Cheap laptop for WAR need advice

Discussion in 'Tech Talk' started by Ironjaw, Sep 12, 2008.

  1. Ironjaw
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    Here are the specs and link for the system I am looking at buying for my fiance. This is for a Dell Laptop which is currently on sale for about 500$ and no interest for a year:

    Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 3MB Cache)
    Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
    Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1280x800) & 2.0 MP Camera
    3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
    Size: 320GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
    Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
    256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
    Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card
    Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
    56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
    High Definition Audio 2.0



    http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...n&s=dhs&cs=19&kc=features~laptops_great_deals


    Basically this is just for her to play WAR solo and maybe run scenarios and for me to play with late at night when shes asleep in the bed room (where my pc is). It does not need to be top of the line and I need it to be as price effective as possible. Sadly I can't get a better video card from Dell but if someone has an opinion on cost effective upgrades for this particular model I would be glad to hear them. I also wont be using wireless internet much and will be hooking into my router.
     
  2. Chaosflip
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    I'm actually playing WAR on it right now. It runs fine, and definitely gets the job done. I spent $1200 for mine to take it to school with me. I upgraded a few more things, such as a 9-cell battery and some other stuff.
     
  3. Ironjaw
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    Is yours the base specs? 2.1 ghz and base memory? if not can you link your specs or what you changed?
     
  4. Chaosflip
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    From what I can see, the only real difference is the 9-cell battery and 4gbs of RAM. There might be more, but I can't remember off the top of my head.
     
  5. Ironjaw
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    Alright from various feedback here and on the vn boards and beta boards I should be good to go. Hopefully it will all pan out!
     
  6. Earley
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    Wow that laptop would probably be great and that seems cheap. I didn't check it out by comparison though.
     
  7. Ironjaw
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    There are some ones with higher end video cards but they lack processor speed and would be about 500-600$ more, especially since dell has 500$ off and no interest for a year. I went ahead and bought it for the woman.
     
  8. SamHamwich
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    I would have upgraded the hard drive to 7200 rpm,(prob have to get smaller size) other than that it should be fine.
     
  9. Brownmccoy
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    It doesnt look like that laptop is available for 500 anymore... Saddened me a little since I would've gotten it.
     
  10. Chaosflip
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    I dun think the laptop itself is $500...it's $500 off. I payed $1200 for mine, and that was the cheapest I had ever seen it.
     
  11. Ironjaw
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    yeah it was 1100$ before the added warranty and taxes. was 500$ off, with a free ram upgrade
     
  12. Flosser
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    make sure you get a cooling pad for the laptop, otherwise you will burn it up in no time
     
  13. Chaosflip
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    This laptop stays relatively cool. I haven't had a need for a cooling pad yet. As long as you don't put the energy settings to high performance and keep it as balanced it stays cool and looks good.
     
  14. EF2
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    My POS AMD CPU is garbage if it's not in high performance mode. AMD chips are terrible in every way possible.
     
  15. The Cox
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    IJ I have that same Laptop, I think same stats and everything. I know I have that vid card on mine.

    I havent played war on it in ages. So I do not know how it fairs up to the new graphics settings and what not.

    Also, mine only had 2gb of ram at the time, and I paid 800 bucks for it, on sale from 1200 that was back in March of this year