Planning to get a new laptop, need advice.

C

CazadorVault RED Engineer

First time out of the vault
I would like to make a new lap top and install FA: NV, FA1-3, FA: BOS (via emulator if it exists in that form), and FA Tactics on it. What sort of hardware and software would you suggest putting on it? Oh, and I also plan to install Star Trek Online and TF2 (possibly other Orange Box games and Civilization V as well), so I'll need a good wireless card as well. X-/
 
Why would you want FO: BOS on it? That's generally accepted as the worst game in the series, even by people who loathed Fallout 3. :?
 
I think Fallout 3 is worth playing at least once, I can't say the same about FO: BOS.
 
Well, PCSX2 doesn't list FOBOS as playable, so you should be looking for a PS2 if you really want to play it. Or wait a few years and hope that maybe someday the game starts working on the emulator.
 
Wow. Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel really? My dad got me that for a Christmas present a few years ago. While we play that game once a winter every winter we both know it's a horrible joke and not a fallout game.
Don't touch that awful crap.
 
Id buy laptop with intel i3/5/7 processor and gt540 or 5650/6650, propably asus or lenovo since those are generally considered as reliable makers and at least in here those are really the only laptop makers that have the 2 years warranty.

Would not recommend acer since i have several bad experiences with their laptops breaking down shortly after warranty ends.

Edit:Yeah and as already said multiple times look out for toshiba laptops too.
 
Yeah, forget about BOS. Tactics is ok and well worth at least one playthrough, but Brotherhood of Steel is nothing more than a terrible action game with a vague fallout theme to it. Hell, even some of the most hardcore fallout fans here have never played BOS.
 
Dell XPS? Only if you want an overpriced product. Seriously, they charge way too much for their "brand name". Compare tech specs and price:

http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-15z/pd?oc=fncww03&model_id=xps-15z

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=2000005949

Anyway, I recommend Toshiba for the price/quality ratio.

those are really the only laptop makers that have the 2 years warranty.
Click to expand...

If one really cares about the warranty, one can always extend it for extra $. Not too much from what I've seen, either.
 
Second ASUS or Toshiba, good, reliable makers. Don't be an idiot like me and grab a Dell (overpriced, always) or an LG (good luck getting customer services and/or spare parts). About wireless cards, there's really no differences as far as I know.
 
Wireless card is important sometimes. For example my laptop (ASUS UL30Vt) was sold with either Intel or Atheros card, the first one having 2 antenna plugs, and the latter just one, resulting in quite big signal strength difference.

Staying back on topic, positioned with increasing price:
Asus K53SV, Asus N53SV/Samsung RF511, Asus N53SN and MSI GT683 seem to be kings in their price segments when it comes to power (gaming)/price/build quality ratio. The last one is a mobile gaming monster, still not VERY expensive in i5-2410 variant
 
Although the OP's question has been answered, for the sake of argument:

I've been quite impressed with HP in the business segment, and using a home use model for about 3 years now. Quite good in build quality, and satisfied with the support level.
The dv7-6130sb has an i5 Sandy Bridge, 6GB ram, Radeon 6490M (1G dedicated).

Might be a bit hard to locate outside of EU though. US alternative: Search for the standard i3-model, and upgrade it to i5 (small price increase). 6GB is often standard there too, and the upgrade to a 7200rpm disk is often not that expensive either.
 
HPs are pretty consistently good, but tend to be a bit more pricey than Asus or Toshiba - especially if you can catch a good sale on the latter.
 
Thanks for the replies so far, but I'm going to a friend of mine who does computer repair for a living to build mine, so it's going to be from scratch.

1. What's the fastest speed available right now for Dual Core processesors? Who much can you overclock them before you start having problems?

2. Which brand of processor do you prefer for processor? Intel? AMD? Something else? If you can, plz state why?

3. What is the max RAM and ROM Space available for hard drives, SIMM's, DIMM's, etc? Again, any brand prefernces and why?

4. Can you put more than one cooling fan in a pc?

5. What sound and graphic cards do you prefer for comps? Nvidia? GEForce? What? Again, give reasons for your preferences.

6. Is there a drive available that can use both BluRay and DVD-Rom? :?

7. What programs do you suggest for screen captures and recording footage for films/machinima/dowload? :? I mean, there's the old fashioned, "paste into paint" for a screenie, but obviously not for multiple frames/motion picture attempts. XP

8. Any suggestion for a wireless card?

9. What other programs should I get other than Windows 7? I heard it does really well w/ older games, but I don't know if anyone has tried them on the pre-Fallout 3 games or not. X-/

10. Is FA3 and/or New Vegas compatible w/ joysticks and/or those fauw PS3/X-Box360 controllers they are selling for the PC? If so, what brand would you suggest buying? :? My fps skil isn't the greatest in the world, but at least w/ a decent controller instead of a mouse, I might have a fighting chance. X_x\

11. What would you suggest for PC software protection/firewall/repair? Unfortunately, I've heard getting multiple progames can be counterproductive as they'll think the other programs are malware and will "attack" each other instead of doing the proper debugging/repairs against viruses. X(

I know I'll be paying my friend an arm and a leg, but I do want an upper-end laptop from him, plus if need be, he can do upgrades on it later.
 
windows 7 works fine with Fallout 1/2/Tactics for me.

I don't know about faux xbox/ps3 controllers but I know that Xbox controllers can plug right in and be used by windows. Admittedly, this was with XNA stuff, but it should be workable.

As for recording, fraps for video and irfanview for screens.

Also the last time I checked, they're well past 'dual core' processors.

I"m currently unemployed and not looking into building a computer anytime soon, so I'm not uptodate. But let me know what you find out, i might need a new one soon.

If you are security conscious/paranoid do a dual boot with a linux distro. Linux for internet, windows for games.
 
Thanks for the replies so far, but I'm going to a friend of mine who does computer repair for a living to build mine, so it's going to be from scratch.

1. I think it's all about Quad core these days. Look on Notebookcheck.net for latest info.

2. I usually stick to Intel, but there isn't a real reason. I think, unless you're extremely tech-savvy and have specific reasons, it comes down to random choice. I think the high-end Core i7 may be a bit ahead of AMD atm but who knows for how long.

3. I think 8GB is the biggest I've seen on laptops.

4. Laptop? Probably would be hard to fit more than one main fan and graphic card fan in the limited space.

5. I'm afraid I'm hopelessly behind on these.

6. Any Blu-ray combo can use DVD as well afaik. My advice though, don't waste money on a blu-ray drive unless you're completely positive you'll use it a lot. I had a laptop with one, and I used the blu-ray capability maybe twice in two years.

7. Most people use Fraps. If you mean online streaming capture, try Audials.

8. No idea.

9. Don't install in Program Files, and when in doubt run as administrator/XP compatibility mode. I'm yet to run into serious problems with 7 running older games - unless you mean really old, which might require a virtual machine.

10. IIRC most 360 controllers work with PC. I elect to use 3rd-party controllers because why pay $60 when I can get one for $10. Also, FO3/NV aren't very difficult though, so you should hardly be worried anyway. And, as a jaded PC gamer, I'll say FPS are meant to be played with mouse. :P

11. I haven't really used a proper "antivirus" in ages (cause my college was too cheap to buy the Win7 version of Norton and I ain't gonna pay myself), but good anti-malware is essential. I recommend Spybot - S&D and Malwarebytes. The two are mutually compatible afaik; the former is nice for the "immunization" feature, being completely free, and for the fact that most malware that shuts down other anti-malware services fails against it; the latter is a bit more user-friendly and has more options.
 
Thank you for the comments so far. Wow, they're doing quads now? That shows how far behind I am on the times sadly. :(

As for setting up a X360 controller on the laptop/comp, how do I get the comp to recognize the various controls and such? :?


And the comment from that one guy about mice, well, I'm very old school, I actually played the first Dark Forces back in the day and used a Sidewinder for it, so, kek. XP
 
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