15" gaming laptop... any real choices?

Looking for a good 15" gaming laptop... Sager NP8662 seems to be the best/only hit. Anyone want to give props to MSI or any other companies out there? I haven't found much in the same quality range (Clevo base is a plus)...

And if the 8662 is a taker, does anybody have an opinion on buying from XoticPC as opposed to getting a computer right off Sager's website? The minimal Warranty extension is the only difference (same price).

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Budget: <= 2500 USD
Purpose: Desktop Replacement = dedicated graphics card
Uses: current and future RTS's (Starcraft 2), hobby photo manipulation, general media
Length of use: as long as possible. Once the games surpass it, I still want to be able to use it. Upgradability is a definite factor.

Monitor: 15.4" 1680x or 1920x
HDD: 500GB preferably, which makes 5200rpm the only choice... right?
RAM: >=4GB, DDR3 preferable
CPU: Intel, >= 2.66GHz (25W preferable)

Battery Life: >=2hrs, the longer the better

Vendors: Any reputable website or store

Other: Fan noise is a factor; I don't want this thing to levitate or turn my desk into a giant gyroscope.

Where: USA


I appreciate the help!

Thanks, but I'll pass on the alienware. Checking out the specs finds it rather lacking and absurdly overpriced.

Sager is a solid company, been around for ages and the specific notebook I'm looking at is built on a Clevo platform; it's got my trust :-)

The HP HDX16t seems decent, for the price it's really solid. I totally dig the sound system on it :-p HP bloatware sucks anyhow...
But the video card and DDR2 RAM fall short of the Sager... seems like it's still top dog for me.

Thanks dewskerz, good luck in your hunt.

Having owned a Sager laptop, I would recommend them. I never had to deal with customer service, but the NP5760 I bought is rock solid so that's probably why. As far as 15'' gaming systems, I don't think you will find a better product out there. Honestly, I would just purchase direct from Sager (what I did). I've heard some iffy things about xotic and if there is no price difference, then what's it matter.

By the time I'm ready to purchase mine (summer.. i know.. i;m being obcessive...) the np8662 might be a very good option for me. right now they're on pre orders, so by the time this summer hits they should have the price lower, getting ready for the next upgrade.

Congratz on your win. and i pray it be a loyal best friend for many years to come.

why not asus look it this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6834220405
me i like that laptop

If you are looking for gaming laptop, why don't you check this out:

http://www.laptopforgames.com

It lists most popular gaming laptops for your reference, by price

Everything is from official website. Coz I found no website do such comparing.

Every person judge by themselves. If you don't like it, you can leave it or give specific reasons or give better suggestions.

Thank you for giving suggestions !

The website is just trying to make suggestions and but it's you who make the decisions.

Not all people are extrem gamers like you and some will care about the brand, service or other issues. For me, I'm a gamer but I bought a HP for its fancy looking and quality. I know I'm a student more than just a gamer and most people are just like me.

BTW, the website www.laptopforgames.com is updated and it does includes what you want now, MSI, ASUS and more ....

The laptop has both HDMI and DVI outputs, so yep.

SAGERNP8662 is the most powerful 15" laptop in the world right now, cuz it has the Geforce260m (the second fastest single GPU, just below the 280m)

Yah. The HD 4800's are often ignored, which is a shame. They are strong performing cards, but only a few people actually bother to use them in laptops. Asus and Arima are about the only two. Clevo pretty much has a deal with NVidia.

wrong ^
In 17" 2 HD 4870s perform like 2 GTX 280Ms and sometimes they even beat it.
And a mobility HD 4850 performs like a GTX 260M,and it even sometimes outperforms both GTX 260M/GTX 280M.

This is proof Notebookcheck website is faulty.
You claim that according to this website, ATi HD4850 is faster than GTX 260m.
Well, if you also follow this website, the GTX9800m beats the Ati HD4850 in 2/4 tests (3dmark05, and 3dmark06). So does that make the GTX9800m equal to AtiHD4850? (even though we all know that GTX 260m is way better than GTX 9800m)

See my reply in the other thread. Take your fanboyism outside and look at something other than a synthetic benchmark.

ok, back to my original statement, I originally stated that the Sager NP8622 is the most powerful 15" laptop in the world, because you can configure it to have Core2 T9900 3.02Ghz, and the GTX 260m.
Then u claim that the HD4850 is better than 260m, ok.
So i ask u, is there a 15" laptop with HD4850.
That is my question, because if there is, then that would make it the best 15" laptop, according to your claims, am i right?

Sager Desktop Gaming Computer - NP8662 is good but the best available option according to me would be:
Alienware Area 51 gaming desktop series
Alienware Aurora gaming desktop series

I like Alienware ALX X58 gaming computer the most just look out for it.

if i were you, i'd buy a cheap-ass laptop for $700 or so and use it for everyday stuff, and i'd get a powerful desktop for around $1200. that way I'd have two comps, far more gaming power out of hte desktop, and save myself some cash.

I bought a second laptop for gaming, and like you RTS is my main focus, and i've lived to regret that decision.

But there's no way you can expect laptops to really keep up in 3v3 or 4v4 games with massive battles on something like Company of HEroes unless u compromise on settings. Or pay massive amounts. U could build urself a cheap light/portable 19" LCD monitor + a decent desktop that easily outclasses any gaming laptop for around £600 in the UK.