You're quite wrong there. My Asus G73SW rarely tops 70 degrees C on CPU or GPU even after day long gaming sessions.


That laptop and it's more current iteration are substantially less powerful than the G53 that the OP is looking at. The low resolution of that tiny screen allows some leeway with graphical options, but I'd never want to game on anything less than a 15-inch screen and a 17-inch is even better.


Really? Skyrim with flawless gameplay on ultra at 1080p with a 540M? Considering a 560M can't manage that . . .http://www.geforce.com/Hardware/NotebookGPUs/geforce-gtx-560m/performance

Anyway, my G73SW is the 17-inch version of the laptop listed by the OP (only difference is that I have an i7-2820QM, but a 2630QM is just fine for gaming) and runs Skyrim just fine at 1080p, high presets, ultra LOD, medium shadows. I'd say that G53 is definitely the best bet for the money. Of course it isn't the fastest thing on the market, but anything with a faster GPU would take him way out of his price bracket.

I have m14x so far I'm pleased with it. Runs everything I've thrown at it

Most can't build the best possible computer for a given price.



So now you have to pay an extra $100 to get a CPU that's STILL slower than the ASUS? This deal just keeps looking worse.



There's no such thing as flawless Skyrim performance. Especially not on a mere 540M. The engine has too many issues.



The fact that you couldn't get that $3000 beast to run as fast as your little Alienware notebook with a weakling little 1.6 Core 2 Duo just means you don't know how to manage your own computer. If you had a driver issue you should have simply not used the ones on Toshiba's site. You have an Intel motherboard, Intel CPU, and a Nvidia GPU. There's nothing "Toshiba" involved to mess it up. You're blaming Toshiba simply because you're puzzled and refuse to blame yourself.



Is this just your own subjective opinion you're calling fact? Or do you have a link? Because I have been in this business for 12 years (in the hobby for 20) and I have yet to encounter a manufacturer who readily issues replacements without major hassle. Not unless I'm calling about a known issue. Seriously dude, go look on the notebookreview.com forums and see how people's experiences with Dell/AW are.

This one is a little over $1000... (Didn't check shipping.)

Asus G53SX-XR1 15.6" LED Notebook - Intel Core i7 i7-2630QM 2 GHz - Black
Has the "GeForce GTX 560M - 2GB"... Better than the alienware 540M by about 20+ FPS at the same games.
http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=A0BKSX&src=http://forums.bethsoft.com/topic/1319112-i-need-a-no-bullspit-assessment-of-gaming-laptops/fg&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=feeds_FG&utm_term=Laptops_12180756

Yes, and a little over 1000, plus additional shipping, tends to - under most rules of mathematics - be outside the bracket of [0; 999]. Not to mention, again, your selected laptop has a 5400rpm hdd, which is quite bad for load/save performance. On the whole it's not that much better than what the OP already found in, well, the opening post. Not sure where an alienware is even involved in comparing the 53sx and 53sw.

However, it comes with a 5400 RPM hard drive instead of 7200 RPM, and a 560M is only about 10% faster than a 460M (slightly different architecture, but basically just an overclocked 460M).

My Toshiba is a POS ten year old computer. I know how to manage it fine, thank-you... I run 3D-Studio-Max on it fine, and Z-Brush fine. It is old.

As for dell support... I return stuff all the time. Nothing ever wrong, I just don't like things I buy, return it, get a refund or a replacement. I can't help it if others are idiots when it comes to returning things. Sorry you have trouble returning things.

Yes, I saw that the "building" of the laptop was an additional $100, which places the price at $999 for the i5, which is a hair under the i7. OMG 2% slower!

As flawless as the game is able to run. I didn't say the game was flawless. Though, if you are having THAT MANY ISSUES... perhaps you should not be giving build advice. Since your games are apparently severely flawed.

The Asus, if not a refurb, is going for $1200... of course it is better.. it costs $200 more. Less, is someone else's returned item. Which, with ASUS, is about a 50% shot. At least with dell, it is only about 25% shot.. lol.. (They are no angels. But for $1000... What do you expect. Diamonds and pearls, without flaws?)

To the OP... You asked for an opinion. I gave one, based on "Things I use", not "Things I read about, that have great numbers, but fail to deliver any noticeable actual value in use." lol...

Go back to desktop help. You don't build laptops, and have obvious brilliance that surpasses the manufactures themselves, yet can't return simple items when they are sub-par or broken. Buy a lot of those items, or just doing others no actual favor by failing that too?

Edit: ignore, misread post. Even still, my vote it Asus, alienware are overpriced with bad customer service like everyone else in this thread has said.

So even though the Core 2 Duo chip wasn't released until 2006, you're telling us you have one that's ten years old?

That's a cool trick!

The core-2-duo was my ALIENWARE specs... not my toshiba. That is only a centrino dual processor.

How do you know how old my Toshiba is? It is a G25 manufactured in 2002 2003. It is ten nine years old. (Shy by one year. Looked at the label, was scuffed. Thought it was a 2002 not 2003.)

I'd go with an Asus too, unless it is a $1000 asus, then I would still have gone with the alienware... (Which was the link I posted.)

The game is not that complex, just badly programmed. A super-computer would still push 60-FPS with the code they wrote. You are acting like this is some phantasmal game, that demands uber specs. The game runs similar on a single-core as it does on any multi-core cpu. 1.3, 1.6, 2.1, 2.6, 3.0, or more... (I get 40 FPS on my 3.0 dual processor, and on my 1.6 dual-core. With an old 9800 GT card. Same as others with dual-card $600 video SLI.) If it is equal to an x-box, like almost all 10 year old computers are... it will run better than x-box, unless you crank-up all the values that choke the game.

You obviously have no experience with one and what its capable of.

Oh that clears up that confusion then sorry.

But then new confusion arises: why were you comparing a modern Alienware machine to a circa-2002 Toshiba?

I wasn't... I was saying that my POS (Piece of S***) Toshiba, was the reason I got the Alienware. To replace my brick-beast 18" with a light $900 netbook, which ran circles around the $3000 Toshiba it replaced. The "Toshiba" drivers are all that works on the laptop, which they stopped supporting a year after it was made. No nvidia driver will run. It refuses to accept the card as a valid nvidia card, because toshiba stopped paying them for support. One year... that is all the support you will ever get with a toshiba product. They lock drivers and manufactures lock-out toshiba hardware. I had to use force-ware, because toshiba drivers failed. No user failure had to do with that issue. It was user-fixed, by me, after excruciating days of trial and error, and research. It is a common toshiba/sony complaint.

Any-ways, we are just invading the OP's thread now. Sorry OP.

So you say you return stuff all the time because you buy things you don't like? Then when you catch wind of anyone else returning stuff you attack them? You're a trip...

But seriously, my company handles thousands of computers per year for a wide variety of reasons. But somehow you think it makes sense to attack us because we sometimes have to work with manufacturers on any number of issues? Huh???



Passmark CPU scores (http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php):

i5 2467M 1.60 GHz: 2266
i7 2630QM 2.0 GHz: 6339


I svck at math. Is this a 2% difference?

Guess what? That used to be a complaint with every single manufacturer out there. When I got my Dell XPS 1730M for over $2300, the exact same thing happened. I've had to hack driver .ini files to get updates because Dell didn't want to support the most expensive laptop they had ever made.

Here's the owner's support group for my laptop (currently in part 4 so dig back to part 1 if you want). It used to be full of angry owners who were pissed that they paid $2k-$4k for a laptop that didn't get driver updates. http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/584016-official-dell-xps-m1730-owners-lounge-part-4-a.html

But you would recommend Dell? Even though they committed the exact same sin as Toshiba (and every other OEM)?

I'm playing on a asus g73. Not sure what it costs where you live. You can try to buy a used one on ebay if too expensive. Its a great desktop replacement and you can play a lot of aaa games on it.

Runs really well on a 15" MacBook Pro. Mine's from late 2008. A newer model with beefier components would fare better still.

Dual Core 2.53GHz
4GB DDR3
NVidia 9600 M GT (512MB)

Passmark is a crock... Try a real benchmark.. no wait.. try playing the actual game.. OMG 300% better... so you get 120 constant FPS to my 40... NOT... You compared a dual to a quad, and the game barely uses one core. 2% is what you get, with all things being equal in the real world.

I wasn't knocking him returning things. I was knocking his admitted failure at returning computers. Nothing wrong with returning things you don't need, want, or that fail to live up to the mark. Using a useless PC mag review of customer service, has nothing to do with returns. I don't talk to people, and they don't talk to me. (Didn't see that one coming, did you. lol...) Use a support ticket, get a return number, send it back. No conversation or customer servicing required... Not that I want them servicing me.

I recommend the Dell, because it was an Alienware, which is supported up to 5 years. Not a generic thing with dell slapped on it. For the PRICE, which is what the OP was looking for. Under $1000.

Wow.. they let you guys handle thousands of computers... Talk about job stability.

You win... get the last word... I don't care if you address me directly. You are tearing up this guys post. For childish reasons. Forgive those who have an opinion other than "network purchasers", who make such great high volume purchases, that seem to constantly need returns, but can't get them. Using benchmark tools that test nothing related to real-word tests, and take shopping advice from marketing magazines written and funded by advertisers.

Sorry again OP. (If you want to continue to insult me, you can do so in a PM. Not in his post. Stop asking me questions in here, demanding explanations for things you seem to already know the answer to. I posted my suggestion, and was attacked for it. LOL. Children. You win, yours is bigger. Put it back where the sun don't shine, mine don't fit that far, it is too small.)

I don't understand the concept of gaming laptops. The laptop is the least ergonomic thing ever invented by man.

Get a Clevo or Sager(same actually) if you want some nice gaming laptops.At least those look normal enough to go out in public with them unlike overpriced Alienware bling-bling yo and that "thing" Asus G53.

You're right, Passmark isn't so hot. But the fact is you're sitting here trying to say that a 2.0 GHz i7 is only 2% faster than a 1.6 GHz i5. Let's say for a moment that there's no architectural difference between an i5 and i7. That leaves us with 400MHz - is that only a 2% difference in performance? Really?

Pick a benchmark you think is sound and let's take a look.

That is a very nice laptop in the sub-1000 dollar range, If you got it, I have no doubt you'd be very happy with it.
Good processor, good graphics, plenty of ram and hd space. Definitely a good monitor for a 15" monitor on a laptop. It's got plenty to be happy about.

I will attempt to improve a bit though.
You've got alot of answers already. However I'd like to still say my bit.

The laptop I'd suggest is actually very similar to my own.
It's in the $800 price bracket. However it takes a bit of customising on the site. But bare with me it's pretty easy.

It's a HP Pavilion Dv6 range.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&series_name=dv6zqe_series&a1=Processor&v1=AMD

It's one of the newer AMD models. Yes AMD they've finally brought out a powerful little mobile processor. It is worth it, provides amazing performance and actually overclocks really easily.
That last part is of course optional but recommended.

If you customise the base configuration: $530

+ Upgrade ($75) - AMD Quad-Core A8-3510MX Accelerated Processor (2.5GHz/1.8GHz, 4MB L2 Cache)
+ Upgrade ($75) - 1GB GDDR5 Radeon™ HD 6750M Graphics
+ Upgrade ($60) - 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
+ Upgrade ($60) - 750GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

Total price comes to $799.

The current benefit of going with AMD/Radeon in a laptop is cross-fire. The APU has a intergrated gfx which can run skyrim at medium settings.
The dedicated card is not a replacement, it actually works together with it to make it possible to a do high and ultra, when both are used.
So while each card individually would not beat the Nvidia GTX 460M, and it's dedicated card is only a little behind it. It is just one gfx, you have two.
There is other upgrades you can opt to get. That is your choice, and with 200 dollars left in your budget you can do it.
However I picked what I felt were the most important ones.

The processor is one of the better ones in the line for a laptop, it runs well, has a slightly better intergrated APU over the 3410mx.
The Hard drive and Ram are pretty standard, 8Gb helps alot today and you'll be happy with the space and speed that drive provides.

If you are worried about the clock speed being lower on an AMD. For starts AMD and Intel have always worked differently. It's not fair to compare on just clock speed.
There is more to a processor than just raw speed. Also AMD overclock really well, this chip is capable of working on lower voltage while increasing it's clock speed.
Meaning it will run faster while lasting longer on-battery. Also run cooler if you choose to. Link my profile incase you are interested, it's really is very easy.

Higher clock speed CPU, Quad Core would be best. Stick with Intel. AMD has been a 2nd place CPU ever since the i7's have been out. Intel is the best performance, though not "value" oriented. If you want performance, stick with Intel. If you want to save money, go with AMD.

Higher end GPU, nVidia would be best. Get a 470 or higher. Don't get nVidia GPU's with GTXn60 (n being the series number, such as 500 or 600 series). You're just shooting yourself in the foot with a 460 or a 560. Might as well get a Intel G4000 onboard graphics chip then... (jest, but some hint of truth).

I'm no fan of AMD, their drivers have always been less than desirable. The AMD gpu's can be work horses, but I've only seen decent AMD desktop GPUs.

We use CAD/GIS based workstations at my office very frequently and the difference between AMD/ATI and Intel/nVidia is night and day. If you want performance, at the downfall of cost, use Intel CPU with nVidia GPU. If you are budget oriented go highest end AMD/ATI setup you can get.

Lethos, AMD dual graphics does not work with Direct X 9 games. Skyrim is (shamefully) a Direct X 9 game.

For other games though that laptop is an amazing deal for its price.



To be fair, Nvidia's mobile drivers have coughed up a huge pile of hairballs in the past as well.

1. Agree
2. Agree
3. Haven't had any issues on our Precision Notebooks (higher end workstation/desktop replacement notebooks) with the Quadro FX1500/Quadro 2000 CPUs or with our Latitude Series Quadro NVS 140 series. Possibly the Inspiron based chipsets with the Geforce Mobile graphics that has issues?