How are you upgrading?

[Vreki]

Re: How are you upgrading?

I think Alienware is way out of my price range and it's hard to find one with a big screen that isn't $2000+

You could have a decent sized monitor at home, and then just connect it to the laptop when you want to play.
Just make sure that the laptops external vga port support the monitors resolution.

[muffinmn100]

Re: How are you upgrading?

899$ laptop isn't going to be that great. Go for the HP envy line if you want HP. For a good laptop that plays bf3 well your going to have to pay 1k+.

EDIT: Don't buy alienware, your paying for the name not the hardware.

[DTPleeoswald]

Re: How are you upgrading?

I think Alienware is way out of my price range and it's hard to find one with a big screen that isn't $2000+

Would this one suffice for BF3?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157639

But if anyone else has any suggestions/ideas the minimum requirements are:
Intel Core i5 Processor
6GB DDR3 SDRAM
500 GB Hard Drive
10/100/1000 Network Interface
Wireless 802.11g/n

And I'd personally like to have a Blu-ray drive.

[DTPleeoswald]

Re: How are you upgrading?

I thought I could get away with having a nice gaming rig/something strong enough for the engineering software for my dorm and then take a cheap netbook to class to just take notes on and do basic browsing and email on. They then corrected me and told me I actually have to have a laptop instead so I can take my laptop to class to use the engineering software, not work on it back in my dorm. Therefore I need a powerful laptop instead of the powerful desktop/cheap netbook combo.

So should I drop the money on an Alienware gaming laptop or should I just try and find one that's comparable that meets the i5 and 6 gigs of RAM requirements?

[Nookie077]

Re: How are you upgrading?

i have a Qosmio laptop with the same graphics card, but instead i have a quadcore i5 and only 4 gigs of ram; however, i'm still able to run crysis 2 rather nicely and bad company 2 great. So you should definitely be fine with the i7 and more ram.

But won't that card bottle-neck, big time? He probably wouldn't get much more performance than you.

[alecs36]

Re: How are you upgrading?

I will probably be getting this laptop for an upgrade http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0354812. Trying the phase out my tower for laptop. Anyone know if this will suffice?

i have a Qosmio laptop with the same graphics card, but instead i have a quadcore i5 and only 4 gigs of ram; however, i'm still able to run crysis 2 rather nicely and bad company 2 great. So you should definitely be fine with the i7 and more ram.

[Vreki]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Like I said that's what I wanted to do, build a nice gaming rig and get a netbook for classes to take notes on and stuff. I'm going into Civil Engineering so to run the engineering programs for design and stuff they said I need minimum i5 and 6 gigs of RAM. I'm going to be taking it with me to my design classes instead of doing the work back in my dorm that's why apparently I need the laptop, to work on the stuff in class when my actual prof. and TA's are there to help.

Sorry if I am a bit slow, but I don't quite get if you are talking about talking about bringing the desktop to class for design work, or doing design work on the netbook?
Because I am sitting with a netbook right now, and it has a screen resolution of 1024x600 and 1GB memory. They are not suited for actual work.

If you need to do Civil Engineering work on the laptop, then you might as well get a good one that can also run you games. Nothing is more frustrating than your hardware holding your back when you are trying to do work.

[Nookie077]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Game specs do not take into account the needs of the OS (at least not entirely), the needs of other background apps, and more.

With RAM as cheap as it is, what's the problem with having some insurance instead of just sitting on the edge just because it says it doesn't need more on the box?

Game specs do! take into account the OS - and most essential (Firewall/AV) back-ground apps hardly take up any mem.

But I didn't realize you were starting from scratch. I thought you were going to spend money on buying 2GB stick to add to your existing 6GB - Sorry, My bad. If you want to get all new DDR3 mem (now this does make sense, as the speed and latency of the memory will make a difference), and have the cash, then go for it.

[Shawn Zipay]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Game specs do not take into account the needs of the OS (at least not entirely), the needs of other background apps, and more.

With RAM as cheap as it is, what's the problem with having some insurance instead of just sitting on the edge just because it says it doesn't need more on the box?

[Nookie077]

I'm running 6GB right now. I know the limitations and I know that I'd much rather have more RAM. At least 8GB if not more.

And yes btw, I do quite a bit of video rendering.

I'm running 6GB right now. I know the limitations and I know that I'd much rather have more RAM. At least 8GB if not more.

And yes btw, I do quite a bit of video rendering.

6GB will not limit you in regards to gaming alone though. Check the min specs for the upcoming Arma 3 - totally insane, yet the mem is only 2GB. This means rec spec will be about 4GB - you see the pattern? Have you ever seen more than 4GB recommended for a game? They don't keep it low out of good manners.

After all, most games are developed for 32bit machines. Try it: same CPU, GC, and then go from say 6GB to 8GB. That only applies to running a single gaming application at any given time. I can't speak for multi-tasking or advanced rendering applications.

Sorry people. [MyIS]Zips didn't repeat himself - I messed up with the quotes.

[Shawn Zipay]

Re: How are you upgrading?

I'm running 6GB right now. I know the limitations and I know that I'd much rather have more RAM. At least 8GB if not more.

And yes btw, I do quite a bit of video rendering.

[Nookie077]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Probably 8GB of DDR3 RAM, up from my current 6GB of DDR2.

Save your money, don't bother. Unless you're into video rendering and stuff like that, It'll be a total waste. People need to learn that 4Gb (maybe 6 for the sake of triple channel) of fast ram is more than enough for gaming, for now and the foreseeable future. Spend all you can on getting the best graphics card possible.

It makes me laugh when people proudly list 12Gb ram, etc, in their specs - no game will use it. You only need to check recommended specs on all games to see this.

[DTPleeoswald]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Like I said that's what I wanted to do, build a nice gaming rig and get a netbook for classes to take notes on and stuff. I'm going into Civil Engineering so to run the engineering programs for design and stuff they said I need minimum i5 and 6 gigs of RAM. I'm going to be taking it with me to my design classes instead of doing the work back in my dorm that's why apparently I need the laptop, to work on the stuff in class when my actual prof. and TA's are there to help.

[Reign.]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Hmmm... I might go GIGABYTE for my next motherboard as I need something which I can use to make a hackintosh due to my brother needing one to practice on for his music school. Trying to make one off of a Standard DELL motherboard is the pits.

But does your MB support most i7's? Im looking at a 930 right now which beckons me...

Yes it supports I believe all the current I7's. I've had it since it's release in March of last year. The price hasn't gone down much but it offers a lot and is still one of the best LGA 1366 MB out. Even the cheaper stripped down version, the GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R would be a great buy.

[Stev0esque]

Re: How are you upgrading?

Hopefully I'm good to go. My current rig: I7 920 @ 3.0 ghz, ATi 5870, and 6 gigs of ram. I might upgrade my Video card if I have to. I currently have a GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 MB which is very Overclocker friendly. If I need to I know I can get the CPU up to 3.6 ghz and feel safe doing so.

Hmmm... I might go GIGABYTE for my next motherboard as I need something which I can use to make a hackintosh due to my brother needing one to practice on for his music school. Trying to make one off of a Standard DELL motherboard is the pits.

But does your MB support most i7's? Im looking at a 930 right now which beckons me...