"Ultrabook" choices for "light" gaming and portability

Quote from Curtieson : Did you link an i7 Ultrabook? Do I think a Ci5 Dual Core processor will give you the same performance as a Ci5 Dual Core processor...ummm... OK, no...just computer pieces then. I think a set of Beats headphones are about as productive to wear as a hoody in Florida.too soon still?

Damn the iPad for not being able to view spoilers.

Now that my desktop has suffered a stroke and can only boot into safe mode with 5% ram utilization before it crashes, I have been looking at replacing it with a laptop given my world traveler status due to my occupation. And given the fact that my desktop crashed after making purchases in the steam summer sale this laptop will need to be able to play games. I also already have a work computer that is barely powerful enough to do my work on, so the thought of carrying a second full sized laptop with me wherever I go doesn't seem appealing.

Are there ultra books that could handle regular gaming limitations? I don't need max graphics on the latest game, but being able to at least play the latest games would be necessary.

Quote from alexpkeaton529 : Are there ultra books that could handle regular gaming limitations? I don't need max graphics on the latest game, but being able to at least play the latest games would be necessary.

No - unfortunately my bonerriffic dream of a slimFF portable gaming PC with enough battery performance to overcome the need to have a semi-permanent umbilicus tethered to an outlet is just that, a dream.

If your main rig blew, well, your best-of-both-worlds option is the luxe Alienware M17x R4. 3 negatives - shiny screen, f'n expensive, Alienware/Dell. Beyond that, if I were limited to one computer - and a laptop, at that - I'd want nothing less than a 7970m or 680m onboard so I could game decently.

For that price, however, you're better off building a new rig for ~$800 and snagging a reasonably priced gaming laptop for travel for the same; so $1600 nets a new rig AND a decent mobile gaming setup.

If you're still married to the idea of having a MacBook Air type experience, well, I can understand that but BPT forget any gaming beyond medium settings on such a platform. As a fellow forced transient, I will say the weight and PITA of traveling with a gaming machine are totally worth it for those extended stays in East Buttfcuk.

Too bad you can't go all David Herman on that work laptop...

ended up buying this one, and got a M4 256GB to put into it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6834127673

Quote from IPT : ended up buying this one, and got a M4 256GB to put into it. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...6834127673

What pushed you to that one?

Is that still in the ultrabook category?

Im looking at this one now.. guy at work has it and price vs specs it seems pretty sweet!

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Series...+ultrabook

What do you guys think?

Quote : Intel 1.9 GHz Core i7-3517U Processor 6 GB DRAM RAM 500 GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive; 32 GB Solid-State Drive 13.3-Inch Screen; Intel HD Graphics 4000 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit; 7.5 Hours of Battery Life

Or go with the i5 for only 780$?

Quote from Curtieson : What pushed you to that one?

honestly its because it uses a standard i5 CPU, not the lower clocked "ultrabook spec" CPU, while still pushing out similar battery life

It also has a DVD slot on it too, and only weighs 0.3 lbs more than the T13 that i linked b4.

And the Magnesium case shell, and backlit keyboard lol

yeah so basically i paid an extra $100.00 from the T13 series one I was looking at for a better CPU, a DVD slot, backlit keyboard, and better chassis.

Quote from tresanus : Is that still in the ultrabook category? Im looking at this one now.. guy at work has it and price vs specs it seems pretty sweet! http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Series...+ultrabook What do you guys think? Or go with the i5 for only 780$?

if you spending that much, go with the one i bought instead
same form factor, pretty much the same battery life (maybe 30 mins-60 mins less depending on usage)
comes with Vega Movie Studio (dunno if that's a selling point), and backlit keyboard! lol

Quote from IPT : if you spending that much, go with the one i bought instead same form factor, pretty much the same battery life (maybe 30 mins-60 mins less depending on usage) comes with Vega Movie Studio (dunno if that's a selling point), and backlit keyboard! lol

Ill check it out, I do love me a backlit keyboard

Quote from tresanus : Ill check it out, I do love me a backlit keyboard

a difference of like..0.3 Lbs lol

It probably isn't "ultrabook" category because of the CPU.
It uses a i5 3210M which is the standard Ivy Bridge Mobile CPU, while the T13 uses the i5 3317U which is the ultrabook low voltage CPU

basically the ultrabook designation requires specific specs designated by Intel in order to qualify for that bracket. Mainly weight and CPU.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...127-667-TS

Quote from IPT : a difference of like..0.3 Lbs lol It probably isn't "ultrabook" category because of the CPU. It uses a i5 3210M which is the standard Ivy Bridge Mobile CPU, while the T13 uses the i5 3317U which is the ultrabook low voltage CPU basically the ultrabook designation requires specific specs designated by Intel in order to qualify for that bracket. Mainly weight and CPU. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...127-667-TS

it is nearly 1/4 of an inch bigger too (.95 vs. .71)...I could see that knocking it out of the class.

It isn't a ton...but it is noticeable, more than 1/4 of a pound (3.54 vs 3.8). Especially when you look at it in terms of %.

Quote from Curtieson : it is nearly 1/4 of an inch bigger too (.95 vs. .71)...I could see that knocking it out of the class. It isn't a ton...but it is noticeable, more than 1/4 of a pound (3.54 vs 3.8). Especially when you look at it in terms of %.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultr...quirements

looks like you're right
the height disqualifies it too
but i think the weight is within limits

but the CPU definitely disqualifies it

either way i carried around both, i figure the slight concession between the 2 is worth spending the extra $100 for the Backlit keyboard and magnesium case lol

So I bought this one a whim last night at the sony store.. im typing on it now as we speak!

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Series...+ultrabook

Reason I went with this one - is it came with a 160gb slim ps3. So I'll package up my 40gb and sell it off with the games I've beaten. Now I can skirt away from YLOD fears!

If I can get 200 for mine with the games then I'm looking at 800 out of pocket for this
Im a happy camper haha

good purchase for ya then 3ass.
is your fan loud? lots of complaints on notebookreview forums who say the fan's really loud

im getting my S13 either tomorrow or tuesday, i found out i can take out the DVD drive bay and stick another HDD in, so i'll put my SSD in the main slot, and the 640GB that comes with it in the DVD drivebay.

Quote from IPT : good purchase for ya then 3ass. is your fan loud? lots of complaints on notebookreview forums who say the fan's really loud im getting my S13 either tomorrow or tuesday, i found out i can take out the DVD drive bay and stick another HDD in, so i'll put my SSD in the main slot, and the 640GB that comes with it in the DVD drivebay.

Nah it doesnt seem that loud. at least nothing that I noticed earlier today.. Im back on my old laptop for now. tomorrow Ill post pics of the horrible job I did trying to fix my monitor cable haha..

As promised.

My last laptop (toshiba satellite) starting to act crazy - the screen would turn pinkish and crazy when I opened the lid all the way. I researched and apparently its common - something with the monitor cable.

So being 3butt I say screw it I can fix it.. and bust it open. I find that when you add pressure to a certain part of the monitor cable it works fine.. appears to be an issue in the hinge or something.Soooo I electrical tape the wire nice and tight and put the comp back together. No dice, even worse results. So I took it all apart again and made sure the cable wasnt getting pinched in the hinge. Well long story short(er) I wound up screwing up the set screws in the bottom of the hinge, basically destroying the lid.. and every time I got it back together the results were the same.

So smart me - I dremel away a section of the lid, expose the wire to relieve the pressure, and allow instant access if the screen turns pink for a quick wiggle.. and tape the lower hinge ghetto style..

Hence the new laptop purchase haha. The toshiba will be my download/phone flashing/screw around machine.



okay, now tell me how dumb I am, and how I couldve bought a new cable or something haha