Poll: Should I buy a gaming desktop or laptop?

[gabe12301]

Tomorrow I'm going to get a new computer and I need to decide between buying a laptop or a desktop.

Why I want a laptop: My family takes a lot of LOOOONG roadtrips and I mean LOOOOOOOOOOOONG (and I don't really have much of a desk for a desktop. only a laptop cooling pad.)

Why I want a Desktop: I could upgrade it in the future instead of buying a new one.

I'm planing to get an alienware m15x or aurora if you think I should get something different then please tell me.

(and no, my parents don't trust me to build my own desktop)

 

[HalfChance]

Normally I would always pick a desktop over a laptop but if your going to be taking long trips often then perhaps a laptop is the better option for you, While desktops will always be superior You can get a hold of some really good gaming laptops these days.

 

[the_green_dragon]

Depends on the games you want to play. If your going to play single player games on your roadtrips then grab the laptop. If you going into some hardcore gaming or online gaming then a solid destop would prob be the go.

 

[BRMXJzjsoawk321]

-

 

[The_Healer]

Desktop for the love of god.

For the money you would spend on an Alienware laptop you could both a good desktop and a laptop (although admittedly not a gaming laptop).

 

[Katana314]

Do you really think you would be using a laptop on road trips? The mouse, and everything? Get a 3DS, or an MP3 player, or an e-Reader for those sorts of things.

Desktop has many advantages, all starting with a cheaper price for what you need.

 

[Worgen]

I prefer desktops since they cost less, dont have batteries to worry about and are much more upgradable

 

[Skorpyo]

Get a desktop.

Laptops, "gaming" or not, are significantly underpowered to allow for minimal power-usage and more compact cooling systems.

 

[Rolling 20]

Building your own desktop

 

[Antari]

Sleep through the road trips, get a desktop so you won't be kicking yourself later.

 

[V8 Ninja]

I'm going to have to go with a desktop. Laptops really lack what is necessary for gaming. Not only is a laptop not upgradable (something that can really be noticeable 2-3 years after you buy it), managing wired accessories while traveling can be a pain. And considering that you probably won't have any room to effectively use a mouse while in a car, it's best to go with a desktop.

 

[Baneat]

(and no, my parents don't trust me to build my own desktop)

No worries, many sites will build the PC for you if you buy all the components that make a PC from them, usually free of charge as a thank=you for the business. Considering how easy it is when you know how, they do it quite often. Just, please don't buy dell/alienware unless you pick the laptop. They make good laptops. They overcharge enormously for desktop systems. Dell have great monitors, though, if you're rich.

 

[Archangel768]

If you're wanting to play games on the go like you say then I'd suggest a gaming laptop.

While a desktop is good in the long run, if you're away from it for long periods of time, then what's the point in getting it?

Don't listen to the people that say laptop's can't run games. There are plenty of VERY powerful laptops out there and they're perfectly capable of running games. The only downfall like you said is that they can't be upgraded but, the laptop should last 2-3 years. You'll be spending a whole lot of money upgrading the desktop in 2-3 years anyway. May as well go with the laptop which you're obviously going to get much more out of.

 

[Baneat]

If you're wanting to play games on the go like you say then I'd suggest a gaming laptop.

While a desktop is good in the long run, if you're away from it for long periods of time, then what's the point in getting it?

Don't listen to the people that say laptop's can't run games. There are plenty of VERY powerful laptops out there and they're perfectly capable of running games. The only downfall like you said is that they can't be upgraded but, the laptop should last 2-3 years. You'll be spending a whole lot of money upgrading the desktop in 2-3 years anyway. May as well go with the laptop which you're obviously going to get much more out of.

A 2-3 year upgrade on a desktop is about 300 dollars, and on a laptop it's a new laptop (If you wanted to run latest games on high or higher),

Can't really compare the two. Doesn't affect the validity of what you say, but it is *significantly* more costly to game on laptops than desktops.

 

[redisforever]

For the same power? A desktop will be cheaper, but! Since you are considering Alienware, I guess money isn't much of an issue, so go with the laptop, they look cooler, and you can show them off more.

 

[MercurySteam]

The cheapest and most 'bang for your buck' comes from building your own desktop. It's something you should look into if you want a great desktop that can be upgraded in the future if necessary.

 

[Rad Party God]

IMO, the desktop is the better, you can upgrade it more easily than a laptop. BUT if you say that you're taking long trips, I'd advise you to get a decent or good laptop that can run games at med-hi settings. Wich laptop?, I really don't know, I'm not that of a laptop savvy, but you definitively don't want a netbook for that, even the "higher end" ones.

Also, depends on wich games you like to play, for example, most Valve games would run pretty fine with a medium spec laptop, they're not that taxing, same for most MMO's, including WoW, however, if you plan to play Fallout 3/New vegas and/or Crysis 1/2, then you'll definitively want to buy an insanely expensive laptop for that.

 

[Riddle78]

Desktop,invariably. Much longer lifetime,easier to modify,and much better for modifacation to boot. Plus,they're more durable.