Gaming Laptop for Battlefield 3

[Carpiquet]

Hey everyone. I love battlefield but I'm working in a remote site right now and I don't have my desktop. I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what to buy so that I could play Battlefield 3 way out here (I can't bring or set up my desktop). Assume the internet is ok. I was excited about the Sager laptops but with $150 shipping and the taxes they are almost not worth it. Any alternatives for Canada?

1. What is your budget?
I'd like the cost to come out around $1600 with tax and shipping

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering?
The smaller the better. Definitely no 17"

3. What screen resolution do you want?
No preference

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
Just as long as the sceen is 15" or below

5. How much battery life do you need?
Not important, but the more the better

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
Battlefield 3!!!!! - I'd like it to play perfectly at least on medium settings at a high resolution like 1080x1920.

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.)
nothing worth noting

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need?
Any standard hard drive will be fine

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links.
none

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop?
I'd like to be able to play new games coming ot for at least 2 years. Even if its just on low settings.

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?
none required

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I won't get a dell. Terrible customer service

13. What country do you live in?
Canada

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.
none

Please Help.
Thanks

 

[WR2]

Hello Carpiquet;

Checkout the ASUS G53SX-XN1 15.6" Notebook $Cdn 1200
Core i7 2630QM(2.00GHz) CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD 7200rpm, 15.6" 1920x1080 LCD w/ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M.

 

[WR2]

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M review
This should get you BF3 on High graphics settings and should be running most anything to come out in the next two years on at least Medium graphics settings.

 

[WR2]

Also in your budget range: Sager NP8150 built by Fortnax (located in Alberta), a custom gaming laptop boutique builder.

 

[Carpiquet]

Best answer selected by Carpiquet.

 

[Carpiquet]

Hello Carpiquet;

Checkout the ASUS G53SX-XN1 15.6" Notebook $Cdn 1200
Core i7 2630QM(2.00GHz) CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD 7200rpm, 15.6" 1920x1080 LCD w/ NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M.

Thanks very much! I will check all those out.

 

[WR2]

The guys over at http/www.pro-star.com/ h ave free shipping to Canada. Check them out too.

 

[Carpiquet]

The guys over at http/www.pro-star.com/ h ave free shipping to Canada. Check them out too.

Thanks. And is there any downside to getting a refurbished laptop?
http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230174

That's quite a bit of savings

 

[WR2]

There is a downside you need to consider.
Besides being 'used' you never know for sure what the reason was for the return.
@ NewEgg - click on the Details tab, check out the info on the right side panel: Manufacturer Warranty & Return Policies

 

[Carpiquet]

Hey Everyone,

Sorry to revive my old thread but I had another question. I read that the 560M in the graphics card in the $1200 asus laptop on newegg.ca http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230099
has a 128bit shader or something instead of 192bit. Is this important and if so, are there any other laptops I might be able to get with a 560M but with the 192bit shader. I think the 192bit model comes with 1.5GB memory, not 2GB.

Thanks

 

[WR2]

The 192bit shader model GTX 560M will get better overall performance.
But it's not what I would call a 'game changer'. Depending on the game, graphics settings and AA/AF settings the 192bit models get from 5%-15% better frame rates.

When considering the price of the 128bit equipped models it's probably a fair trade off in cost vs performance.
MSI GT683RCore i7 2630QM & GTX 560M 192bit $1470

 

[Carpiquet]

The 192bit shader model GTX 560M will get better overall performance.
But it's not what I would call a 'game changer'. Depending on the game, graphics settings and AA/AF settings the 192bit models get from 5%-15% better frame rates.

When considering the price of the 128bit equipped models it's probably a fair trade off in cost vs performance.
MSI GT683RCore i7 2630QM & GTX 560M 192bit $1470

Thanks WR2, you are the best. I have almost decided on this laptop then
http/www.pro-star.com/index.cfm?mainpage=serial-price&serial=P151HM&promoteid=90000366&screenid=13140400&cpuid=30145200&hdid=40100258&cdromid=20074690&ramid=80117620&batteryid=10140101
It has the 1.5GB 560 card. I will upgrade to the i7 2630. With importing fees I expect it to be about $1200. What do you think?

edit: I got you name wrong :s

 

[WR2]

In your place, with your gaming goals, I'd probably go the same route.

I know there is no import duty bring it into Canada - but what other fees did are you expecting to pay beyond GST/HST?

 

[Carpiquet]

In your place, with your gaming goals, I'd probably go the same route.

I know there is no import duty bring it into Canada - but what other fees did are you expecting to pay beyond GST/HST?

I was thinking of brokerage fee, exchange rate, credit card currency exchange fee and shipping.

I called and asked and they said that shipping is free to Canada but the brokerage fee is like $78. Or you can upgrade your shipping for $50 dollars which includes brokerage fee lol.
I think 1CAD is like 98cents American right now and my credit card charges me 2% exchange fee.
I think after all that it will be a little under $1200

And then 13%HST

Thanks very much for your help WR2. I will order in the next week or two.


Edit: And for anyone interested I found a coupon code for pro-star for $30 off. Coupon code: promo

 

[jayce143]

WR2,


My GTX 560M on a MSI GT 683 R laptop with Windows 7 is having issues. Since Battlefield 3's download I continually receive a message stating out dated driver version 268.12 and need at least 285.38 or later driver. After updating the driver, from NIVIDIA's website, I receive a error message reading NIVIDIA graphics driver not compatible with the version of windows. I tried a beta version and a 32 bit and 64 bit with same results. I even tried running in windows vista option with a huge crash. I contacted NIVIDIA for assistance and so far nothing yet.


Anyone else having this issue? Ideas?


Jayce

 

[Maziar]

This topic has been closed by Maziar