Looking for a solid ultrabook/notebook for gaming/school

[McNurley]

Hey guys,

I'm looking into getting a new laptop and could use a little direction. I would say I use my laptop for a combination of gaming (almost exclusively WoW), schoolwork, browsing the internet, and potentially doing some basic programming a couple years down the road at university. For a while I wanted to build a desktop machine, but I need the mobility of the book and don't have the $$$$ for both . So yeah, that's what I need it for.

Currently I'm playing on an entry level Macbook Pro from 2009. As such, I have to run on low settings to get a decent FPS. Out of my new machine, I would like to be able to play WoW on high to ultra graphic settings with a decent FPS, as well as all of the basic computing things I mentioned earlier. I would like to keep it around $1500 or lower, but I might be able to go above and beyond if it was a deal I couldn't pass up. I looked at the new macbook pro's with retina, but the 128gb SSD is $1700, and that seems like an awfully small hard drive to put on a computer. I have no objection to switching back to PC, though I'm gonna miss all of my Mac fun *tear*
So yeah, do your thing guys!
Love you all! Thanks a ton!

[bryanmathis]

with that budget you really can have w/e you want


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834158580 599 (low cost, wow on med/high, decent mobility)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230670 1299 (wow on high settings, ultrabook, high mobility)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230595 -849$ (wow on high settings, avg sized laptop, good mobility, decent gaming/all around)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834227046 1600 (full on gaming machine/desktop replacement, bulky)

and just for the hell of it

http://www.razerzone.com/store/choose/razer-blade 1900-2500, not a super power house of a pc, BUT it is the most mobile gaming laptop you'll find

[Faithh]

with that budget you really can have w/e you want


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834158580 599 (low cost, wow on med/high, decent mobility)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230670 1299 (wow on high settings, ultrabook, high mobility)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230595 -849$ (wow on high settings, avg sized laptop, good mobility, decent gaming/all around)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834227046 1600 (full on gaming machine/desktop replacement, bulky)

and just for the hell of it

http://www.razerzone.com/store/choose/razer-blade 1900-2500, not a super power house of a pc, BUT it is the most mobile gaming laptop you'll find

Screw ultrabooks tbh.

The Asus G series are much better or the MSI gaming laptops. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834230580

You don't need a gtx 670m at all tbh.

[Cows For Life]

Ultrabooks won't do for games. I think almost all of them use the on-board Intel GPU which is still pretty terrible. They might be usable when Broadwell rolls around.

[insmek]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834310660

- Lenovo Ideapad Y580
- Intel Core i7 3630QM@2.4Ghz
- 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
- Fantastic backlit keyboard (Seriously, Lenovo makes some of the finest mainstream laptop keyboards out there.)
- Only 15.6", so it doesn't compromise portability for performance

- $899.99

[Jargan]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834310660

- Lenovo Ideapad Y580
- Intel Core i7 3630QM@2.4Ghz
- 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M
- Fantastic backlit keyboard (Seriously, Lenovo makes some of the finest mainstream laptop keyboards out there.)
- Only 15.6", so it doesn't compromise portability for performance

- $899.99

This is a decent choice, except go with the one with the higher res screen.

I'd also check out the Asus 15" G series, although they are a bit on the heavy side. They are known for their great cooling design, which is really the downside to putting high end hardware in a 15" laptop enclosure.

[Deleted]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...670&Tpk=ux32vd
awesome for school and should be able to run wow at decent settings/frames while still having a crispy 1080p IPS screen and a true ultrabook.

[Dekadenz91]

Tbh Getting a laptop is a mistake but if you are dead set then read reviews about overheating and don't get an HP, they have a high motherboard failure rate.

[Thepixelpatriot]

While Apples 15" MBP with retina is a ripoff, it doesn't have bad specs. If your cool with lowering the crazy Resolution it uses, then it will work great. The price is also fraken insane! My friend has one and plays every game I can on my 3570k gaming PC but has to put it on 1920x1080 (Some setting put down) witch is standard and its what you will get with any other laptop. Its worth a shot but you will have to buy a copy of windows; (if you don't already have one).

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC975LL/A?

I'm not sure if that link will work. Oh, and I am aware of how bad it is to mention apple, I'm just putting it out there because I know most of you guys have enough info on Windows ultrabooks for the OP.

[Deleted]

While Apples 15" MBP with retina is a ripoff, it doesn't have bad specs. If your cool with lowering the crazy Resolution it uses, then it will work great. The price is also fraken insane! My friend has one and plays every game I can on my 3570k gaming PC but has to put it on 1920x1080 (Some setting put down) witch is standard and its what you will get with any other laptop. Its worth a shot but you will have to buy a copy of windows; (if you don't already have one).

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MC975LL/A?

I'm not sure if that link will work. Oh, and I am aware of how bad it is to mention apple, I'm just putting it out there because I know most of you guys have enough info on Windows ultrabooks for the OP.

it better run stuff good when the price of that laptop is over 2.2k (however a MBP isn't any more mobile compared to other laptops, the pricetag on the apple is +- $500/600 more over a similar specced windows laptop)

[Thepixelpatriot]

it better run stuff good when the price of that laptop is over 2.2k (however a MBP isn't any more mobile compared to other laptops, the pricetag on the apple is +- $500/600 more over a similar specced windows laptop)

True, his is pretty light and thin IMO he takes it to work in Manhattan everyday and has not one issue (I just asked). As I said in my post the price is retardedly (is that even a word?) high but the screen for web video and games that are light on the systems hardware look amazing. I'm not a fan of OSX anymore, but it looks purrty I guess. If he has the money I would go for it or wait until Feb-June when they make it cheaper/better specked.

[insmek]

Tbh Getting a laptop is a mistake but if you are dead set then read reviews about overheating and don't get an HP, they have a high motherboard failure rate.

Why would getting a laptop be a mistake? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am curious about your reasoning.

Me? I've used laptops exclusively since my senior year of high school. The Macbook that I bought that year followed me to school every day, then traveled with me to Texas for BMT, Mississippi for technical training, and South Dakota for my first base. The HP that replaced my Macbook then spent 6 months and more than 10,000 miles traveling from South Dakota to Texas, then to Arizona, to North Carolina, back to South Dakota, to Arizona again, then finally down to Florida for my second assignment. My current laptop, the Lenovo in my signature, was purchased in March and has been to Afghanistan, Qatar, Germany, and Canada--and that was all before getting back to Florida; it's been even more places since then.

The idea of having taken a full desktop along for all of that traveling makes my brain and my back hurt. My trusty Lenovo Z570 has been portable enough to take with me the world over while still having enough power to play any modern game at wholly acceptable framerates.

[Faithh]

Why would getting a laptop be a mistake? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am curious about your reasoning.

Me? I've used laptops exclusively since my senior year of high school. The Macbook that I bought that year followed me to school every day, then traveled with me to Texas for BMT, Mississippi for technical training, and South Dakota for my first base. The HP that replaced my Macbook then spent 6 months and more than 10,000 miles traveling from South Dakota to Texas, then to Arizona, to North Carolina, back to South Dakota, to Arizona again, then finally down to Florida for my second assignment. My current laptop, the Lenovo in my signature, was purchased in March and has been to Afghanistan, Qatar, Germany, and Canada--and that was all before getting back to Florida; it's been even more places since then.

The idea of having taken a full desktop along for all of that traveling makes my brain and my back hurt. My trusty Lenovo Z570 has been portable enough to take with me the world over while still having enough power to play any modern game at wholly acceptable framerates.

Are you a soldier? :P

[yurano]

Why would getting a laptop be a mistake? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am curious about your reasoning.

The idea of having taken a full desktop along for all of that traveling makes my brain and my back hurt. My trusty Lenovo Z570 has been portable enough to take with me the world over while still having enough power to play any modern game at wholly acceptable framerates.

Well if you need what's considered a portable 'desktop replacement', then gaming laptops are ok. For any other application, the performance deficit is not worth it.

I read a thread of someone buying a small lan-box type computer to carry around in a suitcase though. Not sure how he transported a monitor though.

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

Well if you need what's considered a portable 'desktop replacement', then gaming laptops are ok. For any other application, the performance deficit is not worth it.

I read a thread of someone buying a small lan-box type computer to carry around in a suitcase though. Not sure how he transported a monitor though.

Pocket-sized beamer? They are tiny, but can produce a decent quality 2m diagonal image.

[Faithh]

Pocket-sized beamer? They are tiny, but can produce a decent quality 2m diagonal image.

HTC deluxe SQL monitor? Yep edges cutted off, only screen left?

[Butler to Baby Sloths]

HTC deluxe SQL monitor? Yep edges cutted off, only screen left?

Was thinking something more like this: http://www.amazon.com/Optoma-PK120-L...=optoma+pk+120

[insmek]

Are you a soldier? :P

Airman, but close enough. ^_^

[carson11]

Samsung Series 9 NP900X4C
15inch
Intel Core i7 3517U
256 GB SSD
8 GB DDR3 RAM
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1.3-megapixel HD camera
Windows 8
Battery life: 7.2 hours
Check out http://ultrathinlaptops.org/best-ultrabook/

[Deleted]

so much misinformation on this thread ._.

1. if you want a gaming laptop DONT BUY AN ULTRABOOK
2. if you want a gaming laptop DONT BUY A MAC

Personally I would make a custom clevo. With $1500 you can make a decent one. (geforce gtx 650m, i7 3630qm)