Ok bud, this is the best i could do, this is bare bones for $1079. choose: 256MBNVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT = $1079 & choose: (Recommended) Intel®Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)= $1179
I just got a new laptop and i was wondering if it would run AoC, to find out i tried to run Oblivion on it and that didnt run so i dont expect to run AoC on it. I tried to look for an external graphics cards and they are just coming onto the market now but they are very low standard compared to desktops. personaly i think it would be better to get a 360 and a flat screen and wait for it to come out on xbox if you dont want to get a desktop. (they said that if you can run Oblivion then you can run AoC so without a beta access its a good way to test your hardware)
As an IT guy i will give you a few words of advice
DO NOT BUY A HP!!!!! If you insist on buying a main genre computer then get a Dell or maybe, Maybe, a Gateway. I would suggest either an Acer, Asus (my favorite) or a cyberpower. Cyberpower is probably the best "clone labs" out there. 3 year warranty, cutomizable and great pices (www.cyberpowerpc.com). just make sure you check out MULTIPLE places, specs and prices.
And keep in mind heat will be a major issue for AoC and a gamming laptop
Here is a laptop that will easily run AoC on Med/High and it is sold a BB. Gateway p-6831 fx. Here are its specs. Intel® Core™ 2 Processor T5450 1.66.GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
System price includes a one-year warranty. Total System price is $1,349.99
Most likely BB will have this on sale for $1199 in the next few weeks.
Edited to keep from having to eat too much crow. I was wrong, BB did discount the box, and tossed in a free game.
I almost bought one yesterday, but after talking to a Gateway rep yesterday I'm holding out for one of its bigger brothers. I'm probably going to buy the one in the middle, the P-171X version for 2 grand. Its duo core processor runs at 2.6ghz (vs 1.67 for the BB version) and it has 1920 x 1280 screen resolution. (vs 1400 x900 for the BB model) Otherwise its exactly the same all the way around.
I wasn't thrilled with the hard drive speed (5400 rpms) but Gateway will not customize it. (Its how they are keeping the prices down on these boxes). I figure in 6-9 months I'll pick up a solid state drive and pop it in the 2nd drive slot. Put all the games on it and I'll be good to go.
One bonus, it has an eSATA port, something normally only found in desktops or much spendier laptops. Another nice feature, its 3 USB ports come out the side, an important feature. (take it from one who's last Dell laptop had them all out the back, had to replace the motherboard because of this)
Its hard to find two gaming laptops out there that deliver this level of performance for their price. Sure, Alienware and Dell have some monster rigs out there, but they are very spendy. (more than double).
I figure I pick this box up (available Jan 31st btw) now and replace it in 2 years when I'm sure we'll all be using nvidia 9900 GTXZBY cards, octuple core processors, 8 gb ram, and 500 gb solid state drives. (all still running under Windows XP)
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Gateway p-6831 fx Best Buy just put this laptop to 1249 plus a free game.
Yeah, I just noticed that in the Sunday BB flyer, not quite $200.00 off as someone else posted, but darn close since it appears you can pick any game you want. (they featured BioShock in the ad). Which makes this an even better deal for people looking for a really affordable box. Heck, soon it will be the same price as a top end PS3.
If I wasn't buying its bigger brother I'd pick this up today.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
best buy is terrible, i go to a place called TomCom in canada (not telling the exact location) and they can put together a laptop for me for $1000 with 3.3 GHz, 4G of Ram, i cant remember what th video card is but its Nvidia, and the rest of it was really good too, for 1000
best buy is terrible, i go to a place called TomCom in canada (not telling the exact location) and they can put together a laptop for me for $1000 with 3.3 GHz, 4G of Ram, i cant remember what th video card is but its Nvidia, and the rest of it was really good too, for 1000
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The best way i could find to go was with alienware. I purchased a Alienware Area 51 laptop last year about $2300 and so far no probs and it still excedes all of the games requirments. Very nice for anything so i would say that is the safe way 2 go.
"I look forward to completing your training. In time you will call me master."
Look up Clevo, Compal, and Quanta. They are the ODM's for Alienware (Dell) and VoodooPC (HP) laptops.
The boutique gaming pc shops just add paint and their own OS load/image (config'd for gaming)... and charge you more $$$$$.
Check out lesser known names like Sager Notebooks. It's the same system as any Alienware or VoodooPC you'll find and usually $1,000 cheaper (at least last time I purchased one).
I've owned Alienware, VoodooPC, Dell XPS, etc.,... nothing special. You get a lot of 'theme', hype, and cowbell.
...
Once you get your hardware, make config changes yourself. There are a lot of performance guides out there that will help you get the most 'bang' for the 'buck' on your system... and squeeze every last drop of fresh-frequency your jewel has to offer.
...
You can get a gaming laptop for sub-$1000. Check eBay. Check Bensbargains.net. Check Pricewatch.com. Check all of those places. If those don't pan out, check online vendors like ibuypower.com and a few others.
Look up Clevo, Compal, and Quanta. They are the ODM's for Alienware (Dell) and VoodooPC (HP) laptops. The boutique gaming pc shops just add paint and their own OS load/image (config'd for gaming)... and charge you more $$$$$. Check out lesser known names like Sager Notebooks. It's the same system as any Alienware or VoodooPC you'll find and usually $1,000 cheaper (at least last time I purchased one). I've owned Alienware, VoodooPC, Dell XPS, etc.,... nothing special. You get a lot of 'theme', hype, and cowbell. ... Once you get your hardware, make config changes yourself. There are a lot of performance guides out there that will help you get the most 'bang' for the 'buck' on your system... and squeeze every last drop of fresh-frequency your jewel has to offer. ... You can get a gaming laptop for sub-$1000. Check eBay. Check Bensbargains.net. Check Pricewatch.com. Check all of those places. If those don't pan out, check online vendors like ibuypower.com and a few others. You can do it!!!!!!!!
No!!!
Buying from one of the smaller vendors is not a good idea. Vendors like Ibuypower, cyberpowerpc and cybertron pc's and other lesser known manufacturers is dangerous - look up the customer reviews of the sites and you will see that they are not reliable vendors, and frequently cheat their customers. Its not worth the risk, the most you will save is 100-150 on these laptop PC's anyway compared to the major brands., and in my opinion is not worth the risk of getting a shabbily made PC. These sites are shady and you are not garunteed to get the computer you ordered. They are a little more reliable on laptops but i still wouldnt take the risk.
Like i said before, its best to go with a large manufacturer and scan for coupons and other deals that will lower the price for you. Maxing out a mainstream laptop like the Inspiron, Vostro or HP series is cheaper than going for one of their so called "gaming laptops" they charge extra for them and the options in the customizing are barely higher than that found in mainstream laptops. I got a very nice laptop from Dell for around 1.1k that beats out the Gateway PC offered at BestBuy - besides the video card, my specs are superior. Nevertheless, that Gateway PC is a great buy, even if it is a little big (17 incher)
Of course, if youre looking for something real high end, then you'll have to look elsewhere, in sites that specialize in high end gaming laptops. But if youre looking for something thats really *that* advanced that costs $2000+ with 3ghz proc 4gb ram and 512 MB graphics etc....just get a desktop. It doesnt pay to spend all that much money on a laptop like that, anyway, if youre that hardcore about gaming.
If you don't know much about technology and aren't a 'techie', then buy big-brand 'a'.
If you are somewhat tech-enabled and tech-capable, then feel free to move away from those who 'buy easy' rather than 'shop smart'.
If you are after 'customer service', then go ahead and buy a 'name brand' PC that you can have serviced by nearly any local-yocal in your area. They will almost all be certified to perform warranty repair on your boxes... if they are VAR's or resellers for HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.,...
The statement 'it's not worth buying a shabbingly made PC' doesn't apply. Like I said, HP, Lenovo, and Dell don't make their own laptops. They put their logo's and their shell's on these products from the ODM's (original design manufacturer) and repackage them, send them to you as if they 'made them'. You pay for their name and their service. You aren't really paying for a different piece of hardware. Therefore, buying system X is still buying system X, even if it has a diff namebrand on it.
I have several friends that have purchased from some of these 'boutique' shops and some of the 'small' online retailers (ibuypower, for example)... and all had positive reviews. I've killed just as many Dell and HP systems over the years as I have Voodoo or Alienware boxes.
Service from all... again... take a Dell or HP to a local shop. Otherwise, send your system in and get it repaired.
None of this subject matter is new. It's all been rehashed... a lot.
...
1 area where I agree... the laptop vs desktop battle. Unless you 'need' mobility, go with the desktop. Make your initial lump-sum purchase and then upgrade as you go. You have that ability with a desktop, you won't be able to do that with a laptop.
I'm not lying when I say that I've probably got more gaming hardware than 90% of the people that would read and or post on these boards. The other 10% probably work for the manufacturers.
I'm not knocking Dell, HP, etc.,.. But any system you buy from CircuitCity, CompUSA, Bestbuy... all 'low end' or 'mid level' class systems. When I say 'all', unless one of those chains just changed their strategy, then that's what you'll get... mid-tier at best. You won't come close to true 'current-high-end' technlogy. I'm not even talking 'cutting edge' or 'bleeding edge' either.
Its not a matter of buying easy and shopping smart. Just because you may order from a little known manufacturer doesnt make you a smart shopper. A smart shopper is someone who weighs in all the options in a sensible manner and someone who does their research, not someone who makes themselves feel special just because theyre buying from some obscure place.
It doesnt matter even if the companies do not make their own computers. You know what? I'm sure most of them don't have their own factory. But guess what? They have to maintain something that is so, SO important in the business world: customer service. "Quality Assurance" is what makes and breaks the deal. The reason why you are almost garunteed a working, good quality computer when you order from these companies is that they want to maintain their reputation. There is a reason why HP and Dell and Gateway and Lenovo are big companies; and one of the reasons why is because they keep their quality assurance high. They dont have to make the laptop directly, but they still make sure it works - and there is a reason why such review sites list Ibuypower as one of the worst places to order from. They are simply not reliable and send in shabbily made PC's.
And thats only one company. Cyberpower isnt doing all that great either, though its getting better over time. Its really your risk to take. Some of these companies may be good, some of them are bad apples. You have to do your research.
Gateway p-6831 fx Best Buy just put this laptop to 1249 plus a free game.
Yeah, I just noticed that in the Sunday BB flyer, not quite $200.00 off as someone else posted, but darn close since it appears you can pick any game you want. (they featured BioShock in the ad). Which makes this an even better deal for people looking for a really affordable box. Heck, soon it will be the same price as a top end PS3.
If I wasn't buying its bigger brother I'd pick this up today.
I was in Bestbuy yesterday picking up some stuff when I was shocked to notice they had raised the price of this Gateway notebook from last Sunday's price of $1249.00 up to $1699.00. Was the exact same notebook.
I asked the employees if the company had lost its mind, but they were clueless as always.(though surprised as well)
You're better off going to Gateway now, they have this same machine with a slightly better CPU for $1599.00. They will discount off the list prices, especially if you buy their warranties.
I ended up buying their top end one, (better video, faster hard drives, extreme CPU) and they discounted it a total of $330.00 which basically paid for the 3 yr warranty, 3 yr accidental damage policy and most of the shipping costs. Only downside, back-ordered until mid-March. (lots of people were waiting to buy it last week)
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Unfortunately I HIGHLY doubt you'll find a laptop that will run AoC smoothly for under a grand.
What most people haven't told you is that the video card is one of the most important aspects and NOT just the memory size. Yes, its well and nice to have 512 shared memory on a laptop but if its a Nvidia 7000 it could have 5 gbs of memory and it wouldn't make a lick of difference.
My advice, look for something at LEAST a 8600 nvidia card. Anything else is blah for a gaming laptop IMO. These run you close to 1500$ or so.
Also for the love of God do NOT buy an HP laptop. I don't want to bore everyone here, but long story short.. I sent mine into be repaired and got it THREE months later. Thankfully they did give me a better laptop than the original I sent but still... 3 months? Thats "good" customer service??
As a few others have said, if you want to play AoC go get a desktop. I bought this desktop VERY cheap... 370$ for just the PC. 2 GB of ram, a nice dual core processor and a so-so vid card (only a 7800 nvidia) but I plan to upgrade my vid card before AoC comes out so I can run it on high settings Thing is, you can buy a 300$ card, a monitor and STILL pay less than a grand, compared to the 1500+ you'll pay for a good laptop.
Trust me on this one. I've tried to play games on at LEAST 3-4 different laptops I own. If you want laggy, horrible FPS go by a laptop with less than an 8600 nvidia card. If you want to play and not want to throw your PC from a second story window, go get a desktop. Best advice I can give.
Comments
Thank you very much egr4405! This is the laptop will buy. Its just what i can afford, and it runs AoC! Thank you for your help.
Here is a laptop that will easily run AoC on Med/High and it is sold a BB. Gateway p-6831 fx. Here are its specs.
Intel® Core™ 2 Processor T5450 1.66.GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
* NVidia® 512MB 8800m GTS GDDR3
* 3GB DDR2-667 RAM (4GB available)
* USB 2.0 Ports x3
* 17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD
* Windows Vista Premium with media center
* 2.4x DVD+R DL; 2x DVD-R DL; 8x8x8 DVD+RW; 8x6x8 DVD-RW; 4x DVD-RAM; 24x16x24 CD-RW
* Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN WLAN
* Internal Bluetooth
* Serial ATA (5400 rpm) 250GB (Room for Second HDD in Raid 1 or 0 configuration)
* HDMI
* Built-in Speakers High-definition (2-speaker configurable)
System price includes a one-year warranty. Total System price is $1,349.99
Most likely BB will have this on sale for $1199 in the next few weeks.
(they said that if you can run Oblivion then you can run AoC so without a beta access its a good way to test your hardware)
As an IT guy i will give you a few words of advice
DO NOT BUY A HP!!!!! If you insist on buying a main genre computer then get a Dell or maybe, Maybe, a Gateway. I would suggest either an Acer, Asus (my favorite) or a cyberpower. Cyberpower is probably the best "clone labs" out there. 3 year warranty, cutomizable and great pices (www.cyberpowerpc.com). just make sure you check out MULTIPLE places, specs and prices.
And keep in mind heat will be a major issue for AoC and a gamming laptop
Alien ware just intoduced a line of laptops with the new 8800gtx Mobile. You should dej check those out if you want to decently play aoc
Edited to keep from having to eat too much crow. I was wrong, BB did discount the box, and tossed in a free game.
I almost bought one yesterday, but after talking to a Gateway rep yesterday I'm holding out for one of its bigger brothers. I'm probably going to buy the one in the middle, the P-171X version for 2 grand. Its duo core processor runs at 2.6ghz (vs 1.67 for the BB version) and it has 1920 x 1280 screen resolution. (vs 1400 x900 for the BB model) Otherwise its exactly the same all the way around.
www.gateway.com/programs/pseries/index.php
I wasn't thrilled with the hard drive speed (5400 rpms) but Gateway will not customize it. (Its how they are keeping the prices down on these boxes). I figure in 6-9 months I'll pick up a solid state drive and pop it in the 2nd drive slot. Put all the games on it and I'll be good to go.
One bonus, it has an eSATA port, something normally only found in desktops or much spendier laptops. Another nice feature, its 3 USB ports come out the side, an important feature. (take it from one who's last Dell laptop had them all out the back, had to replace the motherboard because of this)
Its hard to find two gaming laptops out there that deliver this level of performance for their price. Sure, Alienware and Dell have some monster rigs out there, but they are very spendy. (more than double).
I figure I pick this box up (available Jan 31st btw) now and replace it in 2 years when I'm sure we'll all be using nvidia 9900 GTXZBY cards, octuple core processors, 8 gb ram, and 500 gb solid state drives. (all still running under Windows XP)
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Gateway p-6831 fx
Best Buy just put this laptop to 1249 plus a free game.
Yeah, I just noticed that in the Sunday BB flyer, not quite $200.00 off as someone else posted, but darn close since it appears you can pick any game you want. (they featured BioShock in the ad). Which makes this an even better deal for people looking for a really affordable box. Heck, soon it will be the same price as a top end PS3.
If I wasn't buying its bigger brother I'd pick this up today.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
best buy is terrible, i go to a place called TomCom in canada (not telling the exact location) and they can put together a laptop for me for $1000 with 3.3 GHz, 4G of Ram, i cant remember what th video card is but its Nvidia, and the rest of it was really good too, for 1000
Screenshot and website or it didn't happen.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
The best way i could find to go was with alienware. I purchased a Alienware Area 51 laptop last year about $2300 and so far no probs and it still excedes all of the games requirments. Very nice for anything so i would say that is the safe way 2 go.
"I look forward to completing your training. In time you will call me master."
Look up Clevo, Compal, and Quanta. They are the ODM's for Alienware (Dell) and VoodooPC (HP) laptops.
The boutique gaming pc shops just add paint and their own OS load/image (config'd for gaming)... and charge you more $$$$$.
Check out lesser known names like Sager Notebooks. It's the same system as any Alienware or VoodooPC you'll find and usually $1,000 cheaper (at least last time I purchased one).
I've owned Alienware, VoodooPC, Dell XPS, etc.,... nothing special. You get a lot of 'theme', hype, and cowbell.
...
Once you get your hardware, make config changes yourself. There are a lot of performance guides out there that will help you get the most 'bang' for the 'buck' on your system... and squeeze every last drop of fresh-frequency your jewel has to offer.
...
You can get a gaming laptop for sub-$1000. Check eBay. Check Bensbargains.net. Check Pricewatch.com. Check all of those places. If those don't pan out, check online vendors like ibuypower.com and a few others.
You can do it!!!!!!!!
No!!!
Buying from one of the smaller vendors is not a good idea. Vendors like Ibuypower, cyberpowerpc and cybertron pc's and other lesser known manufacturers is dangerous - look up the customer reviews of the sites and you will see that they are not reliable vendors, and frequently cheat their customers. Its not worth the risk, the most you will save is 100-150 on these laptop PC's anyway compared to the major brands., and in my opinion is not worth the risk of getting a shabbily made PC. These sites are shady and you are not garunteed to get the computer you ordered. They are a little more reliable on laptops but i still wouldnt take the risk.
Like i said before, its best to go with a large manufacturer and scan for coupons and other deals that will lower the price for you. Maxing out a mainstream laptop like the Inspiron, Vostro or HP series is cheaper than going for one of their so called "gaming laptops" they charge extra for them and the options in the customizing are barely higher than that found in mainstream laptops. I got a very nice laptop from Dell for around 1.1k that beats out the Gateway PC offered at BestBuy - besides the video card, my specs are superior. Nevertheless, that Gateway PC is a great buy, even if it is a little big (17 incher)
Of course, if youre looking for something real high end, then you'll have to look elsewhere, in sites that specialize in high end gaming laptops. But if youre looking for something thats really *that* advanced that costs $2000+ with 3ghz proc 4gb ram and 512 MB graphics etc....just get a desktop. It doesnt pay to spend all that much money on a laptop like that, anyway, if youre that hardcore about gaming.
I like www.techbargains.com when i want to search for deals.
No!!!
lol. giggle.
mmmkay.
To each their own.
If you don't know much about technology and aren't a 'techie', then buy big-brand 'a'.
If you are somewhat tech-enabled and tech-capable, then feel free to move away from those who 'buy easy' rather than 'shop smart'.
If you are after 'customer service', then go ahead and buy a 'name brand' PC that you can have serviced by nearly any local-yocal in your area. They will almost all be certified to perform warranty repair on your boxes... if they are VAR's or resellers for HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.,...
The statement 'it's not worth buying a shabbingly made PC' doesn't apply. Like I said, HP, Lenovo, and Dell don't make their own laptops. They put their logo's and their shell's on these products from the ODM's (original design manufacturer) and repackage them, send them to you as if they 'made them'. You pay for their name and their service. You aren't really paying for a different piece of hardware. Therefore, buying system X is still buying system X, even if it has a diff namebrand on it.
I have several friends that have purchased from some of these 'boutique' shops and some of the 'small' online retailers (ibuypower, for example)... and all had positive reviews. I've killed just as many Dell and HP systems over the years as I have Voodoo or Alienware boxes.
Service from all... again... take a Dell or HP to a local shop. Otherwise, send your system in and get it repaired.
None of this subject matter is new. It's all been rehashed... a lot.
...
1 area where I agree... the laptop vs desktop battle. Unless you 'need' mobility, go with the desktop. Make your initial lump-sum purchase and then upgrade as you go. You have that ability with a desktop, you won't be able to do that with a laptop.
I'm not lying when I say that I've probably got more gaming hardware than 90% of the people that would read and or post on these boards. The other 10% probably work for the manufacturers.
I'm not knocking Dell, HP, etc.,.. But any system you buy from CircuitCity, CompUSA, Bestbuy... all 'low end' or 'mid level' class systems. When I say 'all', unless one of those chains just changed their strategy, then that's what you'll get... mid-tier at best. You won't come close to true 'current-high-end' technlogy. I'm not even talking 'cutting edge' or 'bleeding edge' either.
Its not a matter of buying easy and shopping smart. Just because you may order from a little known manufacturer doesnt make you a smart shopper. A smart shopper is someone who weighs in all the options in a sensible manner and someone who does their research, not someone who makes themselves feel special just because theyre buying from some obscure place.
It doesnt matter even if the companies do not make their own computers. You know what? I'm sure most of them don't have their own factory. But guess what? They have to maintain something that is so, SO important in the business world: customer service. "Quality Assurance" is what makes and breaks the deal. The reason why you are almost garunteed a working, good quality computer when you order from these companies is that they want to maintain their reputation. There is a reason why HP and Dell and Gateway and Lenovo are big companies; and one of the reasons why is because they keep their quality assurance high. They dont have to make the laptop directly, but they still make sure it works - and there is a reason why such review sites list Ibuypower as one of the worst places to order from. They are simply not reliable and send in shabbily made PC's.
Dont believe me? Tell all of the 500+ customers who have had bad expieriences from Ibuypower on www.resellerratings.com/store/iBUYPOWER
And thats only one company. Cyberpower isnt doing all that great either, though its getting better over time. Its really your risk to take. Some of these companies may be good, some of them are bad apples. You have to do your research.
Yeah, I just noticed that in the Sunday BB flyer, not quite $200.00 off as someone else posted, but darn close since it appears you can pick any game you want. (they featured BioShock in the ad). Which makes this an even better deal for people looking for a really affordable box. Heck, soon it will be the same price as a top end PS3.
If I wasn't buying its bigger brother I'd pick this up today.
I was in Bestbuy yesterday picking up some stuff when I was shocked to notice they had raised the price of this Gateway notebook from last Sunday's price of $1249.00 up to $1699.00. Was the exact same notebook.
I asked the employees if the company had lost its mind, but they were clueless as always.(though surprised as well)
You're better off going to Gateway now, they have this same machine with a slightly better CPU for $1599.00. They will discount off the list prices, especially if you buy their warranties.
I ended up buying their top end one, (better video, faster hard drives, extreme CPU) and they discounted it a total of $330.00 which basically paid for the 3 yr warranty, 3 yr accidental damage policy and most of the shipping costs. Only downside, back-ordered until mid-March. (lots of people were waiting to buy it last week)
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Unfortunately I HIGHLY doubt you'll find a laptop that will run AoC smoothly for under a grand.
What most people haven't told you is that the video card is one of the most important aspects and NOT just the memory size. Yes, its well and nice to have 512 shared memory on a laptop but if its a Nvidia 7000 it could have 5 gbs of memory and it wouldn't make a lick of difference.
My advice, look for something at LEAST a 8600 nvidia card. Anything else is blah for a gaming laptop IMO. These run you close to 1500$ or so.
Also for the love of God do NOT buy an HP laptop. I don't want to bore everyone here, but long story short.. I sent mine into be repaired and got it THREE months later. Thankfully they did give me a better laptop than the original I sent but still... 3 months? Thats "good" customer service??
As a few others have said, if you want to play AoC go get a desktop. I bought this desktop VERY cheap... 370$ for just the PC. 2 GB of ram, a nice dual core processor and a so-so vid card (only a 7800 nvidia) but I plan to upgrade my vid card before AoC comes out so I can run it on high settings
Thing is, you can buy a 300$ card, a monitor and STILL pay less than a grand, compared to the 1500+ you'll pay for a good laptop.
Trust me on this one. I've tried to play games on at LEAST 3-4 different laptops I own. If you want laggy, horrible FPS go by a laptop with less than an 8600 nvidia card. If you want to play and not want to throw your PC from a second story window, go get a desktop. Best advice I can give.