cheap gaming laptop?

[butch81385]

What is the cheapest i could get a laptop that could do some minor gaming (bf2 with settings on low)? i need somthing for next fall when i go over to england, but figure if i can talk my parents into pitching in for christmas it would help (or should i wait for my birthday in august and try then? i would probably get a better comp, but i could use it while in the states too)

remember, money is the highest priority on this one, followed by limited gaming, then portability

[radio1_mike]

Quote:

Originally Posted by butch81385

What is the cheapest i could get a laptop that could do some minor gaming (bf2 with settings on low)? i need somthing for next fall when i go over to england, but figure if i can talk my parents into pitching in for christmas it would help (or should i wait for my birthday in august and try then? i would probably get a better comp, but i could use it while in the states too)

remember, money is the highest priority on this one, followed by limited gaming, then portability

Most cheap laptops (under $1000) have integrated graphics (Intel) which is certainly not good for any 3D gaming, BF2 even more so. You'd have to spend more (>$1200) to get a laptop w/dedicated mobile video gfx chip (ATi or Nvidia) that could play BF2 on low.

[bombledmonk]

Your best bet on a cheap laptop would be to look for something with integrated ATI graphics. The chip isn't great but pretty much blow all other integrated video laptops out of the water.

And I also have to ask, what is cheap?

since cheap is realative, I'd call this cheap....
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...Sku=E400-M6809

[butch81385]

i would classify that under "mid range" i was hoping to find something between the $600-$800 range (or even less if possible).

now if only it was possibly to slap a vid card into something like this: http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...ct_code=335073
(it is going to be a couple hundred dollars cheaper on black friday).

do you think i would get more for the money if i waited till august or if i bought during the black friday sales?

[LaptopExtreme]

The Acer's are great, I recommend them over HP or Dell for a budget unit. Unfortunately, you can't add a video card to a laptop, not even PCI-E (logic says yes, but physically no). You can only swap with the same card, due to size. But this unit's gpu is integrated. You may be able to play BF2, but at extremely low settings and you'll still stutter.

[grandchehaw]

A gaming laptop on a budget. I don't think that is possible.

[ShuckyD]

i dont actually know the brand of my laptop other than it being a "HugeBee" POS... in my opinion but i got it because it was loaded with alot of things including a 64mb ATi Mobility 9000 which is a non-integrated grfx card and i can play bf 2 on it and HL 2. BF2 is low settings and HL2 is medium settings they run ok... Nvidia Has alot to offer with their "GoForce" line my friend has a 128mb one in his comp i think its a 6800 GPU or something and his is awesome... almost like a desktop replacement, although he uses AC because a battery would last long with all that goin on

[SpaceSquad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bombledmonk

Your best bet on a cheap laptop would be to look for something with integrated ATI graphics. The chip isn't great but pretty much blow all other integrated video laptops out of the water.

I agree. With a tiny budget like your's, the only new laptop that'll be decent in gaming will be with those cheap ATi Xpress graphics.

[raymani]

they got one for 599 with 8400gs for another 100 buck you can add 8600mgt which is fastest in mid range mobile graphics.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...=bqcwkta&s=bsd

[nickslick74]

Hi raymani and welcome to TechIMO!!

Since Butch posted this 2+ years ago I'm sure he has found something to his liking.

Hope to see you around the boards!