What laptop should I get

[joethreeblah]

Can someone just please tell me where and what to get - I need a new lap top quick. One that will run Civ IV, play the movies, let me do my other work, without overheating and turning off, and stuttering, and being a general piece of crap like the one I have now

Thanks!

 

[crunch]

I am not an expert in recent laptops, but here are some hints:
- avoid integrated graphics (Intel,..)
- get some RAM (1 GB and more)

 

[Keith_C]

Civ 4 runs well enough on my Asus V6V - have played on it since the game came out, including some marathon sessions, and it's been perfectly stable. Makes a good work laptop too, with all the usual goodies, alright battery life, and doesn't weigh a ton

 

[nolink]

whats your asus laptop specs.?

i think my laptop is quite outdated already, it crashes once i run the game for 10-20minutes

 

[Keith_C]

Pentium M 1.73
512MB RAM
60GB SATA HDD
Mobility Radeon x600
1440x1050 screen with a 3-month zero dead pixel warranty (major selling point for me!)

I can run huge maps with 8 civs all the way to the end of a conquest - not tried larger yet. Saving is pretty quick, but loading can take a minute or two - nothing excessive, I just kick off the load while I do something else, and it's not unbearable.

It's got all the usual things like Bluetooth, wifi, DVD writer, 4 USB, blah blah. It's doesn't weigh a ton, , isn't excessively large, and I've often held it in one hand while working round the back of a rack or something.

IMO, it's a reasonable laptop, at a reasonable cost (about £1k or so), and looks nice. It's good enough that I shall get more of them for new starters where I work.

 

[Keith_C]

This is what I have:

Asus V6V

I notice that the screen warranty is zero bright dot, and 30 days, but it's possible that's what it was in the first place and memory is playing tricks.

Notice they also do a V6Va, which I can't see any difference for, and a V6J, which is dual-core. It's possible on of the new guys may get a used V6V now

 

[nolink]

your asus laptop has almost same specs. as my acer travelmate,

1.72GHz processor
128mb video card, radeon x700
512mb RAM
15'4 inch monitor

but i can't even run the game for long period... it just shut down without warning after 10-20minutes. dammit

 

[joethreeblah]

Pentium M 1.73
... I've often held it in one hand while working round the back of a rack or something.

I'm afraid to ask what this means

 

[Keith_C]

Nolink - that sounds like it may be a heat issue. Have you got the latest BIOS, as the Asus has done all sorts of wonderful things over time with it's fan control.

Joethreeblah - I mean a server rack

 

[TexasBadger]

Joe,
If I had an extra $2399 this is the laptop I would get:

FUJITSU N6410-806 T2300 Core Duo;17"WXGA CE CV;MCE;X1400 256MB;2GB DDR2;2X160GB HD;DVDRW DL;802.11a/b/g

Fujitsu:
Outpost #: 4745419
The LifeBook N6410 notebook is the fusion of notebook convenience and desktop power. Add to this powerful mix the Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005, and your notebook can transform into an uncompromising Media Center PC. Powered by the Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology, this notebook includes the high speed mobile Intel® Core™ Duo Processor coupled with ATI® Mobility™ Radeon® X1400 graphics deliver the level of performance gamers and technology enthusiasts crave. With its unique high contrast 17-inch Color-Enhanced Crystal View display and built-in stereo sound system (which includes a subwoofer) the LifeBook N6410 notebook, takes portability to a whole new level. You won't believe the power and features packed into this mobile computer.

As it is, I will just run Civ 4 without the updates until I hit the lottery.

 

[SCPete]

Joe,
I just got a laptop from http://www.cyberpowerpc.com about a month ago. You can configure it the way you like. You can't beat the price for what you can get. Cheaper then Alienware, Dell, Compaq, Gateway. I have checked throughly because I wanted to get the most performance for the little amount I had to spend.

Here is what I got:
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
15.4 inch display
1 GB RAM
60 (7200 RPM) GB HD
ATI Radeon 9700 with 128mb video
and I paid only $1248

It runs C-IV perfectly fine. Video and game play is extremly smooth. Late games on bigger maps get a little slow but nothing that cant be tolerated.

I am extremly happy with what I got and will buy my next gaming machine from them.