Laptop Shopping

[arfy4]

Well, I've been getting back into games on a family members laptop, and now I'm Searching for a laptop to buy for myself so I'll be able to play whenever I want I'm currently looking at an HP Envy 15 which I can get from Costco for about $1200. The specs would be as follows;

Processor & Memory:

Intel® Core™ i7-2670QM Processor at 2.2GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.10GHz)
8GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1,333MHz (1 DIMM)
Drives:
750GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive
Slot-loading SuperMulti DVD burner
Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Graphics & Video:
15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit display (1920 x 1080)
Radeon™ HD 7690M switchable graphics with 1024MB GDDR5 and up to 5093MB total
graphics memory
Communications:
Intel 2x2 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN(10b) + Bluetooth® with WiDi
Network Card: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
Webcam: HP TrueVision HD Webcam (Skype HD capable) with integrated microphone
Audio:
Beats Audio™ with 6 speakers and a subwoofer
HP Wireless Audio
Keyboard:
Backlit Keyboard: HP Radiance backlit keyboard
Ports:
2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0
1 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 DisplayPort
1 HDMI
1 RJ-45 (LAN)
2 Headphone-out
1 Microphone-in

Wondering about opinions on this, if anyone can find something else with similar specs for less money, things like that. I'm hoping to be able to play more demanding games on high settings (Borderlands, Sonic Generations, etc.)

[Pwnstar]

Build a tower

[arfy4]

I was planning to buy a new laptop then build a tower because I would like to be able to take a computer capable of playing games like this with me places rather than having to leave it at home.

[Clay Pigeon]

I was planning to buy a new laptop then build a tower because I would like to be able to take a computer capable of playing games like this with me places rather than having to leave it at home.

And where are you going to be going where you will be playing games?

/gaming laptops are great in theory, but they rarely get used for gaming outside the home.
//may as well build a gaming desktop and buy a cheap laptop or netbook for browsing/word processing for the same $$ you would spend for a gaming laptop.

[arfy4]

I go on vacation, sometimes I get bored, I want something to do. I didn't want to be told to build a desktop instead, I wanted actual recommendations for laptops with similar specs and opinions on the laptop I am currently looking at.

[crimsonshootingstar]

I buy from here http://www.ibuypower.com/ my laptop from i buy power survived a tour of duty in Afghanistan and a further 2 years and performed excellently.

[arfy4]

I'll definitely look into ibuypower. From just quickly looking at the site it looks pretty good.

[Dog]

/gaming laptops are great in theory, but they rarely get used for gaming outside the home.

My 'gaming laptop' is excellent for games and runs every one of my games beautifully.
But I also use it heavily for web design, programming, graphics, word processing (aka work), video editing, music writing.
It also runs raves.

And often does all this at the same time.

I love my M14X and would buy another.

[MrBlah]

TBH, I'm not much for laptops. I have one that I take everywhere, but it wasn't very expensive as I don't use it for gaming, even though it's mildly capable.

Keep in mind, if you get a Core i7 gaming laptop, it will overheat. It will ALWAYS get hot. You will have issues cooling and will always have to bring a cooling pad with you which will cost you at least another $40-50 for one that will be sufficient.

If I were you, I would spend about $600-800 on a laptop instead. Look for a Core i5 laptop with 4GB of RAM and a dedicated video card. That will play all the games you want while you are away(although not on high settings), and it will also still provide you with good battery life as well. Lenovo's are amazing. I love my ThinkPad. It is a basic design and isn't flashy. It's utilitarian. Only what you need. They also have neat battery saving software if you are not anywhere near a 110V AC Plug which allows you to get as much as 4-5 hours of battery life while only doing basic things like writing and Interneting.

This would allow you save up some extra and then spend more on a desktop, which would be your true powerhouse and an awesome gaming computer.

[Cpt._Keyes]

my i7 lappy... burninates...it has even melted the lacquer on the table i play on at work...that being said...i have used a gaming laptop for the past...4 years...since i go from place to place...and have my alienware desktop for when im home...I also use the laptop for when im too lazy to get out of bed...and still want to play a game...lazy gaming!!

[arfy4]

I am gonna try to stay away from alienware and such, I don't want to spend that much money on a laptop, however, ibuypower looks like they have a sufficient laptop that I could buy and then have enough money approximately a year later to build a very nice desktop

[Pwnstar]

Something I cant stress enough with gaming laptops is HOW MUCH they can burn the legs! Just keep that in mind if you want kids later

[arfy4]

That would be an advantage with HP. They detect when they're on your lap and cool themselves faster when they are. Also the aluminum on the Envy 15 cools very nicely.

[One_Medic_Army]

I've had my ASUS G51-vx for several years, and it's a good machine. 10lbs worth of machine, that still plays current gen games on high settings at 1920x1080. I also liked the second drive bay back when it was my main computer for college.
It's also nice for what I bought it for, running Solidworks.
This is the equivalent ASUS to the HP you've described, and it's roughly the same price on newegg.
I fully endorse getting stuff at costco for the return policies and such, just throwing another option out there.

[Dog]

Keep in mind, if you get a Core i7 gaming laptop, it will overheat. It will ALWAYS get hot. You will have issues cooling and will always have to bring a cooling pad with you which will cost you at least another $40-50 for one that will be sufficient.

Errr....mine doesn't. Core i7.
It should be reworded to something like: "If you are going to game for a while, then it will get hot."
On day to day stuff, it never gets hot. Period.

The heat comes from when it switches from the Intel graphics card to the nVidia graphics card.