System Spec for Gaming Laptop

[PrisonLove]

Hey all,

So I'm in the market for a new laptop and I want to gear it towards gaming. I need to know what specs to look for to be able to run most games well, but the main game that I want to be able to run at near max setting is Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm, and it's future expansion, which may require greater power, considering Heart of the Swarm requires more than Wings of Liberty.

On top of that I would like for it be able to run other games as well.

What should I look for as far the following is concerned:
1. Processor
2. Clock Speed
3. RAM
4. Graphics Card (and Graphics card memory)
5. Anything else I need to know?

Does anyone have any laptop suggestions right off the bat or places to look for one?

Also, how are the Alienware laptops? I know they are pricey, so I don't want to hear a comment on that, I just want to know how good the laptops are? Will they run most games at near max settings or no? Are they quality products regardless of price? How is their costumer service?

Unfortunately it needs to be a laptop due to lack of space in my household, otherwise I would definitely get a full-blown PC.

 

[Slapshot136]

I would suggest getting a Clevo-based laptop - find their beefiest GPU, get an i7 CPU, and don't worry about the rest - although "maxing" sc2 may be difficult for a laptop.. high settings are a much more realistic target

not really a fan of the build quality of alienware laptops (cheap plastic), but if you want to spend $$, I would put a SSD in your laptop instead

 

[Ghan]

Ok let's see here.

Part I: Do you really need a laptop?

If space is really your only concern, then there are small form factor desktop options you can consider. Even with a gaming build in mind. Here are two options:

• Falcon Northwest Tiki: Expensive, but very small form factor desktop. If you have the budget, they are definitely worth a look: http://www.falcon-nw.com/desktops/tiki
• Cooler Master Advanced 120 case: This case is a really small box that is built to still accommodate a full-sized PSU and video card. I configured a sample build that includes it here: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/PGDo

Part II: Laptop Recommendation
I would recommend a laptop like the one I bought. It's a Lenovo that I got for $1000 and has some pretty good specs on it. I am not sure if I could max Starcraft 2 on it, but I would not be surprised. I also like Asus laptops for gaming, though they may be more expensive.
This is the Lenovo model I have: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/...&category_id=AC523278A4F13F27A84F5F5622D1AC7A
Here's a decent Asus: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230405 (As noted, pretty expensive, though)

Part III: Specs
So in either case, here are some recommended specs to look for in order to get what you want out of the machine.

Desktop:
CPU: Ivy Bridge Core i5 or better (any i7 would be fine for sure) Clock speed isn't too much of an issue at this level. I wouldn't get a lower power model (S or T) because they tend to have lower clocks.
RAM: At least 8 GB
Video card: Harder to say here. I'd recommend an Nvidia GTX 670 or better to be at least somewhat future-proof. It's the card I have in my machine right now and I can max SC2 easily. Check out this helpful chart for some general comparisons of cards: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html

Laptop:
CPU: Same as a desktop. Any Ivy Bridge i5 or better should be good even in a mobile version. Most gaming laptops will come with an i7 anyway.
RAM: Same
Video card: This is even more up for debate. The GTX 660M is probably the best you're going to find at any kind of reasonable price point. It should be able to play Starcraft 2 really well, but stuff like the new Crysis will still give it lots of trouble at high settings. If money is no object, then a laptop with a GTX 680M or Radeon HD 7970M would be just about the best you can get. The GTX 680M is about the same as a desktop GTX 580. The GTX 660M is about the same as a desktop GTX 550 Ti.


Part IV: Recommendation
If you can do it, I would get a small form factor desktop. Preferably the one you can build yourself. It's the cheapest option, gives you the most flexibility, and the best parts for the money as well. If the only reason for a laptop is really just space issues and not mobility, see if you can do it. If not, then there are some decent laptop options out there. Also check out LogicBuy - they sometimes have some killer laptop deals like Lenovo or HP gaming machines. http://www.logicbuy.com/categorydeals/computers/laptops
Good luck!

 

[Dave312]

Just as an FYI, I use this laptop and I can only manage SC2 on medium settings.

 

[PrisonLove]

Thanks for the info guys; it definitely helps!