Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Tecra A4 for gaming?

Feb 28, 2005 10:29PM PST

Hello, i was just looking at a Toshiba Tecra A4. I would like a laptop to play games on (mainly quake 3 and unreal tournament 2k4) as well as do other work like learning to program and also browse the internet, chat on msn yada yada yada. Anyway, this is what I configured and I was wondering if it would be good for what I plan on using it for.

Tecra A4
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 BG (802.11b/g)
Intel Pentium M Processor 760 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)
nVIDIA

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
excellent notebook for gaming
Feb 28, 2005 11:11PM PST

that computer is freakin sweet for gaming. You'll have no problems running other programs as well.
-andrew

- Collapse -
anything to sacrifice
Mar 1, 2005 2:14AM PST

By the time I add a carrying case, the price reaches my spending limit so I cant upgrade the warranty. Should I sacrifice anything to upgrade the warranty or should I not bother and stick with the 1 year.

Also, is that 4200rpm hdd something to be concerned about considering the rest of the specs? I would have gone for a 5400 or 7200(hitachi) if they offered it but they dont.

Thanks again
jordanthegreat

- Collapse -
2 year warranty
Mar 1, 2005 6:49AM PST

Try and atleast get a two year warranty just to be on the safe side. I have an Averatec 6130hs notebook and I'm using the 4200 rpm hd and it runs pretty good when I play Half Life 2. You can always save up and buy a 7200 rpm hd and upgrade it later.
-andrew

- Collapse -
HP ZD8000
Mar 1, 2005 7:12AM PST

idk what your spending limit is, but check out the HP ZD8000 on hpshopping.com
It is a full desktop replacement so it only gets like 1:45 battery life.
a $2000 machine looks like this
3.2 ghz p4 (800mhz fsb)
1gb ram (400mhz)
dvd+-R/RW /CDRW
3 year warantee
free printer
17in widescreen display
256mb radion card (don't know which model number)

good luck

- Collapse -
too big
Mar 1, 2005 7:36AM PST

I checked out the ZD8000 already and was actually gonna buy it had I not delayed the purchase. I like it alot but the other day I was messing around with my friends 12" powerbook and my bros 15" powerbook and realized that I prefer the portability and compact size of them over a large desktop replacement. Now im trying to find a thin and light or ultraportable instead of a desktop replacement. Looking for a 15" that is as thin as, or close to, the apple powerbooks.

I won't be taking it very far so a desktop replacement would work but I think the ultraportables and thin and lights are cooler.

- Collapse -
they are definantly cool
Mar 1, 2005 8:44AM PST

they are definantly cool but do they perform as well. even if you don't get the 17inch hp, chech out the smaller one.

- Collapse -
Re
Mar 3, 2005 4:52AM PST

I think 60GB HDD(4200RPM)is not good for gaming. The speed is not enough for some game like football manager 2005. I think if your notebook just for gaming, you need at least 5400rpm HDD. On the other hand, I think for gaming processor 760 is not necessary. it is designed for long time user, not for gaming.