Need inexpensive Laptop for Civ4

[frisbee]

Hey Folks - I'm looking for some laptop recommendations.

My good laptop (Thinkpad T60p) is toast - literally. The fan broke and the video chip burned out. I haven't even looked at hardware in 4 years, so I don't know the current state.

Anyway, I need to buy a new budget laptop (<$800 preferably less). Other than Civ4 and HD movies, I don't do anything demanding, but this is my only computer and needs to last a few years.

It's probably going to be a 15" screen (hopefully something better than the 1366x768), Win7, 4GB RAM. Preferably with USB3.0 & HDMI outputs.

Question - Do I need a dedicated video card to play CIV4, or will your generic core i3 or i5 get the job done? Same question applies for watching HD movies.

I am looking at the Dell XPS15 as an example.

Thanks-Frisbee

 

[civ_king]

Hey Folks - I'm looking for some laptop recommendations.

My good laptop (Thinkpad T60p) is toast - literally. The fan broke and the video chip burned out. I haven't even looked at hardware in 4 years, so I don't know the current state.

Anyway, I need to buy a new budget laptop (<$800 preferably less). Other than Civ4 and HD movies, I don't do anything demanding, but this is my only computer and needs to last a few years.

It's probably going to be a 15" screen (hopefully something better than the 1366x768), Win7, 4GB RAM. Preferably with USB3.0 & HDMI outputs.

Question - Do I need a dedicated video card to play CIV4, or will your generic core i3 or i5 get the job done? Same question applies for watching HD movies.

I am looking at the Dell XPS15 as an example.

Thanks-Frisbee

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834246094

$799
2.0GHz Quad core
Radeon HD 6570M
HDMI output
4GB RAM
Windows 7

 

[frisbee]

Civ_King - Thanks for the pointer. Not a bad recommendation, but can you educate me a little? Mostly because I'm going to have to shop for a few specific features (screen size, gloss, keyboard, etc).

To follow-up: Will an i5 with an integrated Intel 3000 HD graphics play Civ4 comfortably? And play HD video as well?

Thanks - Frisbee

 

[civ_king]

Civ_King - Thanks for the pointer. Not a bad recommendation, but can you educate me a little? Mostly because I'm going to have to shop for a few specific features (screen size, gloss, keyboard, etc).

To follow-up: Will an i5 with an integrated Intel 3000 HD graphics play Civ4 comfortably? And play HD video as well?

Thanks - Frisbee

I think it will play it reasonably on graphics and decent on CPU.
If by HD you mean 720p sure

 

[frisbee]

Thanks. Yeah - By HD I mean 720p.

I'd love to avoid a discrete GPU (extended battery, reduced cost), so knowing that the Intel 3000 plays Civ4 is a relief.