Wondering what the best GFX card for a laptop is and if there is a huge gap in performance between mobile gfx cards and desktop cards.

Cheers all!

Leechy

High end graphics for laptop isn't worth. medium end cards like 7900m/8600m are more efficient. High end for laptop performs like medium end for desktop.

Buddy of mine at work has an Alienware with SLI'd 8800's in it, the battery last about an hour and a half gaming he says. That totally eliminates the purpose of a laptop.

You would want to get something like an 9600M, not the best but its still dedicated and is 100 times better than intergrated.

^That's not the best gaming laptop money can buy...First off, it's a gateway. Gateway has terrible customer support and any of the three major retailers (Dell, Hp, and gateway) are more expensive than going with a company that builds gaming computers. The only difference is in the warranty and price. Cheaper from Ibuypower.com, cyberpowerpc.com, or buyxg.com. All offer limited 1 year warranty + lifetime technical support with rigs that are more powerful for cheaper. Also, straight from the manufacturer tends to be cheaper than from a third party retailer like walmart or best-buy. I've found hp to be the cheapest of the major three lately, but that changes based on different specials.

As to the poster's question, yes the 9800mgtx is the most powerful, If you'll be getting a gaming laptop try to go for a bigger battery (some can stick out from the bottom of the laptop so do your research before buying) the more cells the battery has the longer it will last. Instead of a standard 6 cell battery you might go for a 8 or 9 cell. Also a good Idea to carry an extra battery, just in case.

Anyways, just my 2 cents. Have fun with whichever laptop you get!

First off he said MIDRANGE, also I'd take Gateway over those 3 cut-rate builders you picked, so to each their own on that.

Second, there's nothing on IBuyPower, Cyberpower or BuyXg that is a 17" WUXGA model with a solid P8xxx CPU and a GF9800M GTS for under $1500.

Even their 15" models with a smaller screen, GF9800MGT or even 8700/9600s can be more expensive. None have anything in the same class as that Gateway.

And considering the ability to get hands-on with the laptop you're about to pay for in the store, pretty easy to check for dead pixels right in the store. I'd prefer buying from Best Buy to waiting 3-30 days for an e-tailer to ship to me, especially since I have a better short term return policy with BB (not sure about WalMart and laptops, but their other return policies are overly customer friendly IMO), whereas returning an online purchase is brutally laborious.

As for technical support, don't make me laugh, I've taught technical support more than the other way around, and if one has ever dealt with technical support for an issue that wouldn't be solved in a quick post here, I wouldn't say getting a lifetime of that is a 'benefit'.
Is your computer plugged in? Have you tried the restore software?

A decent laptop can definitely play those games, but i personally cant justify the price of a laptop with that card in it, compared to a desktop which can be easily upgraded and alot cheaper. My laptop can PLAY those games, crysis on medium, but its not something i could use all the time. For the price of £530 im pleased with the HD2600 in it, but i couldnt afford more. IF it was me, go for a desktop with Sli or crossfire and buy 2x 260 / 4870