Gaming laptops forum: 13 inch gaming laptops help please

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by otontik - 7/6/11 10:06 PM

In Reply to: So why not Alienware? by R. Proffitt

hum, first thank you for taking the time to answer my question

i know that gaming laptops heats a lot so i'll take a 3 or 4 years warranty

why would you think that i dnt want the 2nd i7 generation !? isnt it a good processor for gaming ? actually i was thinking about the m11x r3 but its too small and heavy ... also the i7 processor that they use for it is 1.5 gz double core only that overclocks to 2.6 i think.

so im not sure if its enough if i use it with a 27inch screen ... also there is the 3820gt (toshiba i think) 13 inch but this is from last year and its hard to find .... any way i just want an advice from any one who has exprience because this would be my first gaming computer ...

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"2nd i7 ntell processor" vs. 2nd i7 generation.

by R. Proffitt - 7/7/11 9:12 AM

In Reply to: answer by otontik

Again, why not an Alienware?

As to the big screens, it's a non-issue. All the units did that.

About your first gaming computer. I know laptops make poor gaming rigs. You pay for the privilege and in other ways. OVERCLOCKING? Forget it. A good gaming laptop would never allow that!
Bob

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by otontik - 7/7/11 1:24 PM

In Reply to: "2nd i7 ntell processor" vs. 2nd i7 generation. by R. Proffitt

well the m11x is too small and the m14x is too heavy... i nead a laptop that i can take out every day with me (university) and play with at the same time ....

i found the the VAIO VPC-SB11fx with 512mb dedicated GPU and optimus technology ... its the best combination i found ... (light, not too small, and powerfull) with a dvd burner it 6.7 on gaming performance and 3d ... i think its pretty good

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Comprimises must be the rule here.

by R. Proffitt - 7/7/11 3:51 PM

In Reply to: answer by otontik

Nice choice but as you didn't get the 1GB Video solution most gamers would not put that on their list.

But it is a nice choice.
Bob

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user otontik

Alienware M11x R3

by webmartians - 7/22/11 2:16 PM

In Reply to: 13 inch gaming laptops help please by otontik

Yesterday (2011-07-21Th) I chatted with Dell Alienware about the M11x. I too want a small machine with power. The key point was the lack of USB 3 ports. I was told "Sorry, the M11x does not have USB 3." FInishing the chat, on whim I searched for gaming laptops with USB 3 ports and found ... Alienware M11x R3 ... the announcement was mere minutes old.

The M11x looks like a good product, although my son is horrified (definitely bad opinion of the company). However, I have not been able to find anything comparable.

If you use the Dell WWWeb site, be careful to ensure that you are configuring the NEW M11x R3 rather than an R2! It's easy to select the wrong base model and wonder where the features went.

Good Processor: Intel i7
reasonable cache size (4 MB)
not as nice as 8 MB available with some i7s in bigger machines
Note that Windows has had, historically, poor "cache locality"
Behavior of code and data - remaining in the cache even across task switches
Win 7 is no exception and there seems to be no good news on this front for WIn 8
Some consider cache locality second only to memory size in delivered performance
...processor speed (GHz) being tertiary...

Ability to host large memory: 16 GB
...although I'd go for but 8 GB for the near future...

USB 3
This is key for me as I develop software for special purpose cameras.
While I'm not confident that the M11x can sustain USB 3's maximum data transfer rate,
I need the interface and have had absolutely no success with USB 3 adapters driven by USB 2 ports.

Illuminated keyboard
I travel a lot and a backlit keyboard is very useful
By the way, there is are QWERTZ (versus QWERTY) keyboard parts listed for this machine
...if you have to enter Sharp S, accented letters and the like...
...go to http://www.dell.ch/ instead of http://www.dell.com/ to configure
(in Schwiizerteutsch and with prices in CH Francs
...but if you need such a keyboard, you can handle that)
Dell parts [583-13965] (German keyboard) & [583-13969] (Swiss keyboard)
There's even an AZERTY keyboard for the Francophiles.

Small display
Huh? Why would I want a small display?
I don't know about you but I do NOT get to fly Spitzenklasse
even a 15" display is out of sight when the guy in front reclines his seat.
I have a really nice BIG monitor at home and on my desk
(and I can turn it sideways so that it is taller than wide)

I still have some questions:

How hot is this thing? This forum and others has raised the concept of going for the i5 rather than the i7 because of heat concerns. Indeed, an i5 with a large cache might be OK, but the M11x R3 seems to be available with only an i7.

The strange keyboard may affect the warranty (the US warranty options are significantly richer than the Swiss ones). Obviously, an external keyboard is an alternative.

Unless you really want to play Blu-Rays on a plane, the M11x's lack of an internal optical drive is no problem: buy an external, USB Blu-Ray reader/burner.

...kinda wish there was a decent docking unit...

My son is still appalled.

Hope this helps...

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Gamers rarely complain about the heat.

by R. Proffitt - 7/22/11 2:22 PM

In Reply to: Alienware M11x R3 by webmartians

The quad core i7 is, of course the fastest CPU you can jam into laptops today. Gamers are not looking for lower temps here or long lifespans.

It's a nice unit but it's for gamers.

As to USB 3.0, tried it, didn't get much of a speed boost so I don't ask for it anymore.
Bob

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Answer Best answer as chosen by user otontik

Sony?

by baby_girrrrl - 11/22/11 12:14 AM

In Reply to: 13 inch gaming laptops help please by otontik

The new Sony Vaio Z Series! Yum...

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