Guild Wars 2

Hello everyone, I’m pretty much clueless when it comes to computers but my asus laptop which I had bought several years ago isn’t cutting it when I play gw2- to me playing on low graphics is unacceptable so I’ve been looking at the Alienware laptops (my friend loves hers & it is pretty beast from what I’ve seen while playing gw2) I’ve had my eye on the M17x R4 – 7263BK for about 1600$ which is also my desired budget but I can go 1800$

I’ve heard that CPU is what really matters when it comes to GW2 not GPU (I think thats correct) which helps with FPS I think, one question of mine is how much of a difference does 6GB range from 8GB? that’s the memory I assume? The only game I play is gw2 so I’d think it wouldn’t make much a difference. I also see a difference in the Hard drives- which is internal memory if I’m correct which I don’t really need a TB that much.

I don’t mean to be such a dunce or an airhead- but I can never find the question I’m looking for.

My real question is- I do not know the difference in any of these laptops aside from some added options & price ranges; are the higher priced ones more of a luxury with all those added options?

Here is the link to the website: http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-M17x-r4/pd.aspx

Go here.
http://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks-gaming-laptops-ct-118_96_98.html

That Alienware is hugly overpriced. U can get a Asus or Sagre for about $400 less wiht better specs.

For example, go to the link above find the
ASUS G75VW-TH72
Compare against the
ALIENWARE M17X

Stock vs stock the asus is better and cheaper. The website has loads of base models to chosse form and customize.

I sugest a MSi/Asus/Sagre with a 3740Qm, a 670m or 7970m, and 8 or 16gb RAM, and a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive at the least. U can choose better thermal pasts cooling options, screen options etc etc.
Ofcourse better yet would be to build a desktop computer for the same price that would blow it away.

Chasind.3128:

Hello everyone, I’m pretty much clueless when it comes to computers but my asus laptop which I had bought several years ago isn’t cutting it when I play gw2- to me playing on low graphics is unacceptable so I’ve been looking at the Alienware laptops (my friend loves hers & it is pretty beast from what I’ve seen while playing gw2) I’ve had my eye on the M17x R4 – 7263BK for about 1600$ which is also my desired budget but I can go 1800$

I’ve heard that CPU is what really matters when it comes to GW2 not GPU (I think thats correct) which helps with FPS I think, one question of mine is how much of a difference does 6GB range from 8GB? that’s the memory I assume? The only game I play is gw2 so I’d think it wouldn’t make much a difference. I also see a difference in the Hard drives- which is internal memory if I’m correct which I don’t really need a TB that much.

I don’t mean to be such a dunce or an airhead- but I can never find the question I’m looking for.

My real question is- I do not know the difference in any of these laptops aside from some added options & price ranges; are the higher priced ones more of a luxury with all those added options?

Here is the link to the website: http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-M17x-r4/pd.aspx

The first question I’d ask you is this: Do you need the portability of a laptop? Reason I ask is because any laptop you get is going to be significantly inferior to a desktop system with relatively the same hardware. In other words, you’ll get far more bang for your back from a desktop system than a laptop.

Assuming you need the laptop for portability then, yeah, what you linked looks good. If you can afford 8G of memory then do that. More memory is always good and will allow you more flexibility in the future.

This game does tax your CPU pretty hard and that’s the driving force behind higher frame rates in intense battles. The CPU and GPU in the system you linked is fine. It’ll run the game in mostly high settings quite well.

Jand

From the default specs of the 1500 dollar model, the only changes I would make from the default (besides any of the random crap you want past the hardware selections) is upping the processor to the next tier and upping the RAM to 12GB which will give you a grand total of 1774 (under your 1800 dollar budget).

As Jand mentions, the hardware inside this laptop is inferior to hardware you can get for 1800 on a desktop. Personally, I think desktop gaming on a laptop is a joke right now. The price to performance ratio is really bad, you’ll be paying much more and receiving mediocre hardware. As it is, I couldn’t upgrade the graphics card and screen with what I really would have liked to do. You also don’t get an SSD with the selection I made. The 12GB is overkill but future-proofing a bit, and having only 8GB did not free up enough money to upgrade anything else.

Personally, I’d grab a desktop.

SolarNova.1052:

Go here.
http://www.xoticpc.com/custom-gaming-laptops-notebooks-gaming-laptops-ct-118_96_98.html

That Alienware is hugly overpriced. U can get a Asus or Sagre for about $400 less wiht better specs.

For example, go to the link above find the
ASUS G75VW-TH72
Compare against the
ALIENWARE M17X

Stock vs stock the asus is better and cheaper. The website has loads of base models to chosse form and customize.

I sugest a MSi/Asus/Sagre with a 3740Qm, a 670m or 7970m, and 8 or 16gb RAM, and a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive at the least. U can choose better thermal pasts cooling options, screen options etc etc.
Ofcourse better yet would be to build a desktop computer for the same price that would blow it away.

Thank you so much!
I’m blown away by the differences- it has certainly steered my view & I should be purchasing (can’t decide for asus or sager) quite soon. One more question though- what all would it take to run gw2 on the highest (ultra) graphics based on that website? I’m not quite sure what to look for, yet I’ve already halfway customized it & I don’t want to pick something wrong or something I’ll never use thinking it’d do me good. (the pc would strictly be for gaming, music, web browsing) I use my old desktop for office work. If it’s not to much trouble maybe guide me abit more on what to look for? But to narrow some- I’m looking for a 17 inch, not to picky about the style just more if it works well. Best GPU/CPU for under 1900$ with maybe some cooling unit if in your opinion is best; some of the building options I’m looking at I have no clue what makes a difference, even after looking at the ‘More info’ tab. I don’t mean to come off as a complete moron haha & I’m sorry if this inconveniences you.

Chasind.3128:

Thank you so much!
I’m blown away by the differences- it has certainly steered my view & I should be purchasing (can’t decide for asus or sager) quite soon. One more question though- what all would it take to run gw2 on the highest (ultra) graphics based on that website? I’m not quite sure what to look for, yet I’ve already halfway customized it & I don’t want to pick something wrong or something I’ll never use thinking it’d do me good. (the pc would strictly be for gaming, music, web browsing) I use my old desktop for office work. If it’s not to much trouble maybe guide me abit more on what to look for? But to narrow some- I’m looking for a 17 inch, not to picky about the style just more if it works well. Best GPU/CPU for under 1900$ with maybe some cooling unit if in your opinion is best; some of the building options I’m looking at I have no clue what makes a difference, even after looking at the ‘More info’ tab. I don’t mean to come off as a complete moron haha & I’m sorry if this inconveniences you.

It isn’t so much about ultra settings – it’s about what frame rate you want at those ultra settings.

A consistent 30fps with ultra settings in all/most scenarios? Not a problem.
A consistent 60fps with ultra settings In all/most scenarios? Need a desktop.

Jand

Yea for Ultra even desktops have issues with. For example Reflections on all requirs a top of the line 670/680 or 7970 or even SLI/Xfire, SuperSampling even more so.

The ‘playable’ Ultra settings (which is bassicaly max on all settings accept: Refletions(T&S), Shadows(High) and Sampling(native)) could be achievable on a laptop for PvE environments. You would be looking at a 670m atleast. Thats bassicaly the only must for PvE.
For Populated area’s its mainly down to the CPU, since its a laptop u cant really look at overclocking, so u want to get the fastest CPU u can afford, in your case that would be the 3740QM, u could go higher and go for the 3840QM or even a XM series CPU, but its alot more expensive. The Sagre/Clevo laptops actually charge less for the CPU, though i suspect they probably skimp on other things to do so..probably the chassis, i wouldnt know though tbh, maybe they dont skimp at all.

Try for atleats 8Gb of 1600mhz RAM,. CL9 if they r that specfic. Remember that the CPU is dual channel so u want to get the RAM in Pairs. 2x 4gb ..or 2x 6gb ..or 2x 8gb for optimal performance.

Screen wise i prefer glossy screens rather than matt, they have better color contrast, but do suffer from relfections/glare more so its up to u on that.

Do try get the optional Thermal pastes added, will help with temps which is always a pain for laptops and saves u pulling it apart and doing it urself in the future.

If u already have a copy of Windows 7 64bit (or 32bit as u can upgrade for free) u wont need to get a OS installed. You can do that urself with ur current copy.

Had Drives/ Solid Sates Drives. Well a SSD is a nice bonus but ur gunna be tight on money so only get one if u can afford it. The GPU and CPU should be priority.

Erm …..if u have any other ‘specific’ questions do feel free to ask.

EDIT: Oh i think some of the higher end Sagre/Clevo Laptops actually have Desktop CPU’s in them. They r more powerfull than equivalanet clocked laptop CPU’s and keep there top clock goign even when all cores r being used, unlike most mobile CPU’s which only run at max clock when only 1 or 2 cores are being used, meanign for GW2 the laptop CPU’s will likely not run at their maximum displayed clock speed. The SAGER NP9570 has the Sandybridge LGA 2011 CPU’s, might be somthing worth looking at.

hey what about this laptop ?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009H8RG0S/ref=mw_dp_mpd?pd=1&qid=1363890877&sr=8-1

only has a 3630q though….i have a nice desktop at home already [i7 970 @ 4.2ghz, 2 680gtx sli]…but would like to play games on the go…

17 inch screen is far to much for a gaming laptop. Go for a 15.6" one. Widescreen if possible so you can get pretty HD resolution (1366X768 HD). The graphic card will run far better, and you will play more games on higher settings. Bigger isn’t always the best on laptops. Since they must keep everything cool with one little fan.
And it will save you some weight, and space