DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum I need a laptop...

...and I'm having trouble finding them that don't have a pre-loaded operating system. Or really the features I need out of it. I build my own desktops but have never owned or looked into a laptop before, can they be built the same way? I want to install my own operating system and software (already have everything ready to go) instead of paying for it just to wipe it off when I get it out of the box if that's possible.

I will be using it for an all purpose computer when I'm traveling, which I will be doing in the near future. I need at least a Core 2 Duo if not better for a processor, 1.8ghz minimum. At least 2GB of ram, A video card that can handle Civ5 for when I'm stuck at airports and hotels to occupy myself , and the rest isn't that important. Except for wireless internet and usb ports, need those. Couldn't care less about DVD/Blu-Ray burners, webcams, etc.

I've found quite a few for good prices (~$250) that would handle my work and school needs just fine, but I've sat i airports for up to 5 and 6 hour layovers and you can go insane like that.

I can't seem to find anything in between that fits what I want, its either budget laptops or extreme gaming laptops. I don't want either one.

I could build myself a desktop for what I need with my budget, but I don't know anything about laptops to know if I can find one that fits my needs for that price ($500 or below) or if you can even find the parts to build one like you can a desktop.

Any of our tech savvy guys have any knowledge that could maybe help me out? Would appreciate it.

I bought my Toshiba for about $400, and it has more than your minimum requirements, and by a lot in some cases.

Who cares if the computer has an O/S on it? If you can buy a laptop for $400, you can install anything you want .... or even dual boot the damn thing. Even the least expensive laptops have a 250MB harddrive ..... and you can grab a 1TB portable for under $100 .... so harddrive space shouldn't be an issue.

You sya that you either find budget laptops or extreme machines ..... but from your description, you want a budget machine ..... so I don't see the issue.

The problem I'm running into is that none of the pre-built laptops in the "budget laptop" range have a video card that can handle what I want to do with it, but the rest of the system is fine. The laptops that have an adequate video card come with more processing power and ram than I need. I need a hybrid of the two, basically, which if I could buy my own parts and put it together would be no problem. But I don't seem to be able to do that

The operating system is inconsequential to me. If it comes with one I'm going to format it and put my own on it. This is why I figured I could save a few bucks and get a laptop that doesn't have an OS, but I'm not sure if that exists, not knowing much about laptops. If a laptop with an OS and a laptop without an OS cost the same, then it makes no difference. I was just assuming you pay a little extra for Windows 7 preloaded on it than you do with nothing preloaded on it. I've never bought a pre-built computer in my life so I don't know how these things work, when I want a new computer I buy parts and assemble it at home.

I went to toshibadirect.com after you mentioned you got one for $400 and found this: http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=485064 but I found the same thing there I found everywhere else. CPU, RAM, HD, etc are all fine, but they have an integrated graphics chip, with no options to upgrade it, and that won't cut it. And those all come bloated with software I don't need or want as well that I'm probably paying a little extra for.

So basically I think I answered my own question, I can get what I want in a desktop but not a laptop.

If integrated video isn't going to work under any circumstances, then yes, you are going to have to do top end.

Most of the integrated video today has a pretty heavy duty amount allocated from RAM for video memory.

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/L650/L655D-S5055

This one has 256-1405MB of shared video memory. From what I read about your game, that should be mroe than sufficient.

Not to mention the lack of cooling on integrated cards, I've seen games fry them.

Why don;t you want an O/S loaded?

I think you're not going to find anything cheap if you want to run good games. As mentioned, the lack of cooling on laptops can really burn it up fast and give you BSOD.

If the laptop gets hots and frys the chip thats the fault of the manufacturer for not designing the laptop under the TDP of the gfx card....

Some laptops come w/ no OS so you save $100 on the microsoft tax, but those are still pretty rare.

Dedicated graphics will get you the best results but some integrated ones arent bad. I have a netbook w/ an ION and while I doubt it would do Civ 5 it can do plenty of older games that are still fun like GTA and Quake 4. Either way laptops demand a premium for high end graphics

Ive only bought two laptops, but what I did was hop onto newegg.com and try to find the top 3 or 4 laptops with what I wanted, then I went to the manufacturer website and see which one i could get the best deal on. Ironically ended up w/ an HP Pavilion and HP Mini 311 and have been happy w both of them. The current HP Pavilions for example are upgradable to core i7 and radeon 5650 graphics

what is your price range? bet i'll find one that's not a budget laptop for you. got a great one for my fiance for $500 with a nice graphics card but also the cheap integrated so it can switch between power and battery.

for instance, you just missed out on the dell alienware 11.6" laptop with the 1gb video card for $600 with free shipping. if this is in your range, let me knwo and i'll find you something close to that. chances are, though, if you built your pcs, most prices will be unacceptable because you see how cheap it is to build a pc.

ya laptops are always going to be more expensive due to the mobile/custom factor than an equivalent desktop, and while my Atom netbook takes longer to compile C++ than my Core i7 desktop, its nice to sometimes plug away at code from a couch position :P

Toshiba has some good deals at best buy and radio shack. I highly reccomend going to both stores for deals. I got mine at radio shack for $450 with free 2 year warranty and $40 in accessories that i bought more ram with.