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General discussion

New laptop decision help

by AXC80 Nov 22, 2009 11:17PM PST

Hi guys,
i am in the process of buying a new laptop, and need all the help i can get in narrowing down my choices.
So far, i have come up with a list of hardware i would prefer to have in a customized laptop:
Intel Core 2 duo p8700
6GB RAM
15-15.6" Screen
320-500GB HDD (preferably 7200rpm in the lower capacity, but 5400 works too on the bigger ones)
CD/DVD writer or blu-ray - no preference
Extended battery
Windows 7 Home 64-bit

Here's the catch - i would be using this for work as well as some gaming (i travel to PS3 and Xbox dont go alongwith me). the configs i have seen either give me some Intel Graphics card, or at best a 512MB ATI Radeon, or on one model of Sony, the NVidia GEFOrce. is that the limit on graphics card? cant i customize to 1GB somehow, somewhere?

Anyways, any help in limiting my options to one or 2 models would be graciously accepted. If you can think of a better config, pls let me know. I have a budget of up to $1,200.
Currently i havea 5-yr old Vaio VGN-FS570 which worked gr8 all these yrs.


Thanks

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Odd thing that ram.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 23, 2009 1:00AM PST

We tested 7 on 512MB and 1GB and it worked well. You are going for 6 to 12 times that! Why not get the usual laptop with 4GB? There are many in the 1200 buck ranges, so many I can't list them all here in the USA. Last month the office supplied a new dv6-1261sb which is just as expected warm due to all that's inside but it was only 1k.
Bob

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RAM & Graphics though?
by AXC80 Nov 23, 2009 1:24AM PST

Bob,
thanks for the reply. But does the 4GB give me enough performance to run the RPG games?
Also, what do you suggest for graphic card? Is 512MB enough or should i be looking for 1GB as i was originally planning

Thanks,
Ash

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I'm going with yes.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Nov 23, 2009 1:32AM PST

My kid's machine is only 2GB and you are going for double or more.

The consumers are being taken for a ride here. But that's another discussion.
Bob

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You should be fine
by RonS [WINDOWS-TEAM] Nov 24, 2009 1:57AM PST

You should be OK with 512on your gfx card for most things right now. If you have the dough to spend, you can always ramp up.

Ask @windowsgamer on twitter. He might have some more info for you.

Cheers,
Ron

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You stated the DVD/CD or Blu Ray
by orlbuckeye Nov 24, 2009 2:54AM PST

Well most sytems come with both but you really want one the writes and Blu Ray writers are not easily found in laptops.

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