Build Your Own Gaming Notebook

Need help buying a gaming notebook?

after trying to get new video cards or RAM for my Dell inspiron 1545, I found out that I cant do that. Because I asked twice here and people explained this is impossible unless you have a notebook specfically built for that. So I looked around and one name came up on the top of google when I searched for "gaming laptops". Alienware. I've gone back there a couple of times and have decided to get the Alienware M17 notebook. I hear that they have very nice features such as thermal cooling, a fingerprint scanner, and the ability to update the video card. So this is what I have currently picked out- Memory: 4GB« Dual Channel DDR3 SO-DIMM at 1066MHz – 2 x 2048MB System Drive: Extreme Performance (RAID 0) - 500GB (250GB x 2) 7,200RPM (8MB Cache) w/ Free Fall Protection Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (64-bit Edition) with Service Pack 1 plus Free Windows 7 Upgrade Option Video/Graphics Card: Dual 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3870 - CrossFireX™ Enabled! Processor: Intel® Core™2 Quad Q9000 2.00GHz (6MB Cache, 1066MHz FSB) This is going to cost me about $1,889. Yeah it makes me cringe, too. But my question is do I really need this? I need to know if I can tone it down to be a little lighter on my wallet. (Im getting my first job, minimum wage isnt exactly going to make this process quick and easy). What I would like is to be able to run Assassins Creed, Gears of War, and Prototype at max graphics and resolution while getting 30 fps. Let me know if there is a cheaper way to achieve this

Public Comments

1. Well you could lower the Processor to the Dual 2.8GHz because some games can't fully make use of the Quad core yet. Other than that, all you could so is lower the Hard Drive size.

   Glad If I Helped =D



2. Gaming laptops scare me, you can run Crysis on 45-60 frames with high detail on a gaming desktop for about 500-600$...


3. I wouldn't need it that price I would use a $600 desktop


4. well if you are low on cash, the best option could be with getting a desktop, and customizing that to the gaming specs. That would be much cheaper, and allowing you still to play the games of your choice without much maintenance on the computer. only downside is that it isn't portable.... Check the Dell site and HP site to see if you can customize a laptop to your needs that might ring up a little less.

   PS - Windows Vista 64-bit SUCKS with games... most can't play. Try to find someway to get regular vista, or go XP (i recommend XP, much better Operating System)



5. I would tell you to have a look at the below links


6. Alienware has two model M17X and M17. M17X is much better than M17. It seems you found an old review for Alienware ...

   Alienware are all expensive. You can get one if you have a really good budget. However, there are some other models available there. They are cheaper and sometimes even better than Alienware. Check the source for the references....