Desktop vs. Laptop for College

[thefabcab]

Hello. I am attending college this fall as an Engineering student and I am having a hard time deciding between getting a laptop or a desktop for college. My budget is around $1200. I would like a desktop for performance but I don't see a reasonable way to bring it and my monitor up to college(my college is all the way across the country). I am also having a hard time trying to see the good in buying the laptop because of the lesser performance(for my parents price they will pay). I am having trouble and I hope you guys can help. Also I need to make the decision by July 10th. Thanks

O yea side note I will be doing some gaming such as BF4 once it comes out.

 

[thefabcab]

That seems like an awful lot of work; why not just get an air cooler that you don't have to worry about?

And no, that's completely understandable; it's what we're here for.

Thanks for the help. I think I am going to get an air cooler because I doubt I will be overclocking. Now for the hardest part. I need to convince my parents that a desktop is better for my field rather then a laptop. It shouldn't be that hard.

 

[DarkSable]

Weeelll... if the programs you're using can make use of CUDA or STREAM processors, the desktop will quite easily be four to five times more powerful for the same amount of money.

 

[thefabcab]

Weeelll... if the programs you're using can make use of CUDA or STREAM processors, the desktop will quite easily be four to five times more powerful for the same amount of money.

Do you think this case could fit as a carry on? I think it follows the size regulations but would it be inconvienient to carry through the airport. If not I will just get a bitfenix prodigy

http/www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139020&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID=

 

[DarkSable]

It would fit, but you'd want to get a strap for it. (a few people make LAN party straps for cases)

It's kind of awkward, and I'm not sure it would give as good protection as a Prodigy. Is there a particular reason you want that case / the mATX form factor? If not, I'd look at a Prodigy or one of the actual mini-ITX sized cases that you could throw in a backpack.

 

[thefabcab]

It would fit, but you'd want to get a strap for it. (a few people make LAN party straps for cases)

It's kind of awkward, and I'm not sure it would give as good protection as a Prodigy. Is there a particular reason you want that case / the mATX form factor? If not, I'd look at a Prodigy or one of the actual mini-ITX sized cases that you could throw in a backpack.

I was looking at the Corsair case because I thought about getting a mATX case, but majority of the cases are kind of ridiculous if I were to travel with them. The prodigy looks like it was meant for that so I will probably lean towards that. Oh yeah how difficult is it to fit your computer in the overhead carrying compartment and how do you transport your GPU?

 

[DarkSable]

That particular corsair case is also pretty dang big. You want something as small as possible, though you might want to avoid having to use a PCIe riser.

The prodigy is a very, very nice case, and about the best case for modding I've ever found. That being said, it is large for mini-itx; more the size of mATX cases, and there are other, smaller options out there.

It's quite easy; just turn it on it's side. And I keep the graphics card in the case; it's not going to get jostled much and it's firmly in there.