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Question for College Gamers

post #1 of 35
7/12/06 at 3:21pm
Thread Starter 
These questions go to current college gamers. I'm wondering if you have time to game in college, as this is going to affect the laptop I am planning to buy. I'll be going to college for the major if Civil Engineering. Do you guys have time to game? If you do or do not have time, which major is it in? Do you have time, but choose not to? Why?

Thanks for your answers as this is very important to me. If I might have time, I am planning to get a Sager 5760, otherwise ill get an Asus S96j. I don't want this thread to be a debate on whether to get a s96j or a 5760 as I have been researching for nearly a year now, and I know my decisions. Thank you all.
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post #2 of 35
7/12/06 at 3:28pm
S96J, not very heavy, well built. 15.4"

X1600 256mb.

The Sager is way too big (17") for college unless you are not gonna move it.

If its gonna be stationary, meaning not taking it to classes then the Sager is more powerful in the GPU department.
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post #3 of 35
7/12/06 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by usapatriot
S96J, not very heavy, well built. 15.4"

X1600 256mb.

The Sager is way too big (17") for college unless you are not gonna move it.

If its gonna be stationary, meaning not taking it to classes then the Sager is more powerful in the GPU department.
did you not read his post?
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post #4 of 35
7/12/06 at 3:59pm
i have no time to game.
with that said, i take around 18 units, work 30 hours, and intern at church.
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post #5 of 35
7/12/06 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jointhedarkside
These questions go to current college gamers. I'm wondering if you have time to game in college, as this is going to affect the laptop I am planning to buy. I'll be going to college for the major if Civil Engineering. Do you guys have time to game? If you do or do not have time, which major is it in? Do you have time, but choose not to? Why?

Thanks for your answers as this is very important to me. If I might have time, I am planning to get a Sager 5760, otherwise ill get an Asus S96j. I don't want this thread to be a debate on whether to get a s96j or a 5760 as I have been researching for nearly a year now, and I know my decisions. Thank you all.


two kind of gamers in college:
1. super smart gets all the hw done fast games at night
2. games anyways dont do hw and fail.
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post #6 of 35
7/12/06 at 4:06pm
I'm in Architecture, and if I have time to game, you'll have time to game. Either way, I'd get the S96J. If you're wanting a 17" then I'd suggest just getting a desktop.
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post #7 of 35
7/12/06 at 7:57pm
mechanical engineering here, going to be a junior, and last year i definitely had time to game, even if it was mainly only on friday and saturday nights. most of the rest of the time, i had too much other work to do. also, depending on other activities you do, that eats at your time too.

i was taking i think 62 units where the average is probably around 45 to 50, just for reference. if you want to game, i'm pretty sure you can make some time for it. not every night in college is full of work. also, i am not a hardcore gamer, and thus, a lot of times, i'd watch tv for a couple hours a night and not game during the week. i also fence, play tennis, sleep (excessively), sing, hang out with friends, etc.

i assume, as this is directed at college gamers, that you're going to be a freshman next year. in that case, i would definitely say that gaming is feasible. freshman year is often lighter than other years, so you should have plenty of time. just make sure not to game in all your spare time and meet people.
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post #8 of 35
7/12/06 at 8:00pm
In college you'd better be either studying or partying. So no you shouldn't have time to game. If you do, then you're going to the wrong school.
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post #9 of 35
7/12/06 at 9:52pm
Thread Starter 
I will be attending The University of California Los Angeles during the fall. I have a little brother and my parents do not speak much english. I live about an hour away from the school, so I will be frequently visiting my parents and little brother every other weekend. Moving around an 9 lb lappy will be no problem for me.

The current rig I am typing on is 5 years old, although I have upgraded a few components once in a long while. My family has never really had much money to spend on items except neccessities. I got a part time job for a year and have saved up around $2300 on my next laptop, my parents will provide the rest for a 5760 if i decide to get it .

I would not consider myself a hardcore gamer, as I mostly play games during weekends because the weekdays are hectic. Currently I have an Asus 6600 128mb and have been playing games at low mids - low settings. Thats why I really want the 5760 to play my old games like Doom3, Far Cry, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and CS:Source with max settings. Ive also purchased Hitman Bloodmoney and have resisted openning it until I could install it on my new lappy. If I dont have enough time to game, then I might as well pick the Asus, which is still a good choice, but with less graphics power than the 7900 gtx 512 mb. I know one game I will definately get in the future, SC: Double Agent. Thanks for all your responses so far, I would appreciate any other responses from any other College students.
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post #10 of 35
7/12/06 at 10:16pm
I'll graduate in december as an Industrial Engineer, wich IMO is an easier course compared to civil engineering, but you can be sure that if you want, you'll find time to game. Maybe not 8 hours/day, but you can definitely game during college... back in 2004 I had classes from 7am to 1pm, then worked at an investment bank from 2pm to 7-8pm, and I still had some time to game (mostly on weekends though).

Anyway I know that you've done a lot of research but I just have to ask you, why not go for a dell E1705? You can get one loaded for less than $1500, and the difference between the 7900 gs and the 7900GTX is just not worth the extra $1000 IMHO.

If you know your way around computer hardware, you could always put a 7900GTX in a E1705 (it has been done) and pinmod these new 533mhz core duo chips, so you could still have the 7900GTX for under $2K
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post #11 of 35
7/13/06 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 
I have considered dell, but this is going to be my first laptop . I want to buy a few years warrantee for the laptops. I dont really know my way around a laptop, and problems with laptops are much harder to fix than on a desktop. If I were to mod the case to fit a 7900gtx, I would be voiding the warrentee. I just want to be on the safe side for my first laptop purchase.
Also, the e1705 is not in the XPS line, so if I call for tech support, It will be most likely out sourced techs. I've had problems with that with Compaq. I want to go through a boutique, planning for discountlaptops, because their tech support is at least above average.

Thanks for the recommendation though, I have seen it many times through the decisions of other nbf members. Are there any other college gamers out there?
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post #12 of 35
7/13/06 at 1:06am
the only gaming i still pursue is console gaming and that is typically only as a social device with friends around. in college you have the time to make it what you want it to be but you'll have to prioritize like never before. if you choose to make the most of this new independence, you'll probably choose to do well academically, meet new people and tryout new activities and extracirriculars with diminished familial pressure (sports, bands, or drugs if that's your thing, again diminished familial pressure, you are in control with no one watching anymore), find a fun job and earn some spending money/build a resume, find some relaxing time to sleep and eat. at the end of the day, you'll probably not find much time to play games much but you may find that you are enjoying yourself equally or more. moving into college is about moving out into the world. dont cacoon yourself in your room and play games all the time.
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post #13 of 35
7/13/06 at 1:17am
Thread Starter 
i wont
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post #14 of 35
7/13/06 at 2:15am
I still game and im in college (business major) but not very often by myself anymore. I used to play long RPGs and other games but now i dont really find the time. Im looking at a laptop because i have friends who Lan at their appartments alot and it would be easy to bring a laptop over.
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post #15 of 35
7/13/06 at 2:16am
I'm only taking 12 credits so I have some spare time for gaming, but i don't think anyone has time durring finals and mid terms. My neighbor sure did though, he could bust out perfect combo's in Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 but he couldn't help but sleep through his mid terms and flunk out by the end of the first semister.
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post #16 of 35
7/13/06 at 4:31am
actually to revise my response i think you would be best off entering college with what you already have (unless you have nothing...) and making do without new distractions other than being at a new school with new people for at least a semester. then you'll figure out what you really need if you so wish to configure a new updated system then and not waste money on something you thought you would need but doesnt fit into your new lifestyle. i would do that too if i were in your situation again.


and hey it's good that you know what you want going into college academically. civil engineering is not one of those things you can jump into mid sophomore year just for the heck of it. good luck at school and do have fun!
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post #17 of 35
7/13/06 at 8:30am
well , lectures are so boring, i jsut bring my PSP and game till bat dies, or lecture finishes. i am doing business management; sub majoring in Finance & Financial Management
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post #18 of 35
7/13/06 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Well im leaving my desktop at home for my lil bro and the lappy is the only thing thats going to be completely mine, so i need to get one.

Quote:
and hey it's good that you know what you want going into college academically. civil engineering is not one of those things you can jump into mid sophomore year just for the heck of it. good luck at school and do have fun!

thanks
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post #19 of 35
7/13/06 at 6:34pm
Definately if you like it, you'll have the time. The difference is simply you won't spend 8 hours gaming a day, but rather only hit up an hour or two of the latest game. Some weeks, you'll be much too busy, other weeks will seem like you have tons of spare time.

A more important part is the live multiplayer component. I often get together with friends and play bouts of LAN games. I was in in the arts only though. Not strenuous at all, but the main idea is you have time to game if you want, just not as much time as now.
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post #20 of 35
7/13/06 at 7:30pm
Now, my degree is in Biology (w/ a minor in education, esentially). I took an average of 15 credit hours/semester. Probably an easier degree than any sort of engineering, but I had what seemed like quite a bit of time for gaming. No, I didn't work that much (a few part-time jobs here and there), and was only involved in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship as far as student organizations go. I graduated cum laude and on time.

I suppose my main piece of advice here would be to know your limits and set firm priorities. If my grades had slipped, I'd like to think I would've cut back on gaming. No, I wasn't the party-type... went to a few but quickly decided since I'm not a drinker it wasn't much fun.

It is good, I think, that there weren't any major MMOs at the time. EQ, DAoC, or WoW may have had a.... negative impact on my academics. Heh heh.

-Stormryder
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