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Gaming Laptop - 500GBP

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Anonymous
Laptop Expert

Im looking to purchase a Laptop for around 500GBP. It needs to be able to run CoD4 and BF2142 on good frames (40+)
I'm based in the UK and can't go over 550GBP. I do not need an OS!
I've looked at 3 Laptops...

A "Top Spec" Laptop off http://pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=form&&select=i... (547GBP)
15.4 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1440 X 900) - GLARE & ANTI-REFLECTION
INTEL® Core 2 Duo T5800 (2 X 2.00GHz) 800MHz FSB/2MB L2 Cache
2GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY!
160GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
512MB GEFORCE 9600GT + HDMI + D-SUB


Second a Multimedia Laptop off www.pcspecialist.co.uk (460GBP)
17 INCH WIDESCREEN DISPLAY (1440 X 900)
INTEL® Pentium® DualCore T2370 (1.73GHz) 533MHz FSB/1MB Cache
2GB CORSAIR DDR2 667MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x1GB)
160GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (5,400rpm)
512MB GEFORCE 8600GS + DVI & HDMI


Thirdly a Dell XPS, 534GBP
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5800 (2.00GHz, 800Mhz FSB, 2MB cache) - Project RED
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1- English
LCD 15.4" Widescreen™ WXGA (1280x800) TFT Display (220nits) with TrueLife™
MEMORY 3072MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1x2048+1x1024]
GRAPHICS CARD NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256MB dedicated graphic memory

Can anyone help me decide which one to get or recommend another place?

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Laptop Expert

The "Top Spec" is certainly the strongest machine, but (at least, to me) it looks a little flimsy in design (no copper heatsinks? really?). It's fairly off brand, unless this company has some history in Europe. I wouldn't recommend it without seeing some reviews. I wouldn't even consider the second. The Dell XPS system is a strong unit, and I trust it. Many of my friends have derivations of this platform, at it seems really solid. With the lower res screen, you'll be able to play at faster rates with really good settings. The 8600mGT isn't all that much less powerful than the 9600mGT too.

With that, the Dell gets my vote, unless the screen res is important to you.
Anonymous
Laptop Expert

I dont really mind about res, I got a desktop of the pcspecialist guys a few months back. It works just fine (although I had to replace a stick of ram 5 months in, but that was covered in the warranty)

I know a friend that has purchased a Laptop off them and they have never mentioned anything going wrong. What's wrong with the heatsinks?
Laptop Expert

Technically, there's nothing wrong with the heatsinks - but from what I can see in those pictures, they aren't copper - I haven't seen a new notebook come with aluminum heatsinks in...a long time. Copper is a far better heat conductor. I don't suppose it really makes or breaks a computer...but I just can't believe they wouldn't equip it with aluminum, if my eyes aren't deceiving me.

Anyway, if you trust the company, that is the more powerful rig - go ahead and get it. If you have any doubts, get the dell. They'll both do just fine.
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Anonymous
Laptop Expert

frozenlead said:
Technically, there's nothing wrong with the heatsinks - but from what I can see in those pictures, they aren't copper - I haven't seen a new notebook come with aluminum heatsinks in...a long time. Copper is a far better heat conductor. I don't suppose it really makes or breaks a computer...but I just can't believe they wouldn't equip it with aluminum, if my eyes aren't deceiving me.

Anyway, if you trust the company, that is the more powerful rig - go ahead and get it. If you have any doubts, get the dell. They'll both do just fine.


I didn't notice that the Dell was without VAT - So I may be considering the one with the 8600GS - How much difference is there between the 8600GT & GS? Because I have an 8600GT in my Desktop and that can run Crysis without much hassle.
Anonymous
Laptop Expert

(I would of edited, but it wont let me? o.0)

I'm not sure what the heatsinks are, but having a guess is it these?
if so, they look Copper?
Laptop Expert

A heatsink is simply a block of metal that has a relatively large surface area, so that heat can be conducted through it to be removed by moving air. There are more complex heatsink assemblies, like heatpipes combinations and thermal exchangers, but the basic principle is the same: using something to take heat from one place and move it into the air as effectively as possible.

Well, those certainly appear copper, but that's not the notebook I see when I click that link.

Again, don't let the copper alone deter you from the PC, but I believe it can be used as a measure of quality.

Anyway, the 8600mGT is noticeably faster than the 8600mGS. The 8600GT your desktop uses is more powerful than the 8600mGT by a bit, and thus, you will see an even more noticeable slowdown with an 8600mGS compared to the desktop 8600GT.

Normally, in the notebook world, you should get a machine with the strongest graphics card your budget can afford to bear. In this instance, I think that applies.
Anonymous
Laptop Expert

Mmkay. Well that is a pic of the one with an 8600GS. Do you know a Laptop that has an 8600mGT for around my Budget? I don't wana go up to 550 =/
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