Good gaming laptop choice?
By
DreamWeaver,
Posted on: 2012-06-16 16:46 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
Quote:
It's probably better to ask once you get the dosh together to actually buy the laptop.|
Originally Posted by DreamWeaver
Dammitall.
After a few recent overheating incidents, my Lenovo BSOD'd on me tonight and temporarily disconnected its hard drive. Much as I need CoH to relax, I need this machine to work (and, incidentally, therefore, eat.) It's going to take me a few months to get together the cash to replace it,given current circumstances, but I will - WILL - be back. Can anyone recommend a half-decent,reasonably priced, extremely reliable and durable gaming *laptop* - as I can't afford to run two machines and will need to work on site? This one's lasted me since March 2010... |
Right now we want to see what can be done about making sure the current one remains functional. I'm running on a T61P that's now about 4-5 years old with no overheating problems. Why? I keep it clean. Well, that and it's a secondary machine.
First off Dream, when was the last time you blasted the thing out with a can of compressed air? Don't simply try this with the laptop sitting in the usual position. Blast it out that way for sure. But turn it on its side and blast out the various air intakes, etc. Then turn it upside down and repeat, then on its other side and repeat, etc. This way, if you have a fuzzball in there you stand the maximum chance of dislodging/destroying it.
Second, are you sure the interior fans are working? Put a hand near one of the vents after it's been up a while. You you feel warm air moving?
Third, Are you playing with the laptop just plunked down on whatever available surface there is? Or are you getting it up off the "desktop" so there's better airflow?
Not saying you need one of those fan-laden laptop coolers (though those never hurt), but just something to get it off whatever surface there is. After a while, that surface just becomes one giant heatsink, and depending on the surface, can artificially heat up your laptop.
Something as simple as an ergonomic laptop travel stand can help keep the temperature down.
I actually use one of these with my laptop and have few thermal issues.
Fourth, Another thing you could do to reduce power consumption and thermal load is replace your hard drive with an SSD. And, on top of the above benefits, your disk-related operations get a gigantic kick in the pants (17 second boot times and faster map loads anyone?)
While #4 is probably your most expensive option, all four of them together are still significantly cheaper than purchasing a new laptop. I'd urge you to do the first two immediately. Try #3 for a cheap "fix" and #4 if you have the spare dosh (and through the fact that you could move the SSD to a new laptop if it doesn't help).
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
If you are looking for a laptop for coh game performance I would consider "reasonable" its going to cost $1200.
To get one that will run UM decently, $1500.
I would take hyperstrike's advice and try and get the current laptop in shape first. Market prices can change, ask builders about HD prices a few months ago after the floods in Thailand. So you have a ballpark idea of how much you are going to be looking at.
Gaming laptops are pricey.
H: Blaster 50, Defender 50, Tank 50, Scrapper 50, Controller 50, PB 50, WS 50
V: Brute 50, Corruptor 50, MM 50, Dominator 50, Stalker 50, AW 50, AS 50
Top 4: Controller, Brute, Scrapper, Corruptor
Bottom 4: (Peacebringer) way below everything else, Mastermind, Dominator, Blaster
CoH in WQHD
To answer the questions:
- yes, use a Belkin lappy tray with builtin fan. Since it's a laptop I actually use on my lap, it's a strange breezy feeling but it works.
- I've cleaned the fans and heatsink every so often with compressed air and occasionally with a cotton bud (and antistat lead) when there's a large buildup of crud.
- the overheat doesn't occur in normal operation, only when playing 3d games (even Facebook 3d games)
Is it time for the dance of joy yet?
Hmm. Wonder if you have a break in the graphics card heatsink interface. Granted, if you're not up to disassembling your lappie to pop the heatsink and apply some new thermal grease...
Maybe take a look at one of these friendly little things...
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Quote:
Depending on the "work on site" requirements a low end laptop for that and a gaming desktop may well work out cheaper.
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Originally Posted by DreamWeaver
as I can't afford to run two machines and will need to work on site? This one's lasted me since March 2010...
|
Mind of Gaia lvl 50 Defiant's first Mind/Storm 'troller.
Deadly Doc 50 Dark/Dark Corr
and lots more on Pinnacle,Union and Defiant
As to "can't afford". Well, if you're buying another machine, and nothing it wrong with this one (outside of gaming), you honestly *can* afford to run both.
Keep the laptop for work purposes and possibly build a gaming desktop.
As Gaia points out, it'd probably work out cheaper in the long run.
Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.
Dangitall.
After a few recent overheating incidents, my Lenovo BSOD'd on me tonight and temporarily disconnected its hard drive. Much as I need CoH to relax, I need this machine to work (and, incidentally, therefore, eat.)
It's going to take me a few months to get together the cash to replace it,given current circumstances, but I will - WILL - be back.
Can anyone recommend a half-decent,reasonably priced, extremely reliable and durable gaming *laptop* - as I can't afford to run two machines and will need to work on site? This one's lasted me since March 2010...
Is it time for the dance of joy yet?