Cheap Gaming Laptop

[Nicholas Liedorff]

Hey Im looking for a cheap gaming laptop, under $600 dollars. I want to play FPS such as Bo2, BF3/BF4(when it comes out). I am open to all suggestions, preferably windows 8 OS! Thanks!

 

[DarkSable]

You aren't going to find a laptop that can do that at that price point. It costs about $8-900 for the manufacturers to MAKE a laptop that can do gaming at all.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

You aren't going to find a laptop that can do that at that price point. It costs about $8-900 for the manufacturers to MAKE a laptop that can do gaming at all.

Hmm. What if I went with a desktop?

 

[rdc85]

Yup, there is no gaming laptop that are cheap, in desktop with that budget (include os + monitor + mouse/keyboard/speaker + etc)

will only get u low (decent) one but it will have much better performance than laptop at same price

 

[jaguarskx]

Desktop for games is a better choice. You generally get better bang for the buck because individual components for a desktop are generally less expensive than for laptops. Those components needs to conform to tight spaces, low power consumption and low heat emission all of which impacts the cost. That means to maintain the same price point between a laptop and desktop, the laptop must have lower performing parts.

Also, upgrades for a laptop are limited to the hard drive and RAM. In an inexpensive laptop you may be able to upgrade the CPU, but you will never be able to upgrade the graphics card / chip. In a desktop, anything and everything can be upgraded as long as they are all compatible with each other.

 

[DarkSable]

Hmm. What if I went with a desktop?

For $600, you can easily make a desktop that can max call of duty and play battlefield on medium / high settings.

That being said, you'd have to build it, not buy a prebuilt. (It's very easy though - it only takes a normal Phillips screwdriver, and is like LEGOs for adults.)

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

Okay great! Do you have any build suggestions? Also I have a hdmi compatible monitor that gets 720p.

 

[DarkSable]

Oh jeeze, you're only playing at 720p?
Ok, look at something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card ($148.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $648.12
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 12:34 EDT-0400)

There's a little fat that can be trimmed if absolutely necessary, but that'll get you great performance.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

Oh jeeze, you're only playing at 720p?
Ok, look at something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($179.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card ($148.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($15.99 @ TigerDirect)
Total: $648.12
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 12:34 EDT-0400)

There's a little fat that can be trimmed if absolutely necessary, but that'll get you great performance.

I do have a TV screen that is 1080p I could use. And should I upgrade that (2 x 2) ram to a (2 x 4)? or is 8gb ram not necessary? Could i get a 500gb HDD with the same speed? Id be willing to shell out a couple more bucks to get a case that looks cool any suggestions on that? Also I found this http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2DcFZTgwfI (read description) how does that build sound?

 

[DarkSable]

I went with 2x2 because it's cheaper - 8GB is just about the ideal spot.

You could get that as a 500GB drive, but I think it would be all of $6 cheaper.

As for the case, it's a very personal thing; I personally like minimalistic cases, so you're on your own for that. That youtube build is a good option, but the CPU is significantly less powerful; it's up to you whether you want that with better graphics or be able to upgrade graphics 2 years down the road while keeping that CPU without a bottleneck.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

I went with 2x2 because it's cheaper - 8GB is just about the ideal spot.

You could get that as a 500GB drive, but I think it would be all of $6 cheaper.

As for the case, it's a very personal thing; I personally like minimalistic cases, so you're on your own for that. That youtube build is a good option, but the CPU is significantly less powerful; it's up to you whether you want that with better graphics or be able to upgrade graphics 2 years down the road while keeping that CPU without a bottleneck.

Do you have any ideas for a cheaper build closer to $600, maybe even under?

 

[DarkSable]

Certainly you could go with something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card ($145.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $596.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 23:18 EDT-0400)

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

Certainly you could go with something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock 970 EXTREME4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($98.98 @ Outlet PC)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7790 1GB Video Card ($145.38 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 ATX Mid Tower Case ($49.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224BB DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $596.94
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-22 23:18 EDT-0400)

I still need an OS and keep in mind with these builds I want high settings on BF3 with high frame rates on 1080p.

 

[DarkSable]

That means you want a $500 computer that will get you high fps and high settings at 1080p in battlefield 3.

That's not going to happen, either in a desktop OR a laptop. Sorry.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

That means you want a $500 computer that will get you high fps and high settings at 1080p in battlefield 3.

That's not going to happen, either in a desktop OR a laptop. Sorry.

Ill have to just save up enough to get an OS on top of the build you listed.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

That means you want a $500 computer that will get you high fps and high settings at 1080p in battlefield 3.

That's not going to happen, either in a desktop OR a laptop. Sorry.

In another thread I got the info for this build CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Microcenter)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($60.97 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($47.20 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($67.97 @ Outlet PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($95.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $625.06

How is that in comparison to the build you listed? (FYI I have more faith in your opinion over others)

 

[DarkSable]

That's a pretty decent rig, but the trouble is that the power supply won't let you upgrade the graphics card much, and the graphics card itself is considerably worse. There are a few other points that I would nit-pick, but that's beside the point.

So, I have a question, then. What if you went with a good base system with a lower-end graphics card and saved up to upgrade it? That would be your best way to get what you're looking for.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

That's a pretty decent rig, but the trouble is that the power supply won't let you upgrade the graphics card much, and the graphics card itself is considerably worse. There are a few other points that I would nit-pick, but that's beside the point.

So, I have a question, then. What if you went with a good base system with a lower-end graphics card and saved up to upgrade it? That would be your best way to get what you're looking for.

That is a fantastic idea being that this is a replacement for my Xbox 360 (and next-gen consoles) the problem is that I am simply impatient, haha. I can do exactly that (go with a good base and a lower end graphics card) and set myself up for near-future upgrades, if I will be able to smoothly play the games I want until I am able to upgrade.

 

[DarkSable]

That is a fantastic idea being that this is a replacement for my Xbox 360 (and next-gen consoles) the problem is that I am simply impatient, haha. I can do exactly that (go with a good base and a lower end graphics card) and set myself up for near-future upgrades, if I will be able to smoothly play the games I want until I am able to upgrade.

Glad it works well for you! As for a base rig, I'd look at something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($95.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $605.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-23 18:44 EDT-0400)

Then you can just save up for a 7870 XT, 7950, or 670, slap it in there, and be good to max out games at 1080p.

EDIT: Whoops... I forgot RAM. If you can spare another $50, go with this http/pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-memory-pvi38g160c9k. If not, just buy 4GB and another 4GB later.

 

[Nicholas Liedorff]

That is a fantastic idea being that this is a replacement for my Xbox 360 (and next-gen consoles) the problem is that I am simply impatient, haha. I can do exactly that (go with a good base and a lower end graphics card) and set myself up for near-future upgrades, if I will be able to smoothly play the games I want until I am able to upgrade.

Glad it works well for you! As for a base rig, I'd look at something like this:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($82.55 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($66.64 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7750 2GB Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: NZXT Gamma Classic (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Amazon)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($59.99 @ Microcenter)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($95.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $605.13
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-23 18:44 EDT-0400)

Then you can just save up for a 7870 XT, 7950, or 670, slap it in there, and be good to max out games at 1080p.

EDIT: Whoops... I forgot RAM. If you can spare another $50, go with this http/pcpartpicker.com/part/patriot-memory-pvi38g160c9k. If not, just buy 4GB and another 4GB later.

Okay the only question I have about this build is the i5 processor. Is there any specific reason you chose the i5 over an amd processor with more cores? And more generally, how important is the processor in terms of gaming ability?