Need Computer help

[XXzz-Trauma-zzXX]

Ok my mom is going back to school. And the state is paying for her college tuition. They are giving her around 2,500 for the year. Her tuition is only costing her around 1,300. So she said shell have around 900 dollars left over. She is planning on using that 900 for an early Christmas present for me and my brother. My brother only wants a game. So thats only about 30 to 40 out of the 900. Leaving me with the rest. I want a new computer as the one I am currently on and use to play CSS is old and out of date. So my dilemma is, Im trying to find a good computer preferably laptop that can run CSS on high or close to high with smooth frame rates. I would really enjoy a laptop but if it comes down to it Ill settle for a desktop.

 

[Darklethal12]

My recommendation is to build your own system to avoid paying insane marketing fees,
Most cities will have a local parts store, some will even do the assembly for you.

 

[Anonymous.User(s)]

CSS isnt the most graphically intensive game, but you will need a decent video card to be able to run it. Most sub-$1000 laptops only come with cheap graphics integrated into the motherboard. Im not sure how knowledgeable you are on PC hardware, but let me tell you, integrated graphics are the almost always the lowest quality GPUs available. My point is, your going to have to spend more than $1000 if you want to play any game on a notebook PC.

If you want to buy a desktop computer, or try and build one on your own, id be happy to help you decide what to buy.

 

[ElTimba]

You can build the same pc i did, In the stress test I average 198 frames. The videocard that's in the list I made up is a hundred times better, It'll probably get you a lot more frames. You're also better off building a desktop. Gaming on a laptops no fun

CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4330959&CatId=3496
Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131323
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196
GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150329
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148316
DVD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

I would imagine you have an xp or vista key somewhere that you can use, if you don't...um...yeah :]

 

[xenophek]

For that money, you're going to have to give up one of two things:

Forget about it being a laptop
or
Forget about great graphics

Yours truly recommends a desktop. If you need portability, Rosewill makes a neat super slim case that's like a thick textbook. I shoved a Phenom x4 and a low profile Radeon 3650 in one and it was beautiful. Or build a system and get a super cheap laptop/netbook with the leftovers.

 

[KushInatoR]

HP Pavilion dv6-1268nr - $849.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834157020

CPU Type AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-82 2.2G
Screen 15.6"
Memory Size 4GB DDR2
Hard Disk 320GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650
Video Memory 1024MB
Communication Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot 1 x Express Card
Dimensions 14.9" x 10.15" x 1.33-1.61"
Weight 6.47 lbs.
Other Features HP Mobile Remote Control

ASUS F50 Series F50Sf-X1A - $799.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220559

CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 2.1G
Screen 16"
Memory Size 4GB
Hard Disk 320GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce GT 220M
Video Memory 1GB DDR2 VRAM
Dimensions 14.96" x 10.43" x 1.4-1.64"
Weight 6.3 lbs.

There are definitely laptops available that would crunch CSS. I just searched around quickly for 2 examples, but I am sure that there are many more! Yes, a desktop is the ideal gaming machine, but if you do need a laptop that can play games, don't get discouraged!

 

[ShadowBlade72]

I have a laptop that is several years old and can still play CSS on high.

Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0Ghz
RAM: 2 GB
Graphics: Radeon X1400 Mobility 256MB (128 built in/128 stolen from system)

If my laptop can run CSS on high, I'm pretty sure just about any decent laptop out right now can run it easily.

On high I average ~30 FPS. I realize this isn't super high, but it's definitely playable.

But if you're not looking for portability then build a desktop. I actually prefer having a laptop because it lets me take my games anywhere I go. I do a fair amount of traveling so it makes sense for me to buy a laptop. But if you don't travel then you could get a better bang for your buck with a desktop.

MaximumPC did a review not to long ago on a $500 gaming system that can run Crysis at 40 fps. Those parts are actually cheaper now and it is only about a $400 system. Might want to check that out if your looking for a good budget build.