What's the best gaming laptop for 1,700 dollars?

[xpeh]

I need a gaming laptop that can play Battlefield 3 on high settings (if possible). And maybe Skyrim on Ultra. I can't spend more than 1,800 dollars. Doesn't matter what the brand is, as long as the computer is good and I can buy it online. I'm looking for around 3-4+ hours of battery life. Thank you all in advance!

 

[Mousemonkey]

This topic has been moved from the section Systems to section Laptops & Notebooks by Mousemonkey

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

The honest answer is that for high end gaming NO LAPTOP will even come close to a gaming PC....

All the best Brett

 

[inanition02]

Yes, Brett928S2, we know...answer the question.

First, the bad news - no laptop that can play BF3 on high will last 3-4 hours unplugged gaming. If you are just browsing/typing, you may get that on a monster, but not gaming.

Second, the good news - you can average ~40fps with a 580M according to this: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Mobile-GPU-Comparison-GeForce-GTX-580M-and-Radeon-HD-6990M/Bad-Company-2-Deus (The 6990M may also work, and some laptops have SLI'd 560Ms, which should also handle it at about that level).

Now, which laptop...

Well, the Alienware M17x is $1824 with either the 580M or 6990M -
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dkcwvn1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=alienware-m17x-r3

Sager on the other hand...

Has the NP8170 with the 6990M starting at $1594:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_customed&model_name=NP8170

Or the 18" NP8180 for $1799 with SLI'd 560Ms...
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_customed&model_name=NP8180

 

[Brett928S2]

Yes, Brett928S2, we know...answer the question.

First, the bad news - no laptop that can play BF3 on high will last 3-4 hours unplugged gaming. If you are just browsing/typing, you may get that on a monster, but not gaming.

Second, the good news - you can average ~40fps with a 580M according to this: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Mobile-GPU-Comparison-GeForce-GTX-580M-and-Radeon-HD-6990M/Bad-Company-2-Deus (The 6990M may also work, and some laptops have SLI'd 560Ms, which should also handle it at about that level).

Now, which laptop...

Well, the Alienware M17x is $1824 with either the 580M or 6990M -
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?oc=dkcwvn1&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&model_id=alienware-m17x-r3

Sager on the other hand...

Has the NP8170 with the 6990M starting at $1594:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_customed&model_name=NP8170

Or the 18" NP8180 for $1799 with SLI'd 560Ms...
http://www.sagernotebook.com/index.php?page=product_customed&model_name=NP8180

Hi

I agree with everything you said...but mine was the shorter version

All the best Brett

 

[zoebstn]

What about the Republic of Gamers series by Asus? Any opinions?

 

[WR2]

To get the type of game play you're looking for - Battlefield 3 / high Skyrim / Ultra - you'll need to be looking at getting a laptop with either the HD 6990M or GTX 580M

Computer Games on Laptop Graphic Cards

To get the 3-4hrs battery life you mentioned you'll need to get a notebook with Nvidia Optimus or AMD Switchable graphics cards. For that, I think the top card is the GTX 560M

 

[WR2]

http://www.xoticpc.com/ is a website where you can look over custom gaming laptops with Asus, MSI or Sager options that have the GTX 560M and higher graphics cards in your price range.

 

[inanition02]

The highest end Asus made laptop I can find still has a 560M. So it wouldn't work for BF3 on high.