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Configuring gaming notebook--any consensus on spec priorities?

post #1 of 6
4/1/05 at 9:21am
Thread Starter 
I want to buy a notebook primarily for gaming purposes. In another thread, I asked for and received some good advice about specific models--thank you. Now, I'm interested in the "nuts and bolts" of configuring a notebook for gaming.

First off, does anyone have any opinions about what the MINIMUM specs should be if I want to run all games currently on the market and those likely to come out in the next few years? For example, get at least a Pentium M 730, at least 512 MB RAM, at least 128 MB Video card, 60 GB 7200 rpm HD, etc.

Second, I was wondering if there are any "rules" or generally held beliefs about which specs to prioritize (Unfortunately, money is an issue--I'm looking to spend no more than $2000--and, therefore, I can't have the best of everything) . For example, do you get the best CPU (or the best video card or most RAM) you can afford and then everything else comes secondary or do you take a more even approach and make all the components more or less mid-level?

Third, what things are easily upgradable in a notebook? The RAM? CPU? Video Card? etc.? I guess I'm asking because this could help me determine what specs are "must haves" and which ones could simply be added later.

I guess that's it for now. Thanks again for the response to my last post and for any responses to this post.
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post #2 of 6
4/1/05 at 10:55am
For a gameing notebook the most important thing is the GPU. I would say the bare minimum is an ATI 9700 128 MB. This will run today's current games like Doom3 and HL2 medium to high settings. But in truth, this card is on it's way out. If you can afford it, a ATI x700 128 MB or Nvidia 6600 go 128 MB would be better. For high end then get the Nvidia 6800 go Ultra or the ATI x800.

Priority should go to the GPU, CPU, then memory and hard drive. But you want to build a balanced system. Throwing all your money to get a high end GPU and skimping on memory and only getting 256MB of RAM is a waste. For bare minimums i would recomend the following.

CPU: PM 1.8G, P4 3.0G, AMD64 3000+
GPU: ATI 9700 128 MB
RAM: 512 MB
HD: 60 GIG 5400RPM

For mid range:
CPU: PM:2.0G, P4 3.4G, AMD64 3400+
GPU: ATI x700 128 MB, 6600 go 128 MB
RAM: 1 Gig
HD: 80 GIG 5400RPM

High end:
CPU: PM 2.1G, P4 3.6G+ AMD64 3700+
GPU: ATI x800, 6800 go Ultra 256 MB
RAM: 2 Gig
HD: 60 gig 7200 RPM

Lastly as far as upgrades go, the easiest things to upgrade on a laptop are the hard drive and RAM. Upgrading the CPU yourself can be tricky if you have never done it before, but it is possible. As for the GPU, most that are out right now are not user upgradable. Even the notebooks that use the GPU modules that the sagers are using need to be sent back to them so Sager can install the upgrade and modify the bios or cooling elements. So the GPU is by far the most difficult thing to upgrade on a laptop.
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post #3 of 6
4/1/05 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rustican
High end:
CPU: PM 2.1G, P4 3.6G+ AMD64 3700+
GPU: ATI x800, 6600 go Ultra 256 MB
RAM: 2 Gig
HD: 60 gig 7200 RPM
Good information, but I think you meant to say 6800 Go Ultra 256 MB, not 6600.
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post #4 of 6
4/1/05 at 11:37am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your insight Rustican--it's rare when a responder succinctly addresses all of the points in the initial post, but you managed to do it. I appreciate the info.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Agree/disagree with Rustican, etc?
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post #5 of 6
4/1/05 at 11:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbdrand
Good information, but I think you meant to say 6800 Go Ultra 256 MB, not 6600.

Oops typo. Yes i ment the 6800 go Ultra. fixed now. Thanks.
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post #6 of 6
4/1/05 at 12:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaggly Pete
Thanks for your insight Rustican--it's rare when a responder succinctly addresses all of the points in the initial post, but you managed to do it. I appreciate the info.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this topic? Agree/disagree with Rustican, etc?
My only advice would be to get the absolute fastest GPU that you can afford. With very few exceptions, it's incredibly difficult (almost impossible in most laptops) to try and upgrade the GPU. By buying the fastest one that you can afford you give yourself more time before you have to replace the machine.
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