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need a new lappy. advice plz...

Discussion in 'Techno-Magic' started by coineineagh, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. coineineagh

    coineineagh I wish for a horde to overrun my enemies Resourceful Adored Veteran

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    I gave away my old laptop while on holiday. My sturdy IBM was still working quite well, but got outdated after 4+ years. :DSo it's time for a new toy, and I can use a little insight. I'm not a techno idiot, but my knowledge is limited, and not really up-to-date. I've seen 'gamers laptops' in the shops, but they are out of my price range. Some questions about hardware first, then if you have opinions about the 3 lappys I list, please elaborate.

    1) I've always believed that notebooks with a grounded socket last longer, because they don't build up static charge, and won't wear down as a result:geezer:. It this nonsense?

    2) As a gamer, I'm very interested in the ability of notebooks to handle PC games. With a modern notebook, I'd like to try out some of the more recent games, which have high processor and video card requirements. If anyone can give me some advice on how much games I'd miss out on with a 2.0GHz processor vs. a 2.4GHz, and with 256MB video card as opposed to a 512MB...

    3) Value for money and durability of course:money:: I want to get the best deal I can, while still having most of the requirements.

    4) are certain types of processor and video card better than others nowadays? What kinds should I look for?:hmm:

    There are 3 notebooks I saw in different shops which caught my eye, I've underlined their most appealing feature;):

    A pricy Toshiba: Satellite A350-12D for 799 euro. 2.4GHz
    Intel Core 2 Duo P8600, Memory: 4096 MB, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650 512MB, Harddisk - Capacity: 320 GB

    An interesting Acer Aspire 7730ZG-344G50MN for 679 euro. 500GB
    Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T3400 2x 2,16 GHz, 4 GB DDR2, Harddisk 500 GB, NVIDIA GeForce Go 9300M GS 512 MB

    And a bargain Acer aspire 7520g-554g25mi for 499 euro, offer expires in 2 days. AMD MobileTurion X2 Dual-Core TL62 (2.1GHz), memory 4GB (2 x 2048), harddisk 250 GB, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS 256 MB dedicated. The bargain has only half of the video card memory of the other two, and I read a review saying that it gets choppy if you set game graphic settings to maximum.

    Will the other ones be better at handling games than the bargain laptop?
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2009
  2. martaug Gems: 23/31
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    Paging Kitrax, Paging Kitrax, customer service at the help desk please.
     
  3. Merlanni

    Merlanni Veteran New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!)

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    It is a jungle of numbers out there. The processor part is easy. At least 2,0 gig more if possible.

    Mem 3 gig for a 32 bit operating system is the usable gamingbottom. 4 is nice but due to some om technical **** windows uses only around 3, 2.. Still 4 is ok. For 64 bit 4 is the bottom.

    Oprating system: Windows 7 is coming 22 october. It is good and has the official ok from almost anyone here. So microsoft will in due time give vouchers to builders for the upgrade from vista to 7, so get one of those is possible. It might be a while before that is the case.

    It get tricky with the graphics card. Without one gaming is near impossible. Never buy a integrated one whit shared memory. Never if you want to game.

    Only the Toshiba can play modern games. it had a real graphics card namely the 3650. A bottom card for desktops, but usable in laptops.

    The second one is weaker whit the processor. I say go for the Toshiba. A few interesting links in dutch: First hardware info. ask here and you know mare than you want:

    http://www.hardware.info/
    A bit less with the processor: http://www.alternate.nl/html/produc...books&l2=Gaming&l3=Toshiba+Satellite+A300-204

    Or: http://www.4launch.nl/shop/#p-4-productid-072569

    Other dutch sites: Kommplett, Azerty, sallandautomatisering, Databyte, Informatique.
     
    coineineagh likes this.
  4. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    Strong Bad seems to like his Lappy 486. It weighs only 42 pounds and has a whopping 512MB RAM and a huge 2MB hard drive! :lol:
     
  5. coineineagh

    coineineagh I wish for a horde to overrun my enemies Resourceful Adored Veteran

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    [​IMG] Last time I bought a laptop, I took a month to reach a decision. I guess this time I'm too impatient, because I know what I'm missing:p. I read a lot about windows 7 on the Techno-magic board, but waiting till october was never an option.
    I surprised myself by making a decision overnight, as I was surfing at work. I found a tip about the Toshiba in question being regularly offered for auction to the highest bidder at mycom.nl. So I went and checked, and there it was on offer for 600 euros. The auction had 4 hours left, so while everyone else was asleep:sleep:, i made my bid (615, postage included), and got confirmation in the morning.
    The recommended price for a new Toshiba Satellite A350-12D is 899 euros, and the shop I first saw it at had it for 100 cheaper. It was possibly discount for the demo/display model, I didn't check. My auction purchase is also an ex demo, so I hope I made the right decision:mommy:. Warranty is a minimum of three months, or what's left of the unit's 1 year warranty.
    My old lappy had an integrated graphics card with shared memory, and its graphics display was indeed limited. I look forward to seeing what my purchase is capable of:bigeyes:.
    I think I got a good deal. Thanks for the advice, Merlanni.
     
  6. Kitrax

    Kitrax Pantaloons are supposed to go where!?!?

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    ZZzzzzzz....Hmph...Wh-WHAT?!?!

    Of the 3 you listed, I'd go with the Toshiba...smart move by *not* going with an Acer....
     
  7. coineineagh

    coineineagh I wish for a horde to overrun my enemies Resourceful Adored Veteran

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    [​IMG] I'm still curious about the grounded power thing: does it improve a laptop's lifespan if it has a grounded socket? Y'know; positive, negative, earthwire. I always thought that Vaios and similar laptops were built to wear down quickly because they don't have grounding...
     
  8. Blackthorne TA

    Blackthorne TA Master in his Own Mind Staff Member ★ SPS Account Holder Adored Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!) New Server Contributor [2012] (for helping Sorcerer's Place lease a new, more powerful server!) Torment: Tides of Numenera SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    The ground from your mains is for safety only. Same thing with the polarized plugs.
     
  9. Harbourboy

    Harbourboy Take thy form from off my door! Veteran Pillars of Eternity SP Immortalizer (for helping immortalize Sorcerer's Place in the game!)

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    I hear that they do good lappys down at Madam Christobelle's. Ask for Angel. Tell her Harbourboy sent you.
     
    Kitrax likes this.
  10. Kitrax

    Kitrax Pantaloons are supposed to go where!?!?

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    I can't believe this, but I'm actually reping you for that! :shake: :lol: :shake:

    ---------- Added 0 hours, 7 minutes and 31 seconds later... ----------

    Like BTA said, they don't need an earth-ground. My Dell's power brick has positive, neutral, and ground connections to the input, but the brick only outputs positive and negative. The ground is not needed, but is added for safety since the brick pumps out 150W at 6A.
     
  11. Munchkin Blender Gems: 22/31
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    I recommend the following...

    Dual Core CPU 2.2+ or higher
    3+ GB of RAM
    GPU - 8600 or higher for Nvidia or 3650(2600) or higher for ATi
    200+ GB Hard drive - if you can find a 7200 that is the way to go

    AMD vs. Intel - Intel has the faster CPU; however, it raises the cost of the notebook.
     
    coineineagh likes this.
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