seeking advice: most powerful laptop

[caketastydelish]

Ok the thread title is decieving- the most powerful laptop is surely out of my price range. However, I'm looking for the most powerful laptop for $750 or less.

I couldn't care less about the brand name, the screen doesn't have to be that big, and I'm not looking for a particularly large amount of storage. Tech specs are all that matter to me. I want a laptop that can play games. I'll want it to play games including but not limited to: Civilization 5, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Battle for middle earth 2.

 

[_random_]

I have no personal experience with them, but Alienware makes laptops especially for heavy duty gaming. A new one would likely be out of your price range, unless you can find a good sale.

 

[emzie]

Does it have to be new?

 

[caketastydelish]

Does it have to be new?

It does not have to be new, but it does have to be powerful. And if it's used, it should at least be refurbished.

And @ random: I always thought alienware computers were overpriced? I don't know that for a fact but someone told me that, and ever since I've thought less of them.

 

[mdwh]

I've heard good things about Clevo laptops too for gaming (e.g., see http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk for UK, don't know who the US retailers are). I plan to get one at some point this year. As _random_ says, the high end will be out of your price range - but I guess you can look at the specs of what graphics card you can afford with these makes, and see what the most powerful one is, and see how that compares with game requirements.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd wait until Intel releases the Ivybridge CPUs in about 4 months (April to June).
They will have only a 22nm process (2/3 current Sandybridge CPUs).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Bridge_(microarchitecture)

Apparently their release is being delayed strictly to please retailers still trying to sell the duo cores. Alternatively, pick up an Sandy Bridge-based laptop about April-July if you can negotiate a discount with a retailer.

 

[tokala]

As intel is already the undisputed performance leader in the mobile CPU market, don't expect significantly better performance at a given price point from the next intel generation.

A Sandy Bridge i5/i7-2xxx model will do just fine.

More important for gaming is the GPU, and here your choices will be limited in the sub-750$ range.

You should look for models with one of the following (roughly ordered by performance, faster on top):
nVidia 635m
nVidia 555m
AMD 6700 series
AMD 6600 series
AMD 6500 series
nVidia 525-550,630

with the 635 about ~50% faster than the 525.

Anything else will probably be either too slow or too expensive.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd think with the coming thinner CPU process, you will see some combination of high CPU ghz ratings, cooler operating temps (option for better mobile GPUs), and/or more efficient battery utilization. I'm stoked for the future potential of laptops with the ivybridge.

 

[caketastydelish]

I'd think with the coming thinner CPU process, you will see some combination of high CPU ghz ratings, cooler operating temps (option for better mobile GPUs), and/or more efficient battery utilization. I'm stoked for the future potential of laptops with the ivybridge.

I don't mean to start a flamewar here, but as of right now I seriously can't understand why anyone would get an alienware. They're not quite as overpriced as Macs (in terms of tech specs) but still overpriced compared to some of the other companies.

I custom made an HP to my liking http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do

As well as an alienware, and the alienware cost about $400 more.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=DKDOCP3u&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=alienware-m11x-r3 Keep in mind that Alienware is apparently on sale right now.

As for ivy bridge: I'm willing to wait for that, but only so long. I'm thinking about waiting just one more month and then by April I'll probably buy the HP that I linked.

 

[GoodGame]

Just saying if you wait, and you want Sandybridge technology, then you'll have better negotiating power with a salesperson, if ivybridge laptops are already out.

 

[civ_king]

As intel is already the undisputed performance leader in the mobile CPU market, don't expect significantly better performance at a given price point from the next intel generation.

A Sandy Bridge i5/i7-2xxx model will do just fine.

More important for gaming is the GPU, and here your choices will be limited in the sub-750$ range.

You should look for models with one of the following (roughly ordered by performance, faster on top):
nVidia 635m
nVidia 555m
AMD 6700 series
AMD 6600 series
AMD 6500 series
nVidia 525-550,630

with the 635 about ~50% faster than the 525.

Anything else will probably be either too slow or too expensive.

One will be able to get an improved performance/power ratio though, compare Core iX with 2nd Gen Core iX, 1.86 GHz vs. 2.5 GHz @45W TDP