PC or gaming laptop?

dampi256

dampi256

New member
So I sit with a problem.

I want to move away from consoles (I have a PS3) as I am looking at next gen and see that I can do so much more with PC and get much better quality hardware than with consoles. I also want a PC so that I can play games (can only really play Minecraft currently as the lappy is too old), record and edit YouTube clips and also do "real world work" on it like I do on my current laptop.

My question is, PC or gaming laptop? There are some good mobile graphic chips from Nvidia like the GeForce GTX 765M but how do they stack up against desktop chips like the GeForce GTX 670, 770 range?

I love the idea of mobility but I also know that you cannot easily upgrade a laptop's graphics like you can with a PC. This affects longevity of the Laptop.

Lastly, price. Gaming laptops will cost in the range of R10 000 - R15 000 (mid-range) where as a very good PC costs R8000 - R10 000 (for the box excl screen as I have one.)

I know it comes down to personal preference but the power difference between PC and gaming laptops is an issue for me and I would like some input on this.


Thanks guys and girls. :)
 
If mobility is not an issue the PC will always be a better option. It also allows you to upgrade components and extend life. Depends on the games you want to play as well. if you are planning on playing WOW etc. a laptop is fine but for more graphics intensive games PC is the only real option.

There are a few things coming next year, DDR4, new line of CPU's (new RAM Requires new CPU's as memory controller is on the CPU not Mobo as in the old days). USB3.1. Could be worth the wait if you are not in too much of a hurry.
 
I would say go for PC, but that's mostly because I've absolutely hated every laptop I've ever owned. I guess the important question is, how important is mobility for you? Is it really worth all the other sacrifices you are making?
 
Personally, for me, I prefer laptops because they are mobile. Laptops can't be customized like PC's (Mine can only customize hard drive, RAM, Processor, Wireless Card). If you have the extra cash and prefer mobility, then go for laptop. If not, then go PC.

Ya I would also wait, as Ash_ZA has mentioned. When I bought my laptop, a month later, 3rd Generation i3, i5, i7 processors were released.
 
Ash_ZA said:
If mobility is not an issue the PC will always be a better option. It also allows you to upgrade components and extend life. Depends on the games you want to play as well. if you are planning on playing WOW etc. a laptop is fine but for more graphics intensive games PC is the only real option.

There are a few things coming next year, DDR4, new line of CPU's (new RAM Requires new CPU's as memory controller is on the CPU not Mobo as in the old days). USB3.1. Could be worth the wait if you are not in too much of a hurry.
Click to expand...

I aprtially agree here.
The question is the need for mobility + budget.
If you need to be mobile you can still have a laptop that plays pretty much anything with decent gfx if you are willing to fork out.

Personally I use a Gaming as my main machine. My work often requires travel for extended periods of time and I dontw ant to be stuck playing minecraft and DS when traveling. My circle of close friends also often spend the weekend at each others places and having to lug a machine isn't fun. It has gotten to the point where I have an additional machine to allow them to forgo having to travel with their monster rigs.
 
okuhle94 said:
Personally, for me, I prefer laptops because they are mobile. Laptops can't be customized like PC's (Mine can only customize hard drive, RAM, Processor, Wireless Card). If you have the extra cash and prefer mobility, then go for laptop. If not, then go PC.

Ya I would also wait, as Ash_ZA has mentioned. When I bought my laptop, a month later, 3rd Generation i3, i5, i7 processors were released.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am looking at an i7 or higher i5 chip abut I'm more worried about the graphics card. I love my lappy and it has served me well (Acer Aspire with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570) but the graphics card only really allowed me to play games at medium quality. I will need a better card and I think the i7 and more Ram will probably also help loads.

I also see the advantage of a PC as the PC has the upgradeability going for it but you can't take a PC with you on a business trip and play BF4 or AC4 in the Mugg & Bean now can you. :-)
 
ALWAYS PC. laptops are not made for gaming. unless you have like R15 000 for a gaming laptop, and even then it's still a bit meh
 
Ash_ZA said:
If mobility is not an issue the PC will always be a better option. It also allows you to upgrade components and extend life. Depends on the games you want to play as well. if you are planning on playing WOW etc. a laptop is fine but for more graphics intensive games PC is the only real option.

There are a few things coming next year, DDR4, new line of CPU's (new RAM Requires new CPU's as memory controller is on the CPU not Mobo as in the old days). USB3.1. Could be worth the wait if you are not in too much of a hurry.
Click to expand...

GREAT! Thanks.

I am not too updated about the coming tech changes and it will probably be better to wait and see next year. I will need to get a new work laptop (I am a financial adviser in my own company so I pay for my tech myself) and can just as well get one with some relatively good specs and look at a PC next year.

My lappy is giving me grief so a decision will have to be taken in December to prep for next year. It will be sucky to play on two different systems as I do like playing a game or two while on the road or when visiting buds, but those games will probably not be as intensive as BF4. More like Borderlands 2 and the like.

Thanks for the heads up re hardware releases next year.
 
dampi256 said:
GREAT! Thanks.

I am not too updated about the coming tech changes and it will probably be better to wait and see next year. I will need to get a new work laptop (I am a financial adviser in my own company so I pay for my tech myself) and can just as well get one with some relatively good specs and look at a PC next year.

My lappy is giving me grief so a decision will have to be taken in December to prep for next year. It will be sucky to play on two different systems as I do like playing a game or two while on the road or when visiting buds, but those games will probably not be as intensive as BF4. More like Borderlands 2 and the like.

Thanks for the heads up re hardware releases next year.
Click to expand...
then get a tablet :p
 
MalicE said:
then get a tablet :p
Click to expand...

I lol'd hard on that one bro. hahahaha.
I have a Galaxy tab and it is ticking me off as the newer ones were released a few months after I got it. The brand new ones with the ne Tegra chips are great but yeah, tabs is a bit over rated in my humble opinion. :)
 
PC will always win in terms of value for money and normally it will win by a landslide, the other thing to think about is upgradability(is that a word ?) not much you can do to upgrade a laptop where as with a PC you can always upgrade parts same goes for repairs a PC normally much cheaper to repair or replace parts then a laptop(not too mention easier)... with all of this said i want a alienware laptop why you ask ... why Not !!!o h and its super pretty !!!! so at the end fo the day the choice is all yours
 
Ash_ZA said:
If mobility is not an issue the PC will always be a better option. It also allows you to upgrade components and extend life. Depends on the games you want to play as well. if you are planning on playing WOW etc. a laptop is fine but for more graphics intensive games PC is the only real option.

There are a few things coming next year, DDR4, new line of CPU's (new RAM Requires new CPU's as memory controller is on the CPU not Mobo as in the old days). USB3.1. Could be worth the wait if you are not in too much of a hurry.
Click to expand...

DDR4 will not be available next year.
There are new releases of hardware every year, so if you plan on waiting for new chips, then you'll wait forever.
As far as cpu's go there is little to no difference performance wise if you compare sandy bridge, ivy bridge and haswell.
So you would be perfectly fine picking up haswell now.

Oh and laptops suck completely, only really high end stuff can play games at high settings with decent frame rates.
If your ok playing on a mid range laptop on medium settings then stick to consoles, cause that's all you'll be getting unless you spend upwards of R18 000.
 
dampi256 said:
I lol'd hard on that one bro. hahahaha.
I have a Galaxy tab and it is ticking me off as the newer ones were released a few months after I got it. The brand new ones with the ne Tegra chips are great but yeah, tabs is a bit over rated in my humble opinion. :)
Click to expand...
My Sony tab has the Tegra chip, it's quite nice :D
 
dampi256 said:
So I sit with a problem.

I want to move away from consoles (I have a PS3) as I am looking at next gen and see that I can do so much more with PC and get much better quality hardware than with consoles. I also want a PC so that I can play games (can only really play Minecraft currently as the lappy is too old), record and edit YouTube clips and also do "real world work" on it like I do on my current laptop.

My question is, PC or gaming laptop? There are some good mobile graphic chips from Nvidia like the GeForce GTX 765M but how do they stack up against desktop chips like the GeForce GTX 670, 770 range?

I love the idea of mobility but I also know that you cannot easily upgrade a laptop's graphics like you can with a PC. This affects longevity of the Laptop.

Lastly, price. Gaming laptops will cost in the range of R10 000 - R15 000 (mid-range) where as a very good PC costs R8000 - R10 000 (for the box excl screen as I have one.)

I know it comes down to personal preference but the power difference between PC and gaming laptops is an issue for me and I would like some input on this.


Thanks guys and girls. :)
Click to expand...

If you want a laptop which lasts for 5 years and still can play the good games you will have to spend 15k+ on one.
 
Paid R12k for the new Lenovo Y510P with the single GPU, still waiting for the Ultrabay imports. I can play BF4 on medium GFX without issue, and that is the BETA that is not optimized at all yet.

Anything I have thrown at it has worked great. Currently replaying Far Cry 3 on high/ultra settings. Only game that struggled was Arma 2/Dayz but that is mostly due to the outdated poo-filled engine it uses.

The Laptop is not without issues, heat issues are widespread in most gaming laptops, cooling pads are a necessity when you want to game. The laptop has a few flaws but nothing you can't get use to.

My Y510P runs a i7-4700MQ, 8GB ram and a GT750m (the DDR5 version).
 
The Joker said:
DDR4 will not be available next year.
There are new releases of hardware every year, so if you plan on waiting for new chips, then you'll wait forever.
As far as cpu's go there is little to no difference performance wise if you compare sandy bridge, ivy bridge and haswell.
So you would be perfectly fine picking up haswell now.

Oh and laptops suck completely, only really high end stuff can play games at high settings with decent frame rates.
If your ok playing on a mid range laptop on medium settings then stick to consoles, cause that's all you'll be getting unless you spend upwards of R18 000.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I see now that Lappies won't get to PC quality and that I will have to go the PC route for full on gaming quality. I will probably, for now, get a good laptop with a half decent GPU in it untill I can afford a beast PC. :-)

I am looking at the Haswell with a nice i7 or higher end i5.

- - - Updated - - -

Spartan said:
Paid R12k for the new Lenovo Y510P with the single GPU, still waiting for the Ultrabay imports. I can play BF4 on medium GFX without issue, and that is the BETA that is not optimized at all yet.

Anything I have thrown at it has worked great. Currently replaying Far Cry 3 on high/ultra settings. Only game that struggled was Arma 2/Dayz but that is mostly due to the outdated poo-filled engine it uses.

The Laptop is not without issues, heat issues are widespread in most gaming laptops, cooling pads are a necessity when you want to game. The laptop has a few flaws but nothing you can't get use to.

My Y510P runs a i7-4700MQ, 8GB ram and a GT750m (the DDR5 version).
Click to expand...

Nice! I think games will run smooth on high on most of the R10 000-R15 000 "gaming" laptops and BF4 will also run smooth once it is optimized. The GPU I'm looking at is the GTX 765m which gets some good reviews and the system will cost me around R11 500 for an i5, 8 gig ram, 750gig HDD, etc.

So it should be fine till I can get a beast PC later next year.

Thanks for your reply. Appreciate it!
 
Spartan said:
What laptop are you looking at?
Click to expand...

Either a Dell XPS with similar spec as below or building one up from a bare-bone system with Mecer.
Specs:
Haswell Core i5-4200M 2.5Ghz
750 gig HDD
8 Gig DDR3-1600
GeForce GTX-765M with 2GB DDR5 dedicated graphics
Screen Size: 17.3 inch, FULL HD ( 1920 x 1080 )

It might be a Mecer "case" but has some good hardware. All of this will come to R11,996 so not a bad price.
 
dampi256 said:
Either a Dell XPS with similar spec as below or building one up from a bare-bone system with Mecer.
Specs:
Haswell Core i5-4200M 2.5Ghz
750 gig HDD
8 Gig DDR3-1600
GeForce GTX-765M with 2GB DDR5 dedicated graphics
Screen Size: 17.3 inch, FULL HD ( 1920 x 1080 )

It might be a Mecer "case" but has some good hardware. All of this will come to R11,996 so not a bad price.
Click to expand...

That isn't at all a bad price, but you will get a far greater PC for that price instead. gaming also always does better on PC than it does on Laptop. If the end product that you desire is maximum cost-to-performance ratio then there is literally nothing better than PC.
 
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