Gaming Desktop or Gaming Laptop?

Kakorat119 · Jan 30, 2014

Hey guys,

I've been thinking, should I get a desktop or a laptop for gaming/schoolwork? I've heard a lot that desktop is way better but.....let's consider a few things:

Say im playing gta and my parents are around, if there's something like a strip club scene,i dont think i want to be playing that in front of them so if i had a laptop i can just turn th screen away...(btw im 14 and hav strict parents)

What if im taking my device somewhere like long journey, what if i get bored and want to play games?

And i also need these specs:

Intel core i5 or i7 2.7-3.7 ghz
Geforce gtx 770m 3gb
1080p screen
Windows 7 or 8
A good 120gb or more SSD
12gb or more ddr3 RAM
750gb or more HDD 7200rpm
1080p monitor screen (desktop only)
Gaming headset under $20
Gaming/normal mouse under $15
Keyboard with backlight(desktop only)

Plz keep those little things in mind and give me some good advice please. And btw, my dad says i should get a ps4 and we buy a MacBook. Im gonna replace the ps4 with a gaming desktop and I can't do that with a gaming laptop.

Cons29 · Jan 30, 2014

desktop hands down.
yes you may have some ideas on the advantages (mentioned above). but a few more things i would like to point out.

heat, desktops are easier to cool (and they look cool), you can change case, keyboards, monitor, etc

biggest reason for me, ability to upgrade. for a laptop, what, memory, hdd, thats it.
for desktop, just about everything. you can change GPU, cpu, rams, boards, everything. use multiple hdd and ssd. use bigger monitor, or even multiple ones.
for laptops, when it gets old, even the monitor and keyboards goes with it.

bunch of other mods you can do. lights, liquid cooling.

how many laptops are there that the gpu is upgradable?

Kiora · Jan 30, 2014

Get a desktop, the reason I say this is because of the performance difference and also for example you said you have strict parents, it's as easy as skipping the cut scene or simply alt-tabbing

and also if you want to play games on a long trip... Get a tablet, plus if you wanted to bring your laptop around you wouldn't have access to wifi (essential

) which kinda defeats the purpose of it all. There's my input into your situation

.

guanyu210379 · Jan 30, 2014

Desktop performs a lot better with the same price as laptop.
Desktop is easier to upgrade, laptop are not really upgradeable.
Laptop is mobile, desktop not.
Gaming laptops are usually relative heavy as laptop, mobility is somehow decreased.
For pure gaming, I would choose PC/Desktop.

About the PS4..
PS4 and a gaming PC altogether are even better..get both...
Some games are only on PS4 and some only on PC...hehehehe

Kakorat119 · Jan 30, 2014

Cons29 :

Thanks!!! I've done a bit if research and i DO seem to find the desktop as a good option! But can you give me some advice on how to build a pc and wat parts to use? How much will a fancy monitor(i want something fancy around the display like lighting)cost? And also, do i have to put the tower together or the website (like newegg.com or pc part picker) do it for me?

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

Kiora :

Thanks man! Guess desktop is better.

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

guanyu210379 :

Wow everyone says desktop.... I seem to like it too. And yea i cant get the ps4 too cuz of budget...$1600 for pc

Cons29 · Jan 31, 2014

try choosing the parts (you will learn a lot), then post it here. lots of people can give you advice

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

Cons29 :

Ok i just made a build but it crosses $1700

I need it to be under $1650

I had all the parts good but when I added monitor and keyboard it went over. I'm not to confident with my build :/

Can u show me a build with all i need pls? (Only if you want to!)

Cons29 · Jan 31, 2014

post it here, then let's try to trim it down

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

Cons29 :

Ok(this is before adding headset and mouse: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2KDh8

Icaraeus · Jan 31, 2014

There is absolutely no need for a 800W PSU, it's expensive and your build only uses just over half of it. A good 650W PSU would be much better and probably last longer too. Also for the memory it'd be better to get 2x8GB sticks (16GB) instead of 4x4GB ones - just because the motherboard supports 4 sticks of RAM doesn't mean you should use them all.

Cons29 · Jan 31, 2014

+1 to using only 2 sticks (you could add another 2 at a later time if you want)
get an 800w if you plan to go xfire/sli.

if budget is still not enough, try using the stock cpu cooler for now. then buy a better one later.
if that is still not enough, then forget about the ssd for now. buy it later

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

Cons29 :

THANKS!!!! Now its $1640 without mouse and headset(i placed a keyboard). And should I get windows from Microsoft or from pc part picker? Which is cheaper and can i install it myself or is it for professionals?
P.S. What's +1 to only using 2 sticks? Soz idk dat

guanyu210379 · Jan 31, 2014

I see you picked i5 4670k, are you going to OC that? If not, you can pick either E3-1230V3 (same i5 4670k price) or i5 4570 (budget trim down).
If you do not plan to OC, you can further trim down your budget such as taking H87 mobo and CM Hyper 212 proc cooler.
4x4GB RAM is not really good, try to get 2x8. No need to go 1866 if you can get 1600 cheaper.
850W is too much if you do not plan to SLI.
You can postpone the SSD for now if you do not have enough money for now.

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

guanyu210379 :

I would postpone my ssd for later but my parents r strict and said one time buying only. They don't let me save up for some reason ;( and do i need OCing? I play games like watch dogs and gta 5 (when it's out for pc).
P.S. Wat do u mean by 'No need to go 1866 if you can get 1600 cheaper.' Like which part r u talking about?(soz im noob)

Cons29 · Jan 31, 2014

it just means i agree with the suggestion to using 2 sticks, instead of all 4.

guanyu210379 · Jan 31, 2014

1866 or 1600? the RAM speed.

About the OC,
Do you need it? This question is a bit difficult to answer.
OC or not is fully from your side to decide.
Usually for newly bought up2date gaming PC, OC is not necessary, unless you want to OC right away.
After several years, OC could come in very handy to prolong the usage live of the PC.
OC will however add some burden on your electrical bills too.
So, the decision is yours

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

guanyu210379 :

Oh ok. I will probably overclock in 2 years maybe. Can i do it myself or....... is it too complicated?

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

Here's the new update on the parts:

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/2KIaC

Btw, if you guys think it's not really good, pls help and suggest something

Thnx.

guanyu210379 · Jan 31, 2014

OC is not difficult, you just need some reading and patience

guanyu210379 · Jan 31, 2014

Kakorat119 :

It is good to go in my opinion

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

guanyu210379 :

Thanks! I will think about the OC later on. And umm.... Do i hav to out the parts together myself or does pcpartpicker do it for me?

Kakorat119 · Jan 31, 2014

guanyu210379 :

Do I need i7-4770s or is i5 fine?

Kiora · Feb 3, 2014

Kakorat119 :

The i5 will be absolutely fine, no need to go for an i7 in this build.

Gaming Desktop or Gaming Laptop?

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