"Cheap" gaming laptop

Looking for a good gaming laptop to replace my desktop. I'm a Paramedic so I spend a decent amount of time in the ambulance.


My current desktop that I built myself has a Phenom II x3 OC'd, and a Radeon 4870. If I can get a laptop to match those in performence, I'll be content.


1_What is your budget?

Let's say $1,000. Obviously I'd prefer less... they don't pay us enough for our job as it is.

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?

No size requirements.


3_What screen resolution do you want?

Again, no specifications.

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?

Desktop replacement.

5_How much battery life do you need?

It will be plugged in all the time.

6_Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?

I mainly play games such as Total War (Empire Total War) on the highest levels, though Shogun 2 is coming out in the coming weeks and I want to be able to play that decently too.



7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing, surfing the web, playing music, watching movies, Etc.)

Websufing which will be linked through my cell phone.

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?

250gb minimum. My current desktop is 250gb and I've only used 100gb of it, but I like having extra.


9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.

No specifics.

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?

I've had my self-built PC for 2 years now, so that'd be a good goal, if not longer.


11_If you would like to mention some other things about purchasing your ideal laptop, post them.

I've been looking at the 5860 or the equilevent nVidia cards, but like I said, as long as it lets me do the Total War games on high, I'm happy.

12_Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.

Preferbly not Alienforce, just due to the over-pricing, but as long as it's within my budget, yay.

13_What country do you live in?

USA