lemon.

[FireByyrd]

Yeah... sorry I forgot to mention, I would have to second that, but recently I have a friend who bought a desktop and it went smoothly. But resellerratings.com, search ibuypower, and you'll see a various of bitter reviews or happy reviews. for the price, I'll have to say its unbeatable though

* do they even make laptops with 17"?? Never knew that they did.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by FireByyrd * do they even make laptops with 17"?? Never knew that they did.

They do. Most of them are media center type deals for watching movies and working with video. Not the cheapest options around for sure. Though there might be some nice deals on them. I'm not sure. My research right now is on ultraportable sub 3 lbs 12in laptops.

[Staren]

Originally Posted by FireByyrd * do they even make laptops with 17"?? Never knew that they did.

They do. Most of them are media center type deals for watching movies and working with video. Not the cheapest options around for sure. Though there might be some nice deals on them. I'm not sure. My research right now is on ultraportable sub 3 lbs 12in laptops.

[frealus]

hey, just new here

You get an Alienwaware System Area-51 M5700 for $1500

It has a 17" screen 256mb Nvidia 6800.

Will this system qualify?

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by klutch I have heard do not get any processor that’s lower than 2 ghz.; is that true? AMD or P4?

Nope. 1.8Ghz Pentium-M will do fine. The greater clockspeed the better, but that's a matter of budget.

Originally Posted by klutch What’s a good brand? HP, Acer, Dell?

Dell.

kram

[Staren]

If you can configure the right model to the right price (can be an art to get the best combo for the best deal sometimes) Alienware seems to be getting fairly reasonable these days. I can't believe I just wrote that...

[frealus]

You sure Dell is a good one?

Well, I work at Dell as a Tech Support Agent and unless you have your system registered for Business...I bet you'll have onoce hell of a ride w/ Dell's Home and Home Office Support But if you know your way around (policies and procedures) you sure will be satisfied

I'm thinking of getting an Alienware instead of Dell myself

If you want Dell, you can go with the Inspiron 9300
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=i9300S1&s=dhs
17" Screen, 128mb X300 ATI VCard, 1.86proc speed and Windows MCE

[thefultonhow]

If you go with the 9300 and want to game, get the Geforce Go 6800 instead of the MR X300. It provides significantly better performance.

[pc master]

Try a toshiba Quismo(cant spell).

[thefultonhow]

Qosmios are a lot more than $1500.

[pc master]

sorry my bad. Confused $ for £.

[tomster2300]

Go for the Dell 9300 with a 6800 GO. Look for Dell coupons online (coupon codes) which will significantly lower your price (sometimes by $700 or so). They are completely legit as well - do a google search for Dell coupons and you'll find them. The $700 off ones only come out every couple of months though.