Buying vs Building

[Birdman24]

I am looking to build a gaming computer for extensive use and all my digging and researching leads me to this website.

I have read that the possibility of building a high-end gaming laptop would cost an outrageous price that would still not as poweful as an average gaming desktop.

I have also read here that if I absolutely need a laptop I should buy a gaming desktop and then get a notebook that can easily meet my basic internet surfing on the run needs.

I just then have a few questions about high-powered (gaming) laptops.

1) How difficult is it to buy parts and build one ground up from sites such as tigerdirect.com or newegg.com

2) What is the price difference for buying a pre built one versus building one myself?

3) If i do choose to buy one what website would you recommend?

4) Is their any new technology coming out within the next year that could greatly improve the performance of desktops?

5) Is a quad processor or c2d better at this point in time?

 

[armi]

1. Its common, just not recommended.
2. Not worth it.
3. Parts or prebuilt?
4. Nothing greatly in CPU department. Intel is going back and making CPUs to fit the gaps for transitions from Core technology to Nelhalem.
5. Depends on your uses. If its for high power gaming ONLY, then its C2D. Multiple applications C2Q. However, why would you want to build a super powerful laptop? Its going to be heavy as heck, not to mention heat.

 

[Birdman24]

I am wondering a best website to buy a prebuilt one? alienware?
and the reason for it needing high power is that I fly quite a bit and tend to take it with me wherever I go but like to hook up and play everywhere i go too thus the need.
Additonally weight is not a problem for me but I am worried about the extreme heat conditions.

 

[armi]

Heat is always never a problem.

The only limiting factor I see here is the amount of power that can be put into the laptop.

There's an article about i7s in laptops on TomsHardware.

There's no specific places to buy laptops like desktops. Alienware is probably a good choice but they can get costly.

 

[snow cakes]

if you don't want watercooling, check out the xclio cases. I just got rid of my watercooled case after 3 years, nothing wrong with it, just decided to go with a lot of airflow, which those cases accomplish.

 

[LUCKYSTARWZ]

sorry to jump on your post, but I've also been considering build my own gaming system, but desktop.
but i've been looking through craig list, and i found a few deals for used self-built PCs, some with very up to date parts, that were good deals, cheaper than if i bought the parts myself.
Of course i can add or change a few parts myself if needed, especially HDDs.
Since it's craiglist, and i can meet up and test em out myself first, i've been seriously considering going the Used PC route this time....

So my question is, self-built vs non-Dell/Acer etc. Used PC.