Need a dual purpose laptop

[Shaneme2]

I am getting ready to start college. I need a new laptop. I would like a laptop that has a good graphics card for gaming, a fast processor, a decent amount of ram, and a good amount of hard drive space.

However, this laptop also needs to be able to run the various programs I will need throughout school, such as all the Microsoft programs, various accounting programs, and anything else the school might require.

Basically I want something I can play all my games on with a good FPS, and still be able to use the laptop for a purpose other than gaming. (Would like to have Windows 7 ultimate, not the trial version, will need all the programs)

My price limit is 1,500.00

I have no background in computer building, so it has to be something I can order to spec, or something that is pre-built. (No Alienware, or Macs please please)

The games I play are:

Day of Defeat Source
Counter Strike Source
Team Fortress 2
Killing Floor
Left 4 dead 2
Left 4 dead 1

As you can see I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I would like to get at least 100 fps (constantly without dropping) on these games. Right now I average around 15-25 on my current laptop.

-Thanks.

 

[VP :3]

A good line to look at would be the Asus Republic of Gamers laptop series.

 

[Snipeye]

Unless you're doing coding or graphics programming for school, any gaming laptop would suffice for us accountants. I haven't seen an accounting program that would overwhelm a gaming PC.

 

[Shaneme2]

What do you guys think of this?

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OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows? 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English edit
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft? Office Home and Student 2010 edit
MEMORY 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz edit
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive edit
VIDEO CARD NVIDIA? GeForce? GT 540M 2GB graphics with Optimus edit
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1,370 before taxes. It's a dell XPS 15

 

[ChocolateVillain]

540m is kind an ok card. You won't be running anything on high or med settings (If it is a newer game) unless you tweek the settings around a bit.

Another thing to worry about is lugging the thing around. I did not see a weight listed for the one you posted so that might be an issue lugging it from class to class.

Also see as how you want to use this for accounting. I would make sure that the laptop you pick has a full keyboard with numpad.

 

[Captain Killjoy]

Visit HP's website. They always give you the most cost effective laptops/computers, or at least that's what I have noticed. You get the most bang for your buck with HP, as companies such as dell tend to be more expensive for the same product.

 

[wewo]

How about this Shane? OR check out the Asus G74SX-BBK8 referred to here

 

[TBone01]

I saw this come through my youtube box a while back that you may want to check out
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfdDG9p5RP4[/ame]

 

[Shaneme2]

540m is kind an ok card. You won't be running anything on high or med settings (If it is a newer game) unless you tweek the settings around a bit.

Another thing to worry about is lugging the thing around. I did not see a weight listed for the one you posted so that might be an issue lugging it from class to class.

Also see as how you want to use this for accounting. I would make sure that the laptop you pick has a full keyboard with numpad.

What about this build with an XPS 17? It's roughly 200 more, but that's alright.

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MEMORY 8GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory edit
HARD DRIVE 750GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive edit
VIDEO CARD NVIDIA? GeForce? GT 555M 3GB graphics with Optimus edit
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[Shaneme2]

^ With tax it ends up being 1,635.00


Cant see paying 300 bucks more for a better graphics card. I wont be playing hardly any new games. If I do they will be strategy like Civ 5 or one of the new total wars that comes out.

 

[Blue Stealth]

OP has chosen his laptop, and requested that this thread be locked.

-Blue