Gaming computer specs questions

We will hook it up to a 30" LCD HDTV for the monitor


ETA I started this thread for him to read and learn. I don't really know much about higher end computer specs. What he learns from this thread and the big 98 page PC thread will guide him into specs for a computer he buys

I think $700-1200 is a good range

Go get some ice cream and let the grown ups talk lil'supa

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We will hook it up to a 30" LCD HDTV for the monitor

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Just a warning, unless you're just used to it, it won't look very good for reading/browsing. But you can plug it in and decide for yourself. If you don't like it, monitors aren't all that expensive.

Before you spec a laptop, it's extremely important to draw a thick line between what you need it to do and what you want it to do. A few factors to consider:

1. Gaming: Not just "do you want it to be a gaming laptop?" but more precisely:
a. Do you want it to be able to run new, graphic-intensive games like Crysis 3 at high-ish settings?
b. Do you just want to be able to play some casual games (Less demanding games and free to play stuff on steam and the like)?
c. Or something in between? Like being able to at least run new mainstream games at low-mid settings?

2. Non-Gaming Tasks: Photoshop, video encoding, 3d modeling, etc. going to be something he does a lot? Or will it be note-taking, internet research, TD browsing, flash games, porn when you're not looking, etc.?

3. Portability: With perhaps a few expensive exceptions, a powerhouse gaming PC is going to be heavy, probably 17"+ (a few are 15"), with a shorter battery life. My current laptop is 17.3" and barely fits in my laptop backpack. Never found a laptop case for it locally, but they can be had online. It was a great gaming laptop for its time, but it's 3 years later and plays Black Ops II at very reduced settings. Nowadays it's mostly a big heavy work/browsing machine with a 2-hour battery life and a loud GPU exhaust fan. I rarely take it out of the house, and I hate when I have to, especially when I have to travel somewhere for work. Not nearly enough room to sit in my lap, let alone open it, on a plane, even in business class.

Just consider how this laptop will be used on a day-to-day basis. How often will it need to run on battery, how often and how far will it be carried around (will he be taking notes in class with it?), etc.

Try to make some definitive choices about what is most important. If you decide that portability and high-end performance are important, you may want to consider splitting your budget between a $400-ish netbook (light, small, long battery life) and an $800 gaming desktop. That's probably more than you want to take on, though.

LINK There's a laptop I would consider a decent compromise among portability and gaming performance. It has a GeForce GTX 660M which is an ok graphics card, and even better because the 14" screen is only 1366x768, less taxing on that GPU for mobile gaming.

If portability is not necessary at all, a much better use of your money would be to build a more powerful desktop system (and even have some money left over for a real monitor). It will do everything he would ever need it to do with very little compromise necessary, except it won't unplug and fit in a backpack.

I have a PC that plays pr0n pretty well at 1440p

yup

Oh hell yes. Be ready to be a grandfather in the next 2 years if you build him a desktop.

Especially if he reads the OT already.

I'm an Intel guy only because AMD doesn't offer a processor better/faster than the one I wanted. I've built tons of AMD machines. For me, when the budget dictates the need for a sub-$200 processor, I very frequently recommend AMD, depending on the expected use of the PC. I just don't want to hear anyone arguing that the 8350 is similar in performance to a 3770k or beyond. Just ain't in the same class or price point. EDIT: for high-end gaming at least

I agree with the build you linked. Except for the case, but that's all personal preference.

From what I have read the hyper 212 evo cools better than the plus. I have never used the plus, just the evo. That system linked will smoke everything in 1080, except maybe crysis... but get used to that...