Gaming Laptop

[Silvachief]

I wasn't sure whether this was the right forum for the topic but...

I'm looking to buy myself a gaming laptop, but while I proudly call myself a gamer, I have barely a clue when it comes to the actual hardware.
Are there any must-haves? Anything I should avoid?

Also, on a side note, is there any way to use my laptop screen to display my Xbox 360 while i'm playing it? I think I may find myself without a TV in the near future.

As a reference price-wise, one laptop that's caught my eye:
http://nz.gateway.com/products/product.html?prod=P-7901a
That laptop is at the high end of my price range...NZ $2600
Thanks in advance!

 

[Anarchemitis]

You should retitle it "Gaming Laptop - What Hardware should I get?".

If your budget is $2000, you'll probably have lots of adequate choice for some decent power.

 

[CrafterMan]

A fellow kiwi!

Hp's new range is awesome mate, go into your local Harvey Normans, seriously 2k gets you a core i7 machine, 6gb ram, 1gb gfx, its really good.

-JB

 

[Entropyutd]

I wasn't sure whether this was the right forum for the topic but...

I'm looking to buy myself a gaming laptop, but while I proudly call myself a gamer, I have barely a clue when it comes to the actual hardware.
Are there any must-haves? Anything I should avoid?

Also, on a side note, is there any way to use my laptop screen to display my Xbox 360 while i'm playing it? I think I may find myself without a TV in the near future.

As a reference price-wise, one laptop that's caught my eye:
http://nz.gateway.com/products/product.html?prod=P-7901a
That laptop is at the high end of my price range...NZ $2600
Thanks in advance!

You would certainly need to do some research to see if the lappy could display from the 360.
It is not a simple plug and play issue though due to the 360's auto detect display feature,

I think you would need a compatible video card with the correct input, and/or maybe a 3rd party peripheral such as a Dazzle, to trick the 360 into accepting your laptop screen as a display.

 

[TheComedown]

A fellow kiwi!

Hp's new range is awesome mate, go into your local Harvey Normans, seriously 2k gets you a core i7 machine, 6gb ram, 1gb gfx, its really good.

-JB

Don't go to harvey norman that place is a rip off with insane markups on their gear. seriously dont go to harveynorman

OT $2000 will get you a decent rig, an even better desktop, but a fairly decent laptop. Your best off just researching whats available from different places, but again would recommend a tower over a laptop. Also try and find out how good the cooling in the laptops are, as "gaming laptops" are notorious for overheating.

 

[Entropyutd]

but again would recommend a tower over a laptop..

I'm assuming he wants a laptop due to the portability, but, yes if you are stationary then tower every time, you will get way more bang for your buck that with a laptop.

 

[TheComedown]

but again would recommend a tower over a laptop..

I'm assuming he wants a laptop due to the portability, but, yes if you are stationary then tower every time, you will get way more bang for your buck that with a laptop.

Yes i figured this too was just putting it out there in case it had slipped his mind, he is coming across from a console. (Kudos OP)

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

http://arc.com.au/pub.php?gid=23622&pid=38667&p=product

This looks pretty nice.

 

[CrafterMan]

A fellow kiwi!

Hp's new range is awesome mate, go into your local Harvey Normans, seriously 2k gets you a core i7 machine, 6gb ram, 1gb gfx, its really good.

-JB

Don't go to harvey norman that place is a rip off with insane markups on their gear. seriously dont go to harveynorman

OT $2000 will get you a decent rig, an even better desktop, but a fairly decent laptop. Your best off just researching whats available from different places, but again would recommend a tower over a laptop. Also try and find out how good the cooling in the laptops are, as "gaming laptops" are notorious for overheating.

Haha I still stand by my original post, the prices for HP's new range are really competitive and the only reason there is markup is because you don't ask for a better price.

-JB

 

[TheComedown]

A fellow kiwi!

Hp's new range is awesome mate, go into your local Harvey Normans, seriously 2k gets you a core i7 machine, 6gb ram, 1gb gfx, its really good.

-JB

Don't go to harvey norman that place is a rip off with insane markups on their gear. seriously dont go to harveynorman

OT $2000 will get you a decent rig, an even better desktop, but a fairly decent laptop. Your best off just researching whats available from different places, but again would recommend a tower over a laptop. Also try and find out how good the cooling in the laptops are, as "gaming laptops" are notorious for overheating.

Haha I still stand by my original post, the prices for HP's new range are really competitive and the only reason there is markup is because you don't ask for a better price.

Nope i don't even go there, ask anyone really into computers and almost all of them will tell you to stay away. I get stuff online or wholesale, WAY WAY WAY cheaper, even when they get you a discount of the marked price, your still paying huge markups, it just feels cheaper cause its not what the tag says. Next time you go to get something from there, do some research first, see what prices you can get online, then compare that to what they will do for you.

 

[CrafterMan]

A fellow kiwi!

Hp's new range is awesome mate, go into your local Harvey Normans, seriously 2k gets you a core i7 machine, 6gb ram, 1gb gfx, its really good.

-JB

Don't go to harvey norman that place is a rip off with insane markups on their gear. seriously dont go to harveynorman

OT $2000 will get you a decent rig, an even better desktop, but a fairly decent laptop. Your best off just researching whats available from different places, but again would recommend a tower over a laptop. Also try and find out how good the cooling in the laptops are, as "gaming laptops" are notorious for overheating.

Haha I still stand by my original post, the prices for HP's new range are really competitive and the only reason there is markup is because you don't ask for a better price.

Nope i don't even go there, ask anyone really into computers and almost all of them will tell you to stay away. I get stuff online or wholesale, WAY WAY WAY cheaper, even when they get you a discount of the marked price, your still paying huge markups, it just feels cheaper cause its not what the tag says. Next time you go to get something from there, do some research first, see what prices you can get online, then compare that to what they will do for you.

Haha, I worked as a technician, I know it would be cheaper. But for the average Joe, who want's a gaming laptop, and maybe a point of contact local to his destination, it may be the most cost effective way, maybe he would like to try before he buys?.

I've worked for Harvey Norman's commercial and business divisions as well, I know the markups, I also know, prices can be altered drastically if you pressure heh.

Not all people buy online remember. Don't bag retailers to much .

-JB