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buy or build a new laptop (if possible)

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by aj123, Aug 3, 2009.

  1. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    basically i need to know if its possible to build my own laptop and if its better than buying one from a store.
    im planning to get a laptop by the end of summer as a replacement for my pc and it will be used primarily for gaming, so im looking for a high end one.
     
  2. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    You can special order a laptop with custom specs from most manufacturers. As for building it yourself (like you might build a desktop), it can't realy be done. Some companies sell "barebone" laptops without drives and memory and such, but you are almost certainly better off with a good OEM's high-end unit.
     
  3. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

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    i know that dell offers tons of customizable features for laptops. you pick and choose what you want and they basically build you your own laptop. having said that, my personal choice would be Sony, they make the best laptops in my opinion.
     
  4. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    thanks. is it very expensive to custom build one from sony/dell or is it the same price as a laptop with the same specs you would normally find in a store? would it be better to buy one from newegg?
     
  5. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    Price depends on parts selected, but price for identical systems is usualy identical or less than store price (unless the store has a sale).

    Dell has a very wide selection of customizable laptops, they even bought Alienware, some of the most powerfull laptops around.

    HP also has a considerable list of customizable laptops, but they seem to be geared more toward corporate customers than gamers.
     
  6. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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    I would recommend these laptops:
    If gaming is your focus, go for a Core 2 Duo.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147924

    If you need the extra power for encoding video, multi tasking and such go with a Core 2 Quad.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834147995

    But just so you know, laptops are not really built for gaming although the first one will get the job done quite well on most games while generating little heat surprisingly. The HDX line up seems to have amazing cooling built in. My girl just got one and I told her she was going to invest in a cool mat ASAP, but really you dont neeed it.
     
  7. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    hey tyvm, i live in canada so i gotta find one from newegg.ca or otherwise ill try dell. thanks guys
     
  8. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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    ^The last Dell she had was an Inspiron 1520, less then 2 years old. Had an inferior processor,2 GB less RAM, Smaller HDD, Nvidia 8800 GTM, and generated three times the heat. Now perhaps Dell has changed in the past 2 years but from the last I know there lap tops are going to run extremely hot. To hot to touch at times.

    Now you asked for a high end lap top but didnt stress a budget so this may be out of your league but heres another HP HDX:
    http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati...?EdpNo=4945529&sku=H50-161370 CA&srkey=HP HDX
     
  9. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    thats actually not a bad price for a laptop, just trying to see if i can get somethin with a better processor.
    btw, how good is a NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 130M?
     
  10. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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  11. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    thanks thats a rly great site, will help me a lot.
     
  12. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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    Glad to help, but have you considered keeping the desktop or building a high end gaming desktop and get a cheap netbook for mobile browsing,school work(if that applies),and lite tasks like that? Its a solid laptop but a desktop of the same price or even a bit less is going to give you more bang for the buck in the end. As that review says GTA IV, for example, is not going to play on high settings, but a $1,000 gaming desk top will easily play GTA IV on High settings.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2009
  13. aj123

    aj123 Regular member

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    yes im starting to lean towards making a pc (would be my 1st too).
    im starting uni so i thought i might as well get a laptop, and since im getting a laptop, might as well get one that plays games good. i'm still waiting to see what my budget is then ill decide what to do, but most likely ill go with a new desktop now.

    btw, is there any good chances ill screw something up when making a pc completely from the ground up? it would be my 1st time trying. That's pretty much my biggest worry as i tend to have bad luck.
     
  14. Xplorer4

    Xplorer4 Active member

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    And a high end lap top like this will indeed play games and play most games pretty well, but in the end a desktop will give you the best performance game wise.

    As for screwing up, just figure out your budget and post it here. Chances are I will throw you a list of parts for the price you quote. That way you know everything will fit. ;) or build it yourself and post the links here so we can check it out and make sure everything will play nicely.
     
  15. KillerBug

    KillerBug Active member

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    As long as you are careful, and you get parts that are compatable (and quality), you should be fine.
     

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