Building a Gaming Laptop

[_=DeltaForce=_]

I wanted a gaming laptop and nothing worked out.. Dell XPS was really expensive and too big , Acer Ferrari was too expensive for the red color, Alienware - Rip Off..
So I decided to build one myself..

I am getting a Asus Barebone laptop for $600 (barely Used with 9 months warranty left)

Asus Z71v barebone (Mobo, LCD and Case)

http://usa.asus.com/products/notebook/z7series/Z7100V/z71v_l.jpg

Specification

Processor & Cache Memory Supported - Intel® Pentium® M Processor with 2MB on-die cache
- Speeds at 1.67Ghz-2.50Ghz (Dothan), 400 & 533Mhz FSB;
- Mobile Intel Celeron M Processor with 512K/1MB on Die L2 Cache
- Speed from 1.3Ghz-1.7+Ghz

Chipset Intel Alviso 915 PM & ICH6-M

Main Memory Supports DDR2 400/533 SODIMM; 0MB on board memory; expandable to 2GBDual Channel DDR2 DRAM support (SODIMM)

Display 15.4” WSXGA+ (1680X1050) TFT Display

Video Graphics & Memory PCI Express NVIDIA 6600-128MB

Hard Drive 2.5-inch ultra-slim 9.5mm SATA / PATA HDD, capacity of 20/40/60/80 GB 4200/5400/7200 RPM;

Card Reader Built-in card reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro

Optical Drive Interchangeable DVD+CD-RW Combo module or DVD+/- RW moduleSupport Module Hot Swap Function and 2nd HDD/2nd Battery

Fax / Modem / LAN/WLAN - AC 97 s/w MODEM (RJ-11)

- 10/100/1000 Base T PCI LAN on board (RF-45)

- Pass and support worldwide regulation - Support 802.11a/b/g Interface

One VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external display

5 USB 2.0 ports

Two Audio jacks : Head phone or SPDIF, Mic-inOne RJ-11 for modem

One RJ-45 for LAN

One 1394 B Type jack

S-Video composite TV output

One Type II PCMCIA Slot

Audio Built-in Azalea compliant audio chip, with 3D effect & full duplexBuilt-in stereo speakers and microphone. Audio-DJ

Battery Primary: Li-Ion 8/4 cells, 14.8V, 4400mAh, 65W battery pack
Secondary battery available (using modular bay)

Battery life 4 hours (6 hours with 2nd battery)

Charging time, 2.5 hrs Quick charge 90% (Power off) / 4hrs (Power on)

Battery low warning under Windows environmentEnters Save-To-Disk mode automatically if less than 5%) Battery life 5 hours (7 hours with 2nd battery)

Dimension & Weight 14.0”x10.8”x1.4” <6.6lbs

**

Got a 1.7 Intel Pentium M, Centrino 2MB cache 400FSB for $150 at ebay

2 x 512 MB DDR 2 CORSAIR memory ($90 again from ebay)

60GB Hitachi 7200RPM Hard drive ($125 from a friend)

DVD/CDRW - $50 (Might go for a DVD burner)

Intel wireless Lan chipset - $35

Estimated cost $1050 and I think it will weigh around 7lbs

Let me summarize it

Intel Pentium M 1.7 2mb cache 400FSB
Intel 915 Chipset
1 GB DDR 2 Ram
nVidia GO 6600 128MB PCI-Express video card
15.4” WSXGA+ (1680X1050) TFT Display
60 GB Hitachi 8mb cache 7200RPM Hard drive
DVD/CDRW
802.11 b/g
10/100/1000 Lan
Built-in card reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro
$1050

Asus is actually pretty good on their notebook warranty and they fix it within 3 days.. They have a worldwide service..

So what do you guys think??

[SmokeyDP]

Guy at work picked up an Asus from overseas. Its pretty nice!

[Showtime]

:drool:

pci e 6600gt = nice!

[Devhux]

:drool:

pci e 6600gt = nice!

Actually it's not the GT -- it's the plain 6600.

I'm quite happy with my XPS2 -- sure, it's big, but it is nowhere near the weight of an equivalent Alienware / Sager.

[_=DeltaForce=_]

I'm quite happy with my XPS2 -- sure, it's big, but it is nowhere near the weight of an equivalent Alienware / Sager.

How heavy is the XPS2?? How much did ya pay?

One of the Sager is also a Rebranded Asus Z71v

Voodoo Envy m:515 >> Its also a rebranded Asus Z71v

http://image20.webshots.com/21/1/1/2/333110102AVMRdv_ph.jpg

[Devhux]

The XPS2 is 8.6 pounds.

In addition, it comes with the high-end 6800 Go Ultra and has a 17" widescreen display, which means it has far less battery life than the ASUS (2.5 hours of standard use).

For casual gaming, the ASUS is fine -- I wanted a top-notch gaming system, and the XPS2 was definately worth it for me (I've been to a few LAN parties with this system, and everyone comments on how well it runs the latest games at fairly high resolutions). It is definately one of the fastest notebooks available for gaming (its only real competition is the high end Alienware 7700 AFAIK.

That said, it wasn't cheap (about $2500 US when all was said and done). I did add quite a few bells and whistles, and couldn't take advantage of good deals though, so that added to the price. (I have 3 years of onsite service with CompleteCare, which definately added to the price).

[_=DeltaForce=_]

WOW $2500 is expensive but you did get a 3yr completecare warranty.. Thats good

I will probally be playing America's Army..

[AlpineJay]

Given the kind of issues you've had with Asus, I'm surprised that you decided to go with them. I'm a big fan of theirs and have had overall good experiences with their service but I know if a manufacturer screwed me over as much as they did to you I wouldn't think twice about skipping them altogether.

[_=DeltaForce=_]

I sent another motherboard for RMA and I got it within 7 days.. For some reason, My RMAs come from this lady Chrissy but usually it says Shipping DEPT. I get 2nd day shipping NOT ground.. She was the same lady who sent me my previous mobo.. I dont know how they tracked my second RMA ..
I bought an 2 yr extended warranty for $160... If they mess with me, I will only contact them through BBB..