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General discussion

To buy new laptop or go with a desktop for Gaming?!

Jul 19, 2005 3:49PM PDT

I have an 18 month old gateway laptop with an ATI 9600 video card. It was top of their line. I'm finding that even with the newest ati catalyst driver installed that it locks up regularly on BF2 and Guild Wars. I am thinking of getting a new computer. Do you think the laptops of today (ie. alienware, dell) are going to eventually have the same issues and should I just get a desktop instead (ie. velocity, alienware)? For gaming which is the better path even though I like compact I can compromise on that for reliability and prolonged lifespan and upgradeability. Thank you. -N

Discussion is locked

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RE:
Jul 19, 2005 4:13PM PDT

The question is obvious. Desktop. Build your own Nothing is future proof. AMD socket 939 will be replaced by M2. SOcket 775???
ROger

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it doesn't matter what socket you get
Jul 19, 2005 10:56PM PDT
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(NT) (NT)go desktop,monarch hornet pro, amd and sli
Jul 20, 2005 6:15AM PDT
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desktop, IMHO
Jul 20, 2005 11:12AM PDT

I own 2 laptops and wish I had a desktop instead for gaming. All laptops are unstable, unreliable, overheat, expensive to upgrade, no portable joystick, batteries age, fans choke, dust collects and causes sudden shutdowns. Memory overheats. more difficult to repair etc. etc. etc.

Get a big-rig: fast CPU, lots of ram, a diesel video card (with its own fan), big monitor, a roomy HDD and a Cougar HOTAS. 8D

Laptops are for running non-CPU and graphics intensive apps. Don't render quadrillions of polygons into video clips on a laptop. Laptops should be as light as possible. They are for mobility not performance.

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Ok...
Jul 20, 2005 11:56PM PDT

I've been looking at a Velocity AMD 64 3800+ with a nVidia 7800 GPU. Though the shuttle and the Monarch Hornet Pro look good too. I'm going to have to take a closer look into them as well. Monarch seems to have great rating at ResellerRatings.com but Shuttle is little heard of there. I wonder if they're the same size and is there a draw back to having a smaller PC case like that? Thank you for the tips though. -N

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yes, there are drawbacks
Jul 21, 2005 12:17AM PDT

shuttle uses proprietary mobos where as monarch uses an upgradeable miniatx mobo which will future proof you. the size is a huge difference. shuttle is smaller and has a weak power supply. go wit hornet pro. or look at a frag box from falcon northwest

konny

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(NT) (NT) excuse me, i meant microatx instead of miniatx
Jul 21, 2005 12:58AM PDT
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Yes ...
Jul 21, 2005 2:00AM PDT

Is there sli for the Hornet Pro? I like the mobility, actually I'm intrigued. I'm a little concerned that heat could be more of an issue for it than a full desktop but I suppose it won't be nearly the issue that the laptop has. At least that's what I think my issue is with these VPU errors lock/crash of games, especially Guild Wars. I was seriously thinking of Velocity Micro, I'm taking a look at the Monarch Hornet Pro (monarch and velocity get good marks at ResellerRatings.com) Falcon seems very pricey and doesn't have much for ratings there.

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well, if you can find an sli micro atx mobo
Jul 21, 2005 2:37AM PDT

then you can upgrade it to sli. I wouldnt really worry about heat in that case as it has ample ventilation as i also considered buying it. the gpu should be cool because there is an exhaust fan right behind it, so that will help. shuttle makes their own cooling device. ICE which is esentially a heat pipe heat sink which gets the job done even for overclockers. the presscotts can be kept cool because shuttle has the p series which takes after btx so i wouldnt worry about heat in a shuttle or a hornet.

falcon northwest also offers the frag box as a kit, which is a similiar case to the hornet and accepts standard power supplies and such. i would personally still go with the hornet for the mobo upgrade ability.

konny

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They are all good
Jul 21, 2005 1:40AM PDT

Note: ntblood, you didn't set up your e-mail!

I would go for a Shuttle but they tend to be expensive. I would go whatever seems to be cheaper.

The problem with a smaller case is that it's harder to upgrade and airflow is restricted. However, Shuttle makes good cases that can allow for good airflow.

What I usually look for in a sff is a large 120mm fan in the back. That should be enough.

However, I wouldn't recommend a hot processor(like the Prescott P4) in a sff because there is less room.

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One last (?) line of questioning here
Jul 21, 2005 3:08AM PDT

you don't suggest a prescott P4 in the SFF case, how about the AMD 3800+ ? My #1 burning question right now: which is better - one nVidia 7800 or two SLI nVidia 6800's ? I think the price is close between the two options.
So can you hook up a TV in a hotel as your screen with a cable (S video out?) from one of these SFF cases? Is the silverstone SG01 case only for people who build their own cases or does some company build these too?

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a prescott can be used in a sff pc.
Jul 21, 2005 3:14AM PDT

the amd will run fine, if you get a shuttle, you dont have to worry about heat as they have their custom cpu cooler which will keep ANYTHING cool. if you buy a dif. one, look for a good heatsink and fan. get the 7800gtx as it will be more powerful then the 6800. you can hook it up if your gpu has that cable. i havent seen anyone build the silverstone, but i know its a nice case.

konny