18-07-2005 01:51									#1
	Laptop, which should I get? Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

I'm considering buying a new laptop for University use. I'm also thinking of using it for future civ4 games (and other games possibly). I've narrowed it down to 2 Toshiba's pretty much, but I'm still very open to suggestion.

I hope this is the right forum to post this

M40

a70

I've figured out most of the issues except for 1:

What are the limitations of a 128mb Integrated Graphics card? Will it run Civ4 (or Pirates, since I guess thats the best measure right now). Does anyone know?

Also, does anyone have any other suggestions that are in this same ballpark?

	18-07-2005 01:58									#2
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Wrong forum?

	18-07-2005 02:01									#3
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Sorry if it is. I figured its somehow Civ4 related, and didnt quite know where to put a hardware question.

	18-07-2005 02:02									#4
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Off-topic or Other Games, usually.

	18-07-2005 02:11									#5
	Re: Laptop, which should I get? Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Ninot I've narrowed it down to 2 Toshiba's pretty much, but I'm still very open to suggestion. I hope this is the right forum to post this

Probably not. I've to speak about it with your parents

quote: Originally posted by Ninot What are the limitations of a 128mb Integrated Graphics card? Will it run Civ4 (or Pirates, since I guess thats the best measure right now).

Performance. No way an integrated (chipset on the motherboard) Intel graphic can crunch enough numbers to keep up with recent 3D games.
T&L transform is an announced pre-req of Civ 4, so check this for every notebook you are screening.

quote: Originally posted by Ninot Also, does anyone have any other suggestions that are in this same ballpark?

Screen area. A 17" 1280*1024 is interesting but really heavy on a laptop, 15" 16/10 wide 1280*800 can let you see more map than a standard TFT screen. Consider a different brand than Toshiba, too.

Anyway, there are sites more adept to this kind of hw review: tomshardware.com or a google search can help you more.
Good luck

	18-07-2005 02:28									#6
	Re: Re: Laptop, which should I get? Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by Adm.Naismith T&L transform is an announced pre-req of Civ 4, so check this for every notebook you are screening.

Bleh, i suck at graphics. What is T&L, and how do I check for it?

	18-07-2005 02:52									#7
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

M40 with GeForce 6600

This Toshiba has a Geforce 6600. Would that run something like Civ4?

Strangely enough its cheaper too. I havent figured out why yet.

	18-07-2005 03:24									#8
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All new graphics cards has T & L support (takes care of 3D stuff btw). Any new laptop will be able to run Civ4 as long as the graphics card isn´t integrated on the motherboard. Well, some of them might. But why take the chance?

	18-07-2005 16:35									#9
	Re: Re: Re: Laptop, which should I get? Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Ninot Bleh, i suck at graphics. What is T&L, and how do I check for it?

See definition there.
Intel itself disclaim *unsupported T&L* for embedded graphics here.

You keep asking for the best notebook. I really can't help, because most of notebook are a trade-in/trade-out affair: you chose a better CPU and get less RAM or storage memory, or a slow DVD burner
If you miss your right config, you can't do a lot to upgrade, because usually notebook are almost sealed box.

Today are available some notebook with upgradeble graphic chip, but usually you pay a price for this feature.

	18-07-2005 21:27									#10
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Get an Alienware Area 51m Mobile Desktop.

http://alienware.com/product_detail...ode=SKU-DEFAULT

	18-07-2005 21:29									#11
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thats like a dream machine for me.

but its also something like 800$ more than the one i'm currently looking at.

Bureau En Gros (Staples) has a good laptop at a bargain price. I hope to pick it up by tommorow.

	18-07-2005 21:59									#12
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quote: Originally posted by Ninot thats like a dream machine for me. but its also something like 800$ more than the one i'm currently looking at. Bureau En Gros (Staples) has a good laptop at a bargain price. I hope to pick it up by tommorow.

I've got an Area 51m. It's great.

	18-07-2005 23:57									#13
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Alexander01 Get an Alienware Area 51m Mobile Desktop. http://alienware.com/product_detail...ode=SKU-DEFAULT

Sweet! I want one :drool:

	19-07-2005 01:08									#14
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Titanium reinforced frame is always a plus...

	19-07-2005 19:41									#15
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

I have a Dell Inspiron 9100 with a 256meg ATI graphics card and a gig of RAM. It kicks ass on anything I throw at it and I love the widescreen monitor, including the latest and greatest 3D games. It'll run civ-4 just fine.

The laptop outperforms my custom Alienware desktop (which I bought about the same time, with pretty much the same specs (key difference is AMD's 64-bit processor line, don't recall which one exactly), and it's quieter.

Picked it up for $1350 via the outlet page on Dell's site, with a $200 off sale they had going on. It even came with a one-year warranty.

	19-07-2005 19:48									#16
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I bought my new laptop last night

Toshiba M40 JM3

Bought it from Staples (or Bureau en Gros, whatever you prefer)

got 200$ off cuz they are discontinuing its sales
and another 175$ off cuz it was the last one in the store

Original Toshiba suggested price: $1799(Cdn)

What I paid (extras not included): $1425(cdn)

i tried out some of my most demanding games on it. Runs like a beauty

	19-07-2005 20:18									#17
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

Nice

	19-07-2005 20:27									#18
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Dr Zoidberg Sweet! I want one :drool:

Bought one last year. Heavy to drag about, but POWERFUL AND brings out WOW in graphics and sound.

	19-07-2005 22:01									#19
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

Ninot, do you think that the 128 VRAM GForce could be pulled down to a 64VRAM and still be okay with this amount of processing power (1,6)?

I am myself looking at Toshiba, but for max $1300(CAN) :-/

	19-07-2005 22:32									#20
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dont get a dell:
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1867.html

customer service: 1.3/10

	20-07-2005 18:47									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

quote: Originally posted by Trifna Ninot, do you think that the 128 VRAM GForce could be pulled down to a 64VRAM and still be okay with this amount of processing power (1,6)? I am myself looking at Toshiba, but for max $1300(CAN) :-/

well i suppose it depends on what you really need.

if that was my budget range, i suppose i'd get the 64Vram geforce laptop. As i'm told, anythning is better than something integrated.

	21-07-2005 02:40									#22
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quote: Originally posted by Ninot I bought my new laptop last night Toshiba M40 JM3 Bought it from Staples (or Bureau en Gros, whatever you prefer) got 200$ off cuz they are discontinuing its sales and another 175$ off cuz it was the last one in the store Original Toshiba suggested price: $1799(Cdn) What I paid (extras not included): $1425(cdn) i tried out some of my most demanding games on it. Runs like a beauty

Happy gaming!

	21-07-2005 02:41									#23
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quote: Originally posted by Saras Bought one last year. Heavy to drag about, but POWERFUL AND brings out WOW in graphics and sound.

How much did you pay for it?

	21-07-2005 02:44									#24
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by sprucemoose3311 dont get a dell: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1867.html customer service: 1.3/10

Dude!

	21-07-2005 08:56									#25
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

Ninot.

But if I'd buy a 1.6 GHz processor with a 64 VRAM, would it make an unbalanced laptop or simply a "overall" comp instead of a gamer comp?

Last edited by Trifna on 23-07-2005 at 09:47

	21-07-2005 11:05									#26
	Remove this text

quote: Originally posted by Dr Zoidberg How much did you pay for it?

Don't ask

	21-07-2005 14:45									#27
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That much?

	21-07-2005 14:47									#28
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quote: Originally posted by Dr Zoidberg That much?

Yea. Expensive toys