[Wineguy]

I am getting a laptop for my son and it needs to have graphics to support gaming. He has one now that I will keep as a backup, but it has "slow moving people and you have to put on lowest graphics" per him. Do I need to get more RAM? Certain components inside?


Can anyone suggest one to get today while sales are on? Any help is very much appreciated.

[vinnie]

Alienware M15x
We got one for our daughter & she loves it.
I'm not a gamer so all I can tell you is what her & her friends think they are 13 &14 yr olds.

[Chadman]

Most of the not completely low end laptops now come with enough "guts" to take care of gaming needs, depending on how he's going to play the games. If he's playing them online, your Internet connection will be an issue. But get plenty of RAM and perhaps one of the newer dual processor models, the RAM and processing power will be the biggest thing, along with a good graphics card installed in the unit. A lot of them will be marked as good for gaming computers, and I'd guess that if you're going to a big box store that somebody there will have the answers you need. Good luck. It's amazing how much computer you can get for the money these days.

[77sticks]

Originally Posted by Wineguy

I am getting a laptop for my son and it needs to have graphics to support gaming. He has one now that I will keep as a backup, but it has "slow moving people and you have to put on lowest graphics" per him. Do I need to get more RAM? Certain components inside?


Can anyone suggest one to get today while sales are on? Any help is very much appreciated.

Alienware makes great gaming systems as mentioned above.

[Wineguy]

Thanks guys, anything else I need to understand?

[airportis]

Honestly, if you want a computer for gaming you are far better off with a desktop instead of a laptop. Laptops are really not made for gaming.

First of all, if your kid is going to be playing games, its going to drain the hell out of the battery, so he might just leave the laptop plugged in. Bad idea. Leaving the laptop plugged in constantly will fock up the battery. Most laptop batteries need to be drained often and even cycled so they keep their charge.

Secondly, it is a royal pain in the ass to upgrade anything on the laptop, like more memory, RAM, graphics card, etc. Games and computers are made better and better so often that there will be something better probably 6 months after you purchase it. Theres always new processors or new graphics cards and games that have more shit in them that require more RAM or memory coming out constantly.

With a desktop it is fairly easy to upgrade parts if you have done it before, or if you haven't, it is pretty easy to find someone who knows how to do it. All they have to do is take the cover off the tower and stick in the new part, and install the drivers and it should be good to go. Much much much simpler than trying to open up a laptop and do it.

[The Joker]

Alienware is the best pc for gaming. Handsdown.

[airportis]

Originally Posted by The Joker

Alienware is the best pc for gaming. Handsdown.

I definitely agree with this. The computers they make are specifically for gaming.

[airportis]

Wineguy what game is he primarily playing, if you dont mind me asking?

[Chadman]

Also, can I ask why it's so important to have a computer for gaming purposes, when the actual game systems are so cheap and incredible now, and there are so many options for them? I understand maybe *wanting* this option, but not sure it should be a main consideration in a computer. Not my business, of course, just wondering if you're throwing money at a concept that really doesn't have merit in the long run.

You can just tell me to shut the hell up if you like...

Also, at least with the PS3, there is quite an online experience now, with playing interactive games online, just needing a regular internet connection. I know my son plays Call of Duty online with his friends, using the PS3, and connecting through our router, doesn't even need the hardline Internet connection. I'd guess the other systems either have that option, or will.

I guess if you're planning to download a bunch of games for the computer, I get it (although I'm always skeptical of downloading files like that from those sharing sites), but you can also do that now and create CDs for the game systems, too. Maybe he's big into the online world games, and I guess I could understand that - but again, could it be that you don't have a super fast Internet connection at the moment?

[Wineguy]

Hey guys, thanks. Yes Chadman, he does Call of Duty on PS3 with his buddies and loves it. It is wireless and the speed is fine. We live in Atlanta. I agree with the gaming "why do you need" and have asked the same questions. I was wondering what I need for graphics, Ram, speed, etc. He plays "Scape" something and "Guild" with high end graphics that would make his characters move more realistically (?).

He never asks for anything as compared to daughter and just wanted to surprise him for Christmas. Just wasn't expecting 1500-1800 dollars, was expecting some computer under 1000. Guess not. Its not the money, its the principle.

I know growing up my parents couldn't hardly even afford Christmas as Grade School teachers, and today kids get a lot more it seems and ask for more. He has no idea the cost, and if he did, he would say "No way Dad". Great kid. My daughter would say, "so, when are you getting it for me?" LOL. She's not that bad, but close.

Again, thanks for the help all